The New American Splendor Anthology: From Off the Streets of Cleveland

Seinfeld, a show about nothing? Pbbbb. Never thought it was that special. Heard about this guy named Harvey Pekar who writes comics about well, nothing. Not nothing really but ordinary, mundane everyday things. Saw the movie, liked it, picked up the Anthology at the library. Hooked. Want more. More. The first friggin' page had me hooked, the old fella telling Harvey about the rag peddlers cry. 'PAAAY-PER REGGS'. The thing is I don't think Harvey needs every dollar now. Between the movie and his work being reissued and the new found interest in him and his comics, he's probably laughing, or brooding, all the way to the bank. Good for you Harvey Pekar!

This is the second American Splendor Anthology. It features material that was written after the first Anthology came out, plus some older stuff that was left out of the first book. If you like Harvey Pekar's stuff, you will love this book. For people who became interested in Harvey because of the movie based on his life, you will be interested to find the comics based on his David Letterman appearances here. Also, Toby and the "Revenge of the Nerds" story is featured here. For Harvey's hardcore fans, there are some rarities here, such as pre-American Splendor comics from the early '70s, and Harvey's Forwards to other people's books. Buy this book, Harvey can use the money.

This comprehensive collection of American Splendor autobiographical comics by Harvey Pekar features the artwork of many prominent underground comic artists, including Jim Woodring, Joe Zabel, Gerry Shamray, Chester Brown, Spain, Drew Friedman, and R Crumb. But Pekar is truly the dominant force here. Whether he is trading records, arguing with people at work, getting sick, or losing the library's copy of "Confessions of Zeno," you'll get right inside his head as he muses, worries, broods and gets [angry] at the people in front of him in line. Strong stuff with a hard edge of realism.Compiled from the American Splendor comic books published in the 70's and 80's (which are now largely unavailable), this is highly recommended for those who dig underground comics, new forms of biography or jazz (Pekar is also a renowned jazz reviewer and writer who sometimes talks about music in his comics).This is not a psychedlic "head" comic, and it does not try to be hip. Harvey is no hippy, he's his own person. There is some social commentary in there too.

I came across this book in a second hand book shop. Battered and dog-eared it set me back two pounds. Well worth six times that. Harvey narrates as if he is talking right to you, all the while probably wondering if your going to buy the records he's offering or if you'll leave in time for him to watch the game. His stories are rich with human insight, a special fave of mine being a single page story when a nerdy looking filing clerk hurts his finger and gets a plaster for it only to be unexpectedly hugged by a weeping black vietnam vet who had his life saved by him. Other gems are Harvey getting shortchanged for some grapes and his seemingly endless old book and record bulk buys. If it sounds boring, trust me, it's not. American Splendor is also drawn by a massive variety of top artists, Robert Crumb, Chester Brown and Jim Woodring to name a few.

I first became aware of Harvey Pekar from watching NBC's Late Night with David Letterman. Pekar, a Cleveland-based author and VA file clerk, refused to jump through the normal talk show hoops. (He even went so far as to wear an anti-NBC t-shirt during one of his appearances while the network was being struck.) Pekar has helped take comics beyond simply an entertainment for kids (the usual supermen in leotards). He tells stories of his everyday activities: record collecting, work, discovering wounded squirrels on the road, and appearing on David Letterman. Writing his own stories and having them illustrated by some of the best comic artists working, including R. Crumb, he's helped create a new form (or revive an old one?), the literary comic. Funny, interesting, and sometimes profound, Harvey Pekar is well worth checking out.