Who Is the Man in the Air?: Michael Jordan: A Who HQ Graphic Novel - Hardcover

Soria, Gabe; Who HQ

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593385926 ISBN 13: 9780593385920

Publisher: Penguin Workshop, 2022

Synopsis

"Pulse-pounding, both as a sports highlight and a tribute to the character and determination of one of the game’s unexcelled greats." — Kirkus

Discover the story behind Michael Jordan's incredible triumph in the 1997 Flu Game in this powerful graphic novel written by Murder Ballads' Gabe Soria and illustrated by award-winning artist Brittney Williams.

Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting addition to the #1 New York Times best-selling Who Was? series!

Explore the relentless grit of Michael Jordan, as he powers through a mysterious illness in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA finals against the Utah Jazz, infamously known as The Flu Game. A story of athleticism, willpower, and triumph, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves into the unyielding drive of the one of the greatest basketball players of all time -- brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that jump off the page.

About this title

About the Author

Known for the popular online role-playing game Sword & Backpack, Gabe Soria (he/him) is best known in the kidlit community for reinventing the choice-driven book genre with his four-book series, Midnight Arcade. He has also written several comic books for DC Comics, including Batman '66. Gabe also collaborated with friend Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys on the The Murder Ballads comic book.

Brittney Williams (they/she) is Los Angeles-based creative originally from South Carolina.  Williams is a storyboard and comic book artist who draws A LOT. In 2012, she interned at Walt Disney Animation Studios as a storyboard artist. Since then, she's worked for a variety of animation studios and publishers including Netflix, Cartoon Network, Dreamworks TV, BOOM! Studios, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics. As a two-time GLAAD award nominee, she exists to create things for kids and the queer community.

Reviews

Gr 2–5—The popular "Who Is" series continues in graphic novels that focus on one incident in a life instead of a full biography. In this case, the focus is the "flu game," a game in the 1997 NBA championship in which Michael Jordan fought through a case of the flu to lead the Bulls to a win. Interjected into the story are asides, which are often full-page text boxes, about the other players on the team and the rules of basketball. There is an additional, alternating storyline that follows three young children watching the game. As a means of conveying the cultural importance of Jordan and the Bulls, it is clunky and not altogether effective. The artwork is not extraordinary, but is vivid and energetic. Because of the popularity of the "Who Is" series, this book may find a larger audience beyond the sports fans one would expect. VERDICT Young readers who are not familiar with the "flu game" or Michael Jordan will be drawn in by a familiar and engaging format. A strong secondary purchase anywhere basketball books or this series is popular.—Elizabeth Nicolai

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Workshop
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593385926
• ISBN 13: 9780593385920
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Williams Brittney
• Number of pages: 64