Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story (1957)
Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story (1957, English language ed.) published by the Council for Reconciliation, a religious advocacy group. 250,00 were published and distributed. Art by Dan Berry. This comic tells the story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott which brought Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence. (via mycomicshop.com)
Notes
In December 1957, while the embers of the Montgomery bus boycott were still warm, a transformative 16-page comic book titled Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story was published. Produced by the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), a pacifist organization, this was the first time Dr. King appeared as a comic book protagonist, turning a medium often dismissed as “for kids” into a sophisticated tool for social revolution.
The comic was co-authored by Alfred Hassler, executive secretary of the FOR, and Benton Resnik. They sought to explain the philosophy of nonviolence to a broad audience, specifically targeting those who might not read academic or theological texts. To bring the story to life, they hired Sy Barry, a prolific artist who would later achieve fame for his work on The Phantom. Barry’s illustrations provided a grounded, dignified portrayal of the boycott, from Rosa Parks’ arrest to the eventual victory.
Beyond recounting the events in Alabama, the comic featured a “how-to” section on the “Montgomery Method.” It detailed the practicalities of nonviolent resistance, drawing direct inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s campaign in India. This section taught activists how to remain peaceful in the face of physical and verbal assault—a tactic that would become the hallmark of the Civil Rights Movement.
Market Value vs. Historical Significance
In the world of professional collecting, the CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) provides a grading scale to determine a book’s financial value. However, for The Montgomery Story, these numbers rarely reflect its true historical weight. While a high-grade original can fetch thousands of dollars, its real “value” was in its utility; these books were meant to be read, shared, and carried in pockets during protests, often leading to their destruction.
For collectors and historians, distinguishing an original from a reprint is essential:
The 1957 Original: Printed on fragile, high-acid newsprint. These were “giveaways” for grassroots advocacy and lacked a price tag or modern ISBN. Because of their heavy use by activists, surviving copies in high-grade condition are exceedingly rare.
Modern Reprints: Produced in the 2000s and 2010s (often by Top Shelf Productions), these editions use durable paper and modern printing techniques. While they serve as vital commemorative pieces, they lack the “battle-worn” history of the 1957 pressings.
The impact of this comic was immediate and profound. Distributed through churches rather than newsstands, it famously inspired the “Greensboro Four” to launch their 1960 lunch counter sit-ins and later influenced the late John Lewis to create his own award-winning graphic novel trilogy, March. By blending Dr. King’s rhetoric with Sy Barry’s accessible visuals, The Montgomery Story proved that the comic book could be a powerful engine for political education, mobilizing a generation to fight for justice without firing a shot.
References:
Aydin, Andrew. “The Comic Book That Changed the World.” Creative Loafing, 14 Aug. 2013.
Hassler, Alfred, and Benton Resnik. Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story. Illustrated by Sy Barry, Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1957.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story. Harper & Brothers, 1958.
Lewis, John, and Andrew Aydin. March: Book One. Illustrated by Nate Powell, Top Shelf Productions, 2013.
“Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story.” Social Welfare History Image Portal, VCU Libraries.
