By Colleen Bement, Aug. 31st, 2018
“If you can survive being fifteen, you’re a superhero.” Pretty much everyone can relate to this statement, and now graphic novel Quince can be enjoyed by all ages. Eisner Award-nominated author/illustrator Sebastian Kadlecik shares how he created Qunice which, has resonated with audiences inside and outside the Latino community. Its creators are Kit Steinkellner (writer), Emma Steinkellner (illustrator), Valeria Trainer (translator), and of course, is the brainchild of Kadlecik. It was a highlight of the summer for the team as even though they did not win, it was huge to be nominated for the Eisner Award; basically the Oscars of comic books! Check out other awards this year.
AWARDS
2018 Eisner Award (Digital Comic Book) – nominee
2018 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity – nominee
2018 Excellence in Graphic Novel Literature Award (YA) – nominee
2018 Mosaic Award for Diversity – nominee
2018 IPPY Award (Graphic Novel) – winner
Eisner Award nominated book ‘Quince’
Synopsis of Quince:
Lupe is just your average, insecure, well-meaning, occasionally cranky teenage girl whose life is completely turned upside down when she discovers she has superpowers at her quinceañera. Her quince powers only last as long as she’s fifteen, so over the course of this rollercoaster year, we follow the adventures of Lupe as she figures out what it really means to be a hero.
Colleen Bement: How did you come up with the story for Quince?
Sebastian Kadlecik: I was wrapping up a project called Penguins vs Possums trying to figure out next project. I wanted to do something that focused on my family’s Hispanic heritage. My wife and I had gone to a couple of quinceaneras together recently and as I sat there watching, it reminded me of watching old X-Men and Spiderman where they get powers in moments of heightened emotions and I thought of how there’s no more heightened moment than right now, and there’re really nowhere for a young girl to hide What would it be like if it happened right now. You’re already going through this huge event and a quinceanera is already so much about transition and I think some of the best superhero stories are metaphors of coming of age, and it all just sort of seemed to click. What it happened right then…
A week or 2 later I was at My nieces who are also Latina, were running around as superheroes dressed as Supergirl, Batgirl, Catwoman, and shined a light on the limited representation out there. Wouldn’t it be amazing if they had more people who looked like them, and could relate to what happens when the mask comes off? Relatable. It became a lot more personal. I thought at first as a TV show, then I thought of it as a comic book. Then I reached out to Fanbased Press and everybody just jumped on board. My nieces love it! And my mom. People come up at cons telling me that it connected with them. It’s been an exciting and fulfilling journey.
CB: How does it feel to be nominated for so many awards?
SK: It’s pretty amazing. Especially the Eisner. It’s not something that I ever really anticipated or hoped for. To get that sort of recognition, and to see if reaching people. I’m blown away. It’s reaching people and affecting people. So thankful.
Grab Quince on Amazon