This is a bit different than the normal review I do on the site as this comic is currently raising money on Kickstarter.  The Power Within is a comic entry by Northwest Press for “It Gets Better,” an international campaign to help young gay and lesbian kids get past the bullying many experience every day.

Forgetting the good cause it is, the comic is really good.  By the end I let out a gasp and also choked up a bit.  The story focuses on Shannon a gay young man who’s told to hide who he is so he doesn’t get bullied.  Whether you’re gay, straight, black, brown, yellow, blue, whatever, it’s not easy to be told to lie about who you are.

To deal with the bullying Shannon creates an alter-ego to help him deal with it.  Something no one should have to do to cope.  The goal of the fundraising campaign is great too:

Money raised through Kickstarter will be put toward the cost of printing the book, and will help us print a larger quantity. (Printing comics is much more affordable per copy with large print runs!)

In addition to sharing a great story, our goal is to get copies of the book into the hands of young people through youth centers, gay-straight alliances, and teachers’ groups. Printing the book in a large print run will help us distribute free copies of the book to people who need to hear its message.

The story by Charles Christensen just hits you.  You can’t help but feel for Shannon and what he has to deal with.  Gay or straight, many of us have been picked on for just being who we are, so you can easily relate.  The story takes you through the progression and it got me to gasp and choke up by the end.  Mark Brill‘s art is solid as well.

This is a great example of the comic book industry speaking out on an issue and helping a great cause.  No one should get bullied and this is just one of the many things we need to do to end the torture so many experience every day.

Fundraising ends today at 4pm at Kickstarter.

Recommendation: Donate today!

Northwest Press provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.