First " Proper" Review

This is what I consider to be the first "real review" that I ever did. If only because the earlier ones were so short and shite. When i get round to posting them you'll see what i mean. Published in Verbal Issue 7.

Harvey Pekar is the champion of the mundane but Ciaran Flanagan wouldn't call him a curmudgeon.

Misery Memoirs

American Splendor: Another Day - Volume 1 (Paperback)

by Harvey Pekar (Titan Books Ltd)

The Quitter by Harvey Pekar, Dean Haspiel (Titan Books Ltd)

For those not ‘in the know’ Harvey Pekar is the creator, writer and subject matter of American Splendor, his (initially) self published autobiographical comic book, now Oscar nominated film. American Splendor details his life as an obsessive compulsive, file clerk. A fat, balding, grumpy, self obsessed old get, it’s very difficult to imagine a more unlikely comic book hero. And if his comic stardom is unlikely then his subsequent transformation into a movie character is even more unlikely.

The new American Splendor anthology Another Day is illustrated by a galaxy of talented artists and looks at the changes in Pekars life since his movie success. Foremost amongst these changes is that as a media figure He has become something akin to the comics worlds best loved curmudgeon: a charge that he clearly has issue with. So much so that he spends a great portion of this volume complaining about such charges. In fact the majority of the book consists of him complaining; with the rest of the stories concern themselves with needless worrying about minor inconveniences. And while this is not necessarily a bad thing (its all highly entertaining) it certainly sounds like the work of a curmudgeon to me.

In contrast, The Quitter, is an account of Pekars early (pre comic), life. We meet a highly intelligent man from an immigrant family, who has a problem with structured education, living in the rust belt of the American mid west. Giving up at anything he tried his hand at rather than allowing himself the opportunity to fail (or as it turns out succeed) sports, lessons, relationships, jobs, Harvey left them all. A bitter and in many cases violent Pekar found himself more and more isolated and paranoid, leading to a near nervous break down at a very young age. Pekar is quite frank in laying himself and his failures of character bare, drawing a portrait of a deeply messed up but likeable character.

Dean Haspiels art creates a strangely surreal atmosphere helping to emphasise the tension and frustration of Pekars world. This is by no means light hearted fare, but it does allow a more in depth look at Pekar than one would get after 25 years worth of his normal comic work. Another Day, and The Quitter are essential canon for those wanting a piece of Pekar, caustic comic anti hero, quitter, or curmudgeon