American Book Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 8 (1987) Winner
Harvey Pekar
ハーヴェイ・ペカー
Harvey Pekar
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1939-10-08 （Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.）
- Died
- 2010-07-12 （Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S.） age 70
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English, Yiddish
- Religion
- Judaism
- Residence History
- Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. → Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Career
- Occupations
- comic book writer, music critic, media personality, filing clerk
- Active Years
- 1959-2010
- Influenced By
- James Joyce, Arthur Miller, George Ade, Henry Roth, Daniel Fuchs
- Influenced
- Alison Bechdel, Joe Sacco, Chester Brown, Ed Piskor
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaker Heights High School | — | — | — | 1953–1957 | United States |
| Case Western Reserve University | — | — | — | 在学（中退） | United States |
Shaker Heights High School
Period:
1953–1957
Year of Graduation:
1957
Country:
United States
Graduated high school
Case Western Reserve University
Period:
在学（中退）
Country:
United States
Attended one year; dropped out
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Inkpot Award | — | — | San Diego Comic-Con | 受賞 |
| 1987 | American Book Award | American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar | — | Before Columbus Foundation | 受賞 |
| 1995 | Harvey Award | Our Cancer Year | Best Graphic Album of Original Work | Harvey Awards | 受賞 |
| 2000 | PRNDI Commentary/Essay First Prize | Essay "What's in a Name" | — | Public Radio News Directors Incorporated | 受賞 |
| 2001 | RTNDA / Edward R. Murrow Award (Regional) | Essay "Father's Day" | Best Writing | RTNDA (Radio-Television News Directors Association) | 受賞 |
| 2011 | Eisner Award Hall of Fame | — | — | San Diego Comic-Con (Eisner Awards) | 殿堂入り（追贈） |
Inkpot Award
1986
Organization:
San Diego Comic-Con
Result:
受賞
American Book Award
1987
Work:
American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar
Organization:
Before Columbus Foundation
Result:
受賞
Harvey Award
1995
Work:
Our Cancer Year
Category:
Best Graphic Album of Original Work
Organization:
Harvey Awards
Result:
受賞
PRNDI Commentary/Essay First Prize
2000
Work:
Essay "What's in a Name"
Organization:
Public Radio News Directors Incorporated
Result:
受賞
RTNDA / Edward R. Murrow Award (Regional)
2001
Work:
Essay "Father's Day"
Category:
Best Writing
Organization:
RTNDA (Radio-Television News Directors Association)
Result:
受賞
Eisner Award Hall of Fame
2011
Organization:
San Diego Comic-Con (Eisner Awards)
Result:
殿堂入り（追贈）
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
American Splendor
1976 Underground comics / autobiographical comic 160 pagesAn autobiographical comic series documenting Pekar's daily life in Cleveland, collaborating with many artists to depict work, relationships, music and ordinary urban life.
everyday lifeworkautobiographyurban life
Adaptations
- [film] American Splendor / Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini (2003)
Our Cancer Year
1994 Graphic novel / memoir 208 pagesA graphic novel recounting Pekar and his wife Joyce Brabner's experience with cancer, detailing treatment, anxiety, and changes to family life.
illnesstreatmentmarriagesurvival
The Quitter
2005 Autobiographical comic / memoir 160 pagesA memoir-style book detailing Pekar's early years and formative experiences.
coming of agefamilyself-reflection
Bibliography
- American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar (1986)
- More American Splendor (1987)
- Our Cancer Year (1994)
- American Splendor: Unsung Hero (2003)
- The Quitter (2005)
- The Beats: A Graphic History (2009)
- American Splendor: Another Day / Another Dollar (DC/Vertigo, 2007/2009)
Adaptations
- Film 'American Splendor' (2003)
- Theatrical / jazz opera 'Leave Me Alone!' (2009, libretto)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- plainspoken, detailed depiction of everyday lifeautobiographical and essayistic narrationmix of humor and caustic commentary
- Recurring Motifs
- work and workplace episodeslove of music, especially jazzfamily and relationship conflictshealth and illness
Health
-
lymphoma1990（診断）Underwent chemotherapy; recovery and cancer experience informed later work
-
prostate cancer晩年（2000年代後半）Diagnosed again later in life; was about to undergo treatment at time of death
-
clinical depression生涯を通じて断続的Affected his life and work; contributed to difficulties but also creative material
-
asthma, high blood pressure生涯Required ongoing health management
Legacy
Harvey Pekar is regarded as a pioneer who helped bring autobiographical comics into broader recognition and changed perceptions of the graphic novel and drawn memoir. He left a strong cultural legacy in Cleveland and in comics.
Museums
- Harvey Pekar statue (Cleveland Heights–University Heights Library) Outside Cleveland Heights–University Heights Library, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S. Opened in 2012
Academic Societies
- comics studies community
- graphic novel scholarship
In Popular Culture
- Brought wider attention through the film 'American Splendor' (2003)
- Corner of Coventry Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard dedicated as Harvey Pekar Park (2015)
Quotes
-
Autobiography written as it's happening. The theme is about staying alive, getting a job, finding a mate, having a place to live, finding a creative outlet. Life is a war of attrition.
Source: Interview / essay (excerpt)
Trivia
- His first language as a child was Yiddish; he read Yiddish novels in youth.
- Worked as a filing clerk at the VA for decades and kept the job until retirement in 2001.
- Death in 2010 was ruled an accidental overdose of medications.
- Posthumously inducted into the Eisner Award Hall of Fame (2011).