Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 10, 2017

At the Mall Honey’s seen it all. Here horns were once accosted

New season now brings the snowplow. Weather outside snow-frosted.

See shoppers crawl out at the Mall. ‘Tis the season to be buying

“Such a deal!” Bargain hunters squeal. Off the shelves the goods now flying.

Jingle Bells! Sounds and smells of festive holiday joy

Come tell Santa what you want, no reason to be coy.

Hanna’s music is sold out. Imoto Chan won’t cry or pout

Instead she takes a secret route. Second store she knows about.

Suddenly, with knife in hand, a violent thief appears

“I got this,” says Honeymoon. She has more skills than fears.

Her Onee San did teach her well: control and calm precision

A sharpened knife threatens her life, she makes a wise decision.

Protects the girl whom she just met. Hears now a “giggle-snort”

Her hands are raised. The thief soon dazed. Criminality cut short.

Looks like a would-be mugger is in for a shocking experience.

Sunday, funday, sing the song

Find a friend to tag along

sudden threat to wealth and flesh

Easy solution, call off the bet

Radioactive fallout, expected for sure

Resulting in need to obtain so much more

Be wary of friends who appear in thin air

It might not take long till their actions you’ll fear

Short and sweet,

Excuse my smelly feet!

Good morning guys!

Who would have ever guessed that Ugly Crystal has green hair? The GoComics colorist finally clued in when he or she saw today’s strip in advance so there has been a hint at the green colour the last few days, but today it’s really out there.

She’s got it — and he’s gonna get it! 

I like the last two panels especially, plus I notice Honeymoon’s now wearing Moon Maid pearls. Looking more and more like her Onee-San every day.

A Hanna Star concert seems to be in this strip’s future.

Got to the “Bonding” portion of the story in record time. ;)

I was wrong, Ugly Crystal had her pegged immediately.

Now that Honeymoon had shown her stuff, I expect Ugly Crystal to show what she can do. Will it be a start to I am better than you rivalry?

Bribery will probably be ecstatic to learn that his niece is friends with Honeymoon and they’re going out together to watch a concert. Time to plan a kidnapping…

Keep an eye on the herd, Bill while I go rustle me some shut eye !

Why does she have goat legs in panel 2?

A little spark to light up his day!!! But watch the Crystal and see if she doesn’t sparkle!!!

Why is it that in the Sunday panels, teen-age Honeymoon looks more like she’s in her early 20s?

What year is this? Pagers? Not (1), but (2) CD stores in the same mall which a pair of ‘tweens are dependent on for new music. I feel like if Honeymoon & Ugly Crystal had taken another route, they would’ve bumped into Pat Patton’s nephews @ the video arcade circa 1982.

So many questions…

1. Have Honeymoon and Ugly Crystal been friends for awhile now? Or is this their first meeting?

2. Is Crystal’s friendship with Honeymoon genuine? Or is she spying on Honeymoon for her uncle? Could it be a little bit of both, Crystal being initially friendly with Honeymoon to spy on her only to grow to genuinely like her?

3. Or, as JPUZZLEWHIZ puts it, is Crystal simply not aware of what kind of man her uncle is?

Interesting change in artwork from Honeymoon’s somewhat child like face in panel 2 tho a very mature adult face in the last panel

I foresee Crystal introducing Honeymoon to her “ride” and Honeymoon recognizes Lee. Cover blown!

I love the rendering of Honeymoon in that last panel. She looks like of one of my favourite actresses, Britt Irvin.

You may not be familiar with Britt (sometimes credited as Brittney) Irvin, but most likely have seen her in minor supporting rôles on shows like Smallville and Supernatural, or in various made-for-TV movies. She also does a lot of voice work in cartoons like Bratz and the rebooted George of the Jungle.

She’s one of those beautiful and multi-talented individuals who has yet to receive the recognition she deserves. Here’s a pic:

http://www.listal.com/viewimage/8134778

Ok, was this a setup? Did I miss something? Is Crystal trying to get close to Honeymoon and gain her trust?

I love that last panel.

Anyone remember what Mysta Chimera did to Hy Pressure at the farm in the story arc with Sparkle Plenty/ Tracy ?

Ugly Crystal is going to see something very similar to that and may not want to experience it herself in regards of luring Honeymoon to Bribery…

Can Moon people still generate heat and cold, or is it just electricity? I remember Honeymoon having magnetic fingers, way back, and attracting paper clips.

Really nice work, Pequod. You’re a pro.

FWIW, my take is that Ugly Crystal and Honeymoon Tracy are just meeting for the first time by chance, because of their similar taste in music (hence, effective-panel 1’s “music appreciation at the mall”), and bonding rapidly, as ‘tweens can easily do. Ugly Crystal is getting a quick education in lunarian powers, while Honeymoon, having had prior experience of trouble at the mall, is confident and ready to take down the knife-wielding thug in her shortcut passage to the other CD shop. But Ugly is not altogether innocent, and will report, as I believe, to Uncle Bribery about the strange friend she made at the mall, and her powers, and how they are both going to the Hanna Star concert. And, so, the game’s afoot! My guess is that T-Bolt’s true identity will not be compromised. Instead, she will inform the MCU about whatever plot agains Honeymoon Mr. Bribery concocts….

As of 11:59pm, more comments than Sunday’s “Luann.” XD

That image of Honeymoon in the last panel definitely reminds me of someone.

Monica Vitti, perhaps …?

Does anybody else think that Ugly Crystal looks like a mushroom ?

Honeymoon seems to have grown/aged about four years between Panel 4 and Panel 8.