After being primarily sedate for the past 50 issues, Cerebus has concetrated his thoughts and emotions with an arguably greater focus than ever before. The obvious affect is the Cirinist body-count as he rampages towards the upper city. The not-as-obvious effect is the re-surfacing of nearly every magical and mystical force Cerebus has encountered. Cerebus inexplicably finds himself face to face with the real Suenteus Po where several questions are answered; meanwhile, The Punisheroach goes militant against the Cirinists.
Introduces: Clarinda, General Normina Swartskof, Mrs. Copps, Po (first time shown and identified) and Blossom.

1415

Cerebus #151:

Immediately after Cerebus #150.

In the Upper City, Cirin purges the Church's library of "the manure" while Cerebus continues his mad drive up from the mountainside. Cirin chooses to ignore the "rumors" of his killing spree. Cirin has apparently decided that Cerebus' "Final" Ascension was a false one.

Several "odd" events begin happening in relation to things Cerebus has come in contact with in the past. Khem the Demon (Cerebus #2) is released from his cursed existance and the Pigt statue of Cerebus (destroyed in Cerebus #5) is mysteriously made whole again. "Death" (Cerebus #8) takes a "holiday". Also, The Judge lectures over the death of "Death".

Lord Julius deals with bureaucracy.

Cerebus #152:

Immediately after Cerebus #151.

Cerebus' return to the Upper City is heralded (almost exclusively by the men) as he continues his quest for vengeance and death against the Cirinists. General Normina Swartskof warns a startled Cirin to take action, and disagrees with the order to bring Cerebus in alive. This is the first time that Cirin has "seen" Cerebus.

A single silver petal from the "Black Blossom Lotus" (Cerebus #10) and two gold coins rise from the Feld river-bed where they have been for three years.

Cerebus #153:

Immediately after Cerebus #152.

Cerebus rallies the public into arms against the occupying army, even though they face a certain death. The gold coins and Lotus petal begin to behave even more *uncharacteristically* at the Feld River. Duke Leonardi (Cerebus #138) gets his portrait done by Seth (Cerebus #92), while the model has visions of Cerebus. Mrs. Thatcher gets startled by some shade. More carnage.

Cerebus #154:

Immediately after Cerebus #153.

Just as an arrow is shot towards him, Cerebus dissappears, causing Cirin to panic, the crowds to get slaughtered, and the citizens to grow fearful. It's at this point that Punisheroach appears, working with the unified personalities and minds of all previous roaches. Also, the petal and coins fall dormant once more, as inexplicably as they had started moving.

Cerebus #155:

Immediately after Cerebus #154.

The Pigts fued over the meaning of the statue, which has begun to crumble.

Cirin's order of a purge is carried out on all who may have come in contact with Cerebus, excepting mothers and children under 5; Cirin has ordered a gold sphere 46 meters in size forged, presumably with the gold Cerebus amassed as Pope. Punisheroach takes a sizable bite out of Cirin's army; Elrod returns.

Astroia is contacted in the dungeons, and the Judge and the Elf each have a conversation with an evil twin. K'Cor (Cerebus #38) speaks to someone. Alexandra is "quarantined". Mrs. Copps explains to Hammond about the small 13-meter revision.

Cerebus arrives in the Seventh Sphere, the destination of Cerebus' flight. Cirin is clearly still working on the ascension, although she seems to be making the same mistake that an earlier would-be redeemer made (Cerebus #91).

Cerebus #156:

Immediately after Cerebus #155.

Back in the Seventh Sphere, Cerebus once again meets the supposed Suentus Po, who he can now dismiss as a fraud and connect to the false Elf. The false Po seems quite set on convincing Cerebus of his authenticity, and fails as Cerebus finally seems to undestand the "Mind Games".

Meanwhile, Cirin studies info on her latest problem, Punisheroach, and regroups after heavy losses in the lower city. Also, the Pigts are convinced to end their isolation.

Cerebus #157:

Immediately after Cerebus #156.

Cerebus transits the Seventh and Eigth spheres while conversing with the false Po and reliving moments from his own life. At the end of his rise through the Eighth (or ninth?) sphere, Cerebus meets with the supposedly "real" Suenteus Po. Cerebus learns he did sleep with Jaka (Cerebus #6) when he was drugged. Further up, to the Chessboard.

The Pigts arm themselves for a war without name, and Mrs. Thatcher is accused of interfering with the plans for the "one true Acension".

Cerebus #158:

Immediately after Cerebus #157.

Cerebus begins his game of chess with Po.

The public starts to doubt in Cerebus' return and eyes the Punisheroach as their new icon.

The Pigts fued once more, and the survivors arm themselves in preparation for what-we-know-not.

Thatcher tells Cirin of Mrs. Copp's change in plans on the sphere, and Cirin orders Copp's death.

Cerebus makes his move in the chess game and winds up in Imesh with K'Cor.

Cerebus #159:

Immediately after Cerebus #158.

As the chess game continues, Cerebus learns that his every move in the game brings him momentarily elsewhere. Cerebus talks with the King's Pawn (K'Cor). It's revealed that Sedra left K'Cor.

The Pigts begin their march to Iest, and Cirin realizes that she must reluctantly enlist the help of her prisoner and foe Astoria.

Suenteus Po recounts his version of his previous life, to counter that which the Judge had told Cerebus.

>Punisheroach has trouble with his purity and displays stronger mental powers than ever before. (Of course, his "telepathy" could equally well be an hallucination.) A touching reunion between the Punisheroach and Elrod.

Cerebus #160:

Immediately after Cerebus #159.

At the bottom of the river, one gold coin radiates specs of light which creates the image of Cerebus over the city; the image is seen by prisoner Posey who speaks up and is killed for it; Suenteus Po delivers a moving account of what Cerebus had meant to Posey.

The other coin issues nine spheres of certain sizes which foreshadow the trip through the planets.

Lord Julius is hunted by "The Eye of the Pyramid". When last seen, the Eye in the Pyramid had only male members. This might well be a different anti-Lord-Julius conspiracy that has just adopted the name of an earlier one.

Elrod tempts Punisheroach.

Cirin envisions her ascension and sees herself meeting Tarim, not Terim.

Cerebus #161:

One of the gold coins turns to sludge as the other is marred.

Lord Julius plays cat-and-mouse as only he can with his would-be assassin. It is unclear whether the assassin attacking Lord Julius is one of the "out of control" members of the Eye in the Pyramid, or is acting on orders.

The spirit of Bran visits the ninth sphere and apologizes to Cerebus, self-sentencing himself to eternal unrest.

The Pigtish army is assaulted by forces of nature.

Hammond visits Thatcher with news of "a problem"

Elrod endeavors to test Punisheroach's purity

Po wins the chess game.

Astoria also dreams of Ascending with a Gold Sphere. The Cirinist at the door is making what can only be a recognition sign for the Eye in the Pyramid. This is the first time that Astoria has been overtly connected with that group, but it now seems as if she may be its leader.

Cigarettes were invented.

Cerebus #162:

Cerebus retraces his route through the spheres following the chess game

Thatcher informs Cirin of the sphere's mystical change to 46 meters.

The Roach starts going through personalities fast again; (Lobo, Cable, Venom, Ghost Rider). Punisheroach meets Blossom, his "Queen".

The Pigtish prophecy of the statue rising out of the Earth to lead them begins and fades in mid-process, driving the remaining army into a final internal conflict which kills all but a few. This (hitherto-unknown) prophecy sheds sudden light on the question of why Bran MacMufin committed suicide.

Baskin saves Lord Julius; the public argues in a whisper over whom to follow.

An illusion appears to Astoria and Cirin.

After Cerebus #162:

Victor Reid works on Ascension, gets good news from Milieu (Reads).

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