Ah yes, here I am… I got lost there for a minute. You see, I was trying to find my way back to my column from the January rotation. I must have been wandering for at least, oh, two weeks time! Oh how slowly it passed!

Okay, not really, but I am back, finally. The evils of college keep me from my extracurricular tasks, but worry not, I am back! For now at least!


This week we’ll be taking a look at a book that is the epitome of cult classic. Yes, that’s right my friends, I’m talking about…

Cereus the Aardvark #1
Original Release Date: December 1977
Writer/Artist: Dave Sim

It was a strange, yet fateful day when this warrior rode into town. He was something of an oddity, not at first taken seriously. He was short and grey; he was Cerebus the Aardvark!

The first place this mysterious creature visits is the tavern. This place, known for its rough and tumble guests, would never be a place for an ordinary earth-pig. But Cerebus is anything but ordinary. As he makes his way to the bar, a patron attempts to halt him by grabbing onto his long tail. Unfortunately for the patron, it will be the last thing he uses that hand for! Cerebus with lightning-quick speed and ferocious strength for his short, stubby size, hacks the hand right off!

The bartender attempts to send him elsewhere, but Cerebus shows that he is not in the mood for leaving; his sword is thrust into the general direction of the bartender, who quickly decides that it’s probably best to serve this oddity.

Cerebus turns and makes his way to a corner table where he has a long conversation with two capable thieves. There is something in a nearby castle that belongs to a wizard that is aching to be stolen. The trouble is, the wizard is extremely powerful, but fortunately for them, his power is only at half strength during the night. With that bit of information on hand, the three leave the tavern in the middle of the night in search of the Flame Jewel!

The three settle at the perimeter of the courtyard in front of the wizard’s dwelling. The two thieves attempt to play it safe by surveying the area, but Cerebus will have none of it! He leaps from the bushes and rushes across the courtyard. The shadows come alive as the earth-pig’s feet hits the hard stone; they form a mighty creature of darkness. It is a creature that will not survive for long; Cerebus moves at just the right speed, keeping out of the thing’s reach just long enough to see an opening! With his sword he cuts it down to size, watching it fall to the ground as… an ordinary shadow!

The two thieves arise from their hiding spot in awe; the aardvark’s skill is most impressive! Cerebus pushes aside their concerns for his health and commands that they attack the wizard before he again attacks them! Off they go!

They reach a corridor filled with the skeletal remains of those that have perished long ago under the might of the unseen wizard. The thieves exhibit much fear, but Cerebus assures them that the skeletons are nothing to be afraid of. As soon as the words leave his mouth, a skeleton wielding a sword is upon them! It slashes down at the earth-pig, but he is no slouch! He battles the creature up a set of stone stairs, biding his time… waiting for just the right instant. Then, he has found it! He leaps onto the creature at the height of the stairs and they both tumble to the floor below. Cerebus picks himself up off the shattered bones of the skeleton warrior and readies himself to keep going.

The next attack by the wizard is one that baffles the aardvark for the shortest of moments. Flowers fall seemingly from nowhere above them. The world then twists and turns around them, sending the three to their knees in fits of vertigo. Cerebus fights against the hallucinogenic powers of the flowers, pulling himself up to his feet and pushing his companions out of range of their horrendous spell.

Cerebus looks around and realizes they have been walking around in circles. He explains that they should just wait until the wizard comes to them. Fortunately, that is a short wait! A giant creature appears; it appears to be a lizard with tentacles!

Its powerful appendages thrust at the three, but Cerebus does not fall for it. He shuts his eyes and begins swinging his sword, all the while listening to the warning voice of the wizard; the powerful voice tells them to turn back; they face their doom! But Cerebus continues on with his eyes shut, swinging his sword… listening.

Finally, he hears what he has been searching for: the rustling of a cloak! The wizard is nearby! Cerebus inches closer until he has found his mark! The earth-pig slams home his sword into the heart of wizard until there is nothing left but the cloak!

The thieves are in shock as the giant monster disappears, revealing Cerebus holding a cloak. The aardvark explains what the wizard must have been many centuries old and that he just crumbled!

From amidst the cloak, one thief spots the Flame Jewel! Before Cerebus allows him to take it, he wishes to settle their business: he requires a pouch of gold for his services, as per the agreement made back at the tavern.

The thief agrees, giving Cerebus the pouch, but telling him he could have so much more than that when they sell the jewel. Cerebus shakes his head and tells the thief he only wants the pouch of gold.

Around them the castle starts to disappear, revealing the world outside. As the three make their way back to Cerebus’ horse, one thief asks the earth-pig how he knew so much about defeating the wizard. Cerebus explains that his feet are planted in two worlds; the world of the warrior and the one of sorcery.

As the three reach the stable where Cerebus’ horse is located, he explains that the Flame Jewel isn’t really a jewel. The thief looks down and finds that the aardvark is correct! The jewel has turned into a walnut! The wizard’s power, Cerebus explains, does not find its origin in the jewel; rather the jewel is a product of the wizard’s power. With it now gone all of his illusions are gone as well.

Cerebus mounts the horse and sets off, happy to have his pouch of gold.

*****

Ah, I do so love fantasy tales. This one, of course, being no exception. Dave Sim, the creator/writer/artist/visionary of Cerebus stated that the story of Cerebus the Aardvark would be told in 300 issues. That was 1979 (two years, you’ll note, after the first appearance of the aardvark) and, in 2004, it was done.

300 issues and 6,000 pages later, the Cerebus epic came to end.

So, how good is it?

I can’t say for sure of all of it, because 300 issues are hard to get through in a reasonable amount of time (especially when you read as many comics as I do!), but I’m trying. I can say that it goes from good stuff to great stuff in the span of just a few shorts year. It’s, as you would expect from a book that has had one writer on it, very consistent. That is one thing that’s hard to find in any mainstream comic.

Dave Sim’s contributions to the world of creator-owned series and, subsequently, their rights, are legendary. He helped write the Creators’ Bill of Rights, which established a set of creative rights for comic book creators. It’s a really interesting and groundbreaking paper for the industry and I highly suggest you check it out.

Hey, but back to Cerebus! If you’re interested in this highly influential and just damn good book, you’re in luck. The entire series is being reprinted in massive 500+ page trade paperbacks! Run, don’t walk, to get your copy!

Haha… that last part was lame. How many times have you heard that?