AS28: Who is Harvey Pekar?

American Splendor scene #28 (1:28:12 to 1:31:12) — In one continuous take, Harvey wanders through a dreamscape, musing about his name, the phone book, and the other Harvey Pekars out there. An existential meditation is brought to life in a tour-de-force combination of framing, acting, and animation. A comparison with the original comic, “The Harvey Pekar Name Story,” a masterpiece of subtlety and quiet moments, illustrated by R. Crumb. The origin of the Haspiels/Haspels in America, and the other Josh Neufelds.

Shout-outs to Gina Haspel, Haspel clothing, Tom King & Clay Mann’s Heroes in Crisis, Lenny Bruce, Marc Maron, Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, Star Wars' R2-D2 & C-3PO, Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon, True Detective, The Matrix, Gary Leib, John Kuromoto, Josh’s ”Tribal Rituals" story from A Few Perfect Hours, Ivan Brunetti, Crumb’s ”Stoned Again,” Prince’s “Controversy,” Dan Castellaneta, the stage version of the “Harvey Pekar Name Story,” Billy Dogma, The Red Hook, and Dean’s playwriting.