Wizzywig
| Wizzywig | |
|---|---|
| Date | June 2012 |
| Main characters | Kevin "Boingthump" Phenicle |
| Publisher | Self-published Top Shelf Productions |
| Creative team | |
| Creators | Ed Piskor |
| Original publication | |
| Published in | Wizzywig |
| Issues | 3 plus webcomic |
| Date of publication | Jan 2009 – Sep 2011 |
| ISBN | 9781603090971 |
Wizzywig is an American comic book series written and drawn by Ed Piskor.[1][2] It deals with Kevin "Boingthump" Phenicle, a young prodigy who becomes fascinated with social engineering, phone phreaking, and eventually computer hacking.[2][3]
The title of the series refers to the computer term, WYSIWYG, an acronym for "What You See Is What You Get" — software which allows content to be edited in a form that resembles its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product, such as a printed document, web page, or slide presentation.
Development[edit]
The project developed when Piskor was working on the nonfiction graphic novel Macedonia (co-written by Heather Roberson and Harvey Pekar). While drawing Macedonia, Piskor became fascinated by hacking history via "Emmanuel Goldstein"'s radio show Off the Hook.[4]
In structuring Wizzywig, Piskor combines real hacker stories into one character, merging real and fictional elements seamlessly. He decided to navigate dual audiences, tech-savvy and newbies, by structuring the story from various perspectives around Phenicle's life, drawing inspiration from cartoonists like Daniel Clowes and Chris Ware.[4]
Piskor meticulously documents his research in Wizzywig, offering a "director's commentary" in Volume 1, where he annotates references and sources. Volume 2 includes an extensive bibliography listing books and resources used. Sources include Off the Hook, the hacker magazine '2600: The Hacker Quarterly', and the pre-Internet online magazine Phrack. Piskor's thorough approach ensures accuracy and authenticity in depicting hacking culture, drawing from a wide array of credible sources.[4]
Publication history[edit]
Piskor started the project with a minicomic called The WYSIWYG Technical Pamphlet.[3] He then self-published Wizzywig in three volumes[4] of 110 pages each from January 2008 to December 2009:
- Volume 1: Phreak (Jan. 2008)
- Volume 2: Hacker (Dec. 2008)
- Volume 3: Fugitive (Dec. 2009)
When volume 3 was released, Piskor made volumes 1 & 2 available for free PDF downloads on his website.
Piskor continued the story in a webcomic, Boingthump!, made up of seven chapters, from June 2010 to September 2011.
Each panel of the comic was created as an individual 5" x 5" illustration on a 6" x 7" piece of Bristol board.[5]
In June 2012 Top Shelf Productions released the complete, updated and revised, 400-page[3] graphic novel.[6]
Plot[edit]
Kevin "Boingthump" Phenicle is a composite of many well-known phreaks and hackers such as Kevin Mitnick, Kevin Poulsen, Joybubbles, and many others.[7] Volume 1 follows Phenicle's journey into phone phreaking, transitioning to Internet hacking in Volume 2. As the series progresses, Kevin grows, as well as his trials and tribulations with hacking. His endeavors make him legendary; his abilities are feared and also revered by many.
Reception[edit]
The Top Shelf collection was one of five graphic novels named to Publishers Weekly's Best of 2012 list.[8] It was also named one of CBR's Best of 2012,[9] and to the The A.V. Club's Best of 2012[10] and Barnes & Noble's Best of 2012 lists.[11]
The book earned Piskor and designer Chris Ross a 2013 Eisner Award nomination for Best Publication Design.[12]
Wizzywig was translated into French by Dargaud,[13] and into German (as Wizzywig — Das Porträt eines notorischen Hackers) by Egmont Ehapa.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ Mautner, Chris (February 22, 2008). "Weekend reviews: 'Wizzywig Vol. 1: Phreak'". Newsarama. Archived from the original on Sep 7, 2008.
- ^ a b Knudde, Kjell (2024-04-02). "Ed Piskor". Lambiek Comiclopedia. lambiek.net. Retrieved Apr 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nisen, Jeremy (Oct 17, 2011). "Ed Piskor: Comics Artist Talks About Wizzywig, his Hacker-Culture Graphic Novel". Under the Radar. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ a b c d Price, Ada (Sep 1, 2009). "Hackers are People Too: Ed Piskor's 'Wizzywig'". Publishers Weekly.
- ^ Piskor, Ed (Jan 2008). "Be on the lookout for future volumes of WIZZYWIG...". WIZZYWIG. Vol. 1: Phreak. Ed Piskor.
- ^ "Acclaimed hacker comic WIZZYWIG comes to Top Shelf!". Top Shelf Productions. March 4, 2011.
- ^ Heater, Brian (Jan 1, 2008). "WIZZYWIG Volume 1: Phreak by Ed Piskor". The Daily Cross Hatch. Archived from the original on Mar 9, 2009.
- ^ "WIZZYWIG hits Publishers Weekly's Best of 2012 list!". Top Shelf Productions. November 5, 2012.
- ^ "CBR'S TOP 100 COMICS OF 2012, #49 - 25". CBR. December 28, 2012. Archived from the original on Mar 4, 2013.
- ^ Murray, Noel (December 31, 2012). "The best graphic novels and art comics of 2012". The A.V. Club.
- ^ "Best Books of 2012". BarnesAndNoble.com. Archived from the original on Sep 18, 2013.
- ^ "CLEVELAND and WIZZYWIG nominated for Eisner Awards!". Top Shelf Productions. April 16, 2013.
- ^ "Wizzywig: Dargaud, 2013 Series". Grand Comics Database.
- ^ "Wizzywig - Das Porträt eines notorischen Hackers". Grand Comics Database.
External links[edit]
- Piskor/Wizzywig page at Top Shelf Productions
- "Wizzywig". Grand Comics Database.
- "WIZZYWIG". WizzyWigComics.com. Ed Piskor. Archived from the original on Oct 15, 2011.
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