Synopses & Reviews
With an appreciation by Anthony Bourdain
HAVE ATTITUDE, WILL TRAVEL
Harvey Pekar changed the face of comics when his American Splendor series replaced traditional slam-bang superhero action with slice-of-life tales of his own very ordinary existence in Cleveland, Ohio, as a file clerk, jazz-record collector, and philosophical curmudgeon. Much as Seinfeld famously transcended sitcom conventions by being “a show about nothing,” Pekar’s deadpan chronicles of regular life—peppered with wry and caustic reflections—have transformed comics from escapist fantasy into social commentary with voice balloons.
Huntington, West Virginia “On the Fly” is prime Pekar, recounting the irascible everyman’s on-the-road encounters with a cross section of characters—a career criminal turned limo-driving entrepreneur, a toy merchant obsessed with restoring a vintage diner, comic-book archivists, indie filmmakers, and children of the sixties—all of whom have stories to tell. By turns funny, poignant, and insightful, these portraits à la Pekar showcase a one-of-a-kind master at work, channeling the stuff of average life into genuine American art.
Synopsis
HAVE ATTITUDE, WILL TRAVEL
Harvey Pekar changed the face of comics when his American Splendor series replaced traditional slam-bang superhero action with slice-of-life tales of his own very ordinary existence in Cleveland, Ohio, as a file clerk, jazz-record collector, and philosophical curmudgeon. Much as Seinfeld famously transcended sitcom conventions by being a show about nothing, Pekar's deadpan chronicles of regular life-peppered with wry and caustic reflections-have transformed comics from escapist fantasy into social commentary with voice balloons.
Huntington, West Virginia On the Fly is prime Pekar, recounting the irascible everyman's on-the-road encounters with a cross section of characters-a career criminal turned limo-driving entrepreneur, a toy merchant obsessed with restoring a vintage diner, comic-book archivists, indie filmmakers, and children of the sixties-all of whom have stories to tell. By turns funny, poignant, and insightful, these portraits a la Pekar showcase a one-of-a-kind master at work, channeling the stuff of average life into genuine American art.
Synopsis
Harvey Pekar returns to his roots as the “godfather of autobiographical comics” with this series of long stories about his lifeHarvey Pekar achieved fame by writing comics about his own dull and boring life. But in doing so, he showed how everyday life is anything but dull and boring.
This series of five stories describes Harvey and the people he encounters as he goes about his daily life. You will meet people like “Hollywood Bob,” the guy who drives Harvey to the airport; youll learn about a man who owns a diner that Harvey likes to frequent; youll travel to a book festival in West Virginia, where Harvey finds people who even he thinks are strange. These are accounts of real, normal peopleand Harvey provides classic, authentic stories that are always both humorous and poignant.
About the Author
Harvey Pekar, a native of Cleveland, is best known for his autobiographical slice-of-life comic book series American Splendor, a first person account of his downtrodden life. He is also a jazz critic whose reviews have been published in
The Boston Herald, The Austin Chronicle, and
Jazz Times. He has done freelance work for the critically acclaimed radio station WKSU and has appeared many times on
Late Night with David Letterman.