Bad Machinery #1
In "The Case of the Team Spirit," John Allison launches the charmingly quirky Bad Machinery with a mystery that’s equal parts whimsy and heart. When Kropotkin plans to demolish Mrs. Biscuits’ home for a new football stadium, the kids dive into a strange investigation—uncovering a curse that may be tied to the town’s long losing streak. With Allison’s signature blend of humor and quiet insight, this first issue sets the tone for a series where the real story is often in the details, and the girls just might have outsmarted the boys this time.
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Kropotkin wants to tear down Mrs. Biscuits' home to build a football (soccer) stadium, and the girls want to stop him. The boys try to find the curse that prevents Kropotkin's team from winning any games. Kropotkin assumes that Biscuits is the curse, but she insists she's retired. Mildred discerns that Kropotkin's wife is the real curse. Mrs. Biscuits departs with the wife, Kropotkin gets to build his stadium, and the team has a chance to finally start winning. Shauna and Jack, who keep track of such things, judge that the girls have outshone the boys on this case.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).