Dr. Muskiday has questions, the Monster Girl Poll is open, and the Fairmount City Public Library continues to offer some very unusual reader services.

We’ve got romantic uncertainty, an ongoing macronano crisis, a brand-new Monster Girl Poll, some extremely questionable library activity, and — because even supervillains need lunch — a guide to some of the best places to eat at Reading Terminal Market.

Let’s get to it!

Coming Up on Evil Inc

Dr. Muskiday and HoloClone Miss Match still have to find a way to stop the macronanos from turning the Fairmount branch into an all-you-can-eat emotional buffet. But first, Dr. Muskiday has a few nagging questions on his mind.

That complicated question becomes considerably more tricky when the person professing her love is a hologram specifically programmed to obey your every command.

Muskiday is beginning to suspect that the micronanos are not the only problem he created in his lab.

The Next Monster Girl Poll Is Underway!

The next Monster Girl Poll has officially begun, and patrons are already submitting their twisted little fantasies for consideration.

Once the submissions are collected, I’ll assemble the finalists and open the voting. Then the winning fantasy becomes a finished illustration!

Coming Soon on Evil Inc After Dark

Lethal Librarian continues to explore the romance section of her branch of the Fairmount City Public Library — and she keeps finding some remarkably cooperative playmates hidden among the stacks.

Apparently, the romance shelves aren’t merely a place to find steamy stories. Under her supervision, they’ve become a source of live demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Desi arrives home earlier than expected and discovers Iron Dragon and Surgat hard at work.

Very hard at work.

It’s the sort of scene that raises several important questions—starting with whether anyone remembered to lock the door.

Q&A — Reading Terminal Market

Q.: I'm watching some tourist Youtube videos of the Philly World Cup:

Is Reading Terminal Market pronounced 'Redding' like the color, or like 'to read a book,' Brad?

Also, what do those pretzel wrap with cheese hot dogs taste like?

It's pronounced "redding" — and it was originally a terminal for the Reading Railroad. (Now you can pronounce it correctly the next time you're playing Monopoly.)

Reading Terminal Market was born of typical Philadelphia obstinance.

"Today’s Reading Terminal Market had its roots in the Butchers’ and Farmers’ and Franklin Markets, both located on the 1100 block of Market Street. In 1890 the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company purchased this block for its new terminal. The merchants’ refusal to relocate for the new building resulted in an agreement to erect a new market tucked beneath the train shed and tracks." — https://readingterminalmarket.org/about-the-market/history/

Brad’s Must-Visit Shops at Reading Terminal Market

Bassett's Ice Cream was one of the original vendors, and is still there. Never sold out to a private equity manager. Still family run. They make a tremendous English Toffee Crunch. Order a pint to take home and then watch some kid behind the counter defy the laws of physics by fitting what HAS to be a quart into that little container. I defy you to try that at Coldstone Creamery.

The pretzel-wrapped cheese hot dogs are good, but arrive a few hours earlier and start your day with a sausage-egg-and-cheese stuffed pretzel from Miller's Twist. That stuff will stick to your ribs — to say nothing of your arteries. I’m here for a good time, not a long time.

If that’s not your thing, go to Market Bakery for a breakfast sandwich. I strongly recommend a sausage-egg-and-cheese on a brioche bun. If you have a travel mug for coffee, let them know and they’ll take a buck off your order since you’re not using a cup. Pick up one of the punch-card thingies at the register. You’ll be back.

While you’re there, stop by Termini Bros for a cannoli — classic with powdered sugar. When I was in grade school, my Uncle Tony and Aunt Trudy used to take me for a few weeks during the summer. Uncle Tony would go out for cannoli and the Sunday paper. We’d sit on their patio, and they’d ask me which comics I liked and why. And they listened. They were the first people to take me seriously when I said I wanted to be a cartoonist. I will always love them for that. I searched far and wide to find cannoli that good, but even the ones I found in Rome fell short. Termini Bros, however, is able to bring back those summer mornings in a single bite. I will always love them for that.

Mueller Chocolates has some of the best sea-salt caramels I’ve ever tasted. They have a ton of other stuff, but you owe it to yourself to try those in particular. Also, if you’d like an off-beat gift for a chocolate lover in your life, they have chocolate hearts — anatomically correct.

DiNic’s for roast pork sandwiches. When people ask me where the best cheesesteak is, I always tell them it’s Pat’s King of Steaks… then I suggest they try this instead.

Shanghai Gourmet for Chinese food. Family run. If you come early you can see them prepping with fresh ingredients every morning. Great prices, and you’re supporting a Philadelphia family not sending profits to some douchebag CEO. Try the beef and broccoli.

Downtown Cheese — You want a healthy snack? Stop by Downtown Cheese and get a half-pound of mild manchego, swing around to Iovine Produce and pick up some evercrisp apples, and then head over to Bee Natural for some honey. A slice of apple with manchego, drizzled with a little honey, will cure what ails you.

Are you cooking?

Kensington Food — Stop by for a jar of tomato gravy. Have a look at the cooking oils while you’re there.

Head Nut — Bulk nuts, sure — but also baking supplies, spices, dried fruits, and excellent prices on coffee beans.

Godshall’s Poultry — Chicken, turkey, etc. Get a rope of the hot Italian sausage. You’ll thank me for it.

Martin’s Quality Meats — If you’re gonna be grilling, you’ll want to stop at Martins. Pick up some lean ground beef for the burgers, and then get some brats while you’re there. Swing back by Market Bakery for the brioche buns. 

Patreon Perk Spotlight: Bonus Rewards

Don’t overlook the posts tagged Bonus Rewards. That archive includes wallpapers, eComics, downloads, and assorted extras.

They’re the hidden gems of the Patreon archive, waiting for you whenever you’re ready to dig through them.

Until Next Time…

That’s everything from the executive suite for now.

Dr. Muskiday is searching for answers, HoloClone Miss Match is confronting the limits of her programming, the macronanos remain dangerously hungry, and the romance section of the public library has apparently stopped enforcing anything resembling a dress code.

In other words, everything is proceeding exactly as Evil Inc management intended.

—Brad