Justice is my mission
Lottie’s origin story is touched upon in a Bad Machinery case – comics that ran nine years ago, so I wouldn’t be surprised if no one remembers them. Two comics, starting here.
Lottie’s origin story is touched upon in a Bad Machinery case – comics that ran nine years ago, so I wouldn’t be surprised if no one remembers them. Two comics, starting here.
A new comic every day this week. It’s like Christmas in May.
Penrose has finally met someone like him. He looks so impressed and happy. I didn’t remember Lottie’s father died in a car accident, dunno why, but I thought it was from an accident at work. Interesting how Penrose looks not embarrassed, but SAD saying that Maggie is not his wife. Is he starting to consider the possibility? GO MAGGIE!!!
It was never stated before how Mr. Grote died; from context, we could tell it was something very sudden and unexpected, but beyond that there wasn’t anything to hint at the precise cause.
I can’t tell if Penrose’s face reads as regret or embarrassment at the thought of marrying Maggie.
I read it as embarrassment, but I suppose it could be regret.
I also got a hint of “I don’t want that suggestion to be going round in the Vic, of all places”.
I think it’s a bit of both. While Maggie’s libertine attitude and conduct is the source of many headaches for Rev. Penrose, part of him very much admires how spirited she is and that deep down there is someone willing to do right by people even if just in a secular humanist sense. I’d totally be down for a Rev/Maggie ship. A Billie/Maggie ship too I’d follow.
We might have a Lottie/Maggie ship if those stars in Lottie’s eyes are any indication.
The situation sure is fascinating. Even because Penrose is probably 20+ years older than Maggie. For me is sadness and regret.
I interpret that look as confusion, tinged with longing. A man who never had any space in his heart for anything but his Mission, now finding something… else in there?
“A man who never had any space in his heart for anything but his Mission”. Kinda like Mystery being someone’s boyfriend (or possibly girlfriend), you might say.
I remember all of your comics, John. All of them. I even remember “Baby Cool”.
Emotional roller-coaster for Lottie in those last two panels, from starstruck snake face to pats of extreme concern
God damnit commenting from phone, not the first time I’ve stuck my text to someone else’s comment with a stray touch! Better get back on topic: I do not remember Baby Cool.
But John remembers.
I don’t remember “Baby Cool,” but I do remember Lottie’s backstory.
Who could forget the odurkaycz and the way Lottie defeated it? (Spelling, I’m sure).
I’m now wondering if I made a mistake and confused this with one of Jeph’s comics. It’s very possible.
The Purleys aren’t Baby Cool, Andrew, who is definitely one of my characters, he’s my “OC”. His catchphrase was, I think, “what’s occurring, baby friends”.
Excellent! And, no worries, Baby Cool is not among my contenders for the Purleys’ identity…more’s the shame!
Thanks, John, for referring us to those background episodes.
I definitely remember those comics, John. It was the self-described worst day of Lottie’s life, but of course that lent her strength in a crucial moment later in the story. I don’t think I’ll ever forget storytelling like that. 🙂
Lottie does seem to be quite taken with Maggie and Billie. Maybe she wishes they all could be Cornish girls…
The girl is star-struck for sure. In this case it seems, literally.
As a man of size, I can appreciate the last panel… arms completely filling a space that is intended for a whole meal and accoutrements
From her reactions to both Maggie and Billie, there’s no way this story ends without her being snogged by at least one of them! My money is on Billie as part of a ‘do what thou wilst’-type application of affection.
My favorite part of your depictions of Penrose as a character is the sudden shifts between him looking menacing and longsuffering.
Probably why in my head, he sounds like Ian Glen.
I, too, noticed Lottie’s attempt to console(?) the Rev., Mr. m. Though I think she is unsure about the precise nature of the act to be consoled. Indeed – I wonder if she isn’t beginning to question the “Someone’s Married in the Rectory” Conclusion.
It’s a throwback to priestly celibacy, combined with Photini vibes for Maggie. “Classic” and “Antique” in the “historical eras” sense.
This is possibly my favorite strip in this whole arch. Lottie and the Rev. seem at first glance such an unlikely partnership, but it works so well here.
Lottie’s really rocking the Kraftwerk look.
I had clean forgotten that those ancient Bad Machinery comics had one of my favorite — and one of the most prescient — lines in the whole series: “Don’t you ever stop making a noise, Charlotte”
That’s a Mission Statement right there, that is
Funnily enough I was thinking about those old strips only the other day, I’d been meaning to look them up. I was thinking about how sad or serious moments in stories that are quite fun the rest of the time can be hard to get right, those Charlotte’s dad pages are one of my favourite examples of that done well.
Devastating flashback – not many creators can mix the hilarious with the tragic so brilliantly. Thanks John, you have set me up for the day. 🙁
I’ve yet to read Wicked Things so I don’t know if this has been a matter of canon already, but gosh the queer vibes are just pouring off Charlotte in this adventure. I approve.
Pretty sure of that sort’s confirmed, last we heard was just that she’s “behind the curve on the love”, but I am very getting those vibes too
*nothing of that sort, I should say
Penrose and Clovis? Maybe if there’s a sea monster ordained by the Church, with nuptials as blood…
Ahh a little tear for linking to someone else’s website. Is it a relief, not owning the means of production?
I honestly could not forget those comics. Also when Lottie said something to the effect of – no day is so bad when you’ve already got the worst day of your life over with.
Losing one parent is enough to make you a great detective, but lose two and you have to dress up like a flying rodent while you do it
The first page of the Lottie flashback remains one of my favourite one-page stories ever. Last panel gets me in the guts every time.
I really cried at the flashback where Lottie’s dad died. So brilliantly done.
The backstory is a big part of this. When Charlotte appears in this story, she has new lady-shapes. And I straight away felt creepy for having noticed. I have known Charlotte since she was six. Since she was Mini-Grote. She is family. Am I some sort of pervy uncle, or what? Eww.
Fantastic! I cannot think of another graphic novel that has drew me in like that. JA doth bestride the world like a colossus, etcetera.