Posted July 12, 201014 yr Cleveland comic-book legend Harvey Pekar dead at age 70 Monday, July 12, 2010, 11:11 AM Joanna Connors, The Plain Dealer Joanna Connors, The Plain Dealer Harvey Pekar's life was not an open book. It was an open comic book. Pekar chronicled his life and times in the acclaimed autobiographical comic book series, "American Splendor," portraying himself as a rumpled, depressed, obsessive-compulsive "flunky file clerk" engaged in a constant battle with loneliness and anxiety. Pekar, 70, was found dead shortly before 1:00 a.m. Monday by his wife, Joyce Brabner, in their Cleveland Heights home, said Powell Caesar, spokesman for Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. Pekar and his wife, Joyce Brabner, wrote "Our Cancer Year," a book-length comic, after Pekar was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in 1990 and underwent a grueling treatment. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07/cleveland_comic-book_legend_ha.html
July 12, 201014 yr In honor of Harvey Pekar: Anthony Bourdain meets Harvey Pekar Bourdain no rez Cleveland Sokolowski's He was a great resident of Cleveland Hts. Poor guy was suffering from cancer for a while.
July 12, 201014 yr very sad to hear. he was a colorful unpolished personality of a type you dont find much of anymore, which thankfully was immortalized in film. i wonder if wally shawn will come in to attend the funeral (he's a relative)? glad i met him once at a book signing at severance center.
July 12, 201014 yr Neat article from the Washington Post: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/07/harvey_pekars_book_editor_reme.html Harvey's brains and willpower let him rise from his blue-collar beginnings, and eventually overcome his psychological fears to become a true part of American culture. I would think that he's the only Social Security file clerk to also be a jazz critic, book reviewer for the Washington Post, and comic book writer and have a major motion picture made about his life. I was in Cleveland on business a couple of springs ago, and Harvey came by my hotel to show me his Cleveland. As I noted on my blog at the time, he took me to an early dinner in his town, Cleveland Heights. After asking me if I liked milkshakes, he took me to Tommy's Restaurant (1824 Coventry Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118, for those planning a trip) where he was greeted by name. We were parked in a booth and talked comics, food and mutual acquaintances for a while. ... Harvey had a grilled cheese, which I report for the sake of history. We talked a little bit about his appearance on Tony Bourdain's TV show, "No Reservations," and in spite of Harvey's reputation as a TV disdainer (apropos of his Letterman appearances), he's got a real liking for Bourdain, who's another self-made man like Harvey is.
July 13, 201014 yr I'm not the person to do this, and I wish I were, but it may be time to create a Harvey Pekar "American Splendor" Museum in Cleveland Hts. Coventry and Lee Rd come to mind as the two best places. And I say a new Great Lakes Beer while we're at it!! "Harvey Pekar" Here's him talking about moving to Coventry
July 13, 201014 yr Nice blogpost from Bourdain. "What went wrong here?" is an unpopular question with the type of city fathers and civic boosters for whom convention centers and pedestrian malls are the answers to all society's ills but Harvey captured and chronicled every day what was--and will always be--beautiful about Cleveland: the still majestic gorgeousness of what once was--the uniquely quirky charm of what remains, the delightfully offbeat attitude of those who struggle to go on in a city they love and would never dream of leaving. What a two minute overview might depict as a dying, post-industrial town, Harvey celebrated as a living, breathing, richly textured society. A place so incongruously and uniquely...seductive that I often fantasize about making my home there. Though I've made television all over the world, often in faraway and "exotic" places, it's the Cleveland episode that is my favorite--and one about which I am most proud. More: http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/read/the-original-goodbye-splendor?fbid=z-Ti7jGZsoB EDIT - Micheal Ruhlman said on his blog that there will be a special airing of the Cleveland episode on Thursday.
July 13, 201014 yr ^^ So awesome. And another good list of Harvey memories: http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2010/07/harvey_pekar_remembered_the_mi.html
July 13, 201014 yr My favorite quote on Harvey thus far: "He had made the world around him his world. We were--all of us-- just passing through." -Anthony Bourdain
July 13, 201014 yr WHOA....must MUST BUY item for all urbanohioers: http://www.smithmag.net/pekarproject/2010/04/09/announcing-harvey-pekars-cleveland/
August 7, 201014 yr Harvey Pekar music benefit set for Saturday night at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom Published: Saturday, August 07, 2010, 6:00 AM Michael Heaton, The Plain Dealer Harvey Pekar left a legacy of life, courage and uncompromising art when he was found dead in his Cleveland Heights home July 12. He also left a history of money worries and confused finances, and no will or burial plans, for Joyce Brabner, his writing partner and wife of 27 years. So friends will hold a memorial event Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom in Collinwood to cover costs of his interment. Performers include David Thomas of Pere Ubu with Paul Marotta of the Styrenes, Yiddishe Cup, Cats on Holiday, Charlie Mosbrook, George Foley & Gene Epstein and Home & Garden. Tickets are $10. "Things are complicated in the aftermath of our friend Harvey's life," said Beachland co-owner Cindy Barber, who published Pekar's work when she was editor of the old Free Times weekly. Brabner said her husband was cremated privately, and that his remains will be buried in Lakeview Cemetery, near those of Eliot Ness. Neither woman would disclose a financial goal for the benefit, but Barber said they hope to at least cover the cost of the cemetery plot and possibly a memorial statue. http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2010/08/beachland_ballroom_music_benef.html
August 31, 201014 yr I remember Harvey speaking at the Cedar-Lee Theater opening of "Crumb". He used to do segments on Kent Public Radio: www.wksu.org
November 4, 201113 yr Kickstarter for the Harvey Pekar - Comics Statue/Memorial/Desk is a go! I really like where they went with this conceptually. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1844705603/harvey-pekar-library-statue-comics-as-art-and-lite
November 4, 201113 yr Kickstarter for the Harvey Pekar - Comics Statue/Memorial/Desk is a go! I really like where they went with this conceptually. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1844705603/harvey-pekar-library-statue-comics-as-art-and-lite Maybe they can get Bourdain to throw some support for the memorial.
November 4, 201113 yr Tony already put it out there through Twitter and they can probably count on him to push it more if necessary closer to the end date. Neil Gaiman would be the next (or THE) big fish to get a RT from.
November 5, 201113 yr Approaching 25% with 164 backers. Factoring out the $1500 backer average donation is in the $32-$36 range.
November 8, 201113 yr Harvey Pekar recorded a series of entertaining commentaries for Kent Public Radio, WKSU. http://www.wksu.org/features/harveypekar/#page2
November 17, 201113 yr So, it was looking like the drive was starting to slow down hanging in at around $20k. However, today it was announced that Alan Moore (of Watchmen and V for Vendetta fame among others) is offering up invitations to a web video conference "Writer's Chat" for a donation of at least $99. So boom! $25k and counting. 17 pledges so far for the "Writer Chat." http://kck.st/tf8YKw Alan Moore on Harvey
November 22, 201113 yr :clap: :clap: Harvey Pekar tribute drive surpasses $30,000 goal Published: Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 6:22 AM Updated: Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 11:19 AM Pat Galbincea, The Plain Dealer By Pat Galbincea, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Donors have given enough money to honor author Harvey Pekar with a desk and sculpture to be installed at the Cleveland Height-University Heights Public Library. Joyce Brabner, Pekar's widow, said in early November that $30,000 had to be raised by Dec. 5, for his tribute. The campaign, started online at Kickstarter, had already raised $30,787 through Monday with 669 backers, according to Carole Wallencheck, a reference associate with the library. With 13 days to go before the deadline, Wallencheck said any surplus donations will be given to the library to buy graphic novels. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/11/harvey_pekar_tribute_drive_sur.html
December 4, 201113 yr The perfect Christmas gift for UOers this year 8-) Here's a first peek at 'Harvey Pekar's Cleveland' Published: Sunday, December 04, 2011, 2:05 PM By Michael Heaton, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It is Harvey Pekar's final gift to Cleveland. The late graphic novelist has written a wonderful history of his home. And our home. "Harvey Pekar's Cleveland" is out today. Pekar, creator of "American Splendor" and other comics, was always Cleveland's heart and soul. But don't take our word for it. The greatest tribute Pekar could ask for is the introduction by Alan Moore, creator of "Watchmen." In the world of comics and graphic novels he is without peer, revered for both his talent and integrity. http://www.cleveland.com/pdq/index.ssf/2011/12/heres_a_first_peek_at_harvey_p.html
December 5, 201113 yr Comic book stores will be the most likely place you'll find it. Just google "<whereever you are> comic book store" and give the closest one a call. If in Akron I recommend Kenmore Komics, the proprietor John is just about the nicest person you'll ever meet.
Create an account or sign in to comment