Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 12, 2022

Good morning™, everyone!

Nice four-panel arrangement today! I suppose that hitting the old Wrist Wizard against the hard surface of the car caused it to send a distress signal to the 911 call centre. At least help is on the way to Tracy from that action alone.

Meanwhile, things are not looking good at all at Blackjack’s house. That’s quite a spectacular explosion! Do you think that’s the end of Blackjack or is there any way he could have gotten out?

Great action and suspense today! Nice, vivid colors.

I didn’t know that Tracy either was part Vulcan or Romulan but that ear is a dead giveaway.

Oh no, what about BJ’s Tracy collection???

Wow. That four-panel is AMAZING. Pleger deserves an award or something. Man, I’m sad about Blackjack though. I hope he survived somehow.

From late yesterday;

@Jab Jr 1957You’re also allowed to enjoy the strip

I do enjoy the strip, have since the 60’s.

I also enjoy the freedom to express opinions on the strip I love.

I really don’t care about the simple drawing errors, that’s gonna happen. I mention them to get a laugh at all the different reactions. :-)

I do have an issue with irrational or illogical developments, such as today’s suddenly free hand. Sure, it’s just a comic strip but if I’m taking the time to read it then I’d like Team Tracy to take the time to present a story that tries to make sense.

I assume the fate of Blackjack will be left up in the air for some time. Perhaps “unidentifiable” remains will be found at the scene, which could later be explained away as another Bones victim — perhaps the original collection thief.

I think Blackjack lives. He’s too much an interesting character to eliminate.

Blackjack LIVES!

I get knocked down, but I get up again ♪♫

You are never gonna keep me down ♪♫

Good morning™, missing bits !

We missed Tracy wheeling around for the knockout punch. I can see not knowing right now if BJ survived but there is a good chance he got out and may be standing around naked.

It would be a shame if BJ buys the farm in this story.

But it would be rather incredible at this point for him to have survived.

I wonder if BJ’s wrist radio transmitting is what triggered the explosion?

That is one of the first things we are warned about: If there’s gas, GET OUT and THEN try to call someone!

Exciting!

Nice to see that Tracy’s left cross is as potent as his right hook….

It would also appear Tracy is most displeased by people trying to give him lead poisoning…..

harrumph! Tracy don’t NEED your help, Blackjack. On the other hand, will 811 be able to find YOU since you used a burner phone?

Todays cartoon is just out of this world , the images are super , great job by Shelley again today . The first panel is my favorite one today .

Bravissimo on today’s artwork!!

Very nice usage of the initial panel design to split a single element in two so as to better emphasize the cause-and-effect which sent out the distress call. Will Eisner would be proud.

Using silhouette to separate the background characters’ dialog from the 9-1-1 operator speaking is straight out of Wally Wood’s 22 Panels That Always Work.

And the hideout explosion is very reminiscent of Jack Kirby.

You need to read this on an iPad. Blowing up the image to see the detail is amazing. The car engine, the explosion, wow!

anyone want to ask how tracy went from face down gun at the back of his head to turned around and hitting the guy?

Recalling fondly the flying teeth when Tracy slugged villains of yesteryear~~miss the MORE GORE era!

Goodbye Blackjack….

1-DT: I’LL SEE YOUR 3 SLUGS WITH ONE OF MY OWN! SPLAT

2-tinkle (Watch crystal being shattered)

3-SUPERVISOR: I know you think it’s funny but you gotta stop saying “ALL EUNUCHS IN THE VICINITY, PLEASE RESPOND TO…” You’re making the guys mad.

OPERATOR: Maybe I’m not able to say “UNITS”. EVER THINK ABOUT THAT???

SUPERVISOR: Oh. Sorry. Carry on.

911 OPERATOR: Anybody got a Xanax or something??? These whiners are getting’ on my nerves tonight.

4-POOF!

PA, A NEARBY NEIGHBOR: Sounds like Blackstrap done blew up another batch a meth, Ma.

MA: Well I reckon he’ll be needin’ more cold medicine then. Gitcher coat on, Pa. We best git on down to the Rexall. And bring an onion and some snuff so we can convince ‘em we’re a sufferin from colds agin.

PA: That’s good thinkin’, Ma. MA: Thankee, Pa. PA: Yore welcome, Ma.

Excellent action artwork features a great look at Tracy in action!

And Tracy counters with a left hook, causing the stolen wrist-radio to send out a distress signal! The 911 dispatchers are all aflunder (I made that word up) while Blackjack’s hideout explodes….! What will happen to Blackjack and will Tracy break any of Bones bones! Tune in tomorrow! Same Tracy time! Same Tracy channel! OH! Seriously, I’m loving this story and the artwork. Shelley is doing a fantastic job and the fight scenes are great! I hope BJ made it out because he is rather likeable even if he is slightly nuts. Time will tell. And most importantly… Did Tracy’s HAT survive!!

Send a unit? The MCU? Didn’t we have a lengthy unit/cop-group vs. squad/cop-car discussion a couple of years ago? Or am I having another senior moment?

What were people saying yesterday about there being no fire or explosions??

Help coming from two directions—and we’ll probably find out what happened to Blackjack around Valentine’s Day.(We still don’t know who the new Ace of Spades is).

MOVIE QUOTE__“I had a parrot I called Rita who hated me”.

“Why?”

“Because his name was Frank”

Jerry Lewis—-“DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP”—1959

:"

I wonder if Blackjack’s insurance policy will cover that sort of damage?

NOTE TO DIMITRIO:

Characters from Gould’s last year who don’t have their own page yet areLEYDEN EGG;ZERO NOUGHT;BULKY.The “mad collector” ARCHIVAL hasn’t gotten his own page,although being ignored might do his ego someneeded deflating.

Ferocious-looking Tracy in panel 1A as he THWACKs Bonhomme, causing that other Richard to accidentally send a distress signal, which will give Dispatch the location. Meanwhile, the 911 Operator hears (but doesn’t necessarily recognize what it is) the explosion of Blackjack’s Little House. I can only hope that the tubthumping anti-villain somehow got out in time to survive the blast!