Wednesday 7 December 2016

Pig's Ear

MARGARET LISS: 
A few years ago I scanned all of Dave Sim's notebooks. He had filled 36 notebooks during the years he created the monthly Cerebus series, covering issues #20 to 300, plus the other side items -- like the Epic stories, posters and prints, convention speeches etc. A total of 3,281 notebook pages detailing his creative process. I never really got the time to study the notebooks when I had them. Just did a quick look, scanned them in and sent them back to Dave as soon as possible. So this regular column is a chance for me to look through those scans and highlight some of the more interesting pages.

So after last week's notebook entry, I realized that there were a couple notebooks that we've only looked at once before. One of those is notebook 26 (it was previously called notebook 23) in Cool's Right. It covers Cerebus issues #224 to #230.

Here is the cover, just another Hilroy notebook:

Notebook #26, front cover
I don't usually show the back cover, but this one make me scratch my head. It looks like Dave might have had it by his desk, and used it to get his pens / brush started.

Notebook #26, back cover
"Pig's Ear"? I'm not sure, but it doesn't look like Dave's handing writing. However, we know how good he is at changing his for whatever task he has at hand. I wonder who wrote it and what they were referring to - what was messed up?

And here is page one of the notebook, starting with issue 224.

Notebook #26, page 1
A sketch of Rick and some Cerebus dialogue.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

That's Susan Alston's writing. Her yorkshire terrier, Smutty (named because of her similarity to the smut-nosed seal on the label of a New England indy ale brewer) (it's a long story) (although also the perfect name for the housepet of the Executive Director of the COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND) had a great fondness for pig's ears. Grisly objects. Literally a pig's ear dried and cured and edible. Combination toothbrush, snack and chew toy. I think I said something about "I have to remember to pick up some pig's ears for Smutty" and she decided that the back of my notebook was a good spot for a reminder.

It used to be very funny when the dog would wander off through the neighbourhood and Susan would have to stick her head out the back door and yell, "SMUUTTTT-YYYYY! SMUTTTTTYYYYYY!"

Unknown said...

Well, I thought it was funny.

Jeff Seiler said...

No, that's funny.

And, oh so telling.

Damian T. Lloyd, Esq. said...

Yeah, that is funny.

-- Damian

Unknown said...

Okay, so it isn't just me. OR it's all three of us and everyone else is gobsmacked, appalled and horrified.

"Gobsmacked, Appalled & Horrified. I'm sorry, Mr. Appalled isn't in today. Would you speak with Mr. Gobsmacked? Please hold, I'm transferring your call now."

Damian T. Lloyd, Esq. said...

"Mr. Gobsmacked? This is Ms. Howe of Dewey, Cheatham, & Howe."
"I'm sorry, tell me your name again?"
"Howe."
"By flapping your lips."

... So obviously I have no sense of humour.

-- Damian