Book Review: “Quincredible Vol. 1: Quest to Be the Best!” by Rodney Barnes

Quincredible Vol. 1: Quest to Be the Best! by Rodney Barnes, Selina Espiritu (Contributor), Kelly Fitzpatrick (Contributor) 2019

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comics, Fiction, Fantasy

Page Length: 144 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Invulnerability is a pretty useless superpower if you’ve only got a one-hundred pound frame to back it up. That’s what Quinton West’s life became when he went from small guy who got beat up to small guy who can’t get hurt after the meteor shower dubbed “The Event” gifted him the power of invulnerability but no other powers to compliment it. But there’s more to Quin than meets the eye, and after some encouragement from his new mentor—a local New Orleans–based superhero named Glow—Quin realizes that he can use his quirky hobby of creating Rube Goldberg devices to outsmart the opposition. But being a hero paints a target on your back, and Quin’s got to risk it all to join the ranks of the superheroes he looks up to. It’s a good thing he can take a punch. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

Quincredible was an amazing read from start to finish! I’m so glad this book got put on my radar. The story is set in a more modern (possibly futuristic?) version of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and a meteor shower that has left some individuals with special powers. Superheros run the streets helping those in need, although they tend not to mesh well with the police force (they feel their jobs are threatened). Quinn is a teenager with the power of invulnerability that makes him practically indestructible. And as we find in action-packed scenes, we see how his abilities come into use and the minimal damage that he can take in a fight due to his powers.

For the most part, this story is grounded for a superhero tale. Quinn is a teenager who’s nerdy, trying to fit in, has a good heart, and wants to make a change. He’s tired of seeing the world’s divisiveness around him, and I appreciated the social commentary of real-world issues tied into the story. The story is relatable and touches on socioeconomic disparities, race, crime, and more. It can be heavy at points, but I felt like Barnes balances the story out as there as many action scenes, quiet moments of reflection, and witty side quips. What I liked most about Quinn as a character was his confidence, willingness to make a difference, and close relationship with his parents. His parents inspired him to pursue his passion of using his powers and helps him on his journey to figure out his purpose. One quote that stood out to me that Quinn’s dad says is :

Helping the world become better is the best thing we can do. But you have to have a good idea of what needs changing. Not just listen to your frustrations.

There was so much that stood out to me about this story. I enjoyed the character thoroughly, and I liked the artwork. The superhero costume design were cool! Though Quincredible is aimed at a younger teen audience, I think it speaks to a wider audience with its message of making a change. I’m curious to learn more about Quinn’s journey and how his decision to be a superhero will make an impact. ‘I’ll pick up the next installment in the series and see where it goes.

Final Verdict: