Blog Response Post: American Splendor

1. Analysis of the Book

American Splendor is series of comics books written between 1976 to 2008, written Harvey Pekar and illustrated by various comics. The comic books are autobiographical, and detail various aspects of Pekar’s life. The comics are considered revolutionary in the underground comic scene because they tell mundane, yet entertaining, stories from Pekar’s life as a file clerk in Cleveland, Ohio. Pekar is noted for his biting cynical, yet humanist depiction of himself.

“The humor of everyday life is way funnier than what the comedians do on TV … It’s the stuff that happens right in front of your face when there’s no routine and everything is unexpected. That’s what I want to write about.” – Harvey Pekar (McGee)

2. Analysis of the Film 

At times, the film depicts itself in the format of an actual comic book.

The 2003 film adaptation American Splendor, directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini is also part documentary. While the film show Paul Giamatti as Pekar, it also interviews the actual Harvey Pekar and others in his life. This gives off the effect of documentary “recreation” of actual events. The film flits between Giamatti’s scenes and Pekar’s scenes as if they are different frames in the same comic book.

3. Analysis of the Adaptation

Giamatti creates his own comic block as Pekar in American Splendor.

Pekar’s comics were noted for their postmodern effect, which the film enhances. In the comics, there are time jumps, a random series of events, and times where the character of Pekar seemingly talks to the reader. The film includes these characteristics, but adds to the post modern feel by including the actual people being represented in film. Their is no pretense: the most post modern moments are when Giamatti and the other actors are “off camera” and interacting with the real people they are portraying on film.

4. Online Research on the Film

• One of the most extensive interviews with Harvey Pekar was in 2008 with Webcomix, where he discusses a range of topics including his favorite music, mood disorders, his job and his political views. Link to interview here.
• American Splendor was a strange, lasting success that even made Pekar’s coworker, Toby Radloff mildly famous, as the “Genuine Nerd” on MTV. Link to video of his MTV segment here.
• Harvey Pekar’s guest appearence on Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations.” Link to video here.

“No Reservations” is known for its unique style. For this episode, they mirror Berman and Pulcini’s directing style. Pekar gives a monologue, as he writes a comic that another artist draws, detailing his curiosity over why Bourdain wants to meet him. He figures he can get money out of him because Bourdain probably wants Pekar to draw him a comic, which is the one he’s writing now. The episode is just as post modern as the film, depicting the way Pekar drew his life to paper as it was happening.

5. Critical Argument Paragraph

American Splendor extensively uses jazz as it’s soundtrack to mimic the way comic books are written and read. Popular comics are created by one author, but grows to exponential authors and artists, as well as with different story lines, time periods, characters and spin-offs. This is reminiscent of Jazz: the way it is played, and what it has become. Jazz can be generally defined as having a flexible rhythm and improvisation. It’s genre has expanded to include bebop, swing, soul jazz, ska, and so many other sub genres, especially through location or culture. NPR’s Felix Contraras says on Pekar and R. Crumb:

There is something to learn from how these guys integrated jazz into their visual expression: an eye for improvisation; a developed sense of group play; a constant reminder of the past in looking toward the future. (Contraras)

Pekar and original American Splendor illustrator R. Crumb not only loved jazz, but used it in their work. In the film, the common theme or rhythm is Harvey’s story, and the improvisation comes with the various depictions of him. For example, on meeting him for the first time, Joyce Brabner, his future wife, is scared that he will turn out to be one of the more unpleasant depictions of Harvey in real life.

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Works Cited

Primary Sources

Harvey Pekar. American Splendor and More American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar. New York: Ballantine Books, 2003.

Harvey Pekar. American Splendor: Another Day. New York: DC Comics, 2007.

Secondary Sources

Contraras, Felix. “Harvey Pekar & R. Crumb: Jazz and Comics.” NPR. 11 September 2009. Web. 20 June 2013. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2009/09/harvey_pekar_r_crumb.html>

eyesewmuisc (Youtube User). “Genuine Nerd Toby Radloff- Valentine’s Day goodies – 1989.” Youtube Video. Web. 20 June 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXxRnZ3Ih44>.

Travel Channel (Youtube account). “Anthony Bourdain meets Harvey Pekar.” Youtube Video. Web. 20 June 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J38mp_ON64Y>.

McGee, David. “The Many Faces of Harvey Pekar, Creator of American Splendor.” Interview from Zeitgeisty
Who is Harvey Pekar.” The Bluegrass Special. February 2008 via Webcomix. Web. 20 June 2013. <http://thebluegrassspecial.com/archive/2010/august10/harvey-pekar-interview.php>.