QUEST TO BE THE BEST

A Black teen uses his extraordinary abilities to protect his neighborhood.

High school freshman Quin is invincible, at least on the outside. After a meteor shower hit New Orleans, it left a lucky few with enhanced abilities. Thus, a new class of superheroes was born. Quin looks up to these brave beings, but his own powers have not stopped him from being targeted by bully Caine or made bright, high-achieving classmate Brittany Barnes see him as more than a friend. He meets Brittany at a rally led by Dr. Davis, a local Black activist, and soon the crowd and the police are clashing in the street. After superhero Glow saves him from a cop, Quin is inspired to use his invincibility to put a stop to the crime in his neighborhood. But when criminals attack his home, Quin will need his friends, enhanced and ordinary, to help save the day. This graphic novel is a classic superhero origin story with a wide-eyed, earnest teen trying to redefine justice. Quin’s parents are models of support and acceptance and, like Quin, understand that the world isn’t black and white. This new universe of heroes and villains packs a punch with commentary on the ills of society and the people who shape it. The illustrations, featuring bright, saturated colors, pop, adding to the drama of the story.

A fun, fresh adventure.