The Seven Cent Nickel part 1

Hi, Everybody!

VARK WARS: WALT'S EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

And there is more High Society than you can shake a baby at.

_____________________________

Okay, so many many years ago, I was gonna write an article for Cerebus the Newsletter about the economy of Estarcion.

I was gonna call it The Seven Cent Nickel after this bit from Animal Crackers:

That clip cuts off the opening dialogue:
 Chandler: "In the last analysis, it is a question of money. The nickel today is not what it used to be ten years ago." 

Spaulding: "Well, I'll go further than that. I'll get off at the depot. The nickel today is not what it was fifteen years ago. Do you know what this country needs today?...A seven-cent nickel. Yessiree, we've been using the five-cent nickel in this country since 1492. Now that's pretty near a hundred years' daylight saving. Now, why not give the seven-cent nickel a chance? If that works out, next year we could have an eight-cent nickel. Think what that would mean. You could go to a newsstand, buy a three-cent newspaper and get the same nickel back again. One nickel carefully used would last a family a lifetime!"
Chandler: "Captain Spaulding I think that is a wonderful idea!"
Spaulding: "You do, huh?"
Chandler: "Yes."
Spaulding: "Now then there can't be much to it, forget about it..."

Which is pretty much the basis for the Estarcion economy in High Society. But, as I've been re-reading the series for 2019 (shut. up.) one of the many motifs I've been looking for is money, specifically references to the economy.

First is issue 3 (or page fifty-three of the first phonebook):

Borealan gold mines are failing, and Boreala is going broke.

Then, there's issue nine (or page one hundred and eighty-five):

Which shows how the devaluing of Borealan gold is affecting everybody else.

Then, in issue ten (or page two hundred and forty-eight):

The first panel: "Cerebus knew the military government would be delighted to at last balance their budget."

The next time economics shows up is the Palnu Trilogy, and there are alot of examples there, so I'm gonna save them until a later time.

But I'll leave with another bit of foreshadowing from Issue one:

"Ten times a thousand pouches of gold"?

See Church & State volume one:

Church and State has so many clever callbacks to the first phonebook.

 Next Time: Hobbs or Birdsong, maybe Margaret. I've honestly stopped paying attention...

Dead Aardvark

Hi Everybody!

Listen to what the man said:

The Jaka's Story remaster has a Starcode!  APR191258 First month orders will be signed and numbered! Dave will be signing the ENTIRE print run of the book. Also, there's a "contest" to select the image for the bookplate Dave's gonna be signing. TWO DAYS, you have TWO DAYS...

Greg Hyland is Kickstartering the second volume of the Monster Atlas, and it's gonna have Gerhard art like the first volume. It's gonna look a little something like this. The last week to get in on this...

The remastered Volume 1 is available digitally for $9.99. 

The Auction for the Green Dante/Green Virgil cover is up to $1277.00 US Dollars from: 高伯乐 (Gao BoLe)! (Unless somebody got a good tax refund...)

______________________________________________________

So, I found myself looking through Cerebus #300 on Sunday (don't ask...) and was struck by the "flashback" sequence.

Mostly, which phonebooks Dave used for it:

(Let's see if I can do this:) Minds(?), Minds, Minds, Minds, Cerebus (issue two), Cerebus (issue 4), Cerebus (issue 16), High Society, High Society, Church & State 1, Church & State 1, Church & State 1,

Church & State (2?), Church & State 2, Church & State 2, Jaka's Story, Melmoth, Flight, Flight (?), Women, Women, Reads,

Minds, Minds, Guys, Guys, Rick's Story (?), Rick's Story, Going Home, Going Home, Form & Void, Form & Void, Latter Days, Latter Days, Latter Days, Latter Days, Latter Days, Latter Days, Latter Days, The Last Day.

Next Time: I post all the pages the panels are from. J/K! It's Wednesday, so Hobbs...

A clever callback

Hi, Everybody!

So today will NOT be me getting "Back Into It Again" as I suggested in the "Next Time" yesterday.

I've been working twelve hour shifts at da factory, and da wife and kids are a handful, but mostly I just ain't had the time to go through the links on Comicsgate both pro and con I've gotten.

EVS did show up in the comments on Back into it. Or, ya know, somebody posting under that name (I didn't ask to see an ID or anything. We work on the honor system here). So there's that.

I hope to knuckle down and tackle this ONGOING CONTROVERSY OF EPIC PROPORTIONS on Saturday.

Ya know, unless I find something better.

ANYWAY!

As I mentally have been writing my post where I tackle Dave working on Cyber Frog, and all that that entails, while working twelve hour shifts at da factory, a clever callback in the Cerebus story-line occurred to me.

In the comments about the Cyber Frog thing it's been said of me that, "heavy is the head that wears the tall pointy hat" a reference to:

Courtesy CerebusDownloads.com 

Which is a funny bit that is universally beloved.

It's also a bit that gets a clever callback later in the series.

As WE ALL KNOW (Except YOU Kevin, "Where's my F@#$ING Column!?!") Cerebus ends up Pope of the Eastern Church of Tarim in Church & State I.

And in Church & State II, Cerebus "unites" the Eastern and Western churches of Tarim and becomes the Pope of the new Unified Church of Tarim.

But, how does one show such a momentous (heh,) change to Cerebus' personage?

Not saying this has happened to me while reading comments, also NOT not saying this has happened to me while reading comments

With a Tall Pointy Hat...

"Status, boy! You can argue with me, but you can't argue with status!"

The reason I found this, was that, in the post I've been mentally writing, I was gonna use this image:

"No, Cerbus, I'm sorry that the wrong answer. The capital of France is NOT 'Truth'. Let's see how much you wagered."

And, as we all know, in this sequence, eventually Cerebus losses his hat:

"Conveys my status!"

 And when he goes looking for it:

I think the makers of Se7en owe Dave some money. "What's in the box, man, what's in the box?!?"

 Which contains:

Part of me wants to just fax this page up to Dave titled: "re:ComicsGate"

Okay, I "momented", I'm gonna go to bed. See all ya'll on the flipity-side!

Next Time: "Jingles getting ridden, or GTFO!" Damnit Seiler, quit writing the "Next Times"!!!

In Soviet Russia, Cerebus Reads YOU!!

Hi, Everybody!

Your pal and mine, David Birdsong sent in the following to the Ol' AMOC Mailbag:

Hi Matt,

It's funny what's lurking around on the internet.  I found a copy of Cerebus #1 in Russian.  The art isn't reproduced all that well, but the lettering is pretty good.

David B

Courtesy of David Birdsong...I just said that...

I forwarded that message to everybody's friend, Sean Robinson, and he said:

Weird!! That's digital lettering FYI. The file metadata says it was generated in Photoshop, in April 2013!

Courtesy David Birdsong and some Russians (I presume...)

Sean continued:

And the title of the file means "Bi-weekly" in Italian.

The file is titled: "Bi-Settimanale" (Which makes this a TRI-lingual post. NEAT!)

Courtesy David Birdsong, some Russians, and the Italians. And originally, Dave Sim...

And Sean finished:

Def. not a scan of a printed issue. The compositing on the cover indicates it's digital lettering over a scan. Probably a fan translation, using an Italian fan translation/scan as a jumping-off point.

Which just goes to show, you can take the Man out of the Art Hunt, but you can't take the Art Hunt out of the Man!

I asked David where he found this so I could share a link instead of posting twenty-three images, and he said:

You have to be careful downloading anything from a site like this so I used a piece of junk tablet I don't need and then scanned it.  It checked out ok so it's a true rarity...

...but not as rare as a printed copy.

David B

So, if you want a digital copy of Cerebus #1 in Russian, email momentofcerebus@gmail.com with the phrase "What A Country!" as the subject, and I'll send one back to you.

Next Time: Wait til you see what "Unca" Sean Robinson has for you guys!?!

Reading Cerebus #11

Hi, Everybody!

"Say kids, what time is it?"

"It's 'READING CEREBUS' time! "

It's "READING CEREBUS" time.

It's "READING CEREBUS" time.

Kevin reads Cerebus for you,

It’s such a nifty thing to do.

Let’s give a rousing cheer,

Cause "Reading Cerebus" is here,

Something something something,
(If you don't like it, write your own damn jingle...)

Kevin Kimmes:

Welcome back to “Reading Cerebus”, a new (some-what) weekly column here at A Moment of Cerebus. The goal of this column is to bring a fresh perspective to the 300-issue saga of Cerebus as I read through the series for the first time and give my insights into the longest running independent comic book series of all time. Think of this as part book club, part lit-crit, and part pop culture musing. Oh, and they told me Dave Sim himself may be reading this, so I hope I don’t screw this up. Let’s continue.

Issue 11 - The Merchant & The Cockroach

Orthodox Regular Revenge. Not Unorthodox at all...

In sole possession of "The Lotus", Cerebus heads to Beduin in search of a buyer, and finds more than he bargained for.

Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Cockroach!

Image courtesy of CerebusDownloads.com Hsss!

The first 10 issues of Cerebus were built around a simple premise of Conan done as a funny animal book, but with issue 11 Dave has added another wrinkle to the story. With the introduction of The Cockroach, we are treated to another realm of parody: the tropes of established superheroes.

As one of the more canonical of all superheroes, Batman is rife for parody. A billionaire playboy by day, dark knight of vengeance by night. But, what if you replace the bat with something a bit more Kafka-esque...say, a cockroach? How about, mild mannered sorcerer turned merchant by day, lunatic "vengeance" seeking cockroach by night?

Image courtesy of CerebusDownloads.com Hsss!

Now, why would I put quotes around "vengeance"? Well, you see, the folks that The Cockroach keeps attacking and stealing the money of, have actually committed no crime that we are aware of. In his mind however, these people are the "red claw followers" who he claims are responsible for his parents death. Thing is, he has been doing this for 30 years, so how many of these followers could possibly be responsible?

Images Courtesy of the Living Tarim, and CerebusDownloads.com

This is lunacy only matched by The Punisher's war on crime: a never ending war that goes beyond personal vengeance and stems into the realm of judge, jury, and executioner of anyone who he deems guilty of wrong. In one night, we see The Cockroach attack/kill two such villians, but when expanded across the period of 30 years, that means he has possibly done this to over 21,000 people resulting in the treasure horde in his wall and his nonchalance at spending 100 gold on a magic artifact which he throws in the river.

Image Courtesy of CerebusDownloads.com 

Final Thoughts

Overall, this issue feels thin in comparison to previous stories. Once Cerebus finds The Cockroach's treasure horde, we know that he will hatch a plot to steal the gold just as he did to steal The Lotus and other previous prizes. The Cockroach doesn't feel fully formed (his merchant alter-ego lacks a name), and is too easily tricked for my liking. Is it a miss? No, probably more of a "hiss".

Join me back here next week as we look at Issue 12: "Beduin By Night"

Currently Listening To: The Very Best of Jerry Garcia

Kevin Kimmes is a lifelong comic book reader, sometime comic book artist, and recent Cerebus convert. He can be found slinging comics at the center of the Multiverse, aka House of Heroes in Oshkosh, WI.

Reading Cerebus #10

Hi, Everybody!

First off: AUCTIONS!Nick Calm Agent of C.O.D.P.I.E.C.E. #1 sold for $152.50 ($120.33 American) so, "Y." "A." "Y."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Cerbi #1 sold for $177.50 Canadian ($140.05 American) so, "Yay."
The Undateable Cerebus #1 sold for $107.50 Canadian ($84.82 American) also, "Yay."
The Un-Bedable Vark #1 also sold for $107.50 Canadian ($84.82 American) again with the "Yay.".

New is:

TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN #22 .

And these are still going strong:
CEREBUS" trade paperback test STUDIOCOMIX EDITION #1/1 signed by Dave Sim

The Life and Legend of Wallace Wood 

And CEREBUS IN HELL? original artwork - 7 strips for publication 2019

(And if he posts something after I post this, look for bonecrusher86 on the eBays.)

So open your checkbooks and bid, Bid, BID!!! (Or not, I don't care what you do. I would think you guys would know this by now...)

Anyway:

"Say kids, what time is it?"

"It's 'READING CEREBUS' time! "

It's "READING CEREBUS" time.

It's "READING CEREBUS" time.

Kevin reads Cerebus for you,

It’s such a nifty thing to do.

Let’s give a rousing cheer,

Cause "Reading Cerebus" is here,

Nobody liked last week's bit,
So you can all go eat 

No Swearing!

Kevin Kimmes:

Welcome back to “Reading Cerebus”, a new (some-what) weekly column here at A Moment of Cerebus. The goal of this column is to bring a fresh perspective to the 300-issue saga of Cerebus as I read through the series for the first time and give my insights into the longest running independent comic book series of all time. Think of this as part book club, part lit-crit, and part pop culture musing. Oh, and they told me Dave Sim himself may be reading this, so I hope I don’t screw this up. Let’s continue.

Issue 10 - Merchant of Unshib

Issue #10 Merchant of Unshib

Broke, delirious, and wandering through the frozen wilds, Cerebus is reunited with Red Sophia and finds himself embroiled in a plot to steal and sell "The Black Blossom Lotus".

Ever Fallen In Love With Someone, Ever Fallen in Love

Everyone has that ex. The one that you count your lucky stars to have out of your life. The one that you want nothing to do with ever again. 

In this story, Red Sophia is that ex.

See, the thing is that sometimes desperate circumstances can make for strange bed-fellows (in this case literally), and when you are cold, wet, starving, and hopeless, even the least attractive option is still an option. Unfortunately for Cerebus, this option is not nearly as clear cut as it initially seems.

What begins as a simple heist scheme quickly becomes much more complex as the other members of the team are introduced:

 - Meirgen: The son of the jeweler who was previously in possession of the Lotus. Believes he will be receiving "special favors" from Red Sophia

 - Throgo: A traitorous Tcapmin and the apple of Red Sophia's eye. Currently owed 1/2 of the eventual sale price of the Lotus.

We're Tiny, We're Toony, We're All A Little Loony
Seriously, the plot to this issue is very much influenced by the tropes established in old Bugs Bunny cartoons. We have a "Rabbit Season/Duck Season" moment that leads to Cerebus' inclusion in the caper. We have repetitive beating of Meirgen ("And right now what I have to do is..."). We even are treated to Cerebus' use of Throgo's fur to convince his compatriots that Throgo has been transformed by Khaiven sorcerers.

Lone Wolf, Hold the CubAs mentioned previously, Cerebus operates best as a lone operative. This story again proves that. In the end Cerebus is the sole possessor of The Black Blossom Lotus, sicking the Tcapmin mercenaries on his cohorts and walking away from the caper with the prize all to himself. 

All comics pages courtesy of CerebusDownloads.com 

Final Thoughts
This is the first issue in my collection that is an original print, so it feels good to finally be seeing the stories as Dave originally intended. The story again felt like a one and done after several stories that chained together nicely into a bigger story. Maybe I'll be proven wrong next issue.

Join me back here next week as we look at Issue 11: The Merchant & The Cockroach

Currently Listening To: Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Vol 14 11/30/73 & 12/2/73 (Disc 3)

Kevin Kimmes is a lifelong comic book reader, sometime comic book artist, and recent Cerebus convert. He can be found slinging comics at the center of the Multiverse, aka House of Heroes in Oshkosh, WI.

Reading Cerebus #9

Hi, Everybody!

First up, the Cerebus in Hell? Auctions continue:
The Un-Bedable Vark #1.
The Undateable Cerebus #1.
And The Proof of CAN7: Flight
So open your checkbooks and bid, Bid, BID!!! (Or not, I don't care what you do. Ya bunch of selfish Scrooges...)

Anyway:

"Say kids, what time is it?"

"It's 'READING CEREBUS' time! "

It's "READING CEREBUS" time.

It's "READING CEREBUS" time.

Kevin reads Cerebus for you,

It’s such a nifty thing to do.

Let’s give a rousing cheer,

Cause "Reading Cerebus" is here,

It’s time to start the column,

Nothing rhymes with column...

Kevin Kimmes:

Welcome back to “Reading Cerebus”, a new (some-what) weekly column here at A Moment of Cerebus. The goal of this column is to bring a fresh perspective to the 300-issue saga of Cerebus as I read through the series for the first time and give my insights into the longest running independent comic book series of all time. Think of this as part book club, part lit-crit, and part pop culture musing. Oh, and they told me Dave Sim himself may be reading this, so I hope I don’t screw this up. Let’s continue.

Issue 9 - Swords Against Imesh

Issue #9: Swords Against Imesh

Cerebus leads the Conniptin army to the city of Imesh with plans to enslave it and add to the strength of the Conniptin's holdings. However, when no gate can be found to enter Imesh, Cerebus goes solo to find out what has become of the city of his youth.

Well, I Didn't Vote For You

"King" Cerebus...there's just something sort of funny about this to me. After 8 issues of seeing Cerebus as a sword for hire, seeing him giving orders and leading an army just seems a bit, well, odd. And, if it seems odd to us as readers, it becomes painfully obvious that it is out of step for Cerebus as well.

The endless chatter of the Conniptin warriors (or "cheerleaders", as Cerebus refers to them) has obviously begun to grate on his nerves, and when they are met with an impenetrable wall around Imesh, Cerebus immediately reverts back to that which he knows best, going solo.

Deep thoughts on the RED CRESCENT QUARTER courtesy of CerebusDownloads.com

This Is Not My Beautiful House

Upon scaling the wall that surrounds Imesh, Cerebus exclaims that this is not the city of "...the aardvark's youth!" This is interesting, as I believe this to be the first real concrete piece of information that we get regarding Cerebus' past prior to us meeting him at the age of 26.

This revelation also goes a long way to explaining why it was that Cerebus felt so sure about staging a raid on the walled city. Having spent his youth there, he would know the lay of the land, thus giving him an advantage over other would-be adversaries of the city who were unfamiliar. It also explains his confusion over the missing gate.

Well I'm A King Bee, Baby

Upon entering the city, Cerebus is tricked into following Sedra into a trap set by the King of Imesh, K'Cor. K'Cor explains to Cerebus that the people of Imesh are now his slaves thanks to a concoction of "...grain, protein, three vitamins, starches, sugars, an opium derivative, and artificial colouring..." he calls Buz.

For fun, here is a short list of famous Buzz's in pop-culture:

 - Buzz Aldrin (Second man to walk on the moon) - "Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation."
 - Buzz Cola (The Simpsons) - "Twice the sugar, twice the caffeine."
 - Buzz Beer (The Drew Carey Show) - "Cleveland rocks!"
 - Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story) - "To infinity and beyond!"
 - Buzz's Girlfriend (Home Alone) - "Woof!"

What Price Freedom

"I know what you're going to say! "They are men and men should be free." A freeman is dangerous to himself and everyone else. Freedom should be left to those who can put it to good use. I used my freedom to get power! And then used my power to get more power..."
- K'Cor, King of Imesh

This is the philosophy that K'Cor has used to justify his enslavement of the people of Imesh. What makes him better than these people? Nothing. So why should he be allowed to enslave them? Well, it all comes down to the fact that he created Buz and made junkies out of not only the common man, but the high council as well.

K'Cor found an opportunity to elevate himself in a power vacuum, and by hook, or in this case mostly crook, he has established himself as a Demi-God, the only one capable of sustaining the people's addiction.

While Cerebus can understand, to a point, K'Cor's rationale is not without it's compassion. He cares for his slaves as they gave their freedom (willingly/un-wittingly) for the greater cause. What greater cause, you ask? Well, "The defense of Earth against the secret invasion of Venusians!"

The Truth about Venusians courtesy of K'Cor, and CerebusDownloads.com

Keep Watching The Skies

You're shitting me...aliens! Yup, this is K'Cor's belief and why he is having the enslaved people of Imesh build a 200 foot high sacred symbol of the Venusian's which he says symbolizes the death of their race! Can someone get Giorgio A. Tsoukalos on the phone and verify if any of this is true? Aliens!

The Fabled Energy Globes of Imesh courtesy of sorcery, and CerebusDownloads.com

They Poisoned The Watering HoleHaving heard enough, Cerebus and K'Cor come to an agreement to settle the matter at hand, a wager of kings. If Cerebus can pass through the corridor unscathed and then defeat K'Cor's champion, he will win the city and it's slaves. Lose, and his men will be added to the slave pool.

This reopened back wound courtesy of Ironic Fate, and CerebusDownloads.com 

Despite passing through the corridor, where his previous wound is re-opened, and then defeating both the hot-headed Panrovian and K'Cor himself, Cerebus finds in the end only defeat. K'Cor tells Cerebus that the water supply outside the city has been poisoned and that all of his men are dead. He is left alone and stranded with no food, money or shelter. Sometimes when you win, you still lose.

Final Thoughts
The art in this issue has a notably different look to it, divergent of the BWS emulation of the early issues. Researching this further, I found that for this issue Dave had Deni applying the spot blacks during the inking phase which allowed him to speed up the preparation of the book. It gives the book a heavier sense of contrast which to me just feels different, not better or worse, just different.

Join me back here next week as we look at Issue 10: Merchant of Unshib

Currently Listening To: Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Vol 14 11/30/73 & 12/2/73 (Disc 2)

Kevin Kimmes is a lifelong comic book reader, sometime comic book artist, and recent Cerebus convert. He can be found slinging comics at the center of the Multiverse, aka House of Heroes in Oshkosh, WI.

Breaking: Black Box-Gate (Major Revelations!)

Hi, Everybody!

I got another "missive" from our old pal "Debbie Does Dallas":

IS THE LEAK AT YOUR HOUSE?  STAY TUNED FOR "PLUMBING THE DEPTHS" AT 1O P.M. EASTERN TIME

TWO RIVERS, WI--A Moment of Cerebus' highly-placed source, who is familiar with the matter, speaking (sigh) once again on the condition of anonymity has sent another dispatch.  To Matt Dow's house.

According to the source, who used to be "high-placed", but who (after the Grammar Police got to him) has become a "highly-placed" source, "there is not really much breaking news.  Back to you, Brad."

AMOC is not really sure who Brad is.  There was a Brian who used to work here, but AMOC thinks he went off to study whales...or, something...

Aaaanyway, Matt Dow told the highly-placed source, according to AMOC, that he would prefer not to get dispatches sent directly to his house.

"It wakes up the kids," he said.

Additionally, the highly-placed source , who is (very) familiar with the matter at hand, and is still speaking on the condition of anonymity (because, you know, he can), spoke about the Black Boxes.

"They're still gonna be * black* boxes and the first one (OWHBB#1) will have four OWH one-of-ones and six more very rare OWH copies.  Back to you, Brad."

More updates as they come in.

No they won't.

Because I got a message from "Debbie Does Dallas's"  source.

(That's right, Matt's got da skillz. Da skillz 2 pay da billz!)

Anyway, I can confidently reveal that "Debbie Does Dallas" is none other than:

(pause for dramatic effect)

JEFF SEILER (DUN! DUN! DUN!!!) (Also, the call is coming from inside the house. The cops say you should GET OUT! GET OUT NOW!)

And, the anonymous confidential source, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he isn't authorized to discuss it, said:

For an "un-redacted" copy of this message, send $300 (American) to A Moment Of Cerebus, in small unmarked bills

Oh WHO could this Off-White House source be?!? I mean, it could be ANYBODY...who works at the Off-White House... Dave, it's Dave. You guys figured that out, right?

So now that Jeff Seiler has been UNMASKED(!!!) as the vile, unrepentant, leaking, whistle-blowing scum he is... something something something... (I admit, that sentence kinda got away from me.)

An AMOC recreation of: How Jeff Got Involved In "Black Box-Gate"

Now that we all know Jeff is one of the "inside people," he can start answering the BIG questions:

1. What did he know?
2. When did he know it?
3. How much is he gonna pay to keep me from posting about it?
4. How shiny is TOO shiny for the Black Boxes?
5. What are we gonna obsess about now?

Next time: Jeff's denials: The Cover-Up Begins...

Boxes? Boxes? We don't need no stinkin' Boxes!

Hi, Everybody!

If you're like me, there's only one thing on your mind:

Pro tip: If you're asking Morgan Freeman, it's probably Gwyneth Paltrow's head...

That's right Debbie Does Dallas has sent in the following:

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA--A Moment Of Cerebus has received another dispatch from its high-placed source, who is familiar with the matter at hand, speaking once again on the condition of anonymity.

The high-placed source said, "You know, I'm really getting tired of going to these dank, cold, underground parking garages.  Can't we talk somewhere warmer?  And why did I have to come 》here《 to call you, huh?

"What?  Oh.  Yeah, I got nothin' new on them damn black boxes.  I mean, they're black, they have a rectangular shape, they got labels, and the first has four one-of-ones, plus six others.  What more do ya want?

"Geez, it's cold in here!  Next time, somewhere warm, awright?  And tell that chick...um...Debbie, I think it was, to stop stalking me.  You think I'm cold?  You shoulda seen her..."

The high-placed source's dispatch got cut off there.

No they didn't, that was the entirety of the message.

*sigh*

Next time: I dunno, I just don't know anymore... 

Reading Cerebus #4

Hey look kids! It's "READING CEREBUS" time!

Kevin Kimmes:

Welcome back to “Reading Cerebus”, a new weekly column here at A Moment of Cerebus. The goal of this column is to bring a fresh perspective to the 300-issue saga of Cerebus as I read through the series for the first time and give my insights into the longest running independent comic book series of all time. Think of this as part book club, part lit-crit, and part pop culture musing. Oh, and they told me Dave Sim himself may be reading this, so I hope I don’t screw this up. Let’s continue.

Issue #4: “Death’s Dark Tread”

Issue #4: "Death's Dark Tread" 

Since last we left our Earth-Pig Born:

“Using Henrot’s gold, Cerebus bribes his way onto a merchant vessel on the Sofim river. A week later, he is within the Sepran Empire’s boundaries, posing as a trader in textiles! At Serrea, the informal capital of the loosely-knit and militant empire, the Earth-Pig sees his chance for a much-needed vacation! He loses himself amid the bustling crowds and, with the last of his Borealan gold, sets about the serious business of drinking, eating and gambling…”

Image courtesy of Cerebus Downloads, Apricot Brandy courtesy of Henrot's gold...

Thanks, Dave!

In what is a rather simple plot, Cerebus discovers a shiny gem only to suddenly become the object of Death’s attention. See, Death want’s the gem to add to his collection (he has a dozen, but clearly is in search of a baker’s dozen) and will use anything in his power to get it. And by anything, I mean Lovecraftian beasts from the dawn of creation, and a Foghorn Leghorn talking parody of Michael Moorcock’s Elric! What, you say, what? Well good reader, you are in for a treat.

Death’s first attempt at retrieving the gem is to sick a Lovecraftian horror (a Crawler) on Cerebus. This thing is straight up nightmare fodder: all tentacles, mouths and eyeballs! Death explains that the Crawler is, “A creature from the dawn of time, a creature of sorcery…” It is also no match for Cerebus, as he makes quick work of the beast.

Another Pulp Icon: H. P. Lovecraft

Howard Phillips (H. P.) Lovecraft is the second major pulp author that Dave borrows from in Cerebus. Lovecraft, best known for his Cthulhu Mythos, was a contemporary of Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan and Red Sonja (see last week’s column for the twisty tale of Sonja’s genesis). Drawing heavily on gothic horror, Lovecraft created his own version of both terrestrial and cosmic horror, taking influence from author’s such as Edgar Allan Poe, Ambrose Bierce, and Arthur Machen.

Two things stand out in the exchange between Cerebus and the Crawler that play into the over-arching themes of Lovecraft: Death’s description of the creature and the idea of “sanity”.

As mentioned above, Death refers to the crawler as “A creature from the dawn of time, a creature of sorcery…”, making it wholly possible that this is a Lovecraftian hell-beast of some sort. In much of Lovecraft’s work, cultists and those versed in the black arts attempt to awaken the slumbering “Elder Gods” of the universe. With this description, it is not hard to suppose that what we see here is some sort of lesser deity.

Additionally, upon initially besting the beast, Cerebus quips, “And to think that Cerebus came south to seek sanity…!” Sanity is another reoccurring theme in Lovecraft’s work, with many a protagonist losing their minds at the exposure to these creatures from beyond time and space. Not Cerebus though, his mental fortitude is about to be tested in new and wholly tortuous ways by Death’s next trap: Elrod The Albino!

A Third Pulp Icon: Michael Moorcock

Borrowing from the pulp/horror/sword and sorcery pantheon of authors is now clearly a running theme in these early stories as the introduction of Elrod further proves. Based on the albino swordsman, Elric of Melnibone, who first appeared in the 1961 novella, "The Dreaming City", Elrod gets a tweak from another famous pantheon: Loony Tunes, specifically the cartoons featuring Foghorn Leghorn!

To paraphrase Bob Dylan’s “Outlaw Blues”: “Well, I might look like Johnny Winter, but I feel just like a’ Foghorn Leghorn, I say boy, I say!”

 

Image, I say image courtesy of Cerebus Downloads. Dotcom, that is...

Yes, Elrod has all of the vocal mannerisms of that loveable rooster, including a penchant to never shut up. This, quickly becomes an issue as Elrod bounces from referring to Cerebus as a kid in a “bunny suit”, to mistaking Cerebus’ lack of interest for insult, resulting in a challenge to sword fight (where have we seen this before *wink, wink*).

Elrod’s black sword, Seersucker (a joke five-thousand years in the making and a parody of Elric’s sword, Stormbringer) proves no match for Cerebus as it shatters on impact with Cerebus’ own steel. As Cerebus notes, the black color was a byproduct of an abundant rust buildup, thus making the sword as frail as it’s wielder.

Losing the fight, Elrod continues to follow Cerebus, all the while letting his big mouth run. It’s not long before this again leads to conflict, this time with the city garrison, resulting in both Cerebus and Elrod being thrown in prison, after Elrod’s might in battle is again proven to be, I say be, a bunch of hot air.

Chained to the wall with “Chatty Cathy”, Cerebus turns his full attention to trying to break his bonds despite the protestation of Elrod. Eventually snapping both manacles, Cerebus leaves his fast-talking companion to rot in the dungeon and goes in search of someone capable of removing what remains of his bonds.

But, there is one nagging thing that must be done first: Get rid of that cursed bad luck gem!

Cerebus opts to chuck it down a well (good riddance to bad rubbish), as it has brought him nothing but problems since he found it. In the end, no one wins with Cerebus none-the-richer, and Death still baker’s dozenless on the gem front.

 

This image is courtesy DC Comics. J/K, it's another Cerebus Downloads one.

Join me back here next week as we look at Issue 5 as Cerebus faces the terror of “Bran Mak Mufin”.

Currently Listening To: Garcia Live Volume 9: Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders August 11^th, 1974 Keystone Berkeley

Kevin Kimmes is a lifelong comic book reader, sometime comic book artist, and recent Cerebus convert. He can be found slinging comics at the center of the Multiverse, aka House of Heroes in Oshkosh, WI.