Cerebus No. 52

## *Cerebus the Aardvark No. 52*

***Cerebus the Aardvark No. 52*** is an issue of *Cerebus* published by Aardvark-Vanaheim.

## Stories

### "Writing"

Cerebus sits in a tavern, The Blue Duck, write his book, *On Governing*. Sitting next to him is a big, hairy lout telling a gruesome story of dismemberment. The lout spills Cerebus' ale all over his writings.

### "Elfguest"

Cerebus is awoken from a drunken stupor in an alleyway by a pair of elves wondering if the aardvark is one of them, due to the similar ears and cuteness. Cutter and Skywise have come through a dimensional warp and don't have long before it closes. Skywise asks Cerebus how someone who looks like them could live among humans, and he slurs out a reply that it isn't bad if you don't breathe deeply. Cutter suggests he come back to their world with him, how they can challenge each other to battles, defeat giant monsters and ride wolves, which concerns Cerebus. But the elf promises they're almost as cute as him. Skywise shows off his rock compass necklace, but the aardvark just wants to go back to sleep, which leads to the elves telling him about the Dreamberries, and the perfect 18-15-18 sized girls in halter-tops, sarongs, and maidenforms. Finally, as the warp is getting smaller, the pair depart, with Cutter extending Cerebus a welcome to their world if he ever finds a warp of his own. The elves decide to frolic when they get back, since it makes them feel cute. Cerebus hears the warp close with strange sounds, prompting him to walk off and throw away his bottle of Apricot brandy, vowing to never mix it with ale again.

### "The Insecure Secure"

Cerebus is once again working on his book. Lord Silverspoon, son of Lord Julius Tavers, is also at the tavern with two fawning sycophants, Lord Trystrim and Lord Gwane. Silverspoon makes arrangements to go to the estate of the Countess Michelle Detin, and then teaches Cerebus to play the card game Priestess. When the Countess sends money and an invitation that stipulates Silverspoon can only come if Cerebus joins him, Cerebus arranges to leave Silverspoon behind.

### "Cutey Bunny"

by Joshua Quagmire
Cutey Bunny faces off against the evel plans of Gelving Shavinsky and his robot, Helga.

## Additional

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

## Characters

* Cerebus *(last seen in* Cerebus No. 51*; next appearance in* Cerebus No. 53*)*
* Cutter *(only appearance)*
* Skywise *(only appearance)*
* Lord Silverspoon *(last seen in* Cerebus No. 43*; next appearance in* Cerebus No. 300*)*
* Lord Trystrim *(only appearance)*
* Lord Gwane *(only appearance)*

## Story Notes

* "Elfguest" was first announced in the "Aardvark Comment" for *Cerebus No. 12*, as being in Gene Day's *Black Zeppelin No. 1*, which ended up not being published until 1985. In that same article, it is mentioned that the story takes place between *Cerebus No. 11* and *No. 12*.
	+ The first page was previewed in the "Aardvark Comment" for *Cerebus No. 16*.

## Publication Notes

* Reprinted in *Cerebus: Church & State No. 2*
* "Writing" and "The Insecure Secure" reprinted in *Church & State I*.

## Dave Sim on *Cerebus No. 52*

* "ElfGuest" I tend to leave out because Wendy and Richard just aren't "that way". Like just about everything else about me, they consider it an insult. I'm sure they considered it an insult when I congratulated them on their DC deal in my comp space in Diamond Previews and I'm sure they would have considered it an insult if I neglected to mention them. They seem to me to epitomize the comic-book field in that way.
* "As to the story itself, Wendy and Richard were definitely NOT amused. But, then, I never remember Wendy and Richard being amused about anything. Really, I would have to say that the only person in the cross-overs section who actually liked CEREBUS was -- and is -- Kevin Eastman."

## References

 1. ↑ [https://momentofcerebus.blogspot.com/2016/07/elfguest.html *A Moment of Cerebus* - "Elfguest"