Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali

by Marc Bernardin, Ron Salas (Illustrator)

Overview

“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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250881632
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	08/15/2023
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	178,789
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Marc Bernardin is a WGA Award-winning television writer-producer who has worked on Star Trek: Picard, The Continental, Carnival Row, Treadstone, Castle Rock, Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina, Masters of the Universe: Revelations, and Alphas. In an earlier life, he was a journalist for the Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Playboy, and Entertainment Weekly. In comics, he’s an Inkpot-winning writer of Adora and the Distance, Peter Parker: The Amazing Shutterbug, Genius, The Highwaymen, and Monster Attack Network. And he cohosts the Fatman Beyond podcast with Kevin Smith.

Ron Salas is a Philippine-born designer, illustrator and comic book artist. Currently based in Glen Allen, VA he has worked as a merchandise designer with work for companies such as Disney, Universal, Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood and Playboy. He has also worked as a branding/marketing designer for a number of different brands.
He currently works as a freelance illustrator, primarily in comic books / graphic novels. Works include Existence 2.0/3.0, 28 Dracula : Company of Monsters, Six Million Dollar Man: Fall of Man, Prince Valiant and Spider-man.

Editorial Reviews

A Junior Library Guild selection

"Salas’s noir-like b&w illustrations depict some of Ali’s career-defining matches in adrenaline-rich sequences that feature fluidly rendered sweat flying across the page and sharp lighting tracing swift punches...Bernardin employs organic dialogue to highlight his humanitarian efforts throughout...making for a well-rounded look at the subject’s impact on society."—Publishers Weekly

"Most libraries have several Ali biographies already, but this will make an excellent addition to tell his story in a more complete and captivating way." — School Library Journal

"It is a part of this book’s genius to have understood that graphic storytelling is perfectly matched to the epic of Muhammad Ali, among the most inspiring, significant, heroic, and revealing of all postwar American lives. The remainder of its genius can be attributed to the talents of Bernardin and Salas, whose compassionate scholarship, narrative inventiveness, and clear-sighted sense of humanity make Messenger an irresistible, important, and deeply delightful book." —Michael Chabon, author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

“Messenger does the impossible - the graphic novel captures the magic, charm, and unbridled power of one of the most memorable figures in modern history: Muhammad Ali. Bernardin’s well-crafted story and Salas’s clean, evocative art complement each other perfectly to create a story that feels vibrant and epic while still showcasing the many skills and very human flaws of this massive and unforgettable personality and man. I couldn’t put it down.” - Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity

From the Publisher

10/01/2023

Gr 8 Up—Just like the man himself, this book will you have you smiling one minute, then puzzling over philosophical questions the next. Organized into "rounds," Muhammad Ali's most famous matches and contributions to American History become clear for readers with an interest in understanding his full life. Enhanced by poignant and powerful art, Ali's story and personality are captured on paper for new generations of readers. Moments of rough language and racial slurs portray the harsh realities faced by Ali and millions of others. His charitable and diplomatic actions are also included along with his memorable lighting of the Olympic torch. VERDICT Most libraries have several Ali biographies already, but this will make an excellent addition to tell his story in a more complete and captivating way.—Darby Wallace

School Library Journal

★ 2023-06-21
A rousing graphic biography tracing the evolution of a storied boxing champion and humanitarian.

How did Cassius Clay become “The Greatest”? Born in Louisville, Kentucky, the future heavyweight champion stumbled into the sport after a thief stole his bicycle. Clay reported the crime to police officer Joe Martin, who trained boxers at a local gym. Martin advised Clay to “learn to fight before you start fighting.” Later, 18-year-old Clay earned a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics. Becoming an Olympic medalist, however, didn’t protect him from the widespread terror of white supremacy. A chance meeting with Malcolm X in Miami opened Clay’s eyes to the importance of Black pride and claiming his own identity. Later, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Denouncing the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector made headlines; the U.S. Supreme Court found him guilty of draft evasion but later overturned his conviction. Parkinson’s disease may have slowed Ali down, but he remained steadfast in his beliefs. Bernardin’s prose effectively captures Ali’s larger-than-life aura, seamlessly incorporating the boxer’s poetic catchphrases and electrifying speeches. Salas’ emotive grayscale illustrations complement the narrative, evoking the unspoken fears, worries, and doubts hiding beneath Ali’s bravado. This work does a stellar job of presenting Ali’s life in an accessible way without minimizing the impact of his legacy and the expansiveness of his life.

A moving ode to a mighty icon whose cultural contributions are as powerful as his victories in the ring. (bibliography) (Graphic biography. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

06/26/2023

Bernardin (Adora and the Distance) and Salas (Transference) chronicle the early life and later achievements of Black boxer Muhammad Ali in this moving graphic novel biography. After his bike is stolen in 1954 Louisville, Ky., Ali meets boxing coach Joe Martin and insists that Joe instruct him in how to fight so he can teach the thief a lesson. What follows is a passion-fueled journey that would see Ali win six championships before, at age 18, participating in the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome. Salas’s noir-like b&w illustrations depict some of Ali’s career-defining matches in adrenaline-rich sequences that feature fluidly rendered sweat flying across the page and sharp lighting tracing swift punches. Beyond Ali’s athletic prowess, Bernardin employs organic dialogue to highlight his humanitarian efforts throughout, such as the story of his bond with Jimmy, a child with leukemia who reveres Ali. The creators pull no punches when it comes to discussing heavier topics; Ali’s Olympic achievements are soured by the racism he endures in the U.S., and chapters covering the Vietnam War portray Ali’s refusal to participate in the draft, making for a well-rounded look at the subject’s impact on society. Ages 14–up. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly