So this graphic novel has a regular character who is introduced as and addressed as "Big Baby", it is one of the only things that I can think about when looking back at the story.

Overall this was fine, I didn't particularly like our main character, his 'why am I friend zoned' storyline/personality was boring and overdone. The villain is underdeveloped and unoriginal. There was a conversation/social commentary on the police and the prison system in the USA, but it didn't really merge with the story for me.

I can’t wait for the next volume! This comic was a rollercoaster ride in the best way possible. It was written wonderfully, the dialogue believable, and the ART STYLE! It was so pleasing to look at. Would definitely recommend.

Quin is such a relatable teenager and invincibility doesn't take that reliability factor away from him.

I love how this first volume gives us a hero who knows he is supposed to be a hero but isn't quite sure yet on how to go about it. That along with being a teenager who doesn't feel like he fits in anywhere but alone or with his family makes me smile. It reminded me of being Quin's age again and feeling those exact feelings of loneliness but not really knowing how to go about making myself feel less so.

Mostly this volume reminded me of why representation is so important. Static Shock was the only Black superhero, who was close to my age, growing up and this volume brought me right back to watching the "Static Shock" cartoon and my first forays into reading comics.

The art itself is simple to follow, which I think is such an underrated aspect of this story. We not only get to see Quin but his community, family and school. All of which play into his experiences. There were multiple times where I had to put the comic down because I was so impressed with how well the story conveyed itself through the art. My favourite moment being when Quin's dad describes his experiences as a soldier for the US army in the Middle East.

There were a few moments of pause in this comic that had me scratching my head like Quin's interest in Brittany and Dr. Davis' monologues at some points. But overall this was a strong introduction into the origins of Quinredible and I look forward to reading more.

If I'd remembered Lion Forge and Oni had merged, I probably wouldn't even have bothered grabbing this from Netgalley, Catalyst Prime being very much the 'we've got superheroes at home' of shared universes. And yes, there's some very generic superhero origin material here – like the studious hero inwardly musing ""I'd way rather suck at trig than at life. Can things get any tougher?" as the girl he likes leaves to see her jock boyfriend. But there are other bits with more life and character to them, as one would expect from Rodney Barnes, whose brief Falcon run and then Killadelphia were what drew me to check this out in the first place. And as one would expect from those, this finds an interesting vantage point on the current debate about law enforcement in the US, pointing out the obvious problems with a black kid putting on a mask and using his powers to stop other black kids committing crimes, and then expecting to get a positive reception either from the police or his community – while at the same time resisting the temptation to go full ACAB, even if it does also feature sympathetic characters who do take that line. The lead's quandary is one I've seen hinted at with supporting characters before, not least in JMS' Rising Stars – how useful is it to have invulnerability if you don't have superstrength or any other abilities to back it up? – but still has room to be explored in a lead. Most of all, though, it was little details I liked, such as the look of Quin's dad. After all, it's easy to talk about representation in comics, but if all that means is that characters can have any colour of smooth, unmarked skin (or else be scarred as a plot point, obviously, like Doom and Deadpool), then it feels pretty, well, skin-deep. To have someone who doesn't fit that template, without it ever being presented as remotely an issue or their defining trait, that feels like a small but worthwhile thing to have done, and I like that. Not enough to make this a must-read – it's obvious from the first issue to anyone who's read a superhero comic before that we shouldn't trust the community organiser; and there are far too many guest appearances from other characters I neither know nor care about which can threaten to drown out the lead. But sufficient thought has been put into nice little tweaks to make me think of it more fondly, and continue to be interested in what Barnes (and now the art team too) does next.

This was actually a pretty good superhero comic. It was action packed and had awesome graphics.
I would have loved for it to dig deeper into the story and world building, but as it's only the first volume I expect things to get better.
I would put Quinn up there in my cards next to Danny from Dreadnought in terms of ground breaking superheroes. I love to see the "I just got my powers and I have no idea what to do". It make the story so much more organic and realistic, while maybe we would like to think that if we got superpowers tomorrow we will become Superman right away, the reality is that getting superhuman abilities is a very messy business and this comic does a great job at showing it.

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

~

Quincredible, Vol. 1: Quest to Be the Best
Rodney Barnes, Selina Espiritu, Kelly Fitzpatrick
★★★★★
144 Pages
Themes: BLM, bullying, supers, politics, self-discovery


Quincredible is a brilliant, clever comic that is desperately relevant and necessary for 2020. With a strong message of hope and power, it puts a young, black, loner geek centre-stage.

The story is part adventure, part self-discovery and part self-belief. It has a good balance of strength, hope, danger and adventure, promoting an open mind and reminding kids that there is a balance between good and bad, that the world is full of shades of gray and people aren't always what they seem.

I haven't read the “shared universe” this book belongs in, but I don't think I need to. Though there are a host of superheroes introduced, Quin explored how that came about well enough that I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

What I really loved was the message about people and society, in general. Yes, there were hugely relevant and important references to BLM, to police action and important instances in American history, such as Katrina and the politics of white vs black, cops vs black. But the story was deeper than one single issue, and more than the sum of its parts. It's a perfect message for kids, wrapped up in a superhero adventure.

Quin is a brave kid, despite having no friends, bullies, and a super power. He's got a girl he wants to impress, but he's discovering lines he's not willing to cross, even in Volume 1. Don't be woke for the sake of it. Don't blindly follow, if you know it's wrong. Some freedom fighters will follow the crowd to whatever end, never stopping to think of whether it's right. Some people – even those we trust, and people in power/authority – have an agenda. But it also shows that people have a breaking point, and when pushed, people can snap. Not all bad guys are evil, but can be misguided and feeling helpless when all other avenues have failed.

I can't wait for the next volume.

~

Favourite Panel

<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b3/2d/e4/b32de41e5d95bda85b0e0d9baedee5a3.jpg" width="450" height="150" alt="description"/>

Title- Quincredible: Quest to be the Best (Vol. 1)
Written by: Rodney Barnes
Illustration: Selina Espiritu
Publisher: Oni Press
Genre: Graphic Novel
Rating: 4.7/5 stars

Have You ever thought what you are gonna do if someday you discover that you have superpowers? It would be confusing! right?

Yes, I was utterly confusing for Quin too,who lives in New Orleans with his parents and he is a die hard fan of superheroes. He don't have any friends and most of time he gets punched by the bullies in school. He prefers to live in his own world of dreams and has a huge crush on a girl from his school, Brittany Barnes but unfortunately he never gatthers the courage to ask her out.

The story beings at the time when the New Orleans is in a state of utter mayhem. A few months back the city witnessed hurricane Katrina followed by the meteor shower which devastated the lives of the people. But for a few individuals it brings the gift of supernatural powers. As these new superheroes takes the responsibility of protecting their city, the tension between the police and the superheroes raises. Besides, there are protests going on in the city against the goverment and the decisions they have taken so far incontroling the destruction. In one such event, while chased by the police, Quin discovers he is invulnerable.

As Quin explors his superpowers, thinking about how Brittany will be super impressed , he is unaware of the fact that a great danger is gradually approaching towards the city. A danger which can wipe the very existence of his beloved city from the map of the world.

Will Quin be able to save his city from the impending danger?
To know that you have go through the work.

Review: The first thing that I absolutely loved about the work is the way it connects with the readers. With the mastery of his narration, Rodney Barnes has presented the story of Quin in such a way that it instantly makes the reader interested to explore the story. Rodney has done a commendable job in creating an air of suspense throughout the story.

As far as the character construction is concerned it is absolutely fantastic. Whether it is the character of Quin, with his doubts and childlike inquisitive nature, or his father, who has played a major role in helping Quin find a purpose in life, or the character of the villain, everyone is created with utmost care and attention.

Another thing I love the most about this work is the way the author has merged the tension of the outside situation with the protagonist's inner conflict, which makes him mature and finally Quin evolves from an innocent teenager to a superhero.

Selina Espiritu has done an equally commendable job. The thing I loved the most is her attention to details.The way she has illustrated the events, it almost felt like I was witnessing Quin in his quest to protect the city through my mind's eye. The scenes are vivid and picturesque and provides an amazing reading experience.

Overall, it was an amazing read. I give this work 4.7 stars and recommend everyone to give it a try.

Happy Reading

Thank you NetGalley for an Advanced copy of this Graphic Novel. Amazing take on a modern superhero story. It deals with a lot of issues that are very current in our country while also setting up a great fictional storyline as well. The characters And their character arcs were great and I can’t wait to read more about them. I definitely enjoyed this story and will definitely recommend it to others.

I don't know anything about this superhero universe, so perhaps that's why this volume had very little impact on me. It was an interesting enough concept - a bullied high school kid is hit by a meteor blast and gains the superpower of invulnerability, which he doesn't see as particularly useful until he's persuaded to use his powers to help protect his city by another superhero, who essentially becomes his mentor, along with a group of other "Enhanced". Quin was a likeable main character, and there were certainly a few funny lines. I also really liked the artwork, which was bright, sharp, and eye-catching, and there were some really stunning full-page spreads.

However, generally, I felt like there wasn't really much that stood out about this graphic novel. While important issues such as racism, poverty, and police brutality are all touched upon, the story doesn't really delve too deep into them, and it ends with quite a positive, wrapped-up-with-a-bow ending (although this is only volume 1, so I don't know whether any of the later volumes get any deeper). The plot itself is quite generic and predictable. As mentioned, considering the diversity of the characters and the themes it touches on, I think it really had potential to go deeper, which would have made it more interesting, but instead we have a story that I don't think makes a particularly huge impact.

If you're looking for something quick and easy to read and you like the look of the art, definitely go for it and pick this up, but I don't think this offered enough for me to rate it anything higher than 3 stars.

(Side note: I feel like I have to make mention of the hijabi "side character" - "side character" in very heavy quote marks because she's literally only present on a few pages and doesn't speak at all. While I appreciate even the mere existence of a hijabi superhero, it was a bit weird how she's wearing a headscarf but is also drawn wearing a figure-hugging suit...)

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This comic wasn't just about how to be or become a superhero but about what pushes and intrigues you in order to use your power. Quin is a young boy who was witnessing what was happening in his community and the people's struggle after a catastrophe and that's what made him want to make a change .
It's not just about being called a hero because that's not the most important thing of the job, it's being selfless and fighting for what is right, working hard to change the wrongs even when it looks impossible. The villains have also powers but they decide to take the wrong side because they are selfish and greedy.

I loved Quin's personality, he is a good son and could be the coolest friend you could have. He is his own self and even when he is bullied by the others, he remains true to himself and his principles. Quin could be an inspiration to many young adults.
Doing and being like the others would never make you exceptional but following your own path and beliefs that's what could make people looking at you as a person of exception.

I enjoyed reading this comic and it seemed too short for me. We meet Quin in this volume, a young adult who discovers that he has powers, so from there starts his first adventures with the group of the enhanced heroes.
I hope that he will find another girl to crush on because I didn't like Britt.

The story follows Quin a high school student in Katrina, and meteor ravaged New Orleans. A place much like the real that how a class and poverty divide leading to descension among the citizens. The world also has superheroes, helping the police fight crime. Quinn quickly discovers he is an invincible and must come to terms with being a super, in a city that associates them with police oppression.

I loved the social message, it was very well put across. Tactfully written while still having a hard hitting message. The artwork is beautiful, with a whole cast of diverse and representative characters.

However, my main problems happened with pacing, and story. The first chapter was hard... the story is spoon fed to the reader "dad you know i don't have friends", there's is a lot of "telling" and not a lot of "showing", which for a graphic novel kind of defeats the point. It found it's feet around chapter 3, and i did thoroughly enjoy it after that. I admit at 27 I'm probably not the target market but lines such as "she's so woke", "more likes than a Kardashian" had me cringing.

A meteor caused a bunch of people in New Orleans to get superpowers. With this, there have been a lot more heroes popping up. Quinn is sure he can’t be a superhero. His only power is invincibility. I love the premise, and I like Quinn so far.

There were a few things that I’m hoping can get smoothed out as the series continues. For instance, I would have liked to know more about the villain and the story there. Also, people are going to recognize Quinn! He doesn’t have a mask or even some sunglasses to hide his identity...and his first human name is in his superhero name. I will definitely check out volume 2.

Great for fans of Cloak and Dagger--black teenager acquires a superpower in New Orleans. Conversations about policing, crime, what it means to call cops on black kids, protests, vulnerability and invulnerability, etc.

Quincredible was a fun read and memorable as superhero stories go. Rodney Barnes brings creativity to this book, and the art is detailed and attractive. An enjoyable graphic novel from Oni Press.

After 'The Event', Quin suddenly isnt your average high school boy anymore. He is invulnerable. Maybe not the coolest power in his opinion. He can't fly or shoot webs out of his hands, but that doesn't mean that his power can't be useful.
When he meets a superhero who also got their power from 'The Event', his dream to become a superhero grows stronger and stronger.

Quincredible was a delight. I still find comic books to lack diversity, so have was happy to see that the main characters in this comic are mostly Black!

Quin is a character you can't help but root for. He has a kind heart, but isn't afraid to stand up for himself. I'm excited to read more stories about Quin!

The art is amazing! Selina Espiritu did a great job. I loved it when they drew the panels on the body of a character. It made the scene more intense!

I am somewhat new to graphic novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I thought the art was gorgeous and I loved all of the colors. This was a good story, but it felt a little lackluster. If I were to rate this, I would probably give it a 3 out of 5 stars. Overall, I thought this was a solid graphic novel but probably wouldn't read it again.

Okay so there was a lot of potential here! I loved Quin but everything felt too rushed. I really wish we explored the villain's story a bit more. How did we get there? Everything felt too fast/cliche but it actually wasn't. Wish this was a bit longer, A great start to a story which can be explored in so much detail!

I did like the main character Quin. Also, artwork is vibrant and good. The plot isn’t something that will blow your mind off. It does cover some important social issues but still needs a bit of improvement in some of the aspects of the plot such as the dealings with the villain and the conclusion.

Overall, a decent comic, hoping for something more in Volume 2.

Thank You to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC!

It is pretty much impossible to read Quincredible, and not instantly think of Kamala Khan/Ms Marvel. Both feature a teenager of colour who quite suddenly is invested with superpowers, and thus much of their stories are about being said teenager who has to learn how to live with these powers.

Quin gets his power during a meteor storm: he is invincible. He is Quincredible. But what do you do with that power, especially when it's your only power, and you stay a normal human in every other way.

I applaud any attempt at more diversification in comics, and the Catalyst Prime universe (which Quincredible is a part of) does a good job. This is the only book I've read of that world, and I'm not very impressed - it's insanely hard to do something original with superheroes, but this does feel like more of the same. For me it lacks its own flavour, a vibrancy of its own.

The writing is solid, maybe a bit too heavy on bringing every character together in the finale. The art isn't as strong as it maybe should've been - if I didn't know any better, Quin's parents look like they could be brother and sister.

Overall it's okay, maybe the first step to something stronger?

I'm not usually that into comics, but I saw Quincredible on Netgalley and the description, combined with other positive reviews, drew me in. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to expectations.

I liked the slice-of-live aspects, where we see Quin's daily existence and his growing up. I loved Q uin as a character, and his parents; their love for each other was really heartwarming. But aside from that, I never really connected with it. I found the social messaging (i.e. violence in the name of revolution/change Bad) very on the nose, and a lot of the plot and background characters were painfully cliche.

I apprediate the importance of the representation Quincredible offers - a young black superhero, who doesn't perpetuate any harmful stereotypes as far as I could tell - and I genuinely liked Quin as a character. I'm adding on one extra star for those aspects, but overall, this book averaged closer to two stars. It was fine, I didn't hate it, but the cliches and lack of subtlety regarding social issues were a little painful.