Pekar will do three books for Ballantine

Harvey Pekar, the cult comic book hero and inspiration for the acclaimed film “American Splendor,” has agreed to write three graphic novels for Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House Inc.

Pekar’s first work for Ballantine, a “sequel of sorts” to “American Splendor,” will come out this fall.

“American Splendor” starred Paul Giamatti as Pekar and Hope Davis as his wife and collaborator, Joyce Brabner. The real Pekar and Brabner, along with foster daughter Danielle and some family friends, also appeared in the 2003 movie as themselves.

From Associated Press