Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for February 28, 2024

looks like this IS the Annie story we’ve been told was coming…

Kudos to Charles for bringing back the real Annie, not the imposter who became friends with ugly Crystal.

Good morning™, everyone!

“Of course,” Annie is there but even she doesn’t know why. Annie has that old-fashioned look again, reverting to her traditional way of dressing. I like Dick’s face in the first panel, even if Warbucks’ face seems a little stretched. Charles is keeping up with Shelley’s unusual angles. I like such experimentation. I think it’s more dynamic.

What’s with Tracy’s hat?

markwillman4 overheard about 11 hours ago

@Gweedo it’s legal here Murray

We heard that, mister! ;)

Did I say thaaaaat ?

Good morning™, Realistic Portrayals !

This is the Real girl !  I agree; Tracy is looking good. Nice to see Annie looking like herself again.

Great work in panel one … we’re seeing Warbucks & Tracy from Annie’s perspective, & her entrance in panel two is almost cinematic. I agree with several other commentators, it’s great to see the classic Annie again. Can’t wait to see how Charles draws Punjab & the Asp.

Tracy’s head and his hat still don’t look right.

I like Annie here, but I also liked the other Annie too!

warbucks’ diamond switched to a gold and ruby cameo? It was the first thing I noticed but decided not to comment til now….by the way, most definitely NOT a fan of the art….but I’ll give it a little bit to “find his groove”

Yay! Annie’s back!

As others have pointed out, Annie is looking younger with the new artist, and has gone back to the dress she ditched years ago. I can’t imagine any kid, even her regressed age, wanting the look today.

“I needed someone to ask all the questions the reader would, or at least all the questions I wish the reader would ask.”

I think Annie is being a little too informal in panel 2.

Aaand the dialogue makes no sense. Annie is right there, but Tracy asks if she came. What, is she so tiny Giant Looming Detective Tracy doesn’t notice her until someone points? Warbucks has become a magician and produced her from a trick cabinet to surprise Tracy?

Just change that first balloon to “I see you brought Annie” and everything makes much more sense.

New artist seems to be trying a Jack Kirby look, and honestly not succeeding very well.

NO ! NO ! NO ! NO !

This could be an interesting story arc.

That’s DETECTIVE Tracy to you, young lady. Sheesh. Kids these days.

Manners, Annie! It’s Mister Tracy.

Looks like they de-aged Annie from her last appearance. She was definitely a teenager in her last strip.

Good morning, DT readers! A couple of artist notes: Y’all are probably going to give me S*** over the next couple of weeks and I promise I’ll try not to take it personally. I’ll just have to put my Haagen Daz down, grab those boot straps, wipe those tears away and keep going. Seriously though, I appreciate the grace period to “find his groove”. Though I’d have an easier time finding the groove on a Prince 12" extended remix vinyl that’s been shattered into a million pieces. Sifting through decades of character references and styles to find the most modern yet classic look has been extremely challenging. Joe Staton has been guiding me and I wish I had had his influence more when I was just starting. All I had was his past work to go by without the intent behind it. Sooooooo… there will be a slight evolution to my work as this goes on but I’m pretty confident It’ll get there. I know I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s ok. I just strive to at least not be someone’s cup of caster oil their mother’s forcing them to drink. Yuck. And yes, I come from a comics background and of the mindset of changing up camera angles and POV’s and making things dynamic is baked into my dna. Anyway, Just giving you some insight and a promise that I’m doing my best to conquer the great “what’s up with that hat???” issue. Which I didn’t think was an issue. But I guess it is. So I’ll bear that in mind. have a great day, people! :D

One more thing. I’m not in charge of coloring so not sure how to address the “ruby” issue. But hey, a rich guy can afford to switch up the bling, right?

MOVIE QUOTE—-

“What’s these matzoh balls?”

Joe E.Brown—-THE TENDERFOOT—1932

“Of course. Because she is under my eeeevil spell. She was compelled!!hehhehheh”

Cue the ominous music

OT: Spent yesterday working up a new opening illo. and altering bit of the first of he OTHERWORLD books. AND (idiot that I am) doing some prelim blocking on the fourth book, which I SWORE on aa stack of Oreos I’d never, ever do.

However, you get to care for the characters after 3-4 years with them, and the min lea being both a eluctnt adventurer and doting father (which came entirely out of left field) has proved fun to work with. Hey, I amuse easily!

However, I don’t plan on really working on this one until August. Got to have my post-cancer check-up first, so ’ll be nervous for the next few weeks and then…well…summer!

Oh…joy

First panel art of Dick Tracy is an interesting attempt at a different style……..

Is this another Minnit Mystery? Why has Annie been stuck in a child’s body for 100 years? Yes, Little Orphan Annie premiered in 1924.

Nice use of POV in the first panel to lead into Annie’s introduction.

DW: “Annie? Tracy is your long-lost daddy!”

Ahhhhh, but IS it Annie? Could it be…another SKRULL SPY???

Annie is one of fiction’s February 29th birthdays (an early “Happy Birthday,” dear, so I don’t forget.) After 100 years, forget about a teenager, she should be turning 35. I know, time only passed in comics when it’s convenient, whether real-time or Marvel time (Four years outside=one year inside). But I think it works, Dick Tracy being mid-fifties, Junior in his thirties, and Honeymoon a young teen.

https://youtu.Be/kmwjLiUXbjc?si=f5_teiTOoWkjbSO2

Sandy likes Firestrike, from a distance!

It’s Lulu Arfin’ Nonny. As her eyes is blunk out, too.

Annie thinks: Leapin’ lizards! What nest of skunk’s answers to prayers are you throwin’ me in the path of NOW?………

1 – DT: I’m not putting up with your hijinx this visit, Annie! Promise me you won’t shoplift, purse snatch and pickpockets this time!

2 – ANNIE: I SWEAR! (a lot, ya dumb f***in flatfoot. AND I got your wallet behind my back!)

3 – OLIE: Come on Tracy! Let the child express herself in her own way. ANNIE: RIIIIIPPPPP! OLIE: PEE YOO! NOT LIKE THAT!

She’s the adrenochrome supply

Annie is a very polite child. She would never address an adult by their last name.

Pops Warbucks will have Tracy throw Annie in the slammer for being a mutant, then buy himself a new orphan with proper eyeballs.

HAROLD GRAY’S WORST IDEA ever—-

“Funjab”,supposedly Punjab’s nephew and a prank-playing brat

Curtis will eventually make a real Asp out of himself later in this goofy crossover

Annie in her classic dress. Where’s Sandy?

Nice to see Annie again.

GRRRRRRRRR, I have a sneaking suspicion someone will be making an unwanted appearance here in the next installment…

all of a sudden, my strike-sense is tingling and warning me…

Prediction: Annie’s real parents have a connection to the DT cast.