Earlier this year we talked to Mark Poulton’s son Chase about PIZZA TREE. Now Mark has his own Kickstarter coming out without Chase. It’s the story of a small hero called Sqirt. Mark is nice enough to stop by First Comics News and let our fans know about his latest Kickstarter.
First Comics News: How did you and Mark Yoon get together on this project?
Mark Poulton: Squirt was an idea I had for a superhero teen-comedy years ago. Originally, it was going to be my first project after the original Koni Waves series concluded in 2006, but things happened and it fell to the wayside. Eventually, Mark reached out and expressed interest in working with me. I really liked his artwork. It had a 90s’ aspect to it mixed with some manga influences that really connected with me. Squirt seemed like a natural fit for him. I had told him about the project and we seemed to have the same ideas of what it was and where it could go.
1st: Who is Jason Squires?
Mark: Jason Squires is our hero. He’s the smallest kid at Kirby Regional High School and the butt of most jokes of the jocks and popular kids. They call him Squirt because of his size and not only torment at school, but come to his after school job and harass him.
1st: What does he think of the squirt nickname?
Mark: He’s not a fan and would love to one day stand up to those who have ridiculed him, notably the school’s star athlete, Sean.
1st: How does he get involved with aliens?
Mark: One night after his shift at Gooey Burgers, Jason is struck by a meteor that contained a mystical orb inside it. The orb embedded itself into Jason’s chest and gifted him with an alien armor with a mind of its own.
1st: Are these friendly aliens?
Mark: The alien armor becomes quite protective of Jason. However, there are other aliens out to steal the orb and armor for their own use.
1st: Where are the aliens from?
Mark: The aliens are Arcosians, a race of highly intelligent lizard like men from the planet Arco.
1st: What do the aliens want?
Mark: The orb. They believe the armor contained within the orb will help them conquer the universe.
1st: What does this encounter do to Jason?
Mark: It makes him realize this is serious. At first, he and his best friend, Kord, looked at the alien armor as a novelty and a way to get even with bullies. But once Jason’s friends get put in harm’s way, he snaps out of it and takes things more serious.
1st: Who is the villain of the story?
Mark: The villain of the story is Miles Fortune the head of Fortune Industries, the town’s leading business. However, he has a dark secret that doesn’t bode well for Jason.
1st: How do you incorporate an anti-bullying message into the story?
Mark: Without spoiling the ending, this really leads into the second volume we are hoping to do which would be entitled Teamwork. Obviously, when Jason first gets the armor his initial thoughts are to get revenge on Sean, who has tormented him for years. However, after going through the hero’s journey Jason has a better perspective on things. He handles things differently, totally taking Sean by surprise.
1st: What makes Squirt so cool that no true comic fan should miss it?
Mark: It combines my love of Super Sentai shows like Power Rangers and Kamen Rider within the settings of a teen-comedy. It’s not only funny, but action packed. I think it’s pretty unique and perfect for all ages.
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