American Splendor immerses you in the life and worldview of Harvey Pekar, working-class Everyman, first-class curmudgeon, and unlikely family man. It’s a pretty ordinary life: a dead-end job as a file clerk at a local V.A. hospital; an apartment in the same Rust Belt city, Cleveland, where he was born and raised; two busted marriages; and various hobbies and interests that help pass the time. But Harvey’s take on that life, and how he deals with it, is anything but average. Innately pessimistic and hilariously expressive, Harvey opines, complains, confronts, and on those occasions when he sees or experiences something fine, appreciates. His humanity and curiosity are as intrinsic to his personality as his acerbic humor.

First published in 1976, Harvey Pekar’s “American Splendor” originated the autobiographical comic genre. A comic book about nothing more, and nothing less, than the everyday moments that comprise one man’s life, “American Splendor” is one of the most acclaimed comic books ever. It has influenced many leading contemporary comic book artists, including Gilbert Hernandez (“Love & Rockets”) and Joe Sacco (“Palestine”), who freely acknowledge their debt to Pekar’s naturalistic model. The series has also been recognized in general literary circles, and in 1987 “American Splendor” earned Pekar an American Book Award. In addition to his comic books, Pekar has written extensively about music and literature, frequently championing forgotten or overlooked artists. Meanwhile, he worked full-time at the Cleveland V.A. Hospital from 1966 until his retirement in 2001.

An issue of “American Splendor” will typically contain scenes from Pekar’s life: a search for a lost set of keys, say, or a conversation with his wife Joyce about his substandard dishwashing skills. And there’s more. There are vignettes about people Pekar has known in his life; street scenes he happened to witness; monologues about social, political and philosophical issues. Because he is not a cartoonist, Pekar has sought collaborators to illustrate his stories. Over the years, these illustrators have included such prominent artists as R. Crumb, Drew Friedman and Jim Woodring.