Bad Machinery Volume 2: The Case of the Good Boy - Softcover

Born in a hidden village deep within the British Alps, John Allison came into this world a respectable baby with style and taste. Having been exposed to American comics at an early age, he spent decades honing his keen mind and his massive body in order to burn out this colonial cultural infection. One of the longest continuously publishing independent web-based cartoonists, John has plied his trade since the late nineties moving from Bobbins to Scary Go Round to Bad Machinery, developing the deeply weird world of Tackleford long after many of his fellow artists were ground into dust and bones by Time Itself. He has only once shed a single tear, but you only meet Sergio Aragonés for the first time once. John resides in Letchworth Garden City, England, and is known to his fellow villagers only as He Who Has Conquered.

Throughout the town of Tackleford, toddlers are being snatched up by a beastlike creature. Clearly this is a job for two groups of teen detectives: girls Mildred, Charlotte, and Shauna, who are also busy dealing with Mildred’s magic pencil and a strange new pet that might not really be a dog; and boys Linton, Sonny, and Jack, who is crushing on Shauna and dealing with a violent school bully. Allison’s series begins to hit its stride in this second volume, after The Case of the Team Spirit (2013). Though the characters don’t get much of an introduction, even new fans will quickly pick up on who’s who, thanks to distinctive body and face shapes and unique personalities. The story veers between realism and fantasy, with just a touch of absurdism to keep things fun. Teens will likely admire Sonny’s stubborn uniqueness, laugh at Shauna’s reluctant love of her baby brother, and appreciate Mildred’s ability to skirt her parents’ sillier rules. The bright, colorful art and snarky dialogue are icing on a delightful cake. Grades 7-10. --Snow Wildsmith