IQ: THE STORY OF ISAAC QUENTIN, from Grand Gem Studios on Kickstarter, begins the sincere journey of a young man who uses his talents to make his city a better place, one gadget at a time.
The Details
- Written by: Bryan Angrand
- Art by: Bryan Angrand
- Colors by: Bryan Angrand
- Letters by: Bryan Angrand
- Cover art by: Bryan Angrand
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $10.00
- Release date: July 2023 (estimated)
Is IQ: THE STORY OF ISAAC QUENTIN Good?
IQ: THE STORY OF ISAAC QUENTIN is a sincere tale from Bryan Angrand about a boy with genius intellect who is spurred into a life of crime fighting after a tragedy hits home. To be clear right up front, this GN is a diamond in the rough in terms of technical execution, but you can see the heart in what Angrand is creating, so support is welcome and encouraged.
Angrand’s script centers on Isaac Quentin, a tween from Cogo City who loves to create gadgets and solve advanced problems. When an innocent to the wrong side of town leads to a police shooting and a dead friend, Isaac realizes his tech genius is a gift meant to help his community.
If you read between the lines, yes, this is a very typical superhero origin story framed within the context of inner-city violence. The concept isn’t super original, but Angrand spends considerable focus on building the grounded personalities of the characters, so you get invested in the people, even if you’ve heard the story before.
What’s great about IQ: THE STORY OF ISAAC QUENTIN? It’s all about the people and the real-world ups and downs they endure when the mean streets of Cogo City get meaner and good people lean on each other through tough times. Sure, this is a superhero comic at a high level, but Angrand’s character work is where this GN shines.
What’s not so great about IQ: THE STORY OF ISAAC QUENTIN? The inciting incident that spurs Isaac on is as heavy-handed and forced as you could expect. Do police shoot unarmed people? Yes, but the way Angrand presents the scenario feels forced. Further, the plot basics are in place, but the pacing is uneven. Several scenes need tightening up.
How’s the art? Admittedly, rough. The general panel layouts and composition are okay, but the figure work, well, needs a lot of work. In particular, the faces lack consistency and structural soundness.
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What’s IQ: THE STORY OF ISAAC QUENTIN About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a prologue recounting the early years of Isaac Quentin. From an early age, he had a knack for solving problems and tinkering with gadgets. A knack that led him to make some incredible discoveries.
One day, Isaac and his friends, Mike and Tre, decide to try out a basketball court on a side of town they normally wouldn’t visit to test a new invention. The boys are harassed by a pair of men, leading to an altercation, and eventually, a police shooting.
Tre’s death hits Isaac hard, and after talking with friends and family who care about him, Isaac gains clarity about his talents. We conclude the issue with gadget trial by fire, a rough start, and a call to action.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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IQ: THE STORY OF ISAAC QUENTIN presents a fairly standard superhero origin story set in the context of inner-city strife. The plot is old news, and the art is rough, but Angrand creates characters with authenticity, giving you plenty of reason to care about them.
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