Quinton has been through a lot. Not only has he been bullied ever since he was young and crime is rampant in his neighborhood, but he has survived Hurricane Katrina and a meteorite crashing to earth. This last one in particular has had an impact on tech-loving Quin: the meteorite gave him and many other local citizens superpowers. The only problem? Quin's power of invulnerability is pretty much useless. Sure, the bullies can beat him up, he can get shot, fall of buildings, and get hit by cars and he can walk away without a single scratch, but it's not as cool as flight or super strength or the ability to control light. Quin wants to make a difference in his city of New Orleans like the superheroes he admires. He just doesn't know how.

The premise sucked me in, along with this being a non-Marvel or DC superhero, which I always love to see from other publishers. Quin's origin story and crave for not only change but to be part of the change also reminds me a great deal of the DC superhero, Static; having spent a good portion of my childhood watching the "Static Shock" cartoon series meant that was another big draw for me. Quin himself is fantastic and instantly appeals to readers; he's not perfect and quite clearly the underdog, but he's trying his best and is ready to apply all of his skills and talents, and learn more. He loves his parents and his city; he wants to protect the the people and city he loves. Quin loves technology and wants to see a brighter future for his community, and learns lessons on how to bring about that future and learns that everyone has a role to play, and small actions from small people can have just as much of an impact as big acts from larger-than-life superheros.

Beautifully written and drawn, I hope to see more of Quin in the future.

Way better than I expected yet it was also nothing extraordinary. While I liked the social commentary and was vaguely intrigued by the superhero origin story, the overall concept is nothing new. The main character, Quin is given invincibility due to a mysterious meteor shower and trying to bring justice in his community while also trying to date his crush. I really liked Quin's characterization and how relatable he was. This had the potential to be phenomenal but the conflict is what killed me. I enjoyed the first half but when the second part rolled around, I wasn't very interested in it. The story revolves around a flat, undeveloped villain with a predictable agenda amidst tons of political commentary that does very little to enhance the conflict. Overall, a worthy superhero comic with potential for better sequels. 6.5/10 would recommend.

*Thank you to NetGalley and its publishers for providing a free ARC*

Quincredible is a special kind of superhero narrative that stands above the rest. This isn’t just about cool powers and epic feats of strength. It’s about learning right from wrong and helping to transform society into an ideal that doesn’t always seem possible. We see Quin’s growth, not only as a superhero but as a young man in a community that’s filled with violence and oppression. The rich vs poor mentality of our modern day society has forced so many to survive by their own means and sending everyone to jail doesn’t solve the problem. It’s not just superpowers, it’s activism at the core with the betterment of community in mind. This is a powerful narrative that’s right at home in a comic series. This is what superhero comics should be. Saving the world from otherworldly forces is necessary, but fighting the fight at home is more necessary than ever. If our world isn’t inclusive of everyone, how can we band together against greater enemies?

I love watching the journey of a superhero early in the game. For Quin, his true power isn’t unlocked until he changes the narrative he’s been telling himself. At first, he sees his invincibility as a means of getting bullied relentlessly. Eventually, he comes to realize it’s a way for him to fight back for the innocent. His journey of self discovery is extremely grounded and realistic.

The artwork is phenomenal, paying special attention to detail. The artist is in tune with the struggles of Quin’s home and the poverty affecting his surroundings. We see that in every little detail, from the sagging roofs to the deteriorating streets. That sense of neglect is present and it paints a solid picture of the world Quin decides to not only protect but improve.

Overall, Quincredible is a superb superhero story that touches on what it means to be a hero. The morality of doing good is examined in depth and it serves as an inspiration for characters and readers alike.

Full review to be published on 6/4/19: https://reviewsandrobots.com/2019/06/04/quincredible-volume-1-book-review

Preachy, But Good Preachy

So, Quinton became invulnerable when the meteor event occurred, but didn't receive any other superpowers. How is he going to make any difference? The blurbs make it sound like he becomes a sort of unkillable Tom Swift gadget geek guy for the other superheroes, but that doesn't really hit the mark.

The premise here is that the villain is trying to start a class war between the haves and have-nots of New Orleans, and is basically trying to foment violent revolution in place of non-violent civil disobedience and justice reform. Quin convinces the superheroes to stop fighting the small fry "criminals", who are just angry and frustrated regular Joe's, and go after the bad guy who is behind it all.

There are some high points here. Quin levels with his parents about what's going on and they all rise to the occasion. Quin is gently tutored by one superhero about being the best Quin he can be, and that lesson sticks. Quin sort of gets the girl by being solid and real. A community leader abandons preaching violence when things get out of hand, and returns to non-violent change. There is a lot of legit commentary about how the black and poor communities of New Orleans have been left behind. Notice, though, that none of this has much to do with superhero action, which seems like just a gloss or hook to draw the reader in or to make the message jazzier.

So, lots of social commentary, and while the politics is a little fuzzy around the edges it was optimistic and aware. This is a nice think piece, and might make for interesting discussions, but I wouldn't really call it a superhero comic at all. More like W.E.B. Du Bois meets Spiderman, which come to think of it, I sort of like the sound of.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy

I do not read a lot superhero focused comics but I really enjoyed this one. I recommend checking it out.