Back to our story which is really kicking off today. Looks like we have our villain and I think he might be someone new unless you guys have heard of Steelface before.
And wotta strike too ! I’d believe the pull on a skeleton key as some were made of steel. Now that Gas’s date has seen the freak show she will be going home alone.
This lady at the bar is all of us. She just wants to see something unbelievable, or at least interesting, but instead she gets caught up in an internecine feud between mutant criminal lowlife types. This is why more and more people are abandoning the bar scene for dating apps!
Hold the phone…prior to the recent blooper passing as you know what, there was going to be a theater presentation of the Sunday Funnies. How will that relate to today’s action? Oh maybe these three will win sweepstakes tickets to the play.
Before we get too deeply into this new story, I want to share this with my fellow Tracy-fans:
I just finished re-reading the last Chester Gould continuity before the introduction of Moon Maid. (The Magnetic Space Coupe had already been featured in several stories, but when Diet Smith took B. O. Plenty and his family to the moon, they complained how empty and barren it was, and B. O. had Diet take them instead to his original birth place in Virginia.)
The story I want to discuss is about Small Mouth Bass and one Doctor Aorta, who were supplying victims to a female criminal genius for heart transplant experiments. The story ran in the papers in late 1963 – early 1964, three years before the first successful heart transplant in the real world (1967).
SPOILER ALERT for anyone who has not read this story.
Tracy is brought into the case when a living, beating heart, inside of a specially constructed container, is found in a bus station locker. Much is made of the fact that the heart is still alive and beating on its own. Then they find a body with the heart removed. They use medical science to prove that the heart is from this victim. There is some excellent real-world detective work and leg work depicted, which eventually leads Tracy and Sam to a car rental garage. They find the limo which picked up the victim for his last ride. But then Gould makes one of the biggest gaffes of his entire run on Tracy. They find that the limo is rigged up to funnel its own exhaust into the passenger compartment, and fingerprints on the inside of the windows prove that the victim took his last ride in this limo. it is stated that the amount of carbon monoxide would certainly have killed him while he was struggling to open a window or get out. Yet this is the victim whose live heart is at the center of the investigation.
There are a lot of great Tracy-style chase and death trap moments, and the crooks are suitably captured or killed. Please continue in the next comment
Swerving to the magnetic beat of what appears to be an entirely new tack (unless this somehow ties in with the Patterson production planned by Vitamin), we meet Gaspar, probably just a disposable foil, though possibly a minion of the apparent New Villain, Steelface (“Don’t call me Steelface!” so reminds me of Flyface!). We don’t yet know his given name nor his game, but he has a neat trick to go with his steely visage. The lady is just a bar pickup extra; I don’t expect to see her again after this scene has played out….
Brian Premium Member about 2 years ago
He sure has a magnetic personality! What? SOMEBODY was going to do that joke.
Neil Wick about 2 years ago
Good morning™, everyone!
Back to our story which is really kicking off today. Looks like we have our villain and I think he might be someone new unless you guys have heard of Steelface before.
Yngvar Følling about 2 years ago
Ah, he’s gotten the Covid-19 vaccine!
avenger09 about 2 years ago
What is that supposed to be in black tie guy’s hand, a glass??
Ashmael about 2 years ago
And now for something totally different!
Ashmael about 2 years ago
The name Magneto was already taken…
firestrike1 about 2 years ago
a new bad boy has come to Tracyville, it seems… and his buddy, Gaspar, seems like the typical bar-fly jerkoff…
Sporteric11 about 2 years ago
This looks like a case for Remington Steele Detective Agency !!!
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray about 2 years ago
Good morning™, strike forces !
And wotta strike too ! I’d believe the pull on a skeleton key as some were made of steel. Now that Gas’s date has seen the freak show she will be going home alone.
BreathlessMahoney77 about 2 years ago
And don’t call him Shirley either!
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray about 2 years ago
JPuzzleWhiz crossed sites about 2 hours ago
@Gweedo it’s legal here Murray
Could you be thinking of Comics.com?
To my best recollection c.com merged with this one.
https://blog.kamens.us/2011/06/02/comics-com-has-merged-into-gocomics-com/
BigDaveGlass about 2 years ago
I think Steelface will be key to this investigation……
therese_callahan2002 about 2 years ago
He probably teamed up with Harley Niav, who hates being called “Putty Puss.”
iggyman about 2 years ago
Ah Steelface! Metal Man was already taken!
GoComicsGo! about 2 years ago
Where’s Garage Man? I was promised Garage Man! Where is he?
Phantomfire 01 about 2 years ago
Steelface’s real name is Rusty.
richsolano about 2 years ago
His partner looks a little pale; Gasper = Casper?
crobinson019 about 2 years ago
A magnetic face might make shaving difficult in the morning
Space_cat about 2 years ago
It’s magnet mouth, and how is brass a ferrous metal? Unless he is a walking MRI magnet!
SKJAM! Premium Member about 2 years ago
Gaspar is rude when he’s drunk. He should count himself lucky if he leaves the bar in a vertical position.
Carl Fink Premium Member about 2 years ago
Is that the most awkward slap on the comics page? Who slaps from right-to-left, but with his hand vertical like that?
Null Island about 2 years ago
If he’s magnetic enough to pull keys out of the air, he’ll probably be easy to shoot.
Ignatz Premium Member about 2 years ago
timbob2313 Premium Member about 2 years ago
Steelface aka Magneto?
artheaded1 about 2 years ago
Gaspar is rather pale. Is he a “friendly ghost”?
William Bednar Premium Member about 2 years ago
Looks like that shadowy guy has magnetic skin, at least on his face. I would guess it’s genetic in origin.
trainnut1956 about 2 years ago
First panel: Now there is a pickup line that has NEVER worked.
MuddyUSA Premium Member about 2 years ago
Ahh finally…a George Gould type character……Steel Face!
tcayer about 2 years ago
Right. Shouldn’t it be “Magnetface?”
Another Take about 2 years ago
1-GASPAR: This is a 12 ounce bar glass – my huge hands make it look tiny. BETTY: My place or yours?
2-GASPAR: HEY STEELFACE! I TOLD HER THIS IS THE KEY TO MY HEART AND SHE FELL FOR IT!
3-STEELFACE: THAT’S MY PICKUP LINE! OOOOOH! I’M SO ANGRY! WHY I OUGHTA…
Phantomfire 01 about 2 years ago
Steelface got that way because of all the heavy metals in his diet. This can serve as a profound philosophical lesson to all…
David Rickard Premium Member about 2 years ago
From today’s Comics Curmudgeon:
This lady at the bar is all of us. She just wants to see something unbelievable, or at least interesting, but instead she gets caught up in an internecine feud between mutant criminal lowlife types. This is why more and more people are abandoning the bar scene for dating apps!
Ken in Ohio about 2 years ago
O course this is only Day 1, but it looks promising.
IvanB.Cohen about 2 years ago
Gaspar needs a two drink limit. The lady was so impressed that she shrieked.
IvanB.Cohen about 2 years ago
Hold the phone…prior to the recent blooper passing as you know what, there was going to be a theater presentation of the Sunday Funnies. How will that relate to today’s action? Oh maybe these three will win sweepstakes tickets to the play.
trimguy about 2 years ago
At a glance, it appears he has a … magnetic personality
IvanB.Cohen about 2 years ago
I hope those weren’t Gaspar’s car or house keys, either way he is up the creek without a paddle.
Ken in Ohio about 2 years ago
Before we get too deeply into this new story, I want to share this with my fellow Tracy-fans:
I just finished re-reading the last Chester Gould continuity before the introduction of Moon Maid. (The Magnetic Space Coupe had already been featured in several stories, but when Diet Smith took B. O. Plenty and his family to the moon, they complained how empty and barren it was, and B. O. had Diet take them instead to his original birth place in Virginia.)
The story I want to discuss is about Small Mouth Bass and one Doctor Aorta, who were supplying victims to a female criminal genius for heart transplant experiments. The story ran in the papers in late 1963 – early 1964, three years before the first successful heart transplant in the real world (1967).
SPOILER ALERT for anyone who has not read this story.
Tracy is brought into the case when a living, beating heart, inside of a specially constructed container, is found in a bus station locker. Much is made of the fact that the heart is still alive and beating on its own. Then they find a body with the heart removed. They use medical science to prove that the heart is from this victim. There is some excellent real-world detective work and leg work depicted, which eventually leads Tracy and Sam to a car rental garage. They find the limo which picked up the victim for his last ride. But then Gould makes one of the biggest gaffes of his entire run on Tracy. They find that the limo is rigged up to funnel its own exhaust into the passenger compartment, and fingerprints on the inside of the windows prove that the victim took his last ride in this limo. it is stated that the amount of carbon monoxide would certainly have killed him while he was struggling to open a window or get out. Yet this is the victim whose live heart is at the center of the investigation.
There are a lot of great Tracy-style chase and death trap moments, and the crooks are suitably captured or killed. Please continue in the next comment
Jonathan K. and the Elusive Dream Girl about 2 years ago
“Don’t call me Shirley.” — Leslie Nielsen
“Stop calling me ‘Sir.’ ” — Peppermint Patty
ScottHolman about 2 years ago
I like him already.
Eric S about 2 years ago
Looks like he has a magnetic personality
Mostly Water Premium Member about 2 years ago
Steelface, AKA key caddy. His other cheek is for storing reading glasses.
Sisyphos about 2 years ago
Swerving to the magnetic beat of what appears to be an entirely new tack (unless this somehow ties in with the Patterson production planned by Vitamin), we meet Gaspar, probably just a disposable foil, though possibly a minion of the apparent New Villain, Steelface (“Don’t call me Steelface!” so reminds me of Flyface!). We don’t yet know his given name nor his game, but he has a neat trick to go with his steely visage. The lady is just a bar pickup extra; I don’t expect to see her again after this scene has played out….
clayface9 Premium Member about 2 years ago
That’s MISTER Steelface to you!