Here the Wall Street Journal talks of Pekar, and cartoonist Robert Crumb:
Against all odds, neither man watered down his art as he found wider success. Even stranger, both of these perennial misfits in middle age found wives who could tolerate them. Pekar was divorced twice but wooed Ms. Brabner to join him in Cleveland. Their improbable romance and adoption of a 9-year-old girl, Danielle Batone, provided the backbone to the plot of "American Splendor." Both women survive him.(WSJ)
People who find a way to express their creative individuality in the middle of non-ideal conditions always inspire me. And people who find a version of happiness or love late in life inspire me more. He was not a great talent, and didn't have a huge vision, but he found a way to construct something of his own. Philosophically I think he has little to add to the world. It's more the idea that you can find something good, or, maybe, something good can find you. Maybe God, maybe art, maybe love, maybe some meaning.
Some related news:
Harvey and his identity at The Jewish Week
The New Republic sees Pekar as overrated.
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