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 final Cerebus notebook, #36, four times already, the most recent was in September of 2016 in Listening to Dead Cirinists. Notebook #36 only had 58 of the 108 pages scanned and covered Cerebus issues #266 through 300.
On page 451 of Latter Days - Cerebus #288, page 11, if you're following along in the single issues - Cerebus asks his interviewer about "the sixteen questions we (meaning you) would loooove to ask Cerebus before...breakfast." The interviewer manages to ask Cerebus questions #14, about Cerebus and Rick both being in love with Joanne.
However, we don't see what the rest of her questions were - there were a few others, about Leah. . .no Rachel, and Cerebus' calendar being wrong, but only a couple of the sixteen total questions. Dave's notes in the back, Notes on Latter Days, doesn't mention anything about these sixteen questions.
On page 67 of the final notebook, we see the start of Dave's notes for Cerebus #288, along with question number fourteen.
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| Notebook #36, page 67 |
"Why did Cerebus stop trying to reform society after the sermon on the Mount of Dead Lawyers?"
"What did Cerebus do for twenty years after he dropped out of sight?"
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| Notebook #36, page 68 |
3 comments:
Margaret,
a few things.
First,I want to say that you are doing a great job with these notebook posts. I may not have responded, but I always read them and appreciate the job you do providing insight. Which leads me to my second point, what percentage would you say that you have seen a difference between what Dave puts down in the notebooks and what actually made it to the printed page and have you followed up with Dave to explain the reason for the change?
If not, then might I suggest a second column for you?
Wait, what?
"Why did Cerebus stop trying to reform society after the sermon on the Mount of Dead Lawyers?" Latter Days, page 251 third paragraph.
"What did Cerebus do for twenty years after he dropped out of sight?" Latter Days, page 251 last sentence.
Sorry Mags, but you're gonna be Cerebus "fan" girl now.
Geez, next you're gonna admit you don't know the third word in the fifth panel on the eighteen page of the sixth issue of The Last Day...
Matt Dow
Do YOU know what is the third word in the fifth panel on the eighteenth page of the sixth issue (#294, by my math) of "The Last Day", Mr. Dow?
I'M too lazy to look it up.
Best to you and Paula and the wee ones. Are the wee ones fans yet?
Oh, and according to Dave, he doesn't have fans, he has readers. But, I think he may have mellowed on that point. But, are the wee ones readers yet?
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