In 1977, Dave Sim (b. 1956) began to self-publish
Cerebus, one of the earliest and most significant independent comics, which ran for 300 issues and ended, as Sim had planned from early on, in 2004. Over the run of the comic, Sim used it as a springboard to explore not only the potential of the comics medium but also many of the core assumptions of Western society. Through it he analyzed politics, the dynamics of love, religion, and, most controversially, the influence of feminism--which Sim believes has had a negative impact on society. Moreover, Sim inserted himself squarely into the comic as
Cerebus's creator, thereby inviting criticism not only of the creation, but also of the creator. What few interviews Sim gave often pushed the limits of what an interview might be in much the same way that
Cerebus pushed the limits of what a comic might be. In interviews Sim is generous, expansive, provocative, and sometimes even antagonistic. Regardless of mood, he is always insightful and fascinating. His discursive style is not conducive to the sound bite or to easy summary. Many of these interviews have been out of print for years. And, while the interviews range from very general, career-spanning explorations of his complex work and ideas, to tightly focused discussions on specific details of Cerebus, all the interviews contained herein are engaging and revealing.
About the AuthorEric Hoffman, Vernon, Connecticut, is an independent scholar and the editor of
Cerebus the Barbarian Messiah: Essays on the Epic Graphic Satire of Dave Sim and Gerhard|Dominick Grace, London, Ontario, Canada, is an associate professor at Brescia University College. His work has been published in
Atenea, Canadian Literature, Canadian Notes and Queries, Early Theatre, English Studies in Canada, Extrapolation, and
Science-Fiction Studies.
Book InformationISBN 9781617037818
Author Eric HoffmanFormat Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint University Press of MississippiPublisher University Press of Mississippi
Weight(grams) 528g