Story : Father Roy Gasnick
Artists : John Tartaglione, Joe Sinnott
When I was a teenager, as a rule, I would not purchase comics made as biographies and autobiographies. I grew up reading a comic series from India called Amar Chitra Katha that introduced young readers to the history, mythology and culture of India. There were a gamut of stories, but I usually preferred the folktales as they were stories - escapist literature.
What's more, I never felt the biographies had the spunk the other stories did. There is no reason I would have picked this up, other than the Marvel Comics indicia. And I did not regret it.....not for a moment.
In 1984, Marvel published two comics which were based on what people call "religion", Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Pope John Paul II. Both had art by John Tartaglione, whose other work I haven't seen yet. The writers came from the stable of Marvel, yet this story has nothing to do with garishly costumed superheroes....just one heckuva lady.
The book tells us the history of Mother Teresa, as seen through the eyes of World Cable News reporter, Nick Bugatti, as he wanders through war torn Beirut, Yugoslavia and India to paint a picture of perhaps the greatest saint the world has ever known.
A single missed interview in Beirut inspires Nick to find out more about Mother Teresa and what makes her tick.
However, Nick has to make the same journey Mother Teresa, or shall we say Gonxha Bojaxhiu made long ago. Nick learns about Gonxha's childhood, her inspirations, her actions and her decision to become a nun.
When she finally comes to Calcutta and becomes an Indian Citizen, he learns how she became an inspiration. The book contains appearances by the Pope and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who comes in to give Mother Teresa a free Air India Pass.
The course of the interview, his insights into Mother Teresa and everything else, also changes Nick, if ever so slightly.
After crossing the globe to get an insight of who Mother Teresa is, and why she does what she does, Nick finally enters without his equipment, not as a reporter but out of personal curiosity to ask her. By this time, he is already a changed man, and finally his question is answered, in more ways than one.
People tend to dismiss such biographies as religious literature. However, this one is anything but. This is a story of an ordinary woman who became extraordinary through her faiths, her belief and at times, her stubbornness. Her journey and efforts to stand unshaken, inspite of whatever odds thrown at her by fate.
I don't know how much of this is Father Roy Gasnick's original story and how much of it is David Michelinie's contribution, but his style does come through. David is a master of the last panel and most of his stories are poignant and touching. Though David had not yet written the works he is best known for, his lengthy run on Amazing Spider-Man with Todd McFarlane and Action Comics with Jackson Guice, this one deserves to stand with his best works. The art is excellent. I haven't seen much of Tartaglione's art but the Sinnott ink comes through the printed page - a hallmark of a job well done.
Steer clear of this one if you are looking for action and wordless fights, page after page.
However, if the story of how an ordinary person becomes a hero through sheer grit, faith and compassion and changes every life she touches, by all means, true believer, read on. I doubt this one is ever going to get a trade though, so you'd best look for this one in the back issue bins.
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