Scene by Scene with Josh & Dean: American Splendor

Josh Neufeld

Josh Neufeld & Dean Haspiel break down Harvey Pekar's AMERICAN SPLENDOR the movie (2003) scene by scene, with insight, humor, and inside information. Neufeld & Haspiel were both illustrators for the American Splendor comic book. SCENE BY SCENE is geared toward fans of indy comics and movies, as well as the rapidly growing “movies-by-minute” podcast movement. You can find SCENE BY SCENE at http://www.scenebyscenepodcast.com Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scenebyscene/support read less
ArtsArts

Episodes

AS30: The End Credits
Oct 28 2019
AS30: The End Credits
American Splendor scene #30 (1:37:31 to 1:41:08) — As the credits roll (on the film and the podcast), Josh & Dean reflect on all things Pekar/American Splendor. What should the film’s post-credit sequence have been? What would an American Splendor TV show look like? (Dino keeps coming back to Louis C.K.)  A tribute to DC/Vertigo/Paradox Press, as well as editor Jonathan Vankin. Other notable movies with the word “American” in the title. The next movies from each of the film’s actors. Who would you want to write, direct, and star in the movie of your life? Thoughts on Harvey's death and the film’s conclusion. A somber way to end the season. Thanks for listening! SHOUT-OUTs to Doug Allen, R. Crumb. Greg Budgett, Gary Dumm, Gary Leib, Jason Gerstein, Joe Sacco, Gerry Shamray, Frank Stack, Joe Zabel, Bernt Capra, Vince Waldron, DC's Big Book of... series, Sandman, Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Neil Gaiman, the comics' "British Invasion," Paradox Press, Andy Helfer, A History of Violence, Karen Berger, Hollywood Bob, Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo), Harrison Ford, Seinfeld, Alan Alda, Alan Moore, HBO's Watchmen TV show, Pamela Adlon's Better Things, the U.S. State Dept. Speaker/Specialist program, Jerry Lewis, Woody Allen, France, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Deadpool, Chester Brown, the "Who is Harvey Pekar" scene, the Alamo Drafthouse, Chris Smith, Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner, Bret Easton Ellis, Pierce Brosnan, Ted Hope, Good Machine, Josh Hutcherson (Robin), The Hunger Games, M*A*S*H, Hawkeye Pierce, Radar O'Reilly, Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round," Charlie Kaufman, Spike Jonze, Ryan O’Neal, Seth Rogan, Paddy Cheyefsky, Budd Schulberg, Network, The Hospital, George C. Scott, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, the Coen Brothers, Sergio Leone, the Russian Turkish Baths, John Ritter, the Fonz, Captain Kirk, Jason Wright, Doug Latino, Evan Wilson, Jen Ferguson, Sari Wilson, and all you listeners. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scenebyscene/support
AS29: Part of the Story (with Alex Robinson)
Oct 21 2019
AS29: Part of the Story (with Alex Robinson)
American Splendor scene #29 (1:31:12 to 1:37:31) — Alex Robinson of Star Wars Minute joins Josh & Dean for the final scene of the film! (Well, actually, six little “scenelets.”) It's one year later, and Harvey & Joyce sign Our Cancer Year. Harvey is declared cancer-free! They adopt Danielle, and Harvey adjusts to being a parent (of a sort). The real Harvey retires from the VA hospital, and the movie ends with a group hug. For Alex, discovering American Splendor was "like LSD in reverse.” An ode to Alex’s work, particularly Box Office Poison and the characters Jane Pekar and Irving Flavor. We learn that “Pekar” means “baker” (in Czech)! The idea of a Harvey Pekar walking tour of Cleveland. “On the money": all the books Harvey published between 2003 and 2010 (his death). Which Star Wars character would Harvey play? Shout-outs to Star Wars Minute (of course), Frank Stack, the Harvey Award, Harvey Comics, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Hot Stuff, Richie Rich, Godfather Minute, Gary Dumm, Lakewood, Collector's Warehouse, Gene Colan, Siegel & Shuster, Nightstalker, Jack Kirby, the School of Visual Arts, Will Eisner, Carmine Infantino, Gahan Wilson, Love & Rockets, Madylin Sweeten, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Everybody Loves Raymond, cold pizza, ice skating, getting older, Portland, the Cleveland Halloran Ice Rink, re-reading your own comics, deadline art, The Little Mermaid, the Comics Code vs. the Hays Code, Matrix: Revolutions and crappy sequels, manga like Akira & Crying Freeman, Mike Hueston, Van Halen & green M&Ms, brown M&Ms?, reversed vasectomies, Wo Hop, La Caridad, the Russian & Turkish Baths, Mark Zingarelli, Robert McNeill, American Splendor: Unsung Hero, Dark Horse Comics, chess boxing, Alex Toth, Our Expanding Universe, the iPad Pro, Rutger Hauer, Blade Runner, C-3PO, and My Dinner with André. Ingy Wamba! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scenebyscene/support
AS27: Treatment Begins
Oct 7 2019
AS27: Treatment Begins
American Splendor scene #27 (1:24:49 to 1:28:11) — The trauma and turmoil of Harvey’s treatment; time passes strangely. Meanwhile, Fred — accompanied by Danielle — continues to work on Our Cancer Year with Harvey & Joyce. An addled Harvey wonders if he’s real or if he’s just a character in a comic book. And if he dies will the story end, or will it keep on going? The scene begins and ends out of focus. How Harvey had the sole copyright on his stories. The importance of good — preferably hand-done — lettering. Testimonials to Seth Kushner and Frank Stack. Harvey’s legacy and the added poignancy of this scene now that he is dead. Josh & Dean trade hospital stories. An appreciation of Joyce as Harvey's primary caretaker. Shout-outs to soundtrack composer Mark Suozzo, PA/illustrator Jason Gertsein, Alex Toth, Ben Oda and Oda Balloon, Prince Valiant, Dondi, Irwin Hasen, letterers Patrick Brosseau and Ken Bruzenak, Howard Chaykin, American Flagg!, Vito Delsante, Alex DeCampi, Street Code/Beef With Tomato, Billy Dogma, Keyhole, DC/Vertigo, the School of Visual Arts, Seamus Beyale, The Brooklynite, New Brooklyn, Line Webtoon, Jon Allen, The Red Hook, Baltimore Comic-Con, "Working Man's Nightmare," Jeff Newelt, Dino's "Proud Flesh," Roger Schoening, The Quitter, Mike Hueston, Angry Wade's, Mike Haspiel, chocolate milk and bean curd, and boob-nose jobs. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scenebyscene/support
AS26: Our Cancer Year (with Jeff "JahFurry" Newelt)
Sep 30 2019
AS26: Our Cancer Year (with Jeff "JahFurry" Newelt)
American Splendor scene #26 (1:18:34 to 1:24:48) — To his and Joyce’s great shock, Harvey is diagnosed with lymphoma. Joyce suggest he “make a comic book of the whole thing,” but Harvey just wants to die. Undeterred, Joyce enlists Fred, an artist, to illustrate the experience. Fred brings along Danielle, his daughter, on their first brainstorming session, and Joyce is smitten with the girl. Harvey agrees to participate in the comic — and asks Fred tp keep bringing Danielle along. Josh & Dean are again joined by Jeff “JahFurry” Newelt, who edited Harvey's online Pekar Project and the graphic novel Cleveland. "Fred" is an amalgam of artist Frank Stack and Danielle's real father. A discussion of Frank Stack and his art, going back to his work as one of the first underground cartoonists. Harvey wrote comics in the spirit of jazz — with the right partner — and how he chose his collaborators. "What kind of a Jew are you?" and Galicianers. JahFurry talks about working with the “late-period” Pekar. Harvey's importance as a jazz critic and “power-broker,” and Jah’s theory that the movie misses “25% of Harvey's persona.” Harvey's 70th birthday, Harvey Heads, and the Chocolate Cake and Clams Incident. Our giddiest and most flatulent episode ever! Shout-outs to James McCaffery, The Adventures of Jesus, The Texas Ranger, Nick & Eddie restaurant, George Gilmore, Mike DiAvila, Burnzy's Last Call, Viper, Howard Chaykin, American Flagg!, Michael Chabon's The Escapist, Bizarro comics, The Quitter, Joseph Remnant, Rick Parker, Eleanor Davis, DC/Vertigo, Jonathan Vankin, Darwyn Cooke, Ty Templeton, Los Bros. Hernandez, Bob Fingerman, Rick Veitch, SMITH Magazine, A.D., Next Door Neighbor, #RealPekarTweets, Sean Pryor, Alan Moore, Jamie Zaft, John Zorn, Andy Statman, Kamasi Washington, Alice Coltrane, Pharell Saunders, Jonathan Ames, Jen Ferguson, Anthony Bourdain, Sokolowski's Polish Food Emporium, Zip Comics, Top Shelf, Ben Katchor, Douglas Rushkoff, Larry Charles, and Lionel’s Lament. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scenebyscene/support