Toufic El Rassi was born in Beirut during the civil war and immigrated to the United States as a child. He is a writer, graphic novelist, and painter. He is also a commentator on the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy. He has taught Middle East history and now teaches Humanities at Oakton Community College and Painting and Drawing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His upcoming book is Baghdad Burning which is an illustrated history of US and western intervention in the Middle East. His previous graphic novel is titled Arab in America. He lives in Chicago.