FatKid Comics Presents School Fight 79
by Justin London
Digital
Date of Publication: July 17, 2026
School Fight '79 is inspired by a true story from my childhood. On the first day of first grade in 1979, six-year-old Justin eagerly boards the school bus, excited to begin a new chapter in his life. Confident after teaching himself to read over the summer, he expects a day filled with learning and new experiences.
Instead, lunchtime brings an unexpected challenge when three older boys attempt to bully him and steal his lunch money. Although frightened and badly outmatched, Justin remembers a lesson his father taught him years earlier after another incident involving neighborhood bullies. His father, a former Golden Gloves boxer, believed that fighting should always be a last resort, but that knowing how to defend yourself was an important part of growing up.
Faced with no other choice, Justin stands his ground. Drawing on those lessons, he fights back and successfully defends himself against all three boys. The confrontation lands everyone in the principal's office, where Justin learns that while fighting is never the ideal solution, there are moments when standing up for yourself is necessary.
Looking back as an adult, Justin reflects on how that single day shaped his understanding of courage, responsibility, and self-confidence. He does not glorify violence or encourage fighting. Instead, School Fight '79 explores the lasting impact parents have on their children and reminds readers that true strength comes from knowing when to stand your ground, when to walk away, and how the lessons we learn as children can stay with us for the rest of our lives.
