Chaos in Kinshasa
Ivanka Hahnenberger translator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Catalyst Books
Published:31st Oct '24
Should be back in stock very soon
From beloved Congolese comics creator Barly Baruti and Belgian comics critic Thierry Bellefroid, translated from the original French by Batchelder Award-winning translator Ivanka Hahnenberger
A Harlem gangster’s trip to Central Africa to attend the legendary 1974 Ali-Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match becomes a one-way ticket to the seedy underground of Zaire—complete with espionage, murder, and a communist plot to overthrow Zaire's infamous President Mobutu.
When Ernest, a low-level gangster from Harlem, wins tickets to travel to Zaire to attend the "Rumble in the Jungle," the now-legendary bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, he’s eager to reconnect with his African roots and escape the ruthless gang leaders he's indebted to back home. But in Zaire, Ernest becomes entangled in an Angolan coup against the country's embattled president Mobutu Sese Seko—inspired by Che Guevara himself—and soon realizes that Zaire may hold even more dangers for him than Harlem ever could.
A Cold-War-era thriller set against the backdrop of a landmark moment in sports history, Chaos in Kinshasa features Barly Baruti’s characteristic art and Thierry Bellefroid's punchy dialogue woven in with the elements of a great gangster story—sex, spies, bribes, and murder. A thrill ride through a pivotal moment in Cold War, African, and sports history.
"Mixing real people and events with fictional Cold War–era espionage, Barly Baruti and Thierry Bellefroid’s Chaos in Kinshasa is a lively graphic thriller that uses the“Rumble in the Jungle”—the famed 1974 Muhammad Ali–George Foreman heavyweight boxing title bout—and the vividly rendered capital city of Kinshasa as its backdrop and setting." - Publishers Weekly
"[Chaos in Kinshasa] is really great. I totally recommend it. If you didn’t have any idea of the intrigue and politics behind the Rumble in the Jungle, you have to read this." - Ivanka Hahnenberger, Five Books
"Baruti’s art in Chaos in Kinshasa fits its thematic storytelling well. His characters are realistic and feature vivid expressions, almost photographic in capturing the strong emotions of the moment. The backgrounds are intricately detailed with complexities that hint at all the same complexities in the Cold War era. The watercolor-style colors show that the world can be at once beautiful as well as haunting with blurred lines behind the inked borders." - Jeff Provine, Blogcritics
"Fans of the Rumble in the Jungle will enjoy reading this creative account of the iconic 1974 fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman brought to life with brilliant illustrations and a riveting storyline. Highly recommended!" - Michelle Sikes, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, African Studies & History at Penn State
ISBN: 9781946395986
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown