Remembering comic book legend Harvey Pekar

The passing of respected comic book writer Harvey Pekar brought out bits of nostalgia in fans from all walks of life - from Marquee blog commenters to celebrities.

Paul Giamatti, who played the lauded writer in the 2003 critically-acclaimed film adaptation of Pekar's "American Splendor" series, has said that Pekar “was one of the most compassionate and empathetic human beings" he'd ever met. "He had a huge brain and an even bigger soul," Giamatti said. "And he was hilarious. He was a great artist, a true American poet, and there is no one to replace him.”

For Patton Oswalt, there was "a little less splendor" in the day.  "Gonna pour out a little orange soda for the man," the comedian tweeted. Rob Zombie, on the other hand, will remember Pekar as "an American classic."

Commenters at the Marquee Blog also shared their memories.

In a very Pekar-esque comment, "Dave" said, "I bet being dead really ticks him off. It's so inconvenient, and everybody makes such a fuss, and the lines to get into the cemetery are so long. And there's so much paperwork, and have you seen what funerals cost nowadays?

Pekar's memorably combative appearances on "Late Night with David Letterman" were remembered as well, by "Nyarlathotep," among others: "Harvey Pekar was probably the best guest Letterman ever had, mostly because Letterman thought he'd gotten a second Larry 'Bud' Melman to mock, but Harvey proved to be something Dave could never tame."

"ex-Clevelander II," had a lot to say: "I met Harvey shortly after I started work at the Wade Park VA....Harvey was addicted to jazz, and to maintain and grow his collection of albums (which numbered in the thousands), he required an influx of cash beyond that provided by his salary." The commenter remarked that "In those days, before the advent of 'American Splendor,' Harvey would come around the hospital with his hand-drawn comics, essentially stick figures, and witty dialog. Harvey wrote about what he saw: in the VA, in the Coventry neighborhood, and wherever else life took him. His ability to see the humor and the dignity in the mundane stuff of everyday life was a sheer delight."

And the comment left by rob bennett is one certainly shared by other Pekar fans. "We will miss your blatant honesty and cynicism," bennett wrote. "Thanks for all the years ....all the comics... and all the life lessons."