We have a duty of care
Steeple may be the only comic currently being published where the author thinks carefully about when the characters will need to eat lunch. In fantasy books, quests would often stop for a repast. In the easy-come, easy-go world of free-to-air webcomics, there’s time for these considerations.
They’d make great pets.
In some ways, this is the story of “not to be named IP concerning cyber changers” — isn’t it?
I can just see Reverend Penrose attacking a squid monster as Gareth holds him back. “Sorry about that mate. I just got him, he’s a rescue.”
Get him a job doing stunts for Doctor Whom.
Still wondering why the used car salesman dude was so relieved to sell Gareth off, given that Gareth was doubtlessly lying doggo as a car the whole time
I suspect that VW wasn’t the first victim of Gareth’s PTSD.
Apparently, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to Gareth.
Probably can’t legally sell a car with no VIN (or maybe supporting docs for pre-VIN antiques?)
Would that really explain the degree of his reaction, though? I mean, he was acting as if a terrible curse had been lifted from his life. Would simply selling a car he’d previously been unable to sell account for that?
Gareth might have been karate-chopping some of the dealer’s inventory at night.
Which is basically what I was implying earlier.
There’s an excess ‘E’ at the end of the first word in the second panel.
I kept reading it as Penrose saying, “On the one hand,” again, then going back and going, “No, that definitely says, ‘other’.” It took me like five passes to figure out what the actual problem was.
Fixed
I hope they bussed their own table when they were finished eating.
Eh, nvm. Just noticed they were eating outside with wait service, not a counter order joint. The Church must pay well.
It’s a pub. They are having a pub lunch, ordered at the bar when they bought their drinks.
The row of beer pump handles was a bit of a giveaway.
I’m just wondering why Smokey Bear is walking into the restaurant in panel 1.
I thought it was the Man with the Yellow Hat.
I’m inclined to agree with Mr. Campbell. Although the Man with the Yellow Hat has 4 dents on the crown coming to a single point whereas this man has a crown with dual points.
Why not have both? The Bear in the Yellow Hat. He has a pet lemur named “Curious James” who is constantly getting into forest-fire-related mischief.
Inquisitive James.
Coming soon, to an ice cream van near you!
I love how very specific this restaurant feels. Is it based on a real place?
Clearly Gareth and Robert Cop are made to go off together
Great idea Billie. Penrose is more than able to understand Gareth thanks to his own war experience and her kindness will support him. Sure, its a weird situation, but I like it a lot. Can’t wait to se how Maggie and Mrs Clovis will react.
Let’s face it, Gareth and David are a natural team.
I bet Brian will have some ideas.
The good reverend is still eating beige food!!!!! Did Shelley’s visit/date/rescuing him from a giant octopus not encourage a hint of colour on his plate?!
Interesting that we have representatives of both good and evil talking about saving Gareth. What if Gareth came down on the side of evil?
If it’s Billie’s version of Evil, it would no doubt involve a six meter tall robot baking cakes for old age pensioners
Yeah, Billie is definitely a mole inside the Church of Satan.
She may be a Satanist, but I bet she likes daffodils.
For Billie, “do what thou wilt” involves rainbows, unicorns, and fuzzy bunny slippers.
Being a Satanist isn’t about doing evil but doing as though wilt. Since Billie is a nice person she does nice things.
I can’t tell you how relieved I am that the reverend’s burger came served on a plate, and not a bread board.
In keeping with Satanic tradition Billie had raspberry vinaigrette on her salad, meant to represent the blood of those in the grip of the Fallen Star.
Reverend Penrose had ketchup with his chips,
Considering the lifespan of Generic Morphing Automatons “emotional support pet” seems an apt job. And more like a hamster than an African gray parrot
Perhaps a Norwegian Blue. Beautifil plumage, though they do stun easily.
I love this conversation!
One more topic Billie can use to avoid talking about why she switched churches!
I haven’t yet figured out what to make of the fact that Billie seems concerned with helping Gareth, but simultaneously insists upon calling him “it”, implying she’s not too keen on the idea of his personhood.
Weirdly, I recently had a discussion on the use of the neuter pronoun ‘it’ concerning non-objects and apparently its a mixed bag. Some people will call all non-humans ‘it’ whether male or female, whereas some people insist on the gendered pronoun – I’ve seen people have a conversation where one person is calling the female cat ‘it’, and the other calling the same ‘she’ and neither corrects each other or seems to notice.
It might suggest that Billie doesn’t regard a robot as actually male, which maybe is fair? idk about cyberbiology t b h
This may be a case of “it” being used as an affectionate diminutive. Not in such common use any longer but children, in the recent past, were frequently referred to by this pronoun, with no intimation of their being anything less than people. Pets were too.
I don’t recall ever hearing that. Maybe it’s local to some region? Or maybe I’m not recent enough?
British, in the last century. My parents used it.
The Knight Who Say Ni are appalled.
Knights. … Sigh.
I absolutely adore Billie’s walking fingers in panel 4 emphasising her belief that Gareth can be led back to rehabilitation.
The same word can have entirely different connotations for different people.
Imagine having such an instrumental and reductionist view of Satan as to think that his purpose is to give Christians “cover”. You verge here upon either profundity or quicksand (or proof that they are the same).
idk exactly what he means here – maybe he was hoping she’d find it demonic and he could trade it for one of their cars?
I read it as he was hoping she could essentially be the “shoulder devil’ in the conversation and talk him into ignoring Gareth’s needs in order to allow Reverend Penrose to act selfishly without taking the blame (the old “The devil made me do it!” defense). Not that I think it would have worked, or that David really expected that to happen, but when one’s in the midst of a moral dilemma like this, it’s only natural to wish on some level that someone could remove your senses of responsibility, empathy, and what’s right, and allow one to guiltlessly make the selfish choice. I don’t think he’s being entirely serious, just honest about his feelings at the moment.