Though he actually at one point reaches divinity and becomes Pope, he is much an Aardvark of the commoners. His favourite passing time activity, would be spending his money on ale and whisky and gambling(diamondback). Of course women are part of spending the money process! Through Cerebus' adventures we get to know several important characters. Some of them are presented below.
Cerebus is a warrior at heart. His favoured weapon is his sword, but he is skilled in many ways of weaponry. The most bisarr ever displayed would have to be "the dreaded EARTH PIG SNOUT PUNCH", as it was shown to us in "Captive in Boreala".(Cerebus book one p.37). This punch is actually used one more time, at least a variation of it, in "The walls of Palnu" (#14).
Cerebus meets Red Sophia for the first time in "Song of Red Sophia", Cerebus issue no.3. Red Sophia is the daughter of a powerful wizard named Henrot. In this story Cerebus uses all of his patience, and then some more. The girl has sworn to give herself to the one who can beat her in battle. Guess what?....Cerebus did!! Red Sophia is an amusing character, and leaves a powerful impression. She is, as one might say, indeed a strong woman! Cerebus meets her again in "Merchant of Unshib" (issue 10). With Sophia it's always "pleasure before business"! In "She-Devil in the shadows" (issue 19), Cerebus meets Henrot, Sophias father, again. He has created a wizardious copy of his daughter, who/which is keeping him captured in a taverns basement. Cerebus has to help Henrot again. Cerebus and Red Sophia are incidentally married, which Cerebus really did not know before the day after.
In "Death's dark Tread" (issue 4), Cerebus is unfortunate enough to met Elrod the Albino for the first time. To Cerebus' dispear, it is also not the last meeting. Elrod is a strange character. He mistakes Cerebus for being, that is, a boy running around in a bunny suit. Though being grand with words, I say, and in personality, he is not so grand with swords. In "Black Sun Rising" (#7) Cerebus meets Elrod again. This time the bunny-suit joke is utilised to the full. Elrod is, sort of, killed in "The Death of Elrod" (#22).
Jaka is the one who makes the largest impression on Cerebus ever. They meet in the story "The Secret" (Cerebus issue no.6), and it is a meeting we as readers don't forget. Cerebus is being "poisoned" with a "love-drug", making him helplesly in love with Jaka the dancer. Cerebus' first affectionate words to her are unforgetable: "If you wished, Cerebus would kill you a yak for your supper". Cerebus has his own way of expressing love, like when he utters: "Cerebus hasn't been this happy since he beheaded his first Borealan". Her love and affection for him is real. Just when the two lovers plan to travel off together, the "love-drug" wears off. Cerebus wakes up, and denies all knowledge of Jaka. Jaka then says she'll wait for Cerebus to remember, "even if it takes the rest of her life".
Meeting The Cockroach is one of the more bizarre things we ca enjoy in Cerebus. The cockroach is the authors way of introducing a superhero to the story. It seems like he's a mix of several of the more known superheroes with their own magazines. The Cockroach is really a merchant in Beduin, being totally psychological disturbed. He has a twin personality - The Cockroach. The bug is out on some sort of crusade, not remotely definated too himself. We have the pleasure of meeting this roach several times throughout the Cerebus adventures.
In "The walls of Palnu" (#14) cerebus meets Lord Julius for the first time. Lord Julius is going to be one of the more complexed and important characters we meet during Cerebus' adventures. Julius is the supreme leader of Palnu. He is the very definition of a beaurocrat, having understood the ways of beaurocracy - a powerfull means to keep people ignorant and uninformed. This is how he manages to stay as leader. How he first became leader, he baught his way.Cerebus shows great skill, and is awarded by being appointed Kitchen Staff Supervisor, that is - Director of security forces. At the end of a trilogy in Palnu (The walls of Palnu, A day in the pits and A night at the masque), it is revealed to us as readers, that Lord Julius is the uncle of Jaka. Of course Cerebus misses this fact, once again riding out on his first great Love.
Here I will try to present Cerebus' journeys as he travelles trough the world of Dave Sim. The map above should be able to give some indicators of his route. I will enter his path of travelling chronologically as I read my way through the stories yet another time.
Ashtoth | Song of red Sophia | 3 | "Ashtoth take me!" |
Clovis ¤ | The flame Jewel | 1 | "By Clovis' beard!" |
Gilash | Swords against Imesh | 9 | "By Gilash's third eye!" |
Ishtar | The Idol | 5 | "Ishtar take us all" |
Tarim ¤ | Captive in Boreala | 2 | "Tarim!" |
Tauran | The flame Jewel | 1 | "Tauran's blood!" |
Terim ¤ | Captive in Boreala | 2 | Terim is a northern God.The eye of Terim is the most precious of the five spheres of the Gods. |
The nameless God | Black Sun rising | 7 | God of the Black Sun |
On the first book of reprints "Cerebus", Sim wrote an introduction:
These are the first adventures of Cerebus the Aardvark which I began in the pages of his comic book in December of 1977. Although crude, I hope the dedication of a rookie taking his first tentative steps unburdened by editorial interference still shows through. It was a wonderful time. And my hair was much longer. Dave Sim Kitchener, Ontario July 29. 1987
Cerebus | 536 pages | #1-25 |
High Society | 512 pages | #26-50 |
Exodus | #51 | |
Church & State vol I | 592 pages | #52-80 |
Church & State vol II | 630 pages | #81-111 |
Square one | #112/113 | |
Jaka's story | 488 pages | #114-136 |
Like-a-looks | #137/138 | |
Melmoth | 258 pages | #139-150 |
Flight | #151-162 | |
Women | #163-174 | |
Reads | #175-186 | |
Minds | #187-200 | |
Guys | #201-219 |
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