Harvey Pekar
Harvey Pekar
Harvey Lawrence Pekarwas an American underground comic book writer, music critic, and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a well-received film adaptation of the same name...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionComic Book Artist
Date of Birth8 October 1939
CountryUnited States of America
school kids juniors
I'd been familiar with comics, and I'd collected 'em when I was a kid, but after I got into junior high school, there wasn't much I was interested in
comedian novelists stand-up-comedian
It seemed to me you could do anything in comics. So I started doing my thing, which is mainly influenced by novelists, stand-up comedians, that sort of thing
realizing flawed havens
I realize that I'm pretty flawed, but you know - I haven't killed anybody yet.
mistake grateful thinking
I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. Looking back, I suppose I should be grateful that I got as far as I got.
creative gigs life-is
Life is about women, gigs, an' bein' creative.
book opportunity territory
I thought I had a great opportunity when I started doing my comic book in 1972. I thought there was so much territory to work in.
book character writing
Am I a guy who writes about himself in a comic book, or am I just a character in that book? If I die, will that character keep going, or will he just fade away?
believe people absurd
People will believe absurd things - in the 19th century and now.
looks stories matter
As a matter of fact, I deliberately look for the mundane, because I feel these stories are ignored. The most influential things that happen to virtually all of us are the things that happen on a daily basis. Not the traumas.
thinking ordinary-days average
I think that the so-called average person often exhibits a great deal of heroism in getting through an ordinary day . . .
can-do
Comics are words and pictures. You can do anything with words and pictures.
lying writing people
I always wanted praise and I always wanted attention; I won't lie to you. I was a jazz critic and that wasn't good enough for me. I wanted people to write about me, not me about them. So I thought, What could I do? I can't sing, I can't dance, I can't act or anything like that. OK, I can write.
hero jazz kenny
Since about 1980 Kenny Werner has been one of jazz’s unsung heroes
book writing differences
I'm sure someone out there has a workable solution. But what do I know? I make comic books and write about jazz. I do know the difference between right and wrong, though.