Steeple, Volumes 1, 2 & 3 by John Allison

For quite a long time there, I’d treat myself every Christmas by reading a new volume of John Allison’s Bad Machinery while the kids played with their new toys. I eventually ran out of volumes (there are only ten, after all) so decided to go ahead and read all three books of the Steeple series this past holiday season as a sort of consolation. It probably helps that I do have at least nine volumes of Mr Allison’s other works still waiting unread on my shelves, in addition to the others I haven’t yet bought. Anyway, I’m doing my part to make sure my favorite cartoonist is able to live comfortably and continue making the books I adore.

To which cohort we can safely add the Steeple books! I wasn’t sure if I’d love anything outside of the Bad Machinery comics: I’d tried some of the Scary-Go-Round strips a few years back and bounced firmly off them. But Mr Allison does probably some of his most thoughtful, self-assured work to date here with Steeple, in books that aren’t afraid to tackle morality, religion and the power of true kindness.

Vol 1, collecting issues #1-5, has colors by Sarah Stern and letters by Jim Campbell. It introduces our main characters, beginning with priest-in-training Billie Baker. She’s very much the can-do, organizing type without whom most communities would collapse, despite her work being little appreciated, if not outright disdained. She’s sweet and chirpy and more than ready to tackle her newest assignment as curate to the Church of England parish in the small coastal town of Tredregyn in Cornwall.

What she doesn’t know, however, is that the current priest, Reverend David Penrose, is on a one-man mission to fight back the abominations that slither out of the sea and threaten the people of Tredregyn (with the support of his crotchety housekeeper, Mrs Clovis.) He sees his battle as a holy war. Billie initially thinks he’s nuts, but when she encounters one of the sea creatures herself, she realizes that far greater challenges lie in store for her in this parish than she’d ever expected.

(Since I’m discussing all three books in the series, there will be mild spoilers ahead, so I do recommend reading these brilliant books first if you’d like to remain completely unsurprised by all the terrific plot twists.)

Billie has also been busy getting to know the locals, including her new leather-clad, bike-riding friend Maggie Warren. She’s less surprised to learn that Maggie is a local barmaid than that she’s also a trainee priestess at the local Church of Satan. The women are resolved not to let theology get in the way of their friendship, which is especially helpful when a new threat appears that will require both churches to team up to actually protect the people of the town.

The final section of this story-packed volume involves a convention of witches coming to town, and the crises of faith it puts our best friends through. The ending was absolutely not what I was expecting when I started this book. Frankly, it’s even better. This first volume is a very trenchant critique of modern tribalism under the guise of religious identification, and a rallying cry for people to treat one another first and foremost as fellow human beings deserving of basic rights and decency, no matter what they might believe.

Vol 2: The Silvery Moon is shorter, as it was published as an original graphic novel instead of a trade paperback like its predecessor in the series. Also John Allison shoulders the creative duties for this story alone, so it’s quite a bit of work!

Billie and Maggie are each acclimating to their new roles in Tredregyn, but Brian, one of Billie’s new roommates, is keeping an important secret from her. Once again, the Church of England and the Church of Satan will have to join forces to contain a threat to their town.

The Anglican church might have bigger problems tho when a “secret shopper” arrives to poke about the rectory. Meanwhile, Magus Tom Pendennis of the Satanic Church is having issues of his own, and decides he’s going to fix them by sending his rival a Christmas present (and I’m not gonna lie, I fell about laughing at the Secret Sentai pun.)

The ending sets up super nicely for Vol 3: That’s The Spirit! This original graphic novel is also primarily done by Mr Allison, with an assist on colors by Sammy Borras. Billie and Maggie are enjoying their Christmas, even if they have barely anything planned out besides dinner at Mrs Clovis’. Unfortunately for the festivities, they’ve accidentally brought along an uninvited guest and will have to figure out how to get rid of him.

The second part of this book features my all-time favorite John Allison character and the kid I always wanted to be, the irrepressible Charlotte Grote. She comes to Tredregyn in search of her good friend Shelley Winters, who’s gone missing while on a book tour. After run-ins with Maggie and Billie, she finally gets help from Reverend Penrose in tracking down Shelley. Their final conversation as they head back to Tackleford is well hilarious.

Finally, we come to the meatiest part of this volume, titled Clotted Crime, after the fictional murder mystery show depicted in the book’s pages. Maggie and Mrs Clovis are both addicted to the cozy crime series but Reverend Penrose calls it “church-sploitation”, as its essential premise is the investigation of murders committed in and around Cornwall churches. When filming comes to Tredregyn tho, everyone is excited to participate, even as new dangers and old ties resurface to threaten the inhabitants, and our main characters in particular.

I’m ngl, when I first saw these books, I was a little scared to read them because I didn’t want to learn that my favorite cartoonist has regressive views on religion. I was somewhat heartened when my best friend, who is Jewish, read these first (at my Christmas party, lol) and gave them the thumbs up. The whole series is smart and hilarious and thoroughly filled with both sense and compassion. And while the fourth volume wasn’t picked up by Dark Horse, you can read the rest online starting here.

Oh gosh, I forgot to update my Best of 2025 shop with these titles, and subsequently forgot to include them in my annual reading recap, oops. Off to do that before more other work!

Steeple, Volumes 1, 2 & 3 by John Allison were published by Dark Horse Comics and are available from all good booksellers, including