Cerebus #222

Part of the long-running "Rick's Story" arc, this September 1997 issue from Aardvark-Vanaheim presents a striking cover by Dave Sim and Gerhard: a grizzled, heavyset man grips a hanging tavern-style sign — the very sign bearing the "Cerebus: Rick's Story 3" title — his expression tense and determined against a cool green background. It's a clever, self-referential design that folds the issue's identity directly into the image. Sim and Gerhard's collaborative linework is as assured as ever, making even a single figure on a flat background feel weighted and alive.