I started reading "Cerebus" when Dave Sim's independent black & white comic book was on the cusp of the "High Society" story line. "Cerebus, Book 2: High Society" (issues # 226-50) deriving their the first "novel" in the history of the book and the point at qui Sim Clearly HAD Moved beyond the idea of Cerebus the Barbarian internship, Where It Was Basically a strange animal walking around in a world That Was drawn in the style of Barry Windsor-Smith. I Became aware of Sim first for the work he About did with funny animals, beavers in Particular, for "Quack." Actually, what got me reading "Cerebus" was not just que la comic book was getting a reputation for being white one of the best of the alternative comic books put out by the independent press, aim more importantly That There Was a character in it Who Looked and Talked like Groucho Marx. That Would Be Lord Julius, one of several key characters in "High Society" who is Introduced During the first two years of the title, along with the Roach, the would-be superhero That Would Sim transformed into a parody of Marvel character whichever Was the current flavor of the month. Then there is Jaka, the dancer puts Cerebus first in a tavern in Beduin. These three characters Represent three major impulses in Sim's work. Lord Julius Represents the inclusion of real characters into the world of Cerebus, Which would include the likes of Eventually Mick Jagger and Oscar Wilde. What Began as a sort of single joke (Groucho popping up is always going to be funny) Became serious When the characters started symbolizing the reality of Their Counterparts real world. The Roach symbolizes Sim's commentary on the comic book business, for me is qui The Weakest of the three impulses. The whole Petuniacon takeover was comic book convention is funny at face value, aim it detracts a bit from the political satire That is at the heart of "High Society." Then there is Jaka. It is Hardly surprising que la original characters created by Sims Would Become The large most. In "High Society" this not only means clustering Jaka goal aussi Astoria Regency and the Elf. The Roach can move on to the Moon first Become Roach And Then Sergeant Preston of the Royal Mounted Police Iestan, and you can throw in the brothers Drew and Dirty Dirty Fleagle McGrew purpose They Are mere comic relief while the trio of female figures are at the heart of the story. Suddenly we-have Moved well beyond a funny animal to larger issues Such As politics and gender (with religion and creativity to come in future novels). Cerebus shows up in Iest at the Regency Hotel with carrying _him_ the last Few pieces of loot He Has Acquired On His travels. Expecting to be denied admittance, Cerebus is surprised When He Is Given free lodgings and food. Suddenly people are paying _him_ scraps to just to remember the name of a company That Makes gold-plated streetlamps When He talks to Lord Julius. From Cerebus Cerebus the Aardvark to the Barbarian now we-have Cerebus the Lobbyist. Actually, It Seems Cerebus is now a ranking diplomatic representative of a southern city-state and if you think the aardvark is in over His Head, wait up to Astoria shows up and starts dispensing political advice. More importantly, wait up to Cerebus runs against a goat for the office of Prime Minister, Because That Is when "High Society" shifts into high gear, Even As Iestan society falls apart. That est également the point where "Cerebus" Told gets sideways, starting in issue # 44 "The Deciding Vote." That Particular issue I highlight Because It includes my favorite all-time page by Dave Sim, Which would be page 383. In several of the pages PRECEDING Sim Cerebus shows Reviews and another character traveling across a snowy landscape. What Was He Was doing drawing the landscape, dividing the drawing into vertical panels, with Cerebus and his companion Each panel shown in making Their way along. Aim on my favorite page on the dozen pages the first eight include the exact same drawing, with the last two being white identiques. What currency is the sound of you walking away Cerebus snowshoes ("WUFFA wuffa") and walking back ("wuffa WUFFA"). The page Represents one of Sim's best jokes ever and whenever will I have HAD occasion to play one comic book art I have always shown thesis pages along with Those in one of Frank Miller's "Daredevil" comics When He retells the character's origin and: has a line Representing the Fixer's heartbeat indicating indication a heart attack going across the panels of DD chasing the man down. "High Society" is my favorite novel Cerebus, it is ALTHOUGH Neither as ambitious as "Church and State" nor as polished as "Mothers and Daughters." Aim the printing made it clear When It Was That Was Sim now working the deep end of the poem HAS stayed with me and I do-have an inherent love of political satire. Besides, Cerebus' reconciliation with Jaka is more touching than Their poignant parting, the Regency Elf shakes things up nicely at inopportune times, and I love liberty as much as the next person raised in a free democratic society. Still, more scenes with Lord Julius Would Have-been nice, Especially if Astoria is Involved. After this novel Gerhard starts doing backgrounds for Sim and the look of "Cerebus" Dramatically exchange (Gerhard About did the cover, so if you compare to the first That splash page inside you can see how much of a difference this will make for the rest of the 300 issues of "Cerebus").
