“… Harvey Pekar, whose autobiographical comic book series “American Splendor” portrayed his life with bone-dry honesty and wit, has died at the age of 70.
Officers were called to Pekar’s suburban home by his wife about 1am (local time), Cleveland Heights police Captain Michael Cannon said.
Pekar had been suffering from prostate cancer, asthma, high blood pressure and depression, according to Cannon.
Pekar had gone to bed about 4.30pm Sunday in good spirits, his wife told police.
An autopsy was planned, said Powell Caesar, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County coroner’s office in Cleveland.
He had no information on the cause of death.
Pekar took a radically different track from the superhero-laden comics that had dominated the industry.
He instead specialised in the lives of ordinary people, chronicling his life as a file clerk in Cleveland and his relationship with his third wife, Joyce Brabner.
His 1994 graphic novel, “Our Cancer Year,” detailed his battle with lymphoma.
The dreary cover scene shows him sprawled beside his wife on a snowy curbside with shopping bags on the ground.
“Harvey, forget about the groceries, honey. Let’s get you inside first,” she says.
Pekar never drew himself but depended on collaborations with artists, most notably his friend R. Crumb, who helped illustrate the first issue of the ironically titled “American Splendor,” published in 1976.
It was made into an acclaimed 2003 film starring Paul Giamatti.
The most recent “American Splendor” was released in 2008.
Pekar’s quirky commentary developed a following … and his insights and humor were often a bit on the dark side…”
go to source/story>>>American Splendor author Harvey Pekar dies | Stuff.co.nz
