Though the Olympic and Paralympic Games have ended, you can still dive into the competitive spirit through the graphic novel La Diplomatie du Ping-Pong. But politics steps onto the court as well...

A Political Match

In *La Diplomatie du Ping-Pong*, writer Alcante revisits a historic sporting event that changed the course of history. In 1971, American table tennis player Glenn Cowan accidentally boards a bus carrying the Chinese team. There, he meets Zhuang Zedong, China’s three-time world champion. This chance encounter sets the stage for diplomatic thawing between the U.S. and China.

The graphic novel immediately sets its historical context, opening with a television report. Since Mao’s rise to power, U.S.-China relations have been severed amid the Cold War. By 1971, the U.S. recognizes only Taiwan, ignoring the mainland. But the audience watching this report is no ordinary group—it’s President Nixon and his influential Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger.

Kissinger, eager to normalize relations with Mao, persuades Nixon, who is preoccupied with his approval ratings. Surprisingly, this diplomatic effort is carried forward by someone from an entirely different America: Glenn Cowan, a counterculture figure. Cowan, a free spirit, drinks beer, smokes joints, and practices free love. The book’s final pages delve deeper into his character with additional text.

Alain Mounier’s art style supports the narrative with a classic, realistic approach. Period-specific costumes, settings, and accessories immerse readers in the 1970s. Political figures like Nixon and Kissinger are easily recognizable, as verified by photographs included in a postscript. Yet, the watercolor-style coloring adds a modern touch. Unfortunately, the static visuals detract somewhat from the intensity of the matches.

A Tale of Two Lives

Despite its title, *La Diplomatie du Ping-Pong* is less about diplomacy and more about personal biography. Glenn Cowan is a rock-loving hippie, naïve yet ambitious, dreaming of fame and world peace. Meanwhile, he competes in a sport that garners little attention in the U.S. With his team struggling to win, no American media outlets bother covering the world championships.

Unreliable and frequently late to tournaments, Cowan’s laid-back lifestyle contrasts sharply with the disciplined, almost militaristic Chinese team. Yet, his flaws make him relatable. Dialogue portrays Cowan as somewhat clueless, but his trip to China highlights a broader critique of American ignorance about other cultures.

Opposite Cowan stands Zhuang Zedong, a model of Communist propaganda. However, as the story unfolds, Zhuang’s rigid image cracks, revealing the hardships he endured during China’s Cultural Revolution.

*La Diplomatie du Ping-Pong* is part of Delcourt’s *Coup de tête* collection, which chronicles both the triumphs and vulnerabilities of sports legends. Few sports titles delve as deeply into global geopolitics. Through Alcante and Mounier’s lens, readers are transported to the complex era of the Cold War—an era with striking parallels to today.

Lace up for more sports-themed graphic novels, such as L’Amour du Maillot and Arrêt de Jeu.