Ed Piskor, a well-known comics artist famous for his work on “Hip Hop Family Tree,” passed away recently after a social media post where he addressed an accusation of sexual misconduct that led to a gallery in Pittsburgh postponing an exhibition of his work. His death, confirmed by a funeral home, is believed by many to be a suicide, given the contents of his note. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust decided to indefinitely postpone the exhibition after a woman accused Piskor of inappropriate behavior towards her when she was still in high school in 2020.
In his social media note, Piskor admitted to his mistake in communicating with the teenager and apologized for his actions. He also addressed allegations of a consensual relationship with another artist. His agent, Bob Mecoy, mentioned that Piskor was devastated by the situation and believed that his career was over regardless of the truth of the allegations. Piskor was known for defining himself by his work, and Mecoy emphasized that he was struggling with what the future held for him.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, in a statement, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegation against Piskor and decided not to move forward with the exhibition, which was intended to feature original illustrations from “Hip Hop Family Tree.” Following Piskor’s death, the trust expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences to his family and friends. Piskor’s work on “Hip Hop Family Tree” chronicled the early history of hip-hop and was highly acclaimed within the comic book industry, winning awards like the Eisners.
Aside from “Hip Hop Family Tree,” Piskor also created “X-Men: Grand Design” for Marvel, a project that sought to retell the convoluted history of the X-Men in a coherent manner. The collection was noted for its unique appearance on yellow pages, reminiscent of older comics. Piskor had a podcast called “Cartoonist Kayfabe” with Jim Rugg, where he enthusiastically discussed comics and shared his passion for the medium. Gary Groth, co-founder of Fantagraphics, praised Piskor for his all-encompassing love for comics and his dedication to the art form.
The rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy lauded Piskor’s work, noting the impact of his detailed storytelling and artwork on the hip-hop community. Piskor’s passion for comics and his ability to capture the essence of a story through his illustrations were well-regarded by his peers and fans alike. His sudden death, in the midst of controversy and allegations, has left many in the industry shocked and saddened. Piskor’s artistic contributions and his dedication to the craft will be remembered in the world of comics for years to come.
