"I decided I was going to tell these stories. I went around and met Crumb. He was the cartoonist. I started realizing comics weren't just kid stuff"
About this Quote
Harvey Pekar, a pioneering figure in the world of comics storytelling, exposes an extensive discovery in this quote. It captures a turning point of transformation and discovery, both in his personal journey and in the wider context of the comics medium.
At first, Pekar acknowledges a common stereotype: comics are frequently dismissed as mere "kid things". This perception is rooted in the early days of comics, when superheroes and easy going tales dominated the industry, catering mainly to a younger audience. However, Pekar's meeting with Robert Crumb, an influential underground comic artist understood for his provocative and non-traditional design, ends up being a driver for a paradigm shift. Through Crumb's work, Pekar sees the huge, untapped capacity of comics as a genuine type of artistic and literary expression.
"I decided I was going to inform these stories" reflects Pekar's newfound decision to harness this capacity. Influenced by Crumb and the wider underground comix motion, he begins imagining comics as a medium that can communicate complex, adult styles and depict daily life with authenticity and nuance. Instead of sticking to conventional, fantastical stories, Pekar devotes to using comics as a car for storytelling that resonates on a deep, human level.
His willpower to "inform these stories" marks the beginning of his seminal work, "American Splendor". In this autobiographical series, Pekar chronicles his own life as a file clerk in Cleveland, checking out quotidian experiences and existential reflections with raw honesty. By doing so, he shows that comics can transgress their viewed limits, functioning as an intimate lens into human nature and societal norms.
In essence, Pekar's quote encapsulates his visionary function in redefining the comics landscape. By acknowledging comics as more than children's entertainment, he not just changed his own trajectory however also broadened the horizons for future generations of comic writers.
