In Art Spiegelman’s graphic memoir Maus, what is the name of his father?

In Art Spiegelman’s graphic memoir Maus, his father is named Vladek Spiegelman.

Vladek is the central real-life figure in the memoir’s sections about the Holocaust. Art interviews him about his experiences as a Polish Jew before and during World War II, including imprisonment, forced labor, hiding, and survival in Nazi-occupied Europe.

The book presents Vladek’s testimony alongside scenes of his later life in Rego Park, New York. His difficult personality, frugality, trauma, and strained relationship with Art are also important parts of the narrative. Vladek’s first wife, Anja, was Art’s mother and another major figure in the family story.

A common mix-up is confusing Vladek with Richieu, Art’s older brother, who died during the Holocaust. Maus was originally serialized in Raw magazine before being collected in two volumes, published in 1986 and 1991.