The Steampunk Meme Logbook

A brass-bound record of chaos, corsets, and commentary.

Category: Captain’s Log Page 1 of 2

Filed and misfiled accounts from the crew of our long-suffering airship. Expect corset incidents, questionable engineering, rogue goats, time-travel complications, and far too much tea. These log entries chronicle the absurd voyage of steampunkstuff.co.uk—one meme at a time.

Victorian lady in a steampunk gown sits in an ornate airship lounge, opening a small clutch bag to reveal a tiny kraken offering her a lace handkerchief. At the bottom of the meme image reads the caption "Pocket Kraken — because one can never be too careful with valuables… or sailors.".

Pocket Kraken — because one can never be too careful…

By

On August 9, 2025

In Captain's Log, Transport

Pocket Kraken — because one can never be too careful with valuables… or sailors.

Facebook, 9th Augast 2025.

Victorian lady in a steampunk gown sits in an ornate airship lounge, opening a small clutch bag to reveal a tiny kraken offering her a lace handkerchief. At the bottom of the meme image reads the caption "Pocket Kraken — because one can never be too careful with valuables… or sailors.".

Captain’s Log, Supplemental:
Lady Winslet’s new ‘pocket companion’ has stirred both admiration and mild panic among the crew. Measuring no more than six inches from tentacle to tentacle, the diminutive kraken resides in her evening clutch and responds to her commands with unnerving swiftness.
Yesterday, it passed her a handkerchief; today, it attempted to fillet Jenkins for looking at her bonnet. I am forced to consider the possibility that we’ve taken on the most well-dressed privateer in the aether.

Between the lines (and pixels).

The “Pocket Kraken” meme takes one of the most feared creatures of maritime legend and reimagines it as a dainty, handbag-sized companion for the well-dressed steampunk socialite. In true steampunk fashion, it blends the absurd with the refined — pairing high society etiquette with a fantastical pet that’s equal parts charming and dangerous.

The humour comes from the juxtaposition: a creature known for dragging ships beneath the waves is here politely handing over a lace handkerchief. In the logic of the steampunk world, this is perfectly normal — after all, if you can fit an airship in a teacup (given the right amount of brass and optimism), why shouldn’t a kraken fit in your evening clutch?

The caption, “Pocket Kraken — because one can never be too careful with valuables… or sailors,” plays into the tongue-in-cheek worldbuilding, implying that the kraken’s talents are equally suited to guarding jewels and abducting hapless seafarers. It’s a wink to those familiar with nautical lore and a nod to the whimsical impracticality that defines the genre.

A steampunk-style etched illustration of a chaotic scene where a man in Victorian attire releases a large pigeon from a cylindrical canister marked “broadband.” In the background, another character appears alarmed by questionable events. The style is darkly whimsical and deliberately surreal.

Deploying the Emergency Diplomacy Kraken

By

On August 7, 2025

In Captain's Log, Early memes

Logbook Entry #008 – Tentacle Diplomacy Protocols

What’s your steampunk solution to unexpected sea monsters?

Drop it below

Deploying the diplomacy Kraken again… Or never mind the tentacles…?

Visuals are conjured with the help of machines. No krakens were harmed (or negotiated with) in the making of this image.

Facebook, 13th May 2025;

A steampunk-style etched illustration of a chaotic scene where a man in Victorian attire releases a large pigeon from a cylindrical canister marked “broadband.” In the background, another character appears alarmed by questionable events. The style is darkly whimsical and deliberately surreal.

Observed anomaly:

Unidentified leviathan encountered in the lower fog banks of the Thames-Sargasso Channel.

Standard torpedo etiquette is deemed insufficient.

Protocol Theta-8 enacted: Deploy the emergency diplomacy kraken.

Results: inconclusive, but impressively dramatic.

Meme context:

Originally posted to Facebook with the prompt:

🧭 What’s your steampunk solution to unexpected sea monsters?

The replies included everything from polite cannon-fire to “ask if it’s read Jules Verne.”

This image represents one of the more… tactile approaches.

Text reads:

“Deploying the emergency diplomacy kraken again.

Some days call for torpedoes. Other days call for tentacles.”

Because sometimes, even in steampunk diplomacy, things get grabby.

A sepia-toned Victorian-style drawing of a man in a suit sipping tea while calmly sitting beside a sparking, broken steampunk communication device. A raven (or pigeon) stands beside him holding a scroll. The image text reads: “Lost all communications? Post a raven. Sip something restorative.”

Feathered Broadband and a Cup of Calm: When Tech Fails, Steampunk Prevails.

By

On August 5, 2025

In Captain's Log, Early memes

When the signal fails, summon the feathered broadband. Reliable, reusable, and never asks for a password.

“Lost all communications? Post a raven. Sip something restorative.”

Facebook, 12th May 2025.

A sepia-toned Victorian-style drawing of a man in a suit sipping tea while calmly sitting beside a sparking, broken steampunk communication device. A raven (or pigeon) stands beside him holding a scroll. The image text reads: “Lost all communications? Post a raven. Sip something restorative.”

This meme playfully combines steampunk aesthetics with modern digital woes — specifically, losing internet or mobile signal.

In the image, a well-dressed Victorian gentleman sips tea calmly while a pigeon (styled as a stand-in for a raven) perches nearby with a scroll. In the background, a sparking, gear-filled communication contraption has clearly failed. The top text asks, “Lost all communications?”, and the bottom advises: “Post a raven. Sip something restorative.”

The joke hinges on the absurd juxtaposition of 19th-century solutions to 21st-century problems. When your high-tech device fails — a relatable modern frustration — the suggestion is to revert to a whimsical steampunk alternative: sending a message via bird (like a raven or pigeon), and calmly drinking tea.

The accompanying Facebook caption drives the humour further:
“When the signal fails, summon the feathered broadband.
Reliable, reusable, and never asks for a password.”

This line mocks our dependence on Wi-Fi and passwords, suggesting instead a feathered creature with perfect uptime and zero digital barriers. It pokes fun at both modern connectivity issues and Victorian-era eccentricity — the very essence of steampunk humour.

A steampunk-style illustration in sepia tones depicts a scene of chaos and conflict on an airship. A cat in a pilot's uniform and goggles, with its paw raised in a menacing gesture, confronts a wide-eyed goat wearing goggles and a suit, who is clutching the ship's wheel. A large, black bird with its wings spread wide swoops in from above, its beak open in a squawk. The title "A Mutiny Most Fowl —" is at the top of the image, and the subtitle "Fur Flies at 10,000 Feet." is at the bottom. The artist's signature, "Tuff Steam," is visible in the bottom right corner.

A Mutiny Most Fowl — Fur Flies at 10,000 Feet.

By

On August 5, 2025

In Captain's Log

🚨 A Mutiny Most Fowl — Fur Flies at 10,000 Feet! 🐐🐾🐦

The cat’s in a waistcoat. The goat’s lost control. The raven’s clearly in on it.

Just another quiet moment aboard the airship. Nothing to see here.

Thank you, Kenneth Earl Fletcher, for the idea.

Facebook, 5th Augast 2025.

A steampunk-style illustration in sepia tones depicts a scene of chaos and conflict on an airship. A cat in a pilot's uniform and goggles, with its paw raised in a menacing gesture, confronts a wide-eyed goat wearing goggles and a suit, who is clutching the ship's wheel. A large, black bird with its wings spread wide swoops in from above, its beak open in a squawk. The title "A Mutiny Most Fowl —" is at the top of the image, and the subtitle "Fur Flies at 10,000 Feet." is at the bottom. The artist's signature, "Tuff Steam," is visible in the bottom right corner.

Entry Summary:

Submitted without context, yet somehow perfectly understandable.

This latest entry features a tabby cat in full steampunk attire (waistcoat and goggles, naturally) staging what appears to be a mid-air mutiny against an anxious goat at the helm. A raven provides enthusiastic aerial support. It’s unclear what caused the feline-led rebellion, but judging by the goat’s expression, this was not on the flight plan.

The phrase “Mutiny Most Fowl” was suggested by a regular follower who imagined the chaos of a raven and a cat teaming up to overthrow a goat pilot. Naturally, we obliged.

No actual animals were harmed. The goat probably had it coming.

A detailed, sepia-toned illustration in a steampunk style. A cat in a pilot's uniform and goggles stands on the left, its paw raised and claws extended, confronting a startled goat in a suit and goggles who is gripping a wooden ship's wheel. A large, dark bird with its wings spread is swooping down from the upper left. The background shows the ropes and fabric of an airship's balloon, and some clouds.

The Raven-Cat Mutiny (also known informally as “A Mutiny Most Fowl”) refers to a widely circulated steampunk meme depicting a feline-led insurrection aboard a dirigible.
Accounts vary, but most versions involve a waistcoated tabby cat, a helpful raven, and a bewildered goat attempting to retain control of the airship’s helm. While traditionally viewed as a lighthearted affair, some historians have argued that the incident marks a turning point in airborne animal diplomacy.
Interpretations differ as to whether the event constitutes an actual mutiny or simply an aggressive redistribution of navigational responsibility.
The event is now commemorated annually aboard some airships with ceremonial squawking, theatrical paw-pointing, and biscuits withheld without explanation.

A hand-drawn, sepia-toned style illustration of a man with a mustache and glasses looking at a map. In the background, a volcano is erupting and spewing gears and cogs into the air, with small airships flying nearby. The text at the top reads "MAP INACCURATE BY 300 MILES" and the text at the bottom reads "SPLENDID. MORE ADVENTURE THAN EXPECTED".

Embrace the Unexpected: How a Misleading Map Leads to Adventure and Optimism!

By

On August 4, 2025

In Captain's Log, Early memes

Splendid and more adventure than expected.

Facebook, 11th May 2025.

A hand-drawn, sepia-toned style illustration of a man with a mustache and glasses looking at a map. In the background, a volcano is erupting and spewing gears and cogs into the air, with small airships flying nearby. The text at the top reads "MAP INACCURATE BY 300 MILES" and the text at the bottom reads "SPLENDID. MORE ADVENTURE THAN EXPECTED".

The illustration features a black-and-white, hand-drawn style reminiscent of Victorian-era etchings or woodcuts, set against a sepia-toned background. The central figure is a man with a moustache and spectacles, wearing a suit, a bow tie, and a high-collared shirt. He is holding an unfolded map, looking at it with a calm, slightly amused expression.

The background is a dramatic scene. A large volcano is erupting, spewing smoke, rocks, and an array of gears and cogs into the air. Several small dirigibles are flying nearby, one of which is positioned close to the volcano’s peak. To the right of the man’s head, there is a small, mechanical device with pipes and a pressure gauge.

The text at the top, in a large, capitalised font, reads “MAP INACCURATE BY 300 MILES”. The text at the bottom, in the same bold, capitalised font, reads “SPLENDID. MORE ADVENTURE THAN EXPECTED”.

The meaning of the meme is to reframe a difficult or challenging situation as a positive opportunity. The man’s calm and enthusiastic reaction to the realisation that his map is wildly inaccurate and he is in a dangerous, volcanic area is a humorous subversion of what would be a stressful moment for most people. The meme suggests an attitude of embracing unexpected problems as exciting adventures, rather than obstacles, and is often used to convey a sense of unflappable optimism or a love for chaotic situations.

A humorous steampunk-style illustration of a man with a handlebar mustache, wearing a top hat and goggles, calmly adjusting his cravat. In the background, there is a chaotic scene of gears and a fiery explosion. The text above reads "EXPLOSION? IN THIS WAISTCOAT?" and the text below says "REMAIN DAPPER. ADJUST YOUR CRAVAT."

Navigating Chaos with Dapper Confidence: A Steampunk Perspective.

By

On August 4, 2025

In Captain's Log, Early memes

When chaos reigns and the gears fly wild, a true gentleperson tightens their cravat and carries on. Dignity is not optional.

This meme was brought to you by human imagination and another active automaton.

Facebook, 9th May 2025.

The image is a humorous, steampunk-style illustration in the form of a poster or an advertisement from a vintage publication. The background has a sepia-toned paper texture. The title at the top, in a large, capitalised font, reads “EXPLOSION? IN THIS WAISTCOAT?”.

A humorous steampunk-style illustration of a man with a handlebar mustache, wearing a top hat and goggles, calmly adjusting his cravat. In the background, there is a chaotic scene of gears and a fiery explosion. The text above reads "EXPLOSION? IN THIS WAISTCOAT?" and the text below says "REMAIN DAPPER. ADJUST YOUR CRAVAT."

The central figure is a well-dressed man with a handlebar moustache, wearing a top hat with a pair of goggles perched on the brim, and another smaller pair of goggles over his eyes. He is adjusting his cravat, and his expression is one of calm composure. He is wearing a waistcoat, a suit jacket, and a collared shirt.

The background is a chaotic, mechanical scene. To his left, there is a large, complex machine with numerous visible gears and pipes. In the upper-left corner, a dirigible floats in the sky. To his right, behind his shoulder, there is a large explosion or burst of fire and smoke. Despite the chaos, the man remains unfazed.

The caption at the bottom of the image, in the same bold, capitalised font, reads “REMAIN DAPPER. ADJUST YOUR CRAVAT.”

The meme’s meaning is to convey a sense of calm and unflappable confidence in the face of chaos, disaster, or overwhelming stress. The man’s meticulous attention to his cravat, while a literal explosion happens behind him, serves as a metaphor for maintaining one’s composure and priorities, no matter how dire the circumstances. The steampunk aesthetic adds a quirky, anachronistic layer to the humour.

Victorian-style illustration of a calm woman holding a teacup and biscuit in front of a mechanical wall exploding with sparking cables. She appears unfazed. Text reads: “Sabotage on Deck Three? One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.”

One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.

By

On August 3, 2025

In Captain's Log, Early memes

🧭 Meme Entry: Sabotage on Deck Three?

Facebook Caption: One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.

Believe it or not, AI helped with this sketch without any artisans being harmed.

First posted 6th May 2025.

Victorian-style illustration of a calm woman holding a teacup and biscuit in front of a mechanical wall exploding with sparking cables. She appears unfazed. Text reads: “Sabotage on Deck Three? One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.”

🖼️ Image Description:

In a richly detailed, Victorian-style etched illustration, a woman in late 19th-century attire stands with an air of calm resolve, holding a delicate teacup and a biscuit mid-dunk. She wears a high-necked dress with intricate embroidery and a pendant watch on a chain. Her expression is completely composed — almost bored.

Behind her, the airship’s mechanical interior has erupted into chaos. A tangle of thick, writhing pipes and cables has exploded in sparks, clearly suggesting sabotage or malfunction. Despite this dramatic event, the woman remains unfazed, fully focused on the critical matter of tea and biscuits.

Text at the top reads: “Sabotage on Deck Three?”

Below: “One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.”

Hashtags at the bottom include: #airshiplife #steampunghumor #biscuitfirst #shipboardmanners

🧐 Meme Explanation:

This meme is a celebration of steampunk stoicism and utterly misplaced priorities — in the best way possible.

Faced with what appears to be a catastrophic mechanical failure aboard an airship, our character chooses calm, civility, and biscuit protocol over panic. The phrase “One problem at a time” underscores the absurd but relatable sentiment: yes, sabotage is happening — but first, the tea ritual must be completed.

Like earlier entries in the series, this image exaggerates British manners to the point of parody, poking fun at the cultural impulse to remain composed even in the most ridiculous of emergencies. It also subtly satirises modern burnout culture — where crises pile up, yet we’re still told to “stay calm and carry on”… or at least finish our snack.

The disclaimer “AI helped with this sketch without any artisans being harmed” playfully acknowledges the AI-generated nature of the artwork, reinforcing the Automaton Improvisation aesthetic that runs throughout this meme series.

An old-fashioned styled, cross-hatched illustration depicts a well-dressed man with a mustache and goggles, calmly sipping tea from a cup. Behind him, a large airship is dramatically on fire and crashing. The text above reads "PANIC? IN THIS OUTFIT?" and below, "ABSOLUTELY NOT. FINISH YOUR TEA."

Always Finish Your Tea…

By

On July 29, 2025

In Captain's Log, Early memes

Original post.

Always finish your tea…

Believe it or not, AI helped with this sketch without any artisans being harmed

Facebook 29th April 2025.

This one went viral, clocking up a thousand reactions.

This meme humorously juxtaposes British composure with a dramatic scene. The central figure is a well-dressed gentleman with a moustache and goggles, calmly holding a teacup while a large airship behind him is on fire and crashing. The detailed, old-fashioned art style adds to the absurdity of the situation, emphasising his nonchalant demeanour.

An old-fashioned styled, cross-hatched illustration depicts a well-dressed man with a mustache and goggles, calmly sipping tea from a cup. Behind him, a large airship is dramatically on fire and crashing. The text above reads "PANIC? IN THIS OUTFIT?" and below, "ABSOLUTELY NOT. FINISH YOUR TEA."

The text plays on British stereotypes, with the top line asking, “PANIC? IN THIS OUTFIT?” and the bottom line insisting, “ABSOLUTELY NOT. FINISH YOUR TEA.” The humour lies in the extreme composure of the man amidst chaos, making it relatable to those who strive to maintain normalcy in stressful situations. Overall, it highlights a dry, understated humour through the contrasting reactions to disaster.

image in an etched style of a steampunk dragon (based on a statue) and an airship in midi flight over a town.

Dragon or Airship, you decide?

By

On July 29, 2025

In Captain's Log, Early memes

From original post.

If you had to choose…

Would you rather ride a mechanical dragon or command a mighty airship across the skies?

Vote below or tell me your dream ride in the comments!

(No wrong answers — just pure steampunk adventure.)

About the feature image:

This fine Victorian sketch was brewed up with a dash of imagination, a splash of AI wizardry, and a full tank of steam!

– Facebook 28 April 2025

image in an etched style of a steampunk dragon (based on a statue) and an airship in midi flight over a town.

This is probaly the first time I used the etched style everyone seems to love. The dragon image is the automaton’s rendition of a bronze finished resin-cased statue that you can get your hands on from here** and here**. 😀

This was probably the trend setter for the “Captains Log” memes.

** Sponsored affiliate links. I may earn commission on any purchases.

Should Tea be served on an airship?

Should Tea be served on an airship?

By

On July 19, 2025

In Captain's Log

Original caption:

Should Tea be served on an airship?

Answer in comments, please.

Image created with the aid of Chat-GPT AI. Please note, no artisans were harmed in its making.

Should Tea be served on an airship? With an image of Victorian and Steampunk-clad people sitting down for tea on/beneath an airship. Describe this meme.

Should Tea be served on an airship?

The meme “Should Tea be Served on an Airship?” features a Victorian and Steampunk scene where elegantly dressed individuals enjoy tea at a lavish table while an airship soars overhead. This contrast between the tea ceremony and the adventurous air travel invites viewers to ponder the charm of sipping tea among the clouds, blending nostalgia and fantasy for fans of tea culture and Steampunk aesthetics.

This is my first time creating and using the old publication etched drawing image style.

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