Outside Bigg’s suite Cops bring the heat. Criminals collectedWhat Bribery has stashed away few would have suspected.Soon in flight, as things aren’t right. Been down this road beforeMade his body double pay when trouble stalked his door.Fiends fly free, as all can see. Packet made quite an impressionJettisoned from the Space Coupe. Trust was his transgression.Were Christine here she would not fear. She was a stand up galSans his Kitty things sure aren’t pretty, a rose Bigg’s only pal.Hard to lose the gold this way, easy come means easy goNot like he’s now a pauper, globally exists stashed dough.Climb into a rare Air Car, make haste from the Ace TowerWhat Police put in mothballs, gives Bigg Houdini power.Cool night air, a breeze so fair, Bigg cannot help but sighDeath and danger in his wake, he sings “Live and Let Die.”
Doesn’t really matter who was first to put the idea forward, because SO many guessed that Bribery’s getaway would involve an air car! So, congrats to all of you. (I really had no idea, one way or another.) Sorry to see the predicament that Mumbles is in, even though Mumbles meeting Punjab is a classic scene! Hope he survives!
Mumbles: Come on you guys! Let’s take that ’copter on the roof.
It seems that Mumbles was hanging back but now he’s aheah of everyone. I don’t think he’ll be “disappeared.” Punjab doesn’t have much time or patience for these “miscreants” — especially ones with bad diction!
Great seeing that air car, I’ll have to admit. Diet Smith did say he was disassembling all of the Moon technology, but you can’t use an air car to go to the Moon, so that is why the air cars have not been destroyed, I think.
By the way, Mike has said several times that he like to use music for inspiration. It seems that Mr. Bribery has been inspired by the James Bond movie, Live and Let Die.
By the way, the main bad guy in Live and Let Die is “Mr. Big.” Here is Paul McCartney and Wings performing Live and Let Die: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK2hKzZss5Y
Mumbles might get a speech therapy courtesy of Punjab. It is not only Dick Tracy who has a gift. It looks like Mumbles also has this gift of saving his skin. He was last on the stairs and now he is first on the 6th floor. Too bad Punjab was there to greet him. Still no explanation on how the explosion happened. I was also expecting to see T-Bolt still sprawled on the floor. Bribery/Bigg probably got the air car from an auction of the police department scrapped vehicles. I see an air chase coming.Thank you, Peqoud. I missed the daily dose of verses here. That’s one of the things I enjoy here. Only if GoComics did not switch back to standard time ahead of schedule, avenger09 would have been filling the void.
So, Mr. Bigg had somehow got his hands on a police air car! And now he hopes to escape by means of it? We shall see. He hasn’t escaped until he’s truly escaped!Meanwhile, Punjab has Mumbles under control. Maybe he’ll do some tongue-loosening exercises on him….
From Monday thru Saturday I read Dick Tracy on a different site. I only come here on Sunday to read what Pequod haswritten, which is a bonus & always done well!
T-Bolt may or may not be Lee Ebony, but if she’s taken into custody, it’s also opportunity for her to be brought in for debriefing without blowing her cover story.
Particularly useful if Bribery remains “out there” somewhere.
This just wasn’t Mumbles’ day. First he was beaten senseless by a woman and stuffed in a closet, and now he’s run into Punjab. “Urk!” is right!Adding insult to injury, Punjab’s retort is a classic:“Your diction is terrible, miscreant! Has someone shortened your tongue?”Haha!
Bribery’s arm placement seems wrong. Should his handhold be down lower od the controls, and the part where he has his hands should be under his armpits? This doesn’t look like the classic air car design.
An air car!I didn’t think Mike would do it, but it’s logical, considering how many elements from this story are straight from the 60’s! And the art today is classic stuff. Punjab vs. Mumbles (“Has someone shortened your tongue?”)! Mr. Bigg’s great escape (especially the silhouette in that last panel)!Thank you, Team Tracy!
“Live and Let Fly.” Bribery flies the coupe with an air car. What fun! We saw an air car in storage at Smith Industries on 12/21/12. It makes sense that if Diet can be kidnapped from his living quarters, his warehouse can be infiltrated. Time for Smith to rethink his security arrangements. Honey was pleased to get a glimpse of the forbidden tech. Of course, Bribery wasn’t in the picture at the time. It is great to have Bribery back in the strip. Gould gave him a ton of personality. Team Tracy has once again done the past proud with a dynamic, fresh strip. Time has slowed in Ace Tower, much to our benefit.
It seems the air car’s “crutches” are drawn more as handles, which makes sense. Air cars were already in the strip when I began pilfering the Sunday comics. I thoroughly enjoyed the sci-fi elements, although I did ask my father how Tracy broke his leg. Punjab is my favorite Annie character. Even more than his witty put-down of Mumbles, I love the presence of a Wizard in Tracyville. Thanks to cpalmeresq, Neil Wick, 22ph, Night-Gaunt49, Gweedo (nice!), fhofmann, Chris Sherlock, Morrow, Willy007 and Jonathan K. for the kind words. Very much appreciated!
Guys, am I the only one here who thinks these two current writers are the best the strip has had since the Gould era? They do a good job of creating new villains and refrencing old time favorites like Mr. Bribery. Today’s strip is awesome!
Okay, so we’ve shifted from “Die Hard” to James Bond! :) That does make more sense, given the sci-fi nature of the current story arc. The means of escape being a (one-person) air car does explain why T-Bolt couldn’t come. I guess he was willing to sacrifice it in a helicopter escape.
Punjab’s comment was priceless, although we know there’s more than diction involved, since we recently found out that Mumbles writes in mumbles as well! (I think that if Mysta or Honey could pick up his thoughts, they would be in mumbles too! LOL)
I too was thinking that Bribery was handling the car oddly, but we must also take into account that he may have modified the controls somewhat.
Although that could be a bad mistake. I’m sure Smith Industries fully de-bugged their cars before giving them to the police dept. Smith reminds me more of Steve Jobs, than Bill Gates. (IE: Quality vs slop together, and let the customers debug for us.
@seanyj: Agreed, absolutely. Team Tracy is first-rate, and they have the awards and fan accolades to prove it.@bagert: Funny. To telepathically intercept Mumbles’ mumbles would likely sound like gibberish. @Kantuck Nadie Nata-Akon: Yes. The published IDW editions are up to 1959. I am very much looking forward to the 1960s in premier quality. I hope that as IDW creates the ‘60s volumes they get a writer for the introductions who embraces the fabulous decade of Gould’s work, rather than one who actively worked to undermine it.
YESTERDAY - PETERSANDY in a post, felt the need to note the ‘many similarities’ between the 2012 Mr. Crime story and the current structure of the Mr, Bribery tale
Baring any unforeseen events (still to come), he quite rightly did make some sound points. And some here, did see fit, to agree with much of what he said
_*Has anyone else noticed how the new Team Tracy stories always turn into a shout-out, usually with an It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World cast of villains from past and present running about?Think of the way this story is ending and the very similar Mr Crime arc. Lots of bang bang.I miss Gould’s sense of the chase. And the focus on one villain in this chase. And detection.
- Petersandy*_
I did not take this to mean that he had not been ‘enjoying’ the story. I imagine he and most of us have ! (?)
It seemed more of a yearning for Gould’s, “Crime, C-H-A-S-E, Capture” formula, and less of ‘Structural Story Remembrance’, so soon after a ‘similar’ major presentation in 2012.
Tom DeHaven who Mike admires, has often made reference to the importance of the CHASE sequence in Dick Tracy tales
As did Richard E. Marschall along with DeHaven in the Special NEMO ISSUE (# 17) on Chester Gould and Dick Tracy’
There’s been a suggestion that Mike’s ‘style’ doesn’t lend itself to that sort of tale structure. But how would he (or we) know unless he ‘actually’ tried it. The example on the Nitrates (Part1) seemed to go “quite well” !
It was a 2 and a half month tale, with an enjoyable ‘lively chase’, absorbing some 4 weeks of the 10. Nothing seriously wrong with that’
The Author decided he’d have them return and used input of ‘air tight’ features to the Flattop Jr car to allow survival under the Lake.
This first attempt went so well, he should try it again. Practice does make Perfect. And it broadens the ‘variety’ and ‘attraction’ of Teams offering on the strip !
Wouldn’t most agree ?
ANY NEW FACES ?
What petersandy likely also ‘noted’, (but did not say), was that ‘some half’ of the current Rogue caste, (the ‘Old Guard’) were the same foes from that 2012 tale, ‘recycled’ to appear again. And if you pause, and think about it, they have also been ‘around’ every year (4 years ‘plus’) since the new strips ‘start up’ in 2011 !
i.e. B-B Eyes, Mumbles, Doubleup, Blaze Rize (In a less kind moment, one thinks Batmanwith - Shades of Joker, Riddler, Two Face and Catwoman (not just a case of there, to “come back” - but always ‘around’ to attack)
The remainder, 3 Munro Bros, Méliés, Venus repeats (2 plus years) since 2013, Save for Apollo from 2014
For this tale, other than the unexpected reappearance of Bribery readers will find the only ‘new face’ to be Jimmy Choo Shooz
You’ve got to think the “Old Guard” (i.e.the B-B crowd) have run a ‘Marathon’. Time to rest them - for a ‘Long, l-o-n-g Time’ (?)
Although, Blaze may be needed for a next year story with Notta and Purdy ! ?
Feel sure most are looking forward to those New Faces ?
Speaking of which, it’s weird that MM never used her powers in those cartoons. The one you linked is typical, where she gets caught and tied up without offering any resistance. What’s up with that?Gweedo sez: P.C. against cartoon violence was already afoot.-————————————I remember that series having 3 short cartoons (about 6 min. each), plus bumpers with Archie and his friends. You can’t squeeze too much detectiving (or anything else) into that.Viewers have been complaining about TV violence from the 50’s. Remember The Untouchables?“The Dakotas” was pulled after complaints about an episode with a shootout in a church.Some things don’t change.
@SYDNEY PHILLIPS… The remainder, 3 Munro Bros, Méliés, Venus repeats (2 plus years) since 2013, Save for Apollo from 2014 …
I am not a big fan of “repeats” but I don’t really consider these characters as repeats but rather threads of a larger tapestry. I think that the broader story arc of most of these characters is now coming to a close. Many of them, if they haven’t died in the shootout, will be in jail for a long time. It’s not going to be so easy for most of the survivors to escape a jail term this time after Tracy and company’s careful investigation.
@SYDNEY PHILLIPS-I guess you’re one of the few here with big complaints about the story.I’ve been enjoying the shoot-out, and the almost non-stop action since it began. Stories often ended with gunfire in Gould’s day, too.-As for bad guys, why re-invent the wheel?If you’re doing a story about an organized crime gang, it makes sense to see some familiar faces, since they would want career criminals (professionals) in important posts.-By my count, this story has had 12 named bad guys:3 Gould created (Bribery, Mumbles and BB-Eyes)2 from past stories (Doubleup and Blaze) 7 specific to the Blackhearts (T-Bolt, Melies, Venus, Apollo, and the 3 surviving Munro Bros.) Yes, some have appeared before, but always in connection with the Blackhearts, so they should be in the finale.
For those speculating how far Punjab will go in taking the law into his own hands:Once, in the old Little Orphan Annie strips, Oliver popped a guy in the jaw because of disparaging remarks the guy was making about a young woman Oliver was helping (treating like a daughter). The guy was having trouble waking up, and Oliver expressed concern to Punjab about the trouble he’d be in if the guy didn’t wake up. Punjab said: “Yes, Sahib. Is it not an annoyance sometime, to live in so well regulated a country?” But now that the Annie characters are friends of Dick Tracy, we have a difference of philosophy regarding law enforcement. This could prove interesting!
So Bribery pilfered a magnetic air car eh? Wonder where he’ll zip off to? And I’m betting that massive explosion will have something to do with that stolen gold Bribery had.
Gweedo noticed my mistake and said,Greewdo, indeed !-————————————————————————.Unintentional, Gweedo. I have been very tired the past week or so and my typing shows it! I can only offer my apologies.
As far as why the air-cars were phased out, I believe it was part of the elimination of the Space Era references.According to a Wikipedia article, once humans actually landed on the Moon, the space stories became quickly outdated and were regarded as totally ludicrous. Beginning in the early 1970s, Moon references were gradually phased out, culminating in the death of the real Mysta. The Lunarians and their technology were written out of the story and Honeymoon became just another secondary background character with no mention of her Lunarian heritage.
I commented on Punjab’s violent tendencies last night as I believe he should concentrate on protecting the people he cares about and not getting rid of criminals which could get him in a lot of trouble if this was real life. My main point remains that I’d rather see Tracy & Co. do the arresting. This is their job. It might be entertaining to see Honeymoon blasting people but it shouldn’t become a habit. Don’t forget Junior warning her to leave crime fighting to the pros.
“I guess you’re one of the few here with big complaints about the story”_-——————————————————
Well, your sentence above didn’t appear with a question mark ? Seemed to arrive as a statement ?
Perhaps if you read the post again, you’d note the context was in responding to petersalandy, in which I also noted :
" did not take this to mean that he had not been ‘enjoying’ the story. I imagine he and *most of us have !"
Because the current story is GOOD and ‘enjoyable’, doesn’t mean - it couldn’t be better (say), next time round, with some other considerations.
Perhaps in your more ‘pristine’ World of Dick Tracy, it might seem perfectly normal for Tracy to have a “face off” with B-B Eyes every year . . . for 5 consecutive years ?
Most realize that Bob Kane ‘picked up’ several ‘ideas’ for his Batman creations from Dick Tracy . . .Yes, we can give the issue some “slack” . . .But really, I don’t think B-B Eyes should return each year like he’s the Joker ! ?
Read my post again . . .you will note it was written in the context of a reply to petersaladywho had made the point on repetition, with a ‘likeness’ to the Mr. Crime tale.I was not complaining about the shootout.
Allows ‘a lot’ underneath the cloth . . .<p.Yet in the 5 year time frame B-B Eyes, Doubleup and Blaze have each been in 3 distinctly different story lines, and further . . . have appeared in sequences in eack of the last 5 years !
But I’m okay now ! …….. I think.-———————————————————————-.Living in a crypt that is designed for the dead can be a problem. Abner does enjoy a nip of formaldehyde every now and again!
“Bill’s World of Electronics” kept me busy. Out with the ol and in with the new! First, there was the FiOS installation, then I installed W10 on Sunshine (W8.1 laptop)… easy! And along came Shadow 2 back from surgery in Texas. The malfunction machine was replaced so I had to go through the set up procedure. .Try boric acid for the spiders’ eyes..BTW, did you see the larger picture of Jo Ann I posted for you? Here ’tis again: http://billsrailroad.tripod.com/In_Memory_of_Jo_Ann_Raley/Jo_Ann_May_1960.jpg
That was on the same day as my picture on my current avatar was taken. We were at the sports car races in Cumberland Maryland. Original plan was to take my MG-A roadster but since we had the three day old 1960 Oldsmobile 98, we decided to take that. We were young and very much in love!
That singing at the end reminded me of that little quirk Putty Puss picked up which got me think that perhaps this wasn’t really Mr. Bribery but then I realized he was “in character” far too long to be Putty Puss (IIRC Putty Puss’s features at best hold for an hour)
Poor, sad eyes Venus, snared in an inescapable trapHer ending an oozing conclusion, shut the lights, it’s a wrapThe indignity of knowing that the last sounds she’ll ever hearAre pathetic words of pity from Dick Tracy is more than she can bearAlways taken for granted, thier roving eyes and filthy handsShe yearned to be independent, stand her ground and take a standShe lived her life as she chose, fast and hard with no regretShe leaves defiant to the end, so shed no tears or get upsetBut let it be know on this day that she goes She followed her path and always did her dutyAnd let her obituary say, on this dark and violent dayTwas the beast that finally killed the beauty.
Poor, sad eyes Venus, snared in an inescapable trapHer ending an oozing conclusion, shut the lights, it’s a wrapThe indignity of knowing that the last sounds she’ll ever hear Pathetic words of pity from Dick Tracy is more than she can bearAlways taken for granted, thier roving eyes and filthy handsShe yearned to be independent, stand her ground and take a standShe lived her life as she chose, fast and hard with no regretShe leaves defiant to the end, so shed no tears or get upsetBut let it be know on this day that she goes She followed her path and always did her dutyAnd let her obituary say, on this dark and violent dayTwas the beast that finally killed the beauty.
As mentioned in my intro for the 7/3/15 strip, I have 2 basic goals in providing these immediately useful Featured Comments for later readers of these past stories: to provide Mumblespeak translation and html to any song the strip directly references. On this day, I provide both these functions.
“What’d he say?”
Mumblespeak Translator: He said, “Come on, you guys! Let’s take the copter on the roof!”
“What’d he say?”
Mumblespeak Translator: He said, “Urk!”
Mr. Bribery is known for his musical ditties. They usually don’t seem to be any real recognizable song. But for this day’s strip, he does seem to sing an actual tune, the classic song from the classic James Bond film Live and Let Die. I can provide no better html than to that film’s opening credits:
Pequod about 9 years ago
Outside Bigg’s suite Cops bring the heat. Criminals collectedWhat Bribery has stashed away few would have suspected.Soon in flight, as things aren’t right. Been down this road beforeMade his body double pay when trouble stalked his door.Fiends fly free, as all can see. Packet made quite an impressionJettisoned from the Space Coupe. Trust was his transgression.Were Christine here she would not fear. She was a stand up galSans his Kitty things sure aren’t pretty, a rose Bigg’s only pal.Hard to lose the gold this way, easy come means easy goNot like he’s now a pauper, globally exists stashed dough.Climb into a rare Air Car, make haste from the Ace TowerWhat Police put in mothballs, gives Bigg Houdini power.Cool night air, a breeze so fair, Bigg cannot help but sighDeath and danger in his wake, he sings “Live and Let Die.”
cpalmeresq about 9 years ago
Doesn’t really matter who was first to put the idea forward, because SO many guessed that Bribery’s getaway would involve an air car! So, congrats to all of you. (I really had no idea, one way or another.) Sorry to see the predicament that Mumbles is in, even though Mumbles meeting Punjab is a classic scene! Hope he survives!
AnyFace about 9 years ago
Neil Wick about 9 years ago
Mumbles: Come on you guys! Let’s take that ’copter on the roof.
It seems that Mumbles was hanging back but now he’s aheah of everyone. I don’t think he’ll be “disappeared.” Punjab doesn’t have much time or patience for these “miscreants” — especially ones with bad diction!
stsparky about 9 years ago
I suspect he’s not going far …
Neil Wick about 9 years ago
Great seeing that air car, I’ll have to admit. Diet Smith did say he was disassembling all of the Moon technology, but you can’t use an air car to go to the Moon, so that is why the air cars have not been destroyed, I think.
By the way, Mike has said several times that he like to use music for inspiration. It seems that Mr. Bribery has been inspired by the James Bond movie, Live and Let Die.
Neil Wick about 9 years ago
By the way, the main bad guy in Live and Let Die is “Mr. Big.” Here is Paul McCartney and Wings performing Live and Let Die: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK2hKzZss5Y
AnyFace about 9 years ago
Bribery is singing again!
Will he get away Scott Free and make good on this daring Aerial Escape?!
22ph about 9 years ago
Mumbles might get a speech therapy courtesy of Punjab. It is not only Dick Tracy who has a gift. It looks like Mumbles also has this gift of saving his skin. He was last on the stairs and now he is first on the 6th floor. Too bad Punjab was there to greet him. Still no explanation on how the explosion happened. I was also expecting to see T-Bolt still sprawled on the floor. Bribery/Bigg probably got the air car from an auction of the police department scrapped vehicles. I see an air chase coming.Thank you, Peqoud. I missed the daily dose of verses here. That’s one of the things I enjoy here. Only if GoComics did not switch back to standard time ahead of schedule, avenger09 would have been filling the void.
Neil Wick about 9 years ago
I was also expecting to see T-Bolt still sprawled on the floor.
I think she may have crawled off to a safe place to recover.Sisyphos about 9 years ago
So, Mr. Bigg had somehow got his hands on a police air car! And now he hopes to escape by means of it? We shall see. He hasn’t escaped until he’s truly escaped!Meanwhile, Punjab has Mumbles under control. Maybe he’ll do some tongue-loosening exercises on him….
AnyFace about 9 years ago
Wonder where the Smith Industries’ ’copter that dropped Mysta off ended up.
AnyFace about 9 years ago
Mike and Joe might be thinking “Live & Let Die,” but as a true child of the ’60’s, This is the soundtrack I’m playing for Today’s Strip!
AnyFace about 9 years ago
Bribery should reverse engineer that Magnetic Air Car for commercial use, Like these guys obviously did.
MJKesquire about 9 years ago
From Monday thru Saturday I read Dick Tracy on a different site. I only come here on Sunday to read what Pequod haswritten, which is a bonus & always done well!
AnyFace about 9 years ago
T-Bolt may or may not be Lee Ebony, but if she’s taken into custody, it’s also opportunity for her to be brought in for debriefing without blowing her cover story.
Particularly useful if Bribery remains “out there” somewhere.
willy007 about 9 years ago
A magnetic air car??
AnyFace about 9 years ago
Didn’t Mike say that this storyline would introduce a new character who would be important “going forward” …?
Does “Mr. Bigg” count?
Or T-Bolt?
Where’s Notta?
And Purdey Fallar?
So many questions.
willy007 about 9 years ago
This just wasn’t Mumbles’ day. First he was beaten senseless by a woman and stuffed in a closet, and now he’s run into Punjab. “Urk!” is right!Adding insult to injury, Punjab’s retort is a classic:“Your diction is terrible, miscreant! Has someone shortened your tongue?”Haha!
AnyFace about 9 years ago
A little something featuring Magnetic Air Cars, Moon Maid, and Mumbles: Sort of wish these vignettes had been a full series onto themselves.
AnyFace about 9 years ago
In that particular episode, Mumbles stole “A Billion Dollars” in Gold Dust!
Sound familiar at all? :)
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 9 years ago
Good morning guys!.G’morning Greewdo, 22ph, and all the other fans.
sixam about 9 years ago
Bribery’s arm placement seems wrong. Should his handhold be down lower od the controls, and the part where he has his hands should be under his armpits? This doesn’t look like the classic air car design.
seanyj about 9 years ago
Mr. Bribery stole Dick Tracy’s old air car! The same one Tracy used to arrest him back in the ’60’s!
seanyj about 9 years ago
Haha! Punjab owned Mumbles!
willy007 about 9 years ago
Scenes of how Air Cars were operated back in the day:
William Neal McPheeters about 9 years ago
Punjab seems to be drawn too small when compared to Mumbles size. Am I correct?
Can't Sleep about 9 years ago
An air car!I didn’t think Mike would do it, but it’s logical, considering how many elements from this story are straight from the 60’s! And the art today is classic stuff. Punjab vs. Mumbles (“Has someone shortened your tongue?”)! Mr. Bigg’s great escape (especially the silhouette in that last panel)!Thank you, Team Tracy!
abdullahbaba999 about 9 years ago
Up, up and away,,
60sFan about 9 years ago
The return of the air car! Now that is a cool machine. I hope we see them often!
Kip W about 9 years ago
Still hoping Sam’s hat will come through here.
It’s about time someone criticized Mumbles’s diction. Maybe he didn’t know.
fhoffman01 about 9 years ago
More exciting developments today. I like seeing the police air car the best! Why did the police quit using them again?
Morrow Cummings about 9 years ago
Excellent work, PQ! It’s become your “norm”.
ajaxxphat about 9 years ago
An air car!!!??!! I’m happier to see it than Bribery is flying it!!!! The cool factor is very high today.
ajaxxphat about 9 years ago
Looks like no escape this time for Mumbles!
Jonathan K. and the Elusive Dream Girl about 9 years ago
Great poem and hilarious with the line “MCU may never catch Bigg-ery but ASCAP will !”
Rene_Simard about 9 years ago
" When buying via phone … …don’t give your credit card number unless you made the call "
What !?!? That does not make sense at all . If you’re on the phone I guess you’re the one having the credit card or if you , you , Oh ,never mind …
Pequod about 9 years ago
“Live and Let Fly.” Bribery flies the coupe with an air car. What fun! We saw an air car in storage at Smith Industries on 12/21/12. It makes sense that if Diet can be kidnapped from his living quarters, his warehouse can be infiltrated. Time for Smith to rethink his security arrangements. Honey was pleased to get a glimpse of the forbidden tech. Of course, Bribery wasn’t in the picture at the time. It is great to have Bribery back in the strip. Gould gave him a ton of personality. Team Tracy has once again done the past proud with a dynamic, fresh strip. Time has slowed in Ace Tower, much to our benefit.
It seems the air car’s “crutches” are drawn more as handles, which makes sense. Air cars were already in the strip when I began pilfering the Sunday comics. I thoroughly enjoyed the sci-fi elements, although I did ask my father how Tracy broke his leg. Punjab is my favorite Annie character. Even more than his witty put-down of Mumbles, I love the presence of a Wizard in Tracyville. Thanks to cpalmeresq, Neil Wick, 22ph, Night-Gaunt49, Gweedo (nice!), fhofmann, Chris Sherlock, Morrow, Willy007 and Jonathan K. for the kind words. Very much appreciated!
seanyj about 9 years ago
Guys, am I the only one here who thinks these two current writers are the best the strip has had since the Gould era? They do a good job of creating new villains and refrencing old time favorites like Mr. Bribery. Today’s strip is awesome!
Don Bagert Premium Member about 9 years ago
Okay, so we’ve shifted from “Die Hard” to James Bond! :) That does make more sense, given the sci-fi nature of the current story arc. The means of escape being a (one-person) air car does explain why T-Bolt couldn’t come. I guess he was willing to sacrifice it in a helicopter escape.
Punjab’s comment was priceless, although we know there’s more than diction involved, since we recently found out that Mumbles writes in mumbles as well! (I think that if Mysta or Honey could pick up his thoughts, they would be in mumbles too! LOL)
kantuck-nadie about 9 years ago
I too was thinking that Bribery was handling the car oddly, but we must also take into account that he may have modified the controls somewhat.
Although that could be a bad mistake. I’m sure Smith Industries fully de-bugged their cars before giving them to the police dept. Smith reminds me more of Steve Jobs, than Bill Gates. (IE: Quality vs slop together, and let the customers debug for us.
Pequod about 9 years ago
@seanyj: Agreed, absolutely. Team Tracy is first-rate, and they have the awards and fan accolades to prove it.@bagert: Funny. To telepathically intercept Mumbles’ mumbles would likely sound like gibberish. @Kantuck Nadie Nata-Akon: Yes. The published IDW editions are up to 1959. I am very much looking forward to the 1960s in premier quality. I hope that as IDW creates the ‘60s volumes they get a writer for the introductions who embraces the fabulous decade of Gould’s work, rather than one who actively worked to undermine it.
SYDNEY PHILLIPS about 9 years ago
YESTERDAY - PETERSANDY in a post, felt the need to note the ‘many similarities’ between the 2012 Mr. Crime story and the current structure of the Mr, Bribery tale
Baring any unforeseen events (still to come), he quite rightly did make some sound points. And some here, did see fit, to agree with much of what he said
_*Has anyone else noticed how the new Team Tracy stories always turn into a shout-out, usually with an It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World cast of villains from past and present running about?Think of the way this story is ending and the very similar Mr Crime arc. Lots of bang bang.I miss Gould’s sense of the chase. And the focus on one villain in this chase. And detection.
- Petersandy*_I did not take this to mean that he had not been ‘enjoying’ the story. I imagine he and most of us have ! (?)
It seemed more of a yearning for Gould’s, “Crime, C-H-A-S-E, Capture” formula, and less of ‘Structural Story Remembrance’, so soon after a ‘similar’ major presentation in 2012.
Tom DeHaven who Mike admires, has often made reference to the importance of the CHASE sequence in Dick Tracy tales
As did Richard E. Marschall along with DeHaven in the Special NEMO ISSUE (# 17) on Chester Gould and Dick Tracy’
There’s been a suggestion that Mike’s ‘style’ doesn’t lend itself to that sort of tale structure. But how would he (or we) know unless he ‘actually’ tried it. The example on the Nitrates (Part1) seemed to go “quite well” !
It was a 2 and a half month tale, with an enjoyable ‘lively chase’, absorbing some 4 weeks of the 10. Nothing seriously wrong with that’
The Author decided he’d have them return and used input of ‘air tight’ features to the Flattop Jr car to allow survival under the Lake.
This first attempt went so well, he should try it again. Practice does make Perfect. And it broadens the ‘variety’ and ‘attraction’ of Teams offering on the strip !
Wouldn’t most agree ?
ANY NEW FACES ?
What petersandy likely also ‘noted’, (but did not say), was that ‘some half’ of the current Rogue caste, (the ‘Old Guard’) were the same foes from that 2012 tale, ‘recycled’ to appear again. And if you pause, and think about it, they have also been ‘around’ every year (4 years ‘plus’) since the new strips ‘start up’ in 2011 !
i.e. B-B Eyes, Mumbles, Doubleup, Blaze Rize (In a less kind moment, one thinks Batman with - Shades of Joker, Riddler, Two Face and Catwoman (not just a case of there, to “come back” - but always ‘around’ to attack)
The remainder, 3 Munro Bros, Méliés, Venus repeats (2 plus years) since 2013, Save for Apollo from 2014
For this tale, other than the unexpected reappearance of Bribery readers will find the only ‘new face’ to be Jimmy Choo Shooz
You’ve got to think the “Old Guard” (i.e.the B-B crowd) have run a ‘Marathon’. Time to rest them - for a ‘Long, l-o-n-g Time’ (?)
Although, Blaze may be needed for a next year story with Notta and Purdy ! ?
Feel sure most are looking forward to those New Faces ?
Can't Sleep about 9 years ago
Speaking of which, it’s weird that MM never used her powers in those cartoons. The one you linked is typical, where she gets caught and tied up without offering any resistance. What’s up with that?Gweedo sez: P.C. against cartoon violence was already afoot.-————————————I remember that series having 3 short cartoons (about 6 min. each), plus bumpers with Archie and his friends. You can’t squeeze too much detectiving (or anything else) into that.Viewers have been complaining about TV violence from the 50’s. Remember The Untouchables?“The Dakotas” was pulled after complaints about an episode with a shootout in a church.Some things don’t change.
Neil Wick about 9 years ago
@SYDNEY PHILLIPS… The remainder, 3 Munro Bros, Méliés, Venus repeats (2 plus years) since 2013, Save for Apollo from 2014 …
I am not a big fan of “repeats” but I don’t really consider these characters as repeats but rather threads of a larger tapestry. I think that the broader story arc of most of these characters is now coming to a close. Many of them, if they haven’t died in the shootout, will be in jail for a long time. It’s not going to be so easy for most of the survivors to escape a jail term this time after Tracy and company’s careful investigation.Can't Sleep about 9 years ago
@SYDNEY PHILLIPS-I guess you’re one of the few here with big complaints about the story.I’ve been enjoying the shoot-out, and the almost non-stop action since it began. Stories often ended with gunfire in Gould’s day, too.-As for bad guys, why re-invent the wheel?If you’re doing a story about an organized crime gang, it makes sense to see some familiar faces, since they would want career criminals (professionals) in important posts.-By my count, this story has had 12 named bad guys: 3 Gould created (Bribery, Mumbles and BB-Eyes)2 from past stories (Doubleup and Blaze) 7 specific to the Blackhearts (T-Bolt, Melies, Venus, Apollo, and the 3 surviving Munro Bros.) Yes, some have appeared before, but always in connection with the Blackhearts, so they should be in the finale.
Ken in Ohio about 9 years ago
For those speculating how far Punjab will go in taking the law into his own hands:Once, in the old Little Orphan Annie strips, Oliver popped a guy in the jaw because of disparaging remarks the guy was making about a young woman Oliver was helping (treating like a daughter). The guy was having trouble waking up, and Oliver expressed concern to Punjab about the trouble he’d be in if the guy didn’t wake up. Punjab said: “Yes, Sahib. Is it not an annoyance sometime, to live in so well regulated a country?” But now that the Annie characters are friends of Dick Tracy, we have a difference of philosophy regarding law enforcement. This could prove interesting!
Starman1948 about 9 years ago
A peaceful Sunday to everyone.-——————-Punjab wins!-——————-Loved the poem,* Pequod *.-——————-Be happy and healthy my friends.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 9 years ago
I was getting concerned about you, Gweedo. I was afraid that you had gotten into Abner’s formaldehyde!
jonahhex1 about 9 years ago
So Bribery pilfered a magnetic air car eh? Wonder where he’ll zip off to? And I’m betting that massive explosion will have something to do with that stolen gold Bribery had.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 9 years ago
Gweedo noticed my mistake and said,Greewdo, indeed !-————————————————————————.Unintentional, Gweedo. I have been very tired the past week or so and my typing shows it! I can only offer my apologies.
Jonathan K. and the Elusive Dream Girl about 9 years ago
As far as why the air-cars were phased out, I believe it was part of the elimination of the Space Era references.According to a Wikipedia article, once humans actually landed on the Moon, the space stories became quickly outdated and were regarded as totally ludicrous. Beginning in the early 1970s, Moon references were gradually phased out, culminating in the death of the real Mysta. The Lunarians and their technology were written out of the story and Honeymoon became just another secondary background character with no mention of her Lunarian heritage.
Jerryjohn52 about 9 years ago
I commented on Punjab’s violent tendencies last night as I believe he should concentrate on protecting the people he cares about and not getting rid of criminals which could get him in a lot of trouble if this was real life. My main point remains that I’d rather see Tracy & Co. do the arresting. This is their job. It might be entertaining to see Honeymoon blasting people but it shouldn’t become a habit. Don’t forget Junior warning her to leave crime fighting to the pros.
Chris Sherlock about 9 years ago
A good rhyme yourself there, Gweedo! Many thanks!
Jim Kerner about 9 years ago
I’ll be back!
SYDNEY PHILLIPS about 9 years ago
@ Jim in CT
“I guess you’re one of the few here with big complaints about the story”_-——————————————————
Well, your sentence above didn’t appear with a question mark ? Seemed to arrive as a statement ?
Perhaps if you read the post again, you’d note the context was in responding to petersalandy, in which I also noted :
" did not take this to mean that he had not been ‘enjoying’ the story. I imagine he and *most of us have !"
Because the current story is GOOD and ‘enjoyable’, doesn’t mean - it couldn’t be better (say), next time round, with some other considerations.
Perhaps in your more ‘pristine’ World of Dick Tracy, it might seem perfectly normal for Tracy to have a “face off” with B-B Eyes every year . . . for 5 consecutive years ?
Most realize that Bob Kane ‘picked up’ several ‘ideas’ for his Batman creations from Dick Tracy . . .Yes, we can give the issue some “slack” . . .But really, I don’t think B-B Eyes should return each year like he’s the Joker ! ?
SYDNEY PHILLIPS about 9 years ago
Read my post again . . .you will note it was written in the context of a reply to petersalady who had made the point on repetition, with a ‘likeness’ to the Mr. Crime tale.I was not complaining about the shootout.
SYDNEY PHILLIPS about 9 years ago
@ Neil Wick
LiKe your “Tapestry” phrasing . . .
Allows ‘a lot’ underneath the cloth . . .<p.Yet in the 5 year time frame B-B Eyes, Doubleup and Blaze have each been in 3 distinctly different story lines, and further . . . have appeared in sequences in eack of the last 5 years !
Ones got to think, that’s a little Over the Top !
TracyFan 65 about 9 years ago
Bribery had best be careful in that air car — especially around smokestacks.I’m sure he remembers what happened to his sister.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 9 years ago
But I’m okay now ! …….. I think.-———————————————————————-.Living in a crypt that is designed for the dead can be a problem. Abner does enjoy a nip of formaldehyde every now and again!
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 9 years ago
“Bill’s World of Electronics” kept me busy. Out with the ol and in with the new! First, there was the FiOS installation, then I installed W10 on Sunshine (W8.1 laptop)… easy! And along came Shadow 2 back from surgery in Texas. The malfunction machine was replaced so I had to go through the set up procedure. .Try boric acid for the spiders’ eyes..BTW, did you see the larger picture of Jo Ann I posted for you? Here ’tis again: http://billsrailroad.tripod.com/In_Memory_of_Jo_Ann_Raley/Jo_Ann_May_1960.jpg
That was on the same day as my picture on my current avatar was taken. We were at the sports car races in Cumberland Maryland. Original plan was to take my MG-A roadster but since we had the three day old 1960 Oldsmobile 98, we decided to take that. We were young and very much in love!
Durak Premium Member about 9 years ago
Wait, you guys said that those things didn’t exist any more!
Maximara about 9 years ago
That singing at the end reminded me of that little quirk Putty Puss picked up which got me think that perhaps this wasn’t really Mr. Bribery but then I realized he was “in character” far too long to be Putty Puss (IIRC Putty Puss’s features at best hold for an hour)
retropop about 9 years ago
There’s a 2nd connection to “Live and Let Die” in this strip I think even Mike missed :)
avenger09 about 9 years ago
Poor, sad eyes Venus, snared in an inescapable trapHer ending an oozing conclusion, shut the lights, it’s a wrapThe indignity of knowing that the last sounds she’ll ever hearAre pathetic words of pity from Dick Tracy is more than she can bearAlways taken for granted, thier roving eyes and filthy handsShe yearned to be independent, stand her ground and take a standShe lived her life as she chose, fast and hard with no regretShe leaves defiant to the end, so shed no tears or get upsetBut let it be know on this day that she goes She followed her path and always did her dutyAnd let her obituary say, on this dark and violent dayTwas the beast that finally killed the beauty.
avenger09 about 9 years ago
Poor, sad eyes Venus, snared in an inescapable trapHer ending an oozing conclusion, shut the lights, it’s a wrapThe indignity of knowing that the last sounds she’ll ever hear Pathetic words of pity from Dick Tracy is more than she can bearAlways taken for granted, thier roving eyes and filthy handsShe yearned to be independent, stand her ground and take a standShe lived her life as she chose, fast and hard with no regretShe leaves defiant to the end, so shed no tears or get upsetBut let it be know on this day that she goes She followed her path and always did her dutyAnd let her obituary say, on this dark and violent dayTwas the beast that finally killed the beauty.
Pequod almost 8 years ago
Outside Bigg’s suite Cops bring the heat. Criminals collected
What Bribery has stashed away few would have suspected.
Soon in flight, as things aren’t right. Been down this road before
Made his body double pay when trouble stalked his door.
Fiends fly free, as all can see. Packet made quite an impression
Jettisoned from the Space Coupe. Trust was his transgression.
Were Christine here she would not fear. She was a stand up gal
Sans his Kitty things sure aren’t pretty, a rose Bigg’s only pal.
Hard to lose the gold this way, easy come means easy go
Not like he’s now a pauper, globally exists stashed dough.
Climb into a rare Air Car, make haste from the Ace Tower
What Police put in mothballs, gives Bigg Houdini power.
Cool night air, a breeze so fair, Bigg cannot help but sigh
Death and danger in his wake, he sings “Live and Let Die.”
boboscar 9 months ago
As mentioned in my intro for the 7/3/15 strip, I have 2 basic goals in providing these immediately useful Featured Comments for later readers of these past stories: to provide Mumblespeak translation and html to any song the strip directly references. On this day, I provide both these functions.
“What’d he say?”
Mumblespeak Translator: He said, “Come on, you guys! Let’s take the copter on the roof!”
“What’d he say?”
Mumblespeak Translator: He said, “Urk!”
Mr. Bribery is known for his musical ditties. They usually don’t seem to be any real recognizable song. But for this day’s strip, he does seem to sing an actual tune, the classic song from the classic James Bond film Live and Let Die. I can provide no better html than to that film’s opening credits:
https://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=sn8alMYSu44