Pekar's vignettes about life in Cleveland capture the explicit angst of a man who does not fit neatly into any categories of the artist or intellectual. His life is one of defiance - he is not an easy man to get along with, but despite the resulting loneliness and angst, he sticks to his idiosyncratic path. The most moving stories involve his reflection and his attempt to make meaning out of the mundanities of his existence. ( )

I am not an avid graphic novel reader by any stretch of the imagination, so I found out about HP when I saw the movie (and it's one of my all-time faves)...I've only read a few of the comics in my life, but I'm hungry for much more. So far, Crumb's introduction is pretty great...

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There should be 6 stars, like amps that go to 11. I can't think of any hero I've had in my life, but if I had to choose one, it would be Harvey Pekar. This is it, folks. I need to read more than just a compilation. I give this 6 stars. ( )

I was blessed to discover Harvey Pekar on LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN back in the 1980’s. He shambled out on stage, plopped into the guest seat and would not sit still. Agitated and annoyed, his intense eyes would flare and his coarse tongue flame in response to Letterman’s show biz BS. I viewed Letterman differently after that. Pekar had a way during those interviews of cutting straight to life’s bone—refusing to play along with the game of shallow presentations that most of TV is. I loved Letterman back then and still like him today, but watching Pekar fight to remain himself amidst the high show biz gloss seemed to pull back the curtain and reveal that TV was not life but a puppet show instead. And Pekar would not have his strings pulled by anyone even at the risk of damaging his career.

This same battle can be seen on every page of AMERICAN SPLENDOR. It would be very easy to read a story or two of Pekar’s and come away unimpressed. Often sparsely worded and little action to speak of, most of the stories feel like overheard conversations or those thoughts that make us pause a moment before stepping back into the usual rhythms. These are moments that question who we are and what we really want or how much our day to day lives are costing us. There is humor in his work, not all irritated gloom. Though I can’t say I laughed, I did quite often smile recognizing the truth of the life sprawled out before me. Even when the stories are gloomy and seemingly lacking in hope, there is a tough minded perseverance by the author that rarely fails to inspire. During his career, Pekar’s work was illustrated by several different artists—most famously by R. Crumb. The switching up of artists from story to story adds to the power of the work, giving the sense of jumping around inside Pekar’s mind—denying any quality of linear thinking having a singular illustrator might imply. As I mentioned, one or two stories might not impress you but each story adds wattage to the bulb so that by the time you reach the end there is a bright light indeed. ( )

Total Crap! ( )

I only like the Crumb illustrated parts. I wish I had a friend like ' Mr. Boat '. Actually, maybe - I'm - Mr. Boat ... or I will be if I survive another twenty years or so. Strawberries. ( )