HULL OR HIGH WATER begins Monday
A new story begins on Monday. Where is Glenn? I am sure this cover reveals almost nothing. Can you believe this will be the 17th chapter of Solver? I can, because the folders I keep the artwork in are all numbered. Only two chapters left to go and Solver volume 2 will be complete.
The whole issue will be downloadable in PDF format for my Patreon subscribers on Sunday.
I can only hope that the shocking twist is that Cathey is actually a Muppet.
I was thinking there’s something of the PaRappa the Rappers about her here
Definitely in my thoughts
I thought it was some kind of Thomas the Tank Engine with classes. Maybe a boat Thomas like on the related show Tugs
If she’s a real muppet in the Tackleverse that implies tge possibility that Esther could meet Miss Piggy or Daisy could meet Kermit. These are happy thoughts to me
All I can tell from this cover is that Lottie’s sausages surprise somehow becomes a mainstay on ferry buffet tables. Good for her!
That is a beautiful cover Jon.
Have been a fan from the Bobbins days, i have really enjoyed watching your artwork evolve
So Glerm runs away to sea as a cabin boy? On a ferry? To the Netherlands?
Will a captain looking suspiciously like John Belushi offer to “comfort” the cabin boy Ygln? Or will he Get Eaten By Sharks?
Glenn is the only one on this cover not looking happy
This makes me sad; he deserves some happiness
So does Claire.
G’night folks! Don’t forget to tip your ferryman. The going rate is two coins: one for each eye.
I seem to remember John loves to draw cars? How about ships?
Uh-oh, Lottie’s got a microphone in her hand. Will she and Claire once again be “on the riv-ah to Ponky Ponk”?
I absolutely love this cover, especially the blur effects around the neon signs and the ghostly apparition of Cathey. Something about the colors make me think of Kevin O’Neil’s cover art for The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
the ghostly Cathey is saying “It’s me, Cathey, come home”
And she promptly gets hit by a lawsuit from Kate Bush’s solicitors. The maintenance costs for that Fairlight ain’t nuthin’, boss.
Yes! I knew it reminded me of something and that’s what it is! Something about the crosshatching perhaps?
Apparently, Glenn is in the bathtub (with his shirt and tie still on) playing with a small toy boat in a bathroom designed by Verner Panton. Good for him!
Oooh, oh dear. Cruise ships spell trouble. Shenanigans that you can’t stand on land are worse when you’re trapped at sea! (but I remain riveted)
The signs are strong that that’s the Hull-Rotterdam ferry, which only counts as a cruise ship if you’re a penniless Hull Uni student taking advantage of the super cheap February prices* to check out some coffee shops (or a local songwriter looking for a bit of peace and quiet to get some work done).
*Well, they were in 1987, no more current information available
Ah, forgive this American. Ferries are much more fun and short-distanced.
I think in fairness to Ariel that you should consider this story a sea cruise, a short cruise, but with all the ups and downs the inherent in the “lifestyle”.
I believe that was David Foster Wallace’s conclusion… must reread “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again”, haha
London 0 High Water 4
The Beautiful South(ern Hemisphere)
It’s always “happy hour” on the ferry from Hull!
Come back, Glam! We promise to get your name right! Mostly.
Full marks to John for experiencing the overnight Hull – Rotterdam ferry for research purposes!
I do hope they will have to take the return ferry as well in the next issue, VOYAGE OF THE RÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
It’s going to be a musical involving American tourists, Rotterdam Yankees
A line drive into the bleachers! Touch ’em all!
This brought me very close to a “tea all over the keyboard” incident!
Glenn seems deeply scared to the “ghost” of his past. Interesting to see Claire as a captain, maybe she will be able to guide his life at a safe port, while Lottie the singer will sing some inspirational songs.
Excellent cover, love a ferry trip, can’t wait. Claire here is making me think of the moment Danny exclaims “Sandy!?!” on first seeing her in her leather outfit. Tell me about it, stud.
Ah yes, the most bombed city in WWII. (Well except for some rare parts, like the hostel in the harbour we stayed at.) Beautiful brutalism, and the butt plug gnome.
(In the Netherlands, that is, I am going on hearsay from my Dutch friends, no clue if it is factual or not)
Also, the wonderful cube houses. Looking forward to John using all his 3D modeling skills for what’s going to be a single panel containing those in the background.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cube_house
Oh yes, the Cube Houses! One of them is open to the public, and I have no doubt whatsoever that John could handle any interior scene set therein: https://www.kubuswoning.nl/en/
And then the Markthal: are we going to have a chase between the stalls there? Pretty please?? https://markthal.nl/en/
I’m starting to imagine some Hergé-style full-page panoramas, I’d better stop because I can’t afford any hampers just now.
Not exactly the Sky Pad Apartments, but interesting.
I’m wondering if maybe Glenn, in his current condition, might start seeing Lottie, Claire, and/or Cathey in everyone he sees? Such as the captain and a performer?
Then at the climax where Cathey has persuaded him to return to NZ he wakes up to find out it was all a dream and that he isn’t actually a Kiwi, he’s from Swindon!
He would be in XTC at such a discovery!
The Rotterdammerung.
Every time you draw Lottie like this, I think of an early comic where the boys are throwing frisbees and discussing her. Great dialogue in that one:
“Pottie Grote? The foghorn?”
“She’s going to be gorgeous one day, all she ever does is laugh”
Help! I got Wicked Things #4 in a grab bag. I liked it but are unsure where to start. Wicked Things #1 would seem obvious but apparently she’s been a detective for years? Thanks in advance!
Go to the “My Old Comics” link above and click on Bad Machinery. There’s older stuff, but that’s probably the best place for you to start, and I’m not sure where you could easily find the older stuff right now (though maybe John can tell you). Lottie, did have some older appearances, but you should get everything you need about her starting at the beginning of Bad Machinery.
Where does Claire debut?
Wait, that’s not Little Claire with the lisp?
That IS Little Claire. She worked very hard to get rid of the lisp, but it comes back from time to time.
squee!
Bad Machinery deals with Lottie’s days as a teen mystery investigator. Wicked Things was a series that lasted 6 issues, Solver picks up from where that ended. If you liked Wicked Things and want to own a copy of the collection, act fast as the rights have reverted back to me which means it goes out of print next month.