Now this is a cavalcade of classic characters, right? Have fun spotting them all.
If you want to revisit, Bad Machinery is now hosted at GoComics (and just coming to the end of its 2nd and we assume final run there) but still all available to read for free online. The links to the individual cases are below:
1 – The Case of the Team Spirit
2 – The Case of the Good Boy
3 – The Case of the Simple Soul
4 – The Case of the Lonely One
5 – The Case of the Fire Inside
6 – The Case of the Unwelcome Visitor
7 – The Case of the Forked Road
8 – The Case of the Modern Men
SPACE IS THE PLACE
9 – The Case of the Missing Piece
10 – The Case of the Severed Alliance
Porter Bookshop is a real (and very eclectic) bookshop in Sheffield, in the same spirit as the much-missed Rare & Racy.
You did not expect Linton, did you? I have made the hat fly off your head to the sound of a Swanee whistle. If you’re not familiar with this classic mystery solving character, I’m sure a brief trip into the Bad Machinery archive at GoComics will assist you.
There’s something very satisfying for me in drawing Shauna and Lottie on panel together. They were largely designed as a pair and have a certain visual harmony. Now, you might ask how Shauna (a student from modest means) can afford this fine bedsit. I think this is a question for another day, but I do know the answer.
I wonder how much Teflon I’ve inadvertently eaten in my life. Raised with the early non-stick pan, members of generation X are patient zero for this. The demographic group, not Billy Idol’s punk band. Is Billy Idol a boomer? Born in 1955, I think he is. Strictly cast iron skillets as a growing boy.
Claire has taken up residence in Lottie’s room as the doppelgänger crisis continues to unfold. And in a classic case of “know your enemy”, she seems to have split herself into seven. Glenn sticks to an easy-to-manage single presence.
Back to business after our brief hiatus! The second part of Wobbly Head starts here on Friday. As this cover image suggests, it’s a heartfelt hymn to friendship, resolving issues peacefully, and getting along. And couldn’t we all do with a little more of that in 2025? I’m writing this on October 29th, but I’m going to guess that all world problems have not been solved in the last 63 days.
My Patreon subscribers in the Beanie tier and up can read this chapter in full, now! Now that is service.
Happy new year, friends.
Shauna Wickle! The most reliable friend of all!!
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That’s the end of part one. Part two doesn’t start until January 1st, because I didn’t want to split it with my traditional Christmas break, which falls awkwardly this year. If comics were running as usual, there would be five more before I took a week off. I’m writing this at the end of October, and I don’t know what will fill the gap. I’m sure there will be something, but as I type, it is as much of a mystery to me as it is to you. See you… on Wednesday?
These are very accurate drawings of Sheffield station, so you can reënact this scene any time you like. All you’ll need is a friend who has no idea what someone from Louisiana looks or sounds like.
WOW! Who is this unrecognisable southern belle? All I know is that I like her a LOT.
