]The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the pioneering comic book memoirist and jazz critic Harvey Pekar died this morning. No cause of death has been announced yet. Pekar was 70.
Pekar is best known for American Splendor, the long-running underground comic book series in which he chronicled his life as a curmudgeonly Cleveland file clerk, with help from artists like Robert Crumb. In 1987, American Splendor won the American Book Award. In 2003, the series was adapted into an acclaimed film, with Paul Giamatti playing Pekar and the real Pekar periodically appearing. Pekar also often appeared on "Late Night With David Letterman".
Pekar was also an accomplished jazz critic, writing for such outlets as JazzTimes and The Austin Chronicle. Last year, Pekar wrote the libretto for a jazz opera called "Leave Me Alone", in which he also played himself and delivered the opening monologue.
RIP
July 12, 2010
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