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One of my aspirations is being able to work a day job and do comics, I’m interested in others’ methods of doing this. My attention was drawn to a well known comic writer Harvey Pekar. His autobiographical comics are known to be so synthetic with his life, I thought I could spurn some ideology from it. But, alas, Harvey’s style seems more a way of nature than any kind of method. He died this year at seventy. I read a large amount about him today and learned a little about how he managed his life between comics and everything else.
What I did learn:
1. He made less money than he liked.
2. He was a middle class Jew (like me).
3. His fame is undeniable. Having read many articles reviewing his career, the most provocative is this>The Premature Immortalization of Harvey Pekar by Alan Kurtz . The article itself doubts the means by which Harvey became famous at all. After which, (in the comment section) the author of said article and a book shop owner argue about the validity of everything Kurtz tried to argue.
Some favorite quotes of mine:
“Two Words: Cowardly Weasel.”
“This is an intense example of why people don’t respect reviewers. This last line is where I could call you any name I like and readers would cheer. But unlike some, I have a bit of restraint. Get some.”
Their argument is more entertaining than crap I can write at present time. So, check it out.
4. He had a web comic. Who knew?
5. He also had written music and art reviews. These writings were unpopular. But what gained his friendship with the all mighty R. Crumb (who later helped produce Pekar’s earliest works).
6. He worked with a number of great artists, writers and creators. Including the current graphic novel all-things-great-god-of-beard-king-of-the-nerd-forces-and-all-Juju Alan Moore. This wiki-page gives a pretty good list.
7. His writing was essentially meaningless without himself. His character and his actual involvement in the media and life created something almost political. From one end, Harvey meant nothing more than to express his views and the value of ordinary life (in his series American Splendor, probably should have mentioned that earlier. Still new at this.). On the other, when given the chance to speak to the greater nation, he actively broke away from the orthodox ideas expected.(Click the link if you expect to understand this.) This was almost a revolutionary or political action because of its national platform and obvious agenda. Boosting his fame, it also catalyzed the opportunity for a following. However, I don’t doubt that all media sources, no matter how lowly, local, or poorly made (not that Harvey was any of these) are capable of being political. To quote a better writer: “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
-D
Approx. Published: 10:00 PM EST 12/15/10
