Please Hold For Dave Sim: 10/2021

Hi, Everybody!

It's the first Saturday after the first Thursday of the month.

Which means, IT'S Please Hold For Dave Sim TIME:

Don't worry, I KNOW I'm going to Hell for this...

First up, for you Audiophiles:

And if you want something visual, (that's not too abysmal):

Part one:

The app crashed. Twice. I've summarized what got cut out as best as I remember it.

But if you want a new one of these:

Image courtesy of Mags.

Sound off. If you don't tell us, we don't know.

(And I sort of explained what Dave said about me storing the extra 800 to my wife, and she DIDN'T say "no"... So if we order a thousand, I guess I'm the clearinghouse...)

Problems viewing this video? Watch directly on YouTube...

And then in Part two, we begin:

I'ma miss you Shecky... (I honestly don't know what epitaph Jeff would have wanted, but I think I was close.)

Problems viewing this video? Watch directly on YouTube...

Part three:

Michael R. (he of Easton, Pennsylvania fame) asked:

Hi Matt!
Hope all is well with you and yours. Here's my question for Dave.
Michael

Hi Dave!
I'm back. It's been a busy summer at work and Grace and I are getting A LOT of stuff done at home. While I was winding down last week I decided to rewatch the Cerebus: High Society - Audio/Visual "issues".

I am amazed and in awe with the work and effort that was made to get this done. From ALL your voices, the special effect backgrounds sounds and music make this over the top in production value REALLY good.

My questions are:
1- Was there any feedback from this Kickstarter? I can't remember.
2- The goal was to raise money to make Cerebus Digital 6000 a reality. What has changed on making this a reality?
3- Any plans on creating another one? …or you going Harpo with your response? HONK! HONK!
Michael
PS--- I heard about the passing of Jeff Seiler on Saturday's AMOC. R.I.P. Jeff. I hardly ever interacted with Jeff. I can't remember a time that Jeff did not come to your defense on AMOC.

1- I'm pretty sure he commented on a comment I made here and there on AMOC. He did so with practically everyone.
2- I did name his penguin, Pepe Lemieux, he had given to you.
3- In one of the CIH?s through on of the kickstarters, I believe, Jeff had pledged to have 4 pages drawn into an issue. I remember correcting a misspelling of a N.Y. Yankee, Graig (not Greg) Nettles. I can't remember the issue and I can't if he misspelled it or you. I'm guessing Jeff.

I, ah, I didn't edit the first answer from the second answer because that's more work than it's worth for me. (Maybe for next time. App willing...(The video editor app crashed three times making this video...).)

Problems viewing this video? Watch directly on YouTube...

Well shit. I's wrong. High Society A/V WASN'T the start of the remastering. (What? At this point, I'm pretty sure the stuff I'm forgetting about Cerebus is starting to rival Dave's... *Sigh*) Mea Culpa. I'm faxing Dave after I post this...

And for the members of Little Orphan Aardvark's Secret Society, here's a copy of her message:

Supposedly they cracked Zodiac's code, but they'll NEVER crack this one...

And as soon as I get everything packaged up and in the mail (Monday. For realz...) you'll be able to bask *BASK* I say(!) in Little Orphan Aardvark's wisdom...

Okay, that's an hour or two of your rapidly diminishing life that your not gonna get back...

Thanks for watching/listening!

Next Time:

Uh... I mean: Oliver and Cerebus around the world and web #101...

Unboxing Video For "High Society: Digital Audio / Visual Experience"

SANDEEP ATWAL:

New to the world of computers, Dave Sim tries his hand at an unboxing video as he has heard that there is "an entire website" devoted to the pastime. Although there is no box per se, the spirit of the Unboxing Video is adhered to throughout this presentation.

High Society: Digital Audio/Visual Experience

8-Disc DVD Box-Set
by Dave Sim, with George Peter Gatsis

IDW, $39.99

Reviewed: 'High Society' Digital Audio/Visual Experience

High Society: Digital Audio/Visual Experience

by Dave Sim, with George Peter Gatsis

(8 DVD Box Set, IDW, March 2015)

COMICS ONLINE:
(from a review by Mike Favila, 23 March 2015)

...While the first run of issues on Cerebus were a fun parody of the old Conan archetype, High Society is really where the storytelling develops. Everybody talks about how important Cerebus as a work of art is. While the longevity of Sim's independent run is part of why the legend exists, it's easy to forget that Cerebus is just an excellent read. Even without being told, you know this is art.

As soon as I start up the Cerebus: High Society Audio/Digital Experience, I'm immediately struck by Dave Sim's rendition of Cerebus. While this was not exactly the voice that I imagined, it soon grew on me. Maybe it was a matter of convenience, but it was very interesting that Dave Sim decided to do all the voices. I was a little worried that Cerebus: High Society Audio/Digital Experience was going to be a really lame motion comic, but it definitely gave a new angle to material I was already familiar with. Eventually, the listening experience felt more like reading with narration, which worked a lot better for me...

...As for the content itself, the video isn't always easy to read at times, but eventually I got used to just watching the art instead of trying to read along in pace. I thought it was cool that Sim did not start over or re-record whenever he maked a mistake during the reading. The editorial and reader comments complete the whole package. The editorials are read by the original publisher Deni, Dave Sims' girlfriend at the time. Her readings were a nice break from the narration.  I could have probably done without the comments and the letters page but kudos for the complete package. 

Overall, it provides a complete glimpse into what plotlines and details were interesting to Cerebus' readers at the time of publishing. The packaging for Cerebus: High Society Audio/Digital Experience is gorgeous, and comes in a gatefold folder, with 4 sturdy panels containing the 8 discs. With an MSRP of $40, the set is a pretty affordable package and totally worth it for any diehard.

 

Obviously, Cerebus: High Society Audio/Digital Experience is geared towards true fans. That being said, High Society is one of the more well-known arcs in Cerebus, so if anything would cross over, this would be the storyline to interpret first...

IDW Update: "High Society DVD" & "Cerebus: The Covers"

High Society: The Digital Audio/Visual Experience

High Society: The Digital Audio/Visual Experience (DVD Box-Set)
by Dave Sim
IDW, $39.99 (ISBN: 978-1-61377-969-9)
Release Date: Soon!

IDW:
Press Release, San Diego, CA (May 19, 2014)

Dave Sim's masterwork Cerebus ran for an impressive 300 issues between 1977 and 2004. Starting with issue #26, Cerebus got a taste of High Society, a storyline that concluded with issue #50, and which critics and readers alike recognize as the point at which Cerebus became a vehicle for political commentary. High Society is also widely considered a great starting point for first time Cerebus readers.

This August, IDW Publishing will release a multi-disc DVD set that presents the entire Digital Audio/Visual Experience of High Society in a unique multi-media format. The Cerebus: High Society Digital Audio/Visual Experience has Dave Sim reading every issue in character -- complete with accompanying music and sound effects -- while motion effects applied to the story art present the material like you’ve never seen it before. Each issue also includes a section of full Editorial Comments from Sim, giving fans a virtual guided tour of this masterpiece.

"With the restoration of the High Society graphic novel now dragging on into its 3rd year -- and no end in sight -- it's Justin Eisinger and IDW to the rescue with Cerebus: High Society Digital Audio/Visual Experience DVD set! Thanks guys!" said Dave Sim.

"Cerebus means so many things to so many readers, it really is a monumental work of our times," said Justin Eisinger, IDW's Senior Editor Books. "Having the opportunity to work with Dave and his team to bring this High Society set to life -- and in this form -- is a special experience that we'll never forget. The creator PERFORMING the story?! It's a hell of a thing."

Originally brought to life through the magic of Kickstarter [and George Peter Gatsis], the High Society Digital Audio/Visual Experience is a must-experience for all fans of Cerebus.

High Society Audio/Digital Experience

Cerebus: High Society Audio/Digital Experience
Art/Audio by Dave Sim
IDW, $29.99
On Sale: Soon!

The majesty of Cerebus' High Society goings-on come to life in this special presentation of Dave Sim's groundbreaking work. Remastered, animated, and with characters voiced by Sim, this is a must-have for any serious Cerebus fan... and the easiest way for new fans to experience this piece of comics history.

DAVE SIM:
(A Moment of Cerebus, 16 May 2014)
Although I haven't seen the package in person yet, I have seen all of the artwork -- including the disk designs for all 13 disks in the box set and the DVD menu screens which are particularly nice -- and the photo of it (exterior and interior) in the PREVIEWS ad. Basically, a stunning piece of work by Justin Eisinger and his crew.

And, of course, I had no idea when I signed for it with IDW almost two years ago, that we were just at the beginning of the HIGH SOCIETY DRY SPELL with no end in sight.  So, as I said for Dirk Wood's press release -- which you should all be reading any minute now -- "IDW and Justin Eisinger to the rescue!" I'm hoping CEREBUS: HIGH SOCIETY DIGITAL AUDIO / VISUAL EXPERIENCE "works" for the stores not only as a stopgap measure while we're getting the book back in print...but as a comics-related product in its own right.

Really looking forward to holding one of them in my hands sometime soon!

Clarification: IDW's 'High Society Audio Visual' DVD Edition

BRIAN HIBBS (COMICS STORE OWNER, COMIX EXPERIENCE):
(from When Reporters Repeat, The Savage Critics, 10 October 2012)

So, the Dave Sim / IDW press release went out wide, and several sources are specifically reporting the story as though this means that IDW is publishing a paper collection of Cerebus comics. I do not think this is correct. In fact, I'm sure it isn’t. Read the release again, slowly - this HAS to be for a DVD (?) collection of  the digital files, not a print book...

DAVE SIM:

I appreciate Brian Hibbs' When Reporters Repeat. My bad. Sincere apologies. I don't speak the language of 2012. I said "hard copy" in the press release because it seemed like a way to differentiate a DVD from just downloading 0s and 1s. I appreciate him correcting it.

I'm also not really picturing a "rare and expensive EXCLUSIVELY" version from IDW LIMITED. From what I understand IDW does make their rare items available they're just expensive even at wholesale...

(I have to be careful, I don't know what's confidential information here: I guess the retailers asked them to take the prices off of their Artist's Editions so the retailers could mark them up to what they needed to mark them up to. Which I can see:  part of what you're selling in that case is the copy of Wally Wood Stories in that particular store. You don't need to pay shipping, as the customer. You can just buy it, strap it to the hood of your car like a moose you just hunted and drive away) :)

...It's going to take a lot of discussion to come up with a package -- or packages -- that make sense: building it from the DVD out. What can we do to make the "only 10 of them" $500 version just unbelievably cool so that you get off on it when it's sitting all closed up on your coffee table just as much when you're reading and listening to it? It's not how I think, but it does seem to be where we are/where we're going as an environment. I was and am perfectly content with the High Society trade paperback "as is" but "as is" doesn't seem to be where we are/where we're going.

IDW To Publish 'High Society Audio Digital' DVD Edition

Photo: Dave Sim and Ted Adams shake hands on their "agreement-in-principle" for the HIGH SOCIETY AUDIO DIGITAL COMIC STORE 'DVD' COLLECTED EDITION (regular and signed and numbered) in front of Gerhard's HIGH SOCIETY cover original at the Off-White House, Kitchener, Ontario October 9, 2012 

Ted Adams, CEO and publisher of IDW, taking a one-day detour on his way to the New York Comicon arrived in Kitchener, Ontario Monday night to take a first-hand look at the hundreds of pieces of artwork being scanned for THE CEREBUS COVERS volumes -- now projected to be anywhere between two to four books in total -- IDW will be publishing in 2013/14.

"I was coming here more as a decades-long CEREBUS fan than as a publisher," he said. "Scott was describing all the amazing cover material he's been scanning since Friday night and -- talking to Dave on the phone -- I said, 'I'm the CEO. Why does Scott get to have all the fun?" So I booked the same commuter flight Chicago-to-Kitchener that Scott had taken last week."

And ended up offering Dave Sim an advance of $30,000 for exclusive comic store rights for five years for the collected HIGH SOCIETY AUDIO DIGITAL which begins its long-awaited serialization tonight at midnight at CerebusDownloads.com (issue 26 is a free download, issue 27 is 99 cents).

"I just happened to have George Gatsis' audio-digital sample pages on my desktop while Ted and I were passing my MacBook back and forth, taking turns writing a press release. I said, 'Hey, you want to check this out?' laughs Sim. "The next thing I knew Aardvark-Vanaheim was $30,000 richer."

"I really think that, properly packaged, HIGH SOCIETY AUDIO DIGITAL could be a game-changer," said Adams. "I had seen the trailer at the Kickstarter site, but what George Gatsis has done takes it to a whole other level, a perfect marriage of comics and animation, and Dave Sim doing all of his character's voices! I said, 'IDW has to have this!' "

HIGH SOCIETY AUDIO DIGITAL will be a part of IDW's new IDW LIMITED division dedicated to limited edition signed and numbered packages.

"I have a lot of confidence in Ted's plans for the IDW LIMITED program both for the CEREBUS COVERS volumes and HIGH SOCIETY AUDIO DIGITAL COLLECTED," said Sim. "Scott and designer Randy Dahlk and I will be taking turns posting regular progress reports on the IDW website and at A Moment Of Cerebus and soliciting advice and suggestions from CEREBUS fans, collectors and store owners on both projects. We all want to make sure we get this right the first time."

Above, Scott Dunbier and Randy Dahlk's rough preliminary designs for two of the CEREBUS COVERS volumes. "We have to change the byline copy," said Sim. "It's more like 'GERHARD'S CEREBUS COVERS with Dave Sim.' Dahlk is working on additional proposed designs which will be posted soon to A Moment Of Cerebus for feedback from CEREBUS fans, collectors and store owners.

CEREBUS ATTACKS! variant cover for IDW's MARS ATTACKS! series. "Any excuse to do my best Ghastly Graham Ingels/Bernie Wrightson pen-work," said Sim. The cover will be available in January 2013 as the rarest variant cover for MARS ATTACKS ZOMBIES VS. ROBOTS (1 in 20). Other variant cover artists for the series include John Byrne, Mike Allred and Berkeley Breathed.

HIGH SOCIETY AUDIO DIGITAL launches tonight at 12:01 am ET October 10th at CerebusDownloads.com