Melmoth: Epilogue

I think the epilogue is my favourite part of Melmoth. Call me a philistine, but I still like a bit of action in my comics or graphic novles and the epilogue of Melmoth has that.

Cerebus is sitting in his usual semi catatonic state outside the cafe while 2 Cirinist guards talk nearby. The aardvark's pointy ears prick up when one of the guards mentions to her companion that she was assigned to Jaka while the Palnan was imprisoned. Interest turns to rage when the guard casually and proudly admits to having abused Jaka when in custody.

There's no other way to put this: Cerebus goes apeshit. He attacks the women. Swinging his sword wildly, fists clenched, teeth gritted, eyes bulging, blood flying, still clutching Missy, he kills the guards.

As he cuts them down he recalls a conversation with Bear one night. It was the first time he had ever heard of the Cirinists. Interestingly enough the younger Cerebus' snout is elongated again. I thought the shortening of his snout was Dave the artist refining his technique, it may have been that, but it also seems that he took a conscious decision to portray Cerebus' younger self with the longer nose. Bear tells Cerebus about the Cirinists. They seem to be mind linked, kill or hurt one and they all come running, like a nest of hornets. Bear actually says if he ever injured or killed a Cirinist he'd cut his throat before they could get him, basing this on what happened to someone he knew who had done just that and been caught. George's face and his words: die alone, unmourned and unloved, comes to Cerebus.

Cerebus flees, still hanging onto the one thing that reminds him of Jaka; Missy, he runs. The Ciinists give chase, but before they can get to him Cerebus jumps the wall and keeps on going. The final 4 panels are chopped into long thin sections, narrowing in on Cerebus' effort filled face, the final one being one narrowed eye. It very effectively gives the impression of being with Cerebus as he runs, again Dave displays that cinematic style of his.

A nice cliffhanger ending that leads into the next book.

Dead Friends

The rather grim title suits the chapter to a certain extent.

The opening scene is Cerebus laying in bed, sleeping off the meal. The bulk of the chapter is a dream sequence and again there's a rather cinematic feel to it. The reader does not actually see Cerebus until the last few pages, the entire dream is seen from Cerebus point of view. This is a technique film makers have often used to great effect in the past and Dave is one of the few comic artists who could pull it off, of course he is ably assisted by Gerhard's marvelously detailed and atmospheric backgrounds.

Cerebus walks down a long hallway and pushes open the ornate double doors at the end, he enters a large sparsely furnished room, dominated by a massive throne made of skulls.

Bran occupies the throne, he is dressed as Cerebus last saw him and even has the knife that he used to commit suicide jutting from his blood covered chest. He claims that it doesn't really hurt, it's just a temporary set back. There is a knock at the door. Cerebus peers through the keyhole and sees Weisshaupt walking down the hall (getting the idea why the chapter is called Dead Friends?).

Weisshaupt blows a hole through the door that takes off one of Cerebus' ears and leaves him lying on the floor, helpless, blood staining the hand that he holds up in front of himself. Bran tells Weisshaupt that the Prime Minister only needs one ear to beat him and as the statesman approaches the aardvark a tiny Astoria appears on the desk and shouts at him to no great effect. Cerebus' blood stained hands close around Weisshaupt's neck and he starts to throttle his enemy.

Weisshaupt morphs into Thrunk, although he's still wearing Weisshaupt's wig and clothes. As Bran stands up for Cerebus, the aardvark breaks Weisshaupt/Thrunk's leg and Bran and the stone man go crashing to the floor, locked in mortal combat. Cerebus gets to his feet and then floats into space.

In space he encounters the Elf (Yay! I hope she's not dead). As always she has a riddle for Cerebus, he won't play along, she tells him he's and old poop, but throws something at him before she disappears. Cerebus catches it and opens his hand, it's the glowing thing and it grows rapidly.

At this point Cerebus wakes up, lights a lamp and pads down stairs. Sure enough the glowing thing is there and it's getting bigger and bigger.