Reviewer: Frosty McKenzie
Publisher: DC Comics
Writers: Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams
Artist: Neal Adams
Genre: Graphic Novel (Hardcover Facsimile Edition)
MSRP: $39.99 U.S.
Release Date: Available Now
Dismissing this hardcover facsimile edition of Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali as a crossover that makes absolutely no sense would be a great mistake. If you know Muhammad Ali you might not find the notion of him going toe-to-toe with the Man of Steel is not such a gimmicky notion and with Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams handling the story you will find that Ali is the type of man that makes you believe that anything is possible – it’s no wonder that DC Comics has decided to bring this classic back.
Originally released in 1978, Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali is a story that takes place when Ali was not only the champ but already considered the best fighter professional boxing has ever produced so having Ali show up in a comic wasn’t such a bad idea. In this story, Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen and are hitting Metropolis’ ghetto for WGBS on a tip that Muhammad Ali is in the area. As it turns out, the tip Jimmy got from his friend was reliable seeing as the champ himself is shooting hoops with the local kids.
Not turning down their request for a quick on-camera interview, Ali is his usual witty and not so-modest-to-compliment-his-greatness self. Suddenly, a quick flash interrupts the interview as an alien Emperor from a far more advanced planet has come in search of Muhammad Ali. Clark is, one again, quick to disappear and return as Superman. It seems this alien named Rat’lar of the Scrubb has come to make Ali a proposal … fight his people’s most formidable fighter in the ring for the fate of planet Earth. As Superman finds out, Rat’lar has an armada just waiting to lay waste to our planet.
Superman sees this as his job and not that of a great prizefighter but Ali isn’t the kind of man that would back down from any challenge no matter how bad things look. This, of course, causes Superman and Ali to disagree so Rat’lar proposes that Superman fight Ali for the right to take on the Scrubb’s champion. They are given a deadline of 24 hours and Superman suggest they spend it preparing for the bout in his Fortress of Solitude that has the ability to stretch 24 hours into several weeks.
Interestingly enough, Ali gives Superman a fascinating lesson on the finer points of the Sweet Science and comparing each punch to parts of a conversation.
“A hook begins as a question and ends as a statement,” Ali says. “If the statement is strong, he’ll be starin’ at the ceiling.”
As crazy as it is to see a real-life athlete teaching Superman a lesson in fighting, Ali does make a lot of sense to the Man of Steel. Unfortunately, Rat’lar finds out that Superman used a time-slowing technology and makes his threats against Earth all the more frightening. With no choice but to stop training and accept the challenge. Superman takes Ali straight to Scrubb’s main ship where the fights will take place and Rat’lar tells them that all the rules of fair play will apply.
Still, Superman doesn’t trust this being at all and he and Ali come up with a secret plan just in case. Rat’lar made it loud and clear from the beginning that he thinks all humans are a war-like race and now this is the way to prove their superiority. Their challenger is a Scrubb called Hun’ya … a huge beast that Ali sees more as cute than a threat. Rat’lar has called aliens from all over to witness the fight including a few Earthling. In a rather comical twist, Rat’lar even gets Jimmy Olsen to do the commentary while a very disappointed commentator Howard Cosell can be seen in the foreground.
The first bout is between Superman and Muhammad Ali and, seeing as the Scrubb have made it so the affects of the Red Sun don’t give Superman his powers, they’re fighting fairly. With the likes of Daily Planet editor Perry White in Superman’s corner and Bundini Brown in Ali’s corner, it feels like a real boxing match. Within a few rounds, however, it is clear that Ali is the best fighter as he makes short work out of Superman. In fact, he nearly massacres him as Superman is sent away on a stretcher.
This victory puts Muhammad Ali against Hun’ya and the action is nail-biting intense to the point that you just can’t help but think that Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams are geniuses at depicting the intensity of a boxing match in a comic book. I won’t spoil the story but Superman and Ali’s plan works and that leaves them to confront Rat’lar once and for all in order to save Earth.
Despite the fact that the comic was released so long ago, you wouldn’t know it thanks to Neal Adams’ perfect art. Sure, the cover features celebrities of the era (then President Jimmy Carter, Liberace, Johnny Carson and many others) but the art is simply timeless enough to enjoy anyway. As far as the story is concerned, both O’Neil and Adams really make the meeting of these two powerful icons work.
In the end, what we have here is a true and rare Superman comic that doesn’t fail to entertain or make you appreciate a champion who has every right to be called a legend of his profession. I can’t think of a bigger man to stand right up there with the Man of Steel. Muhammad Ali is the greatest and our real Superman so seeing him with Supes makes for a comic book well worth owning.
COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN
STORY: B+
Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane have a tip that one of the greatest boxers ever to step into a ring might be hanging out with the kids in Metropolis’ ghetto and find out the tip was true. However, Muhammad Ali becomes the target of an alien who threatens to destroy Earth if he and Superman don’t box one of their best champions This leads to one of the biggest moments of both men’s lives as Superman fight Muhammad Ali for the right to take on their intergalactic challenger.
ART: A
Having always been a Neal Adams fans since forever, it’s easy to see why one would become a fan of his from this comic book rarity. His rendering of Muhammad Ali is simply picture perfect at times and the sight of him boxing Superman is surreal and awesome at the same time.
OVERALL: B+
The Facsimile Edition of Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali isn’t just a novelty comic but rather a well told story of two supermen fighting incredible odds as they have always done whether its stopping an alien invasion to save humanity or going up against a top contender. Superman fans should definitely have this among their collection.
Review copy provided by DC Comics
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