Issue Details

Issue	#4
Published	1979
Cover Price	2.00 USD
Pages	60

Cover Details

Characters	Harvey Pekar; Robert Crumb
Synopsis	Harvy and Robert trade records, each believing the other has come off worse.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as Crumb] (signed)
Reprinted	in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

1 page American Splendor story "Visualize, Actualize, Realize"

Characters	Harvey Pekar; Rollins
Synopsis	Rollins offers some philosophical advice on how to get ahead.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Reprinted	In Bob & Harv's Comics (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996 series) #[nn]; in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

7 page American Splendor story "The Young Crumb Story"

Characters	Robert Crumb; Harvey Pekar; Marty Pahls; Liz; Dana Crumb; Bob Armstrong; Dave
Synopsis	Harvey writes about how he met Robert Crumb and how both of them got into underground comics.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Reprinted	In Bob & Harv's Comics (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996 series) #[nn]; in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

6 page American Splendor story "How I Quit Collecting Records And Put Out A Comic Book With The Money I Saved"

Characters	Harvey Pekar
Synopsis	Harvey Pekar explains how he quit collecting Jazz records and how he took the money he saved and used it to publish American Splendor.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Reprinted	In Bob & Harv's Comics (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996 series) #[nn]; in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

11 page American Splendor story "An Argument At Work"

Characters	Herschel; Librarian; File clerk; Supervisor
Synopsis	Herschel is turned down for a date and loses his rag with another woman.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Gerry Shamray
Inks	Gerry Shamray
Letters	Gerry Shamray
Notes	Herschel is Harvey Pekar. In early American Splendor stories he frequently uses stand-ins for stories about his workplace.

7 page American Splendor story "Out Of The Past"

Characters	Herschel; Steve Svoboda; Herschel's father; Rudy Svoboda
Synopsis	Someone Herschel knows from years ago is to be treated in the hospital where he works.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Gerry Shamray
Inks	Gerry Shamray
Letters	Gerry Shamray
Notes	Herschel is Harvey Pekar. In early American Splendor stories he frequently uses stand-ins for stories about his workplace.

2 page American Splendor story "Ridin' The Dog"

Characters	Harvey Pekar; Sun Ra
Synopsis	A conversation with Sun Ra on the bus.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Notes	'Lamar Washington' who comes up in the conversation is a pseudonym for Albert Ayler.
Reprinted	In Bob & Harv's Comics (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996 series) #[nn]; in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

2 page American Splendor story "Jack the Bellboy Meets Stewball"

Characters	Jack The Bellhop; Stewball
Synopsis	Jack's hustling albums again.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Reprinted	In Bob & Harv's Comics (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996 series) #[nn]; in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

2 page American Splendor story "Walkin' And Talkin'"

Characters	Harvey Pekar; Mr. Wright
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Notes	Comments overheard from co-workers.
Reprinted	In Bob & Harv's Comics (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996 series) #[nn]; in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

4 page American Splendor story "Lunch With Carmella"

Characters	Harvey Pekar; John; Carmella; Charlie Graham; Rose Rizzo
Synopsis	Harvey recalls Carmella, whom he once worked with, and tells John about her.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Reprinted	In Bob & Harv's Comics (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996 series) #[nn]; in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

7 page American Splendor story "Sid's Detroit Job Interview"

Characters	Sid; Harvey Pekar
Synopsis	Sid remembers applying for a job in Detroit.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Gary Dumm
Inks	Gary Dumm
Letters	Gary Dumm

5 page American Splendor story "Going To Work"

Characters	Harvey Pekar; Driver
Synopsis	Harvey is offered a lift from a guy who is studying welding.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Gerry Shamray
Inks	Gerry Shamray
Letters	Gerry Shamray

3 page American Splendor story "The Kissinger Letter"

Characters	Harvey Pekar
Synopsis	The story of a letter that was sent to Henry Kissinger, and the reply the sender got back.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Inks	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Letters	Robert Crumb [as R. Crumb] (signed)
Reprinted	In Bob & Harv's Comics (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996 series) #[nn]; in Complete Crumb Comics, The (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #12

1 page American Splendor story "Library Story"

Characters	Harvey Pekar; Librarian; Poet
Synopsis	A Frustrated poet tries to have the librarian look at his work
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Michael T. Gilbert
Inks	Michael T. Gilbert
Letters	Mary Gordon
Notes	This is the same story as that presented in issue 3 drawn by Gary Dumm.

1 page American Splendor story "Disc Topics"

Characters	Harvey Pekar; Record dealer
Synopsis	Harvey cops a bargain.
Genre	Autobiography
Script	Harvey Pekar
Pencils	Gary Dumm
Inks	Gary Dumm
Colors	Gary Dumm?
Letters	Gary Dumm