Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book: Quincredible, Vol 1, Quest to Be the Best
Author: Rodney Barnes
Pub Date: 23 Feb 2021

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Review: This is the first book I’ve read in the Catalyst Prime Universe, and I think it was a great introduction. I don’t think many things were fleshed out and seemed unrealistic (I know it’s a comic book, but the ones I’ve read have realistic characters.) However I did like how the graphic design was. Very detailed and seemed three-dimensional. I also liked how Quin was just a regular school kid and was struggling balancing his homework and being an “Enhanced.” I also loved the diversity. Not many comic books have a lot and I was impressed with everything. If you love comics, I definitely recommend this book.

This is such a fun story to explore. Maybe fun isn’t the word. More like comforting? I love the look into invulnerability as a power and the well-roundedness of Quin. Also, the art is amazing.

Quincredible is a timely entry into the superhero genre, all the more appropriate for the age of the BLM movement, and a generation looking for social change. Quin has a 'superpower', but the question is what can he do with it? And is being a superhero enough to make meaningful change when the problems are systemic, the result of generations of oppression and poverty?

While being an underdog tale, this asks some difficult questions, and showcases the frustrations of trying to make a change when there's no easy place to start.

Quin is a teenager that was gifted with an invulnerability superpower in a meteor shower happened in new orleans, he doesn't know what to do with this power, but he start thinking in ways to use it to help the community... this is a comic about a boy with a strong social conscience trying to make the right thing with the tools he have... fun and inspiring-

Once upon a time when I was in high school I revived and became King (president if you’d rather) of Graphic Novel Reading Club. Safe to say it doesn’t get much nerdier than that. I was browsing NetGalley’s read now novels and I was this book listed. I couldn’t help myself and read it all in one sitting.

I don’t really read a lot of comic books or super hero stories. I have a lot of reasons, most of which I’m sure would hurt the feelings of those fan bases. With that being said, a lot of the cliches and tropes of this graphic novel are pretty easy for me to ignore because I don’t read this kind of story very often.

And when I do I rarely come across a story quite like this. Set in a modern New Orleans, Quin is a young man whose life has had many changes for good and bad. His family was effected by Hurricane Katrina (which is a backdrop for a story I never hear.) Quin is personally changed by a strange meteor show that gave people super powers.

Quin discovers he too has powers- he’s invulnerable. It’s a crazy power, but not one that Quin feels helps him. Sure he can’t get physically hurt, but he still feels the beatings of neighborhood bullies, and all the mental damage. He feels like his power hasn’t done much but make him a better punching bag.

On top of that his neighborhood, and society as a whole, is seeming to crumble and divide all around him. Police brutality, classism, and now super heroes who are mixing into these problems and heightening them. When crime starts to rise in his neighborhood Quin decided to work smarter to be 3 steps ahead of the bad guys and be the hero he always wished he could be.

This story actually reminds me a lot of Static Shock.

A young black man who gets powers from a huge explosion and decides to use his powers for the good of his city, especially fighting gangs. Obviously there are lots of differences, time period, powers, universe, but the similarities are there for me.

Now for the story itself. It’s a fun little read. I think the pacing is good, but sometimes events kind of just happen to the main character. I also got lots on certain plot points, and the bad guy felt… kind of flat and sudden to me? But this is the first volume of the series. Heroes need to be able to have a couple of wins and establish themselves so I’m not too torn up about that.

Quin is a good kid and I really root for him. (He has a few kind of… questionable opinions of his friendship with his crush, but I’m hoping he grows out of those white knight ideas.) He can be a little self pitying, but he’s also just a young teenager. And he truly wants to make his town a better place and keep his family safe.

I love getting to see stories of full and loving families, especially with both parents (or more depending on the family unit.) Quin’s parents are loving and supportive and are always there to listen to him. As far as I’m concerned the more positive POC families in storytelling the better!

The book also features a lot of diversity! It shouldn’t be very surprising because this is an OwnVoices work. (Side note: the auhor has written a lot of Lando Calrissian books and graphic novels. ) Still this book has lot of diverse characters, both in race, heritage, and religion, but also various levels of wealth. It’s often raw, but it’s also very refreshing compared to the settings of some block buster super hero stories.

The story also explores a lot of societal elements. I feel a little unqualified to speak on them, but the points resonated with me and gave the story a touch of reality and pressure that I think a lot of standard super hero stories can overlook. It was also not black and white in the societal point it made. It made sure to always show that there are two sides to every story and not one single opinion or solution will always be right for the situation.

Overall I can’t say it’s a perfect story, but it feels like a really good springboard for where the story can go. I love unconventional powers with the imperfect hero. I love the hero that has to work to use their powers. Quin feels like a character whose journey I can follow and whose growth will be satisfying. I will be looking for the next volumes of his story.

I can say that if you like a super hero story set in a world that reflects a lot of our current struggle that Quincredible is a quick and fun read. I’m really interested in how any of the communities depicted in the book feel about it. Please feel free to comment and let me know.

And my final note:

WHY DOES SHE ONLY CALL HIM BIG BABY??

This story really captured me!

The art, the writing, the story, everything. It was simply great.

I’m a big fan of superhero’s and watched my fair share of marvel and dc movies, still this graphic novel really managed to bring something new to the genre. The superheros of course had superpowers but somehow the author really made them seem human, it was easy to think of them all as regular people as well, that want to come home to their families after a day of bad guy fighting. Which I really enjoyed.

Quin is such a good main character, he’s funny, charming and he kind of reminds me of Spider-Man with his playfulness. He’s impossible not to like!

The story had the perfect amount of action and even though quite some characters were introduced the author made sure not to give too much information about them at once. I really look forward to get to know them and Quin more...and see how it goes with him and his love interest.

Also a huge plus to the author for making Quin still care and hang out with his family even though he’s a hero. In stories like this I feel like the main character often forgets everyone in their “regular” lives.

“Quincredible Vol 1: Quest to Be the Best!” gets 5/5 stars from me!

This review and my thoughts about this book is mine and mine. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

2,7/5
Quality of writing: 3
Plot development: 2
Pace: 3
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 2
Ease of reading: 3

This was... ok. Just ok. The story was dragging at the beginning and the ending seemed rushed. The art was ok.
It makes me sad that this was just... meh. I'll probably forget about this in a couple of days. Unfortunately.

Action packed, cool concepts, poc super charismatic main character, so well illustrated! So cool! Cannot wait for the next adventures!

Quincredible Vol. 1: Quest to be the Best
Written by Rodney Barnes, illustrated by Selina Espiritu, colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick
Published by Oni Press
Available on February 23, 2021
Ages 13+

Quinton West may have invulnerability as a superpower, but he sure doesn’t feel invulnerable—not when he’s getting picked on by Caine and his buddies, or when he finds out his crush Brittany has a new boyfriend. But like it or not, Quin has a superpower, or “enhancement,” that he has worked hard to keep hidden from everyone, especially his parents, no matter how understanding and supportive they are. Ever since his hometown of New Orleans was struck by a meteor shower, he and other everyday folks have been blessed-or cursed-with superpowers. In the aftermath of the natural disaster, many new superheroes leaned into their new powers by fighting crime. After a chance encounter with superhero Glow, Quin learns to embrace his invulnerability superpower and becomes Quincredible. With Glow as a mentor, Quin uses his powers and joins his fellow superheroes in restoring justice to the community. However, not all community members support their efforts; Quin and his “enhanced” friends are the target of a sinister plot. As a marked young man, Quin will need to confide in his friends and family; he cannot fight injustice alone. Rodney Barnes’ new graphic novel is a powerful, heartwarming, and exciting read. Barnes’ savvy investigation into the tension between superheroes and the New Orleans Police Department correlates to current events, and invites readers to consider the real aim of justice. Quin’s strong relationship with his mother and father allow for conversations about goodness and perspective; these conversations surface again as Quin and Brittany discuss new ideals offered by a local organizer. Quin’s father asks his son to consider what good is. Barnes and illustrator Selina Espiritu do not shy away from tackling the institutional racism within the justice system. Espiritu’s images run the gamut of emotions: powerful and jarring panels of police brutality following a community rally to Quin’s amusing attempts to learn Parkour. During action scenes, the panels often shift to become more dynamic and reflect the energy of the encounter. Backstory concerning villain Alexandre Zelime’s rise to power is depicted in panels superimposed on Zelime himself, making for an eerie origin story. Colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick infuses images with vibrancy; the illustrations featuring Glow’s superpower are iridescent and spectacular. This #OwnVoices graphic novel mirrors reality and “enhances” it, making for a wonderful addition to any teen library.

DNF at 32%

This book had potential, but i feel like I had no idea what was going on the entire time. I loved certain parts, and perhaps this is a book for younger ages, but I felt so confused while reading this.
I loved the activism in the book, but there were almost too many plot lines with too little explanation.

Quincredible is a comic book series about a teenage boy who developed powers after a meteor. Quin is enamored by the superheroes who help the city but he never thought about becoming one. One day after an appearance by an influential community leader gets chaotic, Quin is saved by one of these heroes. That day sets Quin’s life on a new path to becoming a hero.

This comic was incredible. Quin is a very smart and tech savvy teen. He built an entire security system to keep his family safe. But being smart doesn’t mean he knows how to make friends. Quin has a loving family but he still feels lonely. On top of that, he’s dealing with neighborhood bullies. Sure, Quin can handle the pain but having invincibility doesn’t mean Quin knows how to stop the bullies.

After he meets Glow, a hero, he begins to question if he should join the heroes. Quin finds out that being a hero doesn’t come automatically. He has to train for it and learn to defend himself. I loved this dose of reality because it proved that Quin had the dedication to keep going. Quin still has every day struggles that play a factor in him becoming a hero. This comic highlighted some of the racial injustice that’s happening in his city that pushes him to want to help.

This comic was a nice refresh on how one becomes a superhero. I can’t wait to read more of this comic.

Glad to know this is only a first volume because it felt like something was missing at the end. I liked this book but, even though I kind of want to know how it ends, I don’t think I will continue the series. Here is why. I saw on Goodreads that each of the superheroes mentioned in this book have their own comics (between 1 and 3 books) so it just seems like too much effort.
The art was quite nice, well drawn, totally my style and colourful. The book was full of action and discusses some important topics such as bullying, equality and fairness. The story has a very nice flow. However, I didn’t feel particularly attached to Quin and/or other characters. I don’t know, I just didn’t feel invested in the story. I didn’t find it incredible and extraordinary. Hence, I would recommend this graphic novel to people who love superheroes. It is an easy read and very nice for the eyes.
3/5

Quincredible by Rodney Barnes is a graphic novel about an anonymous boy, but with a special power: invulnerability.
The table of drawings is really very nice, with these dark tones and some bright colors is a pleasure for the eyes of the reader.
The same I can't say about the story, a bit similar to other graphic novels I've already read. This one doesn't provide anything new and that's a shame, because there is a lot of potential to be tapped.
However, it's a very enjoyable graphic novel to read and one that is devoured in no time.

This is an enjoyable graphic novel with a unique take on superhuman abilities and the effect supers have on society. The characters are very likable, the story is easy to follow, and the illustrations are vibrant. The family relationship is strong and healthy. There are so many great things about this graphic novel and I am definitely going to continue the series.

This is a comic book about Quinton West who has the power of invulnerability. But he feels like it's worthless because he can't back it up by anything. He can't fight and he feels weak so he's scared to stand up for himself, fight his bullies, and any kind of evil he runs into. But then he runs into another superhero which makes him see that he actually has abilities besides this and he can do more than just sit by.

I wanted to read this book because I thought it would be a fun superhero story. I love superhero movies but have never really read comics. I liked it, it was fast-paced, entertaining, and fun. But I wasn't completely invested in Quinton or any other characters. I love characters and relationships in books the most and there wasn't that much of that in here. Quinton has a crush on this girl at school and he wants to be stronger to prove something to her and that whole plotline didn't sit right with me. So I wish we got to see more relationships and that the characters were more developed because it felt a little dull. The storyline was quite a cliché superhero story as well. I wouldn't mind that too much if I loved the characters but that unfortunately wasn't the case.

That being said, I would recommend this if you really love superhero things, don't mind a basic plotline and just want to read something quick and fast-paced.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Quincredible Vol. 1 has a good premise, but the plot kinda flopped for me. I enjoyed that this graphic novel follows a BIPOC superhero from the projects, and that police brutality was a big theme throughout the story, but other than that, I was kind of bored.

I do think many people will enjoy this, but it wasn't for me.

This was a great introduction to Quin and his want to do something more for the city he lives in. The story goes straight to the point but offers the necessary information that the reader needs. It's also layered with social and racial commentary that make a great case for our protagonist.

The pace of this first volume is fast, sometimes a little too fast, since Quin learns what he needs to very quickly so that the story can progress. I know this is part of a larger universe and a lot of characters have already been introduced, but you do not feel lost or confused when these appear, and the same way we get an overview of how Quin got his powers, we are explained who these heroes are.

Quin has a lot of potential to be a great superhero, he's smart and resourceful. I really liked his parents and how involved he was with the community. It was also interesting to see other superheroes pop up and help him or guide him, but I did not like his friend.

I wish the comic had not rush events as fast so we could have enjoyed them better and got a more realistic read of everything, but it was still a very enjoyable and nice read and I'd be interested in reading more from this universe and heroes.

Thanks to NetGallery, Rodney Barnes and Oni Press for the opportunity to review this Volume.

What does it mean to be incredible? What do you do when you feel like you're not in the position to help? But then what do you do when you're told you actually can...?

Quincredible is the story of our young protagonist Quin, a man living in New Orleans. He and his family have survived Hurricane Katrina and a meteor strike which has further devastated the city. The Meteor strike however has left a gift behind; some of the NO citizens have now been enhanced, creating new superheroes. Quin being one of them.

Quin's power is invulnerability. He can't be injured, he can't get sick. But compared to the other heroes, Quin feels powerless.....

Volume one covers the first arc in Quin's story as well as part of his origin. We see how the aftermaths of Hurricane Katrina and the meteor is affecting the city, resulting in rising tensions within the black community and leading to clashes with the police and ever growing conspiracy theories. Enter an unknown nemesis who is planning on taking advantage of the chaos and it is up to Quin and the other superheroes to restore order before things change for good.....

Although the comic doesn't break new ground, I did really enjoy this first volume. Quin comes across as real, vulnerable and unsure but still decides to step up when things continue to go bad. I loved his relationship with his family and friend/crush Brit and how he interacts with his fellow superheroes.

I do wish the arc was longer as I feel it was underdeveloped in terms of the villain and the story in general and the ending did feel rushed.

However, I do feel this was a great introduction to this new hero and his world and I am looking forward to Volume 2.

Read via NetGalley - thanks OniPress for approving me. This has not influenced my review.

Gorgeously illustrated superhero story with lots of heart and a great storyline about the tensions rising in New Orleans as a manipulative villain tries to take advantage of people's frustrations with the government response to tragedy. I really liked this; it juggles superheroics with community organisation and social commentary and does an excellent job of it. Looking forward to more of Quin's adventures.

Stunning artwork
Lovely to have black superhero’s
Great story line about the neighbourhood
Will definitely be continuing with the graphic novels