First Impression

This chapter seems to have a prologue all of its own. It's titled Note and it's torn up pieces of a note sent to Cerebus. It is unclear as to whether he received it. From what can be deciphered of the fragments it's letter congratulating him on his appointment and marriage. The reason I wonder if Cerebus read it is because it is signed Jaka, daughter of the House of Tavers. I can't imagine him tearing up anything from Jaka. He would treasure it. As Dave had taken to doing in this section of the book it was bordered in that faux Regency style, once again simply reinforcing the period the author wanted the reader to be in mind of without having to use street scenes or even display characters. He's one of the cleverest comic artists I've ever seen and Church & State Vol I was right in the middle of his Golden Period.

The actual chapter is one of the funnier ones and mainly because it contained one of the series best punchlines. Weisshaupt has arranged for his puppet Prime Minister to meet a Mrs Tynsdale-Clyde, heading up another of Weisshaupt's anti Cirinist commissions. Like many anto Cirinists Mrs Tynsdale-Clyde is a reformed Cirinist. Weisshaupt is concerned that Cerebus will somehow embarass him. The biggest problem is that Cerebus is continually fiddling with his trousers, he complains that the tailor has made them too tight. Weisshaupt sees it as a sign of vulgarity and tells him to stop it.

Mrs Tynsdale-Clude is a buttoned down prude with an extremely impressive bosom. Just as Weisshaupt introduces Cerebus there is a ripping sound and Cerebus tail pops out the front of his trousers. We, the readers know Cerebus has a tail, Mrs Tynsdale-Clyde does not, and it does not look like a tail. Mrs Tynsdale-Clyde faints. Cerebus tells Weisshaupt: 'Cerebus told you his britches were too tight!' Laugh? I nearly died.