Comic Series ‘Superb’ to Feature Superhero with Down Syndrome
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Superb will be part of Lion Forge’s Catalyst Prime line of superhero comics which launch this week. The series will feature the Lion Forge’s first superhero with Down Syndrome.
When Lion Forge Comics vowed to make “comics for everyone”, it was more than just a marketing slogan. Partnering with the National Down Syndrome Society, David F. Walker (Luke Cage) and Sheena C. Howard (Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation) will write the comic, with art by Ray-Anthony Height, Veronica Gandini and Le Beau L. Underwood.
Courtesy of John Cassaday/Lion Forge Comics
In a statement, Lion Forge President, Geoff Gerber said:
“Everyone faces different challenges in life, but those challenges don’t prevent us from wanting to be heroes. Superb is a story about two young people faced with challenges who struggle to understand one another and what it means to be heroes. But, some challenges are more difficult for many of us to understand. Luckily, NDSS is willing to help our creators explain this and to help our readers understand. Nothing could be more important when telling the story of a character who acquires powers that increase his capabilities without taking away his disabilities.”
National Down Syndrome Society President Sara Hart Weir added:
“As the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome, NDSS is thrilled to work with Lion Forge in the development of a Superb comic superhero named Jonah. We look forward to sharing Jonah’s adventures with Catalyst Prime’s wide readership to encourage the value, acceptance and inclusion of the superheroes we know exist within all people with Down syndrome.”
This comic does not mark the first time a comic book featuring a hero with Down Syndrome was created. Back in 2015, Chip Reece, a self-described fan of comics, created his own comic book featuring a superhero with Down Syndrome for his son.
In a post via The Mighty, Reece described the experiences he had when learning his son had Down Syndrome and wanted to create a hero for him. So, he made the graphic novel, Metaphase, which is available through Alterna Comics.
The Superb series is set to begin in July as the third on-going Catalyst Prime title.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter & Alterna Comics
