WHO IS THE MAN IN THE AIR?

A dramatic visual account of the pivotal game of the 1997 NBA Finals.

It’s suspenseful from the get-go: With the seven-game series between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz tied at two wins apiece, Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan wakes up in the middle of the night before Game 5 feeling sick as a dog. Six foot eight small forward Scottie Pippen reassures his worried teammates: “He’ll be here. And if he’s sick, he’ll still play, ’cause you know how he is.” And (spoiler alert) show up he does—looking shivery and miserable in Williams’ chiseled action scenes, but through an exciting, seesaw contest, he racks up 38 points on the way to a close-fought win. Switching back and forth between the game and an argumentative trio of young fans pinned to their TV, Soria alternates punchy dialogue and announcers’ commentary with prose interludes setting up the episode, the game’s stars and rules, and the aftermath (along with a paean to Jordan’s signature shoes). Dramatic angles and flashes of dazzle crank up the pace, and figures in the panels, nearly all people of color, have individualized features and a range of skin tones. New and confirmed fans will appreciate the MJ timeline (up to his third and final retirement in 2003) and multiage reading list at the end.

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