Notebook 21: Material Not Used in Cerebus #182

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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Another outline for Cerebus #182, but at least it isn’t a wall of text – don’t worry, more of them coming up. Looks like Dave did some shuffling of the materials for Cerebus #182. Though if you’ve noticed, this list is only for the materials in the Viktor Davis’ story, and not the Cerebus vs  Cirin fight that starts off the issue. Well, technically the issue starts with the Roach in his Destiny Forty Thousand Eyes Roach ™.

Well, except item number 5, “Cerebus just had his right ear cut off”. That happens on the last page of the fight in Cerebus #182 page 14, aka Reads page 160.

Notebook #21, page 207

Though Cerebus’ ear getting cut off also appears in Viktor’s text, on page 16 of that same issue. And that text is what starts off page 208 of the notebook:

Notebook #21, page 208

While that is close to the finished text on page 162 of Reads, it isn’t the same. Most notably, Viktor mentioning that Elrod never really existed is missing, along with a bunch of discussion about the audience. What are you thinking?

The next page of the notebook shows a rewrite of the ‘Cerebus has just had his right ear cut off’ text, but it is crossed out:

Notebook #21, page 209

The next page of the notebook contains materials not used in Cerebus #182, perhaps used somewhere else in Reads:

Notebook #21, page 210

And to answer Viktor’s question, no I couldn’t stop listening to music. Though I do love quiet. I also haven’t had my phone ringer on in over twenty years. . .though one only turns it on if one actually intends to pick up a call.