Issue 16
From CerebusWiki
| May 1980: A Night at the Masque | |
| |
| Issue 16 | |
| Writer & Artist | Dave Sim |
| Publisher | Deni Loubert |
| Circulation | 4200 |
| Cerebus | |
| Previous | Next |
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Contents |
Issue Summary
It's time for the Festival of Petunias, and Cerebus still has a conspiracy on his hands. How do you protect a powerful dictator from zealous rebels at an underground party when your own guards are part of the conspiracy? Easy, just get the guests to throw herring-and-onion dip at anyone holding a sword. The assassin manages to escape though a panel in the wall and into the pits.
Two criminals from Cerebus' past, E'Lass and Turg, show up in costume at the festival looking to rob a few rich patrons of their jewelry. The pair get nervous when they see Cerebus at the festival and E'Lass heads down the same dark corridor that The Eye in the Pyramid assassin escaped though. E'Lass thinks Cerebus and Lord Julius are chasing him when they are in fact chasing the assassin.
The pair catch up to the assassin and Cerebus causes him to fall off a high walkway to his death. On the way back to the festival, Cerebus and Lord Julius meet up with E'Lass. Cerebus doesn't recognize him due to his costume.
After the festival, Cerebus leaves Palnu, telling Lord Julius he is headed South. Right after he leaves a messenger brings a letter for Lord Julius from Jaka, who mentions she is coming to town to visit and looks forward to seeing him and his new Kitchen Staff Supervisor who she knows is Cerebus and calls him a friend.
Characters
- Cerebus (last seen in issue 15; next appearance in issue 17)
- E'Lass (last seen in issue 6; final appearance)
- Turg (last seen in issue 6; final appearance)
- Lord Julius (last seen in issue 15; next appearance in issue 17)
- Lord Julius' Social Secretary (last seen in issue 15; final appearance)
Locations
Artist Notes
If Dave has something to say on the issue, add it here
Annotations
- The title, "A Night at the Masque", is a parody of the Marx Brothers' film "A Night at the Opera" (or possibly "A Night in Casablanca"). It also works with the title of Issue 15.
- Lord Julius' costume is essentially the same one that Groucho Marx wore to a party in "The Coconauts", the first Marx Brothers film.
- E'lass' costume, like Cerebus' face, appears to have a mouth that moves to whichever side is facing the reader.
- Cerebus says "one of isn't coming out of here alive" -- the word "us" is missing.
- If it isn't obvious, after E'lass takes the secret passage, he keeps on thinking the Cerebus is talking about him and not the leader of the Eye of the Pyramid.
- From A Night at the Opera:
- Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx): Have you got two fives?
- Steward: Yes, sir!
- Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx): Well, then you won't need the ten cents I was gonna give you.
