Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for August 18, 2021

Oh, she did that entirely on her own.

“What kick?”

Classic rich kid threat, sue.

Good morning™, all!

Archival is still yapping about lawsuits and such. Tracy doesn’t look worried.

I notice that there is a Smith Industries van there.

Yeah, you let her kick him in the family jewels Tracy! : )

Now that this story is finally over, I wonder will they go anywhere with that Flattop Tease they gave us a few weeks ago or do they expect us to forget about that? : )

Good morning™, gaffled grouchy goons !

He talks a tough game but sadly, there were no witnesses and the jailhouse doc, when he gets around to “Archie”, will attribute the swelling and discoloration to a “pre existing condition”.

I see a Smith Industries van in the background – most likely as Smith’s bio-sciences team (I’m sure he has one) would be the only ones who have the knowledge to treat Mysta for any possible injuries. (although she sure seemed fine yesterday!) Not like anyone else would have the knowledge to treat lunarians.

Not like Honeymoon could go to a normal pediatrician., either – think about it.

Feeling up for a story with a dangerous villain again, after this doofus, a crippled and dying Abner, etc etc……maybe they shouldn’t have killed off Sawtooth, in retrospect…..

Looks like the only unfinished biz here is the ring Archie used to decommission Mysta.

Well, looks like another weak to the finish story is finally kicked to the side!

Good riddance!

Ok great, this one’s done and put to bed! Now let’s bring Shaky and the lovely and gracious Edison Lighthouse back.

“Wench?” What century is this guy from?

At least we now see Archival in hand cuffs.

Archival is saying this in a soprano voice.

As Archival might say, “Aw, nuts!”

I get no kick from Champagne

Mere alcohol doesn’t thrill me at all

So tell me why should it be true

That I get a kick out of you

Nice strip, today.

Looks like someone doesn’t know how to lose.

As another case sets into the jail cell, what new case appears on the horizon!!!

Where’s Wendy? this is a big perp walk, the news should be there. I see the mayor wanting to sweep this under the rug (since doubtless Archival is one of her supporters)

Wench? Where on earth did this loser learn about women? (Meanwhile, Sam is telling him, “You have the right to remain silent – I strongly recommend using it.”)

I don’t think he’s stupid. I think he’s actually insane.

She might get charged with assault, but you don’t have a case for anything else.

Looks like that officer in center frame has copped a souvenir of the bust….

And the ring?

And Sam’s about to tell him to watch his head as he slams his face into the car roof!

Has anyone noticed that Dick Tracy weekday strips at Tribune are in color now? Too bad, I liked to sometimes look at the black & white originals.

When Archival is processed at the jail, they’ll take his ring. Will Tracy see this and confiscate it as evidence of multiple crimes?

If he can stand up and walk, she didn’t kick him hard enough.

Or perhaps her target was too small for an accurate hit while she was still weak from being held without sunlight.

Front panel officer holding the hat’s face says that he is sure glad he paid for Police Academy instead of getting that evening techn school Security Guard certificate.

From Apolitical Left to Right

1-COP: I don’t want get any hanky-panky out of you boys if I put you together in the back seat will I?

2-DT: If Stan Lee was to make a statue of me, I’d pose like this!

3-COP WITH HAT: I’ll treasure this forever. UNLESS, I can convince the department to switch over to this style of police hat…MAYBE the entire Stan Lee style uniform those guys had!

4-STAN LEE: REMEMBER YOU TWO! YOU WORK FOR ME! KEEP YOUR MOUTH’S SHUT! I GOT A LOTTA FRIENDS INSIDE! But they’re all rich so they’re in those fancy, resort-like prisons and they don’t have a muscle between them and you being poor, there’s no way you’ll end up there – BUT STILL…

5-SAM: I LIKE IT TRACY! NOW POSE LIKE YOU’RE SNAPPIN’ OFF A COUPLE A QUICK ROUNDS AT A FLEEING VILLAIN!

6-MYSTA IN THE BACK OF THE VAN: OH VERA! MY HERO! VERA: Hang on…it’s been awhile and…oh. I swear, this never happens…

For once, I’d like to see complete wrap up of a story arc that covers things like the Bribery/Mysta/Archival relationship and how Archival and Bribery know each other…And Archival’s background as well…

Also, was there a second ring ?Or is somebody in the police property room on the take from Bribery and they did his bidding ?

And it would be nice to see a Mysta and Honeymoon reunion as well as what happens to Mysta and Vera going forward…

This should be done instead of any “throwaway” nostalgia strips or “Minit Mysteries”…

“Lunarian wench”? I guess he’s not infatuated with her anymore.?

Now that’s the happy ending to this adventure!!

Capt. (Neil) Obvious strikes again. And please folks, quit asking for rehashed villains. How about something new and creative?

Whoa!! Cop in center of scene got himself a souvenir: he can hang it on his Xmas tree this year with the other ornaments……..

Even if Archival sued Mysta for assault, the court would understand it as simple, usually classified as a misdemeanor, and in no way diminishes his federal crime against her. As far as the strip is concerned, I don’t think it’s going to fret over the intricacies of court cases. Tracy has the criminals. That’s what matters.

The one-panel strip is a nice panorama of an arrest scene. Tracy is overseeing the officers processing the accused and there is a Smith Industries van and an ambulance. No doubt that despite Mysta’s short recovery enough to give Archival a knee to the groin, it’s Mysta and not Archival who needs the medical attention. He seems to be doing well enough with cuffs on.

“You said your ring thing had her under your control, so I assumed that was what you wanted her to do.”

Sam has his hand on Archival’s hair to make sure he doesn’t duck quite enough.

Wasn’t expecting a full page panel.Let’s skip the lawsuits.I think Diet Smith will happily provide defense lawyers for anythingArchival cooks up.And Diet is richer.Remember the Posie story(1968)—-they wanted to cheat B.O.&Gertie out of theircontest winnings until Diet and his bottomless pocket threatened to sue them.

GROUCHO:“I don’t know.When I woke up there was the nurse t aking care of me”.

CHICO:“Couldn’t the nurse take care of herself?”

GROUCHO:“You bet she could.But I found that out too late”.

“MONKEY BUSINESS”(1931)

Tell Archival to put a sock in it. Better still let Mysta put a sock in his mouth.

A villain named Bookie Joe(1935) once tried to escape by running through a blazing firewhile his hands were handcuffed behind him.

Will Archival try to break that record?

At least Tracy didn’t let her kill him on purpose!

Thank you, Mysta, for striking a blow for lunarian wenches everywhere!

She didn’t kick you, you twerp. She knee’d you. Inna nutz. And your voice is still all quivery.

And he can be counter sued for his actions too.

Oh, quit your whining, Bwocky-Wocky! You have already failed miserably at the Evil Genius thing, and at the human being thing as well. Whatever accident may have befallen you (i saw nothing!) was your own darned fault. Watch your head if you don’t want to have another accident getting into the squadrol!

be quiet, or i’ll bring her over to say goodbye

I don’t envy the officer who reads Archival his Miranda rights. Odds are that they’ll toss a coin.

The police vehicles, a Diet Smith van…it’s a wonder the local news stations in Tracy land are not on the scene. Heck of a scoop.

Who is he going to sue? Mystra? Tracy? Archival is going to be laughed out of the courtroom.

Bye! Bye! Good Riddance! This bad guy showed he is missing some pieces from his jigsaw puzzle.