Ed Piskor was half of the popular Cartoonist Kayfabe channel on YouTube. Along with his fellow comic aficionado Jim Rugg, he provided years-worth of analyses of mainstream, niche and indie comics, as well as the masters that created them. The show was a well of knowledge from which many artists, myself among them, gleaned great inspiration for the trade.

A lover of Hip-Hop and comics, Ed found success in his own right over years working in the medium of comics with works like Hip Hop Family Tree, X-Men: Grand Design, Wizzywig, and Red Room.

Ed tragically took his life April 1st in the wake of a swarm of online attacks after allegations of sexual impropriety were leveled against him.

Both parties deserve to make their cases, but Ed Piskor was not afforded this before his life was up-ended and the deals and relationships he had built up over years fell apart around him.

His upcoming art gallery cancelled, his friend and co-host strong-armed into breaking ties, not even his family was safe when locals news WTAE-TV Pittsburgh, when failing to get a word from Ed himself, went instead to the home of his father to demand answers, revealing the home address for the world to see in the process, perhaps the most transparent attempt at intimidation by a news channel I've seen in the last few years.

"I was murdered by Internet Bullies," is the phrase he used in his final message to the world to describe the torrent of venom spewed his way that cost him his career and, ultimately, his life. "I wasn't AI. I was a real human being. You chipped little bits of my self esteem away all week until I was vaporized."

He was working with his niece for several years on a comic intended to release on her 18th birthday. In spite of having the joy of sharing that moment with her uncle stolen from her, she nevertheless is going to finish the book on her own in honor of Ed. Her parents are encouraging her to pursue her artwork and invite artists to give her advice.

Lucy's page

No one should have to go through this. If you are so inclined, please give the Piskor family some much needed love.

God bless the Piskors, Ed especially. May he rest in peace.