The story,
drawn by hand.
Illustrations by Chuah Ghee Hin, Gerald’s cousin, whose hand-drawn work brings the films’ characters and moments into the books.
These six drawings carry more than the likeness of a character. They hold the companionship, pressure, love and hard-won recognition that give the films their meaning. Read the reflections beneath each image, or click to see the full drawing.
Before the cheers, there was companionship.
Rocky sits on the steps beside his dog, away from the noise of a fight. The image brings the story back to the ordinary life behind the ambition: a man who needs company as well as a chance. In a book about going the distance, this quieter scene matters. Determination can look solitary, but affection and loyalty give a person something to come home to.
Illustration by Chuah Ghee Hin
The belt tells only part of the story.
The gloves and championship belt present the public image of success. What the portrait invites us to remember is the work that made that image possible: training, uncertainty and the willingness to be tested. The belt is visible; the earlier struggle is not. For the book, the drawing holds those two stages together—the fighter people recognise and the unknown man who first wanted a chance.
Illustration by Chuah Ghee Hin
A victory no one achieves alone.
Rocky is raised above the crowd with the American flag around his shoulders. The image turns a private contest into a public moment: the fighter who had to stand in the ring is now carried by others. Read alongside the book’s themes, it is a reminder to look beyond the winner. A victory also belongs to the people whose belief, work and encouragement helped make another attempt possible.
Illustration by Chuah Ghee Hin
The opponent who makes the question real.
Rocky and Drago face each other across the ring. Drago makes the challenge physical and immediate; conviction alone cannot settle what happens next. That is the significance of this confrontation in a story about perseverance. Preparation has to become action, and the fighter must face the very thing that makes the task frightening. The illustration catches that encounter rather than the celebration that comes after it.
Illustration by Chuah Ghee Hin
The person worth coming home to.
Adrian’s kiss brings tenderness into a world usually remembered for punches. Their relationship gives Rocky’s ambition a personal stake: he wants to be seen, understood and loved as well as respected in the ring. The drawing reminds us why the quieter scenes endure. Courage is easier to understand when we know who matters to the person taking the risk—and what he might lose beyond the fight.
Illustration by Chuah Ghee Hin
The tension before the next move.
The bearded figure holds a handgun while looking back, his attention fixed on something beyond the frame. This is a different kind of survival image from a boxing match: the pressure lies in waiting, observing and deciding how to act. Within the collection, it broadens the idea of courage. Strength is not always a visible charge forward; sometimes the demanding part is keeping your attention steady before making a move.
Illustration by Chuah Ghee Hin