Comic book artist Ed Piskor has died, according to his family and colleagues. The creator, best known for works like “Hip Hop Family Tree” and “X-Men: Grand Design” and for co-hosting the popular YouTube series “Cartoonist Kayfabe,” was 41 years old. His death follows accusations from several women of inappropriate behavior by Piskor, including accusations of harassment of minors by artist Molly Dwyer.
“It is with a very broken heart that I share with you that my older brother, Ed, passed away today.” her sister Justine wrote on Facebook. “Please keep our family in your prayers as this is the hardest thing we have ever been through.”
Piskor shared what appeared to be a suicide note on Facebook with a post that said: “I am defenseless against a mob of this magnitude. Please share my side of things. Sayonara.”
Em Nota expandida de Whips, wrote, “I’m sorry for being so stupid” for comments he made in direct messages to women on social media, especially inviting Dwyer, then 17, to stay with him. However, he added: “I pledge my innocence.”
“I wasn’t randomly scrolling through Instagram, but I definitely shouldn’t have talked to her when I found out how young she was,” Piskor wrote. He added that he would not have let her stay at his home at that age and that her invitation to visit was not sexual in nature.
In images posted by Dwyer on Instagram, Piskor’s messages included one that read: “Are you 17 or 18? “I will be very angry if you say 17, because it crushes me at that age.” He also calls her a “good girl” and a “naughty girl.” Dwyer wrote, “Ed Piskor likes GIRLS,” said he tried to “groom her,” and also called him a “pervert.”
His “Kayfabe Cartoonist” co-host, Rugg, distanced himself from Piskor following the allegations against him, writing in a Friday post: “In light of last week’s shocking revelations, I find it necessary to re-evaluate my professional partnerships to ensure that are aligned with my values. of respect and integrity. Therefore, I have terminated my working relationship with Ed Piskor.”
Piskor’s art was scheduled to be displayed at 707 Penn Gallery, but was postponed indefinitely after the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust learned of the allegations against Piskor. according to the Pittsburgh city newspaper. Piskor complained about the newspaper’s coverage of the allegations against him, writing in his note that he was asked to comment “just when I’m trying not to jump off a bridge or something.”
Another woman, Molly Wright, spoke about Piskor and claimed that he had asked her for oral sex in exchange for giving her his agent’s phone number. Piskor explicitly denied these allegations in his note, writing that his accuser was “an enigma to me and her actions bordered on criminal.” She added that she believed her family should take civil action against her.
“She took it to the limit, entering ‘multiple women’ territory,” Piskor wrote. “I never asked for a blowjob in exchange for anything.”
He denied other allegations she made, although he noted that they had sex twice and claimed that she had initiated it both times.
Piskor’s work has been seen as controversial and sometimes disturbing, especially with his recent horror comic exploration “Red Room” from independent publisher Fantagraphics. He also wrote an online comic called “Switchblade Shorties.”
The creator expressed his frustration with the fallout from the allegations against him in his note, writing, “Now it’s all over. The art exhibition evaporated. Was about to sign a $75,000 Switchblade Shorties contract with Abrams, the Kayfabe cartoonist ends with Jimmy’s ‘shocking revelations’ declaration (those words hurt).
However, Piskor noted that Rugg reached out after the accusations, coming to his house, giving him a hug and telling Piskor that he loves him.
Piskor also lashed out at other creators who brought attention to the allegations against him.
He noted that he had left a sketchbook that he had talked about publishing in Fantagraphics and asked in his note that it be published after his death. Piskor also asked Rugg in the note to help him with his intellectual property and books.
“I was murdered by Internet attackers,” Piskor wrote. “A lot of them. Some of you absolutely contributed to my death while entertaining yourself with gossip. I was not AI. I was a real human being. You took away some of my self-esteem all week until I was vaporized.
He added that he hopes his death “makes people think twice before joining the Internet frenzy.”
National Suicide Prevention Line 988 is a free, confidential, 24/7 service that can provide local support, information and resources for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or those around them.