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Cleveland, Ohio native Harvey Pekar is best know for his autobiographical slice-of-life comic book series "American Splendor," a first-person account of Pekar's downtrodden life. The series has been published on an approximately annual basis since 1976. Pekar self-published the series until the early 90's, when Dark Horse took over publication. In 1987, Pekar was honored with the American Book award for the series. Dark Horse celebrated the 25th anniversary of "American Splendor" in 2001 with a special issue.
"American Splendor" is illustrated by high-profile artists such as Robert Crumb, Frank Stack and Joe Sacco. The comic's international appeal was also made evident through Pekar's collaboration with comic book illustrator Colin Warneford of Gateshead, England for the aptly titled issue "American Splendor: Transatlantic Comics."
Pekar also collaborated with with his wife, Joyce Brabner, on a book-length autobio comic "Our Cancer Year" (Four Walls Eight Windows).
Pekar has made two cameo appearances in films and appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman" eight times between 1986-1988. It was Pekar's interest in politics, and specifically General Electric, that got him banned from the show. Evetually he asked to return and made two appearances in the early 1990's.
Despite keeping himself extremely busy with all of his contributions to various kinds of media, Pekar maintains a very low profile in Cleveland. In 2001, he retired from his job as full-time clerk at the local VA Hospital, where he lives with his wife Joyce and they are the proud guardians of the 15-year-old Danielle.
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