Book of the Month
What did the
iFanboy
community think?
Pulls
Size: pages
Price: 22.99
If I had to narrow down two things that I’ve enjoyed for the majority of my existence, it would pretty much boil down to comics and baseball. Both comics and baseball have been things that I’ve gotten interested in early in my life and have provided a similar source of enjoyment for me, escape. The escape from the every day life that can be had by getting lost in a good comic book or by sitting in the stands for three hours while you watch your favorite team play. To be quite honest, some of the happiest memories I have revolve around either comics or baseball. Now, call me nostalgic as here we are, April and the beginning of another baseball season, but when first heard on our own Don’t Miss show about 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente, a graphic novel by Wilfred Santiago, I immediately took note of it for the fact that it appeared to be the merging of my two beloved interests.
After reading 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente, I was surprised to see it tap into a personal memory that I had long forgotten about. You see, as a kid, I was a sponge for information. When I got interested in something, I was ravenous for information about it. Now keep in mind that this was well before the Internet, so if you wanted more information, you had to go to the library or the book store. Luckily, my parents were supportive of my need for information and were happy to cart me back and forth to the library and the book store. And because of that, most of the 1980s were spent, when not tinkering on my computer, with my nose in a book about baseball. I spent hours upon hours reading about the legends of ball players who graced the field with their skill, endurance and elegance. Names like Jackson, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mays, Snider, Robinson, Cobb, Seaver and many more players who would go on to legend status in the Baseball Hall of Fame. I could rattle off not just key statistics but also details about their lives and the mountains they had to climb to achieve the greatness and glory that I would later read about. As I look back, there was a startling amount of books aimed at kids about baseball and baseball history, and for that I’m very grateful.
As I sat down to read Wilfred Santiago’s beautifully crafted graphic novel about the legendary Roberto Clemente, outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, I was immediately transported back to being 9 years old, with my nose in a book about baseball history. Factor in the cross section with this book of baseball history told through sequential storytelling? The 9 year old Ron and the 33 year old Ron have both got a huge smile on their faces.
One of the things I learned from reading so many books as a kid about baseball players and baseball history was where the focus and attention of the story should lie. But this is a biography, right? Shouldn’t the story lie within the tale of the subject, in this case Roberto Clemente? Of course, but the aspects of the subjects life are what a good biographer is able to take and craft a compelling story with. With the story of Roberto Clemente, Santiago, very cleverly, focuses on Clemente’s upbringing as a boy in Puerto Rico and the road to the major leagues. Once Clemente makes it to majors, the story continues to focus on Clemente, the man, and not the specifics of game like statistics and that sort of thing. 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente is much more akin to hearing the story of a man’s life as told by those who loved him, than by a sports reporter. Filled with emotion and heart, this story presents what it meant to the world, to Pittsburgh, to Puerto Rico and ultimately to his family. A great baseball biography is filled not only with on field accomplishments but with off field heart and relationships and Wilfred Santiago captured that perfectly with 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente. What I was most fascinated by was how Santiago breezed through sections of Clemente’s life that I thought would have gotten more attention in the book, like his play and performance for the Pirates in the 1960s. Instead, the majority of Clemente’s professional career is captured over the span of one page, a page where that information is background to Clemente marrying his wife, Vera. A perfect example of how Santiago is able to balance Clemente the player, with Clemente the man, and ultimately show what is most important in life.
While the focus of the book lies on Clemente and his plight from Puerto Rico all the way up to the big leagues, the book is filled with some fantastic baseball action. The details of the 1960 World Series versus the Yankees stands out as a high point of utilizing the graphic novel format to display the action of a baseball series and tell the story of the highs and lows and drama of the World Series. Santiago’s artwork is stunning, at times completely breathtaking, as he’s able to navigate through the quieter moments of Clemente’s childhood, his Puerto Rico upbringing, to the race issue in America once he begins to play professional baseball and rounding out with the tragedy of Clemente and the end of his life while personally bringing relief supplies to Nicaragua. Santiago is able to paint a picture of raw emotion, both good and bad, with his illustrations that one cannot help but get lost in the tale. Santiago’s depictions of locations such as Puerto Rico and Pittsburgh set the tone beautifully and his use of mixed media (such as newspapers, old advertisement, baseball tickets etc.) works seamlessly with his drawings to transport the reader to the 1950s and 1960s, to a golden era of baseball.
I don’t think there is a higher praise I can give to this book other than I wish I could go back in time and give the 9 year old version of me this book to delight over. Moreover, 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente made me look forward to the day when I have a young son who hopefully shares my interest in baseball and comics and would like to learn the story of one of both the greatest baseball players ever and one of baseball’s greatest humanitarians. I can’t think of a better way to start the baseball season this April than by enjoying this beautiful graphic novel achievement by Wilfred Santiago.
Ron Richards
Happy to see the Mets Drawn by Santiago.
ron@ifanboy.com
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I’m really happy this is a BOTM pick
@ChrisNeseman …it is.
I’ve totally been wanting to read this book. I’m waiting for it to get restocked at Instocktrades so I can get it with some other stuff. Glad to see that it was so great.
@ChrisNeseman man, it was SO good
I wouldn’t normally consider a book like this, but that artwork is so entrancing and unique. Seems like a great pick.
Not being from the states I imagine this will hold no interest for me. Although the art is good, the subject matter is just too alien for me. To be honest none of the BOTM picks so far this year have really done much for me.
Comparing the first four picks of this year with last years is surprising. By this time last year we had Afrodisiac, the Complete Rocketeer and the first volume of the Unwritten. None of the books picked so far this year match these in terms of quality. Did we have an unusually great year last year, or has this year been a bit slow so far?
Taking a quick glance at my shelves I’d add Demo – Vol 2 and Stumptown to recent trades I’ve enjoyed. I thought that Daytripper would have definitely been this months BOTM. I really enjoyed it and it deserved all the praise you gave it on the podcasts.
@davidtobin100 That’s your opinion, of course. To us, this year’s books are fantastic.
@conor: Absolutely it’s only my opinion. However I think that a lot of last years BOTM picks are destined to become classics that are remembered for years to come, and I’m just not getting that feeling from anything released yet this year, with the exception of Daytripper.
Personally I love that you guys have such differing opinions on books to me. I never would have tried Scalped, Dong Xaoi, Queen and Country, Scott Pilgrim or Afrodisiac among many, many others if it weren’t for the site.
@davidtobin100 Well, it’s only April.
Incidentally, this is one of the best OGNs that I’ve read in a while. But if you’re not into baseball it probably won’t be as effective. Though at least half of the book isn’t about baseball.
@davidtobin100 Having the opinion that something probably isn’t good when you haven’t read it?
I guess that with you not being from the states, I shouldn’t read your posts. I imagine they will hold no interest for me.
@ChrisNeseman: I never said it wasn’t good, just that it held no interest for me. It’s just that I have no frame of reference or real undertanding of the game. If I did I’m sure it would be enjoyable.
It’s the equivalent of giving you a bio about a Hurling (an Irish game that is something between Hockey and Lacrosse) coach – it may be good but as something not in your realm of experience you wouldn’t derive the same enjoyment from it as someone with an understanding of the game and it’s surrouding culture would.
Me, I love sports movies and bios even though I don’t really like sports. I’d read the hell out of a cricket story, and I don’t understand a damn thing about that.
What I’m saying is, I’m excited to read this.
I would read a book about Hurling in a second!
I watched it on Setanta whenever I could.
The book is more about the life of Clemente than it is about baseball. It focuses MUCH more on the politics and culture of the time than the game. It’s a pretty universal story about a man that is raised in relative poverty but uses his talents to become something more.
@ChrisNeseman: A comic about 1960’s politics has much more interest for me. I’ve Googled Clemente and the issues surrouding his death and his charitable work sound quite interesting. Along with your comments and the three guys opinions I think you’ve convinced me to give it a try.
Is there a place on this sight that has all of the reviews of the books of the month able to be seen, or am I just blind
@chikanlover On the upper right it says “Complete Archive“.
@josh –considering the length of cricket matches, that would be an incredibly long story.
@conor –oh thats actually really cool, i was looking for that the other day. Although i have to say its a bit hidden in plain site. Making it a bit more prominent could be really helpful.
This just looks amazing. I’m almost done with Faithful by Stewart O’Nan and Stephen King so this will be a perfect follow up
Is this a good book for a father for Father’s day?
@SummerSleep Depending on the father, absolutely.
Got this for my dad’s bday two weeks ago- he loved it!
I really want to read this. I think comics are a great way to do biographical/historical based stories. I need to put this on my “to buy” list.
Ron mentions he would have liked to have this book when he was 9. Do people have read it generally feel it would be a good book for a kid?