WHAT AN INCREDIBLE GRAPHIC NOVEL. Quincredible was such a refreshing read. I don't usually read graphic novels but I picked up The Old Guard a few weeks ago and I've been on a bit of a binge read through this genre since.

Quincredible is a story about a young boy named Quin. He lives in New Orleans post-Katrina disaster with his family. After a meteor shower, affectionately dubbed "the event," Quin finds himself with new and unexpected powers. The novel follows Quin as he goes from hesitant and sometimes even afraid of his own powers to becoming confident in himself and finding purpose.

This was such a cool and refreshing book. It reminds me of the feelings I had when I first picked up the Captain America comics several years ago - full of so much hope and optimism. By the end of vol. 1 I found myself wanting to reach for vol. 2 and being ever so hopeful that one day this gets a well-directed translation to the big screen.

This felt like a very typical superhero origin story but it also contained some pretty good commentary about racism and classism in New Orleans.

While I did like the overall story, I felt that the characters were a bit one-note. Quin was better, as he should be being the title character, but even he was a bit insufferable at times being so focused on one of his female classmates. (Also, she has a boyfriend named Big Baby?!)

I would have given this book 4 stars, except for the fact that the ending was so abrupt. The climax happened and then it was over. And there is no info on a second volume so I didn't feel like I got any closure.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read any of the other comics from the Catalyst Prime universe which this is part of, but I found this graphic novel very accessible and it was easy to grasp the world and follow along with the story and characters.

I was drawn in right away as Quin is a very charming main character and this seems to follow the "standard" superhero storyline. But while I did ultimately enjoy this, it also didn't necessarily feel very new. It reminded me a lot of Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, for instance. Those are some of my favourites though, so it's not something I disliked about this.

The most interesting thing about this story for me was the inclusion of activism and the consideration of whether superheroes/enhanced people/whatever you want to call it are actually "the good guys" like they're usually framed, or if it's a matter of perspective.

Another thing I really liked was how invested Quin's parents were in his life. Very often in these types of stories, the parents are nowhere to be found, or the main character spends a large part of the story hiding who they are and sneaking around so they won't catch on. Here, the parents are supportive, and I thought that was great to see.

I like graphic novels. Quincredible is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. The message is really good but it's not a book I'd want to reread as it's quite forgetful.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this e-arc.
I loved this comic book, the illustrations were very detailed. I loved the superhero concept alongside providing a social commentary.

It was really great to see a comic with a diverse cast of characters.

It was an overall fun read, I loved Quin as the main character he was someone you wanted to root for. He had a kind heart but was not afraid to stand up for himself.

Overall a very enjoyable graphic novel I am excited to pick up further volumes and watch the story continue.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3808064078

I liked this a lot! I have been on a quest to find a superhero comic that I like. You’d think it wouldn’t be hard! I like superhero movies and novels, I like graphic novels, but for some reason I haven’t found a lot of superhero comics that work for me. This was fantastic, I enjoyed the art style, and I loved how Quin struggles with how to be a hero and use his invincibility.

I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. It was a fun experience. The story was overall enjoyable, and it was easy to get through. It kept me wanting more because i couldn't stop reading until I was done with it.

Hats of to the writer for the diversity. A superhero story with a black main lead is very rarely seen, so it's so nice to finally see that. Using a trope thats been so overused (i.e. superheroes) and making it shine in a different light is what this book did.

The main lead of the story is actually very lovable and sweet. He instantly wins you over, and is very relatable. He has that 'soft boy hero' thing going on, that is amazing.

The art style was also beautiful. It was colourful which gave off a really chaotic vibe. But the intensity of the colours set the right tone for the book.

I would definitely recommend it to the fans of the 'Renegades' by marissa meyers, and generally to everyone who likes superhero stories.

I would've liked if the book was a little longer to focus more on the story, as it felt a little cut off at time. The story felt un-continuous, and their wasn't really much flow in the plot. The side characters didn't stand out at all, all they did was assist the main character

The main character Quin appears to be just your average high school student on the outside but because of a meteor shower, he is so much more. The book provides insight into the challenges of suddenly having superpowers but not really knowing what to do with them.

I felt the artwork connected with the story quite well and what I enjoyed most about Quincredible Volume One was the social commentary.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.**

A classic superhero story, drawn in a beautiful style with a diverse cast! This story quickly captured my attention and Quin was a fantastic main character. The story is fun, fast-paced, and everything you'd want from a superhero comic!
A story I could totally see myself continuing with!

I had such high hopes for this graphic novel when I saw it was offered up on Netgalley, but it fell a bit flat for me. Quincredible was a good read though it didn't connect with me. It seemed to be your typical superhero comic book. I wish that it was a little less cliche, though. This was your stereotypical young kid who gets superpowers comic book.

Though the plot was predictable, the artwork was beautifully done. I loved the diversity in the book. I could see a lot of kids enjoying this graphic novel. I just wish that it was a bit different.

Really quick and enjoyable read, liked the storyline, but found it was rather generic superhero plotline. Probably will be a good read for younger children whilst bring in relevant issues in society.

I've read quite a few superhero graphic novels but this is the first one in my memory that made an attempt to try to humanize and understand the "criminals" and "bad guys". I found it intriguing and a breath of fresh air. The art style was gorgeous and the diverse group of superhero were beautiful. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and will be keeping an eye out for more from this writer and artist.

Quincredible #1 Story
Quincredible is a good start to a teen superhero comic. Quin is a nebbish loner with few friends. So far, so Peter Parker. Despite his invulnerability, Quin is a one-hundred pound weakling with no combat ability. Having a hero who’s power does not fit in well with their personality is an initially intriguing take on the teen superhero concept. Early on, Quin gets beat up by local hoods and makes no effort to fight back. Why should he?

Despite the pain he feels he’s not going to suffer any harm and eventually his attackers will get tired of wailing away at him. Even if he did have superstrength, I came away with the feeling that physical confrontation just is not Quin’s thing. I really liked this.

From there, we are introduced to the rest of Quin’s world. He has a loving mother and father, his crush Brittany who is a passionate local activist, and, cast of characters ranging from corrupt local officials to street thugs.

Unfortunately, it’s all very much predictable paint by the numbers storytelling. I fully understand the decision to follow the well-established tropes of the genre. However, I did feel disappointed that the creative team did not decide to do something more original with the characters and story. It is fun and diverting while I was reading it, but none of the characters lingered in my memory afterwards.

Social-economical and racial inequality are themes that run through the book. These injustices form the motivations for the big bad, but their plan is so wrongheaded that it’s hard to believe anyone would follow it. It was confusing to the point where I re-read some of the book to make sure I hadn’t missed something.

Quincredible does a lot of things well enough to overlook these flaws. The relationship between Quin and his parents is tender, the action sequences are well-plotted, and, there is an abundance of humour in the book. Some of the gags genuinely had me giggling. The dialogue between Quin and his mentors is also engaging. It is a very pleasant read that is perfectly paced ( I read it all in one sitting). Cliched as it is there is a solid if unspectacular platform to build future adventures on.

Quincredible #1 Art
Selina Espiritu does a lot of good work in Quincredible. The style of the art is what I would describe as contemporary mainstream. It would not be out of place in a Marvel or DC title. The panel layouts and page pacing I felt were excellent. There is one sequence where Quin had a video call with his mother that I just loved.

Espiritu is a superb visual storyteller that is equally comfortable with dynamic actions scenes as they are with dialogue-heavy exposition sequences. If there is a weakness in her work, it is with the character and costume design. I felt these were occasionally flat. For example, Quin’s dad has an interesting face to look at, with a good-natured world-weariness about it.

However, Quin himself looks like an average kid. There is nothing about his appearance or body language to suggest that he shouldn’t have friends or would be an easy target which is an essential part of the story. A shame considering that the actual storytelling elements (facial expressions, shot selections, etc.) are all first-rate. Kelly Fitzpatrick’s colouring is classy. While growing up reading comics, I noticed that people with brown skin were all coloured the same shade of brown.

To my eye, Fitzpatrick gave every character of colour their own skin tone, which was good. They also do some clever work with background tones to imply the character’s emotional state—all lovely stuff. Tom Napolitano lettering is unfussy and slick. They have a lot do, and there are some very subtle touches with SFX that I felt were cleverly done, especially around some of the action sequences. They did a very good job.

Quincredible Conclusion
Quincredible I think is aimed at middle schoolers or Young Adults. I imagine for them Quincredible is going to be a fun, action-packed adventure story. Quin is a likeable enough protagonist, and the story is well told for what it is. For older readers, it is a tad predictable bordering at points on cliche. That said there is enough action and humour in the book to keep most readers engaged.

This is the first graphic novel I've read in the Catalyst Prime series and I loved it! Quinton was such a likeable character, a regular guy who's given a super power that doesn't seem that great to begin with. He has such a positive and caring attitude and works hard to find ways to improve the lives of his family.
I really liked the social justice theme of this book, it's very relevant and the story portrayed the livelihoods of the people involved from different angles.
I also loved the art style and I can't wait for volume 2!

I didn’t know Quincredible was a part of a larger comics world but I have to say that did not prevent me from enjoying this. The story explains everything you absolutely need to know and the rest I just went along with haha. Since I didn’t realise it was part of a bigger world until I added the book to Goodreads says enough in that regard haha. I don’t plan on reading everything in this universe, simply because that’s just going to be too much haha.

The art in this one was quite nice and I loved the range of black people we got. Our main character is black and a lot of side characters are as well. Throughout the story we also get a look at some of the struggles black people have to deal with and that story really hit me in the heart.

I loved the superhero storylines and just thought this one was really well done. To be honest, I don’t have a lot to say about it haha. I just really want everyone to read this! The story was great and I flew through it. But I especially loved the real world struggles that are woven into this superhero story. It was so well done! Highly recommend this one!

I really like graphic novels, especially because of the mix between art and writing. Quincredible sounded raight up my alley perfect for me (because superheroes and superpowers are my thing), and it didn't dissapoint in that sense. The story is exactly that, a young black teen discovers he has gained superpowers and decides to use them to protect/help his New Orleans community. However, I felt like towards the end, the story wrapped up a little too quick (especially being only volume 1). I was expecting a little bit more of explanation and action behind the superpowers and what is happening inside this community. Overall, it was a quick and fun graphic novel.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a unique take on super heroes, and it brought up a lot of issues that aren't usually addressed in super hero stories, like how far a person can go using their powers vs. how far a person's own strength can take them. I thought it was very interesting how Quin questioned his powers, and was always wondering if his invulnerability had a limit.

This graphic novel was also a glimpse into a city's relationship with crime and law enforcement. I am excited to read more in this series as I feel the characters have so much room to grow.

After getting into graphic novels last year I knew it was a genre I wanted to read more of, This one wasn't quite to my tastes but I still enjoyed it and it was a nice easy read with a good message.

Quin is a resident of a New Orleans in the midst of a crime wave, and once it is discovered that he has powers, he is encouraged to join local superheroes to fight crime. I love that the author uses a real city, complete with real challenges their citizens have faced. I also really enjoy the elements of social justice. While not mentioned specifically, you see shadows of events from 2020 and are rooting for these heroes by the end. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.

Quin is a sophomore trying to stay out of trouble in New Orleans. After some of the horrific events of his life, including living through Hurricane Katrina ravage his city, Quin just wants to build the ultimate security system to keep his family safe from as many harms as he can think of. His crush is involved in community activism, and he becomes inspired to help his community. He’s also trying to dodge bullies, mostly so they don’t find out his secret - a meteor shower that ravaged the city after the hurricane gave Quin and many others super powers. Quin is indestructible, at least as far as he knows. A recent spike in crime has Quin working with the other enhanced heroes he’s only ever read about. Quin acts fast to save his neighborhood and his family from the evil machinations of a criminal mastermind.

Quin is a really sweet kid trying to do what's right by himself, his family, and his community. He's also still trying to figure out what he truly cares about and who he's willing to stick his neck out for. The ending of this volume was incredibly rushed. There was such a good amount of time spent building Quin and his interaction with his family, then the storyline wrapped up within three pages. There is definitely things left open for more volumes, so I'll be interested to see where Barnes takes Quin's adventures after this origin story.

This story is part of a larger event called Catalyst Prime from Oni Press. There are stories about some of the other enhanced heroes Quin works with, but reading all of those is not pivotal to understanding or enjoying this story.

Quincredible is rated for grades 7 and up, which seems appropriate. There is a little bit of violence when the bullies are going after Quin, but the rest of the story is just superhero violence, which includes them using their powers against the bad guys. There are some deeper themes of social justice, police violence against minorities, and the government's response for Katrina Victims that may fly over the heads of some disconnected readers.

Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-10