Muhammad Ali was a real-life superhero to many Black people. Who else could fight the world’s toughest boxers and the U.S. government at the same time? He was an icon, but this is about his greatest bout ever.
Let's rewind to the 1978 D.C. comic “Superman vs. Muhammad Ali,” where an alien race called the Scrubb arrived on Earth to challenge our planet's greatest warrior, Muhammad Ali. Ali was ready to rumble, but then Superman showed up.
Superman, of course, wanted all the glory, insisting that he should be the one to fight the aliens. So the Scrubb proposed that he and Ali fight it out. Ali laced up his gloves, ready to show the son of Krypton just who reigned supreme.
The ring was set under a red sun, blocking Superman's powers, making this an even fight. Ali gave Superman the ass-whooping of his life, throwing haymaker after haymaker until Superman was black and blue. Ali was crowned Earth's champion. Although he eventually teamed up with Superman to stop the aliens, it was Ali who forever changed the power dynamic of Earth's heroes.
What Black kid wouldn't get hyped about Muhammad Ali beating the brakes off Superman? Graphic novels and fictional stories like this cultivate pride and joy in our culture and inspire us to tap into our own strength and power.