Tag Archives: down syndrome

Listen to Dr Sheena Howard and David Walker Talk Catalyst Prime’s Superb on Demand

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On demand: iTunes ¦ Sound Cloud ¦ Stitcher ¦ BlogTalkRadio ¦ Listed on podcastdirectory.com

Written by David Walker and Dr. Sheena C. Howard Superb follows teenager Kayla Tate who is forced to move back to her hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. Meanwhile, the mysterious superhero Cosmosis battles the supposedly-benevolent corporation Foresight. The series is unique in that the superhero, Jonah, has Down Syndrome. Lion Forge is also working with the National Down Syndrome Society on the portrayal of the character and will include educational material for readers.

Joining Graphic Policy Radio to discuss Superb is writers David Walker and Sheena C. Howard.

Sheena C. Howard, is a Past Chair of the Black Caucus and Associate Professor of Communication at Rider University. Howard is an award-winning author. That includes a 2014 Eisner Award winner for her first book, Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation. She’s also the author of Black Queer Identity Matrix and Critical Articulations of Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation. Howard has appeared on NPR, The Washington Post, ABC, Philadelphia Weekly as well as other networks and documentaries as an expert on popular culture, race, politics and sexual identity negotiation. She also writes for The Huffington Post.

David F. Walker’s an award-winning comic book writer, author, filmmaker, journalist, and educator. His work in comic books includes working with Dynamite, Marvel, IDW/Monkeybrain, and Dark Horse. He’s also the creator of the YA series The Adventures of Darius Logan.

Walker is recognized as a leading scholar expert of African-American cinema. Walker has directed and produced films, written for numerous sites as screen editor and film critic, and taught courses such as documentary filmmaking, writing for comics, and film criticism.

Listen to the show on demand and take in on the go.

Metaphase: A Comic Inspired by Little Heroes Born with Down Syndrome

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Alterna Comics announced on World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, which took place on March 21, the release of a 10 page teaser issue for the upcoming graphic novel Metaphase which will be released on comiXology. Break out writer Chip Reece‘s creation is visually realized by the mega talents of artist Kelly Williams to give you a taste of what’s to come! Metaphase is a story about self discovery and living with Down Syndrome, wrapped in an exciting super-hero shell!

What happens when a son’s quest for power leads to the destruction of his father, the world’s strongest superhero? Metaphase is a graphic novel about Ollie, a boy with Down Syndrome who just wants to be “super” too. If it wasn’t hard enough sizing himself up with the most average of human strength, Ollie has grown up with a front row seat to the upper extreme of the physical spectrum! Incredibly, an opportunity may exist that could get him the power he desires…

Powers, Inc. is a company looking for volunteers to test their controversial and experimental chromosome treatment. This process promises to give super powers to anyone who wants them…or so it seems. As with any scheme that sounds too good to be true, there are sinister motives…ones that directly involve destroying the greatest superhero of all time, Ollie’s dad!

In 2010 Chip’s son Oliver was born with Down Syndrome as well as two congenital heart defects. Besides the monumental achievement of surviving three open heart surgeries, this little fella also spent over seven months in the hospital, and had a tracheotomy and feeding tube inserted to improve his chances of survival. Inspired by his son’s strength despite these odds, seeds were planted in this long time comic book fan’s mind to spin a tale that would spotlight just how spectacular individual’s with Down Syndrome are!