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Joel Christian Gill
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Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence Kindle & comiXology

by Joel Christian Gill (Author, Illustrator, Cover Art, Artist), Shannon Scott (Colorist) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings
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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.
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  1. Part of Series
    Fights
  2. Print length
    257 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    Not Enabled
  5. Publisher
    Oni Press
  6. Publication date
    January 22, 2020
  7. Reading age
    14 - 17 years
  8. Grade level
    9 - 12
  9. File size
    511569 KB
  10. Page Flip
    Not Enabled
  11. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  12. Enhanced typesetting
    Not Enabled
  13. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Beyond a recounting of a hardscrabble upbringing, Gill’s memoir becomes an ode to claiming peace from the experience of violence—and passing that gift on to others." ― Publishers Weekly

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

About the Author

Joel Christian Gill is the chairman, CEO, president, director of development, majority and minority stockholder, manager, co-manager, regional manager, assistant to the regional manager, receptionist, senior black correspondent and janitor of his Strange Fruit Comics. He is the author of Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride from Lion Forge and the award winning graphic novels Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History and Tales of The Talented Tenth from Fulcrum Publishing. In his free time he is Chair of Comic Arts at the New Hampshire Institute of Art where inspire students to unleash the transformational potential of their stories. Founder of #28daysarenotenough it is his belief that segregating the history of minority peoples lessens the impact these people have made on American society, and culture. Gill has dedicated his life to using stories to rebuild, empathy, compassion and ultimately humanity. As his friends and family say, “He won't shut up about equality, justice and the importance of telling stories, so listen to him so we can binge watch Stranger Things in peace.” He received his MFA from Boston University and BA from Roanoke College.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B081ZPQPZK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oni Press (January 22, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 22, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 511569 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 257 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings

About the author

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Joel Christian Gill

Joel Christian Gill

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Joel Christian Gill is the Chair of the MFA in Visual Narrative at Boston University. He is a cartoonist and historian who speaks nationally on the importance of sharing stories. He is the author of the Eisner nominated acclaimed memoir Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence, cited as one of the best graphic novels of 2020 by The New York Times and for which he was awarded the 2021 Cartoonist Studio Prize. He wrote the words and drew the pictures for Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride and the award-winning graphic novel series Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, and Tales of The Talented Tenth, which tell the stories of Bass Reeves, Bessie Stringfield, and Robert Smalls.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
53 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

James R. Gilligan
5.0 out of 5 stars Candid and potent
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
Joel Christian Gill’s graphic memoir Fights: One Boy’s Triumph Over Violence pulls no punches. As he shares recollections of the various forms of fighting he engaged in as a youth—physical altercations, emotional pain he suffered as a result of abuse, conflicts with social and cultural expectations, to name but a few—Gill clearly portrays the struggles he endured and overcame, often without help or support of any kind. It would be easy to call this text inspirational, but it’s more accurate to call it educational.
One person found this helpful
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Prisse.nerd
5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ for ANYONE
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2020
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This gripping, poignant, reflective and (at certain points of personal connection) amusing graphic novel is a must read for anyone. Moving artwork and thoughtfully addressed issues linger in your head long after you read the last page. When I picked up this novel, I did not expect to connect with the author on so many levels nor did I expect to see others differently when I finished reading. Poverty, abuse, neglect, adolescence, choices, influences, love- these are all human experiences/emotions that show us we aren't so different from the person beside us, no matter how we appear on the outside. Kudos to the author for being brave enough to share his memoirs and reflections in such an inspirational way. I see you.
If you haven't already done so, please check out Joel Gill's other graphic novels. You will be thankful you did.
2 people found this helpful
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Claudia B. Darrow
5.0 out of 5 stars great graphic novel
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2021
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this book is wonderful because it comes from more than one Black Class issue- the writer starts out with a middle class view then goes back to a working class / poverty perspective. the pictures are beautiful.
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Reviewer guy
4.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2021
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It came ready to read. Value is in the eyes of the reader.
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Tim Smyth @historycomics
5.0 out of 5 stars Brutal. Honest. Hopeful. Inspiring.
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
I’ve been a huge fan of Gill, have his books in my classroom Library - often checked out by my students. Joel’s honesty hit me hard & his words remind me to see the individuals I have in front of me everyday in the classroom. Be the adult you needed as a kid. Such a powerfully emotional read.
2 people found this helpful
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J
5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant Dissection of Trauma in Youth
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2020
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Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Learn a thing or two from Joel's story. There is much to gain from absorbing his experience, both for the young and the old. Buy it, read it, share it, and understand the importance of its message in the 21st century.
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Tammy Halsey
5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book! You won’t be disappointed! Brilliant and Beautiful!
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2020
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Absolutely GRIPPING!! Could not put it down! It’s vulnerable and open and beautifully painful and triumphant. I am blessed to know the author and his wife personally and I couldn’t be more proud of him! The book takes me right back to 1991
One person found this helpful
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Amanda L. Marron
5.0 out of 5 stars Never Give Up, Never Give In
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2023
While this is a difficult book given the subject matter, it is a much needed story to be told. It's a stark reminder that not all kids grow up in a privileged, safe environment and that their bullies and abusers aren't just the kids at school, but many times their own family members, too. Joel Christian Gill could have easily ended up further in the school-to-prison pipeline, but he realized early enough what to do to get himself out of it. Joel was one of the lucky ones and I am glad that the decisions he made got him to where he is, so that he can turn around and shine some hope for the next generation. I challenge those who couldn't connect with the story to take a closer look at their own privilege.
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Top reviews from other countries

mdtt
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
Agree with all the international reviews. Brilliant very honest book. Gives an understanding of why a fight is needed for many having to survive and still choices can be exercised to be someone different.
Beautiful drawings and a pleasure to hear about his life.
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