American Splendor: Another Dollar

American Splendor

by Harvey Pekar, Zachary Baldus, Darick Robertson (Illustrator)

In 2006, comics legend Harvey Pekar brought his unflinching tales of ordinary life to Vertigo with an all-new run of AMERICAN SPLENDOR, the comic that, 30 years earlier, rose "from the streets of Cleveland" and changed how we look at comics. Often imitated but never duplicated, Pekar proved that he still has the power to "make mundane reality seem like the highest drama" (Entertainment Weekly) in his critically acclaimed Vertigo series.

Now, Harvey Pekar is back with an all-new volume of AMERICAN SPLENDOR, featuring his funniest, most poignant, somber and uplifting stories from the complex life of an ordinary man.

Once again, AMERICAN SPLENDOR pairs Harvey with some of the most exciting, innovative artists currently in comics, including David Lapham (YOUNG LIARS, Stray Bullets), Darick Robertson (THE BOYS), Chris Weston (THE FILTH, Fantastic Four), Dean Haspiel (THE QUITTER, THE ALCOHOLIC), Warren Pleece (INCOGNEGRO), longtime Pekar collaborators Greg Budgett and Gary Dumm, and other luminaries from both the mainstream and indie worlds.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Graphic Novels Comics, Art

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Harvey Pekar was an American writer and comics creator whose groundbreaking autobiographical series American Splendor helped redefine the possibilities of graphic storytelling. Frequently called the poet laureate of Cleveland, he developed a body of work that approached everyday life with candor, humor, frustration, and philosophical reflection. Pekar’s voice became central to the evolution of comics into a medium capable of serious literary expression, and his influence extended to criticism, journalism, and popular culture through his essays, radio work, and memorable television appearances.
Pekar grew up in Cleveland, where his parents operated a small grocery store, and his early experiences shaped much of the sensibility that later defined his writing. His deep love of jazz led him into criticism, and through that world he befriended artist Robert Crumb. Their shared interest in music eventually led him to try writing comics. Pekar wrote his first scripts in the early seventies, sketching out stories with simple figures before passing them to Crumb and other underground artists who encouraged him to continue. With the first issue of American Splendor in 1976, Pekar began chronicling the small battles, anxieties, and fleeting moments that made up his daily life in Cleveland. His day job as a file clerk, his marriages, conversations with coworkers, frustrations with bureaucracy, and the struggle to make ends meet all became material for a series that often blurred the line between observation and confession. Over the years, he worked with a wide range of artists who interpreted his scripts in styles that mirrored the emotional tone of each story.
The success of American Splendor brought Pekar national attention. Collections such as The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar received strong critical praise, and his unpredictable, often confrontational appearances on late-night television became a defining part of his public persona. The 2003 film adaptation of American Splendor, in which Paul Giamatti portrayed him, earned major festival awards and introduced Pekar’s work to a wider audience. He continued to write graphic memoirs, biographies, collaborations, and cultural commentary, expanding his range while maintaining the blunt honesty that characterized his voice. Pekar’s work remains central to the development of literary comics, influencing generations of writers and artists who followed his example.

Reviews

[Sam Quixote]

"Another Dollar" is a collection of stories from Harvey Pekar's ongoing autobiographical series "American Splendor". In this book, he worries about not getting an asthma inhaler in time for his trip to Chicago. His wife tells him not to grunt when he lifts up a futon pad. He argues with artist Josh Neufeld about the way he drew his cat in a recent strip. He meets a new barber and worries that the barber might be no good (he's relieved when he is). A girl he recommended the book "Moby Dick" to invites him to her wedding years later - he worries about the cost of the ticket but reasons that at least he made an impression on someone.

Some stories are very meta. His publisher calls to ask him for a one page strip so he writes a one page strip about that phonecall. His friend calls asking him to contribute a strip for an anthology but Harv says he has nothing to write about. He writes about their phone call and the following conversation about jazz.

I like his use of the artists. For example, Darick Robertson, perhaps one of his generations most dynamic artists who's illustrated Transmetropolitan, The Boys, and The Authority, draws a strip where Harv's car gets jumpstarted by a receptionist.

Other fantastic artists who illustrate Harvey's stories are Darwyn Cooke, David Lapham, Rick Geary, Dean Haspiel, and Josh Neufeld. It's a really good looking collection of stories with a few full colour covers at the back of the book.

One story about Harv worrying about taxes turns into a story about having his car's bumper fixed. It's about as exciting a story as you'll find in these pages. And yet, every story here is fascinating. It's difficult to explain to anyone who hasn't read any of Harvey Pekar's work before but simple things like getting a free haircut or getting a good review online mean a lot to him and consequently mean something to the reader. You always root for Harvey as he comes across as just the nicest guy.

It's a really wonderful collection of stories about the everyday life of Harvey Pekar. It's not the events so much as the personality of the man that colours the stories and make them into what they are - great stories told by a compelling and unique individual. It's a shame "American Splendor" has ended and Harvey's passed away but his books live on. "Another Dollar" is a great introduction to the work of one of comics' greatest artists.

[Samuel Edme]

Synopsis: American Splendor: Another Dollar collects 4 issues from the 2006 Vertigo run of the autobiographical comic American Splendour revolving the quotidian life of Cleveland native Harvey Pekar.

My Thoughts: After my perusal through Ego & Hubris and On the Fly, Harvey Pekar has earned my respect as an integral post-modernist writer with an aptitude for making the utterly mundane utterly intriguing and relatable. Likewise, this book continues the tradition with several short stories illustrated by a diverse range of artists in the comic industry. The stories themselves were sufficiently amusing in their observational humor and, as fellow reviewer, Sam Quixote already expounded upon, meta elements. The art, on the other hand, was very hit or miss depending on the comic. Some of the cartoonists (including Zachary Baldus, Dean Haspiel, and longtime collaborator Gary Dumm) were vivid in the depiction of the characters' facial expressions and body language along with the backgrounds. Others (such as John Lucas and John Cebollero) seemed to be trying too hard to be grotesque which detracted from the story quite a bit hence the subtracted star from my rating.

Final Thoughts: Overall, Another Dollar is another solid collection worth picking up for any American Splendor fan or anyone in the mood for something more down-to-earth.

[Lora Innes]

I illustrated a story called Joy Moves Ahead in issue #2. The first part of this story was in American Splendor: Another Day. Harvey's friend Joy had started work at a health clinic in Cleveland, but after the eccentric but compassionate doctor who ran the practice dies, Joy is forced to make a decision about her future.

[Brett]

As far as I can tell, this is the last book that came out from Harvey Pekar that had the American Splendor masthead. He did have one or two other books after this, and some posthumous work, but for me, I am going to call this the last book I'm going to read from him for a while. It was a great run.

Pekar cranked out a few decades worth of underground comics focused on the minutia of his day to day life, and he goes out on a fine note with this volume. These are stories based on things like getting his car repaired, worrying about his aches and pains, finding a particular record he is looking for, etc. It's nothing earth-shaking, but that's a big part of the charm of these stories. They are the lowest stakes imaginable, but these things matter a great deal to Harvey. We pull for him to overcome his neurosis and succeed at these things that many of us wouldn't bother to worry much about.

The stories are illustrated by a couple of dozen different artists, and to my untrained eye, the book looks great. I've read so much of Harvey over the last few years that he feels like my friend, and I'm sad to part ways with him. It's great that towards the end of his career he finally achieved some level of recognition for his work, and I'll put in one more plug for the 2003 film based on his life with Paul Giamatti. If you're wondering if these comics might be for you, it's a good place to start, and true to Harvey's personality and view of the world.

[Brent]

Late-period Harvey vignettes: top-notch art collaborators make this, like the Vertigo tpb collection Another Day, a book full of great Harvey stories. I began reading this in the four-issue miniseries, original publications from DC Comics/Vertigo, an editorial imprint now dissolved by the corporate owner.
I'm especially grateful for a couple of stories by longtime Harvey artists Budgett and Dumm together with stories drawn by younger pros. A two page story drawn by the late Darwyn Cooke will knock you out in its vertiginous use of panels: another example of his fine work.
Recommended; with thanks to Fulton County Public Library for the loan.

[Michael]

A few lackluster bits in here, but mostly solid to good life obervations by Pekar. I'd prefer a few more artists whose styles aren't so self-conscious, however. I like the old school Splendor artists. Like Neil Young says about Crazy Horse, they may not be the most proficient musicians, but they're right for the type of music I play. I feel the same way about Gary Dumm and Greg Budgett, and Ed Piskor. They're the right artists for Pekar's stories.

[Erika]

This post-American-Splendor-film collection of graphic short stories is warm in spirit, offers some new ideas and was very pleasurable to read. All the artists of the book were great. It was fun to see so many different takes on Pekar's scripts.

[Drizztl]

7,5/10

[Daniel]

Harvey Pekar's take on politics, jazz, the creative process, and growing older. Pekar is inspirational in that he finds art and humor in the mundane.

[Justin Matulonis]

Another one I read in one day. The art was really good. It goes by fast. I wrote down some more artists to check on. Reading seems thr only thing goimg for me right now.

[Matthew Stolte]

over 22 artists makes this fairly slim volume multidimensional

[Matt Miles]

I related to the first of this issue's vignettes about Pekar meeting a fan who had only seen the movie and never read any of the books. Maybe that's why I enjoyed this comic as much as I did; supposedly his older stuff was much better. But when he's describing encounters with various friends, acquaintances and (at his age of course) lots of doctors, the beautiful black and white art (by various artists) and tone suggest there's more going on below the surface, that somehow, even when not much happens, there's greater importance to all this. Even when his rants feel a bit unfocused, however, he does make a good argument for continuing to do it his way. "You can do anything you want with words and pictures," he argues, and he does. As often as not, it works, too.

[Fizzgig76]

Reprints American Splender: Another Dollar #1-4. Harvey Pekar finds himself with an injured arm and trying to clean up his life. The American Splendor series is interesting in that it was something different at the time. The idea of a non-superhero autobiographical comic was new but other have also taken on the idea now. The difference with American Splendor now is that it has time behind it and that the readers have been able to watch Harvey age and grow. One of the most interesting things about American Splendor is the art and like many of his stories this collection has a nice selection of different arts and their takes on Harvey and his life.

[Ruz El]

I preferred this one to it's companion "Another Day". It's still not great. I don't know, I enjoy the day in the life style stories presented here as opposed to his more opinion type pieces. It just seems a bit thin. Maybe it's because he retired from the day job in these so the dynamic interactions are more insular. I don't know what I'm talking about anymore. I mean, it's not like anyone actually reads these things right? Look, it's got pretty pictures and Pekar is always pretty reliable even with weaker material. Oh, Darwin Cook does a two pager in here that's quite different from his usual stuff. So buy this instead of that Before Watchmen horseshit.

[Cindy May]

I like that it was short and an easy read (not that I don't like his longer books). I feel I almost have a soulmate in Harvey in that he's a worrier too, about most of the same things (like driving to get to unfamiliar places), and he has no sense of direction. I can definitely relate to that! I have pretty big collections of things too, but fortunately I have them organized and stored in such a way that I'm not usually stepping around piles of clutter (at least for now).

I will probably be a curmugeon in my old age (if I'm not already!), and look forward to it!

I still hope to meet Harvey some day and get my books signed by him.

[Mark Desrosiers]

The great cover by Dean Haspiel tells us that we're going to be entering Harvey's World of Miserly, and indeed many of the stories revolve around his money fixation (that's been the case since Day One). But you also get stories about his arm injury, broken down car, and -- also not very new -- comics about coming up with ideas for comics. A fun read, and it's a shame we never got to see the octogenarian Pekar spin us yarns about his prostate and the graveyard.

[Jason Paulios]

So-so collection. Loved almost all the artists in this one but at least half the stories were dull. It's been a while since I've read many of the older American Splendor stories, I seem to recall they had more bite. It's interesting how I found I had less sympathy for his 'character' now that he seems to have more of his life together (despite his anxieties) and money coming in (or at least the perception of money due to his fame).

[Jinji]

Great work from Harvey Pekar! This a collection of short stories that seemed to have popped up in his head during his down times in-between his music reviews, or issues of American Splendor. Mostly are 2-page stories, still entertaining, but some chapters makes you want to know what happens after. It's a good light read, and Pekar seemed to be in a better moo when he wrote this one. I really need to find more of his work!

[Tim]

Unfortunately, this - and the other, later-stage Pekar books - lacks the charm of his earlier comics. Where the early works underscored the meaning in the mundane and highlighted the rich experiences of the working class, these later works just seem, well, boring. I'm glad Harvey got those checks cashed and found his Cleopatra record, but the source material isn't really story-worthy.

[Helen]

I was a little disappointed with this at the beginning, because it didn't feel very dynamic. Once I got into the style of Pekar's writing I really warmed to the book - it grew on me! I will read more of his work in the future. Pekar is an observationalist, there are no gags or gimmicks in his work, it is all very everyday.

[David Morris]

This is a great read, there are many stories in American Splendor, very short but interesting and most stories people can relate to. If you look at life in a cynical way, you always get surprised by the little things, as Harvey finds out.

[Hillingdon Libraries]

Find this book at Hillingdon Libraries

[Allan]

More quality storytelling from Pekar. If you like his stuff, you'll be satisfied and delighted with this book.

[Thomas Baughman]

You either love Harvey pekar or you don't. I do, so I enjoyed this collection of his stories a lot.

[Jake Forbes]

Reading this one, Harvey reminds me of my dad. I guess he's the same age as my dad is now when he wrote this. I'll miss these simple, beautiful little stories.

[Peacegal]

I'd like to see less "dollar" stories and more off-beat, everyday life stories. Still, Harvey is a fun and unusual read.

[Kinch]

Weirdly compelling tales of the ordinary. I never thought I could cafe so much about whether a guy gets his hubcap fixed on the cheap.

[Deodand]

This made me smile. Harvey has mellowed a bit but otherwise he is presented as exactly the same person. The art doesn't live up to the R. Crumb years.

[Britty Kitty]

It's still good, but it's not my favorite American Splendor. It really did feel like he wrote this one to make another dollar.