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Harvey Pekar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Harvey Lawrence Pekar October 8, 1939 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 12, 2010 (aged 70) Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Genre | Underground comics Alternative comics |
| Subject | Autobiography |
| Years active | 1959–2010 |
| Notable works | American Splendor Our Cancer Year |
| Notable awards |
|
| Spouses | Karen Delaney
(m. 1960; div. 1972)Helen Lark Hall
(m. 1977; div. 1981) |
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.
- ^ "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch Familysearch.org Accessed 19 Mar 2013, Harvey L Pekar, 12 July 2010.
- ^ Bourdain, Anthony (July 13, 2010). "The Original (Goodbye Splendor)". Travel Channel.
- ^ "Harvey Pekar Dies: Comic book writer was 'poet laureate of Cleveland'" by Marc Tracy, Tablet, July 12, 2010
- ^ "HARVEY PEKAR: Remembering the man — and legacy — one year later" by Michael Cavna, The Washington Post, 7/13/2011
- ^ "Harvey Pekar" (obituary), The Daily Telegraph, July 13, 2010