Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for August 15, 2021

Archival smug and arrogant, says, “Go and take a look”

Dick Tracy sticks his beak in every cranny, every nook.

Seek. Explore. Investigate more. Here’s a used pen nib

Just like Vera tends to use. Come clean now and don’t fib.

Safe room soon discovered. Reveals victims of foul crime

Suffering cartoonist. The Chimera so sublime.

Weary and weak, Mysta does now seek healing from the sun

Rejuvenation slow but sure. Archival has not won.

The DNA of Moon Maid swiftly courses through her veins

Courage, spirit, and large heart. She’s gone and yet remains.

Good morning™, all!

Yeah, yeah, yeah … “You can’t arrest me. I’m rich.” Tell that to the judge, Archival.

Mysta has recovered greatly after sitting downstairs in front of the big window. Archival went and made her angry. You won’t like her when she’s angry, Archival!

I did some research yesterday on UV and glass, but did have time to comment. I’ll write some comments on yesterday’s strip later. Glass absorbs almost all UVA, but transmits about 75% of UVB. UVC gets completely absorbed in the atmosphere, so it never reaches Earth. Maybe we’ll find out how well the UVA does for Mysta.

It’s ZAPPING time!

It seems that Archival does not know that kidnapping is a federal crime, if I remember correctly and on the other hand Archival does not know that he should have kept his mouth shut when he was near Mysta!

Archival is still wearing the ring and it’s glowing. Looks like this storyline may go another week.

Good morning™, busted blustering bullies !

If that ring is off his finger and our gal has some amount of significant recovery, a nice jolt, y’ know, for the road, should be enough to get some small compensation for what she has been through.

Is Mysta about to mention the ring?

She looks so sad, vulnerable and cute in the throw away panel.

Looks like we will have another week of Archival.

The ring has gone from green to red!

Doubles as a mood ring?

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, especially one with moon powers!!

I guess I’ll be the first to mention this: the ring is on Archival’s left hand, when in all other depictions, it was on his right hand. C’mon, Joe, you’re better than this.

Archival seems to believe that kidnapping is OK as long as he doesn’t physically harm them. “What a maroon!” said Bugs Bunny. I suppose he’ll claim that they were there of their own free will.

Will Mysta and Vera finally tell Tracy about the ring?

Is Mad Mindy about to live up to her name and in anger zap Archival to a crisp?

That would be interesting.

This story needs to end.

Now!!!

I like it that everyone is in the proper colors. I especially like the final panel.

False imprisonment can be added to the charge of kidnapping, assault for what Archival did to Mysta with the ring etc.

Archival is betting on the judge posting bail… He could be given a “no bail” judgement and be listed as a threat to both Vera and Mysta as well for the “no bail” ruling…

So, Archival will be eating lunch with the “criminal club” in central booking…

”Unharmed? UNHARMED?! Detective Tracy, confiscate Bribery’s ring from him so I can zap him but good without it getting bounced right back at me. Unharmed, he says… hmph.”

The ring is practically in Tracy’s face when he is talking to Mr. Archival about criminal impersonation/kidnapping. What is criminal impersonation? I think I know, not positive. Mysta is getting fired up in the last panel and wants to unload on Mr. Archival.

I was scammed two years ago to the tune of $2700. I went to my local police, told them what had happened, and got the "Now let me get this straight … " speech. That was pretty much it. If anything was done, I don’t know of it.

Hell have no fury……

Uhmmm… Mysta, Do you disagree with that statement?

Shouldn’t that be “They were completely unharmed.”?

Does Tracy know the full power of the ring?

ka-retribution

Well, I’m admittedly surprised to see there appears to be a bit more to tell here after all; hope this unexpected coda (or continuation?) is put to good use!

ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!

Unharmed? Oh Brock, that was the wrong choice of words, buddy boy.

Oh, dear. Archival is about to get Lummed, and I DON’T mean “and Abner”… >:D

Oh, you done goofed up…

Someone is about to commit assault! While the victim is in police custody!

The fact the victim is not hurt does not mitigate a kidnapping charge! Maybe one of his hotshot lawyers can tell him that!

Okay, time to move on to the next dud of a story, probably some dumb crossover.

1-STAN LEE: Hey Tracy. I gotta a joke for ya…

2-…What gal really hates a ring? DT: Uh, I dunno?

3-STAN: THE ONE WHO HAS TO WASH THE RING AROUND YOUR COLLAR!!! HA! See what I did there? I flashed my ring which made you focus on the kind of ring that people wear and then…

4-…I changed it up to a different kind of ring! That’s called a Misdirection Joke by those of us in the joke biz. Be sure to give me credit when you tell it!

5-HORNY: THAT BAST*RD!!!! HE STOLE MY JOKE!

DT: Tell me again – only go slower this time…

Can someone just lean over and take the ring off his finger? Maybe, a little soap…

Very awkward positioning of Archival’s left hand in the antepenultimate panel; in fact, it’s hard to see how it attaches to his left arm. Apparently the overriding factor is to show the ring clearly. From that it follows that the Magic Ring has a further part in the story. I trust Mysta, even recovering, is not so forgetful as to try to zap the kidnapper/Privileged Rich Guy while he is still wearing it. So, Vile or more likely she must speak up, explaining to Tracy the significance of the ring—at which point Tracy should realize that the ring has been purloined from the Evidence Room, where it would have been deposited in connection with the Mr. Bribery case. Once Brock is disarmed, or disfingered, then maybe Mysta can remind him of how “unharmed” she has been!

I thought I had seen everything…someone who is in denial.

What lawyer in his or her right mind would take his case?

Where are handcuffs or zip ties for Archival? Guy is talking plenty smack.

Oh,this man has got to die.But not at Mysta’s hands.He must die due to his own “cleverness”.