Sandman, Cerebus, Bone: where to start?

Sandman, though, I think you can skip the first trade if you either understand the basics of the character or don't mind being a little confused in places -- The Doll's House, the second collection, is one of the strongest arcs (there are parallel plots involved, but the main one is about a serial killer convention); A Season of Mists, the third, deals with what happens when Lucifer quits, gives Morpheus the key to Hell, and everyone in the universe comes to dinner to talk him into giving it to them. After that, most of the storylines build strongly on what came before, but there are collections of single-issue stories -- Dream Country and Fables and Reflections; World's End is a collection or more or less self-contained stories that are connected by the fact that they're all stories told by travellers waiting out a storm together.

Dream's sister Death had two series of her own, self-contained and I think cheaper than any of the Sandman collections -- The High Cost of Living and Time of Your Life -- which should probably be read in order (I think the second one spoils the first one, but I don't remember it as well). (Death is introduced in Sandman #8, which is in both the first and second Sandman collections -- that's the one I'd pick as a single issue, but I don't know how easy it is to find cheaply, relative to the collections.)

What about Tezuka's Phoenix too?

*Irrationally -- it's not like he owed me a direction that would make me happy, or owed me anything for that matter.

I really don't know about that, it seems that it's all one big story in the same sense that The Hobbit is the same story as LOTR - it's the same setting and characters, but there is a serious stylistic change from the early stuff that gets people interested.

(also he might not like it, it's been known to happen)

Cerebus: the standard advice is to read High Society (volume 2) to understand why it's great, then the not-particularly funny Cerebus (volume 1) so you know who everyone is, then High Society again. Stop reading after Women (volume 7?) and imagine a great and satisfying second half of the work. In so far as there is a "Cerebus story", Jaka's Story isn't really indicitave of it (though it is great, and if you buy it first, you won't regret it!)

Sandman: Tep completely OTM.

But the omnibus is pretty pricy if it turns out he doesn't like it, it's true.

I actually think the final year of Cerebus was one of the best sequences of the whole series, but I won't deny that a lot of the second half is VERY tough going.

If you just want a single issue of Cerebus to start with, I especially love #44 (the semi-legendary "wuffa wuffa wuffa" issue)--you won't have any idea what's going on, but it's knock-down hilarious.

The first one I read was #40, and I was baffled. Then my local comic store's clerk gave me a copy of "Swords of Cerebus" #4 (a reprint of #13-16--the two "Magiking" stories, the smack-on-target Prince Valiant parody, and the sequence that introduces Lord Julius) and insisted I buy #44 (which was then the new issue), and I was hooked.

At this point I normally point people toward my summary thread.

But yes, High Society first, then Cerebus for background and High Society again. Guys is probably my favourite phonebook, and one which could possibly be read independently and without prior knowledge of Cerebus (although you'll miss a couple of the big plot points). #44 is very possibly the best individual issue. My other two favourites are the Cerebus/Bear 5 Bar Gate match in Guys (206?) and the issue with the big "New Joanne" reveal (somewhere around 260).

You need to read all of Bone for it to make sense.

Maybe I should reread the last book, it seemed like a pisstake (so to speak) of Dave's earlier "nothing happens for an issue" efforts. Though obviously I'm fonder of those because I read them in the phonebook rater than by issue.

The phonebook really elevates The Last Day to a new level, you're right in saying it was very slowly paced as a monthly. As a single piece, however, the tension towards the death of Cerebus really builds and it has some genuinely moving parts such as the mockery that was Cerebus' memories of Shep-Shep growing up. You probably don't need to re-read Dave's Unifying Theory Of Science though.

what stood out for me - besides sim's incredibly beautiful artwork - was how funny it was. i pretty much never laugh out loud at comics but i think there are a few moments here on par with the best chuck jones cartoons, and i can't think of higher praise than that. if it really did decline as much as ppl say, that's tragic, because i think this is pretty much as good as comics get.

bounce back and read the first book next, then go on as far as Jaka's Story or Melmoth and see if you're still having fun.

From Eddie Campbell, posting at the the Comics Journal messageboard:
The world at large may not be aware that From Hell has also been out of print for a year due to our printer going out of business and owing us (I mean Top Shelf) money advanced for printing of same. So everything's in the queue behind that one.

Kim Thompson: Was that Preney Press?

Eddie: Kim,
yes.

I guess they were more dependent on the comics than we thought, so that the end of Cerebus would have been a big deal.
I always stuck with them because they did things the old fashioned way, art to neg via process camera, no digital interference. They said they were holding onto the old camera just for me. Whether or not there is any truth in that, it may be logical to conclude that they were not competitively up-to-date in the marketplace. They've been saying they intend to get back up but are now at that stage we have come to know so well, where the phone is left off the hook.
I've now had publishers, distributors and printers all go broke on me in the last ten years.

I wonder if there's any good stuff on the "Shelving Unit with Contents" lots.

My other two favourites are the Cerebus/Bear 5 Bar Gate match in Guys (206?)

This might be my favourite comic I have ever read.

Would anyone like to sell Cerebus singles? I would like to buy Cerebus singles, for money.

Gravel, I have most of the run and I'm interested in selling. Approx. #30-275 or so. Also the Animated Cerebus portfolio and the Swords of Cerebus volumes (Sim's first go-round of reprinting the early issues).

Well, I'd like... all of that, basically!

I have:
201-207 (Guys 1-7)
114-138 (Jaka's Story + Epilogues) except #2 and #11
139-147 (Melmouth Zero to 8) except #3
150,278,281, Not The World Book Tour (Odds & Ends)

I can probably get the missing Jakas from ebay or somewhere if you're not keen to gut your collection there, ditto Melmouth #3 at a pinch (though it's slightly harder to find). I don't know what standard practice for buying comics is but you are a v.sound dude, just tell me what the form is and I'll try and follow it.

I'd have to think abt Swords of C, are they in print? Also, what is the Animated Cerebus portfolio? I googled it and got even more confused.

I don't necessarily mind dividing up the collection. Swords of Cerebus is long-long-long out of print -- they were published around 1982-1986 I think. The Animated Cerebus is from 1983, when Sim was playing with the idea of actually putting Cerebus on film or tv. The portfolio was a HUGE money-loser for him, and he cited it at least once when he talked about his reasons for not publishing color collections of the series covers. It's 45 full color prints, or "plates" as the fancy comics-portfolio publishers called them back in the 70s/80s.

http://www.cereb.us/wiki/index.php?title=Swords_of_Cerebus

http://www.cereb.us/wiki/index.php?title=The_Animated_Cerebus

Some tantalising glimpses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EHuZd6BVkA

http://www.cereb.us/wiki/index.php?title=Add_One_Mummified_Bat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtsf7b1XauM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDwH5WUIaK8

Ok! I am excited about Swords of Cerebus now! I'm not too fussed about the animation book - I mean I love Sim's art obv but chiefly when it is just empty panels of snow - it's probably of more value to someone more collect-y than me...

How much should I be paying you? My email is mostlyconnect_@_gmail_.com, without the underscores.

Thanks chap btw!

I'll have to dig 'em out, get a general idea of condition, etc. I'm not looking for Overstreet numbers, but I don't want to give them up for the "I'll give you my entire collection for twenty bucks" desperation prices I see on ebay. Looks like we're looking at about 205-210 issues...the shipping to the UK is going to be very O_O.

I'm based in London and have most of Mothers and Daughters in singles I'd be willing to sell cheap if that helps, but I haven't checked them out for years so can't vouch on their condition (I've never been one to take particularly good care of comics).

I *may* have some issues left too. I also have a run of of the Cerebus bi-weekly reissues. I have to check...

I think I've got duplicate copies of most of the final 25 issues. (And you totally want the Swords books--excellent notes on every issue, and some bonus stories from various sources.)

Yeah, the annotations are the best part of Swords. Dave's always liked to hear himself talk, so to speak, and he wasn't always nutsy kookoo. (Or maybe he was and just hid it well.)

Douglas I would be interested, for sure.

It looks like G. and I have hammered out a deal, but shipping 30 lbs. of books is crazy expensive. Does anybody have any tips? I've looked at UPS, FedEx, DHL and USPS options...USPS is cheapest by far. Anybody have any experience or advice on a heavy US --> UK package?

Unfortunately I have no advice, but I'd be interested in hearing some. I ship boxes of records for work all the time and it consistently blows my mind that it can cost upwards of a hundred bucks to send a box or two to the UK.

Ha, I'd love to know this too. I'm transporting a bunch of luggage to the UK (including comics!) as I'm moving back to London from Toronto. There must be a cheaper way to do this!

My formula for saving comics:

Saving: Anything by Morrison or Moore or Darwyn Cooke + Any first issues + Optic Nerves + Glenn Ganges + old 5YL Legion issues. Which means goodbye, all comics by Rucka, Geoff Johns, Ed Brubaker and Mark Waid...

A friend of mine who works at a bookstore over on the Other Side and does a fair amt. of transatlantic shipping tells me there is no cheap method. If my passport weren't expired, I'd be tempted to just buy a ticket and fly them over in person.

what abt if you send the packages sea freight rather than air mail?

Or you could employ a comics mule.