Harvey Pekar: 1939-2010

Famed alternative comics icon and reluctant TV personality Harvey Pekar passed away today at the age of 70. His cause of death has yet to be determined, though at the time of his passing Pekar was being treated for prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife Joyce Brabner and their adopted daughter Danielle.

Harvey Pekar was a lifelong resident of Cleveland, Ohio. While working as a medical clerk, Harvey befriended another Cleveland local, the soon-to-be-famous underground comics artist Robert Crumb, a man whose decidedly adult, punky approach to comic books would help revolutionize the medium. After a decade of friendship with Crumb, Harvey Pekar decided to pursue his own comic in the heyday of the post-underground alternative comics scene. Using Pekar's text and storyboards, he and Crumb created the first editions of the award-winning American Splendor series.

American Splendor was the first of its kind. It's a comic book about the daily struggles of a man who is, by all counts, not at all extraordinary. It is Pekar's autobiographical book and it not only embraces a warts-and-all philosophy, it actually adds a few extra warts for good measure. By all accounts, American Splendor was a cult hit during its initial run in the 1980's. Pekar was a hidden hero for his fans and a misunderstood oddity for the mainstream. His multiple appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, which were increasingly unorthodox and contentious, painted Pekar as a clueless schlub until his famous final appearance in 1987 when he used the opportunity to publicly criticize NBC's parent company General Electric for its business and political shortcomings.

Harvey Pekar's comics work took on a new level of acclaim and candor with 1994's Our Cancer Year, which he co-wrote with Joyce Brabner and illustrated with Frank Stack. The book chronicles Pekar's successful battle with lymphoma, making it the first true-to-life depiction of modern cancer treatment in comics and one of the first in popular media in general. Unflinchingly honest, Our Cancer Year is a harrowing work of art that is life-affirming without being sentimental.

Harvey Pekar was introduced to another generation through the 2003 biographical film, also called American Splendor, directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. While Paul Giamatti portrayed Pekar throughout most of the movie, Harvey Pekar himself appeared in some segments of the film, even alongside Giamatti's mimicry. American Splendor was nominated for several awards, including an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and wins at Sundance and the SAG Awards.

The world will remember Harvey Pekar for his unique contribution to the comic book medium and the way he remained true to his identity as a voice of the everyman, even if it was never his intention to speak for anyone but himself.