A. retired B. in fact C. charity D. messages E. argued

One million copies of the seven comic strips describing Mandela's（曼德拉）life were published in South Africa. That was a part of events celebrating his 87th birthday on July 18.

South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela became a comic strip hero at once: "This project airs at encouraging young people to read," his 【1】 foundation（基金会）said.

"We express the 【2】 and the value of Mr Mandela through comics," added John Samuel, chief executive（决策者J）of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, "Comics area very useful way of bringing young people into reading."

"Comics 【3】 are a very powerful way to introduce literature（文学）, various aspects of reading to young people. And this is our purpose here," he told a news conferhence.

Some people 【4】 that Mr Mandela should not be a comic figure. "It would take a lot more than comics to demean his stature（贬低他的声望）, "said Samuel.