Sad to see how many people are ignorant about Cerebus and how important the book was in it's time. It's become marginalized because of some of Dave Sim's beliefs and because it ended in 2004, but those who were actually collecting in the 80's remember it well.
I owned many copies of Hulk #181 in my years of collecting, but I always ended up selling them. I knew there would always be another opportunity to buy that book back if I wanted it. As far as Cerebus, it took me years to put together my complete set and my #1 is mid-grade at best, but I'm very proud to own it.
I'm just not sure if someone who is only used to reading new DC and Marvel books would even appreciate Cerebus if they were given a copy of the first "phone book". Since the early stuff is mainly Conan-type adventure, most of these newer fans aren't even that familiar with Conan, so it would probably not be of interest. I think I'd rather start a new reader with the "High Society" book and if they find it interesting, let them go back and read the first one to get the backstory.
Not sure how any of that should tie in to this thread, as it is about how a CGC 9.8 copy of Cerebus #1 is non-existent, but just felt the need to rebut those who are disparaging something they know nothing about.