Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for March 04, 2020

Hmm … ✨

Good morning™, all!

Here’s Tracy, for those of you who were missing him, but he just missed his wife, so I guess he’ll have to discuss developments with her when she gets home.

Good morning™, chummy detectives !

By Tracy’s tone and manner it’s like he really isn’t aware of the Shakydown yet but only wants to tell Tess of his visitor, then she can relate some visits too.

Must be National Computer Monitor Day.

Take away the dialog from panel 2 and you could replace it with this caption: “Have a question? Call now to speak with a helpful customer service agent!” As a matter of fact, I think I saw Johnny’s ‘twin’ on the Contact Us page of a specialty woodworking catalog. Just look at him — now there’s a guy who can tell you all about blade kerf, jigs, and wood joinery…

Johnny knows about Shaky’s little extortion attempt, but doesn’t mention that detail now that he has Tracy on the phone?

I say “Stay Tuned” BTW excellent graphics today!

The frantic pace of this story isn’t good for my blood pressure.

Hmm, now who is this new character? I suddenly had a feeling it’s the FBI friend, Jim…?

Gee, if only there was some portable means by which to communicate with her.

Riffin blah blah

1-DT: Hello?

2-ROCK: Hello sir. Were you aware that you could extend your car’s warranty for mere pennies a day? Let’s get started shall we, Mr…umm, Dick Tracy. Now I have you at…

3-DT: LISTEN PUNK. I do work important work keeping drags on society like you safe and I can’t be having my mind tore away from solving some of the biggest…wait a sec…HEY BARNEY! TWO MAPLE FROSTED CREAM FILLED FOR ME…crimes this town’s ever seen.

ROCK: Our longer term policies are even cheaper.

DT: Really? How…wait a sec…I DRIVE A CAR PROVIDED BY THE CITY! Oooh. You’re one of the best I’ve ever run up against. Mark my words – we’ll meet again, er, I think I’ll call you SLICK MOUTH. Good day. I said good day!. AND A CARMEL MACCHIATO BARN!

“Is Tess available?” I thought she was married…

Now I’m flashing back to my days as a Telephone Answering Secretary, covering one (sometimes two) boards at an answering service. Busy days were the best, because they flew by, but sometimes on the dull ones, I could get a lot of inking done on a drawing.

Slow day at the office.Tess has a male receptionist!Living high there.Seriously,somebody should issue Tess a 2-way.If her granddaughter can have one…..

Wow, great episode..will the excitement ever……START? BTW, Great observation Neil.

“MUSTS” for fans who would like to see Joe Staton’s “Batman” art.1.)“PENGUIN TRIUMPHANT” WITH john OSTRANDER.2.)1999 “BLACKGATE” SPECIAL WITH CHUCK DIXON3.)“CITIZEN WAYNE” imaginary story—-mid-1990’s—LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT ANNUAL

When we get only three panels a day we’d kinda like to see something other than phone tag.

Tracy and Johnny! Justa couple of old detectives chatting on the phone, watching their monitors, doing the dilatory thing together.

If Tracy and Tess don’t have a little talk soon Shaky will have gotten rich quick and long since retired with the charming Edison Lighthouse….