American Splendor, the feature film about the life and times of comic book writer and working class intellectual Harvey Pekar, which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and the International Film Critics Association Award at Cannes, will start its run in American theaters on August 15.  HBO Films, which has U.S. distribution rights to American Splendor, has entered into a distribution agreement with Fine Line Features, the specialized distribution service of New Line Cinema (see 'American Splendor Gets Theatrical Release').  What this means for comic book retailers is simple--American Splendor should receive excellent art house distribution across the U.S.  While the nature of art house distribution is such that it is difficult to roll out a simultaneous national release, Fine Line has demonstrated the ability to get films exhibited in key markets while the initial buzz from reviews in nationwide publications is still happening.

ICv2 will attempt to report the pace and extent of the American Splendor rollout, but retailers should check the listings in their local areas.  With American Splendor trade paperbacks available from Ballantine Books, Four Walls, Eight Windows, and the American Splendor: Unsung Heroes due out from Dark Horse on August 20, retailers should be able to take advantage of the film that could be this year's Ghost World.