Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali

by Marc Bernardin, Ron Salas (Illustrator)

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Muhammad Ali, one of the most revered―and controversial―figures of the twentieth century, immortalized those words with the beauty, strength, and originality of his boxing style. Now, his epic story is retold in this gorgeous, striking graphic novel Messenger that showcases exactly why he became celebrated worldwide as “The Greatest.”

Muhammad Ali was one of the most photographed―and photogenic―figures in the history of sports. He demanded to be looked at, to be seen, and this epic captures his meteoric rise from Cassius Clay to Olympian and heavyweight champion of the world with stunning illustrations befitting his storied legacy. Bringing readers through major moments of his life―his first meeting with civil rights leader Malcolm X, his interview with sports broadcaster Howard Cosell about his reasons for opposing the Vietnam War, and his titanic bout with then-undefeated heavyweight champion George Foreman, among others―this graphic biography will be a crucial and instantly popular resource on The Greatest.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Biography, Sports, Nonfiction, Comics, History, Biography Memoir

240 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2023

Reviews

[Crystal Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily 5 stars!! ……though I may be a little bias since he was and will forever be My Hometown Hero here in Louisville, Ky. But this was a really good graphic novel depicting many key points in Ali’s life. Definitely recommend.

[raddy2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Kirin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I'm always curious how books about Muhammad Ali will present his "Islam" and this 240 page graphic novel was no exception.  I was a little hesitant with the title, and with the foreword establishing that this book is akin to the heroic poems of Odysseus and Gilgamesh, and that "inspired by truth, and truth itself, aren't the same thing."  I did appreciate that it says if you are going to take a test on Muhammad Ali and this is your only source, you will fail.  It seems to recognize that Ali means a lot of very different things, to different people and this book at times is true and at times just feels true.  Broken into 12 chapters, 12 rounds, the author offers sources in the back, but leaves wiggle room for creative liberty.  I think if you are familiar with Ali's life the book doesn't provide anything shocking and you will enjoy seeing it play out in graphic novel form. If you aren't familiar with him, the book is a little too choppy to paint a comprehensive biography and you will be confused and need outside clarification at times. I looked into the book before diving in, and many reviews say that the story makes his life accessible to middle grade and middle schoolers, the publisher says 10th-12th grade, and I think with the panel of a prostitute trying to talk to him, alcohol being offered to him, the recreation of him being positioned as a saint being martyred for a magazine cover shoot, comments about being with a lot of women, and some of the politics, the book is best suited for high schoolers.  

SYNOPSIS:

Framed around the lighting of the Olympic torch in 1996 the book then goes back and fills in the gaps on some of the big events of Muhammad Ali's life:

Round One: Schwinn. 1954. Having his bike stolen and being introduced to boxing.

Round Two: Olympian. 1960. Winning Olympic gold.

Round Three: Church. 1961. Meeting Malcolm X.

Round Four: Sonny Liston. 1964. The fight.

Round Five: Media. 1967. Interview with Howard Cosell.

Round Six: Martyr. 1968. Esquire cover shoot.

Round Seven: Defendant. 1971. Draft evasion charges and fight with Joe Frazier.

Round Eight: Candle. 1974. Meeting a child with leukemia.

Round Nine: Rumble. 1974. Rumble in the Jungle.

Round Ten: Patient. 1980. Early signs.

Round Eleven: Shepherd. 1990. Iraq hostage negotiations with Saddam Hussein.

Round Twelve: Survivor. 1996. Lighting the Olympic torch

WHY I LIKE IT:

It does articulate that he parted ways with Nation of Islam in chapter 11, Elijah Muhammad and Nation of Islam is pretty prominent in the book up until then, and then in Iraq it does show him praying salat, mentioning the blessings of Allah swt in freeing the hostages, and noting he is going as the most recognizable Muslim American.  I always enjoy reading about Ali and Cosell's relationship, so I particularly enjoyed those scenes and like the premise of the book established, who knows if they are true, but they feel true and in many ways make Ali seem almost fictious with his equal parts arrogance, humility, humor, and insight.  I had to do a bit of outside reading about the Esquire cover shoot, and the Iraq hostage situation, the book did not seem to make it clear, and got me to thinking perhaps some of the other chapters only seemed clear because I had read about those incidents before.  

Normally I like books to be sourced and a book that is biographical to be accurate, but I almost wanted this book to just be extravagant.  To have fun with the persona of Ali and make him into something of legend that the foreword seemed to hint at.  What I thought was going to make him even more so "the greatest" seemed to just provide a safety net of protection to imagine what was going on in Ali's head during the 12 rounds highlighted.

FLAGS:

There are some offers of alcohol which he refuses, some pointed political positions, a prostitute in a hallway invites him for free, he refuses. He recreates a martyr scene even once he established he was Muslim and wasn't ok with it, but a phone call to Elijah Muhammad's son, made it ok because it was for money, there is a lot to unpack there for kids.  He makes a comment about being with a lot of women at one point, not in your face, but in a graphic novel, to dedicate a panel to it, makes it stand out.  Racism, hate, bigotry, prejudice.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I am a bit on the fence with this book.  I think it would work for a high school book club, but with a lot of context.  If you are discussing Ali, this would be a suitable supplement in a high school classroom.  If you are an English teacher talking about Homer and heroic poetry, I think this would be a great contemporary example. I don't know that I would stop mature middle schoolers from reading it, but I don't know that I would be suggesting it either.

[Star Gater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you First Second Books for allowing me to read and review Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali on NetGalley.

Published: 08/15/23

Stars: 4.5

A flood of memories rushed through me as I read my first graphic novel. Memories where pay-per-view didn't exist. A big bowl of popcorn, a cold can of Coca-Cola, and a prayer to the rabbit ear Gods for a clear screen when the fight started was the agenda.

Bernardin does not disappoint. The book cannot cover Ali's entire life, nor should it be expected; this is classified as Teens & YA. With sketchy eye pleasing illustrations areas of his career are targeted. I loved this book. Prereading I wouldn't have won an essay or fill-in the blank quiz, but as I read recollections came to the forefront of my brain. The reading was seamless. The good, bad and ugly are minimally recognized. The author tells a story and leaves you satisfied, only your personal curiosity into Ali's personal life gives you reason to delve deeper.

I would have picked this up for my Dad and not been able to save it for a special occasion/holiday. I'm in a no book buy year, and am adding this to my personal 2025 buy list.

I would gift this.

[Ashley Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do I even need to give a synopsis of this book? It’s about Muhammad Ali.

This graphic novel serves as a quick crash course into the legend that is Ali, and highlights the major points in his career, from how he first started fighting to his meeting with Saddam Hussein to his 1996 Olympics appearance. The author acknowledges at the very beginning that this book isn’t a comprehensive summary of his life, being only 12 chapters, and that the dialogue may not be accurate.

Ali’s fame was before my time, so I only knew him from stories I’d seen on the news, most of them focusing on his advancing Parkinson’s disease. So, this book was informative for me. And it gives insight into the type of man he was and what he stood for and what he faced throughout his career.
One complaint I did have was that since the author and illustrator only focused on certain points in his life, they couldn’t have well dedicated a whole novel to his 44 boxing matches, so there were a lot of abrupt endings to chapters which jostled me a bit. Not enough to ruin the reading experience but enough to make me notice.

[Dpalange44 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first real introduction to Muhammad Ali was that torch lighting ceremony in Atlanta in 1996. The more I learn about him the more in awe I am.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A non-fiction, biographical review of the life and influence of The Greatest. Muhammad Ali. The black and white artwork by Ron Salas is lovely and realistic. Faces are and places are recognizable, as are the surrounding elements such as fashion, architecture, the fight venues, etc. I was very impressed with how he told the story of the fights while also telling another story at the same time. The layering of speech bubbles manages to stay readable, even though there is a lot of information shared in these texts. In the foreword, Bernardin says, "Some of what you're about to read in these ten... chapters is absolutely, verifiably true. But other parts... feel true" and "what we wanted to do was attempt to embody the essence of Muhammad Ali". This novel was never meant to be a full biographical text on this individuals life. Indeed, his four marriages are only referred to in passing, we never meet any of his children, and other facts of his life are similarly glossed over. For instance, we see him meet Malcolm X and discover the Islamic faith, but we do not see the disintegration of his relationship with either X or the Nation of Islam (that is covered by a single sentence in "interview". Overall, I found this a pretty good overview for understanding the journey of Ali as a person and his Ali's impact on world culture. And yet, it's hard to express Ali's charisma, or his abilities as a speaker and presence in print format, without seeing him on film and "in action". I feel the author and the illustrator did an excellent job to execute their vision for this work.

[Shelby Fielding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tome of work, despite its short length. With every page you can feel the burden of research, the devotion of time, and the patience of belief that one day it would be a work that drew breath. Ron Salas' art is a particular stand out, I think. Weaponizing black-and-white style to manifest something that insinuates time caught in a capsule, but the structure of the art is less rigid. There's light dancing in spots it wouldn't, there's a looseness to some faces, and all of it becomes a mirage of history that, as the book intends, blurs the lines between fable and history. Bernardin is a writer who will always have a place in my TBR, he's one of the few that shares that undesired responsibility of convincing me that I could create my own fiction some day. His work here is measured, considerate, and willing to aim at the warrior Ali was at all times, not just within squared circle. In essence, though, this is a book not made for me. Ali's legend was before my time, well before it. His name is more like a distant star that once past by our night sky and then left, only to be talked about from one generation to another who never saw the star in the first place. But there's a sparkle to still behold, whether you found yourself caught in its allure or not, it remains bright, and twinkles, no matter how far it drifts into distant memory. The legend never dies.

[Quade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messenger:

Using a graphic novel format, Messenger is an excellent book that provides the biography of Muhammad Ali. The pattern of events depicts the life of Ali, concentrating on the moments that led to his legendary accomplishments and his significance as a world champion.

Images in the book are ideal for telling the story for visual readers of all ages by drawing them in, and carefully choosing text to further the timeline. Illustrator Salas chose a drawing style that appeared natural and gave me the feeling of being a witness to big events as a person in the room, watching from a first-person perspective. The visuals add to the story with emotion and description that are hard to explain with words.

Messenger also demonstrates the determination and bravery of Muhammad Ali inside and outside the ring. Ali is illustrated as a confident and robust figure willing to fight for his rights and opinions. He is a marvelous role model for young athletes and people around the world to stand up for reasons meaningful to them.

Thanks to Fist Second imprint of Macmillan publishers for the ARC (Advance Readers Copy.)

[Joseph R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel biography goes through the highlights and important events of the life of Muhammad Ali, the American boxer who became world famous for many reasons. The most significant is his success in the boxing ring. He also had a lot of character, exhibiting a sense of humor and brashness. He liked himself a lot and often took a poetic view of things. His famous "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" was one of the many boasts he would make about his abilities. The book also covers his conversion to Islam, his refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War, his successful intervention in an Iraq hostage situation. The story is bookended by his lighting the Olympic torch at the Los Angeles games in 1996, showing a child watching on TV and asking why Ali is famous and what's wrong with him. Ali had Parkinson's disease.

The biography is told in vignettes, with each incident in Ali's life showing some of his character and how he dealt with others and thought of himself. It provides a fascinating portrait of the man and his greatness.

Recommended.

[Grady Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very eye-opening to me and proves why he is so impactful. He was willing to throw away his boxing career and maybe spend some time in jail for draft evasion. This shows the impact because he was anti-war, and he stayed anti-war throughout the book. In the end, he used his influence to free American hostages from Iraq. He is a hero, and he will be remembered forever because of his boxing abilities and the heroism he showed to these people. Overall, this book was very good and I would recommend it to anyone interested. It is a graphic novel, which makes it an easier read for people who struggle. Also, I already knew about Muhammad Ali, but this book took a further dive into his life, and I learned many things along the way.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic biography, sort of. This is less a comprehensive biography than a series of significant events in Ali's life. Not everything of significance: only one of his wives and none of his children appear. This almost feels more like the building of a legend, focusing almost equally on his arrogant stage persona and his Muslim faith. If you knew absolutely nothing about Ali, I'm not sure if you'd be able to fill in the blanks by yourself. That said, it's a very entertaining read, because Ali was a very entertaining man. I think if you bring anything away from this book, it'll be that Ali had a loud mouth and a sincere faith.

[Heidi Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has read about Ali, I think the book was interesting. As a librarian recommending books to students, there are a lot of holes. The beginning of the book had a note indicating that some things are fictionalized. It skims over a lot but would either be a good supplement to other books about Ali or a good jumping off point to learn more. I don’t know that I would recommend it if you don’t want to learn more about him. Content: there are some references to a prostitute, alcohol, an affair, and Ali fathering many children. They aren’t core parts of the story or given much depth. There are discussions or racism.

[Matthew Picardat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messenger is a wonderfully written and illustrated biography of one of the most influential figures in sports and civil rights. Bernardin does such an amazing job at telling Ali's life story so it is approachable for middle grade and teens. I will say this book has a specific audience and if you are already familiar with the life of Ali do not expect to learn anything new or groundbreaking here. That being said, as a YA graphic novel for those just learning more about his life, this is a perfect book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

[Misse Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely adapted for all audiences!

To write about the greatest to ever do it in any capacity is quite a task. To do it successfully and in a manner that is relatable and can reach a diverse target audience, is quite phenomenal. Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali is a graphic novel illustrating in text and beautiful images the life and major moments of the man born Cassius Clay who elevated to become heavyweight champion of the world, an Olympian, and one of the most respected and controversial public figures in the twentieth century.

This biography is like most in its context. If you have read or know the history of Muhammad Ali, I can't say that the information is new. But I appreciate the thoughtfulness of how the content was selected and combined with such stunning imagery. It will go over very well with young readers and is a resource that I think even readers like myself who are familiar can appreciate.

Thank you to First Second Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of this beautiful rendering in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed it!

[Linda Naquin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of non-fiction books, nor am I a fan of sports books. I tend to strongly avoid both. This was a donated book for my classroom that I happened to pick up and glance at the first page or two, and I was initially only looking to check out the art, because I have zero interest biographies or boxing. Page 5, I was hooked. I absolutely loved this graphic novel and I feel like I learned a lot about Muhammad Ali's life that I never knew about before. This was way more than a boxing story, and it was so well written. I don't think this will change my mind in the future about non-fiction and sports, but this book was fantastic!

[Michelle Tuite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading 2025
Book 53: Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali by Marc Bernardin

A Texas Maverick List graphic novel for high school readers. Grabbed this one at the library.

Synopsis: Now, his epic story is retold in this gorgeous, striking graphic novel Messenger that showcases exactly why he became celebrated worldwide as “The Greatest.”

Review: This was a good book, the art was well done as well. I have read better graphic novels and books representing Ali. It was good, not the greatest of all time. My rating 3.5⭐️.

[Richard L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.
* Arguably closer to a 4-star read than a 5-star read, but just glad this book (graphic novel) exists, hopefully to introduce The Greatest to a whole new generation of young people.
* That said, probably a better read if you are already familiar with Ali's life and the specific events depicted here.
* At the same time, much respect to the author and illustrator for capturing their subject's beliefs, personality, charisma, attitude, and aura so succinctly and vividly.

[grieshaber.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5. I absolutely loved this book. There are lots of books written for teens about Muhammad Ali but author, Marc Bernardin, took a very different approach to telling Ali's story. He focuses on the most infamous events in Ali's life and instead of focusing on 100% accuracy, he tells these stories like the legends they have become. A very cool take on "non-fiction". I loved the art and the emotion. I teared up several times reading this book and learned a lot about The Greatest.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Public library copy

Similar to Patterson's Becoming Muhammad Ali : A Novel and Barretta's picture book Muhammad Ali : A Champion Is Born in that this is more for entertainment than research. Graphic novel in black and white with an appealing cover. I already have several books about Ali, so will probably pass on purchase, but this would be great for readers who enjoyed Santiago's 21 (Roberto Clemente) or Victory. Stand!

[William Hume · Rating 4 out of 5]

While "Messenger" is kind of Muhammad Ali "light," I still found it to be excellent and a great way to introduce young people to an important person in our nationl's history. I think Muhammad Ali still has an important message that is important message for America's youth, who increasingly have never heard of him. This graphic novel would be a great way to make that introduction. I expecially appreciated the treatment of his relationship with Howard Cosell. Highly recommended!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel about Muhammad Ali was a bit of a disappointment. Illustrations are all black and white despite the gorgeous illustration on the front cover. The author also tells you in the foreword that if you are looking for something that will help you pass a comprehensive test about Ali's life, this is not that book. It is well-researched and obviously written with love.

[Jordan Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great autobiographical and biographical texts combined with a graphic novel format. I learned some things about Ali that I hadn’t previously known or been taught.

I did notice that there seemed to be limited text and more graphics. Great read for those reluctant readers and those who crave sports narrative!

[Mitzi Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messenger captures the legacy of Muhammad Ali through its vivid images and momentous highs and lows of the life of Ali. From Cassius to Ali, Messenger reveals a story full of honest revelations and experiences of the man and what he brought to the sports world as well as to humanity.

[malak:) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muhammed Ali may you rest in peace

This guy was a legend and I really hope that he is never forgotten...

This book pretty much detailed his boxing career very well (it didn't really get into his personal life)

Nonetheless, it was such a good graphic novel w the images and illustrations.

💗💗

[Abigail Pankau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muhammad Ali became a legend, first for his boxing prowess and then for controversies surrounding his religious choice and anti-war stance. This graphic novel gives a dramatic accounting of the highlights of his career and life that set him apart.

[Carla A · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this title suffers from trying to include too much and also floating too much between teen and tween. Perhaps it would will appeal more to actual young readers who do not as much about the life of Muhammad Ali as I do.

[Shannon Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the writing, the boxing round format, and the art was awesome. This book looked at so many aspects of his life. I did struggle a little with wanting more information on some of the rounds but I think that will just lead to more research on him which is not a bad thing.

[Shanna Klutts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome graphic novel of the GOAT boxer! I love that it shows all that he was, from boxer to Civil Rights fighter, to religious man. It encompasses all sides of him. A great intro to “the Greatest” for kids.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting read. I like the style of these individual moments that show the complicated man and the mythic figure all rolled into one. Made me want to deep dive into some biographies.