Harvey Pekar: American Splendor Creator Dies at 70
By Soumitra Mondal, Gaea News NetworkMonday, July 12, 2010
New York (GaeaTimes.com) Harvey Peker, the renowned American underground comic book writer, died overnight at the age of 70. He was found by his wife Joyce Brabner in their Cleveland Heights home. His wife called the officers at about 1 a.m today July 12, 2010. His body was found between a bed and dresser. The cause of the death is yet uncertain and an autopsy will be done to determine the cause. Harvey Pekar was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in 1990 and underwent a grueling treatment.
Harvey Pekar was best known for his autobiographical comic book series American Splendor. It portrayed his life with bone-dry honesty and wit. He showed that a comic book panel can be used to include everyday feelings of anxiety and disappointments. His comic book was not about the adventures of a costumed hero but about the mundane details of his own life and his fellow Cleveland residents.
Its pages were contributed by a wide range of illustrators. R. Crumb was one of the most famous of them. He encouraged him to turn his stories of travels through the city into comics. They first met in Cleveland in the 1960s.
He’s the soul of Cleveland.
Crumb told The Plain Dealer in a 1994 interview,
He’s passionate and articulate. He’s grim. He’s Jewish. I appreciate the way he embraces all that darkness.
American Splendor also acclaimed the film adaptation of the same name in the year 2003, starring Paul Giamatti and Mr. Pekar.
He documented his experience of lymphatic cancer in the graphic novel, Our Cancer Year.
