I ain’t catchin’
Once more we are aboard the Joeystarr for some thrilling under-jetty adventures. This is, officially, issue 13 of Steeple. I am afraid that it could be unlucky for almost everybody. My Patreon subscribers ($3 and up) can read the whole of Clotted Crime pt 3 now! — Colours by Sammy Borras
Something just hit me. Mrs Clovis is the only one of our six protagonists whose first name isn’t given in the sidebar. Of course, at first, I don’t think we knew her personal name, but we do now. My theory is that Mrs Clovis is obviously the sort of person who wouldn’t want anyone she wasn’t close to using her first name, so, the protect our universe, John has refrained from including it there, lest it lead unsuspecting readers to start calling her by that name, arousing the Wrath of Clovis through our computer screens. (Do I get a no-prize?)
even _more_ interesting, is that her name, according to the character page (in April 2020) was briefly Mrs _Penny_ Clovis:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200409080135/https://steeple.church/characters/
That’s because I copy pasted off the original pitch document for the series and had changed it before publication! I would argue that it is “far from notable”.
I think “Mary” fits her much better.
I thought someone called her Mary?
But everyone knew her as ‘Nancy’
Her face was nothin’ fancy.
Does that mean that Mr Clovis was called Dan?
Her real name is Betty Jo Bialosky and she is on the Interpol most-wanted bulletin.
What a sap she had.
I don’t know what the fisherman’s got, but it’s probably best that he ain’t catchin’.
I see the rev has found a more suitable partner for his under-jetty endeavor.
Clotted Crime has someone really good at deciding the composition of the scenes. That one looks really powerful! Also… Awwwwwww. The sea creature looks so cute when it sleeps in its nest hatching its eggs ♡. Of course, if something goes wrong and said creature starts to destroy everything… Tom Pepperdine could fall and end up directly in Mrs. Clovis’s arms. I would really like to see this.
Although I note that 2 of the 3 actors have their backs to the camera. Maybe this is meant to be a closeup of Manjul?
My understanding is most prime-time TV drama is shot in single-camera mode. Each scene is shot multiple times to get all the angles the director or DP requires.
The boom position would seem to back up that theory.
Wow! Wonderful multi-action in a single panel! John, you’d do Will Eisner proud here!
The caption painted on the jetty between the two scenes taking place is very much in the Spirit of Eisner too.
I See What You Did There
I’m uncomfortable that Penrose isn’t also wearing a life vest (or whatever made-up word they use in the UK for it.) When you are just going to ax a few eggs that’s fine but a battle should include more safety precautions.
He want to have a different approach. So… Maybe not ax will be involved?
Maybe he’ll give ’em a coat of paint? That’s what rangers do to trumpeter-swan eggs in New York State.
Whatt????
Don’t ax, don’t get.
I’m a dork and kinda subconsciously read the text in the characters voice (assigned by me). I’m not sure what voice to use for Manjul. Male, female or other?
Manchester accent!
…Are there people who DON’T read comics in the characters’ voices (or whatever voices their brains have given the characters)?
For the next page. “About 40% teeth and claws”. Is that the monster, or Mrs Clovis?
… This is actually a great question.
Manjul has hidden talents.
The sky is great. Really like that.
Here’s hoping the Rev found a better way to deal with his nocturnal nemesis!
He’s way better at dealing with his nocturnal nemeses than I am with mine.
The blooper reel may get REAL interesting soon!