Under the circumstances I found this short three page strip from 1978 (when Harvey was still in his late 30's) rather poignant, and thought I'd scan and share it.

hard-hitting discuss | |
Definition: | (adjective) Characterized by or full of force and vigor. |
Synonyms: | trenchant |
Usage: | After her hard-hitting report on conditions in the tent cities of Haiti's capital aired, viewers donated millions of dollars to charities there. |
![]() Jade Burial SuitsConsidered a mere myth by archaeologists for years, the use of jade burial suits among wealthy Han Dynasty nobles was proved in 1968 with the discovery of two complete suits in tombs in China's northern province of Hebei. Belonging to Chinese prince Liu Sheng and his wife Dou Wan, the ceremonial burial suits were constructed using 2,498 plates of solid jade and 2.5 lb (1.1 kg) of gold wire. Experts now believe the practice was fairly common. What other wire materials were used? More... Discuss |
![]() ![]() First Ascent of the Eiger's North Face (1938)Switzerland's Eiger mountain was first summited in 1858, but the sheer north face of the 13,025-foot (3,970-m) Alpine peak was not successfully climbed until 1938, when two independent pairs of climbers met on the face, joined forces, and reached the summit as a team. It has been climbed many times since, sadly with many fatalities, which, due to the cliff's high visibility, occur in full view of nearby villages. Since 1935, how many people have died climbing the Eiger's so-called Murder Wall? More... Discuss |
![]() ![]() Amelia Mary Earhart (1897)After attending an air show in 1920, Earhart, who had previously worked as a military nurse and a social worker, decided she wanted to become a pilot. She bought her first plane the following year. In 1928, she became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger, and four years later, she became the first female pilot to make the trip solo. In 1937, her plane mysteriously vanished over the Pacific as she and a copilot attempted to circumnavigate the globe. What happened to them? More... Discuss |
![]() ![]() W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) Discuss |
13 comments:
Isn't it STRANGE how people do that after an "artist" passes ?
I remember I listened to Blizzard Of Oz and Dairy Of A Madman CONSTANTLY once I heard Randy Rhoads was killed....
I digress.
I enjoyed reading that, its quite dark yet carries a very clear message. I'm off to start planning my weekend!!
You'll have to lend me some - I could go for more of this.
I know your not much of a tights and fights fan - but if you get the chance check out Blackest Night Director's Cut . A behind the scenes take on the script, art and writing. A great insight into the comics format.
Heff - yeah why DO we do that?! Weird! I guess there are so many things going on in your life that some things drop to the back a bit, even though ou've not gone off them. Alas it takes a bolt like this to remind you.
JJ - yeah, it made me think a bit too! He was quite a thinker was ol Harv!
Mondo - Glad you liked, will drop you a box full soon! I'm not anti-superhero Mondo, and I do enjoy some titles (and some writers or some titles), but I'll always gravitate back to real life stuff eventually.
P
Wow that's set me up for the day. Better read the Beano now to get back onside.
Warble
Mmm, probably not the most cheery way to kick off a Friday morning but IT'S ALL SO TRUE, SO TRUE... all these QUESTIONS... (and Horrible Histories is on tomorrow morning, hooray!)
Warble\Cocktails - Hmmm, sorry gang! Harvey's stuff is never going to send anyone away with a spring in their step I'm afraid! I just though with him passing this week, this strip was quite relevant.
He was certainly a thinker, but he did suffer from clinical depression, so there is a certain 'glass half empty' to a fair bit of his work (but not all)... hence the 'groucy' reputation.
Hope it hasn't ruined your weekends!
P
I really like his style: his life after death speech is pure poetry. Is he still in print? I'll borrow them after Mondo!
Thanks JM, Believe it or not, over the years his style has been compared to Chekhov and Dostoevsky (although maybe a tad grumpier!). I'm really glad you liked that strip.
He's still in print, although there is no 'complete works' reprints as yet.
Amazon have a good selection, but try an pick up one called "American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar". A huge book that compiles two 'best of' volumes into 1 - some of his best stuff is in this one. If you get hooked there are two more really good 'best of' titles ('best of American Splendor' and 'The New American Splendor Anthology: From Off the Streets of Cleveland'), but I'd say that Life and Times one is a good starting point.
P
I liked that Piley - I loved the American Splendour film but strangely never checked out any more of his work. I will now though...
Nice one John, do let me know how you get on if you go for some... remember it's not all gold, but well worth looking in to.
Not something that you'd read to try and cheer yourself but I'm sure we've all had a few moments like this. Can't help feeling you'd need to be in a certain state of mind to fully appreciate this but good stuff all the same. I can feel another trip to Amazon coming on.
I think we've all had day's like the one Pekar was having in this strip. Like Heff says when some one we admire dies we return to thier work. I see it as a homage , i played a few Rainbow tracks real loud when Ronnie James Dio passed on. It's natural to want to celebarte thier fine work.
Carl.
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