Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 07, 2022

Good morning™, everyone!

So, yeah, Mr. Bones waited until Tracy was on his way home and then sent a text message pretending to be from Blackjack. Since Blackjack supposedly broke down, Tracy will come right away without even thinking that he might need backup.

Back at the house, I think the kitchen stove behind Mr. Bones in yesterday’s middle panel was “Chekhov’s gun.”

Shouldn’t it read; “going to turn myself in but,,,”

Perhaps not.

Dick’s got a real limp wrist issue!

OH no!

Good morning™, duped dummies !

Does Tracy really believe that is BJ ?  The missing fourth panel would show a streak of doubt across Dick’s face. I wonder what will spark that air-gas mixture.

Yesterday, I said, “It wouldn’t surprise me if Bones sets fire to the house before he leaves.”

There’s another problem: BJ could suffocate if there’s too much natural gas in the air. Also, there wouldn’t be a fire if there’s too much gas: Mythbusters demonstrated that.

Well, we know Dick loves walking into obvious traps without back-up, so sadly this is very much in character for him. Wonder who will bail him out this time. Maybe Delia the Totally Not Yet Another Undercover Agent.

Blackjack shouldn’t have had the chili

Yesterday Bones said it was going to look like suicide. Does he think the cops will assume that Blackjack wrapped himself up in tape?

Let me if I get this, after shooting Tracy Blackjack is so beside himself that he said “good bye cruel world” and checked out. If Mr. Bones turned on the gas, how does he plan to return and frame the deceased for murder? Ooh, I am giving myself whip lash trying to reason this out.

I guess by Sunday, I’ll find out whether the Apparatus got their money’s worth. It has crossed my mind whether Mr. Bones came with references or they just hired him based on his reputation.

1-TRAVOLTA: Wait here Uber Driver. I don’t like your brand of bottled water. I’ll be back in a sec…

2-DT: HMMMMM. It just occurs to me that I can track the wanted fugitive, Blackstrap, via that Wrist Wizard I let him have! WHY HAVEN’T I THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE?!?!

Note to self: Always give felons a Wrist Wizard just in case I need to rearrest them at some point. Will make job easier and lead to hero-genius status for me!

3-BLACKSTRAP: Be cool. I’ll get outta this. Wait…do I smell gas? What’s that sound? YIKES! Travolta let my pet rattlesnakes loose! No problem. They like me. Hold up…what’s that trail leading from the door to me? (lick) HONEY?!? BUT THIS IS BEAR COUNTRY! Be cool…I’ll get…what’s that…DYNAMITE WITH A LIT FUSE!?!? COME ON!

Nice fedora today, Tracy. Usually you save the one with the faux bow on the left for your Sunday’s best.

(William Conrad voiceover:)

Be sure to see our next episode,

“Wrapped and Trapped”

or

“Jumpin’ (Black)Jack Flash, It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas!”

Anyone who thinks to themself “OMG!” deserves to die in a horrible explosion!

My own thoughts.

This story is both interesting and disappointing at the same time. Primary disappointment is that it is yet another „Kill Dick Tracy“ plot, with a healthy dose of amnesia thrown in because didn’t we just have the same Apparatus leaders say that killing Tracy was exactly what they did not want to do?

But interesting in that we seem to have a rather intelligent – and meticulously efficient villain, who is methodically executing what appears to be a well-thought-out plan – even if we weren’t in on the planning.

So, I‘m having a bit of a hard time with this story. It‘s a decent story, just based upon a ridiculous premise.

The colors on the strip today are perfect.

C’mon Tracy! Blackjack wouldn’t TEXT you to say he was ready to turn himself in! Darn it, this scheme of Bones’ is working really well so far, he really is quite the professional!

I hope Blackjack somehow frees himself and isn’t killed in a gas explosion and/or fire!

So far, Richard Bonhomme’s nefarious plan is coming along without a hitch. But even the most meticulous Baddie makes some mistake. Doesn’t Tracy smell a trap?

The suspense is invigorating!