Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for October 31, 2012

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN

WOW! Good Morning and Happy Halloween Detectives!Maybe Gertie and Measles will bury the hatchet (preferably upside his head would work!)

TRICK OR TREAT!

Everyone loves that Jack Nicholson schtick!

Kind of a reversal though. In The Shining, Jack Nicholson had the ax. In fact he used it to chop through the door. Now Gertie has the ax, and it may be the last thing Measles ever sees.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!(I wonder how many of these they sold in the day?)

“It could get a little ‘messy’.”

Minor criticism: the chair Gertie had used to block the door is (in this version) purple in panel but tan in panel 3. In the Comics Kingdom version, it is consistently blue.My money is on Gravel Gertie and her axe; she is the ferocious momma bear, guarding her young; look at her expression in panel 2! Measles is gonna regret his bad movie madness!

Gertie better throw that axe, he’s got his handgun at the ready… That door must have wood rot, to shatter like that! -

The art is getting better and more Gould-like everyday, for instance, the ink lines are closer to Gould’s and more importantly, the comic book type dark “crosshatches” the artists were using a year ago, are now being replaced by large deep blacked-out areas, just the way Gould did it!

The element of surprise is a wonderful thing but Measles didn’t have it, Gertie does! Forewarned is forearmed! I believe she has a cure for that nasty forehead problem, Measles…

Good morning guys. The third and last panel is wonderful!! Shining!!

Measles has appeared to give a Halloween scare, kicking down the door to Gertie’s lair. Sans mask or costume, he’s a ghastly, dreadful sight; Sparkle and Jewel both cower in fright. Tracy is racing to get there in time; fearless and skilled at fighting all crime. Gertie stands ready with her sharpened axe; Measles has earned some Halloween whacks. He’s feeling no pain, thanks to the morphine patch. He’s vowed revenge and Gertie seems no match. A junkie with a gun will have things his way, if no help arrives to save the day. It’s a spooky, dreadful, evil Halloween. Thanks to “Team Tracy” for creating this great scene.

Yikes! Pretty scary image.

Poor Gertie…bringing an axe to a gun fight…

Good morning all…

Getting back to normal after Sandy.

Looks like those ti bo lessons paid off, Measles.

Let’s hope that axe hit him right between the eyes!

This arc has been consistently great, art & story both. But, today is just the icing on the cake (or would that be caramel on the candy apple?) It’s one of those where you think, “Tomorrow can’t get here soon enough!” Thank you, Team Tracy! Happy Halloween, Everyone! And, VistaBill, I’m glad that everything turned out well for you!

Today’s strip is another great treat (not trick!) from Joe Staton and Mike Curtis. Thanks guys!

You’re right, SDM!Measles did have the gun in his left hand when he shot Bookie. He also used his left when he was eating pizza a few days ago, so he’s probably one of the few southpaws in comics. Of course, he looks like he’s bracing himself with his left arm as he kicks in the door, and it probably wouldn’t be wise to try doing that while holding a gun – but then, nothing he’s done so far has been very smart!

“Happy Halloween” indeed!I hate to say it, but I don’t think Gertie’s going to make it through this. Her only chance at Measles would be if she got the drop on him, and she’s clearly too far from the door.I’m just surprised the Plenty’s haven’t got an aresnal of shotguns and rifles, from BO’s hunting days.

The pain patches are Fentanyl transdermal patches, strong opiates. I bet Measels slaped on a couple all at once hopeing to a quick high(only one to be used every 12-48 hours). He’ll pass out/die OD’ed just as Tracy and Gertie are aboutb to off him.A Berkeley, CA Veterinarian and Tracy fan from the old NY Daily News days(late 50’s on).

Inigo Montoya: I admit it, you are better than I am. Man in Black: Then why are you smiling? Inigo Montoya: Because I know something you don’t know. Man in Black: And what is that? Inigo Montoya: I… am not left-handed!

I REALLY like the darkened areas, it captures the feel of the Gould strips while maintaining the artists’ vision. Excellent three panel pacing this week.

However, the Plenty’s do have shotguns as evidenced in the Fall 1976 story introducing Perfume Plenty(another “where are they now” character).

Happy Halloween all, and Good morning VB – nice to see you weathered the storm. Home and family made it through safe and sound I trust!

This story is moving really fast!! and I like it like that!!! Hope Tracy get there as fast! Can’t have too many exclamation points for this strip!!

Measles reminds me of those two nutjobs that did the bank holdup in (I think TX) about a decade ago. Hopped up on drugs, having bullet proof vests, hundreds if not thousands of rounds of ammo and military M16s, that shot at the police for hours before finally blowing their own brains out.

Sorry Measles, hope you made out a will cause you’ve had your last pill fooling w/ Gravel, and her family she’s protecting. I don’t think even DT’s gonna be able to save your sorry rump.

Good riddance to a big patch of pound scum!

Way to go Curtis and Staton!

Watch out Gertie! Last I checked, a speeding bullet trumps an axe.

I wonder how much merchandise Measles has partaken of – if he’s hopped up, battering down the door wouldn’t be too much of an issue, and it will take a lot to put him down for good…

Happy Halloween, all! I’m going Trick-or-Treating at Morgueritem’s house first!

You’re right. I apologize.There was a lot of anger going around, and I gave in to my share. I should have remembered my manners, and kept my mouth shut – that is, my fingers off the keyboard.