Editor’s note: This issue was reviewed using the counterfeit edition of Cerebus the Aardvark #1 in place of the original comic.
CEREBUS THE AARDVARK #1
(Cover by Dave Sim)
Published and © by Aardvark-Vanaheim, Dec. 1977
“Cerebus the Aardvark”
Synopsis: Cerebus the Aardvark arrives at an unnamed tavern and is soon hired to acquire the mystical Flame Jewel.
Writer: Dave Sim
Penciler: Sim
Inker: Sim
Review: While it would later acquire literary heft, Cerebus the Aardvark’s arrival in the late 1970s was a breath of ground-level fresh air. Dave Sim’s art in this debut is noticeably crude, but it’s also bristling with energy; already, he’s pushing the envelope with creative storytelling techniques. As a writer, Sim’s skills are already above average. While the book began as little more than a Conan parody, Sim’s comedic delivery is excellent. Cerebus would get better – a lot better – in the years to come, but it was a welcome addition to any collection right out of the gate.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: “Sim starts off issue #1 competent … .” – David Uzumeri, Comics Alliance.
Cool factor: It’s Cerebus the Aardvark. ’Nuff said.
Notable: First appearance of Cerebus the Aardvark. … Includes a “Coming Next Issue” pinup.
Collector’s note: Beware, there is a counterfeit edition of this issue.
Character quotable: “Lurking in the bushes is not for an Earth-Pig born!” — Cerebus the Aardvark (and future prime minister … and pope … and … .)
A word from the writer/artist/editor/creator: “Although crude, I hope the dedication of a rookie taking his first tentative steps unburdened by editorial interference still shows through.” — Dave Sim, in the introduction to Cerebus: Book One, 1987.
Collected in:
This is a series that I am interested in reading, and I don’t know very much about it. Of course I would like to collect all the original comics, but that seems unpractical. Where, and how, would you suggest a new reader start with this series? Is #1 the way to go – or should one skip ahead to the meatier / better drawn issues?
I don’t know very much about this comic but might check it out in the future. The Ant and the Aardvark cartoon now that I know about lol.
Just think–I had originals 1-17 in VF+ to NM- condition in my basement for 17 years without knowing it. I then sold them without knowing anything about comics (I wasn’t ripped off though). Knowing what I know now– let’s just say there’s a little regret there.
In selling them, and others in the box, I got a crash course in comicophilia–so I guess I did get something out of the loss/transaction.
Rusty:
I’m a HUGE Cerebus fan, particularly of the first 111 issues. I’d definitely advise starting from the beginning. In the early issues, creator Dave Sim makes incredible strides from issue to issue; it’s rather breathtaking to see his growth. Right from the gate they’re great reads. Early issues are fairly simple Conan parodies, but still a lot of fun. And the series takes on greater depth quite quickly. The first 25 issues feature shorter, fairly self-contained arcs. Issues #25-50 feature the wonderful “High Society” arc which brilliantly tackles politics and power. The next two long arcs – “Church & State” and “Church & State II” – get into religion; they’re still quite funny but grow increasingly heavy. From #114 (the beginning of “Jaka’s Story”) on, the series grows increasingly literary; Sim reaches a level of technical brilliance rarely seen in comics as the series becomes more challenging and less fun. His worldviews also come to the forefront of the book and offend some, with his views about women and gender relations drawing particular fire. Sim became increasingly religious over the later years Cerebus was published, and those views greatly impact the last third of the run. I definitely hope to eventually review the first hundred or so issues for Comics Bronze Age and I’ll probably read “Jaka’s Story” again, but I’m not sure I could make through the later issues a second time.
For more info, this Cerebus Wiki page offers a pretty good primer.
Hope this helps! And feel free to post again if you’ve got other Cerebus questions!
Cheers,
Andrew
Tom:
Of course, I have regret about those Cerebus issues, too, as we “met” on eBay shortly after you sold them. I bought some of the “others in the box” but missed a chance to finally acquire the last two issues of Cerebus I need! Sigh.
And I’m glad you caught the comics bug selling those books. Without those Cerebus comics, you wouldn’t be writing reviews for Comics Bronze Age today!
Cheers,
Andrew
Thanks, Andrew, for the extra information about Cerebus – that made me want to read it even more! What an interesting series, and an even more interesting creator! I’ve added the 1st collection to my must-read list, and I’ll be looking forward to your further reviews of this series.