Mike Pike Essipode 6

The essipode in which Mike Pike never appears. But it does mark the first appearance of the strip’s evil genius, Alfonzo F Thurgermeyer,  The Coffee Machine That Walks Like a Man. His secret origin will be dealt with in a future strip.

SQRRRRRPPHHHPHPHPHLLLLL was my attempt to put down in words the sound of one of those Italian expresso (as we called it then) coffee machines that used to be in cafes in the days before Starbucks. They produced coffee by loudly abusing steam, milk, water and coffee beans in a machine that looked like a chrome plated chemistry set. It was a noise that always set my teeth on edge.

The now accepted usage of Muhahahahahahar! for an evil laugh had not been coined yet, hence a rather weedy hahahahahahahaha!

Why Peru? No idea. It just went with the Inca I suppose. Titicaca Towers does have a ring to it though, a variation on the British theme park Alton Towers.