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Ed Piskor
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Wizzywig Hardcover – July 17, 2012

by Ed Piskor (Author, Artist)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 126 ratings
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  • They say "What You See Is What You Get"... but Kevin "Boingthump" Phenicle could always see more than most people. In the world of phone phreaks, hackers, and scammers, he's a legend. His exploits are hotly debated: could he really get free long-distance calls by whistling into a pay phone? Did his video-game piracy scheme accidentally trigger the first computer virus? And did he really dodge the FBI by using their own wiretapping software against them? Is he even a real person? And if he's ever caught, what would happen to a geek like him in federal prison?
  • Inspired by the incredible stories of real-life hackers, Wizzygig is the thrilling tale of a master manipulator — his journey from precocious child scammer to federally-wanted fugitive, and beyond. In a world transformed by social networks and data leaks, Ed Piskor's debut graphic novel reminds us how much power can rest in the hands of an audacious kid with a keyboard.
Previous page
  1. Part of Series
    Wizzywig
  2. Print length
    288 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Top Shelf Productions
  5. Publication date
    July 17, 2012
  6. Reading age
    16 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    6.7 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    1603090975
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1603090971
  10. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Piskor’s saga of Kevin Boingthump Phenicle, an invented character gene-spliced from various real-life hackers, began as a series of self-published books, was serialized online, and is now a graphic novel handsomely packaged with a Mac Classic cover and Apple-fied Top Shelf logo. In fractured, single-page strips and longer, stretched-out scenes, Boingthump begins as a clever adolescent in the ’70s with a knack for tinkering just below the surface of legality and an insatiable curiosity for new technology (he’s more that lost breed of dissidence, the phone phreaker, than the sort of hacker we associate with the term today). Without much malicious intent, though, he winds up on the FBI’s hit list, goes into hiding when a hysterical Geraldo type whips the public into a fear frenzy, and inspires a backlash among underground figures waging a battle for digital freedom. Piskor’s accomplished, alt-comics-style art will be familiar from his collaborations with Harvey Pekar. Like Pekar’s work, this solo outing is a story of endearing subversiveness, exposing the forgotten marginalia of society. --Ian Chipman

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Top Shelf Productions; Illustrated edition (July 17, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1603090975
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1603090971
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 16 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.78 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.7 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 126 ratings

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Ed Piskor

Ed Piskor

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
126 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Marcus
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2022
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Full disclosure I’m a fan of Ed Piskor. This was a harrowing story that highlights some serious issues. The artwork is great, dialogue is great. All around well worth the time and money.
You should buy it and read it.
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C. Brock
5.0 out of 5 stars I want more
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2013
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I loved seeing the various hacks and scams that Kevin (the protagonist) did during his days of freedom. I almost didn't care if there was a story involved. I want more hacks and scams. Mr. Piskor, if you read these reviews, can you please create an appendix graphic novel of various hacks and scams because your drawings and explanations made it both fun and comprehensible to read about them. I was absorbed in the first 2/3 of the book and then realized that indeed there was a higher story holding this book together, and it will not disappoint. What makes it even better is that this is not some vacuous novel of scams and brutality with no meaning involved. It might be too much to ask that Kevin be more like a populist Robin Hood fighting corporate greed, but what we have is a hero that defies a simple explanation. It is difficult to relate to Kevin, but that isn't the point. The shift from Kevin to our legal system seems to be the point. Thoroughly good book, and seemingly well researched.
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Clayton Hollifield
4.0 out of 5 stars Why can't hackers stay out of trouble?
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2012
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This is what you need to know about this book: I had intended to chip away at reading this graphic novel over a week or so, and instead tore through it in one sitting.

"Wizzywig" is a story about a child prodigy hacker, who keeps getting into more and more trouble. If you enjoyed movies like "WarGames or "Hackers," the subject matter is going to appeal to you. That's not to say that this is a "large" story - it's very much the story of the main character, and it's a compelling story. I liked the art, I liked the story, I can't wait to read Ed Piskor's next collected story.

Also, extra points for the packaging on this volume. The cover might look plain as a digital image, but the actual book looks like it was plucked out of my grade school computer lab.
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Stiles Finstock
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting comic somewhat based on true stories
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2013
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If you've read much about computer enthusiasts back when computing was rare, you'll recognize some of the tales told in this story. It's a fictionalized amalgam of different famous hacker stories, tied into a narrative. Wizzywig is the name of the hero of the story, a guy who can't stop finding ways to beat the systems placed in front of him. From scamming pizza to stealing phone calls to rigging radio contests, Wizzywig can't help himself and it sometimes gets him into trouble. The story is fun, if somewhat depressing sometimes. The artwork is clean and visually interesting.

The book cover is also cool, looking like an old Mac. It looks cool on your shelf. Recommended, especially for people with an interest in the computing of the 70s and 80s.
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Diego Posadas-Rocha
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2022
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Great story with some amazing artwork by the great Ed Piskor
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Brandy H.
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read form a master storyteller
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2018
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An excellent read form a master storyteller. The black & white artwork is gorgeous. Each character looks different from one another, which isn't always the case with cartooning of this sort. The art will draw you into the book but the story will keep you turning the page. I'd highly recommend this book!
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Dan Svirsky
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and interesting
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2013
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Very fun read. Interesting stuff. The stories about his hacks are fascinating and the legal/prison side is great too. Book did a good job of presenting the main character fairly--presented his super hero (or evil villain)-like exploits without lionizing him.
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Big IV
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021
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The slimmer, original installments of Wizzywig can be hard to find, so it is nice to have this collection to read Piskor's hacking tale.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Gabidoo Magaña
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfecto
Reviewed in Mexico on November 2, 2018
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Me encantó! De verdad es una joya
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Roberto Polli
5.0 out of 5 stars Meravigliosamente geek
Reviewed in Italy on January 26, 2016
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Storie ben orchestrate, finiture di pregio, citazioni e riferimenti a gogo.

Un enorme fan-service a tutti gli smanettoni del mondo ;)
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The Freeman
5.0 out of 5 stars Wizzywig is a great story following a young man who's essentially a blend ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2016
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I originally downloaded this as an ebook, but after only a few pages I knew this was something special and ordered it from Amazon. Wizzywig is a great story following a young man who's essentially a blend of a handful of famous computer hackers and phone phreaks. The story mirrors numerous real life cases and the artwork is great - this book really is a labour of love by Ed Piskor.

From the contents to the STUNNING hardback cover (trust me, you'll smile from ear to ear the first time you pick it up), Wizzywig is a real treat for anyone interested in the history of the phone and computer hacking scenes. 5 STARS!
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Pierre Mouillard
5.0 out of 5 stars un livre rare, à collectionner !
Reviewed in France on August 21, 2012
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Une BD sur le monde des hackers, ce n'est pas si courant. Et quelques pages où on voit passer Steve Jobs et son acolyte Wozniak. C'est bien dessiné, intéressant, voire éducatif, une sorte de mini saga de l'époque où les ordinateurs n'avaient que des lecteurs de disquettes… Ce livre est rare et peu connu : avis aux collectionneurs. En anglais, mais lecture abordable.
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Cliente Amazon
1.0 out of 5 stars Very bad publishing
Reviewed in Italy on January 24, 2015
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The book is interesting but the publishing is terrible. If you have a Kindle, the pages are almost unreadable because of the HUGE white space around the drawings. The book is readable with the Kindle App on a 10" tablet. Otherwise, the experience is nearly painful
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