I have always had a strong interest in comic books and animation. From a kid growing up in Florida, to a so-called adult living in New York City, these two things have always been a part of my life. I truly appreciate being able to read or watch any new material; especially anything from up-and-coming artists!
I recently had the opportunity to read an amazing, new comic book. This comic book features a new superhero that will definitely serve as a role model for not just young children, but for even adults. This mighty new hero is a young 13-year-old kid named Isaac Quentin. He was created and illustrated by up-and-coming artist, Bryan Angrand (also known as BJGrand).
The name of the comic book is "I.Q.: The Story of Isaac Quentin." Isaac Quentin, nicknamed I.Q., is a young kid with super intelligence that allows him to invent pretty much whatever he can think of. What's so appealing about this comic book, aside from the engaging storyline and the cool illustrations, is that it addresses current real-world issues. One issue it addresses is the killing of unarmed black men by police officers.
Warning: there are a few spoilers. While I.Q. and his two best friends are playing in a park in a "nice" neighborhood, one of the residents calls the police because they were apparently making too much noise. One of the police officers then unjustly shoots one of I.Q.'s best friends, and he eventually dies from it. This scene was inspired by the tragic killing of Tamir Rice in 2014. This tragic incident is what motivates I.Q. to become a superhero.
This story is also a motivator for people to use the talents and gifts they have to change their lives, and possibly the world for the better! Angrand tries to discuss the issue of personal responsibility in his creation. He explained that he wanted his character to realize that talent should not be wasted and that he had to act if he wanted change to occur. This is something we all can relate to. Angrand feels as though if we want to change something, whether it's the world or just something personal about ourselves, we have to actually put out effort and be committed to doing something.
I.Q. is, what Angrand believes, a new character "...that can continue to add to the lore of strong black characters." What is so beautiful about this character is that he is an extremely intelligent, tech-savvy kid growing up in an urban neighborhood. This debunks the stereotype of kids living in neighborhoods such as this one not being intelligent or caring about education. I.Q. was created from the inspiration of other characters such as Sticky Webb from "The Proud Family", Huey and Riley Freeman from "The Boondocks", Miles Morales from the "Ultimate Spiderman", and Wade Load from "Kim Possible" just to name a few.
I believe that one day this character could be the next big superhero! Take advantage of getting your own copy!
I.Q. - The Story of Isaac Quentin from BJGrand on Vimeo.