Mr. Roboto knows where the money is to be found. I suppose that Thermopolis is the name of a company, but it sounds like a city, like Metropolis (metr- Greek for mother and polis meaning city, change to thermo meaning hot ).
Who shows up next, Kilroy, or Dennis DeYoung? Okay, Mr Roboto comes from a rock opera by Styx, and the drawing is pretty spot on. You can search on “Mr Roboto”, and you’ll get the album covers, or go here for the live version: https://www.stereogum.com/2004314/dennis-deyoung-styx-mr-roboto-2018/news/
I’ll bet the shopkeepers and cashiers in Tracytown sometimes think to themselves, Y’know, just once I’d like to be held up by a good, old-fashioned thug…
What company pays cash? Which means that A this is just a plot device or B, this is taking place a long time ago. Hell, by the 70s even the Army had stopped paying cash, except on small remote single company posts and all they did was cash the checks that the soldiers got
Sad to say, the reviewer who commented “Dick Tracy today is kitsch” was correct. Most of our beloved comics have not fared well with the recent people who have taken over.
Mr. Roboto’s henchman (silhouette to viewer’s right of him in panel 2) wears a distinctive slouch hat that calls to mind Blackjack’s favored chapeau; but this henchman is a bigger, much meaner person. A payroll office like this is indeed somewhat anachronistic, but as I recently noted, the DT strip universe exists in its own conflated space and time, not ours….
So, if a writer can’t think up a new villain, they can take a character from an 80s pop song. Maybe Dick will be sued by Billy Jean for child support next.
AnyFace almost 5 years ago
Is Joe inking his own pencils this week? ✨
Counterpoint almost 5 years ago
Pretty easy pickings – not a heck of a lot of security at Thermopolis…
HarryCK almost 5 years ago
Good morning™, mash ups !
Outright calling himself Roboto smacks of crossover even if an actual character is not present but merely a copy of one.
Neil Wick almost 5 years ago
Good morning™, payroll people!
Mr. Roboto knows where the money is to be found. I suppose that Thermopolis is the name of a company, but it sounds like a city, like Metropolis (metr- Greek for mother and polis meaning city, change to thermo meaning hot ).
HarryCK almost 5 years ago
Robo mask has slant eyes reminiscent of Joe Jitsu. Are we going see “racist” labels fly in Comments ?
Laurie Sefton Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Who shows up next, Kilroy, or Dennis DeYoung? Okay, Mr Roboto comes from a rock opera by Styx, and the drawing is pretty spot on. You can search on “Mr Roboto”, and you’ll get the album covers, or go here for the live version: https://www.stereogum.com/2004314/dennis-deyoung-styx-mr-roboto-2018/news/
Laurie Sefton Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Re: Styx and Mr Roboto—I’m now going to go off somewhere and feel old…
Gent almost 5 years ago
Uh… So he just walks into the bank just like that? No guards to the bank?
Lyons Group, Inc. almost 5 years ago
If there is ever to be a crossover character now, let it be Superman! (Not likely)
Stephen Read almost 5 years ago
Which company pays its staff in cash in, er… um… the age of Pan Am, never mind, ignore what I was going to ask.
crobinson019 almost 5 years ago
Who still pays in cash? Or has a Pay window? Most places use checks and/or direct deposit
jrankin1959 almost 5 years ago
I’ll bet the shopkeepers and cashiers in Tracytown sometimes think to themselves, Y’know, just once I’d like to be held up by a good, old-fashioned thug…
s.gottlieb almost 5 years ago
Let me guess. Joe and Mike are into Styx! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styx_(band)
Durak Premium Member almost 5 years ago
“Hi, I’m Mr Roboto and this is a holdup”?
Roboto Sama – What kind of dialogue is that? Especially when I hear it in a high picthed Eddie Haskell voice.
Wizard of Ahz-no relation almost 5 years ago
He’s killroy!
Don Bagert Premium Member almost 5 years ago
For some reason, this reminded me of “This is a bank robbery, and I’m Blackjack” from 6/18/17.
timbob2313 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
What company pays cash? Which means that A this is just a plot device or B, this is taking place a long time ago. Hell, by the 70s even the Army had stopped paying cash, except on small remote single company posts and all they did was cash the checks that the soldiers got
sjsczurek almost 5 years ago
Secret secret. I’ve got a secret.
iggyman almost 5 years ago
I am just guessing the robber is doing the Styx thing to disguise his true identity! (took a while)
buckman-j almost 5 years ago
Good to know Neil is versed in Greek, every day, it’s an education from the frozen North.
Another Take almost 5 years ago
1-MR. KABUKI: Trick R Treat! MR. GEEZER: It’s December fool.
2-MR. KABUKI: Are you sure about that?
MR. GEEZER: Ummm, I keep Halloween in my heart all year round!
MR. KABUKI: And candy in a bowl by the door I hope. For your sake.
MR. GEEZER: GULP! How about some nice cash instead?
MR. KABUKI: Oh, all right. WE’RE GONNA HAVE TO GO BUY THE CANDY OURSELVES BOYS.
ssledge almost 5 years ago
Sad to say, the reviewer who commented “Dick Tracy today is kitsch” was correct. Most of our beloved comics have not fared well with the recent people who have taken over.
dsjwriter almost 5 years ago
You gotta wonder how an individual wearing that elaborate headgear could remain inconspicuous between the getaway vehicle and the bank.
oakie817 almost 5 years ago
styx ’em up!
Sisyphos almost 5 years ago
Mr. Roboto’s henchman (silhouette to viewer’s right of him in panel 2) wears a distinctive slouch hat that calls to mind Blackjack’s favored chapeau; but this henchman is a bigger, much meaner person. A payroll office like this is indeed somewhat anachronistic, but as I recently noted, the DT strip universe exists in its own conflated space and time, not ours….
GoComicsGo! almost 5 years ago
Is that an Indonesian or Thai mask that he’s wearing??
James Kiester almost 5 years ago
So, if a writer can’t think up a new villain, they can take a character from an 80s pop song. Maybe Dick will be sued by Billy Jean for child support next.