Comics are hugely popular throughout the world and feature some of the most loved characters ever created. However, there are times when comic book creators have decided to add a little extra to their stories by including a sports star. We have seen some of the biggest names in the world of sport included in comic books and they do not come much bigger than Muhammad Ali.
Nicknamed The Greatest, Ali is regarded by many as one of the greatest athletes of all time but he was more than a professional boxer. Ali was an actor, writer, activist, and philanthropist plus he featured in a Superman comic. In the story, both Superman and Ali step up as an alien has asked earth to put forward their greatest fighter to challenge their champion. To decide who is going to fight for the planet, Ali challenges Superman to a boxing match, during which, Ali teaches him how to “float like butterfly and sting like bee.”
Ali knocks out Superman but there is more to the story than meets the eye and the fight was part of a plan to save the earth.
A fight between Superman (without his super-human powers) and Ali would be a tremendous contest and one which would have fans rushing to the sportsbook for a bet. This is entirely fictional but if you are successful in any form of bet, you must pay betting tax on both cash and non-cash prizes such as merchandise if you live in Indiana. You can access the gambleindiana.com/calculator by clicking on the link and this will help you figure out how much tax you will have to pay.
Going back to 1992 and Nike produced an advert featuring Charles Barkley and the basketball star was challenging Godzilla to a game of hoops in downtown Tokyo. Dark Horse took the idea and decided to publish a comic based on the advert in which a giant Barkley takes on Godzilla but this time they are in New Jersey. Barkley is up against the monster, who at one point breathes on the ball and sets it alight. Fortunately, Barkley and Godzilla end the match on friendly terms and the former NBA king gives Godzilla a pair of trainers.
There has not been a great number of female athletes to appear in comic books stories but British Olympic gold medallist, Jessica Ennis-Hill appeared in the Beano in 2012. The comic was produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games and Ennis was the cover star, with the name “Ennis the Menace”. She even takes on Dennis the Menace in the story and comes out on top.
The most iconic baseball player of all time, Babe Ruth, had his own series of comics in the 1940s and 50s. They were full of various sports-based stories and often featured Ruth himself, who also appeared in other comic book publications, including MAD Magazine and Action Comics.
Other sports stars who have made appearances in comics include Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, Pele, and Karl Malone.
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