ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

American Splendor

Okay kiddo, have you ever read a comic book? Well, American Splendor is a very special type of comic book. It's a true story that talks about the life of a regular guy named Harvey Pekar.

Harvey was not a superhero like Spider-Man, Batman, or Superman. He was just an ordinary guy who lived in Cleveland, Ohio. He worked as a file clerk in a hospital, and he loved reading comic books.

Harvey thought that regular people's lives could be just as interesting as superheroes', and he wanted to show that in his comics. So he wrote about his own life and the people around him.

He wrote about his daily struggles, like going to work, paying bills, and dealing with other people. He also talked about his passions, like music, books, and movies. He would write about anything that interested him.

Now, what makes American Splendor so special is that it's not just a comic book. It's also a movie! The movie tells the story of Harvey's life, and it even features the real Harvey Pekar himself.

The movie is a mix of real footage of Harvey, interviews with his friends, family, and colleagues, and re-enactments of scenes from his comics.

So, in a nutshell, American Splendor is a comic book and a movie that tells the story of an ordinary guy who wanted to show that everyday life can be just as fascinating as superhero adventures.