In MUHAMMAD ALI: KINSHASA 1974, one of the greatest comebacks in boxing history comes is brought to life from the perspective of one of the greatest photographers of all time, Abbas, as he experienced it. Mixing actual photos with comics recreations, the story is a unique documentary that rivals the drama of any sports film.
The Details
- Written By: Jean-David Morvan
- Art By: Rafael Ortiz
- Colors By: Hiroyuki Ooshima
- Cover Price: $29.99
- Release Date: March 3, 2021
Was It Good?
Better than good. It’s excellent.
“Rumble in the Jungle” has become an almost mythical catchphrase synonymous with hype and epic energy, for good reason. Pundits universally considered Muhammad Ali’s boxing career to be over as late as 1973 when he worked his way back into the contender circles, but his victory in Kinshasa is the stuff of legend. Mixing actual photos from the person who took them and adding in first-hand witness accounts creates a documentary feel that’s both engaging and informative… with a touch of drama.
For a better sense of the art style, take a peek at our exclusive MUHAMMAD ALI: KINSHASA 1974 Preview.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
This is a beefy 136-page graphic novel, so this review will touch on some of the highlights rather than going into depth on events that are already part of the historical record.
We begin with Muhammad Ali and George Forman entering the ring at Kinshasa, ready to do battle. Abbas, the photographer who acts as the real-life narrator for this story, marvels at the pomp, pageantry, and spectacle of it all. The pre-fight festivities are on a level to match 5-star, multi-act concerts with performers such as James Brown and B.B. King. The warmup is already more valuable than the ticket price, and the fight hasn’t even begun yet.
What’s notable is very little of the book is spent breaking down the fight itself. Instead, the focus is on the larger-than-life characters involved. It’s less a story about a boxing match and more a story about driven individuals whose lives have converged on one monumental event.
In the first character study, we’re given dramatic reenactments of the life and times of Don King, the fight’s promoter. Rising from a checkered criminal past, King could see the financial potential in the promotion and he put every persuasive word he could into bringing the fight into reality when he was dead broke. Despite his personal flaws, King managed to pull off the impossible with nothing but persuasion and pure guts.
Next, we go back to the fight where we see differences in fighting styles and strategies. Foreman is a massive bruiser relying on devastating punches to break his opponent. The older (and wiser) Ali used his speed and agility to frustrate his opponent into wearing himself out. Morvan picks the perfect spot to insert a flashback into Ali’s upbringing to show the reader how Ali developed his fighting style.
The insertion of flashbacks feels organic to the storytelling process, but there are so many that there’s a risk of confusing the reader. Thankfully, the narration is very clean and clear (impressively so since this book is translated from the original French), so any confusion jumping back and forth and across characters is very slight.
We come back to the present to see how Ali prepares for the fight. Some of the preparation is recon on Foreman’s training. Some of the preparations are “adjustments” to the ring. And some are Ali’s reflection, focus, and even prayer to get ready to fight.
Next, we cut to Foreman’s upbringing and his rise to become the heavyweight champ. Foreman is a bruiser in every sense of the word. Pure power and demolition. He’d never lost a fight before meeting Ali, but Foreman lacked Ali’s showmanship and ability to get the crowd on his side. Despite Foreman’s undeniable status as champion, the crowd was rooting against him.
Final Thoughts
MUHAMMAD ALI: KINSHASA 1974, takes one of the greatest events in sports history, adds in eclectic art to imagine the private moments, and tells it all from a unique perspective. This is a human story more than a sports story, and it reflects the champion’s spirit, warts and all.
Score: 9.5/10
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