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.
Last week in Cerebus #53 Wrap Around Cover Sketch we saw page 30 from Dave Sim’s sixth notebook used during the production of Cerebus. This notebook covers Cerebus #49 through 59 and page 30 had a thumbnail sketch of the cover of Cerebus #53.
On page 32 there is a thumbnail sketch of page one of Cerebus #53:
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| Notebook #6, page 32 |
It is pretty close to the finished page, little things are different, but the usage of lines to show us the heavy rain is there. Along with a person answering the door talking with someone using an umbrella while a horse drawn carriage is nearby.
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| Cerebus #53, page 1 |
Dave also tries out some different page numbering and design ideas, but just sticks with the one that is in the original thumbnail, but without the page number – the graphic running down the side of the page.
The next page of the notebook has a preliminary floor layout for the Countess’ place. The upper right corner of the floor layout shows what appears to be the room on the cover. The same area of the floor plan is enlarged at the bottom of the page.
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| Notebook #6, page 33 |
The dialogue is also for issue 53. The bit right beside the floor layout says:
Countess Michelle: It used to be my room. That doesn’t bother you does it. . .?
Cerebus: Depends on what you left behind.
Countess Michelle: You idiot.
The above dialogue shows up on page 3 of Cerebus #53 as this:
Countess Michelle: It used to be my room. That doesn’t bother you does it. . .?
Cerebus: Cerebus has slept in ladies’ bedrooms before.
Countess Michelle: I’m sure you have. . .
Next week. . .more on Cerebus #53
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