 Jeff Koch, formerly of "Hot Rod Magazine", briefly acted as brand manager for Johnny Lightning, bringing his unique real automotive expertise to the line from 2001 through 2004.In the mid-1990s, Tom Lowe at Playing Mantis commissioned Hollywood writer and producer, William Winckler, and comic book artist Charles Barnett III in New York, who had worked with Marvel Comics, to produce a comic book toy line called "The Adventures of Johnny Lightning".Previously, Winckler had written and optioned a pilot for a live-action kids TV series to compete with "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" called "Johnny Lightning", with Tom Lowe's approval, but the series was not made.