Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for June 02, 2021

Is this the end of Abner?

The smoke clears, and just 10 is left. “Wha’ happen?”

“Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude, but do you know you have an arrow sticking out of your arm?”

Good morning™, everyone!

Apparently, Rikki has not managed to escape, but she has now revealed her position. Also, none of them has seen Tracy approaching through the smoke, but this does look like the end for Abner. Taking a bullet at point blank range and being in his weakened condition can’t be good.

Good morning™, deceased death dealers !

It don’t look good for Abner and will Tracy have strength in that arm to muscle the trigger, when it looks like Ten will make a last ditch attempt to turn on Dick or to push him backward to effect an escape ?  Despite what she thinks, Rikki is on her way back to the joint. Since she is about to officially become a widow she will be awarded custody of their pending infant where he/she will grow up around expert criminals that he/she may learn the skills of robbery, drugging and killing. Gotta turn out a steady supply of “fresh meat” to keep all those justice systems people working.

With all this smoke, I wonder if Rikki will skewer Mr Mask with an arrow.

Oh, if only it’s a fatal shot!!!!!

Punch him in the arm! Punch him in the arm! Give ’em a noogie!"

Abner’s going to be okay if 10 only shot him in the heart. Like a certain Capt Renault, ”that is his least vulnerable spot!”

Next panel: (usher) “I’m going to have to ask you folks to leave. This theater has a strict no-smoking policy.”

Abner is OK. The bullet did not go through his bulletproof wallet

And that folks is the end of Abner Kadaver.

No, Ten. Mister Freeze is in “Batman”.

Okay? What’s with the Clark Kent face for DT?

Rikki is gonna grab Abner’s weapon in the pouch on his back and use it to kill 10 before tracy can act, then she and Abner will make their escape

Is that an arrow in your arm tracy, or are you just happy to see me? Lol

The cane was no match for a gun…”Blam”…..Tracy seems to have the upper hand for now?

Don’t worry folks, the quiver will stop the bullet!

Mmm. As a writer, this disturbs me — the potential removal of a strong character with potential. However, a clearly defined character can eventually box themselves in as you look for variations on a theme to keep them fresh. There’s a desire to explore new ground and keep the creative juices fresh through new characters and approached. It’s the on-paper version of the “I’m typecast in one role” syndrome. Personally, that’s why I regularly write several sets of characters, alternating from one series to another, as oppose to doing 2-3 stories in a series at once.

Given that, I can see Kadaver exiting this mortal coil at this point. Ahh, who can say? There’s a distinct possibility of the shooting going both ways. as a reader, I’m a bit more biased, as the Kadaver character is my favorite from this era.

So will Rikki be doing the nutcracker tomorrow?

“But they can’t see me either”…goes to show nobody has eyes in the back of their heads.

If it comes to a shoot-out, won’t Tracy be at a disadvantage?

I trust that this will not be opening night for play. It will take a miracle to clear out all the smoke.

1-In his wounded, weakened state, DT fears that the possibly poisoned arrow has finished him and that, despite his spotty church attendance, he’s been sent to a smoky underworld where violence rules all

2-TEN: ETHYL OR UNLEADED? A.B.: UNLEADED! I WANT UNLEADED!

TEN: Well, chew on this steel jacket then, SUCKA! BLAM

A.B.: UGH. That was a cheap…trick…

TEN: Speaking of Cheap Trick, I gave you a chance to SURRENDER, but you didn’t. AIN’T THAT A SHAME! Maybe you should call the DREAM POLICE! Now there’s some good criminal banter for you!

3-DT: Pardon me sir. You seem to have the upper hand here – wherever “here” is. I’d like to join your ranks. I was a pretty good shot back on earth and I probably look good in a black unitard so…?

TEN: What the…

In the first panel Abner is already falling back, even letting go of his stick, that is before being shot on the second panel! Are the panels inverted?

Lot of comments on “The Dart” It seems to wander a lot.Panel one..side/back of arm. Panel 3 looks like front shoulder. Gonna take a lot of band aids.

Abner: “Kill with poison dart”Dick Tracy: “I’m too DUMB to fall over and die!”

Yeah, Ace sent Ten to follow Abner because he didn’t want Charlie’s murder to have any connection to the Apparatus—at least that was the explanation that everyone here gave for Ten’s appearance.

I guess the Apparatus is now in it up to their cigarette butts. There is no way now that you wouldn’t come to the conclusion that they are the engineers of this hit. Ten just screwed 51 of his friends by not staying out of things.

Whatever happens next, how much do you want to bet that following up on this story by going after the Apparatus (like a normal police department would do—and could be an interesting story) is just dropped without comment?

He’d better be wearing armor.

Glad to see the smoke alarms are working at the Patterson PLayHouse.

Abner down! Abner down!

Ten is ruthless, and Rikki is nearby!

But finally Tracy makes a move! He’s got the drop on Ten of Spades!

Whose move is next?

Stay, ’tooned, action fans!