Cerebus: High Society No. 1

***Cerebus: High Society No. 1*** is an issue of *Cerebus: High Society*. This issue kicks off the second *Cerebus* reprint series, which covers the "High Society" storyline

## Stories

### Notebooks

#### "Emergency 3:00 A.M."

Howard the Duck, in a cab with his pregnant girlfriend Beverly, arrives at the hospital Emergency room only to find that his nemesis, Dr. Bong, is on staff. Another of his enemies, The Kidney Lady, is also there, prompting Howard to attempt to flee. When Beverly balks at leaving the hospital, as the birth is imminent, Howard awakens from his dream, having also awoken Beverly. He tells her to get someone else to take her to the hospital when the time comes.

* Marvel Comics offered Dave the opportunity to write Howard's adventures for the black & white *Howard the Duck* magazine. Although he later stated he turned them down "in about five seconds", he had, in fact, created this three-page story as a test to see if he could handle the character. There is no evidence he ever submitted this story to Marvel.

#### Corn Roach

* Early concept art of the "Corn Roach", who would eventually morph into the Moon Roach, and other notes and sketches from the development of *Cerebus No. 26*.

### "High Society"

Cerebus has just trudged across fifty miles of swamp and into Iest. He still has some goodies from Lord Sump's castle and wants to fence them in town, but he has a world-class mad on that he wants to take out on someone. He expects to find a suitable victim in the desk clerk at the ritziest place in town, the Regency Hotel.

He does not expect the clerk to have a room ready for him, or a bath, or a gourmet dinner in a private booth, but he gets them all, with impeccable service. He doesn't expect a barrage of businessmen giving him money, either. Holland M. Hadden (of Hadden, Hadden, and Dipp), for instance, gives him a check for 700 crowns, just to remember that his firm wants to get a contract for gold-plated streetlamps. After an hour Cerebus has more than 5,000 crowns in checks and a long list of contacts.

Cerebus finally decides to get some answers. The next businessman is Scorz (of Scorz, Scorz, and Sons), who wants to install a sewer system in Iest. Cerebus asks why he should remember Scorz's pitch and finds that he should talk to Lord Julius, who Cerebus once worked for as Kitchen Staff Supervisor (or, in Julius's world, security chief). Scorz relates how he tried, repeatedly but unsuccessfully, to penetrate the bureaucracy of Palnu.

The long story of frustration only reignites Cerebus's mad. He wants to go to the docks, find someone named von Croyder, and beat him up. When he hails a cab, however, he finds it promised to a Mister Carron, who mistakes Cerebus for a "guttersnipe." Carron (of Carron, McKiel, and Benny) is ready to "thrash you to within an inch of your worthless life," until he finds that his opponent is Cerebus. "Please. You've got to beat me up," he begs.

Even more frustrated, Cerebus takes Carron's cab to the Ram's Lords Tavern to pick a fight. Suddenly, the Dock Police appear to protect him. Cerebus starts walking back to the Regency, hoping for an ambush.

### The Single Page

#### "The Single Paige"

by Derek McCulloch and Simon Tristam
Bruce Paige reflects on his earliest days working for Jordan's Emporium.

* This story is part of the Paige's larger story, *Night Life*

#### "World War II Story"

by Tim Cooper
A story of Robert H. Cooper's experiences in World War II, being shot down and remining in hiding until liberated by Canadian forces.

* Cooper dedicates the story to his father, Robert and thanks Art Spiegelman

#### "Oswald"

by Inkol / Dixit
A restless Lee Harvey Oswald has a horrible dream the morning of Sunday, November 24, 1963.

## Additional

* "A Note from the Publisher *by Deni Loubert*
* "Aardvark Comment"

## Characters

* Cerebus
* Holland M. Hadden
* Ned Greely
* Mr. Scorz
* Mr. Carron
* Hill-Hodges, captain in Iest's Waterfront Special Security
* Baskin and Lord Julius Tavers, mentioned only
* unnamed desk clerk, cab driver, baker
* von Croyder, possible former associate of Cerebus

## Publication Notes

* Reprints, in its entirety, *Cerebus No. 26*.

## References

 1. ↑ *A Moment of Cerebus*, "Howard the Duck"