Notebook 21: Cerebus #171 and 173

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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Last week we saw the pages from Dave’s 21st notebook that covered some parts of Cerebus #170 and a dream of Jaka’s that never appeared on the finished page. This week? We’re jumping forward to Cerebus #171 and #173? What?

Notebook #21, page 88

The top part with the issue box number for Cerebus #171 says “Cerebus dreaming “help I’m trapped in my sister’s’ the rest of the sound is drowned out by the waves.” The one in front of it indicates it is for page one, and yes, this does appear on page one of Cerebus #171. Though the text of Cerebus’ dream is much longer. The sketch is of Astoria’s hand holding what I can only think is the scotch she got earlier, and yes, she is seen holding a glass on page one.

The bottom of the page has the issue box number for Cerebus #173 and the circled one indicates the text is for page one. So if you flip to page 207 in the phonebook Women you’ll see the final version of this text. There are differences between what is here on the notebook page, and the finished page. I’ll leave it to you to compare the two.

The next page of the notebook continues with the text meant for page 207 of Women:

Notebook #21, page 89

There is a circled two that was crossed out, as it didn’t show up on page 2 of Cerebus #173, but on page 6, aka page 212 of Women. Only part of the text made the final page – the part where the Cirinists generals are talking to Cirin regarding everyone dreaming and Cirin’s question about Swoon Country and Cerebus. The part about the gold being poured  is there, but not that that the sphere exists. The dialogue at the bottom of the page appears to be from Swoon and Elrod, but I don’t see it in Cerebus #173.