By Zack Quaintance — Poiko - Quests & Stuff by Brian Middleton is a new book out today from Vault Comics’ middle grade imprint, Wonderbound. While Poiko is definitely it’s own thing, there are hints of Adventure Time and Calvin and Hobbes to this very fun quest story. In advance of its release, we had a chance to send some questions to Brian, and you can check them out — along with his answers, of course — below.

Enjoy!

INTERVIEW: Brian Middleton talks POIKO - QUESTS AND STUFF

ZACK QUAINTANCE: I really liked how from page one we get grounded in this fun and wacky fantasy story by one simple thing — Poiko has a delivery boy job to do (and he better do it on time…there’s a rating at stake). How much did you think consciously (if at all) about grounding the story as you worked on the book?

BRIAN MIDDLETON: I thought of the delivery job less as a means of grounding the story, and more to give Poiko, Kensie and Eve an excuse for roaming around the world that they inhabit. My initial idea for the book was just two buddies walking around and seeing neat stuff. Adding the delivery aspect allowed me to introduce some "man vs delivery appointment" themed conflict, and helped add a nice starting and stopping point for each of the episodes.

ZACK: One thing I’m always curious about with this sort of charming graphic novel is the jokes, like early on Kensie jamming out with some punk rock…on a harmonic. What sort of approach did you take to the jokes in the book, and were they aimed at both kids and adults?

BRIAN: As far as the humor goes, I tend to aim for something that makes me laugh when I think of it, but also makes my eldest daughter laugh when she reads it. I'm 30 years older than she is, so writing jokes that work for both of us covers the spread and is the sort of sweet spot I'm aiming for.

ZACK: I really enjoyed your series with Scout Comics, Wulfborne. How did the lessons you learned working on that series inform your work on Poiko: Quests and Stuff?

BRIAN: I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed Wulfborne! Like Poiko: Quests and Stuff, that book holds a special place in my heart. I think the biggest thing that I learned from Wulfborne was that I was able to tell a story that people would want to read, and that I could handle the Writing, Art and Lettering by myself. It's a definite blessing when you can put a piece of yourself on the page and see people respond to and embrace it. I'm very grateful for it.

ZACK: I know both Calvin and Hobbes and Adventure Time are namechecked in the previews for this book, and I definitely saw those influences in here, to really great effect. What specifically inspired this book from each of those stories?

BRIAN: That's a fantastic compliment, thank you!

The world of Adventure Time is such an interesting and inspiring place. It feels unique, and born of a singular vision. I talked about putting yourself on the page when you create, and it really feels like Pendleton Ward and the rest of the creative team behind Adventure Time was able to do just that. That's certainly something that I aspire to in my art.

Calvin and Hobbes is something that is part of my creative DNA. It's the first thing I saw that made me want to pick up a pencil and draw. How Watterson was able to balance so well the humorous and the profound still blows my mind, even after all of these years.

ZACK: Finally, if you yourself were tasked with making an on-time delivery, what are some of the obstacles that would put your timeline in danger of a delay?

BRIAN: What a great question! If I was delivering along the same routes that Poiko, Eve and Kensie take, the thing that would put me most behind are all of the rope bridges, heights and other obstacles that Poiko manages with such aplomb. There is a bit of my personality in both of the boys, but I've never once laughed in the face of danger the way Poiko does. I'm a Kensie all the way in that regard.

POIKO: QUESTS & STUFF
Writer/Artist/Letterer: Brian Middleton
On Sale: 3/29/2022
Synopsis: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN “AVERAGE” DAY FOR POIKO!
Have you ever had to deliver a care package to a dragon with allergies? Have you ever been waylaid by a school of space fish? That’s just an average day for Poiko, the kingdom’s most reliable courier. The world can be a big, scary place, but it can also be wondrous. Sad things can happen, but there are always good friends to turn to, or new friends to make. And no matter what, there is always, always someone who could use your help. Poiko learns all these lessons and more every time he brushes his tail, pulls on his hoodie, and steps out into a new adventure. The philosophical whimsicality of Calvin & Hobbes meets the fantasy-scapes of Adventure Time in this modern-day classic.

Order Poiko - Quests & Stuff now!

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Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.