Last April, the comic book industry was struck by tragedy when critically acclaimed artist Ed Piskor died suddenly at the age of just 41. A lifelong artist, Piskor had been doodling and sketching since he could first pick up a pencil. He spent his childhood in front of a large drawing table, spending hours perfecting superheroes, monsters and cosmic creatures. His family encouraged his gift, providing him with all the materials he needed and a space to create in their home in Homestead, a town just a few miles south of Pittsburgh on the Monongahela River, one of the landmarks for which the region is known.
“My brother Ed has always drawn. Ever since he could hold a pencil, my parents encouraged him and gave him everything he needed to draw. He drew his own X-Men comics. He made his own zines that he sold at conventions,” explained Bobby Piskor, affectionately known in the Pittsburgh scene as “Potter,” a reference to JK Rowling’s character.
The entertainment gene runs in the family, with Bobby having worked as a professional wrestler, referee, trainer and organizer for the past 25 years, so it was no surprise to Bobby or the rest of the Piskor family when Ed’s artistic abilities became known on a national and even international level while he immersed himself in his sketchbook on a daily basis.
“We all knew Eddie was going to make it. It never changed who he was as a brother. I was so happy for his success. We were so proud of him and knew how hard he worked for his success,” Bobby added.
Among Piskor’s most notable works was Hip Hop Tree House, a comic book series published in various forms over the years that covered the early years of the genre. The music-based narrative received praise from The New York Times and Washington Post and won an Eisner Award in 2015. After Ed turned pro in 2005, his portfolio overflowed with a flood of print media, as his sketchpad was the first step for designs that would appear on magazine covers, online content, and a variety of other forms of media.
As mentioned, due to Bobby’s extensive involvement in the world of professional wrestling, a genre that has a long history in the Piskors’ hometown, it was not uncommon for martial arts to be a topic of conversation in their household growing up. As a tribute to the enthusiasm the brothers had for the professional wrestling industry, there were plans for a wrestling project from Ed.
“He loved wrestling, we watched wrestling as a family ever since he was a kid. Even as a teenager we would often go to local wrestling matches. One of his first big breaks came with a show on Adult Swim called Mongo Wrestling Alliance, for which he designed all the characters. After finishing Hip Hop Family Tree, he worked on a wrestling project and wrote a story for a wrestling comic. He would accompany me to various shows with Jim Rugg and Tom Scioli where they would get a behind the scenes look to confirm the story. I’m sad that will never get finished,” Bobby said.
Ed made a name for himself in a very grassroots way, bringing his own distinctive style to the art form that earned him a steady following over the years. One of the most popular projects Ed was involved in was collaborating with fellow Pittsburgh illustrator Jim Rugg for a YouTube series called “Cartoonist Kayfabe,” a play on the term from pro wrestling that describes the ability to hold storylines together for the audience. The video series brought the two cartoonist buddies together to discuss the history of comics, artistic style, and overall presentation of each book. The behind-the-scenes look, which features two professional illustrators sharing their conversations with fans, became an extremely popular series on the YouTube platform. As a tribute to Ed’s legacy and passion for comics, the Cartoonist Kayfabe library, consisting of nearly 2,000 videos, is still online today to educate and inspire future artists.
“His YouTube channel Cartoonist Kayfabe was a show he and Jim Rugg created. It became a very popular show where they dove deep into comics and artists,” Bobby said.
As mentioned, Ed’s sudden death in April of this year hit the comics industry very hard, as many are still struggling with the loss of an underground artist who made it big but always maintained his independent spirit and style for the genre. A shining example of how things came full circle for the artist was in 2017 when he began working on X-Men Grand Design, and the project remains one of his most acclaimed works today. The young man who sat at a drawing table and created his own X-Men comics as an example of his love for the art form later became a professional, actually illustrating and shaping the direction of X-Men comics to inspire others to pursue their cartoonist dreams.
With that in mind, Bobby and the Piskor family wanted to continue to provide a platform for his legacy and inspire the next generation of artists. This Saturday, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, not far from Ed’s childhood home, the first Eddie P Comic Con will be held in his honor, with comic books, collectibles, music, t-shirts, and other merchandise being offered for sale by vendors. Of course, several artists will be in attendance to showcase their work, just as young Eddie did at conventions when he was waiting for his big break in the industry. There will also be a raffle with proceeds benefiting the Suicide Prevention Hotline. The event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at 3900 Greensprings Ave, West Mifflin, PA, with tickets just five dollars at the door.
“My brother loved young underground artists, so we wanted to give these artists a platform to be seen and recognized. Also, my family and I will be hosting a very special Q&A session hosted by West Coast Davengers. Jim Rugg and Bryan Moss will also be on the panel,” Bobby explained.
Many of Eddie’s friends and colleagues will be in attendance, but a very special guest from the world of professional wrestling will also be at Comic Con. Henry Godwinn, former two-time WWF Tag Team Champion, will make a rare appearance to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
When I met the pig farmer who brought the infamous feed bucket to national television in the mid-1990s, he was outside his physical therapist’s office, completing an exercise program to offset the rigors of several decades in the ring.
“Bobby and I met, Mr. Plummer took me to the International Wrestling Cartel organization three times, and Bobby Potter and I met there. He’s a great guy, very knowledgeable about the business. That was a good company to work for, and we became friends. We stay in touch, I got to know his family, and when he called and asked me if I wanted to attend Ed’s convention, I thought it would be a celebration of his life. I lost a son, I’ve been through a lot, but support from friends and family is a big deal. I told him I’ll be there, and if everyone can be there and show a little support and come by to meet me, one half of the Godwinns, two-time tag team champions, then I’ll be there. I’ll support Mr. Potter, it’ll be a nice time of camaraderie, telling old stories and celebrating Ed’s life,” Henry Godwinn said over the phone.
“My brother was one of the hardest-working people I knew. His passion for comics and art will never be matched. He lived his life by his own rules. He will be truly missed not only by us, but by the entire world,” concluded Bobby Piskor.
For more information about Eddie P Comic Con, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2175775789487736
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Until next week
-Jim LaMotta
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