Bad Machinery #4

In "3 Fri September," Jo and her friends are settling into the new school year when a strange new student named Lem starts showing up—obsessed with onions, and somehow drawing everyone into his peculiar routine. As the odd habit spreads through the group, the line between friendship and influence begins to blur in ways no one expected.

In "null," John Allison crafts a quiet yet unnerving sci-fi tale where a hypnotic spell spreads through the school, leaving only those who wear glasses—and those momentarily flustered—untouched. When Shauna realizes the pattern, she reluctantly teams up with three socially overlooked RPG players, each bound by their shared glasses and isolation.

In "Party Day," Jo and her friends uncover a secret that turns their sleepy school year upside down: Lem’s parents are aliens who grew him from Earth onions and need his hypnotic powers to recruit students as laborers. With help from Mildred’s science smarts and a twist of fate, the aliens make their escape—but not without sacrifice. As tensions rise and friendships fray, especially when Blossom turns against Shauna, the truth leaves everyone questioning what’s real. Written and illustrated by John Allison, this sci-fi tale blends alien intrigue with the quiet intensity of teenage loyalty.