Compiles monthly issues #220-231.
This is the tale of Rick, the man that stands between Cerebus and Jaka. Find out what happens to a man when he loses the basis of his world.
- Cerebus #220
- The new customer turns out to be Rick Nash, Jaka's ex-husband, who Cerebus knows from his days as their house guest. Rick tells Cerebus stories of his past and of what Viktor Davis did to help Rick's relationship with Jaka. Cerebus' delusional perspective shows himself as a demon and Rick as a tortured angel; continuing the analogy, Rick's sword is the truth... Cerebus is a "bartender pope".
- We once again see the phrase "something fell" accompanying a revelation, and Rick reveals Viktor's parting actions.
- Cerebus #221
- Rick awakens the next morning to apologize for his behavior the night before and warns Cerebus to set drinking limits. When Rick asks to see Cerebus' room, he discovers "another" bedroom above the inn which is his own (heretofore unknown) luxury apartment.
- Angry at both Rick and himself, Cerebus leads Rick into a game of Five Bar Gate during which Rick's arm is apparently injured.
- Cerebus #222
- When Mrs. Thatcher comes to deliver food, we see what kind of conditioning Rick was subjeted to at the hands of the Cirinists. Cerebus puts an end to it with an impressive display of psychic/mental ability and shows just what kind of impunity he seems to have now.
- Between this and Rick's arm healing, Rick begins to see Cerebus as divine.
- Cerebus #223
- Rick reveals that Viktor did not inflict the large wound on his chest as he had claimed while drunk (Cerebus 220).
- Joanne arrives and comes on to the very receptive Rick, which she knows will hurt Cerebus. Joanne and Rick make a date for the seasonal bonfire, which continues to tear Cerebus apart inside, although he maintains most of his outward calm.
- All of this takes place on the last day he had vowed to wait for Bear's return prior to leaving.
- Cerebus #224
- Rick returns the next morning with a head wound and the news that Joanne never showed. When she finally arrives at the tavern, she reports that her mother fell ill so she couldn't make it.
- Cerebus "helps" Rick drive Joanne away angry and proceeds to get Rick quite drunk. While out of it, Rick once again sees Cerebus as divine and begs his forgiveness for wanting to marry Joanne and leave the tavern. Only then does it occur to Cerebus that Joanne and Rick leaving together would solve his problems and allow him to leave the tavern too.
- Cerebus #225
- Having been "reborn", Rick starts chronicling Cerebus' every word and move.
- Joanne returns to confess to Rick that she was lying about her sick mother, and asks him for another chance. Cerebus realizes that he must make sure things go right at this next meeting between his two pieces of baggage. In another instance of "something fell", Cerebus briefly sees Cirin (Serna) inside the bar.
- Cerebus #226
- Rick continues to chronicle while Cerebus attempts to talk around the harsh things he has already "decreed" about women.... only then will Rick stand a chance with Joanne.
- Rick seems to snap out of his funk and cleans up nicely in time for his date with Joanne at the Starchild tavern.
- Cerebus continues to go insane.
- Cerebus #227
- Rick returns form his date quite early because Joanne was there with another man. Cerebus knows the man was just a friend and panics thinking that Joanne will misinterpret Rick's actions as jealousy and kill any chances of him leaving the tavern for good.
- When Joanne arrives, things go exactly as he predicted, until Rick and Joanne leave the bar to talk in private. A few hours later, all's right with the world, and Cerebus is anxious to leave.
- Cerebus #228
- The next morning, as Cerebus prepares to tell Rick he's leaving, Rick surprises all by casting a spell on Cerebus, limiting where he can and cannot go in the bar. The "container spell" is contingent upon three branches Rick placed in the bar that Cerebus can't touch.
- Rick tells Cerebus he will only see him once more after today, and parts with the same words he said to Joanne "go to hell". This suggests that Rick was aware that Cerebus and Joanne were using him as a puppet to hurt each other.
- Cerebus #229
- Cerebus is determined to leave until the "voices in his head" confuse the issue of what Rick's motives were in casting the spell.
- Meanwhile, a customer shows up in the bar; he and Cerebus discuss life in general and realize they share much in common... including an understanding of Cerebus' condition. Cerebus says that he feels he's serving a sentence at the tavern and won't be able to leave until he's done his penance for all the wrong he's ever done.
- Dave shares that Cerebus isn't just bothering himself being stuck in the bar all this time! When the customer disappears, Cerebus realizes it was Dave. Seeing that Dave left a package behind, Cerebus debates and finally opens it.
- Cerebus #230
- The package Dave left contained Missy. No sooner has Cerebus opened the package than Jaka enters the bar. During a heartful reunion, we see that the glasses of wine that Cerebus had poured for Dave have turned to water... watery beer, that is (he had asked for Coors Light.
- Jaka and Cerebus share nostalgic tales until late that evening and retire upstairs leaving Missy on the bar with a bottle of gin. The next morning, after a scare that Jaka might've left, Jaka moves one of the branches used in the container spell, making Cerebus truly free to leave. Has Dave decided to end his sentence in the prison that is his tavern?
- Cerebus #231
- Bear, Marty, and Richard George return from their rebellious journey, admitting that they were crazy to leave in the first place. Cerebus seems to fall right back into the routine of hanging out with the guys, but Jaka recognizes Bear as the man who took her to Cerebus while he was Pope and becomes uncomfortable.
- The conversation doesn't help the situation and Jaka realizes she has to leave. Cerebus understands what's at stake and bids his "friends" goodbye to pursue a friendship... if not more... with Jaka. And they walked off into the sunset.
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