Internet Crusader

by George Wylesol

George Wylesol’s new graphic novel tells the story of a doomsday cult and a fight against the literal devil, using collages of ‘90s chat windows, computer games and other forms of early web design as his canvas.

Ever have one of those days where you're talking to a smokin' hot chick online and she turns out to be a robot working for an evil cult... and that hot chick sends a computer virus masked as dirty pictures... and that computer virus allows Satan to come through everyones computers and hypnotise them... but the family computer has parental locks on it so you don't get the virus... and then God messages you to say you're the only person on earth who can save human existence?

Anyway, that's the set up for this part art book, part graphic novel and 100% true, deep dive into early internet culture from creator of Ghosts, Etc. George Wylesol!

'yo. ur abt to read 1 of the greatest storys ever told. its the story abt how i went on the internet and single handedly saved the world, killed the devil and made friends w god. i call this story Internet Crusader.' BSKskator191

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics, Comedy, Magical Realism

200 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2019

About the author

George Wylesol is an American illustrator, designer, cartoonist and educator from Philadelphia, best known for his abstract alternative comics.
Wylesol currently lives in Baltimore and teaches illustration at Towson University and the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Reviews

[disco · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS FUCKING AMAZING. What a perfect mix of 90s aim, sk8er boi vibes, and Satan luring you into hell. Perfection does exist and it’s so close, you just have to click here and you won’t regret it at all...

[no elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

horseluvr1234 rules. shockingly funny for somthng sooo ugley but i think that's actually why it works! if god ever instant messages me im blocking him and saying ok bye asshole!

[Joseph Hamm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book truly has to be seen to be believed.

[Rubis Lantier · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH FUN
This does not even require a nuanced review it just ruled

[Austin Luz]

soooo fun to look at. thanks jinno for the rec!

[Mairi · Rating 4 out of 5]

- m41r1 has logged in -

sup?
nm, bored. U?
yh same.
i just got this weird popup tho, mite have a virus. brb...

If that's not gobbledegook to you, and you grew up an early 00s internet native then you're going to love this graphic novel. A wacky story and wildly nostalgic illustrations. Excellent!

[Fiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I found the emulation of teenspeak kind of annoying yet I can't say that's inaccurate to how a lot of tweens typed. What a fun way to tell a story, fills me with a whole lot of nostalgia. Especially with the instant messenger screens and all the little details of the 90s websites with horrible pop-ups.

[Bob Comparda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! Perfect 90s internet nostalgia. If you've ever used aol instant messenger then this is for you.

[Siena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun format for a graphic novel! So funny, I loved it!

[Betzim Gdolot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ok book and quite a quick read.

We read the story from the point of view of a young teenager in late 90s/early 2000s when the internet was still fairly new, but started being a regular product in everyone's homes. The story is told from a point of view of a horny teenager who stumbles upon a cult that persuaded him to get a lethal virus on his computer.

I liked the aesthetics but felt like overall the story was a bit too simplistic. In terms of style and creativity this book gets a 5. But in terms of story, it was kind of weak.

Give this book chance simply for its original narrative, but come with the right expectations of an average story.

[Sean Bills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible artwork combined with a really fun story aimed at those who long for the early days of the Internet. A very fun book and I'll definitely read the others from Wylesol.

[Aves Trainor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m the target demographic for this book, teenager in the 90s. It is a fun experiment. Reminds me a little of The Ring, David Lynch, and Doom. I would have liked to see more depth, like Tynion’s The Nice House on the Lake, which bore similarities.

[Ian Norri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0. I was expecting/hoping for something similar to his other work “2120”, which was an unexpected pleasure as a unique and thoughtful graphic decision quest with winding logic puzzles, contemplative moments, wacky artistic choices etc.. Unfortunately, this was a less interesting linear graphic novel using a similar zany artistic language, but without the interactive nature, mystery, or complexity of 2120. Disappointing.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a guy who was ~12 years old in the '90s, this comic is going to be the most relatable thing you'll likely ever read.

The story is told entirely from the perspective of a computer desktop, where a young kid spends his free time chatting with his friend online, playing browser games and trying to browse some lewd content. Things get weird quickly when anonymous chatters, pop up ads and computer viruses try to recruit the kid into a Satanic death cult.

This was the perfect encapsulation of the early Internet culture along with a nice dose of surreal horror. Wylesol crafts some great nostalgic aesthetics for the desktop views, while also capturing the dialogue of early AIM chat rooms with ease. Definitely one of the more unique comic reading experiences I've had.

[Jeff Lewonczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable graphic novel with a clever conceit: Each page is a "screen grab" from an early-00's skater kid's home desktop computer, completely with AIM chat, banner ads, browser windows, etc. The thing is, a satanic death cult is taking over the world, and God starts IMing the kid to play a Doom-style first-person shooter in order to triumph over evil. Totally absurd, but wonderfully executed, with a delightful eye for period detail - a fun, unique graphic-novel experience.

[meybees · Rating 5 out of 5]

sup losers!!! 10/10 awesom bk horseluvr1234 rulez

the art was super coolio n like ive been a fan of wylesol for like, 5ever, but idk guyz but the second i opened this book it somehow downloaded a virus??!???? now my computer looks all weird n shit n sum weird dude is tryna indoctrinate me in2 his cult.... wtv im gonna go play sm doom ttyl

(also, this reminds me very heavily of the game hypnospace outlaw, also a very cool, retro-internet inspired game!)

[eenayde · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this a while ago earlier this year (maybe march?) i don’t remember oops. it was a fun time!!!! but a little limited I think because while the concept is super cool i couldn’t help feeling it was trying really hard to be a point and click game instead of a comic book and honestly it might have worked better in that format. but it was still a super fun time!!! love everything by george wylesol and this was no exception

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm a sucker for this kind of found-footage-esque computer screen storytelling and also really enjoyed the humor and energy of following a 12 year old just messing around in the late 90's internet environment (despite the dire circumstances he's thrown into)

[Twan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You've got dial up internet

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

SICK

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought that writing a novel using only the format of 90s internet browsers would have worked so well.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of fun. Not Earth shattering, but it would have made a killer X-Files episode, perhaps quite fittingly. It's funny, kind of awesome and the Art is fun. What's to dislike?

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had trouble getting into the art, but what a fun concept, especially for anyone familiar with early internet graphics limitations.

[Joseph Ernest · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool book

[Jordan Holmes]

FUUUUNKY

[Amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me laugh and get all nostalgic for early 2000s internet.

What else can one ask?

[Jay Crywank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Everything about it sucked me in. The moment I finished I ordered the rest of the authors books. Like no other comic I’ve ever read, I loved it!

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first thought this was like an art book but then it had a plot that involved a demon-worshipping cult hypnotizing people with computer viruses spread through spam in AOL instant messenger.

[Zach Denton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read but it was so much fun. I didn't grow up in the 90s, but this just oozed that nostalgic 90s internet feel with a side of satanic cult virus.

[Prem · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun as hell with quite a bit of genuinely stellar art. also littered with a bunch of fun nods to early internet/gaming culture