My parents' work ethic amazed me. How could they put in such long hours, day after day? Part of the reason was to keep the family going - to keep me going. I realized that, although we had different values derived from different cultures and wouldn't agree on certain issues, they were good people, incredible people, and I loved and respected them.

Bauer and Mark Dawidziak. Death and posthumous work
Shortly before 1 am on July 12 2010 Pekar's wife found him dead in his Cleveland Heights Ohio home. In 2010 Pekar launched a webcomic with the online magazine Smith titled The Pekar Project.

I've tried to control a chaotic universe. " Pekar described his work as "autobiography written as it's happening. The theme is about staying alive.