Notebook 21: Campaign ’93 Part Two

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’re continuing our look at Dave Sim’s 21st notebook used during the creation of Cerebus #164 to 187. We’ll be looking at this notebook, which there were 260 out of 300 pages scanned, until we’ve seen every single page of it. Well, the pages scanned. If you want to see all of the notebook #21 posts to date, just use the Notebook 21 tag. 

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A couple of weeks ago, we looked at some materials from Dave’s 21st notebook for the promotional tour called Campaign ’93: some sketches and notes on pages 50 and 51. When I saw the wall of text on page 52 of the notebook I saw it was more Campaign ’93 material, but a quick google search didn’t reveal it as being posted on the internets anywhere. 

I went and pulled out Cerebus #167 as the notebook also has material for that Cerebus issue just before this Campaign ’93 stuff. And guess what was in there? Dave’s letter to retailers about Campaign ’93. And guess what is on page 52 of the notebook? Yup, a draft of that letter.

Notebook #21, page 52

And the transcription:

Larry Marder’s Direct Line between retailers and creators is, to me, the future of the direct market and is the foundation for CEREBUS CAMPAIGN ’93.

My interpretation of the Direct Link (and each creator’s take on it is going to be a little different) is a united multi-level promotion effort with CEREBUS merchandise generated here, reproduced at in-store by the individual stores as the source for financing. Most of the CAMPAIGN ’93 will be inexpensive (relatively speaking) and will allow each store to decide the level of its participation.

CAMPAIGN ’93 is designed to function in cooperation with the existing distribution structure. While much material will be provided directly to stores to promote CEREBUS, it is hoped that each store will continue to purchase the monthly comic and reprint volumes from one or more of the direct market distributors. If the books are not available we will be happy to sell directly to stores but where possible we would prefer to work within the current system.

I have every confidence that if retailers are willing to invest time and energy and some venture capital that CAMPAIGN ’93 will prove to be profitable and a lot of fun besides.

The focus will be on the reprint volumes as CAMPAIGN ’93 has as its goal those fans not currently buying CEREBUS. While we anticipate a marginal increase in sales on the monthly book, TOUR ’92 proved that the greatest potential lies in the for new sales lies with the reprint volumes.

I believe that with sales of 800,000 copies on SPAWN #10 (shipping in April) this year presents the clearest opportunity for introducing new readers and traditional comic fans to the world of CEREBUS.

The next page of the logo continues the draft of the letter to retailers, and focuses on Cerebus #0:

Notebook #21, page 52

The text in case you can’t read it:

CEREBUS NUMBER ZERO was originally solicited for April of this year in a poly-bag with a gold logo and a hologram card; a good example of not looking before you leap.

1) People buying CEREBUS ZERO would be apt to leave it sealed in the  bag defeating its purpose as a Cerebus sampler.

2) The package itself proved to be prohibitively expensive.

The regular edition of CEREBUS NUMBER ZERO is now like this

96 pages containing all of the story pages from the series NOT reprinted in the collections!

CEREBUS 51 “Exodus”

CEREBUS 112 / 113 “Square One”

CEREBUS 137 / 138 “Like-a-Looks”

As well as introductions to give a new reader some idea of the CEREBUS continuity. The reprint books continue to sell in greater numbers than ever before and since this 96 page comic makes the complete story available for the first time.

Now I really want to know what that hologram card would’ve been like.