Rick's Story (Cerebus, Book 12) [Paperback]

Dave Sim (Author), Gerhard (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Aardvark-Vanheim (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0919359183
• ISBN-13: 978-0919359185
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #788,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful integration of text and images, January 14, 2003

By 

Scott D. Strader (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rick's Story (Cerebus, Book 12) (Paperback)

With "Rick's Story," Dave Sim and Gerhard created a chapter in the story of Cerebus that deserves a place with other respected graphic novels. The story carefully studies the two main characters, Rick and Cerebus, as they suffer a purgatory unique to each but shared by both. The episodes expose the characters' dilemmas with well-crafted storytelling and inventive graphic devices. At certain points, Cerebus struggles to subdue his mania by quietly arguing with the many different and distinct voices in his head. This allows Sim to show off his effective expression of dialect and tone within his drawn script. At other points, Rick slips into a martyr fantasy as expressed in friezes from stained-glass windows. As the typeset narrative continues in the margins, the windows act both as illustration and backdrop for the characters' actions.

Although it is short on feverish drama, "Rick's Story" contains much to be enjoyed and savored. The story is an evocative set piece fleshed-out with creatively integrated text and images. Despite many, sometimes subtle, back-references, anyone could enjoy this novel by itself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I can't agree with the author's views., January 15, 2011

By 

Gonzalo Battaglia (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rick's Story (Cerebus, Book 12) (Paperback)

I have to say, I started reading Cerebus with great expectations for the humor and art. The art does not disappoint, Sim and his background artist Gerhart are wonderful artist and storytellers. However Dave Sim has an odious attitude towars women and often comes accross as an ingorant know-it-all. Dave sim started Cerebus as a spoof of one of the most common Comic genres in the 70's: sword and sorcery. As the book progressed it became much more including comments on society, celebrity and every piece of popular fiction from the Marx Brothers to the X-Men. The early work is less heavy handed but Rick's Story is not the early work. After the collection called Church and State II, his work start to show more and more of his philosophy of life which includes a very snyde attitute towards most people and a sincere hatred of women. I don't know what his problem is and I don't really care but it makes his later work too preachy and acerbic. This particular collection involved one of the characters (Rick) showing up at an inn in an unresponsive condition. The main Character, Cerebus Just happens to be there recovering also. As the story unfold Rick begins to tell of his life and comes across as some sort of a divine philosopher or messiah. To me the concept is good, but I did not like the execution. Also, this is not an adventure book, the whole stroy literally takes place in and around the inn. As I said, my main problem with this book is the author's poitn of view. But it is a big problem. If you are not full of hate and cynicism especially towards women, I do not recommend this book at all unless you simply want to appreciate the art. I remmoend books following this one in the series even less. In fact they get worse as they go.

4.0 out of 5 stars He must be looney!, November 16, 2010

By 

Cilantron (CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick's Story (Cerebus, Book 12) (Paperback)

Rick, that is. Maybe Dave Sim as well, but that's another issue. I find this volume interesting as we get into the head of the post-"Jaka's Story" Rick, who is more than just a little insane. His hallucinations can't seem to decide whether Cerebus and Joanne are angels or demons. The artwork depicting this is quite... entertaining? Yes, the King James inspired "Ricke's Booke" is a bit tedious, but contains important hints at what's coming up in later volumes. Towards the end of the book, Rick seems to recover some of his sanity (although, how much of his "insanity" is due to his drunkeness, and how much is his normal, sober state of being?) Hey, and Missy returns! As well as a few other characters. If you like, you can stop here and imagine everyone lives happily ever after. Or you can continue to the next volume...