I remember reading these R Crumb-illustrated comics about a blues and jazz-loving, unambitious medical clerk in the wilds of the Midwest, back when I was was an Angry Young Man Who Was Going To Save (or Fight) The World and thinking "How unfortunate. What a boring life."

Now I want to revisit those comics and read them again, as a Guy Who is Tired of Worrying About Everything.

Once I've done that, I'll probably watch the movie for the first time.

What say you, post-PRF PRF? American Splendor? Crap or Not Crap?

Never read the graphic novel, but I remember enjoying the movie quite a bit.

I like sad sack societal fringe stories....and I really like the title...but it's too literal for me. Sort of a thinking man's Garfield. The movie similarly never really clicked for me. That Crumb documentary however....especially his brother. That's the stuff right there. Also helps that Crumb is a brilliant artist.

zorg wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2024 3:46 pm That Crumb documentary however....especially his brother. That's the stuff right there.

Yep. I don't know the other stuff well but I've seen Crumb many times. I didn't understand why he was so gung ho about moving to southern France in the early '90s but I get it now.

I doubt this will come as a shock to you, but Pekar is a VERY important cultural figure to me. SO much of his story relates to an image I held for myself. Self-educated working class arts lover, and anti-elitist. Get a copy of "Our Cancer Year". Discovering him at the Fairbanks Northstar Library in 94/95 launched me into another post-Beat world. DIY till death. Socially inept. Doting father to an adopted little girl.

Top 10 Letterman guest



NOT CRAP EVER

Never Crap, and the movie was excellent too.

PASTA wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2024 4:40 pm Doting father to an adopted little girl.

Hold on, mate. is this true?

dontfeartheringo wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 2:57 pm Hold on, mate. is this true?

Yes.

A_Man_Who_Tries wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 4:34 pm

dontfeartheringo wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 2:57 pm Hold on, mate. is this true?

Yes.

The whole thing is autobiographical….I don’t think there are much/any fictional elements.

The public library had a copy of the Anthology and I binge-read it this weekend.

My wife asked me about it as I put it down and I said "Well, he's a middle-aged guy in a civil service job with creative aspirations that don't quite pay for themselves. He and his wife wrote a book called 'Our Cancer Year' and they adopted a little girl."

and she said "So, it's a book about us?"

"Yes, I suppose it is."

Now I need to check out 'Our Cancer Year' and watch the movie, I guess, though I watched The Holdovers on a flight the other day and thought "What a piece of fucking garbage," so I'm concerned that Paul Giamatti is in this one, too.