Days Like This Make Me Hate Comic Books 

FACTS! 00:00 - Frustration With The State Of Comic Books 00:57 - The Frustration With Comic Books 02:05 - The Consequences Of Bullying In The Industry 03:07 - The Controversy Surrounding Alex De Campion 04:10 - Cancelled Art Show And Media Coverage 05:12 - The Consequences Of Online Harassment 06:14 - The Protection Of Alex De Campi 07:21 - The Consequences Of Online Bullying 08:21 - The Dark Side Of The Comic Book Industry 09:25 - Holding Power Players Accountable In The Comic Book Industry 10:28 - HR Nightmares And Cynical Behavior 11:30 - The Dark Side Of The Comic Book Industry 12:36 - False Accusations Against Warren Ellis 13:45 - Kicking Out The Industry's Greatest Talents 14:40 - The Agenda To Blacklist And Blackball Talent 15:46 - The Dark Side Of The Conflict Industry 16:46 - The Frustration Of Inaction 17:49 - Personalized Drama And Standing Up For Ed Piskor 18:54 - The Tragic Loss Of Ed Piskor 19:56 - The Disgusting State Of The Comic Book Industry 21:03 - Extending An Olive Branch

An industry full of cowards and narcissists. No wonder they can’t write heroes. This is depressing

Thank you Wes (and Zack) for keeping this issue fresh. The bad actors named in Ed's note will always be looking over their shoulder for Father Karma. Evil people.

I can't believe he named people in a suicide letter and it went completely ignored. No accountability to those people. He faced allegations and lost everything, they were named in a suicide letter and nothing. It's sick

Hopefully Ed's family took to heart what he said in his letter and have a lawyer pursuing civil suits against the people who went after him. 😔

You cannot write heroic stories about heroes, if you do not have the heart and the virtues of a hero. What are the virtues of a Hero? Wisdom, Courage, Justice and Temperance. But what is most important is to have Truthfulness, since it is the mother of all virtues. And this people lack all of this.

Comic book industry become one of most toxic places of all times. What sad times we're are living.

Glad to see you not letting people forget what happened to Ed, you, Ya Boi Zack and Alazmat won't let people forget.

Comic book industry is dead. Comics are forever.

I didn’t know they gave out Eisners for cyber bullying.

Yea it’s absolutely shocking how Alex is still in the industry, just proves how cowardly everyone is. That they’re utterly terrified of this very very bad person. But none of that annoys me too much, what does annoy me is that Alex pretends to be the good guy, an actual villain, a real life supervillain.

I recently pulled out the X-Men Grand Design Omnibus by Ed, and it broke my heart to read his lighthearted self-biography at the end that had his name, his birthdate, and a blank for his date of death with instructions to fill it in. Who could have known back when he created that funny little piece how hard it would hit now?

"Comics will break your heart, kid." Jack Kirby knew even back then that bullies like this would come and ruin the industry and the characters people like him created and loved. Nowadays, more than ever, comics are merely self-insert stories by writers who have no deep understanding of the characters. They write whatever they think the character should be without understanding character progression. Those who do understand are bullied until they either die or are chased away. The fact that top executives support this sick charade is nothing but disgusting, proving they have neither love for comics nor backbone. Marvel and DC Comics are mostly dead at this point, and hoping for improvement probably makes us the biggest fools of all.

I once was motivated to become a writer for DC & Marvel. Even went to university to obtain a degree in English Literature. But now, I would not want to work for a corporation as incompetent as them who hire evil and demented creators.

Don,t buy Alex Decampi and Ramon Villalobos books, they suck anyway.

This video is very revealing to me. I had no idea that the comic book industry was full of malicious people, bullies hellbent on canceling talented professionals like Warren Ellis. It's pretty sickening. These people are 'moral code cops' of sorts, is that it? I'm very sorry to hear about that Piskor guy that killed himself. That is not right.

I can't help thinking of that meme of the dude crouching in front of a grave, with a grin on his face and doing the "V" sign. The dude is Alex De Campi, if not the entire comic book industry, and the grave is Ed's. It's disgusting. Thanks for keeping this story alive Wes. No one must be able to forget what Alex and Villalobos did.

Don't expect Larsen to do anything. He's spineless

So an Eisner award is the modern day equivalent to 30 pieces of silver?

Unbelievable. Mentioning his death is a "microaggression" - how much more sociopathic can you get?

Sometimes- in fact many times- bullies win. I have to think that there will be justice in the end.

De Campi and Ramon V. know, in their souls, they have a fraction of the talent their targets have, and the only way to "succeed" is to take out the more talented people in comic by ANY means necessary. Evil exists, and they willingly participate in it.

I love how passionate you are, Wes! The people who drove that man to kill himself should be ashamed of themselves. As far as Warren Ellis goes, two words: The Authority! That's how you write characters that are different than other people, diverse, and still tell a good story. Midniters is still one of my favorite characters, and I'm straight as a board! We're not homophobic, were bad story phobic!

Great video Wes. I agree with everything you said here. There needs to be accountability in this industry and I do agree that comic pros need to stand up and push back. It's really sad these trolls continue to bring the industry down. Change is needed!

Chuck Dixon is doing pretty well under the new management. Independent comics are the only way forward. The technology to self-publish is better than ever. You don't need them. Go your own way.

Well, done, Wes this one’s got to be one of your best most supercharged videos ever! You know what gets me the most is in all this there hasn’t been a single mention about him on Kayfabe, no memorial not a word just business as usual. His partner has been silent throughout this whole thing. The only thing Jim put out was that separation post when the story broke, he’s gone silent since then……….

And THANKS for staying on this very serious subject, Wes. It brings some very needed maturity to an often all-too-juvenile industry.

Excellent points, Wes. Like I've said before, not one to usually "Like" or comment on videos,...but, this video deserved both. The morality/ethics/decency in the comic industry leave SO MUCH to be desired, not to mention skill and talent. Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing, if we could find fixes for all of those issues.

The whole ED situation has rocked me to my core. I had no idea how powerful the cancel culture was before this awfulness. Ed was for me the most inspiring and informative, talented and enjoyable comic talent there has been for years, possibly forever, as he embraced the newer medium of You Tube videos and created a point of entry into the comic book realm that was driven by a palpable enery of enthusiam and undeniable love. The additions to my book shelves of Ed's work and those that Cartoonist Kayfabe recommended have made my life a better and more enriched place to be. RIP Ed Piskor, your art and signature are framed on my wall and your memory is in my heart.

Thanks for keeping this issue alive Wes. These bullies need to be called out for the monsters they are. Never forget.

Where are the men? Hiding. Cowering. Avoiding being crucified. Speaking up is powerful and dangerous.

Alex de Campi. Proof that the witch can become the witch hunter.

Wes, I believe the words you were looking for to describe how you feel are “pissed off”.

I truly miss their show. So many jealous people out there.

I've been watching Piskor's Kayfabe videos on the X-Men lately. Current state of DC Comics is bad. Current X-Men do not even resemble "classic" X-Men. It's sad.

How are these awards nominated and decided?

Unless Ed's family can lambaste the crowd if the award is own, they should tell the organization to pound sand.

Regardless of whether he hated our guts (he did, for some reason that I think might have had to with CG adjacency), Ed Piskor wasn't just a human being. He was a resident of Munhall, PA, a steeltown suburb I can reach in 20 minutes by hopping on the bus in front of my house. He was a Pittsburgher who attended the signings of his friends Tom and Jim at Phantom of the Attic Oakland (our LCS), and attracted a packed house at the memorial (also at Phantom) where his family honored him and showcased his art. He was mentored as a youth by indie legend Don Simpson, who drew a back cover pinup for us last year. A month after his death, I now own a pristine copy of Hip Hop Family Tree, which Jim apparently left in a little Free Library nook in my neighborhood. That was the essence of Cartoonist Kayfabe, and despite Ed's apparent efforts to shun me, I still feel connected.

It’s so disheartening that the industry has such little soul left, that they can just move on like this as though nothing has happened. You can be sure that Ed would not have been allowed to move on were he still alive. We know that Ellis, Wood, Baron, Dixon, Latour, Stewart etc etc some of the industry’s greats, who have done more individually for comics than these f-ing parasites ever will. It makes me feel so sad for Piskor’s family, friends and fans - but also personally, as he’s a creator I loved. It also makes me feel so sad for the medium I’ve loved my entire life. And I’m watching it dying, being sucked dry by hateful people and those with the power to do something are absolutely complicit. I’ve always managed to separate art from the artist. Tried hard to maintain a consistent approach to that. I don’t think I can continue to give these companies money while they stand by and not just watch this happen, but actively employ and promote the people involved. And f-k the Eisners. The nominations for that award have been a joke for years but this is the most disgusting act they have committed to date. The committee who is responsible for providing these nominees may as well just go and take a p1ss on Ed Piskor’s grave, one of the few creatives nominated who actually belong on a best of the industry list.

Unfortunately the multitude of properties that have been hijacked by these players , properties from Dr.Who,Star Trek,Star Wars,Marvel,DC and so on have to be abandoned as possibly the only way to let them know that fans build a franchise and the absence of fans can destroy the empire upon said franchise are built on...its good that you and zack haven't abandoned this unfortunate issue though.

They aren't looking to make any correction, except to improve and refine the process for their next attempt.

Thanks for affirming the "Status Quo" needs to change. Because it DOES!

Well said sir. Great channel, can't believe you don't have more subs

It should be noted that Ramon Villalobos disappeared from the Felix Comic Art website in early April. Either Felix decided end their association or some of the other artists represented by Felix made it an issue. Just because consequences aren't in headlines doesn't mean their aren't any consequences.

You didn't mention the big thing: He was going to get a $75,000 upfront payment for a new project and, after the allegations, that project was cancelled. That spelled the end of his life as a cartoonist, at least for many years until things blew over and he was able to clear his name.

The comic book community is small as it is. Without voices like yours that can reach at least a sizeable audience, Ed's murder would not be talked about or have any light shined on it. Those who contributed to Ed's death will still suffer no consequences but at least there will be a record of their actions memorialized forever. RIP Ed Piskor, a real lover, historian and creator of original comics.

You say nothings changed but it has. I loved comics, I have 30 long boxes, everything from the 80’s when I was a kid, all the stuff I read as a young man and even up to today. I bought Amazing heroes, wizard magazine and I watched Cartoon Kayfabe at least once a week. Ed was really good, a very smart guy, I liked his work. but now with his death, it’s revealed a true darkness that lies at the heart of this industry . And who wants to be a part of that? It’s over. All the heroes are dead.

At worst, at least from the disclosed communication we could say Piskor was being a bit creepy, and even that's a stretch. The industry is sickening. I truly believe ya boi when he says the terrorists he encountered during his deployments were not as twisted as these mainstream supposed pros. de Campi in earlier times would have been a nobody in a healthy industry. She'd have spent her career writing one-offs in obscure artsy comics, the peak being getting published in Epic. I only know her from the bullying and as one of the reasons I quit buying 2000AD, and I'm not new to comics. The mainstream industry has been given over to mediocre psychopaths and the weaklings too afraid to speak out against them. Good riddance to it when it finally dies. Comics will survive it.

Ed Piskor meant a lot to me, not only as an artist for his works but also as a comics passionate expert whoom I got to consider a fiend given the number of hours I spent listening to him and Jim Rugg. I hope that what happened won’t be forgotten and that, in time, reactions to that would spread and help people change their mind and react to this distorted use of social media.

Can you list these names again. With addresses? Asking for a friend...

Fantastic, incredibly heartfelt video, Wes.

You know what the difference between an anti-bully and a counter-bully is? Being an anti-bully means that you make it a point to not be a bully and to try to stop people from being a bully, and to also try to stop people from being bullied. Being a counter-bully is similar to being an anti-bully, but they go with one extra step. They also make it a point to use the same methods and tactics that bullies use in order to bully other bullies. Methods and tactics too brutal and extreme for anti-bullies to tolerate. We have a lot of bullies. We also have a lot of anti-bullies. But what the world needs now, is more counter-bullies. Anti-bullies defend others from being bullied. Counter-bullies on the other hand fight the offense with even greater offense. Helping someone when they are bullied is good. Making bullies cry is even better.

Darrly Ayo is a monster. I know his history well.

I hope Ed wins, and his family is there to accept and call out Alex de Campi for the PoS she is.

I thought Alex De Campi had already been decamped. This really stinks on ice. And people wonder why I've chosen to be a comic book indy since 1970.

Those big wigs (Jim Lee, Akira Yoshida, Eric Stephenson and so on.) are scared cause they may have their own skulls in the closet that they don't want exposed.

I’m honestly ignoring a lot, I like a few new stories like ultimate Spiderman, and black panther, the new get fury and the doom book are awesome but I just can’t support it like I want to as long as they employ these monsters, anyone involved in piskors murder should at the very least be run out of comics

Dejected. That is the word that describes how this all makes me feel.

R.I.P. Ed Piskor. An amazing artist and creator, and one of today's most important comic influencers. Cartoonist Kayfabe is an important piece of comic Fandom. Ed Piskor and Jim Rugg accomplished something so special with their show. It is honestly one of my favorites. Ed's passion was so infectious. You couldn't help but get excited about it when he and Jim cracked open a book and started talking about it. I miss that. I watched their show regularly, and while we still have all they created before - it is bittersweet knowing there will be no more. No more Ed. What a travesty this whole situation is. And those that drove him to it are given fucking awards!!!!???????!!!!! I'm so angry I cannot articulate it properly. This is so fucked.

I love comics, but love myself more... and putting up with abuse is something that I will not pay for.

The thing is entertainment is a want not a need. I don't need to support an evil for a want. All I have heard about Ed Piskor is the unfair evil he endured for no good reason.

They gave me a RuPaul commercial before your video Wes 😶🙃

Well said Wes.

Well said! Such a great summary of the current situation. Organisations were quick to pull support from Ed, due to these unsubstantiated allegations. However, we know the people that bullied him and no one is doing anything about that.

Of course, the substandard "talent" would be the ones most viciously trying to drive out the truly talented and well-established creators from the comic book industry. Similar to when I was in the military and the soldiers complaining the most about others being lazy or incompetent, were usually the laziest and most incompetent workers in your entire unit. They only criticized others to draw attention away from their own complete lack of work ethic.

Comic books are now a basket case It's just box ticking bingo in most cases Film ,TV, have gone the same That's why most people are on RU-vid

Wes, your outrage is palpable, and salient. It is unfathomable how anyone can bully someone to the point they choose to end their lives, with no consequences. I thought there were laws about cyber-bullying? Why hasn't anything been done to ensure these disgusting people don't commit their despicable acts again?? It is actually unbelievable.

I've known folks like Ed Piskor my whole life. They are diehard comics fans who love every aspect of the art form. People like Ed are the lifeblood of the industry, and he was a first-rate ambassador. The people that went after him are a cancer.

I am not a bit Marvel Comic reader, I was a massive fan of D&D/Pathfinder/Warhammer Fantasy Table Top RPG Graphic Novels. SInce 2012 I am unable to enjoy the new stuff. As a quick side note on this point of "Man contacts teenage girl it is automatically sexual. This is very sad, because it means that if young girls may never have a male mentor or role model. Yes I realize there are many POS men who would use that to try to sleep with the girl. However there are good men out there who are able to control our sexual impulses. Hell mine died once I got married....

Oooooooo Nooooo ! I had no idea passed away. I love his channel Cartoonist Kayfabe . Rest in Peace

It’s been very hard losing Ed, I went to a convention with the idea of “I need to meet these old timers before it’s too late” Kayfabe was there and I went thinking “can’t wait to see them again at the next conventions.” Didn’t think it would be the other way around. 💔

Unfortunately, it's not about how good of a job one does, but rather who one knows. The comic book industry is no exception. Thank you for your insight, Wes. Much appreciated as always.

I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised to hear Evan Dorkin was part of this. I like his work, but it had the air of "vicious wimp." Also, good on Brian Wood for calling this out so long ago. Shame no one did anything.

Get rowdy Wes..a lot of us fans have dropped buying new books all together becuz of these POS's.

What do y’all think about this; in my justice league 2 script; the world is figuratively Divided By two Individuals; My creative character and his arch enemy; Alvin Acker. So, think of it as the Cold War.Meanwhile, A general arranges in the shadows to completely and utterly bring down the two.

RIP Ed. Your comics will live on.

Idk how people can live with themselves knowing they caused a death how they can look themselves in the mirror and just go about life like nothing happened it's sick

It's sickening

Did find some irony last week seeing Evan Dorkin retweeting several posts lamenting the death of musician/engineer/producer Steve Albini. He was quick to register his disgust with Ed when those DM's surfaced....but apparently Albini's way more troubling quotes about child porn back in the day and his advocacy of a guy like Peter Sotos is A-ok. Kind of odd.

I also blame Jim Rugg who cut all ties to Ed before the truth came out. The man really needed a friend at that time to give him some support.

I don't think anyone's treated the Eisners seriously in at least 15 years.

The right side of history seems like a pretty dark place. I'll just stay in my basket.

@2:21. yup. all these big comic youtubers who talked about him with as i see now, fake sympathy have totally forgotten about Ed Piskor. the ones who were blacklisted and made HUGE money off superchats havnt said a peep since. ya know, the one with a cybernetic amphibian. your the only one still keeping it alive. they all went back to drama farming

Ed should have told them to get f*cked. He didn't demand anything from them and exhibited bad judgement--that's it. The Kayfabers would have still watched and bought his stuff. He could have led a push-back and gained some fans. Who made more money for Fantagraphics--Ed or deCampi? That's what they should have focused on, instead of trying to placate goons that don't even buy their books.

I know this sucks but Let me put it this way to cheer everyone up and to give some hope out there into the world. you can look at the glass half empty or like me you can look at the glass half full. Imagine If Alex loses and Ed wins a Eisner that would be the biggest middle finger to her and all of her friends in the industry. I know this might not happen but who knows stranger things has happened before.

Absolutely correct! There should be someone who stands up and says it. Cowards….

Still can't remember a comic book publish in 2024 i bought and we are 5 months in 2024

Maybe, what we need is Nick Fury to pull out Agent Coulson's Blood Stain Captain America Cards. (Near mint). RIP Ed Pisko

Rob Liefeld put out an episode of his podcast 'Robservations' on April 5th in celebration of Ed's work. He has Many listeners, & I thought that was a really cool, stand up & shout, gesture on his part. There is still hope.

Idk why, but this reminds me of when Micahel Turner passed away. Ed will be missed, too many of the great artists are taken away far too soon. If anyone is thinking like that for whatever reason, remember you do matter and keep fighting the good fight.

Our industry has been sick for a number of years brother, what happened with Ed was almost inevitable, I watched Jasaon Pearson fall down and beg for help, to be Passed by with derision by many who eulogised him after his death, I didnt agree with a lot of jasons Positions on Life, but he was a member of our Fraternity. And it was a sad day when he passed. And while it was a stroke that ultimately killed him, what led to that? Maybe the circumstances of his Choices which inevitably caused that stroke might not have happened, if more people actually cared in life as much as they did in his passing. So its not suprising that De campi and the other creatures currently inhabiting the halls of comicdom at the moment are acting as they are, ( I’ll be open here, I Actually wrote a whole load of stuff Naming names etc, / but took on board your comment about getting embroiled in that personal shit, and gave it a 2nd thought. So deleted it. But was essentially drawing a direct comparison to those individuals Who we both know are a foundation of rot & decay in the Industry. And the shoulders that De Campi stand on. ) Then theres the business itself, Warners ownership of DC is a shit show, with influences like Gunn & Jim Lee is essentially MIA just doing enough to pay for his 9 kids and trips to cuba to Scuba. The rest of DC management are not really Comics guys, its typically corporate. And its really Not much different over at the “Mouse of Ideaolgies” (Marvel) But the bottom line is that a large part of the industry has been Beaten into submission by the Inclusion Delusion mob & Lgbqterrorists…. Ironically If you or I were to talk openly about the “Parties” at Comic cons these guys attend the me2 movement might have konnioptions or even the arm bending / influenceing / peer pressure, from influential artists like Art Adams and his Socialist cronies. That occur with regularity behind thge scenes The average Comic book fan would be seriousaly dissilusioned. I love this medium, out of all the Disciplines I work in from Animation to Film, to Directing, Comics brings me the most Joy, hilarious considering its the least lucrative. Its time to take our shit back. I think.

This is what happens when women are allowed to call the shots in a workplace. Just look at the last episode of the original Star Trek, "Turnabout Intruder". Yeah, I said it.

Geez, this is my first time hearing stuff like this happening in the comics industry and my god I don’t have anywords

I've been working on my own sketchbook comic about cancel culture and inked Jim and Ed into the book just because I listened to them every morning. Truthfully Ed was part of the reason I even thought it would be fun to do my own comic. I'm really sad to hear about these things because he was extremely supportive of people starting out and of all his guests on the show. I'm going to finish this comic and others I have lined up because people like Ed gave me the encouragement to do so.

How about more COMICBOOK RETROSPECTIVES? I love them and you dont need to deal with modern writers.

It's a list for people in the industry. Not the customer. Not the people reading. Know who these things are made for.

Awesome work mate

Thanks for your courage, Wes. I'm only ignorant what happened to Art Thiebert? I know what happened to the rest of the dudes you mentioned. And R.I.P Ed Piskor. I really appreciated what he and Jim did for comic education.

Typically for those at the top, it is more important to stay at the top, than do better.

I really hope that the girl in question is not blaming herself for this guy's death because as illogical as it would be to do so some people would do that if they were in her position!!!