Rick in a Can

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.

We've looked at Dave Sim's notebook #15, four times already.  The last time was in June of 2016 in Daughter of Palnu: Lessons. The notebook covers issues #118 to 122, the early issues of Jaka's Story. It has 108 pages, 98 of which I scanned, and 4 pages blank pages not scanned (pages 94, 95/96 and 97). But we still haven't seen the cover.

Surprise. Surprise. It is a Hilroy notebook.

Notebook #15, front cover

The difference between this Hilroy notebook and the other ones is this cover has a different texture then the others. While the other ones were flat this one appears to be embossed.

Since this entry has to be a quick one - the Bruins have game 6 at home today - a couple pages of sketches from the notebook. We'll start with the back of the page first, on which are three head sketches. Jaka, "Rick in a Can" and "Wee Donny Drrredd".

Notebook #15, page 68

Though behind those sketches, you can see some other sketches. Looks like Jaka a bit.

Notebook #15, page 67

It is Jaka. A sketch of one of her dancing costumes. The top looks like the same top from the cover to Cerebus #124, but the pants are a bit more see-through.

Cerebus #124, front cover

Though it is revealed that Jaka had forgotten the back of her costume, so perhaps it is the same outfit as above - but without the back and the leggings.