Cleveland’s famed underground comic book writer Harvey Pekar died very early this morning at his home in Cleveland Heights. He was 70. His body was discovered by his third wife, writer Joyce Brabner.  Pekar had long suffered from prostate cancer, asthma, high blood pressure, and depression – yet the cause of death is not immediately known. Pekar’s friendship with artist Robert Crumb led to the creation of his autobiographical comic book series American Splendor, which began publishing in 1976, and chronicled Pekar’s entertainingly miserable, monotonous life. In 2003, the series was made into a film, starring Paul Giamatti as Pekar. (via WTAM 1100)