This book was done by Harvey Pekar and Joyce Blabner when Harvey was diagnosed with cancer. You see it all the way through from diagnosis through treatment and it is amazing stuff. Years of experience at exposing both his good and bad side to everyone without any self contiousness makes this a great read. As always, Harvey does none of his own artwork and the artist who did this particular volume is not a favorite of mine but it still works very very well. The next time someone sneers at "comic books" make them read this. It perfectly illustrates that comic books are a medium, NOT a genre. ( )

I have read many books about how families and patients deal with a cancer diagnosis and treatment, including many on graphic form. I found this one remarkable because it was told in both Joyce and Harvey's voices in a very integrated way. I was very moved by Joyce's struggle with maintaining her own career, health and identity while still wanting to be there to support her husband and his quirks. Harvey's own struggles with his OCD and his inability to maintain the control he wanted,his desire not to burden Joyce unnecessarily and his struggle with the side effects of his chemo regimen.

This book captured the pain (both physical and emotional) and love that both a cancer diagnosis and treatment create in a true, warts and all way. I think that anyone who is facing a diagnosis for themselves or a person that they love should read this as a primer for the difficulties ahead. It may be frightening, but I think will help people prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. ( )

Our Cancer Year chronicles Harvey's battle with Lymphoma. Not only is it an unflinching look at chemotherapy, illness, radiation and the relationship between he and his wife, but it's an amazing documentation of what happens when life suddenly has to accommodate cancer. Because that's what life does - accommodate. It does not slow down, people do not pause and it most certainly does not come to some slow-mo inspiring stop where the unpleasant parts are mere blips on the way to beating the disease in spectacular fashion.

Much of this is just Harvey fitting Cancer into his life while he buys a new house. It's dealing with the everyday problems of life and trying to work while taking chemo. It's seeing cancer up close and far too personally, because it's not just the few nice shots of hair running down the drain - cancer is shingles and drug-induced paranoia. It's seeing a husband and wife pushing themselves too far before deciding to get help and finding out that even help has an unpleasant life outside of cancer.

In this complete and utter depth of detail, there is comfort in seeing that someone's willing to put out their cancer year warts and all. ( )

I've read and Enjoyed Harvey Pear before, but i couldn't get into this one. It was plodding and aimless and sometimes sanctimonious. Also the art looked more like story boarding than illustration. ( )

reflects harvey pekar's battle with cancer. very sad.. but i feel all of pekar's work, mostly based around his life, is sad. ( )