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Muhammad Ali
Des premiers succès du jeune Cassius Clay aux dernier combat qui oppose Mohamed Ali à la maladie de Parkinson, cette biographie met en lumière nombre d'aspects méconnus de la vie du boxeur le plus populaire du XXe siècle. Gamin revanchard, provocateur jusqu'à l'outrance, père ou poète ne sont que quelques-uns des mille et un visages d'Ali...
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 10, 2017
I picked this up at the library because I thought it appeared to be a YA graphic novel about Ali, though it was shelved in the adult section. Of course there are hundreds of biographies and documentaries. I thought it was a good introduction to his life and work, focused not so much on his sports legend as his contributions to civil rights and social justice work. He was funny, entertaining and one of the best boxers ever, and he was politically insightful and resistant to things he found wrong about mercian culture, even when it negatively impacted his bank account and reputation (among some white people; he never lost his status with people of color). Hs tans toward being drafted to fight in Vietnam, his rejection of his “slave” name, Cassius Clay and adoption of a Muslim name, his friendship with Muhammed X, his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
The strength of this small book is the political emphasis it gives Ali's story. On the other hand, the text is dense and tiny, and the art is rather dark, so that aspect of it is less inviting. 3.5, I'd say, but I never get tired of reading about him, and this is could be a good introduction for YA and adults.
The strength of this small book is the political emphasis it gives Ali's story. On the other hand, the text is dense and tiny, and the art is rather dark, so that aspect of it is less inviting. 3.5, I'd say, but I never get tired of reading about him, and this is could be a good introduction for YA and adults.
March 12, 2023
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century. From early in his career, Ali was known as an inspiring, controversial, and polarizing figure both inside and outside of the ring.
In 1966, two years after winning the heavyweight title, Ali further antagonized the white establishment by refusing to be drafted into the U.S. military, citing his religious beliefs, and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War. He was eventually arrested, found guilty of draft evasion charges, and stripped of his boxing titles. He successfully appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971, by which time he had not fought for nearly four years and thereby lost a period of peak performance as an athlete. Ali's actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation.
At a time when most fighters let their managers do the talking, Ali thrived in and indeed craved the spotlight, where he was often provocative and outlandish. He was known for trash-talking, and often freestyled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, both for his trash-talking in boxing and as political poetry for his activism, anticipating elements of rap and hip hop music.
As a Muslim, Ali was initially affiliated with Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam (NOI) and advocated their black separatist ideology. He later disavowed the NOI, adhering to Sunni Islam, practicing Sufism, and supporting racial integration, like his former mentor Malcolm X.
After retiring from boxing in 1981, at age 39, Ali focused on religion and charity. In 1984, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome, which some reports attribute to boxing-related injuries, though both Ali and his physician disputed the claim. As his condition worsened, Ali made limited public appearances, and was cared for by his family until his death on June 3, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This graphic novel is everything I could have hoped for and more. Told with love and care, Sybille Titeux and Amazing Améziane captured Ali's work and accomplishments in vivid colours and appreciative tones. The second person narration worked wonders for this story and made me feel so much closer to Ali, his feelings amidst great turmoil and the hard decisions he had to made during his lifetime (many of which he later regretted, like turning from his friend Malcolm).
Boxing was nothing. It wasn't important at all. Boxing was just meant as a way to introduce me to the world.He was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and began training as an amateur boxer when he was 12 years old. At age 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, then turned professional later that year, before converting to Islam after 1961. At age 22, in 1964, he won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in a major upset. He then changed his name from Cassius Clay, which he called his "slave name", to Muhammad Ali. He set an example of racial pride for African Americans and resistance to white domination during the Civil Rights Movement.
In 1966, two years after winning the heavyweight title, Ali further antagonized the white establishment by refusing to be drafted into the U.S. military, citing his religious beliefs, and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War. He was eventually arrested, found guilty of draft evasion charges, and stripped of his boxing titles. He successfully appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971, by which time he had not fought for nearly four years and thereby lost a period of peak performance as an athlete. Ali's actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation.
At a time when most fighters let their managers do the talking, Ali thrived in and indeed craved the spotlight, where he was often provocative and outlandish. He was known for trash-talking, and often freestyled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, both for his trash-talking in boxing and as political poetry for his activism, anticipating elements of rap and hip hop music.
As a Muslim, Ali was initially affiliated with Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam (NOI) and advocated their black separatist ideology. He later disavowed the NOI, adhering to Sunni Islam, practicing Sufism, and supporting racial integration, like his former mentor Malcolm X.
After retiring from boxing in 1981, at age 39, Ali focused on religion and charity. In 1984, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome, which some reports attribute to boxing-related injuries, though both Ali and his physician disputed the claim. As his condition worsened, Ali made limited public appearances, and was cared for by his family until his death on June 3, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This graphic novel is everything I could have hoped for and more. Told with love and care, Sybille Titeux and Amazing Améziane captured Ali's work and accomplishments in vivid colours and appreciative tones. The second person narration worked wonders for this story and made me feel so much closer to Ali, his feelings amidst great turmoil and the hard decisions he had to made during his lifetime (many of which he later regretted, like turning from his friend Malcolm).
I'm the greatest thing that ever lived. I'm so great I don't have a mark on my face. I shook up the world.You sure did, champ, rest in power. <3
September 18, 2017
The second person storytelling was so effective. "Boxing was nothing. It wasn't important at all. Boxing was just meant as a way to introduce me to the world."
March 6, 2018
There were quite a few things I liked about this comics. First, I liked the idea of telling Ali's life in parallel with some of the historical events that occurred during his life--particularly the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. Second, the boxing matches are depicted in a round-by-round format, so it was easy to understand the flow of the fights that were featured. Finally, I liked the art. The artist was able to capture Ali's expressiveness through the art.
There one thing that is off that may be due to this being a translated work. This story is told in second person, so it's as if a disembodied voice is telling Ali his own story. Perhaps that is a narrative device that works better in the original language, but in English it's awkward. Also, this comic relies heavily on narration boxes, so it's drier than if the story were told in the characters own voices.
There one thing that is off that may be due to this being a translated work. This story is told in second person, so it's as if a disembodied voice is telling Ali his own story. Perhaps that is a narrative device that works better in the original language, but in English it's awkward. Also, this comic relies heavily on narration boxes, so it's drier than if the story were told in the characters own voices.
March 13, 2021
Rounding up February appropriately enough with this book, a biography of Muhammad Ali in a graphic form. I still vaguely remember the Will Smith’s movie Ali. Between the two I probably know as much as I’d ever want to know about Ali now.
Biographies are kind of tough to judge, there’s the book and then there’s the actual life. So as far as the former goes, this book succeeds. It’s detailed (you know this form the get go being provided a dramatis personae) compelling and absolutely gorgeously done. The art is first rate, especially the portraiture and the boxing scenes.
Things is, I don’t like sports and somehow I really like boxing. There’s something appealingly honest and primal about it. Just two people beating the crap out of each other for money, positively gladiatorial. And Ali is by any measure either one of the boxing’s greats or (as he himself proclaimed so often) The Greatest. That’s unquestionable. The man had style and stamina and sass. And used all of it. In fact, however great you think Ali was of a boxer, you’ll probably never match his own sky high opinion of himself. Confidence in extreme.
Ali as a person…that’s where opinions might vary. I do have profound respect for his vehement opposition to war. But his devolution to N.O.I. (which led to a split of an epic bromance), his penchant for trading in wives for newer models with some regularity…that’s…well, that’s a different story, especially the former aspect. And I’m not brazen enough to go into religion and race conversation in a public review, there’s just way too much ugliness out there to comfortably exercise freedom of speech and it doesn’t seem worth it. Suffice to say it’s controversial and may lead to having divided opinions.
So all in all, it was an interesting and visually sumptuous book and a very fawning biographical representation. Text heavy, reads longer than page count might lead you to anticipate. The Greatest? You decide.
Biographies are kind of tough to judge, there’s the book and then there’s the actual life. So as far as the former goes, this book succeeds. It’s detailed (you know this form the get go being provided a dramatis personae) compelling and absolutely gorgeously done. The art is first rate, especially the portraiture and the boxing scenes.
Things is, I don’t like sports and somehow I really like boxing. There’s something appealingly honest and primal about it. Just two people beating the crap out of each other for money, positively gladiatorial. And Ali is by any measure either one of the boxing’s greats or (as he himself proclaimed so often) The Greatest. That’s unquestionable. The man had style and stamina and sass. And used all of it. In fact, however great you think Ali was of a boxer, you’ll probably never match his own sky high opinion of himself. Confidence in extreme.
Ali as a person…that’s where opinions might vary. I do have profound respect for his vehement opposition to war. But his devolution to N.O.I. (which led to a split of an epic bromance), his penchant for trading in wives for newer models with some regularity…that’s…well, that’s a different story, especially the former aspect. And I’m not brazen enough to go into religion and race conversation in a public review, there’s just way too much ugliness out there to comfortably exercise freedom of speech and it doesn’t seem worth it. Suffice to say it’s controversial and may lead to having divided opinions.
So all in all, it was an interesting and visually sumptuous book and a very fawning biographical representation. Text heavy, reads longer than page count might lead you to anticipate. The Greatest? You decide.
April 12, 2017
There are a lot of things about this I really like and a lot that I really don't like. I'm ambivalent about the second person address, love the gravity and weight of the approach, and can't stand how imprecise it is regarding dates and specifics. The coverage of the individual fights is fantastic; the coverage of the fight timelines and Ali's smaller bouts is awful. I want more, which is a good sign in certain respects, but obviously not ideal.
July 6, 2017
Korkunç çeviri hataları ve yazım yanlışlarına rağmen bu olağanüstü ilham verici yaşam öyküsü beni o kadar etkiledi ki bu kitaba bu notu vermek zorundaydım. Muhammed Ali; yaşadıklarıyla, katlandıklarıyla ve başardıklarıyla bir toplumun içinden, adına ve kimliğine yüklenen bütün dezavantajlara ragmen sivrilerek çıkmayı başarabilmiş efsane bir insan. Onun gibilerin hikayeleri defalarca anlatılmaya ve tekrar tekrar okunmaya değer.
January 3, 2017
A real work of art, and the writing is top notch as well. Every page is a standalone painting. I grew up watching Ali fight and remembered so many of the moments depicted here. This is a real accomplishment.
January 15, 2017
What a beautifully written biography about Muhammad Ali. It goes from his childhood until his death, and each page is wonderfully illustrated.
The only slight issue was with the font being so small. There were some pages where I was squinting to read the blurb of words.
The only slight issue was with the font being so small. There were some pages where I was squinting to read the blurb of words.
December 2, 2016
A good graphic biography
I'm not into how much it used the second person but it was overall very sleekly written and illustrated
I'm not into how much it used the second person but it was overall very sleekly written and illustrated
April 3, 2017
This book is a masterpiece. The art is so perfect it is almost hard to see how perfect it is! Told in second-person perspective, the writer brilliantly puts us, the readers in Ali's "shoes" which is to say that as we are told our (Ali's) story we are given a true perspective on the ugly racism that he experienced every day of his life. And that is only one of the more obvious indicators of how brilliant the writing is. With subtlety and grace, Titeux leads us from apathy to sympathy and into empathy.
Because the story we have always heard of this man, has always been a distorted one. For speaking out against the racist injustices and inequalities of his country Ali was vilified and demonized.
Yet, His spirit triumphed and he still remains a hero and an inspiration to many, and they cannot take that away!
Because the story we have always heard of this man, has always been a distorted one. For speaking out against the racist injustices and inequalities of his country Ali was vilified and demonized.
Yet, His spirit triumphed and he still remains a hero and an inspiration to many, and they cannot take that away!
March 22, 2019
I absolutely loved this. I love the fact that the author gave a political context to his life, and didn't just include why he was a great athlete. I think it was also fair in that it also pointed out where Ali was cruel or turned his back on certain people. Even though this whole book read as a love letter to Ali, it wasn't afraid to acknowledge his shortcomings. This book was so great and I highly recommend it to everyone. This is a book I'm 100% gonna pick up a physical copy of.
July 3, 2020
I might’ve given this 5 stars, but the American HC published by Dark Horse is one of those translated editions of a work that, I assume, was originally published in Europe in a larger format. This is a good read, but I had to read it with a magnifying glass so I wouldn’t strain my eyes!
March 20, 2017
this book is beautiful. i don't know how i missed it
April 4, 2017
A graphic novel about a great figure who was arguably the most famous American from Kentucky. The way the story is told from second-person perspective is somewhat bizarre (addressing us readers as if we were Muhammad Ali himself), but we'd get used to it after a while).
August 10, 2020
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this biography. I'm not usually much of a graphic novel reader (I've been practicing, though). Usually, I find the balance between text and images to be confusing, but in this book, the images really did enhance the story. From the inside cover's list of characters with mini-biographies to the exerpts from newspapers and TV interviews, the images really helped to tell the story and connect various pieces together.
In some ways, I think this is a far more accessible story of the history of civil rights than the graphic novel March is. While Titeux does not shy away from introducing numerous historical figures, somehow they stay distinct and never slip into a pool of confused/confusing names. It helps that the book contains the biographical reference in the beginning of the book, but I never needed to use it.
I love how African American history provides a supporting structure for the story of Ali's life. He was instrumental in so many parts of the movement for black power.
My main complaint is probably that at times the book was a bit sycophantic. Obviously Ali was an important historical figure, but the dismissal of his treatment of his first wife as he divorced her to get together with Veronica, who "soon falls for you. Who wouldn't want to be wrapped up in your gentleness, your kindness, and all the rest that sets you apart?" Well, gee, Betty, maybe? Or perhaps she'd've been OK sharing? IDK.
This is offset by the powerful historical recountings like that of the year 1968, which includes Vietnam, Stokely Carmichael, the assassination of MLK, Robert Kennedy's run for president and the protest of John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the Olympics. These aren't isolated moments in time, however. While their most historic moments happened that year, Titeux also lets us know how those situations resolved over time, compacting years into a cohesive whole with a shared moment of visibility in 1968.
I was struck by how much of boxing history (of which I was completely ignorant) was re-tooled to create plotlines for the Rocky franchise. Who knew? Well, probably anyone who knows anything about famous boxing matches, I guess...
The author does hint at the broken relationships Ali leaves in his wake: Malcolm X and Joe Frazier come to mind. But predominantly the story is one that echoes the praise of many who knew him during his lifetime.
Anyway, this book goes beyond merely telling about an important person's life. It's an extremely effective way to tell history. The narrative arc of the story itself is a page-turner, and the author leaves a lasting theme of resistance by including an image of a young person with a raised fist as he wears a t-shirt that reads "Trayvon Martin."
In some ways, I think this is a far more accessible story of the history of civil rights than the graphic novel March is. While Titeux does not shy away from introducing numerous historical figures, somehow they stay distinct and never slip into a pool of confused/confusing names. It helps that the book contains the biographical reference in the beginning of the book, but I never needed to use it.
I love how African American history provides a supporting structure for the story of Ali's life. He was instrumental in so many parts of the movement for black power.
My main complaint is probably that at times the book was a bit sycophantic. Obviously Ali was an important historical figure, but the dismissal of his treatment of his first wife as he divorced her to get together with Veronica, who "soon falls for you. Who wouldn't want to be wrapped up in your gentleness, your kindness, and all the rest that sets you apart?" Well, gee, Betty, maybe? Or perhaps she'd've been OK sharing? IDK.
This is offset by the powerful historical recountings like that of the year 1968, which includes Vietnam, Stokely Carmichael, the assassination of MLK, Robert Kennedy's run for president and the protest of John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the Olympics. These aren't isolated moments in time, however. While their most historic moments happened that year, Titeux also lets us know how those situations resolved over time, compacting years into a cohesive whole with a shared moment of visibility in 1968.
I was struck by how much of boxing history (of which I was completely ignorant) was re-tooled to create plotlines for the Rocky franchise. Who knew? Well, probably anyone who knows anything about famous boxing matches, I guess...
The author does hint at the broken relationships Ali leaves in his wake: Malcolm X and Joe Frazier come to mind. But predominantly the story is one that echoes the praise of many who knew him during his lifetime.
Anyway, this book goes beyond merely telling about an important person's life. It's an extremely effective way to tell history. The narrative arc of the story itself is a page-turner, and the author leaves a lasting theme of resistance by including an image of a young person with a raised fist as he wears a t-shirt that reads "Trayvon Martin."
April 1, 2017
Tells story of Louisville, KY boxer who at the age of 12 had his bicycle stolen. He is led into boxing and wins a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Upon returning home he discovers that gold does not change black.
He trains in Miami and hounds Sonny Liston into a bout where he becomes champ. He is invited by his Uncle Sam to attend the South Asia games but declines so he loses his boxing license for three years. he returns to the ring to continue his reign as Champ, his famous bouts are chronicled.
Upon departure from the ring he tours as an icon. He faith, social issues, and multiple wives are mentioned. Says that 40 percent of his winning went to build mosques! Insightful, swearing.
He trains in Miami and hounds Sonny Liston into a bout where he becomes champ. He is invited by his Uncle Sam to attend the South Asia games but declines so he loses his boxing license for three years. he returns to the ring to continue his reign as Champ, his famous bouts are chronicled.
Upon departure from the ring he tours as an icon. He faith, social issues, and multiple wives are mentioned. Says that 40 percent of his winning went to build mosques! Insightful, swearing.
October 7, 2017
This book managed to be decent in spite of itself, and that is mostly due to the charisma of Ali and the power of his words. When Ali speaks, the book soars, when the writer fills caption after caption with awkward second-person narration it slumps.
I actually had trouble reading this book for technical reasons. The print is tiny and the color is a dark sepia murk obscuring the artist's quite impressive linework.
I actually had trouble reading this book for technical reasons. The print is tiny and the color is a dark sepia murk obscuring the artist's quite impressive linework.
March 15, 2018
Not being a particularly sports interested person, surrounded by people who are not particularly sports people, by and large, I don't feel all that bad about how so little I know about Muhammad Ali. That said, I'm glad to finally be rectifying that to some small degree, and now feel a bit inspired to reach even further. A pretty charismatic guy, Ali's political and religious journey is pretty interesting.
That said, I do think that this book has its own fair share of problems and most of those boil down to the wording and wordiness. Although I'm not any sort of connoisseur of French comics, so perhaps these will all be items that are valued in French comics. Feel free to correct me down in the comments.
The first issue that really threw me off about this comic was the fact that it's in the second person. And while this is a translated comic there is no credited translator so it seems like a deliberate choice by the author. I wouldn't say it's a complete no go, but combined with the somewhat worshipful tone of the narrator at times it felt very weird!But A+ to the author for not trying to hide their biases.
The second, and probably bigger, issue is that this comic is also very wordy and the typography is laid out in a very small and dense manner. So while the book overall is not extremely big, and Ali's life was anything but boring, it was still extremely hard for me to get through. Neither a net positive or negative I suppose, but the amount of contextual detail given (and worshipful asides) did get a bit tedious at times although I suspect boxing history enthusiasts would likely beg to differ.
In contrast to this criticism, the art really stole the show for me personally. Not necessarily ostentatious or distracting, my reading for this one was slow enough that I didn't really notice until I was flipping back through to review but the page layouts for this book are extremely varied - while not sacrificing readability. Each page spread really exudes the energy of what is happening in the story at that point so everything felt extremely carefully put together.
So between the information, importance, and art, I have to say that this was a really worthwhile read (even for little old anti-sports me) and legitimately enjoyable at least 50% of the time. People who are already invested in one or more aspects of this book will likely be able to enjoy it 100% if not more. The only other caviat I would tack on is that I would consider this creative nonfiction more so then just nonfiction.
That said, I do think that this book has its own fair share of problems and most of those boil down to the wording and wordiness. Although I'm not any sort of connoisseur of French comics, so perhaps these will all be items that are valued in French comics. Feel free to correct me down in the comments.
The first issue that really threw me off about this comic was the fact that it's in the second person. And while this is a translated comic there is no credited translator so it seems like a deliberate choice by the author. I wouldn't say it's a complete no go, but combined with the somewhat worshipful tone of the narrator at times it felt very weird!But A+ to the author for not trying to hide their biases.
The second, and probably bigger, issue is that this comic is also very wordy and the typography is laid out in a very small and dense manner. So while the book overall is not extremely big, and Ali's life was anything but boring, it was still extremely hard for me to get through. Neither a net positive or negative I suppose, but the amount of contextual detail given (and worshipful asides) did get a bit tedious at times although I suspect boxing history enthusiasts would likely beg to differ.
In contrast to this criticism, the art really stole the show for me personally. Not necessarily ostentatious or distracting, my reading for this one was slow enough that I didn't really notice until I was flipping back through to review but the page layouts for this book are extremely varied - while not sacrificing readability. Each page spread really exudes the energy of what is happening in the story at that point so everything felt extremely carefully put together.
So between the information, importance, and art, I have to say that this was a really worthwhile read (even for little old anti-sports me) and legitimately enjoyable at least 50% of the time. People who are already invested in one or more aspects of this book will likely be able to enjoy it 100% if not more. The only other caviat I would tack on is that I would consider this creative nonfiction more so then just nonfiction.
July 5, 2017
Despite already being familiar with the particular's of Ali's life and career, I never get tired of hearing or seeing them retold. This account in graphic novel form is no different for me. Admittedly, it is a bit of a gloss, breezing through the high and low points of his life, activism and fights at a rapid pace (and frankly, the casual way it gets around the treatment of his girlfriends and wives is a bit bothersome). But combined with the stark, muted artwork, it takes on the quality of a poem. A poem about one of the most unique human beings who ever lived. And his unrepentant, proud (and for many whites unforgivable) blackness is something Americans need to be reminded about now more than ever.
June 19, 2017
Lovely and evocative artwork, with a little mixed media thrown in for context. I'll be honest in wondering about a white woman trying to evoke the African-American experience and brutality of race relations in the 1950s and 1960s, but she seems to be a good, albeit antiseptic job of it. I just chafed horribly at the incongruous details, like Drew Bundini Brown and Sugar Ray Robinson repeatedly calling him Ali upon the first meeting with Brown, despite the fact that he didn't change his name from Cassius Clay until 2 years after that meeting. In a book purporting to be about a man's life, those kind of details stick out badly.
May 7, 2017
En iyinin iyisinin hayat hikayesi. Gelmiş geçmiş en büyük boksör Muhammed Ali neler yaşamış, nelere göğüs germiş öğrenmek isteyenler için güzel bir çizgi roman. Beğenmediğim tek yanı çok karışık bir biçimde ilerlemiş olması. Herhangi bir başlık ya da sıralama olmadan ne zaman ne oluyacağınızı bilmeden ilerliyorsunuz. Detaylara girilmeden, sadece anahatlarıyla hazırlanmış bir çizgi roman. Ama buna rağmen alınmalı okunmalı ve okutulmalı. Her kitaplıkta olması gereken eşsiz bir çizgi roman çalışması.
June 17, 2020
This graphic novel is jam-packed with the history and life of Muhammad Ali. I just wish the text boxes were a bit larger---I found myself squinting to read. :) I really enjoyed also learning about Malcolm X in Ali's story and especially this quote:
"If you stick a knife nine inches into my back and pull it out six inches, that is not progress. Even if you pull it all the way out, that is not progress. Progress is healing the would, and American hasn't even begun to pull out the knife. They won't even admit that the knife is there."
"If you stick a knife nine inches into my back and pull it out six inches, that is not progress. Even if you pull it all the way out, that is not progress. Progress is healing the would, and American hasn't even begun to pull out the knife. They won't even admit that the knife is there."
April 27, 2021
Muhammed Ali's personal life story is framed through the progression of the civil rights movement, and interestingly done with second person narration. It's rare to find books with second person narration, let alone non-fiction, let alone comics. Maybe it's a quirk of translation but it doesn't always work as well in English. The art is beautiful, sometimes depicting realistic people and sometimes covering them with shadow to draw attention away from them and instead towards the purposeful narration and dialogue.
January 30, 2022
On the whole, a very interesting graphic novel that gives an insight into his life. He's a complex person, but makes his victories all the more exciting. I love how the book shows Ali as an activist, and an icon, emphasizing this fact - that he is more than an athlete. His story was presented very well here, and the art in some of the later fights is really fantastic.
Not sure if it was a problem with my copy, but the text sort of blurs out in places. And sometimes the time jumps are pretty confusing. Still, great book!
Not sure if it was a problem with my copy, but the text sort of blurs out in places. And sometimes the time jumps are pretty confusing. Still, great book!
September 6, 2020
This biography of Ali mostly skips the early parts and starts in at the boxing career. Told in parallel with world events, the reader gets a sense of the time. Ali cheated by the government out of his prime by a dispute about the draft during Vietnam is truly one of the great athletes of our time but this book helps illuminate while he was so much more. The artwork is fantastic, worthy of the subject.
January 2, 2021
This is not a simple biography. Because not only you're reading a champion's life, but also a human rights activist, an influential person, an icon's struggle against being a black person in 60's USA.
Treated as a lower class human, black people's war against racism was at its peak in 60's. While you are reading this book, you also read Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and their cause against racism. Last but not least, you dive into the world of boxing and the legends of two decades after Ali.
Treated as a lower class human, black people's war against racism was at its peak in 60's. While you are reading this book, you also read Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and their cause against racism. Last but not least, you dive into the world of boxing and the legends of two decades after Ali.
April 16, 2021
Une BD bien construite sur le parcours du "Greatest" de la boxe.
Ca se lit rapidement, mais j'avoue que je n'ai pas eu toutes les infos que je recherchais sur le personnage, disons que c'est une biographie basée sur les faits et pas sur le mode de pensée de Muhammed. Néanmoins, je trouve que le personnage est dépeint de manière plutôt authentique, mettant en valeur autant ses défauts que ses qualités et c'est ce que j'ai le plus apprécié dans l'ensemble.
Ca se lit rapidement, mais j'avoue que je n'ai pas eu toutes les infos que je recherchais sur le personnage, disons que c'est une biographie basée sur les faits et pas sur le mode de pensée de Muhammed. Néanmoins, je trouve que le personnage est dépeint de manière plutôt authentique, mettant en valeur autant ses défauts que ses qualités et c'est ce que j'ai le plus apprécié dans l'ensemble.
August 16, 2018
I've read a few books about Ali, watched a few film, he's endlessly fascinating. This graphic novel is one of the better books I've read about the towering figure; really gets the mood of the man and does a great job of painting a picture - haha, literally - of his achievements, attitude and movements outside of the ring in particular.
May 12, 2021
bir sporcu olmak, ya da dünyanın en iyi boksörü, en iyi politikacısı ya da en iyinin iyisi. Muhammed Ali'nin biyografisi niteliğindeki bu çizgi-roman bana bir kez daha gösterdi ki önemli olan sonunda nasıl hatırlandığınız ve o görkemli anların hiçbirinden pişmanlık duymadan bir yaşamı tamamlamanız.
Okunmalı.
Okunmalı.
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