Issue 34

From CerebusWiki

January 1982: Three Days Before

Issue 34
Writer & Artist	Dave Sim
Publisher	Deni Loubert
Circulation	Unknown
High Society
Previous	Next

1 Issue Summary
2 Characters
3 Locations
4 Artist Notes
5 Annotations
6 Back up material

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Issue Summary

Cerebus tries to prove to Astoria he can take care of himself. With Elrod hanging around and the return of Bran Mac Mufin (leader of the Pigts), it isn't easy. Moon Roach shows up to tell Cerebus he'll kill anyone who tries to help Cerebus. Astoria discovers Lord Julius intends to make Elrod the new "ranking diplomatic representative of Palnu in Iest," the position Cerebus holds now.

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Characters

Astoria (last seen in issue 33; next appearance in issue 35)
Bran Mac Mufin (last seen in issue 5; next appearance in issue 35)
Cerebus (last seen in issue 33; next appearance in issue 35)
Elrod (last seen in issue 33; next appearance in issue 38)

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Locations

Iest

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Artist Notes

If Dave has something to say on the issue, add it here

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Annotations

Among other elements on the cover are the 5 100-Crown notes that Cerebus has to return to Astoria this issue.
Elrod is referring to the Elf's graffiti on the front gate, which says "Cerebus wee-wees in the sink".
The driver appears to be the same driver who took Cerebus to the Ram's Lords Tavern in Issue 26.
Cerebus believes that Astoria is sending all these "visitors" to try to "test" him. No, he's just paranoid.
A "semi-automatic crossbow" appears to be an Elrod-coined anachronism, although the term does appear again in Issue 155.
"Bunky the Albino" was Captain Cockroach's sidekick in Issue 22.
If it isn't obvious, Astoria's large cash reserves in the safe make it clear that she doesn't actually need Cerebus' money. Instead, she does it as a punishment for Cerebus (and also to show the readers that she's pulling the strings).
Note that although the issue is titled "three days before," it's not mentioned what is actually happening in three days until the last page of the issue.
Lord Julius has finally decided to do something about Cerebus' activities in Palnu's name. Apparently, the post of "Ranking Diplomatic Representative of Palnu in Iest" isn't just appointed, but nominated. In the next issue we'll see more on how the actual selection works.
"Petuniacon" is presumably the same as the Festival of Petunias that was held in Palnu in Issue 16. The name is formed similarly to many science-fiction and comic book conventions, which the event itself is a parody of.
It is a bit odd that the last page uses a semicolon instead of a colon.