"American Splendor" is based on the underground comic book seris. Unlike "Spiderman" and "Hulk", this movie is more about real life then about superpowers. There is even a comment in this film about how superhero comics have to appeal to kids, and underground comics could be more about life. Much like this movie. This movie doesn't have kid appeal, and it is more about life. But a comic book movie doesn't have to have special effects, action sequences, and strong violence to make it good, and that is proven with "American Splendor." I was told about it by somebody I know(who was actually in the movie. He's the guy that introduces Pekar to Crumb at the garage sale) and after he gave it such a positive review, I knew that I had to see this for myself. I thought that it was a brilliant, dramatic, funny, character study,and one of the best movies on 2003. Paul Giamatti plays Harvey Pekar, a depressed file clerk, who works for Mr. Boats, and a friend Toby Radloff, a nerd who thinks that "Revenge of the Nerds" is an uplifting movie. At a garage sale, he is introduced by Pahls to artist Robert Crumb. After drawing stick figure animation about everyday problems in life, Harvey gives them to Crumb to make good drawings of them, which he then sells into a comic book seris called "American Splendor." Harvey has never been very good with women, after being divorced twice, but then gets a letter from a comic book store owner named Joyce Brabner, who wants a direct copy of the eight issue. The two finally meet after a while and get married a week later. But Joyce wants to do something that matters, and does not want to see Harvey becoming famous, and making apperences on "Late Night with David Letterman." She goes away, and while away Harvey discovers that he has cancer. The two decide to make a comic about the problem, and try to get through this serious time, while Harvey rethinks about his veiws on the world, and everything that he lives for.I really loved "American Splendor." Throughout the film, you could see the changes in Harvey, and also how he doesn't change. You would think that marriage would make him change his lifestyle quickly, but he says that he likes the way that his house is messy. His complaints towards everyday problems are hilarious, especially this one scene where Harvey complains that if your on line in a supermarket behind an old Jewish women, you'll be there for a long time. The movie has sweet scenes, and it also has comical scenes, and it was shunned by the Oscars. This could be a best picture nominee, and a best actor to Paul Giamatti.ENJOY!Rated R for language.