Harvey Pekar

Harvey Pekar
BornHarvey Lawrence Pekar
(1939-10-08)October 8, 1939
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJuly 12, 2010(2010-07-12) (aged 70)
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation
  • Comic book writer
  • filing clerk
  • music
  • literary critic
GenreUnderground comics
Alternative comics
SubjectAutobiography
Years active1959–2010
Notable worksAmerican Splendor
Our Cancer Year
Notable awards
Spouses
Karen Delaney
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​
(m. 1960; div. 1972)​
Helen Lark Hall
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(m. 1977; div. 1981)​
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(m. 1984)​

Harvey Lawrence Pekar (/ˈpiːkɑːr/; October 8, 1939 – July 12, 2010)[1] was an American underground comic book writer, music critic, and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a well-received film adaptation of the same name.

Frequently described as the "poet laureate of Cleveland",[2][3] Pekar "helped change the appreciation for, and perceptions of, the graphic novel, the drawn memoir, the autobiographical comic narrative."[4] Pekar described his work as "autobiography written as it's happening. The theme is about staying alive, getting a job, finding a mate, having a place to live, finding a creative outlet. Life is a war of attrition. You have to stay active on all fronts. It's one thing after another. I've tried to control a chaotic universe. And it's a losing battle. But I can't let go. I've tried, but I can't."[5]

Among the awards given to Pekar for his work were the Inkpot Award, the American Book Award, a Harvey Award, and his posthumous induction into the Eisner Award Hall of Fame.

  1. ^ "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch Familysearch.org Accessed 19 Mar 2013, Harvey L Pekar, 12 July 2010.
  2. ^ Bourdain, Anthony (July 13, 2010). "The Original (Goodbye Splendor)". Travel Channel.
  3. ^ "Harvey Pekar Dies: Comic book writer was 'poet laureate of Cleveland'" by Marc Tracy, Tablet, July 12, 2010
  4. ^ "HARVEY PEKAR: Remembering the man — and legacy — one year later" by Michael Cavna, The Washington Post, 7/13/2011
  5. ^ "Harvey Pekar" (obituary), The Daily Telegraph, July 13, 2010