So, Professor Stokes at the college knows a lot about vampire lore. Judging by the hairstyle, the angled eyebrows and the cleft chin, we can confirm that he is the scientist from the first day.
Speaking of chins, Brenda’s chin looks better today. Thanks, Shelley!
“I believe Brenda Starr is actually more compatible with DT than Annie.”
Appearance wise she meshes better with the art of the rest of the cast and relates on an adult level, that being it is mostly always adult characters the people the strip. Honeymoon and friends are the most young people we see with some consistency.
Good morning™, bland boring middle of the road killers !
This bird lives a double life. Is there a Jekyll – Hyde drink he takes to gear up for his night time activities ? What a shock he’ll get when he corners the knowing Honeymoon and tries to silence her.
The lightning fast pace continues, as Starr sends the girls off to interview an expert on Vampire lore. That this expert is the killer could not be known. Honeymoon and Annie are headed into the lair of a depraved night stalker. Bet they smell a rat and notice some small details. The game is afoot! This may be the most rapid Act I in the history of the strip. While I like long stories that develop slowly, there is certainly no fat on the bones of this tale. Well done! Always a pleasure to see Annie come to visit Honeymoon. She and Warbucks, Punjab, Asp, and Am are welcome members of the Dick Tracy cast of characters.
Over on Fastrack, Dethany and Guy today announced that their Halloween wedding is going online – which has the side effect of making it easier for a DT appearance there.
RED: Let’s forget what I said about your looks, girls. Hey. Check out my boyfriend. Cute huh?
ANNIE: Looks like he parts his hair with an ax. BLONDIE: Where’s the profile view that should a come with this mug shot? ANNIE: I think this is the picture of a guy they passed around at school. BLONDIE: Yeah! With a warning not to get into his van!
RED: Now look who has the mean jokes. ANNIE: We’re not joking!
I don’t care what anyone says. Brenda looked better yesterday than today. Some say she was “out of character” yesterday. (I haven’t seen her in ages and didn’t care about her back then, either)
But today, with those Venus Flytrap eyes, Brenda is downright UGLY!
Also, as of today, this is clearly a Scooby Doo (like) adventure. It’s going to be the girls all the way. Tracy will only be there to help them get out of the trouble they’re getting into.
That’s if the girls really need him.
After all, Honeymoon has her mother’s super-powers.
Our man! And readily available at “the college” (Tracyville State U.?)….
Scholarly vampire expert Prof. Stokes by day, crazed Wannabe Vampire killer by night!
Annie and Honeymoon will perhaps set off warning bells in his demented brain, but I think that they are not in any direct danger at this point.
Full Disclosure. I have some interest in vampire lore and have read quite a lot about them, starting of course (besides Bram Stoker and other 19th century fictional works) with Montague Summers and ranging through Paul Barber, with numerous others along the way or since….
Hmm… are Honey Moon and Annie going to major in journalism when they get to college? They both look like freshmen. Maybe off the drawing board they have registered. With the cameo appearances Annie probably is an out of state student who would live in the dormitory unless Daddy Warbucks hooked her with an apartment. Maybe a future storyline will feature her, Honey Moon and Crystal as room mates. Meanwhile Honey Moon and Annie have an assignment….tracking down “have hickeys will travel”.
We don’t really know the circumstances of the murder besides the newspaper headline, but it seems to me jumping the gun a bit assuming that the killer is a real vampire, as opposed, for instance, to an “ordinary” murderer who wants to muddy his trail.
With the exception of the center part, the picture of Professor Stokes looks a lot like H. P. Lovecraft. However, there is a Dax Stokes who is “…an academic librarian and professor with an interest in Dracula; the folklore vampire; and vampires in popular culture. He frequently lectures on these topics in the North Texas area, where he lives with his wife and three children.” He has a podcast “The Vampire Historian.”
AnyFace about 4 years ago
DaleMcNamee about 4 years ago
And now the villain has a name : Professor Stokes…
I wonder if his name is a homage to Bram Stoker who authored “Dracula” ?
Neil Wick about 4 years ago
Good morning™, detectives!
So, Professor Stokes at the college knows a lot about vampire lore. Judging by the hairstyle, the angled eyebrows and the cleft chin, we can confirm that he is the scientist from the first day.
Speaking of chins, Brenda’s chin looks better today. Thanks, Shelley!
artsyguy65 about 4 years ago
Fantastic! Now we have the perfect punny retort for readers critical of this crossover caper:
Different ‘Stokes‘ for different folks.
seanyj about 4 years ago
That’s the Mad Scientist/Vampire! You’re sending them into a trap Brenda!
Nimblejack about 4 years ago
Our villain, ladies and gentlemen….visually bland and uninteresting but he does get a point or two for being named for the author of Dracula.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray about 4 years ago
Sez Ray, some bunch of hours ago
“I believe Brenda Starr is actually more compatible with DT than Annie.”
Appearance wise she meshes better with the art of the rest of the cast and relates on an adult level, that being it is mostly always adult characters the people the strip. Honeymoon and friends are the most young people we see with some consistency.
coratelli about 4 years ago
Nice strip, today.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray about 4 years ago
Good morning™, bland boring middle of the road killers !
This bird lives a double life. Is there a Jekyll – Hyde drink he takes to gear up for his night time activities ? What a shock he’ll get when he corners the knowing Honeymoon and tries to silence her.
kurtoons.wilcken about 4 years ago
Ooo… Just had a creepy thought. Given the way Brenda Starr always sparkles, if this were a “Twilight” novel then SHE’D be the vampire!!!
It’s something that would occur to Crystal. Don’t know if Annie would think of it.
iggyman about 4 years ago
Very well done strip today looking forward to this saga!
crobinson019 about 4 years ago
Nobody parts their hair like that! I wonder what Stokes is a professor OF? There cant be too many tenured positions in Vampiric Lore.
Durak Premium Member about 4 years ago
I wonder, do electric shocks slow vampires down any?
Pequod about 4 years ago
The lightning fast pace continues, as Starr sends the girls off to interview an expert on Vampire lore. That this expert is the killer could not be known. Honeymoon and Annie are headed into the lair of a depraved night stalker. Bet they smell a rat and notice some small details. The game is afoot! This may be the most rapid Act I in the history of the strip. While I like long stories that develop slowly, there is certainly no fat on the bones of this tale. Well done! Always a pleasure to see Annie come to visit Honeymoon. She and Warbucks, Punjab, Asp, and Am are welcome members of the Dick Tracy cast of characters.
Don Bagert Premium Member about 4 years ago
Over on Fastrack, Dethany and Guy today announced that their Halloween wedding is going online – which has the side effect of making it easier for a DT appearance there.
Another Take about 4 years ago
Brenda’s eyes are showing her age.
Another Take about 4 years ago
RED: Let’s forget what I said about your looks, girls. Hey. Check out my boyfriend. Cute huh?
ANNIE: Looks like he parts his hair with an ax. BLONDIE: Where’s the profile view that should a come with this mug shot? ANNIE: I think this is the picture of a guy they passed around at school. BLONDIE: Yeah! With a warning not to get into his van!
RED: Now look who has the mean jokes. ANNIE: We’re not joking!
DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN!
Batster about 4 years ago
Anyone’s eyes would look tired after 53 years of nonstop sparkling!
a-man2 about 4 years ago
The “sparkles” in Brenda Starr’s hair are cool. The “sparkles” by her eyes are disconcerting.
Ray Toler about 4 years ago
Brenda looks better today with Shelley’s softer inking.
CynthiaLeigh about 4 years ago
Weird lines under Brenda’s eyes.
Cheapskate0 about 4 years ago
I don’t care what anyone says. Brenda looked better yesterday than today. Some say she was “out of character” yesterday. (I haven’t seen her in ages and didn’t care about her back then, either)
But today, with those Venus Flytrap eyes, Brenda is downright UGLY!
Cheapskate0 about 4 years ago
Also, as of today, this is clearly a Scooby Doo (like) adventure. It’s going to be the girls all the way. Tracy will only be there to help them get out of the trouble they’re getting into.
That’s if the girls really need him.
After all, Honeymoon has her mother’s super-powers.
Sisyphos about 4 years ago
Our man! And readily available at “the college” (Tracyville State U.?)….
Scholarly vampire expert Prof. Stokes by day, crazed Wannabe Vampire killer by night!
Annie and Honeymoon will perhaps set off warning bells in his demented brain, but I think that they are not in any direct danger at this point.
Full Disclosure. I have some interest in vampire lore and have read quite a lot about them, starting of course (besides Bram Stoker and other 19th century fictional works) with Montague Summers and ranging through Paul Barber, with numerous others along the way or since….
ssledge about 4 years ago
I don’t mind the crossovers but could we possibly have a really good story line that’s long enough?
buckman-j about 4 years ago
I’m retired, but I think some of these commenters need to get jobs or back to work quickly
Ray Toler about 4 years ago
Something interesting:
https://i0.wp.com/www.dailycartoonist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screenshot_2020-09-13-119253906_10220334217959184_7316522616367814152_n-jpg-JPEG-Image-960-%C3%97-632-pixels.png?resize=600%2C392
retropop about 4 years ago
What is interesting is Honeymoon is taking the course, since we know it’s been established she is planning to go into law enforcement.
However, she will learn some good investigation skills taking this course that will help her in her future career in law enforcement. Smart Kid.
IvanB.Cohen about 4 years ago
Hmm… are Honey Moon and Annie going to major in journalism when they get to college? They both look like freshmen. Maybe off the drawing board they have registered. With the cameo appearances Annie probably is an out of state student who would live in the dormitory unless Daddy Warbucks hooked her with an apartment. Maybe a future storyline will feature her, Honey Moon and Crystal as room mates. Meanwhile Honey Moon and Annie have an assignment….tracking down “have hickeys will travel”.
scpandich about 4 years ago
Professor Stokes!!! One of my favorite characters on Dark Shadows!
cherns Premium Member about 4 years ago
We don’t really know the circumstances of the murder besides the newspaper headline, but it seems to me jumping the gun a bit assuming that the killer is a real vampire, as opposed, for instance, to an “ordinary” murderer who wants to muddy his trail.
jimakin about 4 years ago
If Stokes puts the bite on Honeymoon with his metal fangs, he may be in for a shock.
jrankin1959 about 4 years ago
Honeymoon: Oh, by the way, Ms. Starr – could you turn off the sparkle? You’re jamming my frequencies…
Richard Tolleson Premium Member about 4 years ago
Professor Stokes from Dark Shadows?
JinghizKhan about 4 years ago
With the exception of the center part, the picture of Professor Stokes looks a lot like H. P. Lovecraft. However, there is a Dax Stokes who is “…an academic librarian and professor with an interest in Dracula; the folklore vampire; and vampires in popular culture. He frequently lectures on these topics in the North Texas area, where he lives with his wife and three children.” He has a podcast “The Vampire Historian.”
Cavenee Lonnie Premium Member about 4 years ago
Cool to see all the original DS fans here. Would like to have seen Prof Stokes look more like Thayer David though.