Chapter: SOLVER

I was still ill when i drew this, but fortunately I’d worked it all out when I was writing it. All I had to do was spend the morning at a buffet. So many new friends to meet there.

Ferry fans will perhaps detect that in my cinematic universe, the nationalised Sealink run the ferries just like old times in Britane. No P&O for this “time” “”line”” ho ho. P&NO!!

We’ve now entered a sequence of pages I “drew ill”. This was the worst day. I held it together through the shivering and rivers of snot and quality didn’t suffer too badly. I wore my bathrobe over my clothes and tucked a hot water bottle down the front. You might ask, John, why did you not just go and watch an old film on the sofa? I found myself asking the same thing quite quickly. But sometimes it helps to have a distraction.

I’m very sorry to announce that Dean is not going to be on the boat. In the original draft of the script, he was. The poor fellow was ejected overboard on the first morning of writing week. I needed the pages for something else and I’m not sorry. Lottie’s flash-forward shows you the future that almost was.

While you may believe I have a natural feel for ferry terminals, actually I had to watch a lot of videos about arrival at Hull docks to capture this authentic patina. Where do the cars queue up? What happens when they do? How do they drive onto the boat? What time to do the ferries run? Can you observe this behaviour from a multi-storey car park? Some people just make this stuff up you know. Fearing the fine tooth comb of my most engaged readers, I dare not.

It’s a classic night drive down the lost highway (to Hull). Production note: on the picture of the sign to Hull Docks that I used as reference had been vandalised to read “Coc s” (sic). Knowing the delicate sensibilities of my audience, I restored the original wording. Second production note: I think the last panel is a definite career peak. The day after I drew it, drained, I succumbed to a terrible weeks-long cold.

NO WAITROSE NO INTEREST

Clip and save Claire’s latest shredding! Collect ten and you can send off for an exclusive Palitoy Bobby Problems figure. Warning: features several choking hazards.

Dean has caused major disruption to the whole door frame with his powerful kick. This seems to me to be the exact opposite of what a property guardianship is all about. And how quickly  the pendulum of power has swung; while Glenn and Claire were no match for Dean’s machinations, Lottie has no truck with his nonsense.

Laying in the back seat listening to Little Willie John, yeah, that’s when time stood still! A new Solver chapter begins, HULL OR HIGH WATER. It forms part of a loose-three parter with Little Days and the upcoming and inappropriately timed Christmas Special to round out Solver volume 2. I don’t just make this stuff up on the hoof, it’s carefully constructed. Over-engineered, like a Victorian aqueduct.

Patreon subscribers (Early Reader and above) can read the whole chapter now in an easy to download and mis-file PDF format.

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.