Harvey Pekar
Person » Harvey Pekar is credited in 116 issues.
Writer, letterer, editor who was nominated for Eisner awards for best writer in 1992 and 1995 for his work on American Splendor, an autobiographical tale.
Comic Legend Harvey Pekar Dead at 70
According to Cleveland.com, comic legend Harvey Pekar, born October 8, 1939 has passed away at the age of 70. Pekar's day-to-day life and all of his events were depicted in his comic American Splendor.
Pekar was found dead in his house, in Cleveland, by his wife Joyce Brabner around 1 A.M. Monday, July 12th. The cause of death is unknown at this time, but an autopsy will take place soon to reveal why this happened.
Although he never wrote about super-powered heroes or crime fighting within this book because his book was about the "hum-drum" life of a Cleveland man, it was still a success. He collaborated many times with Robert Crumb on the book. In 1990, Pekar was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, and he struggled through his treatment. Pekar and his wife Brabner wrote Our Cancer Year, a comic about his struggles with the disease.
== TEASER ==
Pekar's life is also depicted in the 2003 film American Splendor starring Paul Giamatti as Pekar. In addition, the film also featured Harvey Pekar as himself leading the narrative along, and it is a must watch for anyone interested in his work, even if it's just to hear the voice many people have been reading on the pages for years.
For many people, his work means a great deal. He was an independent creator whose work found was revered by many people, and he opened the doors to redefine "What makes a comic a comic." Writers don't always have to write about super-heroes, crime, violence, or action. They can take a look at "the slice-of-life" and use the real things around them, no matter how mundane they may think it is, and turn it into an entertaining or even compelling story. The most recent runs of American Splendor was publish by Vertigo in 2006 and 2008, which is the perfect place for a book like that now-a-days. Pekar truly was a legend in this industry and he will be missed.
Check out Alex Navarro's tribute to Harvey over at Screened.com.
"Comics are words and pictures. You can do anything with words and pictures" - RIP, Harvey Pekar.
Kieron Gillen
The JRB mourns the passing of Harvey Pekar. Our just released second issue contains one of his characteristically witty musings on Jewish identity. He stopped by the office just the other day to pick up his author's copy. We'll miss him. Link:http://www.jewishreviewofbooks.com/publications/detail/gut-shabbes
R.I.P. Harv!
We're gonna miss you. Truly one of the great originals in the comics community.
Goodbye to our favorite curmudgeon!
Matt Fraction said it best on his twitter:
"So harvey pekar gets to the gates of heaven and goes, 'man, look at this line.'"
He was a genius and he'll be missed.
I was just getting into the American Splendor series. I'll miss him for sure. Another Day are great Another Dollar.
70 is still so young....
Harvey... I hope you won't mind me calling you that, You'll be missed by you live forever in your comics.
*Cheers*
- Kevin "Silkcuts" Gorospe
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