Film: With such a large adaptation, all the Losers have truncated storylines. It would be impossible to convey the depth of each of the seven kids. That said, Mike's is the story that undergoes the most change. In the film, both of his parents have died in a house fire, and he lives on a farm with his grandfather. He helps kill the livestock and delivers the meat to local butcheries. We know Mike watched his parents die in the fire; it's kind of the most haunting aspect of his character.
Novel: In the book, Mike's father is alive. Henry Bowers is especially intent on torturing Mike because he's black. In fact, Henry's father and Mike's father are at odds as well. Henry even kills Mike's dog. As we mentioned before, Mike faces a completely different form of It in the book. While at the old ironworks near town, It transforms into a monstrous bird. Mike barely escapes by hiding in a smokestack. In the book, Mike's also the one who gives an introduction into the history of It: he has an old picture book that helps uncover the mystery.
