High Society: Book 2

by Dave Sim

Book Overview

Volume two of the Cerebus the Aardvark series, High Society, is the beginning of the main Cerebus story line and one of the finest graphic novels ever published. If you have to start from the very... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0919359078
• ISBN13: 9780919359079
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Aardvark-Vanaheim
• Length: 520 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

"High Society" is my favorite "Cerebus" graphic novel

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) constitutes the first "novel" in the history of the book and the point at which Sim had clearly moved beyond the idea of Cerebus the Barbarian stage, where it was basically a strange animal walking around in a world that was drawn in the style of Barry Windsor-Smith. I first became aware of Sim for the work he did with funny animals, beavers in particular, for "Quack." Actually, what got me reading "Cerebus" was not just that the comic book was getting a reputation for being one of the best of the alternative comic books put out by the independent press, but 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 Sim would transform into a parody of whichever Marvel character was the current flavor of the month. Then there is Jaka, the dancer Cerebus first met 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 eventually include the likes of Mick Jagger and Oscar Wilde. What began as a sort of simple joke (Groucho popping up is always going to be funny), became serious when the characters started symbolizing the reality of their real world counterparts. The Roach symbolizes Sim's commentary on the comic book business, which for me is the weakest of the three impulses. The whole Petuniacon takeover on a comic book convention is funny at face value, but it detracts a bit from the political satire that is at the heart of "High Society." Then there is Jaka. It is hardly surprising that the original characters created by Sims would become the most important. In "High Society" this means not only Jaka but also Astoria and the Regency Elf. The Roach can move on to become first the Moon Roach and then Sergeant Preston of the Royal Mounted Iestan Police, and you can throw in the brothers Dirty Fleagle and Dirty Drew McGrew, but they are mere comic relief while the trio of feminine 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 carrying with 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 bribes to just to remember the name of a company that makes gold-plated streetlamps when he talks to Lord Julius. From Cerebus the Aardvark to Cerebus the Barbarian we now have Cerebus the Lobbyist

The torch burns brighter

After reading the first I was hooked and this second volume game me the only thing missing from the first, a solid plot. With Cerebus trying to move up into high society and gain the role of prime minister his character becomes even more diverse and you love the little ardvark more and more. Best comic series I have ever read.

Yes, we have a plot!

After having amusing but ultimatly directonless adventures as a wandering sword-for-hire, Cerebus finds his way to the City-State of Iest, where the six or so years of the comic will be taking place. This volume is noteable because it's officially the point where things start to get good,and where Sim begins to explore the more sophisticated directions he will be taking Cerebus in. The story of High Society is a clever, ironic, suspensful and above all hilariously sataric one. As Cerebus get caught up in his burgernoning politcal career, Sim finds time poke fun at democracy, feminism, religon, comic conventions and the X-men while keeping the story moving along at a brisk, satisfying pace. High Society is probably the funniest Cerebus story though not the best-written overall. It remains, however, much,much better than 99% of the other comics out there. Once Cerebus gets ahold of some power, he finds he likes it very, very much, and this will be a major factor in stories to come. If you're planning to read Cerebus all the way through (and you should) you should probably start with the first volume, "Cerebus" but if you need convincing, High Society will definatly hook you,and you can always go back and read the first volume to fill in the blanks. Either way, this is a brilliant read, both on it's own and as a component the larger saga, and not to be missed.

A mind-blowing piece of literature.

High Society is the second book of the magnum opus Cerebus series. You should probably start here, however, because this is where it starts getting good. The first Cerebus book contains bad art and an episodic approach to Cerebus the Aardvark's life. It's only valuable if you're likely to get confused (hey, I was) by the intricate details, numerous characters, plot strands, and mysteries in High Society. To say that the Cerebus Saga is complicated is an understatement. It is a fully realized world, with religions, city-states, widely-known figures, ancient prophecys, shadowy conspiracys, and other amazing stuff. The plot of the Cerebus series is to tell the life and times of a warrior aardvark. The plot of High Society is that Cerebus comes to the city-state of Iest looking for a room. Suddenly, he is granted a room at the Regency Hotel, and finds that he is now the Ranking Diplomatic Represantative of the city-state of Palnu to Iest. From there the story takes off like a rocket, as Cerebus meets old friends, discovers the intrigues and diffucultys of politics, runs for Prime Minister, and many other things that would take up a review themselves. The character development is incredible. All the characters' motives are explored, so you almost get to know these characters. There is thought-provoking commentary on (of course) high society and politics. It shows you how political figures can be deadlocked and manipulated into making wrong choices. The art, also, is incredible. The characters' faces and movements are rendered to perfection, making you feel their emotions. Sometimes the book moves away from art almost entirely to well written and intriguing text. And what if I told this book was laugh-out-loud funny as well? There is some wonderful character-driven humour as well as regular (but funny) jokes. It superbly parodys mainstream comics through a bizarre superhero character called the Roach. In short, if you don't read this book, you're missing out on something big.

Wonderfully funny and expressive

This is quite a remarkable book. It seems that Mr. Sims has outdone himself here. I am slowly working through the whole series (as my finances allow) and I bought this book yesterday at my local comic shop... and then I read the whole thing in one sitting. All 500+ pages. The simple truth is that Sims is a great storyteller and that is what grabs you and makes you want to read more. As an adder bonus, you get to see wonderfully expressive art. If you've got $25.00 lying around, go buy this book. If you don't have $25.00, then you should go work at McDonalds or some other place for 5 hours to get the money, it will be well worth your time.