Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for February 12, 2015

Check, mate!

Sounds like a “NO” to me!

Those two are way too cozy.

See, Sprocket knows she could make a living doing car restoration. She’d go straight, but Silver never would. Scammers are greedy. I don’t think Silver will live past the end of this tale, as someone was saying yesterday, but I could see Sprocket joining the good side.

Here’s the song the Nitrates are singing …

I see that sibling rivalry Mrs. FT thought about clicking in! AR, you are dead on about the Nitrate’s being way too cozy. If Stanton and Curtis were allowed to do it, I’d bet there would be a pretty twisted backstory about that relationship.

Awww, isn’t that sweet. Maybe in a couple of days they can be slow dancing, for Valentine’s Day.

Good morning to all @Neil Wick: same opinion. Y’all have a fun filled day my friends.

Wondering if the Nitrates are at least partly inspired by the Ultimate Universe versions of Marvel Comic’s Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

It’s the dancing.

And that they’re touchie-feelie siblings.

Oh, and of course the hair …

Dick Tracy vs. Magneto? Who’d win?

In the Tracyverse, we know who’s the Master of Magnetism …

Any chance he has long-lost kids?

Or would that be too on-the-nose?

Well, at least we now know that Sprocket can smile……

Don’t overdo it, Sprocket.

happy, happy, happy !

Good morning guys!

Another song and dance? Where’s Lena? Where am I? Outer Limits? Twilight Zone? So many questions! So few answers! Someone help me!

Listen to Sprocket!

Morning, Tracyville!

Sprocket would quit the scams at any time if not for her affinity with her brother. But with Silver, it’s not the money that keeps him going, it’s the thrill. It’s the adrenalin rush. It’s just something that’s in his blood.

Hurry up and deposit that check, it’s shrinking before our eyes!

Now wait a minute. Should we really think Stilletta is going to let them keep the huge amount on that check? Hmmm…

I wish Joe and Mike would take a week or two to give a little back history on the Nitrates. It’s been established that they’re extremely close. What was their childhood like? What led them to a life of crime, why does Sprocket avoid shoes and socks? When, how and why did Lena become a part of their household? I think it would be a worthwhile detour from the main story.

Yeah, I remember leaving Judy Virginia and got knocked to the floor! Jus’ kidding! Be careful! You coming through Houston?

Silver should take Sprocket more seriously. She is clearly the brains and talent of this cozy duo; Silver is nothing more than a second-rate con man. But why would Stiletta give them a check for apparently big bucks when she as yet hasn’t even seen her cherished car? I continue to think not all Stiletta’s cards are on the table. Dance while ye may, my naive babes-in-crimeland!

@Gweedo: have a safe trip my friend.

@Anyface: thanks for the trip down memory lane.

I find myself liking the Nitrates more and more. And I’m guessing their back story would be pretty twisted, like phinnmam said.

What I meant to say was I was leaving Judy for Virginia. You could take that several ways!

Wow, what we don’t know…

Rikki led me inside, Gweedo. She said that we would see “Poltergeist” the movie there. There’s a yellow brick road in sight. Should I follow that road?

Who is Timmy?

I find myself liking the Nitrates more and more. And I’m guessing their back story would be pretty twisted, like phinnmam said.I would love to take a detour into their backstory!

These characters, and Doubleup or whatever his name is, are the least interesting ever to appear in the DICK TRACY strip.

I find these characters interesting enough. I don’t have a problem with them but I still hope there comes a time when they either die or get locked away for good. They have to pay for their crimes somehow. It’s been a constant refrain through the history of this strip that “crime doesn’t pay” and if villains constantly re-appear, scot-free, that whole premise is ruined.

You hear the voice, too, Gweedo?

Yeah I’ll be the voice of dissent here and say I think the problem lies not with the Nitrates, but with too many minds in the gutter, sorry. It’s not a scene similar to the KandiKane/Vitamin one…..these two have just received a check for a fortune, they’re the only two THERE, and their overcome with joy……what, exactly, is wrong with their reaction? BECAUSE they’re brother and sister, they probably think nothing OF what they’re doing. It’s a lonnnnng way from that to what else everyone is inferring…

And the answer to whether Stilletta’s check is good lies in how wealthy SHE is, and whether or not it is a lot of money to HER. By her earlier reference to them as small time, it probably isn’t.

Hmmm… I can’t reply to your request, Gweedo. Did you cast a spell on me? Yes, let’s go home and call it a night.

The song is “Dance Hall Days” by Wang Chung.

A good song by one of my all time favorite groups: the Monkees. Although I do have to say, Head was one odd movie!

Tracy will make a Monkee out of them!

Intro (skip if you’ve already read any of the previous intros):

Hello, greetings, casual readers of past Tracy stories. I’m here because I’m on 2 missions. The first is something I’ve never done before, read each Tracy story by Mike Curtis (or his occasional guest writer) in one sitting each. I feel his stories are worth it. IMHO, Curtis is by far the best post-Gould writer this strip has ever had, and we’re all lucky to have him.

My second mission is to provide an immediately useful Featured Comment whenever needed. My 3 friends below will reply to me. You can read their replies if you like, but their only real purpose is to bump up this comment to the Featured Comment.

There are 2 basic types of immediately useful Featured Comments: the first type is to provide you with a Mumblespeak translator when needed. The other type (this type) is anytime that day’s strip quotes a real song. I will provide an html to a recording to that song so you’ll know the tune even if you’ve never heard it before.

End Intro

The song the Nitrates are singing and dancing to is The Porpoise Song by the Monkees. You can find a video for it here:

https://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=4fQ85VjQhDA