Cartoonist Kayfabe is a YouTube channel and podcast about comics hosted by Ed Piskor and Jim Rugg.
The channel started in late 2018 with a series of episodes looking at Wizard Magazine. Piskor and Rugg use Wizard as a guide to navigating the 1990s comics industry. It was one of the most turbulent decades in comics history and an era that inspired them to become cartoonists.
The channel also has interviews with top names in the industry, a comics show-and-tell, and Weekly Shoot sharing what they’re seeing, watching, reading and thinking about that week.
The concept is simple; two guys expressing their insights and thoughts about comics. Yet, their knowledge and earnestness resonate with viewers.
Ed Piskor is a former student of The Kubert School and is best known for Hip Hop Family Tree and Wizzywig. He has a cult following amongst minicomic fans with his series Deviant Funnies and Isolation Chamber.
Jim Rugg is a comic book artist, bookmaker, illustrator, and designer. His books include Street Angel, The PLAIN Janes, Afrodisiac and Supermag. His work has received Eisner and Ignatz Awards.
Together, they make a direct impact on the sales of books, with eBay sellers adding “as seen on Cartoonist Kayfabe” to their listing. Comic shops have also asked to be notified ahead of time what the duo will be reviewing so that they have it in stock. This influence of buying habits has been dubbed the “Kayfabe effect”.
Here are some of our episode recommendations:
- Wizard Magazine issue 1, Sept 1991 and Wizard Magazine 10, June 1992
- The Comics Journal issue 152, August 1992 part one and part two
- Akira, Making a Masterpiece, part 1: Fireball, vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, vol. 4
- Jack Kirby’s Career Spanning, Controversial Interview from The Comics Journal 134, February 1990 and Show and Tell 09: Jack Kirby Original Art
- Will Eisner Sketchbook
- The BEST Alex Toth Comic Book IS One for the Road
- Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 35th anniversary
- Tank Girl, Gorillaz, and more from Jamie Hewlett!
- The Blighted Eye – Original Comic Art from the Glenn Bray Collection
- Watching The Watchmen. The Raw Materials That Built A Comic Book Masterpiece. Super Inspiring!
- Shoot Interviews with Dave Gibson,Todd McFarlane, Bill Sienkiewicz, Erik (Savage Dragon) Larsen and Gerard Way
- They also throw in a few tutorials on Hand lettering, Screen Tone, Thumbnails, Layouts, and Roughs
Watch all of Piskor and Rugg’s videos on Cartoonist Kayfabe. You can listen to the show at soundcloud.com/cartoonist-kayfabe or find it on your favourite podcast platform.
