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bzzlarabzz's review
4.0
I'll admit, before reading this book, I knew only the bare-bones biography of Malcolm X. This graphic biography gave me a much more complete view and understanding of his life, from birth to death. The high contrast black and white drawings imparted surprising subtlety into the expression of the story. At the same time, the artist does not hesitate to graphically portray various acts of violence, beginning with Malcolm's father's death, continuing through police violence and other crimes, culminating in Malcolm's assassination. This is a tale of human rights denied and fought for, but it is also the story of a very human man with very human relationships and motivations. I'm also horrified by how relevant and immediate these issues still are 50 years later. I wonder what his legacy would be if his life hadn't been cut short. It seems like the world still needed him after he was gone.
eliwray's review
4.0
I can't speak to how this view of Malcolm's life compares to other accounts, having read no others yet. I would guess this is at the least a compassionate lens, and rather complex for the length of the story. It is beautifully rendered, and a great starting point to get past the thin stereotypes of him in mainstream American mythos. It leaves me wanting to know more about the man.
amybirdy's review
3.0
This was a great way to get to know his history, but the art was not my favourite. It was very dark and it was difficult to tell what was going on in the pictures.
francomega's review
3.0
Similar to a lot of non-white leaders, history has painted Malcolm X in very broad strokes. At least the history I was taught. The facts, as always, are more complicated and much more interesting. He was a loud, scary radical, especially compared to the more media-friendly MLK, and radicals tend to get marginalized. It's a shame because the margins are where you usually find the truth.
hamikka's review
5.0
A compelling and effective condensation of a complex man’s life. My library has it shelved as “adult,” but it’s geared towards older teens. Younger teens who can handle the word “pimp” and moral ambiguity would also enjoy it.
The artwork was often like photostats of b+w newspaper clippings. It worked well with the journalistic tone.
The artwork was often like photostats of b+w newspaper clippings. It worked well with the journalistic tone.
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