Andrew Helfer

Malcolm Little's transformation from a black youth beaten down by Jim Crow America into Malcolm X, the charismatic, controversial, and doomed national spokesman for the nation of Islam is captured in this thoroughly researched and passionately drawn graphic biography.

A Graphic Biography

Malcolm X

Lara Engle

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.

Malcolm X A Graphic Biography

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