A new Australian Indigenous superhero will launch out of Darwin and into cyberspace on Australia Day.
Zero Point: Season Zero follows the exploits of a brave — and black — superhero, also known as Kyle Burton, who can manipulate a mass of objects — including himself — at will.
The web series was the creation of Darwin-born artist and Woppaburra man Jonathon Saunders.
It was voiced by Nyikina man Mark Coles Smith.
Along with his manipulation of zero-point energy, Kyle can fly — and even has an energy shield.
In the world of Zero Point, superheroes have been tasked with protecting the borders of their own country.
Kyle, along with a group of other heroes, works for the Australian Federal Extra-Normal Civil Operatives (AFECO), who face off against an ultra-nationalist terrorist called Samson, and the outbreak of super-drug EYCE in rural Australia.
But for both Mr Smith and Mr Saunders, his greatest power was his identity as an Indigenous hero.
"I haven't seen an Indigenous superhero in this country before, and that's what we have here," said Mr Smith.
"I'm super excited to be involved in that and to see where this could go."
'A superhero that's just like me'
Mr Saunders said depictions of Indigenous heroes were often highly stereotypical, and he said he wanted Kyle to be unique.
"[In the past] they were typical of what people would think of as an Aboriginal man — spear-wielding, headband-wearing," he said.
"Why not have an Indigenous superhero that's in line more with what an American superhero is?
"Not all American superheroes wear flags or have eagle motifs."
Through the decades there have only been a handful of Indigenous Australian superheroes, such as Kaptn Koori, created by trailblazing artist Lin Onus in the 80s.
But since then, the representations have been few and far between.
The lack of such a hero visible in mainstream Australia, except for such shows as ABC TV's recent Cleverman, helped shape Kyle Burton, Mr Saunders said.
"I'm sure there's many Indigenous superheroes and comics, but they're from American comics," he said.
"And I figured I'm Indigenous, why not make a superhero that's just like me … a regular Indigenous guy?"
All four episodes of Zero Point: Season Zero will be available online from January 26 on YouTube.
