Monday 25 September 2017

Cory Forster's Cerebus Re-Read Challenge

Cerebus
Vol 11: Guys & Vol 12: Rick's Story
by Dave Sim & Gerhard

CORY FOSTER:
(from a review of Cerebus Vol 11: Guys)
After the major events and revelations of the Mothers & Daughters storyline, Guys is a definite breather. It’s a relaxing, fun read that’s hard to put down, but is also full of insight and relationships that ring very true in the real world—at least to this reviewer. It’s also the funniest that Cerebus has been in many volumes. With no action to speak of, the book is carried handily by Dave’s fine-tuned comedic timing and storytelling (although there’s not even much of a story until the last third). Because of its humor, this volume consistently makes it into longtime fans’ top 3, and I think it’s there for me, too... [Read the full review here...]

CORY FOSTER:
(from a review of Cerebus Vol 12: Rick's Story)
You remember Rick, right? Jaka’s husband? Well, he’s old and fat now, but it seems he’s had quite a life so far. As this volume opens, he and Cerebus are shooting the shit while Cerebus tends bar. It seems Rick is writing a book about his own life, called (you guessed it) “Rick’s Story.” While reading to Cerebus of his sexual exploits, both are having a great time and laughing their asses off, but  we start to see cracks in Rick’s sanity. He hallucinates Cerebus as some kind of demon. He views Cerebus as a fallen pope, one who, on a spiritual level, seems to be trying to distract Rick from writing his story. That is, until Thatcher stops by on one of her routine supply dropoffs... [Read the full review here...]


CORY FOSTER'S
CEREBUS RE-READ CHALLENGE:
Cerebus Vol 13: Going Home
Cerebus Vol 14: Form & Void
Cerebus Vol 15: Latter Days
Cerebus Vol 16: The Last Day

The Cerebus Re-Read Challenge! How far will you get?
Send in your review links to: momentofcerebus [at] gmail [dot] com

4 comments:

Carson Grubaugh said...

I thought the whole point of the social set up in Guys was that it IS a situation that most people WOULD be more than happy to occupy? Not good for the "soul" but really easy to accept and go along with. A nightmare for a truth-seeker like Dave, but utopia for the masses.

Damian T. Lloyd, Esq. said...

Carson G.: Huh! Interesting. It hadn't occurred to me that anyone would be happy in that situation. The inmates didn't seem happy, except when they could momentarily distract themselves with foolishness. They all acted like 12-year-old boys whose parents had locked them in the house and gone out. This was the last funny Cerebus phonebook; I'll reread it eventually, and I'll keep your thought in mind.

-- Damian

Travis Pelkie said...

"Remember...jobs?"

Sean R said...

" that it IS a situation that most people WOULD be more than happy to occupy?"

Having played my share of bars, oftentimes being what seemed like the only sober person in the place, I think both views are exactly right. It's this kind of environment you'd use to pacify and neuter your populace. And it's a kind of hell.

Gratification is not the same as satisfaction.