Don’t think of me as a vicar at all
This was an intricate page to get to grips with. Quite tiring. I had to have a nap afterwards. Shelley’s seen enough weirdness in her life not to find the Victoria’s clientele intimidating, but I think that, rather than a bonus, this is a dangerous blind spot at this point.
I don’t like the expression on Tom’s face. Shelley’s generally a force for good in the world, but she has at times been manipulated by evil forces. If Tom starts referring to Shelley as “the Lady”, and rambling on about some prophesy, I recommend she get out of there as fast as she can.
Too late!
https://www.facebook.com/meatsweatsbmth
Tom smiling is never good.
One does rather remember Alisteir Crowley and his Scarlet Women, doesn’t one?
Speaking of Crowleys, it’s a shame Bob Crowley was eaten by a demon before he and Tom ever got a chance to meet.
Such similar approaches towards life, perhaps they could have compared notes.
You’re presuming that Tom *isn’t* Crowley in a new body. I’m not so sure.
Why do I think Shelly’s force field of innate goodness will prevail over anything nefarious Magus Tom might try? From his expression he may already be smitten. Unlikely scenario: he abandons evil and Billie takes over the Church of Satan.
Please tell me this is the last we hear of “meat sweats”.
I don’t believe the “meat sweats” come up again in this story but I cannot say for sure that Brian will not bring them up in future tales :/
“The Meat Sweats” would be a wicked death metal band for Brian to start if he really wants to impress ol’ Shel.
Are those people in the back… actually people, or are they mer-creatures in disguise?
I was wondering the same. They seem to be doing a good job of hiding their faces (or face analogues).
I don’t know if they’re mer-folk or not, but I suspect they’re more than just background. If you look at the cover image for this story, there’s someone wearing a Purleys cap right behind Shelley’s picture in the same row as Tom and Reverend Penrose.
If I’ve mastered one thing in recent years, it’s getting down to brass tacks in a story “at the double” as they say.
Should we be able to recognize what Shelley is reading, or is is a fictional bit of fiction?
It’s a real book and I drew the cover to match the Penguin Classics edition but I cannot for the life of me remember what it was. I do remember that I thought it was a pointed statement on Shelley’s character.
I had to do some detective work, it’s Villette by Charlotte Brontë.
Wow! I was prepared to never know the answer to that mystery!
I always felt there was a touch of Shelley in Billie’s DNA so it’s a bit bizarro to see them share a table
I wouldn’t be surprised if Shelley and Billie have a common ancestor.
I get the feeling Billie is to Maggie as Shelly is to Amy as Mildy is to Lottie.
Amy! I miss Amy so……
I definitely see this for Shelley-Amy / Billie-Maggie, but I think the Charlotte-Shauna-Mildred(-Claire) relationships are quite different.
ZZ Top in the house!
And is that the Sesh Gremlin’s dark hair and dark eye I see behind Shelley’s head in panel 5?
I’m really amazed how much Billie’s behavior has changed since she moved into her new city and switched church. She looks so strong and confident approaching Shelley with a beer in her hand and her black lodge tattoo♡. So diabolical ♡! Tom and Brian were such a negative influences, but in a very positive way. Shelley is still the cutest girl ever (♡) and the pub Is full of zombies. GREAT!
Wouldn’t be Shelley’s first brush with zombies. Or was that with *being* a zombie?
I’d say being a zombie is a brush with one at the very least!
Being a zombie sure is a great life experience.
Dude behind ol Shel is looking like the sesh gremlin
Ha! Beat you to it!
Just a thought… I wonder what ERIN Winters would think of Tredregyn?
Right? Despite the prevalence of the Church of Satan in Tredregyn, it seems the truly high ranking demons seem to be more connected with Tackleford.
I imagine that Hell delegates processing prayers from Tredregyn to a small and harassed imp in a back office. Tackleford, on the other hand, must be as concerning for them as it is for other agencies.
“Don’t think of me as a vicar at all–I know, the collar, tattoo, the sleeveless top/mini-skirt (culottes? a skort?) combo give mixed messages.”
She could be a trendy vicar.
Blimey. The Meat Sweats made me laugh out loud and feel nauseous at the same time. A confusing conflation of emotions, I do not with to encounter again in a hurry!
Not to be that guy, but… Billie’s Odal rune tattoo in frame 3 is a symbol with some EXTREMELY nasty connotations. I physically recoiled when I saw it. And yes, it was used as the set design for the US CPAC debate earlier this year.
It’s not the same rune. I know the one you’re thinking of and they’re not the same.
Actually, you are correct, that isn’t an Odal rune after all!
I forgot, Mr. Allison explained this some time ago…it’s from Twin Peaks!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/287667494925817597/
…yes, she’s a practicing vicar in the Church of Satan.
Remember, this is a story, and Billie is just a character.
If you are new to Steeple, she is a character who led a fairly sheltered early life and originally came to Tredregyn as a novice Anglican priest.
During the course of fighting evil in the town, she fell unwitting prey to the curse of a few witches, and has been attempting to seek excitement by making some *extremely* questionable life choices.
Steeple #1-5 explain a lot of why Billie is the way she is, though I’m not certain we’ve seen a specific explanation for the Odal rune yet.
“a dangerous blind spot at this point”
Yes, but for who?
Shelly may be about to realise a life-long dream:
http://www.scarygoround.com/bobbins/?date=20131129
All the raw material is right here, right now!
Excellent Tibkins source reference
Eeeeeeeeeehhhh!!!! 😀
Shelley and Billie AT THE SAME TABLE!
TALKING TO EACH OTHER!!!
And amazingly, reality hasn’t imploded because of this! (Yet!)
It will once Lottie shows up.
Tom is in for a rude surprise if he thinks he can make any evil plans involving Shelly “the ultimate Chaos Muppet” Winters. He’s in for an even ruder surprise if the Queen of Hell has to make an appearance.
The former queen. Sadly Mordawa is gone forever. But I like the possibility that Tom knows Erin. Maybe he’s approaching Shelley for meet her sister?
Brian seems to have a loose grasp on what exactly Photoshop is.
Or maybe on what exactly reality is.
Do not underestimate the technology of the bobbinsverse. Their gizmos can do things that defy the laws of physics as we the readers understand them.
I mean, Amstrad Photoshop is obviously actually a brand of makeup.
“Maybe she’s born with it/maybe it’s Photoshop
– from AMSTRAD”
“I’m real when I shop my face”
So have Billie’s financial troubles been handled off panel or is that to be resolved in another story? Last we heard she was unpaid and having to come up with rent so I find myself again feeling anxiety over the financial situation of your characters.
This matter is handled in the next Steeple story, Billie’s finances will be dealt with – at length – so do not worry. Well, don’t worry any more than is strictly necessary.