Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for June 19, 2015

Good morning guys!

VistaBill in da house! :)

Well, that’s ONE way to put bullies in their place I suppose…..

Young Doubleup really looks like Pugsley Addams today.

Dr. Frederick Wertham would feel totally validated by today’s events.

Pretty sure Joe is inking this week’s strips.

Doubleup’s story sad as it isReminds us that the choice was still hisTo respond to the hurt and pain that he feltWith a worse set of cards from the deck that he dealtTwo wrongs are never right yet more often than notThe response to being bullied will affect quite a lotIf only we would learn to live and let liveWho knows how much good each of us has to giveDoubleup’s decision to respond with so much rageIs regrettable that he missed the point of the comics pageA hero isn’t someone who can administer greater painBut the one who stands tall Despite the hurt of it allIs the one who’ll lead the world to greater gain.

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My attempt to convey the point that being bullied is never an excuse to turning into one.

“My attempt to convey the point that being bullied is never an excuse to turning into one.”I started to write a comment along the same lines, but then I noticed you had already expressed my sentiments exactly. Bully for you, avenger09!

He actually blinded the ringleader! That’s pretty vicious.

It goes to prove how dangerous a weapon a bullwhip can be, even in the hands of a young boy. Maybe Tracy was justified locking him up after all, if the violation of his bail was possession of a dangerous weapon. Even with a pleas of self defence, if you’re not allowed a weapon, you’re not allowed a weapon.

Tough childhood. Doubleup as a child was a survivor. It’s his adult choices that should worry us now.

Strangely enough I’m not sure if the current laws cover any other weapon besides a gun. I will often hear on the news that a criminal was charged with a crime “and possession of a gun by a felon.”; although Doubleup is just as deadly with his bullwhip.

I bet he spent some bad time in juvie after that , setting him further on the path downward.

He probably didn’t intend to blind the ringleader, he just didn’t think before he struck him/her.

@ Marcus—Intent or not, there are consequences. Doubleup got the rep he craved—the bullies left him alone. But the only way he could feel important—to continue to get that high; was to continue down the path of inflicted pain.

Oh, wow! DoubleUp tells it so matter-of-factly, in so low a key. He blinded the leader of the bullies and put two others in the hospital!Was he expelled from school? Sent to juvenile detention? One can see the beginning of the spiral downward here. So stark it is. I would expect even Blaze to shudder at this chiller….

This is “my take” on the relationship between Doubleup and Blaze…for anyone who cares.

Doubleup has come to trust Blaze,NOT because she is gay and he is “secretly gay” (I wish to GOD people would stop throwing this out there..it annoys the living hell out of me ‘making characters gay’) but I believe he admires her LOYALTY

When Tracy and Sam closed in on him, instead of running and leaving him, Blaze called him to tell him to get out of the building, nd just a couple days ago she xcused herself from a meeting with Mr Bigg..seemingly unfazed about the bonus… to make sure Doubleup got bailed out of jail.

I think the fact that they both have an affinity for whips is just one of the things that they have in common…aside from being cold blooded killers of course, lol.

Maybe Doubleup sees in Blaze the innocence that he lost that day years ago in the alley, and he doesn’t want HER to end up like he did?

Many have already guessed that the next part of this story will have to do with bullying. Today’s episode sure seems to back that up..Having read the strip not long after midnight (no computer until the morning), I misread the last panel. Originally, I was under the impression that perhaps Mike and Joe were going to turn Doubleup into a sympathetic character, sympathetic character..Now that he’s proven himself as a detective (helping corral Jimmy and the gold), if he were to turn over a new leaf, he might be a welcome newcomer to the MCU! MCU!

FROM Yesterday afternoon . . .. .

Feels like I’d being bitten" by a Shark between two Waves *!One from NightShade09 the other from Neil W ;- )<p.Yesterday - EARLIER, I had ‘responded’ to a post by Kantuck Nadie Nata-Akon who had simply said:

" That would be me. I speculated about how Blaze was more comfortable with him, than others And I speculated that it was because of sexuality POSSIBILITIES" . . . (my emphasis on the last words as THAT’S what ‘triggered’ my response)

Basically, I didn’t see ANY, Blaze has repeatedly been portrayed (hinted as) a sexual deviant, while there’s not been one iota (or even nuance) to ‘suggest’ thatDoubleup is Other than “straight”. Yes! They are being congenial to each other, quite possible without a sexual componentIf the Authors wanted a Cloud of “uncertainty” to ‘hang’ over his sexual orientation, they would have put one there. And they - haven’t !A lecture on the ‘concealing benefits’ of Machisimo doesn’t make him a Queer !

I responded to the above, not some days ‘earlier’ statement . . .And then further pointed out, what might be NECESSARY, if Blaze desired to ‘Fan’ any (sexual) “possibilities”. that Nadie might have (somehow?) ‘perceived’ !

My colleagues need to get together to decide Who Said What

1) NightSshade09’s STATEMENT:

“Yesterday Kantuck suggested maybe Doubleup is gay, And that may be why Blaze feels more relaxed around him now.

Blaze knows he won’t be going predatory on her, or likely to be homophobic about her.I agree with her; it would account for the change in their relationship.”

2) Neil Wick’s STATEMENT:

“At no point did Blaze imply that Doubleup was gay, but if he were gay, she might feel more Comfortable around him because he might understand her better. That’s what Kantuck Nadie Nata-Akon was saying”.

Gweedo offered,I bet he can teach you how to whip Rikki into shape, Bill.-———————————————————————————-

We’re fine without any outside assistance. G’morning, Gweedo.

Bill! You’re still awake! ’morning!

It’s funny, yesterday we were discussing if Mike were trying to make Doubleup a sympathetic character.After reading this, I don’t find him sympathetic at all, only scarier to think he was doing this since childhood.

“The Scarlet Sting never blinded anyone – how was I supposed to know?”

GoComics considers it “making a personal attack”-—————————————————Thanks for the warning. I consider what I said giving fair warning.I also consider his using “deviant” and “queer” a personal attack.Maybe the moderator would rather I just flag him now. However they want me to play it.I try to never make a personal attack.But I almost never back down from one.

Life is a fight. But not everyone’s a fighter. Otherwise bullies would be an endangered species – Dell.

Good job, ave09. Bullies pray on others to enhance their own sense of worth. Some hope to mask their own insecurities by diminishing others. They love to spread the misery. I like that we’re getting more back-story to develop Doubleup’s character. I didn’t find him especially interesting in his first story, but he made a strong impression down on Wheaton’s farm. He took out Hy Pressure when he gave the wrong answer, wrong answer. His work with Blaze, coupled with this flashback, renders him a more complex character, albeit not a sympathetic one.

Good morning Tracy fans.-———My left eye is about the same today.-——-@avenger09:: most excellent poem today.-——-@Pequod77, et al: many fine comments today.-——-Have an awesome day my friends.

Good poem today, Av.

Thanks to everyone who liked and will like today’s poem. Granted the issue of bullying is very complex but by his response Doubleup allowed himself to turn into the very type of person he hated, someone who no longer deserves our sympathy but our scorn. Just one man’s opinion.

I noticed a short time ago, that I have an occassional small clear spot in the upper vision area of my left eye. Your prayers and best wishes are working, my friends.

“One more thing.You want to hate somebody, leave it at the door.The next time I see you wave around “deviant” and “queer,” I’ll flag you the moment I see it.This is a friendly group here where we welcome everyone. Sure, we have our differences, and squabble.But going out of your way to offend is inexcusable. And I don’t care what group or person you want to attack. Leave it outside”-————————————————————————————————————.

Woo Hoo . . . ;- ) And sadly, not even part of a SHADOW cast by Voltaire ! ?

First thing - that came to mind on reading that, was to assume a big “Burst” of Sugar in somebody’s MCU coffee cup this morning ! ?

It’s a new First for me, being accused of HATE speech on a Dick Tracy board, and worse being threatened with flagging for using words like“DEVIANT” and “QUEER”. One needs to ‘check’ the Dictionary, the ‘meanings’ are hardly more potent than “GAY”, “HOMOSEXIAL” or “LESBIAN” Words bandied about quite freely. I’ll certainly use them again when appropriate . . . If it makes you feel better, feel free to Flag them. I won’t mind and . . . I imagine Leigh the Editor (is he still with us?), won’t ‘mind’ either (?) Much ado . . . ?

Was I ‘expected’ to do an impersonation of Mr. Pappy aka Shaky or Quiver Trembly ? Really. I did feel more like Doubleup, and about to roll over on the floor with Laughter !

No wish to sound, or BE rude. But you speak of ‘WE’, - as if there had been a meeting of sorts. Were you delegated to speak on behalf of others ?

As I recall, my original post was a ‘response’, one directed to Kantuck Nadie Nata-Akon - providing information relevant to hers.She even seemed to ‘appreciate’ the reproduction of that (earlier) 2011 – Doubleup Sunday page ! ? Said so in a post !

Subsequently, you ‘chose’ to enter the conversation, as too did Neil Wick. No harm ! Personally, happy to have you both express opinions. That’s what we are all here for !It’s just that I’d ‘noted’ that an early sentence in your post, (on Doubleup’s sexual disposition) did not seem to conform very well with*his* ?

Often your views are ‘similar’ (Great minds think alike?) So I thought it might be useful occasionally to compare notes !

My B.I.L. George is doing a little better but is still to weak for any treatment for his cancer. Hopefully he’ll continue to gain strength. Thank you everyone for your prayers and well wishes.

Everyone needs to take a deep breath and count to 10. Maybe 20. Let’s all just “chill out”!

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How far have we sunk if I’m the voice of reason! LOL!

“Everyone needs to take a deep breath and count to 10”-——————————————————

Well ‘assuming’ that was also meant for me . . . Absolutely Nothing to Worry About Ave09 !

I’ve been around a long time, and while I can’t speak for others, I’m not upset in the slightest. You might say, I’ve already counted beyond nine, and indeed, have already “EXHALED” !

Focus on tomorrows ‘verse’, you’re really getting better every day !

@*cheapskate0*Not “guessed,” cheapskate0; the bullying theme was specifically announced on the GoComics Blog for 9 June 2015.

@avenger09: I’m glad George is getting better. I’m praying for a cure. Have a peaceful night, my friend.

@NyukNyuk2000Frankly, I sort of disagree with you. I like it when some great new villains show up, but I also think it’s great when some classic villains put in an apperance from time to time.

I have no problem with various links to the long history of the strip, as long as there’s a lot of new stuff to balance it out and we are not actually bringing people back who were confirmed dead. (I don’t have a problem with Mr. Bribery if this turns out to indeed be him.)

Gweedo kindly replied,You guys are the most stable couple I know, Bill.-——————————————————————-

Gee, thanks Gweedo. Appears to be a war going on here. I’ll stay away from the firefight!

What’s got Syd all up in a bunch? I must have been Z-z-z-ing! Syd, you OK?

Appears to be appropriate at this time…Everytime you feel yourself getting pulled into other people’s nonsense, repeat these words,NOT MY CIRCUS,NOT MY MONKEYS—Polish Proverb-Good night guys.

Love the proverb, VistaBill!

@Gweedo “It’s always legal somewhere”: will do. I’m turning in. It’s past my bedtime. Pleasant dreams y’all.

It may be wrong but as a former victim of bullying part of me finds it a bit hard to fault him.