Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for June 17, 2016

.Good morning guys!.What happened to Purdy? He didn’t thaw out, did he?

Hitchcock would be proud.

Purdy’s not going with you, Blaze — he’s already gone! Somewhere…

Who could have taken him, Gweedo?

Gweedo gleefully greeted,Good morning, Vista Bill and Comet !-———————————————————————-.G’mawnin’ Gweedo!

That’s strange. What happened to Purdy?

I have a purdy good idea…..

Gweedo sheepishly inquired,What’s everybody lookin’ at me for !!!?-—————————————————————————-.Tip: contact your lawyer, Gweedo!

I think he walked out by himself. I was wondering how he could eat or drink if he was in a something like a coma state. Blaze was feeding him through the mouth so he can swallow. He might have been taking his time, to find the right time to escape from Notta and I think he just decided that it was the right time.Did somebody took him away? It is possible that the “movers” that Bribery sent moved in silently and took him away. They might have spotted Tracy and they went through the backdoor. I still think that he walked out on his own. Notta’s smoking might have helped in his recovery.

The last few days have been exceptional. Today’s strip is also excellent. Love the action scenes! And where’s Purdy? No way to know what’s going to happen next, and that’s a good thing. Great work, Mike and Joe!

What’s everybody lookin’ at me for !!!?

I thought maybe you had a theory.

@FrankSilly thing, isn’t it, that a comic character can be so important to you? And be worried if she will die?! And I am!

It’s a sign of a well-written character. In a good story, you put yourself into the story, so it’s natural to be concerned about what will happen to the characters.

I think this is the scene before Tracy kicked the door. It looks like Notta’s going to beat Blaze to the gun. It I were Notta, I’d get out of there as fast as I can.

Purdy is going to have that gun trained on someone!

Looks like Purdy has done gone……

@avenger09 said yesterdayLOL! Neil I love ya! I absolutely knew you’d come to team Tracy’s defense. What you’re suggesting is an impossibility time wise …

I wasn’t aware that I was defending anybody or anything. I was just trying to find out what is happening in the story. My comment was actually because I was interpreting Pequod’s comment as a suggestion that Notta might strangle Blaze instead of shooting here, but I thought that would take too long.

Anyway, av09, you were wondering about the gun and purse, so I decided to look at what’s been happening. Here’s what I found out.

Back on Sunday the 12th, Notta’s hands were empty except that she was using them to put on her jacket. There is a lamp table to her left. At this point, Tracy’s arrived outside her door.(By the way, we were all speculating a little while back on whether Blaze walked to the laundromat, but her remark that “the car needs more gas” here seems to indicate that they do have a car.)

After hearing that Tracy was there, on the 13th, a small purse magically appeared in her left hand or perhaps she picked it up off the side table where the lamp is. The purse is open and a gun has magically appeared in her right hand, or perhaps she took it out of her purse. She offers it to Blaze who refuses to take it.

On the 14th, the gun is gone from her right hand and the purse is closed. I’m guessing that she threw it back in the purse when Blaze refused to take it.

On the 15th, Notta is pointing the way out to Blaze with her right hand that previously held the gun. We can’t see her left hand, but I suppose it may still be holding the purse.

Finally, on the 26th (yesterday), the gun is back in her right hand again and her left hand is empty. I’m thinking that she pulled it back out of the purse when she figured out that Blaze “sold her out” and was planning to shoot Blaze. I don’t know where the purse is now. Maybe she tossed it onto the couch or onto the side table, or maybe it magically disappeared, but I’m not favouring the “magically disappeared” option since it seems illogical to me.

Of course, in today’s strip, Blaze wrestled Notta until the gun flew onto the floor. You might notice that there is a lamp table and lamp on Notta’s right, rather than her left today, but she does have two identical lamps and two identical couches (what we can see of them) as shown in Sunday’s strip.

VB said:“Leapin’ lizards! Those mushy peas really caught on quick! Drop in and we’ll cook up some for you, blunebottle!”.Be right there!

The art and action have been great the last two days, and the tension is mounting fast. Will Notta retrieve her gun in time? Will more shots be fired? Is anyone going to get shot? And where is Purdy?

Stare at whereHe was just thereIn that chairCould he not bearTo see a sisterRant and rageHis mind a fogHis flesh a cage.The gun is looseTime stands still.Who might die?Who might kill?

t’s a rush to see who lives, who dies, who walks!Notta; Blaze; Purdy?One small criticism: panel 1 perspective. Either Notta’s right arm is extraordinarily long, or Blaze has ripped her hand off, or the perspective is a bit off. So it seems to me.Tracy, don’t shoot to kill! Lizz, corral rambling Purdy! Blaze, cool down! DON’T MOVE, Notta!

Ye Gods! Do we HAVE TO keep seeing all these older strips with notta every three days?!?!?! if they were DIFFERENT ones it would be fine, but theyre the same ones over and over again!

looks like Purdy has flown the coop… taken it on the lam… became the mayor of splitsville… disappeared into thin air…. snuck out the back jack….hmm… cant seem to think of any more at the moment, I hope these will suffice lol :)

Best thing about my mornings is that I get to chose between a re-run of “The Chin-Chillers” and “Gweedo & Friends”. Spot on, Timmy!

Thanks Willy, Its a Go!! Now I worry for Notta and Blaze!!

@Willy007:Thanks for posting the excellent art of Chester Gould. The exceptional b&w Staton panels posted by Neil are also much appreciated. Those fans not familiar with the original Notta stories will get even more out of the current tale if aware of her history. Of course, it is always good to see Mysta in heroic action. Caring about the fate of characters in the strip is a sure sign of Team Tracy’s high caliber work. More great art today with the struggle, the loose gun and the empty chair. Talk about tension mounting! What a great time to be a Tracy fan!

Today we have one of my favorite of the classic Dick Tracy traditions started by Gould – the silent panel, calling our attention to something significant in the story.

This week has been fantastic. Classic characters, mounting tension, strong emotions, beautiful graphics that advance the story with minimal dialogue, and now a little female wrestling thrown in. Wow. Pequod, you are right, this IS a great time to be a Dick Tracy fan!

Since Dick Tracy kicked in the door in yesterday’s strip, he has to be inside the place by now.

I’m guessing that he’s in the front entrance hallway, but he can’t be far from the action between the two women.

Cat fight! Or is that term now politically incorrect? That’s what they used to call a fight like this. Whatever, Blaze had better get out of there before Notta recovers her gun!

Funny, I never noticed until the last few days that Notta is quite a bit taller than Blaze. She fairly towers over her in some scenes, as in panel one today. Perhaps this has something to do with Blaze’s heretofore submissive posture, which has thankfully now been abandoned.

Gweedo assured,Mr. Kleen is on speed dial !!-——————————————————————————.I feel certain that you can talk your way out of this, Gweedo!

Great strip today! It’ll be interesting to see what’s happened with Purdy. And, once again, the colorist missed on Notta’s hair color!

Great action today.

Or that I absconded with the cripple, who apparently is not !

Are you hiding him in one of your custom coffins?

In the news today, Jerry Lawler and his fiancee were both arrested after a domestic dispute. The police couldn’t decide which of them was at fault. He’s been suspended indefinitely from the WWE, but he has an explanation. (Follow the link for his comments from jail.)

Gweedo answered,I took him over to Bill and Rikki’s for that.-—————————————————————————.It’s getting crowded here, Gweedo!

Gweedo reminded,Who knows what fate will befall A&R ?-———————————————————————————.I am concerned about Rikki and Abner. I considered Detany but she doesn’t have what it takes to satisfy me. I might strike up an acquantance with Elvira. What do you think, Gweedo?..Hubba hubba, Gweedo?

I might strike up an acquantance with Elvira.

I have prior claim to her… I think. At least, she did personally write this “XX” to me 26 years ago:

Maybe I’m reading too much into that. Anyway, I could probably introduce you to her — if she still remembers me from 26 years ago.

Gweedo asked,Dethany seems like a watered down Rikki and what new pal can you find to replace Ab ?-—————————————————————————————.I suppose I could pick up a skeleton and reanimate it… or since Purdy is on the loose, he might be willing to take over for Abner..BTW, it appears that Elvira is attracted to Neil Wick (lucky devil).