Wizzywig is based on WYSIWYG – What You See Is What You Get. It is about a kid named Kevin who is picked on a lot by his classmates but has a very clever way of thinking. He is able to outsmart adults and get free bus rides, free pizza and is pretty tech savvy too. He and a friend figure out how to make free long distance calls and end up accidentally creating a computer virus.
This is a comic book based on stories from real life hackers. I was only able to read an excerpt of this book in order to write this review, but as someone who is into software (though I’d rather use any skills I have for good rather than bad) I found it to be interesting and have added it to my Amazon wishlist.
Kevin eventually ends up spending time in jail – but I wasn’t able to get far enough in the book yet to figure out exactly what ended up happening that he got caught for – but the list of charges against him is plenty!
I received a free e-copy of an excerpt of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.
About the Book
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.