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Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence

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Fights is the visceral and deeply affecting memoir of artist/author Joel Christian Gill, chronicling his youth and coming of age as a Black child in a chaotic landscape of rough city streets and foreboding backwoods. 

Propelled into a world filled with uncertainty and desperation, young Joel is pushed toward using violence to solve his problems by everything and everyone around him. But fighting doesn’t always yield the best results for a confused and sensitive kid who yearns for a better, more fulfilling life than the one he was born into, as Joel learns in a series of brutal conflicts that eventually lead him to question everything he has learned about what it truly means to fight for one’s life.

"FIGHTS is somehow brutally raw, funny as hell, deeply sensitive and insightful in each panel." –– Nate Powell (March trilogy)

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2020

19 people are currently reading
1560 people want to read

About the author

Joel Christian Gill

13 books138 followers
Joel Christian Gill is a cartoonist and historian who speaks nationally on the importance of sharing stories. He wrote the words and drew the pictures in Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride
(published by Lion Forge, 2019) and the award-winning graphic novel series Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, as
well as, Tales of The Talented Tenth from Fulcrum Publishing. He has worked for diverse clients including the People’s United Party of Belize,
NBC, the Boston Globe and his has written for The Huffington Post. He is currently Associate Professor of Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Gill has dedicated his life to creating stories to build connections with readers through empathy, compassion, and ultimately humanity. He received his MFA from Boston University and his BA from
Roanoke College.

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5 stars
253 (32%)
4 stars
354 (45%)
3 stars
145 (18%)
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14 (1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
Profile Image for Julie G.
1,018 reviews3,954 followers
July 3, 2021
My grandmother, who lived until she was almost 90, used to have moments of sighing and saying, “I feel bad for the whole world.”

I thought about her and her "famous saying" today, while reading this graphic novel, Fights, and I could picture her, scrunching her face and sighing while reading this true story of the sexual, physical and emotional abuse that the author and illustrator, Joel Christian Gill, endured as a child.

It's not easy to “feel bad for the whole world;” it can really take you down, but what I felt, while reading this illustrated story: it's easy to feel bad for this one young boy.

I think it's easier to tackle one person's story at a time, and Mr. Gill writes of his abuse, particularly of his sexual abuse, in a way that the reader can better process it. In fact, it's quite clever the way he has portrayed his sexual assaults: in a comic style, in the dark, where you see the bubbles of dialogue in a the empty spaces of the individual squares. He found a way to use his Voice, while still being able to maintain some dignity/anonymity in the dark.

Mr. Gill's story reminded me that a child who is a bully is usually being bullied/abused at home, and a child who asks another child to “pull down their underwear,” or initiates inappropriate sexual behavior with another child is usually being sexually abused at home. In his book, he admits to participating in both undesirable behaviors, but any underlying cause was ignored, both by family members and teachers.

He writes:

It's bad enough to have to deal with trauma, violence, and bullies as a child, but when there are teachers and adults in our life who fill that same space, it can become unbearable and lead to all kinds. . . of problems.

This story reminded me, somewhat, of the fictional events that were based on actual events in Judy Blume's Blubber. Both stories expose an all-too familiar pattern of parents and educators turning a blind eye, back in the day, to signs of sexual or physical abuse and bullying behavior.

I think it takes a huge amount of courage for anyone to admit to sexual abuse, and I think it's particularly powerful for a man to step forward and let other men know that it does happen.

Poor little Joel, who would “live in the pages. . . of books and magazines. . .” and who would “trace the comics. . . learning to draw,” and who would “reread again and again the hundreds of safe, normal pages.”

“The normal pages” of books would help this boy feel, if only for a few hours at a time, that his abnormal childhood was okay.

I found myself wanting to give this misunderstood and abused boy one serious hug. I feel grateful that he has shared this part of his story.
Profile Image for Chad.
10.4k reviews1,060 followers
June 10, 2021
A memoir of Gill's childhood, growing up poor and black in the burgeoning crack era of the 80's. Constantly pushed to fight to defend himself, Gill reflects on a childhood where the have-nots look to take out upon one another in a culture learned from older children and adults. As kids are picked on by those larger than themselves, they then learn similar behavior they dish out to those smaller than themselves. As Gill's grows older, he learns to become more at peace with himself, but still must navigate the troubled waters of adolescence and the teen years when some conflicts can't be avoided. I like how he learned from his childhood and kept from passing the behavior onto his own children. The cartoony art works well here in juxtaposition to the heavy subject manner.
Profile Image for Erica.
1,474 reviews498 followers
February 26, 2020
In this graphic memoir, Joel Gill's childhood was defined mostly by struggle. He had some options - acquiesce, get beaten down, or fight. He tried them all, none of them worked for him, so he did his own thing.

The narrative in this one gets jumbled at times, there were several scenes I had to re-read to get the story straight. Also, the art isn't my thing, though the colors are great.
Still, I really liked this story. I appreciated the true-to-life feel of growing up in the 80's and 90's and I am so grateful there are photographs included in the back because my nosy ass was all, "You were pretty, huh? Let's see if that was true." (It was true)
Profile Image for Rod Brown.
7,408 reviews285 followers
March 28, 2020
Joel Christian Gill's childhood was rough, violent, and downright depressing. Unfortunately, I just never really connected with the story, perhaps because the cartoonish art seemed to clash so much with the heavy subject matter.

Nothing in the front of the book moved me as much as the few pages of family snapshots included in the back. It is heartening that regardless of what he endured in the past, Gill has a beautiful family today. I wish him and them much happiness.
Profile Image for Chris Blocker.
710 reviews193 followers
August 14, 2020
Joel Christian Gill's Fights gravitates toward a cartoonish style, but it's done with some skill. There are lots of nice illustrative details throughout and the colors really pop.

I absolutely love the idea for this story, and at times I was very much pulled in, but the overall arch felt very disjointed. Some events in the story happen without explanation (ie, what happened to Mr. Charles?), and the pivotal moments in the protagonist's journey to overcome violence didn't carry the weight I'd hoped for. It felt like the author had more he wanted to express, but perhaps wasn't able or allowed to channel.
Profile Image for Maia.
Author 31 books3,646 followers
May 17, 2021
This is a difficult book to read, because it's painful to picture this kind of violence, sexual abuse, and bullying happening to any child. And it's hard to read because I am friends with the author, and I hate that these things happened to him when he was young. But I went into this memoir already knowing the happy ending: that Joel grew up to build a loving family, to become an Associate Professor of Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and to write and illustrate multiple successful graphic novels and picture books. This book exists for other young people also surviving violence, and as a reminder to adults who work with children that kids who starts fights often lack options, resources, mentorship, safety-- what they need is support, not punishment.
Profile Image for Michelle.
936 reviews2 followers
January 22, 2020
A heavy book. It fills the need for more black autobio and memoir graphic novels. It's very heavy about the fights and abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional) the author suffered. I have quibbles and problems with the artistic choices, like we never see his mother's face. I also initially had trouble placing where and when of his life until his father's death. This is very much his life, but right now I'm not in the mind to read about more black trauma.
Profile Image for Elizabeth A.
2,155 reviews119 followers
March 30, 2021
This graphic memoir chronicles the trials and tribulations of the author as a kid, and there is abuse of various kinds here. The language is dirty, the fights brutal, and I appreciated when certain scenes faded to black. This is targeted at the middle grade reader, but I'd caution adults to read this first and determine if your kid is mature enough to read it. The juxtaposition of the cute illustrations with the really tough stuff was jarring.

My video review: https://youtu.be/VB0Mfy1uBJ0
Profile Image for Alicia (PrettyBrownEyeReader).
286 reviews39 followers
November 16, 2019
Fights is an autobiographical graphic novel that tells the story of Joel Christian Gill. The wording of this story is easy to follow and engaging. The illustrations are gorgeous and realistic. As the title suggests the recurring theme of the graphic novel is fighting. Each phase of the author’s life has some type of fight involved. I was gifted this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Matthew Noe.
828 reviews51 followers
February 28, 2020
"Children are the most perfect sponge; every drop greedily soaked up."
Profile Image for Lesley.
2,440 reviews13 followers
November 12, 2021
Gill tells his personal story with remarkable care and skill just as he did with his excellent Strange Fruit graphic novels. The astounding amount of violence (physical, sexual and emotional) that youth of all backgrounds and generations have had to grow up with is astounding. An inspirational journey.
1 review1 follower
October 31, 2019
"The Next Great Graphic Novel you will read". Joel Christian Gill's memoir is beautiful, poetic and moving, as well as a fun, fast-paced read about challenging topics. Gill recounts his youth growing up in poverty, abuse and the challenges of an adolescence where youthful mistakes could lead directly to the drug economy, gun violence and the loss of promising futures. I found this memoir uniquely combined intimate confession and the joyfulness of young boys and teenagers as they figured out how to navigate life, including the sins of their fathers and mothers, extended families, schools, neighborhoods, and communities. While this story will undoubtedly prove doubly important and meaningful for YA kids of Color, and kids growing up poor, I disagree with at previous reviewer who seemed to think this was a story which required the reader to identify with a particular demographic. As a middle-aged white lady, I just found this book a page-turner: the art was beautiful, and well designed with stunning color, and the action was compelling. As the title connotes, the author organizes the book around the types and kinds of 'fights' that he had as a kid. This is a clever, visual literary device which interpolates the audience into this same calculation. How many fights and what kind of fights do you remember from your childhood? The answer to this question tells each of us quite a lot about where we fall on the continuum of social and economic privilege.
125 reviews11 followers
September 4, 2020
"Children are the most perfect sponge; every drop greedily soaked up."

Fights is a very good graphic novel about an absurdly traumatic childhood. It's a wonder the Gill emerged from this childhood at all, let alone become a functioning adult and a loving father: even in the timeline of the memoir, which covers his adolescent and teenage years, he loses multiple friends and relatives to disease, drugs, or violence, seemingly at a rate of one per chapter.

As written, Gill finds just enough flotsam to hang on to in order to stay afloat in a rather terrible sea. He faces neglect from his parents, abuse (of all kinds) from his family, and daily threats from classmates. He finds sanctuary with an odd aunt who spends time sketching with him (or perhaps as importantly, just spends time with him, not threatening or abusing him), and in the library.

There are a lot of nits I could pick here. Fights is not really about fights, unless you consider that everything Gill did in childhood was basically a fight of some kind. The settings aren't clear, but we should also consider that that was Gill's stated intent: it's a memoir, a visitation of his memories, not a factual retelling of events. Here, Gill's fractured childhood and struggle for survival are communicated as clearly as documentary footage, or perhaps more so. This was a great memoir, one I read twice, cover to cover, and will think about for a long time.
Profile Image for D.T..
Author 5 books80 followers
March 23, 2022
Well, it is real and rough. I liked the continual symbolism of fire throughout the story.

On two occasions, the female characters are given such over-exaggerated features that it’s weird and almost ugly. I only point it out because they were such an awkward change from the usual, cute dot-eyed style.

Anyway, the story is not pretty, but the author acknowledges his growth like his relationship with women, so that is good. I am not trying to applaud the bare minimum, but it’s always good when we can be self-reflective. From seeing his childhood experiences, it is easy to make connections to why he felt he had to fight to just survive.

It is hard to rate autobiographies/biographies, but this one did a great job of coming full-circle. The story is definitely violent with harsh language and the n-word felt overused to me, but real life cannot be censored. Still, a solid read for older readers.

3.5
Profile Image for Alicia.
8,556 reviews150 followers
May 17, 2020
Why do I not see this plastered everywhere? Is this a sleeper hit that only small groups of librarians are talking about? I can’t fathom it because this is STRONG. I actually didn’t realize this was a graphic memoir and was surprised and excited by the content. Plus, I already knew Gill’s work, so in a way, I felt like I knew a little bit about him.

But this is full of voice, slice of life, but reflection. Though several items presented in the book are not resolved to my satisfaction, it’s a nitpick for an story that resonates with anyone- it could be the color of your skin, the outcast, friendship or relationship issues, abuse, transiency, and self-defense. It arcs over his entire life which is pleasant, almost necessary to provide a period at the end of the memoir but also that it provides hopefulness.

I would also need to address the awesome graphic style that is all his own but still mainstream and easy to view.
Profile Image for Beth.
1,081 reviews14 followers
June 16, 2021
(note: I'm a middle-class white woman so much of this content is not part of my personal experience)

A powerful and intimate look at the author's life seen through the lens of the battles, physical and otherwise, he faced as a child and teen. Gill's portrayals pull no punches (unless you count the Black-stereotype face he uses in place of a white character using the N word, which happens frequently. He learned to fight, hide, and do his best to avoid fights with both neighborhood kids and with some family members. Gill's learning and maturing process is messy but progressive, bookended with a conversation with his teen son about fights.

Gill's use of color to show emotion and to differentiate characters is excellent. Occasionally I couldn't track which character was which but mostly that was easy. Art is honest about elements such as injured and dead people without being sensationalized.

This book is up for an Eisner in 2021 and justifiably so. For teens and adults.

Content warnings: Frequent violence and profanity, child abuse and neglect including a brief mention of sexual abuse.
Profile Image for Rick.
3,160 reviews
April 9, 2020
As the author states: a memoir is not a biography and recollections are not reports. Very true. So the stuff in this very personal account of growing up, is not necessarily how the events occurred, but is painfully and awkwardly true. There are sequences that had me laughing out loud and others that had me almost in tears. This is not a simple read. The deceptively simple art style hides a tale with rich characters and complex emotional situations that could even be triggering for some readers. This is a wonderful, poignant and touching account of one boy’s struggle to find both himself and a way to grow up when almost everyone around him apparently seems to just wish he wasn’t there.
Profile Image for Becky.
1,625 reviews83 followers
July 17, 2023
This fast paced graphic memoir grapples with Joel Christian Gill's past experiences with violence as he looks back as a father, it's a difficult story executed very well in the medium.

Cw for violence, sexual abuse, slurs
Profile Image for zhreads.
222 reviews23 followers
April 26, 2024
final rating: 4.5

okay, i was not expecting this to be so moving when i picked it up. this is raw, and deals with so many tough issues in such a great way. it shows exactly how anger can become a vicious cycle. i really loved the art, and the way the author dealt with grief and violence.
Profile Image for Kayla Leitschuh.
134 reviews11 followers
October 13, 2021
Intended for a more mature audience than I was anticipating. Still, very good!
Profile Image for Edward Sullivan.
Author 6 books225 followers
May 8, 2020
Fights are physical, emotional, and psychological in this emotionally visceral coming-of-age memoir exploring such issues as bullying, masculinity, family, friendship, race and racism, and violence with raw honesty and humor.
Profile Image for Kristen Watts.
142 reviews5 followers
August 10, 2020
One of the best graphic novels I read this year! Joel experienced so much pain and trauma in his life, but he learned to rise above all the “fighting.” He beat the life he had at such an early age; I am truly inspired by him and happy that he and his wife raised beautiful children, who do not have to endure the problems he once had to.
Profile Image for Cale.
3,919 reviews26 followers
May 26, 2021
I went into this with no idea of what it was about, and that may be the best way to go. It's a rough story, unflinching in details about a pretty terrible life, but never savoring the darkness nor really glorifying the light. A boy with a troubled childhood deals with it, making mistakes and some good decisions, and ultimately rises above it. The book tosses a lot of characters at the reader, but they are able to be kept straight most of the time, mostly due to the art that uses an earthier palette to very good effect and balances detail against simplicity well; the progression comes through clearly, with a little of the narrator's voice providing insight on the impacts of certain events, but more just carrying the reader along on a journey I don't know I could have survived, much less overcome. There's a fair bit of hope here, provided in a blunt, direct manner. Not something I would have normally picked up, but something I am definitely glad I read.
Profile Image for Chris Thompson.
812 reviews14 followers
May 31, 2021
A memoir about a man who, as a boy, was pressured to learn how to fight in order to stand up for himself. But he was always most at ease when he didn’t have to fight. So he had to unlearn his fighting instinct, something easier said than done.

Gill does a great job connecting with readers. The book is heartfelt and thoughtful, and whether or not you’ve had experiences like his, you can understand why he makes his choices. The great thing is that this is a book about someone fighting to make his life and himself better.
3 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2023
I rated the book Fights five stars. The story follows the author in his early life. He describes his experiences through his young life and how he would always fight to get what he nedded. I discovered this book while I went to the library. What I really liked about this book is that it starts with him having flashbacks. Then I love how the book shows that even if he had a hard time he still went to school and learned and was able to become successful. I love how he has friends behind his back when they find out he has a gun. Him and his friends go to court and they defend him which is really nice. The book teaches the reader that getting into fights is not all that good. This is important because most teens think that when you get into fights you are cool however that is not the case. I would recommend this book to others because it is a wonderful book and it is a memoir of a real person's life and shows that everyone can improve for the better. You would enjoy this book if you like graphic novels and biographies. If you read those, I bet you will fall in love with this book.
Profile Image for Mateen Mahboubi.
1,585 reviews19 followers
December 21, 2020
Gill’s memoir growing up and all the challenges and experiences dealt with and how adversity and challenges were overcome. One part frustrating at the unnecessary struggles Gill had to go through but on the other hand a great feeling to see him overcome the challenges in the end and work to break the cycle of abuse and poverty.
Profile Image for Bob Box.
3,166 reviews24 followers
October 31, 2021
The author relives his childhood and the conflicts and violence he had to deal with. Today he is an author and an associate professor. Inspiring story.
Profile Image for Wayne McCoy.
4,298 reviews32 followers
February 2, 2020
'Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence' with story and art by Joel Christian Gill is a graphic memoir about the author. Very graphic.

In a moving memoir, the author tells about his childhood. His father was distant, and died when the Joel was quite young. He grew up being abused and beaten by those around him, and had no one to fend for him. He learned to fight back, but he also, eventually, learned how to avoid fights.

The story is brutal in nature, but has some moments of humor. This is balanced incredibly well. This is a book for a young person in your life that may not see a way out of their circumstances. It is an amazing story of endurance and transformation.

I've been fortunate enough to read a few graphic novels that Joel Christian Gill has written. It's safe to say I'm a pretty big fan of what he does.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews

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