This is something I’ve been wondering about for months, but have never bothered to ask:
Why is it that every day, somebody ads to this strip the tags, “Death stalks the circus!” and “Hey Rube?”
The first one I can understand, ‘cause it describes the current story. But “Hey Rube?” What does that mean? Somebody let me in on the joke, please.
And now that I think about it…
Why would somebody post “Death stalks the circus” every single day? Is this something that GoComics staff posts automatically when they upload the strip? Is it the work of some TMS shill?
Hey Rube is the traditional cry for help at a carnival when a patron becomes out of control. It alerts the other carnival workers who come running immediately. Now they have paid security!
Tracy was a ball of fire
The danger had raised his ire
Now he wanted to a attack the clown
Where before he just backed down
Still forgotten strapped to his wrist
Was the device to call for an assist
At the behest of Mr. Pops
(he’s the one who called the cops)
The officer approached the cage
As the tiger snarled out it’s rage
In the background there was swearing
Because Ringos hat he was wearing
Warned as to what he might see
He stepped rather hesitantly
What grisly sight would he behold
What horrors were to unfold
But just between me and you
I’m thinking it’s tiger poo.
Della says, “But Mr. Pops is armed!”. Where are Tracy’s and Ennis’ weapons? I suppose if they had any, they would have used them when they were near death in the cage. I suppose this story is almost over now… maybe another month or two at best.
Okaaay, looks like after four months we’re about to wrap up the Worst Dick Tracy Story Ever Written. Coming up next: the NEW Worst Dick Tracy Story Ever Written, I have a feeling.
Almost looks like Mr Pops is flashing the “I Love You” sign (thumb, forefinger and pinky extended - combines the signs for I, L & Y).
By the way, Tracy & his family arrived at the circus on July 18. The last time I went to the circus we were there for approximately 3 hours. But then, we didn’t witness a murder…..
The clown Mr. Pops is pointing the way. And won’t Mr. Pops be surprise when DT and FBI show up and inform the other cop. DT will say place Mr. Pops under arrest for the murder of the trapeeze artist. And place ringmaster under protective custody before some clown tries to take him out.
I’d like to hear Tracy’s line of thinking at this point. He couldn’t “get” the clown before, and the only thing different now is he has an exhausted giant and a fat lady waddling behind him.
I also believe this story takes the award for being the only Tracy storyline that the character’s movement was limited to a 50 yard diameter…if that much.
I’ve been looking over some of the strips from when Mike Killian was writing…they’re not as good as Collins, but better than I expected. And WAY better than this. To recap the story:
Tracy goes to the circus with his family. An aerialist is shot. The ringmaster turns out to be a whistleblower in the witness protection program. His friend, the clown, turns out to be a paroled felon that Ringo sent to prison. The aerialist turns out to be a hired assassin. An FBI agent shows up and says there are a lot of criminals in the circus. Tracy says Ringo is under his protection, and he has a plan to uncover the murderer. The clown pulls a gun and puts Tracy and the FBI agent in the tiger cage. The strong man holds the tiger’s tail while the fat lady lowers a trapese so Tracy can get out. The clown calls the police so he can frame Ringo. The police show up.
All of this happens in the same space, in the same evening, and all exposition is revealed through dialog over about 13 weeks, with endless recycled lines (IT HAPPENED!) and random art (tent exteriors, tiger faces).
I just can’t understand why anybody is getting paid for this stuff. It’s awful.
JDG, thanks for ‘splaining the “Hey Rube” thing. This gives me inspiration for a DT parody of the Beatles’ song, “Hey Jude.”
JanCinVV, July 18? Really!? Good Lord, I had no idea it’d been so long! We were all so much younger, and the world a more innocent place, when this story arc began.
A long time ago, when a carnival (not a circus, a carnival) was raided by the police (illegal gambling, prostitution, whatever – a long time ago illegal things tended to go on at carnivals), the first carnie to spot the police would yell the code phrase, “Hey, Rube!” to warn the others. Like all such codes it soon became known to the police so it was replaced by newer codes a long time ago (before WWI if I recall correctly) but the phrase is still common in fiction and still valid in the popular imagination.
Somebody has probably confused carnivals with circuses and thinks what’s going on throughout this adventure is comparable to the police raiding a 3 card monte game at a carnival and thinks it’s appropriate to tag the whole adventure with the same tag – so he can find the whole adventure to reread it, I guess? Why not just tag the first strip of the adventure and read from there chronologically? Well, it only takes one person to make a tag, and mentally challenged people are allowed to do it….
Steve Bartholomew almost 15 years ago
That’s pretty horrible, all right. Even I can’t look.
achtungkitten almost 15 years ago
Yikes, looks like the tiger got to Della’s face. Over here, officer! Bring your puke bag!
Hey, Mr Pops is flashing The Shocker at the cop. That can land you in the back of a cruiser for one purpose or another.
FLIGHT SUIT almost 15 years ago
“The Shocker?”
Gee, I learn something new and disgusting every day:
http://tinyurl.com/7z888
At first glance, though, it looks more like Pops is flashing a Satanic hand gesture.
watcha almost 15 years ago
It’s been pretty horrible for a while - about 3 months in fact
coratelli almost 15 years ago
I don’t understand this strip. Bleah.
FLIGHT SUIT almost 15 years ago
This is something I’ve been wondering about for months, but have never bothered to ask:
Why is it that every day, somebody ads to this strip the tags, “Death stalks the circus!” and “Hey Rube?”
The first one I can understand, ‘cause it describes the current story. But “Hey Rube?” What does that mean? Somebody let me in on the joke, please.
And now that I think about it…
Why would somebody post “Death stalks the circus” every single day? Is this something that GoComics staff posts automatically when they upload the strip? Is it the work of some TMS shill?
Fearless_Fosdick almost 15 years ago
Tigers have been known to eat clothes too.
JerryGorton almost 15 years ago
Hey Rube is the traditional cry for help at a carnival when a patron becomes out of control. It alerts the other carnival workers who come running immediately. Now they have paid security!
wndrwrthg almost 15 years ago
Tracy was a ball of fire The danger had raised his ire Now he wanted to a attack the clown Where before he just backed down Still forgotten strapped to his wrist Was the device to call for an assist At the behest of Mr. Pops (he’s the one who called the cops) The officer approached the cage As the tiger snarled out it’s rage In the background there was swearing Because Ringos hat he was wearing Warned as to what he might see He stepped rather hesitantly What grisly sight would he behold What horrors were to unfold But just between me and you I’m thinking it’s tiger poo.
LudwigVonDrake almost 15 years ago
We still have about a month more of this nonsense.
ridenslide65 almost 15 years ago
“Juts look at this comic strip officer and tell me what you see. It’s just horrible I tell you, so horrible I can’t bear to look at it anymore”…….
Love your stuff wndrwrthg. Keep it up.
linsonl almost 15 years ago
Nice teeth, tiger.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ almost 15 years ago
Della says, “But Mr. Pops is armed!”. Where are Tracy’s and Ennis’ weapons? I suppose if they had any, they would have used them when they were near death in the cage. I suppose this story is almost over now… maybe another month or two at best.
jumbobrain almost 15 years ago
Okaaay, looks like after four months we’re about to wrap up the Worst Dick Tracy Story Ever Written. Coming up next: the NEW Worst Dick Tracy Story Ever Written, I have a feeling.
Plods with ...™ almost 15 years ago
For a minute there I thought the fat lady was going to sing on this story line.
JanLC almost 15 years ago
Almost looks like Mr Pops is flashing the “I Love You” sign (thumb, forefinger and pinky extended - combines the signs for I, L & Y). By the way, Tracy & his family arrived at the circus on July 18. The last time I went to the circus we were there for approximately 3 hours. But then, we didn’t witness a murder…..
kab2rb almost 15 years ago
The clown Mr. Pops is pointing the way. And won’t Mr. Pops be surprise when DT and FBI show up and inform the other cop. DT will say place Mr. Pops under arrest for the murder of the trapeeze artist. And place ringmaster under protective custody before some clown tries to take him out.
idarke almost 15 years ago
I’d like to hear Tracy’s line of thinking at this point. He couldn’t “get” the clown before, and the only thing different now is he has an exhausted giant and a fat lady waddling behind him.
coratelli almost 15 years ago
For Flightsuit: about the tags I think it’s the work of someone in TMS.
coratelli almost 15 years ago
For jumbobrain: this is the Number One of the Worst Dick Tracy Story of Ever!!!
jpozenel almost 15 years ago
ZZZZZzzzzzzz……
andy.vaughn almost 15 years ago
I also believe this story takes the award for being the only Tracy storyline that the character’s movement was limited to a 50 yard diameter…if that much.
jumbobrain almost 15 years ago
I’ve been looking over some of the strips from when Mike Killian was writing…they’re not as good as Collins, but better than I expected. And WAY better than this. To recap the story:
Tracy goes to the circus with his family. An aerialist is shot. The ringmaster turns out to be a whistleblower in the witness protection program. His friend, the clown, turns out to be a paroled felon that Ringo sent to prison. The aerialist turns out to be a hired assassin. An FBI agent shows up and says there are a lot of criminals in the circus. Tracy says Ringo is under his protection, and he has a plan to uncover the murderer. The clown pulls a gun and puts Tracy and the FBI agent in the tiger cage. The strong man holds the tiger’s tail while the fat lady lowers a trapese so Tracy can get out. The clown calls the police so he can frame Ringo. The police show up.
All of this happens in the same space, in the same evening, and all exposition is revealed through dialog over about 13 weeks, with endless recycled lines (IT HAPPENED!) and random art (tent exteriors, tiger faces).
I just can’t understand why anybody is getting paid for this stuff. It’s awful.
coratelli almost 15 years ago
It happened!
sigh…
dstufff almost 15 years ago
Anyone can tell by the way Mr. Pops is talking that he set up this situation himself (except maybe the cops in DT’s world).
FLIGHT SUIT almost 15 years ago
JDG, thanks for ‘splaining the “Hey Rube” thing. This gives me inspiration for a DT parody of the Beatles’ song, “Hey Jude.”
JanCinVV, July 18? Really!? Good Lord, I had no idea it’d been so long! We were all so much younger, and the world a more innocent place, when this story arc began.
CougarAllen almost 15 years ago
A long time ago, when a carnival (not a circus, a carnival) was raided by the police (illegal gambling, prostitution, whatever – a long time ago illegal things tended to go on at carnivals), the first carnie to spot the police would yell the code phrase, “Hey, Rube!” to warn the others. Like all such codes it soon became known to the police so it was replaced by newer codes a long time ago (before WWI if I recall correctly) but the phrase is still common in fiction and still valid in the popular imagination.
Somebody has probably confused carnivals with circuses and thinks what’s going on throughout this adventure is comparable to the police raiding a 3 card monte game at a carnival and thinks it’s appropriate to tag the whole adventure with the same tag – so he can find the whole adventure to reread it, I guess? Why not just tag the first strip of the adventure and read from there chronologically? Well, it only takes one person to make a tag, and mentally challenged people are allowed to do it….
-Cougar :{)
Morrow Cummings almost 15 years ago
Sheer genius, eh Mattie boy?
FLIGHT SUIT almost 15 years ago
Cougar, thanks for the additional info!