Rating: 
Summary: Revenge of the Cartoonist: Ted Rall explained
Review: Although Ted Rall "draws like he's using a Sharpie stuck in his armpit," I still have to admit his graphic novel is still very interesting despite the amateurish illustrations. Rall's recollections of his encounters with the Brian ring true to me. High school bullies can attack without rhyme or reason. They may be provoked by the appearance alone of their target. Their abuse can go on for as long as the bully cares to indulge his hatred - or until he learns their are costs to his actions. My War With Brian is an interesting novel for creating discussion
on bullies; but I wouldn't recommend any of Rall's methods - though I suspect much of Rall's "revenge" isn't as sweet as he would like it to be. Off topic: having seen and read Ted Rall's political cartoons and books, I am compelled to say that if the adult Rall is anything like the boy Rall, then maybe Brian did have a reason for his actions. The ugliness of Rall's personality as expressed in his cartoons, tv appearances, and books is disgusting. So much so, that if I could go back in time, I might hold Brian's jacket while he pummelled Rall - and I fought bullies! Rall states that Brian "made me what I am today" so in that sense, if you want to know who made the monster that Ted Rall is today - and I've rarely met an uglier one - read My War With Brian. Maybe Rall was paying in advance for the "sins" of his adult life. Read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Revenge of the Cartoonist: Ted Rall explained
Review: Although Ted Rall "draws like he's using a Sharpie stuck in his armpit," I still have to admit his graphic novel is still very interesting despite the amateurish illustrations. Rall's recollections of his encounters with the Brian ring true to me. High school bullies can attack without rhyme or reason. They may be provoked by the appearance alone of their target. Their abuse can go on for as long as the bully cares to indulge his hatred - or until he learns their are costs to his actions. My War With Brian is an interesting novel for creating discussion
on bullies; but I wouldn't recommend any of Rall's methods - though I suspect much of Rall's "revenge" isn't as sweet as he would like it to be. Off topic: having seen and read Ted Rall's political cartoons and books, I am compelled to say that if the adult Rall is anything like the boy Rall, then maybe Brian did have a reason for his actions. The ugliness of Rall's personality as expressed in his cartoons, tv appearances, and books is disgusting. So much so, that if I could go back in time, I might hold Brian's jacket while he pummelled Rall - and I fought bullies! Rall states that Brian "made me what I am today" so in that sense, if you want to know who made the monster that Ted Rall is today - and I've rarely met an uglier one - read My War With Brian. Maybe Rall was paying in advance for the "sins" of his adult life. Read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and true
Review: I moved to the States from Alaska at about the same time as Ted Rall was in HS, to finish high school. This comic is the only thing I can think of that ever captured that era - [impolite word] "Dazed and Confused" for example. I should add that the high school I went to (in Wisconsin) was a (Lutheran) theocracy to rival anything in Iran. While I was constantly getting beat on by a gang of openly white supremacist kids at the school, which was quite backward by Alaskan standards, I usually got the flack from school officials who were chummy with them. Other than the extremes of the ultraviolence, I think people should think twice before thinking this is some kind of exaggeration for effect by Rall. Ted Rall's visual style is great, too, and I was happy to see that people who bought My War with Brian also read Ruben Bollings, another superb comic genius. I think Rall is a good representative of us 30-somethings born in the 60s, too - a more or less Lost Generation between the baby-boomers and their echo generation, but which includes the whole Brat Pack and cartoonists like Tom Tomorrow, Rall, and, I believe, Bollings.
Rating: 
Summary: okay but I was disappointed
Review: I was thrilled when I heard about this book. Being bullied in junior high I was looking forward to reading this book. But it was trying too hard. Besides the character has some friends. He really has nothing to whine about.
Rating:
Summary: brilliant
Review: I've always been a fan of Rall's cartoons, both as an activist, and as a quasi-cartoonist myself... Unfortunately, I was too easily able to relate to Rall's situation in high school... This book is a must for PARENTS who maybe can't relate to what some kids are going through at the hands of privileged bullies.
Rating:
Summary: Shocking and savage yet rings with truth
Review: Just when you think Ted Rall's, "My War with Brian," is going to be another run-of-the-mill victim story about bullying, this autobiographic tale takes a surprising shift when the misfit geek decides to fight back in shockingly savage fashion. And thus begins a full fledged war spanning the eternal length of time during Junior High and High School where Ted Rall learns to be a man, standing up for himself and exacting due punishment to those who strike at him, consequences be damned. At times, laugh out loud funny, this book will also shock in reminding you how brutal kids/teens can be to one another - the physical cruelty that Ted and Brian exact on one another is frightening in its murderous intent but just past that initial layer of shock comes a somewhat disturbing reminder of the cruelties adolescents face as they transition to adulthood.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and true
Review: Mr. Rall sent me a text only version of this book through e-mail and I loved it! I'm buying this book since its nice to have a hard copy. I wish I had the guts to use these on my High School enemies(But there is already enough school violence!)
Rating:
Summary: Good story! Wish I would use these techniques!
Review: Mr. Rall sent me a text only version of this book through e-mail and I loved it! I'm buying this book since its nice to have a hard copy. I wish I had the guts to use these on my High School enemies(But there is already enough school violence!)
Rating: 
Summary: You may be horrified that you're laughing
Review: This is both a tragic and a funny story. Ted's hellish grade school experiences produced scars that most of us have shadows of. Ted Rall mixes a strange hard mean exterior with a desire to point out sadness and occasional touching human contact that belies his detachment. Okay, well, some of his detachment. Anyhow, his art is interesting and the story is fascinating. My only complaint would be that it's a fairly expensive short story, but that's how all these cartoonists get so rich...
Rating:
Summary: You may be horrified that you're laughing
Review: This is both a tragic and a funny story. Ted's hellish grade school experiences produced scars that most of us have shadows of. Ted Rall mixes a strange hard mean exterior with a desire to point out sadness and occasional touching human contact that belies his detachment. Okay, well, some of his detachment. Anyhow, his art is interesting and the story is fascinating. My only complaint would be that it's a fairly expensive short story, but that's how all these cartoonists get so rich...
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