Bad Machinery #5
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeThis volume collects the fifth story arc of John Allison's schoolyard mystery series, following a group of British schoolchildren as they investigate strange occurrences. In 'The Case of the Fire Inside,' the young detectives tackle a case involving a mysterious fire and the unsettling secrets it uncovers in their small town. The collection continues the series' blend of humor, adventure, and supernatural elements, showcasing Allison's distinctive art and witty dialogue.
In "Babysitter's got winter vomiting disease," John Allison delivers another sharp, heartfelt chapter of Bad Machinery, where Ellen’s enrollment at school sets off a quiet chain of connections and secrets. As she struggles to navigate life on land, the kids rally around her—teaching her, protecting her, and even launching her onto the swim team where her natural talent shines. Meanwhile, quiet sparks fly between Mildred and Lee, stirring tension with Lee’s girlfriend Sasha, all while the selkie father lingers in the shadows, searching for his daughter. Drawn with the same warm, precise hand that defines the series, this issue captures the messy, tender rhythms of growing up.
In "Babysitter's Got Winter Vomiting Disease," John Allison crafts a quiet, poignant tale where Sonny’s reluctance to grow up collides with the sudden arrival of a selkie, now stranded on land after being packed in his bag by Charlotte. As the selkie—now calling herself Ellen—struggles to navigate a world far removed from the sea, an elderly woman mistakes her for her long-lost daughter, setting off a chain of misunderstandings that blur memory, identity, and the fragile line between past and present.
In "2," Jo, a mysterious girl with no memory of life on land, finds herself adrift at a new school where she’s both bewildered and isolated—until Sonny takes her under his wing. As the students quietly help her navigate the strange world above water, their bond grows, even as the quiet presence of her selkie father looms in the shadows, searching. With tender humor and quiet magic, John Allison crafts a story where friendship, first feelings, and hidden truths swim just beneath the surface.
In "Ten Years Earlier," John Allison crafts a haunting flashback where Sasha, revealed to be a selkie bound to Lee since childhood, confronts the dark legacy of her past—her violent actions tied to the pelt he once found. As tensions rise and old wounds resurface, the teens devise a plan to expose her truth in front of witnesses, leading to a turning point that changes everything.
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