Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for July 24, 2016

Carmageddon! Gunsmoke headin’ to a fast demiseThinks he’s Mr. Big Shot. He has seen his last sunrise.Romper! Stomper! Here comes Chomper! Menacing and loudMakes the Limo a chew toy, draws a morbid crowdGawking at Cheater Gunsmoke, rendered a bag of meatThought that he was living large. His ending not so sweet.Lizz and Sam survey the scene. ‘Tis now the coroner’s messWho contracted the big hit? Rikki never shall confess.Look to see behind the wheel, a smile so satisfiedTricky Rikki deals out death in souped-up deadly ride.Assassin Mortis chuckles, yet her smile slowly fadesKadaver, stalking Tracy, could soon be in the shade.Elsewhere, across the ocean wide, see Tracy on vacationTess and he love to sight-see, yet of danger no cessation.Beat the feet on old Fleet Street, soak up rich historyIn dark shadows, unobserved, a menace brave men flee.Kadaver stalks the couple. A master of ill willEgo drives him to the deed, a contract to fulfill.Plot and scheme. Imagine and dream. Dispatch the Great DetectiveFor fame and glory Abner strikes. Signed contract his directive.

.Good morning fellow DT and Abner Kadaver fans!

Nice job Pequod! Keep up the greatwork.

Given that there’s more space to work with than on weekdays, the Sunday strip feels remarkably succinct,

OK, someone help me out here…I never saw/read Sweeny Todd (not my cup of tea, so to speak) is that the connection to the rose calling card?

Gweedo indicated,It is, Bill and I believe Gertie is more your age, you old letch you !-————————————————————————-.Good morning Gweedo.No comment regarding me an’ Gertie. The mere thought of her leaves me speechless. Yuk!

I wonder if Abner Kadaver is an ally of Prof. Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis?

Or will Prof. Moriarty have a hand in this adventure as well?

Gweedo remarked,Surprised you didn’t post shudder boy, Bill !-————————————————————.This, Gweedo?.

This is Classic…Great one PQ…Abner Moriarty…on to the Rue Morgue.

So perhaps in the DT universe, Sherlock Holmes is still alive post-retirement (in 1904) and his lodgings converted into a museum. So far we have Sherlock Holmes, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Abner of course…Who’s next? Jack the Ripper? Some of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?

I don’t think there’s any specific rose imagery in “Sweeny Todd.” I think Abner is just paying respect to one of his role models, just as Tracy is on his own pilgrimage to Baker Street.

The right words can send a chill up the spine. But no dialogue and achieving the same effect? Wow….

Attend the tale of… Abner KedaverHe served a dark and a vengeful god…

Evil lurks in shadow, even as Tess and Tracy enjoy the sights on historic Fleet Street. Team Tracy makes such good use of locations. We repeatedly benefit from the satisfying variety of locations in Tracyville and beyond. A few of many favorites that come to mind are the Wilcox Downs racetrack, the old Apollo discothèque converted into Sails’ operating theatre, Kadaver’s subterranean chamber of death traps, the Ace Tower, the Lyric Theatre, the Patterson Playhouse, Goofy Golf, the Aquarium, the Midnite Mirror film set, Cuba, Diet Smith Industries & Complex, and the list goes on and on. Tracy does not spy Kadaver. Has Rikki seen him for the last time?

Thanks to Vista Bill, capt mutt, Night-Gaunt49, Gweedo, abdullahbaba999, Chris Sherlock, Chris Colvard, Ray Toler and JPuzzleWhiz for the kind words. Very much appreciated!

The Rose?? Maybe it’s going to be a Bachelor/Bachelorette arc?

Ok. Is that guy Mr. Hyde, Jack the Ripper, or Sweeney Todd himself?

As of 2009, the Nemo’s great-grandson Jack Nemo was captain of the latest iteration of the Nautilus, according to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 2009. http://www.jessnevins.com/annotations/2009annotations.html

I don’t think Abner or Tracy knows the other is in London.I’m wondering if tomorrow’s strip will be back in Tracyville with Rikki’s crunchmobile, or back in London. Or maybe the radio station, or some equally obtuse location to visit another supporting character.

The master of silent storytelling was Lynd Ward. Library of America released an excellent two-volume edition of Ward’s six books: Six Novels in Woodcuts (2010). Art Spiegelman edited and contributes a wonderful introduction, “Reading Pictures.” Ward’s woodcut novels stand the test of time and are highly recommended. Nice to see Team Tracy making excellent use of silent panels.

Fleet Street: where the foes may meet!A red rose may refer to Mr. Bribery, but it also calls to mind Edgar Allan Poe, the inventor of the detective story genre, though the Poe Toaster generally left three roses at Poe’s grave. The barber pole makes a nice framing device, too, when we are invited to compare Abner Kadaver to Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and his pastrycook partner, Mrs. Lovett, with her tasty meatpies (hello, Rikki?). Certainly, Abner appears here to have espied the Tracy couple!

Just had a thought. Yesterday had Dick Tracy shaving using the old style method. Today we have a reference to Sweeney Todd, the mad barber. Wonder if there’s any connection? Team Tracy likes to put in subtle connections like this even if it’s not going anywhere in particular.

I think Abner must know Tracy is in England. He has his ways of finding out things and wouldn’t be surprised if he planned his trip to coincide with Tracy. After all he did make reference to doing his contract on Tracy and why else would he be in England at this time? The atmosphere of Sherlock novels would appeal to Abner’s sense of adventure.

Gweedo in his infinite wisdom stated,Come to think of it, I like these better, Bill ! *-——————————————————————-.I totally agree with your choice, Gweedo!

Gweedo indicated,A good choice, indeed, Bill !-————————————————————————.You are setting the pace here, Gweedo!