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Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned
"You are eighteen years old. You get up in front of a thousand people--your classmates, your friends, basically the people who make up your entire existence--and announce, 'I'm HIV positive.'"
Told entirely in sequential art, here is the story of the life-changing friendship between the author, a cartoonist from Long Island, and Pedro Zamora, an HIV-positive AIDS activist, which was filmed day by day on MTV's Real World San Francisco.
As a speaker and educator, a guest on many talk shows (including Oprah), and when his tragic death received front-page coverage in the press, Pedro taught a generation that AIDS was not a punishment for moral defects or a mere killer that reduced humans to wraiths. Rather, he showed how those afflicted with the disease could live and love nobly with intelligence, humor and great humanity. Judd Winick's compelling memoir allows each of us to experience the vitally important message Pedro brought us.
Inspiring, moving, informative, and instantly accessible, Pedro and Me could become one of the books that defines a generation.
Told entirely in sequential art, here is the story of the life-changing friendship between the author, a cartoonist from Long Island, and Pedro Zamora, an HIV-positive AIDS activist, which was filmed day by day on MTV's Real World San Francisco.
As a speaker and educator, a guest on many talk shows (including Oprah), and when his tragic death received front-page coverage in the press, Pedro taught a generation that AIDS was not a punishment for moral defects or a mere killer that reduced humans to wraiths. Rather, he showed how those afflicted with the disease could live and love nobly with intelligence, humor and great humanity. Judd Winick's compelling memoir allows each of us to experience the vitally important message Pedro brought us.
Inspiring, moving, informative, and instantly accessible, Pedro and Me could become one of the books that defines a generation.
187 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
20 people are currently reading
2,090 people want to read
About the author
Judd Winick
756books388followersBorn February 12th, 1970 and raised on Long Island in New York, Judd began cartooning professionally at 16 with a single-paneled strip called Nuts & Bolts. This ran weekly through Anton Publications, a newspaper publisher that produced town papers in the Tri state area. He was paid 10 dollars a week.
In August of 1988, Judd began attending the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor bringing Nuts & Bolts with him, but turning it into a four-panel strip and creating a cast of characters to tell his tales. Nuts & Bolts ran in The Michigan Daily 5 days a week from my freshman year (freshperson, or first-year student, as they liked to say at U of M), until graduation in the spring of 1992.
A collection of those college years Nuts & Bolts was published in Ann Arbor. Watching the Spin-Cycle: the Nuts & Bolts collection had a small run of a thousand books a couple of months before graduation. They sold out in about 2 weeks and there are no plans to republish it.
Before graduation he accepted a development deal with a major syndicate (syndicates are the major league baseball of comic strips. They act as an agent or broker and sell comic strips to newspapers). Judd spent the next year living in Boston, and developing his strip.
The bottom dropped out when the syndicate decided that they were not going to pursue Nuts and Bolts for syndication and were terminating his development contract.
Crushed and almost broke, he moved back in with his parents in July 1993. Getting by doing spot illustration jobs, Judd actually had Nuts & Bolts in development with Nickelodeon as an animated series. At one point he even turned the human characters into mice (Young Urban Mice and Rat Race were the working titles).
In August of 1993 he saw an ad on MTV for The Real World III, San Francisco. For those who may not know, The Real World is a real-life documentary soap opera, where 7 strangers from around the country are put up in a house and filmed for six months. You get free rent, free moving costs, you get to live in San Francisco, and get to be a famous pig on television.
The "Audition process," was everything from doing a video, to filling out a 15 page application, to in-person interviews with the producers, to being followed around and filmed for a day. 6 months and 6 "levels" later, Judd was in.
On February 12th 1993, he moved into a house on Russian Hill and they began filming. Along the way Nuts & Bolts was given a weekly spot in the San Francisco Examiner. This WHOLE deal was filmed and aired for the show.
They moved out in June of 1994, a couple of days after O.J.'s Bronco chase in L.A. The show began airing a week later.
Along with the weekly San Francisco Examiner gig, Judd began doing illustrations for The Complete Idiot's Guide series through QUE Books. Since then, Judd has illustrated over 300 Idiot's Guides and still does the cartoons for the computer oriented Idiot's Guides line.
A collection of the computer related titles' cartoons was published in 1997 as Terminal Madness, The Complete Idiot's Guide Computer Cartoon Collection.
Not too long after the show had been airing, Judd's roommate from the show and good friend, AIDS activist Pedro Zamora, took ill from AIDS complications. Pedro was to begin a lecture tour in September. Judd agreed to step in and speak on his behalf until he was well enough to do so again. In August of 1994, Pedro checked into a hospital and never recovered.
Pedro passed away on November 11, 1994. He was 22.
Judd continued to lecture about Pedro, Aids education and prevention and what it's like to live with some one who is living with AIDS for most of 1995. Speaking at over 70 schools across the country, Judd describes it as, "...the most fulfilling and difficult time in my life." But time and emotional constraints forced him to stop lecturing.
In May of 1995 Judd found the weekly Nuts & Bolts under-whelming and decided to give syndication another go. Re-vamping Nuts & Bolts
In August of 1988, Judd began attending the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor bringing Nuts & Bolts with him, but turning it into a four-panel strip and creating a cast of characters to tell his tales. Nuts & Bolts ran in The Michigan Daily 5 days a week from my freshman year (freshperson, or first-year student, as they liked to say at U of M), until graduation in the spring of 1992.
A collection of those college years Nuts & Bolts was published in Ann Arbor. Watching the Spin-Cycle: the Nuts & Bolts collection had a small run of a thousand books a couple of months before graduation. They sold out in about 2 weeks and there are no plans to republish it.
Before graduation he accepted a development deal with a major syndicate (syndicates are the major league baseball of comic strips. They act as an agent or broker and sell comic strips to newspapers). Judd spent the next year living in Boston, and developing his strip.
The bottom dropped out when the syndicate decided that they were not going to pursue Nuts and Bolts for syndication and were terminating his development contract.
Crushed and almost broke, he moved back in with his parents in July 1993. Getting by doing spot illustration jobs, Judd actually had Nuts & Bolts in development with Nickelodeon as an animated series. At one point he even turned the human characters into mice (Young Urban Mice and Rat Race were the working titles).
In August of 1993 he saw an ad on MTV for The Real World III, San Francisco. For those who may not know, The Real World is a real-life documentary soap opera, where 7 strangers from around the country are put up in a house and filmed for six months. You get free rent, free moving costs, you get to live in San Francisco, and get to be a famous pig on television.
The "Audition process," was everything from doing a video, to filling out a 15 page application, to in-person interviews with the producers, to being followed around and filmed for a day. 6 months and 6 "levels" later, Judd was in.
On February 12th 1993, he moved into a house on Russian Hill and they began filming. Along the way Nuts & Bolts was given a weekly spot in the San Francisco Examiner. This WHOLE deal was filmed and aired for the show.
They moved out in June of 1994, a couple of days after O.J.'s Bronco chase in L.A. The show began airing a week later.
Along with the weekly San Francisco Examiner gig, Judd began doing illustrations for The Complete Idiot's Guide series through QUE Books. Since then, Judd has illustrated over 300 Idiot's Guides and still does the cartoons for the computer oriented Idiot's Guides line.
A collection of the computer related titles' cartoons was published in 1997 as Terminal Madness, The Complete Idiot's Guide Computer Cartoon Collection.
Not too long after the show had been airing, Judd's roommate from the show and good friend, AIDS activist Pedro Zamora, took ill from AIDS complications. Pedro was to begin a lecture tour in September. Judd agreed to step in and speak on his behalf until he was well enough to do so again. In August of 1994, Pedro checked into a hospital and never recovered.
Pedro passed away on November 11, 1994. He was 22.
Judd continued to lecture about Pedro, Aids education and prevention and what it's like to live with some one who is living with AIDS for most of 1995. Speaking at over 70 schools across the country, Judd describes it as, "...the most fulfilling and difficult time in my life." But time and emotional constraints forced him to stop lecturing.
In May of 1995 Judd found the weekly Nuts & Bolts under-whelming and decided to give syndication another go. Re-vamping Nuts & Bolts
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June 21, 2017
The San Francisco season of The Real World was the best of all time. Hyperbole? Just look at the facts. Sure, the first New York season was good, but it was short and unleashed Eric Nies onto the world. The L.A. season was good, but the people were all annoying, and not in an entertaining way. And obviously, the whole franchise started to go downhill after the third season.
But it all came together with the San Francisco cast, which featured mostly intelligent people who could carry on a conversation about any number of topics, and who wouldn’t dream of engaging in on-camera naked hot-tub hookups for the purposes of furthering their “acting� careers (sorry, traumatic flashback to the Las Vegas season). You had the beautiful SF locale, the entertaining drama of Puck, and most importantly, the compelling presence of Pedro Zamora, whose charisma, integrity, and desire to create positive change were equaled only by the impact he had on middle America’s idea of what a person with AIDS, or even just a regular old out gay person, might be like. He was a trailblazer in more than one way.
So when this book first came out in 2000, I naturally wanted to read it to learn more about the story—the things that happened off-camera, and after the cameras stopped rolling for good. Pedro and Me definitely delivered in this area. I don’t know why I decided to read it again now, but this time I was more curious about Judd Winick’s abilities as a comic-book artist—something I wasn’t really thinking about the first time around. I know Judd has had a lot of success in this area since the show ended, but since 2000 I’ve read a lot of graphic novels and wanted to know if his work stood up to some of the best of those.
Somewhat surprisingly, it absolutely did. I was impressed by both his artistic ability and his skill at telling the story—he effectively conveyed both the fun and the immense sorrow of the situation, and the book is never less than riveting. I was most surprised at his ability to convey emotion through the characters� faces, possibly some of the most effective work I’ve ever seen in that area. I was constantly studying the faces, trying to figure out exactly how he’d done it. Very, very affecting. Given that it’s been more than 20 years since the show ended, I was a little surprised at how sad the ending still made me (let’s be honest: I cried like a baby), but that’s a testament to both Pedro’s story and Judd’s skill in telling part of it.
The copy I read this time was the second edition, released in 2008. In a new Foreword, Judd speculates about how Pedro would feel about the progress that’s been made against AIDS in the years since his death. In particular, Judd excoriates the useless “Abstinence-Only� programs that continue to exert influence in the U.S., despite the fact that they clearly don’t work. An unpleasant online search reminded me that one of their other housemates, Rachel Campos, has been using her platform as a former Real World star to push abstinence, among other aspects of her conservative agenda. How depressing that a person could live with someone like Pedro and yet refuse to learn anything from him. It there’s any justice in the world, Pedro’s message is the one that will continue to resonate across the years.
But it all came together with the San Francisco cast, which featured mostly intelligent people who could carry on a conversation about any number of topics, and who wouldn’t dream of engaging in on-camera naked hot-tub hookups for the purposes of furthering their “acting� careers (sorry, traumatic flashback to the Las Vegas season). You had the beautiful SF locale, the entertaining drama of Puck, and most importantly, the compelling presence of Pedro Zamora, whose charisma, integrity, and desire to create positive change were equaled only by the impact he had on middle America’s idea of what a person with AIDS, or even just a regular old out gay person, might be like. He was a trailblazer in more than one way.
So when this book first came out in 2000, I naturally wanted to read it to learn more about the story—the things that happened off-camera, and after the cameras stopped rolling for good. Pedro and Me definitely delivered in this area. I don’t know why I decided to read it again now, but this time I was more curious about Judd Winick’s abilities as a comic-book artist—something I wasn’t really thinking about the first time around. I know Judd has had a lot of success in this area since the show ended, but since 2000 I’ve read a lot of graphic novels and wanted to know if his work stood up to some of the best of those.
Somewhat surprisingly, it absolutely did. I was impressed by both his artistic ability and his skill at telling the story—he effectively conveyed both the fun and the immense sorrow of the situation, and the book is never less than riveting. I was most surprised at his ability to convey emotion through the characters� faces, possibly some of the most effective work I’ve ever seen in that area. I was constantly studying the faces, trying to figure out exactly how he’d done it. Very, very affecting. Given that it’s been more than 20 years since the show ended, I was a little surprised at how sad the ending still made me (let’s be honest: I cried like a baby), but that’s a testament to both Pedro’s story and Judd’s skill in telling part of it.
The copy I read this time was the second edition, released in 2008. In a new Foreword, Judd speculates about how Pedro would feel about the progress that’s been made against AIDS in the years since his death. In particular, Judd excoriates the useless “Abstinence-Only� programs that continue to exert influence in the U.S., despite the fact that they clearly don’t work. An unpleasant online search reminded me that one of their other housemates, Rachel Campos, has been using her platform as a former Real World star to push abstinence, among other aspects of her conservative agenda. How depressing that a person could live with someone like Pedro and yet refuse to learn anything from him. It there’s any justice in the world, Pedro’s message is the one that will continue to resonate across the years.
January 22, 2021
¿Conocéis The Real World? El famoso programa de telerrealidad creado por la MTV en 1992, inspiración para futuros Gran Hermano o Survivor, triunfaba a lo grande en su edición de 1994 situada en San Francisco. The Real World, al contrario que Gran Hermano, no encierra a sus concursantes ni los somete a fases de votaciones. Durante 6 meses hace convivir a sus concursantes seleccionados en una casa del mundo real, con sus trabajos, relaciones y digamos vida, en común. Una vez transcurrido el tiempo, el programa ya editado se va emitiendo en capítulos.
¿Y por que fue esa edición tan especial? Porque en esa edición participo un joven homosexual seropositivo llamado Pedro Zamora, un activista cubano comprometido con divulgar información sobre el SIDA. Y allí estuvo también el historietista Judd Winick, con el que compartió habitación. Y este último, inspirado por la vida de su amigo desaparecido y todo lo que aporto a su trayectoria vital -así como el programa-, dedica esta preciosa, conmovedora y emotiva oda a Pedro Zamora. Sin morbo y sin tapujos, somos testigos de una emotiva historia, que funciona tanto a niveles informativos sobre una peligrosa enfermedad como a niveles puramente narrativos.
‘Pedro y yo� es un relato sobre la fugacidad de la misma vida, en una cronológica descomposición de meses y años que Winick plasma con su estilo de tira cómica. Todo fluye de forma natural, pudiendo el lector detenerse ante paginas repletas de vida. Caricatura por aquí, splash-page por allá. Por que Pedro y yo es una historia triste, claro que sí, pero también es un homenaje autobiográfico repleto de sentimientos hacia Pedro. Es una historia de la que aprender. Por que irse de este mundo dejando una huella tan grande en los demás como hizo Pedro, no es nada vacuo. Es un objetivo. Es un sentido. Y las páginas de Winick, lo demuestran.
¿Y por que fue esa edición tan especial? Porque en esa edición participo un joven homosexual seropositivo llamado Pedro Zamora, un activista cubano comprometido con divulgar información sobre el SIDA. Y allí estuvo también el historietista Judd Winick, con el que compartió habitación. Y este último, inspirado por la vida de su amigo desaparecido y todo lo que aporto a su trayectoria vital -así como el programa-, dedica esta preciosa, conmovedora y emotiva oda a Pedro Zamora. Sin morbo y sin tapujos, somos testigos de una emotiva historia, que funciona tanto a niveles informativos sobre una peligrosa enfermedad como a niveles puramente narrativos.
‘Pedro y yo� es un relato sobre la fugacidad de la misma vida, en una cronológica descomposición de meses y años que Winick plasma con su estilo de tira cómica. Todo fluye de forma natural, pudiendo el lector detenerse ante paginas repletas de vida. Caricatura por aquí, splash-page por allá. Por que Pedro y yo es una historia triste, claro que sí, pero también es un homenaje autobiográfico repleto de sentimientos hacia Pedro. Es una historia de la que aprender. Por que irse de este mundo dejando una huella tan grande en los demás como hizo Pedro, no es nada vacuo. Es un objetivo. Es un sentido. Y las páginas de Winick, lo demuestran.
July 6, 2015
I always find it important that when it comes to our identity, we need to learn about the history of the generations before you in order to learn the struggles and dilemma they suffered so that way our generation and future generations do not have to follow the same hardships. Sadly most people nowadays do not care about the past or do not bother learning whereas I found this comic book refreshing and important.
Ever since I realized who I am truly am in my sexual orientation, it became my primary goal to research and learn about how the generation before mine were treated like 2nd class citizens, perverts, animals, and when AIDS became mainstream it became a social plague because at the time only gay people were catching the disease. Many people in our history looked the other way when they needed help and how to prevent HIV/AIDS.
Then a few years ago, I had seen countless HIV/AIDS movies but this one was quite different and made it personally when it comes to my cultural and sexual identity. The movie was called Pedro, it was about a Cuban man named Pedro Zamora who got HIV when he was a teenager and made it his goal to teach every person he encountered what HIV/AIDS is and how to prevent catching it and the myths that society believes. I was completely in tears by the end of the movie and got to learn someone who lives in the same back yard as me.
Now when I discovered this book in the library yesterday, I remember everything about him and thought that I should take a trip down memory lane even though his story ends on a sad note. This book is about Pedro but from the point of view of his friend Judd Winick who he met on The Real World: San Francisco.
The first reason that I love about this book is Judd's illustration of these characters, they felt so real and did an absolutely wonderful job of drawing and storytelling Pedro's life. The 2nd reason why I believe this book was astounding is how they teach you about HIV/AIDS, how to prevent it, and most importantly that anyone can get the disease. This book is targeted mostly for Young Adults but I believe it fits for anyone who wants to know more about Pedro and the enthusiasm he brought to those who encountered him.
What's cool is my high school P.E. teacher had met him in the 90s. For my teacher she was adamant at teaching us this disease because so many of her friends had passed away and since our school system cannot teach us about sex, she taught us how to prevent from getting any sexual diseases. She met him once and brought him to my school who all the kids fell in love with him and found it interesting the way he would talk and present himself. She said he was great guy and someone who you were instantly impressed and able to trust and love.
I find it heart breaking how millions of people have dead from this disease. People who could have changed the world and instead were diminished to rubble. I find it important to keep these people in our hearts and memory especially Pedro and to never lose sight of how we only have one life on this earth and what we do with our life can effect the entire world.
Ever since I realized who I am truly am in my sexual orientation, it became my primary goal to research and learn about how the generation before mine were treated like 2nd class citizens, perverts, animals, and when AIDS became mainstream it became a social plague because at the time only gay people were catching the disease. Many people in our history looked the other way when they needed help and how to prevent HIV/AIDS.
Then a few years ago, I had seen countless HIV/AIDS movies but this one was quite different and made it personally when it comes to my cultural and sexual identity. The movie was called Pedro, it was about a Cuban man named Pedro Zamora who got HIV when he was a teenager and made it his goal to teach every person he encountered what HIV/AIDS is and how to prevent catching it and the myths that society believes. I was completely in tears by the end of the movie and got to learn someone who lives in the same back yard as me.
Now when I discovered this book in the library yesterday, I remember everything about him and thought that I should take a trip down memory lane even though his story ends on a sad note. This book is about Pedro but from the point of view of his friend Judd Winick who he met on The Real World: San Francisco.
The first reason that I love about this book is Judd's illustration of these characters, they felt so real and did an absolutely wonderful job of drawing and storytelling Pedro's life. The 2nd reason why I believe this book was astounding is how they teach you about HIV/AIDS, how to prevent it, and most importantly that anyone can get the disease. This book is targeted mostly for Young Adults but I believe it fits for anyone who wants to know more about Pedro and the enthusiasm he brought to those who encountered him.
What's cool is my high school P.E. teacher had met him in the 90s. For my teacher she was adamant at teaching us this disease because so many of her friends had passed away and since our school system cannot teach us about sex, she taught us how to prevent from getting any sexual diseases. She met him once and brought him to my school who all the kids fell in love with him and found it interesting the way he would talk and present himself. She said he was great guy and someone who you were instantly impressed and able to trust and love.
I find it heart breaking how millions of people have dead from this disease. People who could have changed the world and instead were diminished to rubble. I find it important to keep these people in our hearts and memory especially Pedro and to never lose sight of how we only have one life on this earth and what we do with our life can effect the entire world.
July 18, 2017
A book that's hard to put down once you start reading.
The cartoonish drawing style made it all the more sad.
Without a doubt, Pedro truly inspired a lot of people in both life and death.
That phone call from Bill Clinton was the best.
As a remarkable communicator and motivator, PML took away his gift. How torturous :(
The cartoonish drawing style made it all the more sad.
Without a doubt, Pedro truly inspired a lot of people in both life and death.
That phone call from Bill Clinton was the best.
As a remarkable communicator and motivator, PML took away his gift. How torturous :(
March 10, 2013
I remember watching Pedro Zamora on The Real World in real time, back when I was an impressionable teenager, and I think that has something to do with why I never felt particularly drawn to this book. I clearly remember Pedro’s time as a proto-celebrity of reality television, his mission of AIDS education in a time where it was still a new and frightening disease, and his untimely death. I read this book as part of a comic book club at a local high school, alongside teens who weren’t yet born when Pedro died, and I’m glad I came back to Pedro’s story. This book isn’t a retread of what television audiences saw; it’s a recollection of the man's life by a good friend.
Judd Winick, a fellow Real Word San Francisco cast member, considered Pedro one of his best friends, and this autobiographical comic follows Judd's own trajectory through his time on the show. He portrays himself as well-meaning but somewhat ignorant when he first meets Pedro, confident in his own tolerance but still irrationally nervous about sharing living space with an HIV-positive person. The book spends a little time on the show itself, mostly to explain its emotional effect on the cast members and to portray Judd's developing relationship with Pam Ling. Rather than focusing on what people have already seen or can find, though, the story takes place largely behind the scenes, focusing on how Pedro affected Judd's worldview and, ultimately, how much he came to love Pedro and how much he now misses him.
I’m not familiar with Judd Winick’s art in other comics, but the art here is phenomenal. It has the expressiveness of classic Crumb art with none of the abrasive, odd proportions. There’s just enough realism to connect the comic to photographs and videos of the events it recalls, but it’s still enough of a comic to have its own look and feel.
I suspect my enthusiasm for this book is colored by the fact that I'm familiar with all of the people involved, but I believe it's a good read for those that aren't. Winick's art and his ability to convey the powerful emotions that surrounded Pedro's life, work, and tragic decline make this a universal tale, regardless of when and where it was set.
Judd Winick, a fellow Real Word San Francisco cast member, considered Pedro one of his best friends, and this autobiographical comic follows Judd's own trajectory through his time on the show. He portrays himself as well-meaning but somewhat ignorant when he first meets Pedro, confident in his own tolerance but still irrationally nervous about sharing living space with an HIV-positive person. The book spends a little time on the show itself, mostly to explain its emotional effect on the cast members and to portray Judd's developing relationship with Pam Ling. Rather than focusing on what people have already seen or can find, though, the story takes place largely behind the scenes, focusing on how Pedro affected Judd's worldview and, ultimately, how much he came to love Pedro and how much he now misses him.
I’m not familiar with Judd Winick’s art in other comics, but the art here is phenomenal. It has the expressiveness of classic Crumb art with none of the abrasive, odd proportions. There’s just enough realism to connect the comic to photographs and videos of the events it recalls, but it’s still enough of a comic to have its own look and feel.
I suspect my enthusiasm for this book is colored by the fact that I'm familiar with all of the people involved, but I believe it's a good read for those that aren't. Winick's art and his ability to convey the powerful emotions that surrounded Pedro's life, work, and tragic decline make this a universal tale, regardless of when and where it was set.
March 7, 2010
This graphic novel, for upper junior high and high school students, is the emotional, educational story of Pedro Zamora. Winick describes his and Pedro’s childhood and the experiences that brought them to apply for the MTV show � The Real World. He talks about their fears about moving into the house as someone with HIV and someone with no real knowledge about the disease. For people who are not familiar with the real world, they may not understand the importance of the information about how sick Pedro was during taping. The story shows how Pedro tried to put his own needs aside in order to change ideas about HIV and people with it. He used his life and the show to educate people, knowing his had limited time left. The story is an emotional account of friendships and the impact of HIV. Winick’s illustrations are personal and honest. They carry the emotions of his story very well.
I enjoyed this book for multiple reasons. This is one of the first casts of The Real World that I really knew. I met them through reruns I would sneak during the summer some year during junior high. Even though the show was missing the critical information about how sick he was � I haven’t seen a cast since that had such strong connections. I feel like their secrets concerning Pedro’s health might have caused that. I would suggest this book to any students, but use it in a health class, history, or literature class. Students could learn more about HIV, health scares in America, ways to present powerful personal experiences through graphic novels or other storytelling methods.
I enjoyed this book for multiple reasons. This is one of the first casts of The Real World that I really knew. I met them through reruns I would sneak during the summer some year during junior high. Even though the show was missing the critical information about how sick he was � I haven’t seen a cast since that had such strong connections. I feel like their secrets concerning Pedro’s health might have caused that. I would suggest this book to any students, but use it in a health class, history, or literature class. Students could learn more about HIV, health scares in America, ways to present powerful personal experiences through graphic novels or other storytelling methods.
March 7, 2010
Approximate Interest Level/Reading Level: Junior High/High School
Format: Graphic Novel
Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children (2001), ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2001), Robert F. Sibert Information Book Honor (2001)
Reliving the experience from MTVs Real World San Francisco, cartoonist and author Judd Winick relates of his experience living with and losing his friend Pedro Zamora, AIDS activist, to AIDS in graphic novel format.
I remember watching Pedro and Judd on the MTV Real World San Francisco series. I have never personally known anyone with AIDS so watching the series was the closest experience I have ever had to knowing a real person with AIDS. Pedro was a kindhearted and intelligent person with a very dynamic personality. By appearance, he was very attractive, physically fit, and socially successful, which definitely challenged the pretenses of someone who acquired AIDS at the time. The world definitely felt a loss when he died. I kind of remember him being the first “individual� to die with AIDS. Before that, the reporting seemed to be all statistics.
Pedro’s story is truly powerful. This book would be great to use in health classes.
Format: Graphic Novel
Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children (2001), ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2001), Robert F. Sibert Information Book Honor (2001)
Reliving the experience from MTVs Real World San Francisco, cartoonist and author Judd Winick relates of his experience living with and losing his friend Pedro Zamora, AIDS activist, to AIDS in graphic novel format.
I remember watching Pedro and Judd on the MTV Real World San Francisco series. I have never personally known anyone with AIDS so watching the series was the closest experience I have ever had to knowing a real person with AIDS. Pedro was a kindhearted and intelligent person with a very dynamic personality. By appearance, he was very attractive, physically fit, and socially successful, which definitely challenged the pretenses of someone who acquired AIDS at the time. The world definitely felt a loss when he died. I kind of remember him being the first “individual� to die with AIDS. Before that, the reporting seemed to be all statistics.
Pedro’s story is truly powerful. This book would be great to use in health classes.
June 5, 2015
I learned about this book from a Nerdy Book Club blog post.
This is a true story. It's about a man who is HIV +. The author meets him when they make it through the auditions for an MTV series and become roommates in the house where the show is filmed. The story talks about prejudisms and misunderstandings around the disease.
I knew someone that died of HIV/AIDs about the same time. When I think of the sadness and the shame around that time, it breaks my heart. Society, in general, was not willing to talk about this issue. Frankly, people still have a hard time talking about it. Instead they run on assumptions and misunderstandings. I'm glad there are some people making efforts to make those kinds of things change.
I'm coming a bigger fan of graphic novels all the time. They express a story in a way that is different than just print. The pictures mixed with the words can be very moving.
This is a true story. It's about a man who is HIV +. The author meets him when they make it through the auditions for an MTV series and become roommates in the house where the show is filmed. The story talks about prejudisms and misunderstandings around the disease.
I knew someone that died of HIV/AIDs about the same time. When I think of the sadness and the shame around that time, it breaks my heart. Society, in general, was not willing to talk about this issue. Frankly, people still have a hard time talking about it. Instead they run on assumptions and misunderstandings. I'm glad there are some people making efforts to make those kinds of things change.
I'm coming a bigger fan of graphic novels all the time. They express a story in a way that is different than just print. The pictures mixed with the words can be very moving.
February 22, 2010
A poignant, loving tribute to a friend whose courage and strength in dying was evident from day one. Judd Winick met Pedro Zamora on MTV's The Real World, a voyeuristic reality show which chronicled the lives of six roommates thrown together for six months. Pedro, HIV positive was Judd's roommate and eventually became a trusted friend along with another cast member, Pam Ling, a med student.
Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned is much more than words, it is part education, part memorial, and part divine intervention. How those friends wound up together can only be given up to fate, karma, or divination. Pedro's short life touched so many and his legacy lives through his friends' understanding, compassion, and knowledge.
Morton West High School incoming Freshman reading list-2010.
Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned is much more than words, it is part education, part memorial, and part divine intervention. How those friends wound up together can only be given up to fate, karma, or divination. Pedro's short life touched so many and his legacy lives through his friends' understanding, compassion, and knowledge.
Morton West High School incoming Freshman reading list-2010.
December 23, 2021
This was my first ever graphic novel and I read it in one sitting. I'm here to report that graphic novels can rip your heart out just as viciously as normal books.
February 1, 2025
A re-read, but I hadn't read it all the way through in years. A compelling graphic-novel account of Judd Winick's experiences as a cast member of MTV's THE REAL WORLD, and the friendship he made on the show with AIDS activist Pedro Zamora. This was important stuff back in the 90s. Winick is a fine artist and writer.
July 22, 2020
Wow, this is an emotional read, still relevant to today, though I'm really glad we've made progress on AIDS research and funding!!
April 5, 2013
MTV's The Real World: San Francisco is the only season I ever watched (with Pedro, Judd, et al). At the time, it was a great escape and yet I appreciated it for its ability to give us a glimpse into life's struggles much more realistically than what "reality tv" consists of today. I remember thinking back then about what an amazing guy Pedro Zamora must have been, and was touched early on by his story.
I am grateful to have learned more about him through this book. It's a candid look at friendship, love, struggle and hope that comes with the territory when fighting a terrible disease such as AIDS...but also just in dealing with the journey of life in general. Winick's story inspires me, invokes in me a sense of wanting to do more, to do better in this world, to make a difference like Pedro did (and probably still does) to so many people. I've often agreed that we never really know just how much we might be able to impact someone's life...Pedro's story has certainly impacted mine. And, though this may sound very preachy and/or idealistic, I believe that Winick's moving and poignant story helps solidify that every single one of us can make a difference in this world--even if it's just to one other human being. All we have to do is, "...remember to love each other." So, so very important.
I am grateful to have learned more about him through this book. It's a candid look at friendship, love, struggle and hope that comes with the territory when fighting a terrible disease such as AIDS...but also just in dealing with the journey of life in general. Winick's story inspires me, invokes in me a sense of wanting to do more, to do better in this world, to make a difference like Pedro did (and probably still does) to so many people. I've often agreed that we never really know just how much we might be able to impact someone's life...Pedro's story has certainly impacted mine. And, though this may sound very preachy and/or idealistic, I believe that Winick's moving and poignant story helps solidify that every single one of us can make a difference in this world--even if it's just to one other human being. All we have to do is, "...remember to love each other." So, so very important.
July 27, 2017
You know when you're reading a book at lunch and you're choking on your food trying not to cry in front of your friends/coworkers? That's what happened with this book.
Judd Winnick created Pedro and me to chronicle the time he spent with Pedro Zamora from time spent being on the Real World through the end of his short and impressive life. I've never watched The Real World, so I went into the book not knowing who Pedro Zamora or Judd Winnick were. It didn't matter, though, and graphic novel form may be my favorite way to consume reality tv. Judd tells about Pedro's life, moving to America, coming out and then contracting AIDS, becoming an AIDS educator and joining the Real World in an effort to draw awareness and education to a wider audience. Judd recalls their meeting and friendship fondly and talks honestly about AIDS education as well as the events leading up to the end of Pedro's life. It was a heartbreaking but extremely engaging and informative read. Highly recommended, but keep the tissues nearby.
Judd Winnick created Pedro and me to chronicle the time he spent with Pedro Zamora from time spent being on the Real World through the end of his short and impressive life. I've never watched The Real World, so I went into the book not knowing who Pedro Zamora or Judd Winnick were. It didn't matter, though, and graphic novel form may be my favorite way to consume reality tv. Judd tells about Pedro's life, moving to America, coming out and then contracting AIDS, becoming an AIDS educator and joining the Real World in an effort to draw awareness and education to a wider audience. Judd recalls their meeting and friendship fondly and talks honestly about AIDS education as well as the events leading up to the end of Pedro's life. It was a heartbreaking but extremely engaging and informative read. Highly recommended, but keep the tissues nearby.
August 14, 2011
Un muy buen non-fiction comic pensado para conmover el corazón y educar la cabeza que logra con bastante éxito ambas cosas. Tanto la parte que cubre la amistad entre Pedro y el autor hasta las últimas horas de aquel como toda la historia de vida de ambos (más interesante en el caso de Pedro que en el de Judd) van siempre entre lo tierno, lo cotidiano y lo triste. Claro que (de nuevo especialmente en la historia de Pedro) hay ciertas escenas "históricas" contadas con ciertas limitaciones, se narra con bastante crudeza cómo era tener sida a principios de los 90s. Lo demás, una muy interesante historia de vida, con varias escenas cursis (que de todos modos son inevitables en este tipo de obras, y hasta recomendables) pero siempre realistas y creíbles. Eso sí, para cuando uno se va acercando al final es recomendable tener unos pañuelitos a mano, los golpes tristes -que no bajos- que hay cuando termina la historia son de duros para arriba.
April 29, 2019
I got more attached than I expected given that I haven't seen the Real World season 3 yet. Judd did a great job.
December 8, 2014
the book was good at first i didn't want to read it then i got really into it
March 17, 2020
Years ago my brother told me about this book and lent me his copy. Randomly it came into my head last week and I picked up a copy. Pedro and his story are just as important today as they were when he was alive. Judd beautifully captures this brave young person who shared his story of HIV with the world in a time when it was unheard of. Not only does the story give us a glimpse of Pedro the person but we also see him as a friend, son, brother and finally husband. The friendship between Judd and Pedro is pure and it's clear Pedro lives on in his heart and through his work. I love the art and there are some very funny parts as well as a lot of depth. An amazing graphic novel for any lgbtqa+ reader as well as all readers.
April 30, 2019
Maybe it's because I've been treating reading as a chore lately, but this book hit me right in the gut. I read my fair share of graphic novels and comic books (although for whatever reasons, I don't mark the Riverdale ones on here), but this one showed me the storytelling potential of this medium. I haven't seen Season 3 of The Real World yet but I've read about Pedro's story, and even if you already know about him, reading all about it from a close friend instead of just Wikipedia makes it so much more emotional. I definitely recommend it.
January 9, 2019
This was not what I expected it to be. Winnick artfully captures his friendship with Pedro from their time in the Real World house through his tragically early death. He tells the story with compassion and intimacy and incorporates resources and information with the story. Though not specifically YA, it could be read and understood by young adults and has a valuable message about shame and health that's important for young people to see.
January 13, 2018
Although I did like and appreciate this book I simply didn't enjoy it; the art style although I do like over time I grew tired of and the story seemed to flow but then push itself under the rug to talk about something else that (although did contribute and was apart of the current story-line) would just interrupt and confuse me as a reader.
Now I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it at all I simply had my gripes with it and felt as though those over-weighed my praise. I did however like the story being told of that of Judd and Pedro and their friendship and how life is with HIV and how it can effect an individual and those around them (especially during the 90s)
Now I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it at all I simply had my gripes with it and felt as though those over-weighed my praise. I did however like the story being told of that of Judd and Pedro and their friendship and how life is with HIV and how it can effect an individual and those around them (especially during the 90s)
November 17, 2024
This was a beautiful memorial of losing your friend. Pedro Zamora was an important person in the fight against HIV/AIDS stigma. This graphic novel was one I chose for a class assignment and I’m glad I did. I cried multiple times thinking about Pedro and his strength. Highly recommend!
Rating: 5.0
Rating: 5.0
July 8, 2017
Graphic Novel by Judd Winick from The Real World: San Francisco about his friendship with castmate Pedro. Pedro was HIV-positive and on TV-- an iconic appearance in 1994.
I had no idea Judd Winick was a prolific graphic novelist but it's obvious why. This was a magnificently told story about Pedro's last year of life, before he died at just 22
I had no idea Judd Winick was a prolific graphic novelist but it's obvious why. This was a magnificently told story about Pedro's last year of life, before he died at just 22
June 22, 2018
Really beautiful story about spreading HIV/AIDS awareness. I haven't seen MTV's Real World, but am interested to watch this season now. Pedro touched many lives, and this story continues in his legacy. <3 Educational and beautiful.
November 20, 2022
Everyone needs to read this.
February 22, 2023
this was such a beautiful story told in such a beautiful way! i laughed, cried, all the things.
February 16, 2024
I cried the entire way through
November 27, 2023
Qué fue esa llorada tan densa que me pegué
March 7, 2009
MTV’s The Real World was barely on my radar back in the 90s. While The Real World: San Francisco was being filmed and broadcast starting in 1994, not only was I finishing up my BA at the UW, but I also jumped ship after graduating when I high-tailed it to Europe for several months. All before jump-starting my own reality back here in the States. (Ah, the memories.) So for this very reason, I never become a fan of The Real World � or any mid-90s TV show, for that matter. But now, fifteen years after the fact, I’m finally following the incredibly emotional journey that Winick made. But this through his heart-wrenchingly honest recount of his friendship with Pedro Zamora, who later died of complications from AIDS.
The most surprising and refreshing thing about Winick’s narrative is that he doesn’t focus much at all on the actual experience of being on one of TV’s first popular reality series. Instead � and this to his credit � he instead artfully interweaves his own life and back-story with that of Pedro’s. In fact, his framing sequence of talking with a random taxi driver brings his narrative full circle by the end of his graphic novel.
At heart, Winick recalls in poetically powerful detail the pain of losing someone whom he loved dearly, even while he was falling deeply in love with another The Real World housemate, Pam. Well over a decade after these events, Winick can still bring tears to one’s eyes � as, I freely admit, it did mine.
Winick is a well-regarded comic book writer these days; one whose work I confess to not following. As an artist, his style is reminiscent of Alison Bechdel of Dykes to Watch Out for and Fun Home fame � both of which I have reviewed in these pages recently. But I don’t know how far that got him as he lacks a certain steroid-enhanced quality to his rendering of human anatomy that seems a virtual requirement of any artists working for the two big guns, DC and Marvel. As far as his prose, Winick shows signs of being a potential heavyweight in an industry that is getting more and more populated as the decades go by. And if Pedro and Me is any indication, I’m positive that we can expect great things from him in the coming years.
The most surprising and refreshing thing about Winick’s narrative is that he doesn’t focus much at all on the actual experience of being on one of TV’s first popular reality series. Instead � and this to his credit � he instead artfully interweaves his own life and back-story with that of Pedro’s. In fact, his framing sequence of talking with a random taxi driver brings his narrative full circle by the end of his graphic novel.
At heart, Winick recalls in poetically powerful detail the pain of losing someone whom he loved dearly, even while he was falling deeply in love with another The Real World housemate, Pam. Well over a decade after these events, Winick can still bring tears to one’s eyes � as, I freely admit, it did mine.
Winick is a well-regarded comic book writer these days; one whose work I confess to not following. As an artist, his style is reminiscent of Alison Bechdel of Dykes to Watch Out for and Fun Home fame � both of which I have reviewed in these pages recently. But I don’t know how far that got him as he lacks a certain steroid-enhanced quality to his rendering of human anatomy that seems a virtual requirement of any artists working for the two big guns, DC and Marvel. As far as his prose, Winick shows signs of being a potential heavyweight in an industry that is getting more and more populated as the decades go by. And if Pedro and Me is any indication, I’m positive that we can expect great things from him in the coming years.
April 30, 2019
Una historia sencilla y bella contada con una naturalidad ante la que resulta imposible no sentirse conmovido.
Como dice el propio cómic, cuando lloramos la muerte de un personaje de ficción lo hacemos porque recordamos a nuestros seres queridos que ya no están.
Toda la parte correspondiente a los últimos días de Pedro, inevitablemente, me ha recordado a la muerte de mi padre. Su muerte se presentó con la misma sencillez que la de Pedro, pasó sin más, ante nuestra propia impotencia. Más que triste, ha sido bonito recordarlo. Es duro decirlo, pero llevaba tiempo sin pensar en mí padre.
"Cuando muere alguien a quien quieres de forma inesperada, no lo pierdes de golpe. Pierdes los pedazos a lo largo de mucho tiempo.
Igual que el correo deja de llegar, su olor desaparece de las almohadas e incluso de la ropa de su armario y de sus cajones.
Poco a poco, acumulas las partes que han desaparecido para siempre...
Llega un día nuevo y con el una parte concreta desaparece".
El encuentro con la niña cuyo hermano a muerto de sida es sublime. Cuenta tanto con tan poco.
"Alguien me dijo una vez que estar triste es cómo cargar con algo muy pesado, te duele porque llevas algo muy grande, pero al cabo del tiempo te haces más fuerte y te resulta más ligero. Y no te duele tanto"
Lo que más destacaría del cómic es como logra alcanzar una profunda emotividad desde la sencillez, sin ningún tipo de efectismo barato. Te enseña la crudeza de la vida, pero no te dice cuánto de triste es. Te deja a ti que sea el que le juzgue por si mismo.
El libro me lo ha recomendado María y, salvando las distancias, me ha recordado al momento vital que estoy atravesando, compartiendo piso con Ángel (y con Gloria) y empezando una bonita relación con ella. La vida me sonríe y yo sonrío!
Como dice el propio cómic, cuando lloramos la muerte de un personaje de ficción lo hacemos porque recordamos a nuestros seres queridos que ya no están.
Toda la parte correspondiente a los últimos días de Pedro, inevitablemente, me ha recordado a la muerte de mi padre. Su muerte se presentó con la misma sencillez que la de Pedro, pasó sin más, ante nuestra propia impotencia. Más que triste, ha sido bonito recordarlo. Es duro decirlo, pero llevaba tiempo sin pensar en mí padre.
"Cuando muere alguien a quien quieres de forma inesperada, no lo pierdes de golpe. Pierdes los pedazos a lo largo de mucho tiempo.
Igual que el correo deja de llegar, su olor desaparece de las almohadas e incluso de la ropa de su armario y de sus cajones.
Poco a poco, acumulas las partes que han desaparecido para siempre...
Llega un día nuevo y con el una parte concreta desaparece".
El encuentro con la niña cuyo hermano a muerto de sida es sublime. Cuenta tanto con tan poco.
"Alguien me dijo una vez que estar triste es cómo cargar con algo muy pesado, te duele porque llevas algo muy grande, pero al cabo del tiempo te haces más fuerte y te resulta más ligero. Y no te duele tanto"
Lo que más destacaría del cómic es como logra alcanzar una profunda emotividad desde la sencillez, sin ningún tipo de efectismo barato. Te enseña la crudeza de la vida, pero no te dice cuánto de triste es. Te deja a ti que sea el que le juzgue por si mismo.
El libro me lo ha recomendado María y, salvando las distancias, me ha recordado al momento vital que estoy atravesando, compartiendo piso con Ángel (y con Gloria) y empezando una bonita relación con ella. La vida me sonríe y yo sonrío!
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