I clicked the link, read the article, and my response on the FaceitBook was "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?!"
To illustrate why, here's the article, with my commentary in BOLD:
Cerebus The Aardvark: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Controversial Comic Cerebus is a testament to what can be accomplished through independent comics, but it’s also progressively controversial and unfiltered. BY DANIEL KURLAND
The comics industry has been a showcase not only for stories about superheroes, but also challenging narratives that push the limits of what can be accomplished in the medium. Cerebus the Aardvark looks at the opinionated exploits of the series’ titular character, but it’s also a fascinating example of a humble comic that slowly changes with its author, Dave Sim, over time.
Cerebus is a testament to what can be accomplished through independent comics, but it’s also progressively controversial and unfiltered. Cerebus is a comic that’s gained attention for many reasons since its debut, but it’s considerably deeper than just a controversial comic about a disgruntled aardvark.
All them links are theirs, click with caution.
10 Cerebus Started As A Parody Of Conan The Barbarian
"Cerebus-Sword-Defend", not Cerebus #15 Cover, which is what it is...
Comics have a long tradition of building characters off of one another, sometimes even as an outright parody. Strangely, Cerebus the Aardvark starts as a tongue-in-cheek parody of Marvel's Conan the Barbarian and comics’ larger sword & sorcery genre. Cerebus’ initial stories are much simpler in nature and revolve around Cerebus' tasks as a barbarian mercenary. Many other early Cerebus characters operate as parodies of Marvel figures like Moon Knight, The Punisher, and The Thing, who is represented with the stone Thrunk. Cerebus even does an extended riff on characters from Neil Gaiman's Sandman.
Show of hands, who didn't know any of that? Also "Cerebus’ initial stories are much simpler in nature and revolve around Cerebus' tasks as a barbarian mercenary." Kevin would most likely diagree. The first few stories are VERY much in the vein of Robert E. Howard's Conan stories that Barry Windsor-Smith adapted for Marvel.
9 The Series Was Always Going To End With The Death Of Cerebus
"Cerebus-Somber-Stance" HA! These things kill me. Also, for those playing at home, that's two images from Cerebus in Hell?, one Cerebus image by someone else, one image from a non-Cerebus comic, and one from the series.
Cerebus the Aardvark concludes as a very different series than how it begins, but the nature of how Cerebus ends was telegraphed right from the start. Dave Sim has incredible love and respect for his creations, but he expressed that Cerebus’ death was the only natural conclusion to the story. He knew that this would be a long journey through Cerebus’ existence and the circumstances behind his demise weren’t yet determined, but Cerebus’ actions were always going to catch up with him.
"Dave Sim has incredible love and respect for his creations"? What the @#%&? Dave is ALWAYS calling him a "little grey bastard"...
8 It Ran For 300 Issues Over Nearly 30 Years
"Cerebus-Comic" Well, it's A Cerebus comic. A Cerebus in Hell? comic. Another CiH? image.
Many comic series experience lengthy runs, but Cerebus the Aardvark started at the end of 1977 and ran at a regular pace until 2004 when it concluded with its 300th issue.
Curiously, Sim has recently brought back the character in Cerebus in Hell, a five-issue series sets after Cerebus #300 where Cerebus is in Hell and draws from the Divine Comedy for inspiration. Sim has also released Cerebus #1s, where each issue is a new "#1" that parodies a classic first issue of a comic book, like Batman #1 or Action Comics #1.
Cerebus in Hell? always with a "?". And the #1s are still part of the series. Man, do some research Dan... Come on!
7 Cerebus Grew From Parody Into A Platform For Sims’ Unfiltered Opinions
"Cerebus-Drinking-Ornery" HAHAHAHAHAHA Oh man that's good... The original text is: "SIPPING THOUGHTFULLY FROM HIS FINGERBOWL..." And our second image from the series.
Any good story should allow itself and its characters the opportunity to naturally evolve. Cerebus the Aardvark is perhaps the ultimate example of this and the term “Cerebus Syndrome” has even been coined in reference to the comic’s dramatic turn. Cerebus starts as a broader, self-contained parody. Dave Sim writes Cerebus for over 30 years and in that time he allows his feelings to come out in his storytelling. Cerebus digs surprisingly deep into politics, religion, and internalized misogyny, which slowly alienated Sim from some of his peers and turned Cerebus into a more loaded series.
"Dave Sim writes Cerebus for over 30 years" the series ran from 1977 to 2004. Twenty-Six years. You made this point in #8 Dan, come on!
And, I'm pretty sure everybody around here knew the rest...
6 DC Was Interested In Buying The Series
"Cerebus-Warrior-By-Water" OR...Cerebus Volume One cover. Either/or... Phonebook image #1
Cerebus the Aardvark made waves for its subject matter, but it’s also a landmark example of self-publishing. Sim put out Cerebus under his own Aardvark-Vanaheim, Inc., and its success inspired many other budding voices in the comics industry like Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise) and Bone's Jeff Smith to follow suit. DC Comics recognized Cerebus’ growth and they pursued Sim for several years in the 1980s to release Cerebus under DC’s label. Impressively, DC offered Sim $100,000 (back in 1988) and 10% of all licensing & merchandising, yet he rejected their proposition so he could still create Cerebus without interference.
As I pointed out on the FaceitBook, Dave turned them down, and his accountant said he was nuts. Then A/V made 150K from the sale of the High Society collection.
In fact, in 1993, Dave gave his 100K for writing Spawn #10 to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Taking the DC deal would have killed Cerebus and ruined Dave. IMHO.
5 Experimental Background Artist Gerhard Joins In Issue #65
"Cerebus-Church-And-State-Commoners" OR Church & State Volume 1. Second Phonebook image.
Comics are a medium where artists are valued and known by name just as much as the writers. A talented artist can be the difference in what makes a comic popular or a phenomenon. Cerebus the Aardvark is an independent effort where Dave Sim does most of what’s involved in the comic’s production, which was even truer during its start.
Sim was the artist for the first 64 issues, but then renowned background artist Gerhard takes over from Issue #65 all the way to Issue #300. Gerhard’s detailed environments and stark settings perfectly compliment Sim’s sardonic creation and dark thoughts.
Which makes it sound like Gerhard drew the book solo.
4 Cerebus Characters Can Be Used Freely By Other Creators
"Cerebus-For-Congress" HA!!! Or, Cerebus #37... Third image from the series.
Dave Sim had always been a figure that’s liked to fight figures of authority or oppression and it’s led to some very strong beliefs that are not only present in Cerebus’ writing, but also his views on what’s done with the property. Sim is no stranger to lawsuits over copyright concerns and Cerebus’ roots come from riffing on established properties. Sim has provided a general license so that Cerebus, or any other characters from the comic, can be freely used by other comic artists. He’s even said that the series will enter into the public domain upon his death.
Dave has said that Cerebus is pretty much in the public domain NOW. (Ya know, while Dave's still around to see whatever ya come up with...)
3 The Final 100 Issues Explore Sims Finding Religion
"Cerebus-And-Light" Yup. Sure is. Also the cover to Cerebus #91 "Talking to Tarim" And the forth image from the book.
Long-running comics often change direction or tone when they work through different story arcs, but Cerebus’ shift is quite atypical. Cerebus’ first 200 issues are considered to be the end of the series’ first story, which attempts to tackle gender from a male and female reading. Cerebus’ final 100 issues, starting from “Rick’s Story,” become a deep study into theology and religion that mirrors Sim’s own change. Sim was previously atheist, but he forms a belief system out of many tenets of other religions and even makes his own prayers, which show up in Cerebus.
Rick's Story starts in #220.
Also, again, was this news to anybody?
2 Sim Writes Himself Into The Comics
"Cerebus-Minds-Abyss-Shattered" Or Volume 10: Minds. Third Phonebook cover image.
Comics have a history of working their creators into the story, which was only inevitable with Cerebus since it’s such a personal work for Sim. The “Minds” story features a powerful disembodied voice that identifies itself as “Dave.” Dave chastises Cerberus for his decisions and says that they’re the cause of his misfortunes. Dave shows Cerebus many versions of a future where he's with Jaka, his unrequited love, but they're all poisoned because of Cerebus' behavior. It's interesting to see the creator attack his creation in such an aggressive way, but for the purpose of change, which eventually does happen.
"Cerberus"? Really? REALLY!?!
Also, "It's interesting to see the creator attack his creation in such an aggressive way" how does that jive with #9's "Dave Sim has incredible love and respect for his creations"?
"Cerberus"? Really?!?
1 He's Crossed Over With Spawn And The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
"Cerebus-In-Spawn-Crossover" Second other person Cerebus, and second Cerebus from other book. So, 4 images from Cerebus, 3 from phonebooks, 3 from Cerebus in Hell?, 2 not from Cerebus, and 2 not by Dave. Nice...
Cerebus’ influence led to many of Sim’s allies allowing him to collaborate on their series. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8 involves the Turtles getting sent back in time by Lord Simultaneous and they cross paths with a frustrated Cerebus. Cerebus appears a few more times with the Ninja Turtles, but his work with Spawn in “Crossing Over” gained much acclaim and even got a Will Eisner nomination. “Crossing Over” involves Spawn taking energy from other comic characters that Cerebus keeps as prisoners because their creators have sold away their rights. It’s a smart, meta story that’s reflective of Cerebus’ style.
As I said on the FaceitBook:
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?!: "Cerebus appears a few more times with the Ninja Turtles, " WHAT ISSUES OF TMNT IS HE IN BESIDES #8? "but his work with Spawn in “Crossing Over” gained much acclaim and even got a Will Eisner nomination. UM...YOU MEAN AN EISNER AWARD NOMINATION? "“Crossing Over” involves Spawn taking energy from other comic characters that Cerebus keeps as prisoners because their creators have sold away their rights." I REPEAT: WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!?!
That's a VERY odd reading of Crossing Over. _____________________________________________
Anyway, now you all know 10 things you didn't about Cerebus (as long as you logged on to AMOC right before you were struck on the head and got amnesia like in a late 70s sitcom.)
Next Time: Oliver shares the link to this article and I try not to snicker...
3 comments:
Should be bent over a barrel
#agree
Should be bent over a barrel
#agree
#edit
To be fair, I imagine "You" wasn't intended to mean "The average AMOC reader."
But still...yeah. Kinda like "Things you didn't know about Star Trek: Martin Landau was originally offered the role of Spock!"
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