Good Evening All! One member of Doubleups family went into law enforcement. I think his name was BackUp. I guess he was pretty good, they kept calling for him to come and help whenever things got sticky Looks like Ms. Parks could use him about now.
“Ponytail” Parks is about to feel the sting of Doubleup’s wrath. But these impulsive villains with their rash actions (remember Hot Rize, for example) bring themselves quickly to a fateful end. Tracy need do little more than certify their demise, it almost seems.
As a display of villainy and menace, this works better than that annoying verbal tic. But he’d better have some way to blackmail her into keeping quiet, or she’s likely to go to the cops.
Well, I haven’t had a real chance to introduce myself to this board yet. I’m a former member of the Yahoo group (which I’m currently trying to rejoin, but have not been able to attract Sydney or Beau’s attention in this matter) who left because of the unreadable strips produced during Locher’s solo tenure. It was not, as I am sure most of you agree, the best of times for the Dick Tracy comic strip. I have been a fan of Tracy for some twenty years now, and like many of my generation, I blame the Warren Beatty Dick Tracy movie for that. Well, not so much the movie itself, which is fun but flawed, but all of the great merchandise, particularly reprint books, that preceded it and followed in its wake. The Celebrated Cases was my first taste of Tracy, and since then, I have been hooked on Gould’s classic vision. I am also a fan of comics and cartoons in general (and yes, Terry, anime and manga as well. Gunsmith Cats is one I have enjoyed, but for gritty crime dramas in anime, though it is rather mature in content to say the least, I would have to say Crying Freeman is a master work. Miyazaki and the works of Rumiko Takahashi and their respective anime adaptaions are among my favorites). I have a lot of comments to make and catching up to do, and am pleased to make the acquaintance of some of you, and to continue the acquaintance of others of you.Aaron
Now, as to the strip itself, particularly in its present form. I hate to sound like a broken record, but what a vast improvement in such a short amount of time. Mr. Curtis and Mr. Staton (as well as the rest of their team) are to be commended. It has been ages since I actually looked forward to the next day’s strip, and this in itself is perhaps the highest praise anyone could give any adventure strip. During my time on the Yahoo group, I didn’t often criticize the art, but just compare the strip of 3/13 to the strip of 3/14, and I now realize that at best I tolerated the old art. And while it still holds true that I will read a comic with fantastic writing but only so-so art (but not the inverse), I could not praise Mr. Staton enough for his rendition of the Tracyverse. The sheer menace projected in the third panel of today’s strip is brilliant. Man, it feels good to actually be able to PRAISE the strip again, instead of just criticizing it. As to the writing, we see our old favorites actually acting and behaving like our old favorites. The characterization is spot on, down to little forgotten touches such as having B.O. call Tracy anything BUT Tracy. The plots actually make sense and contain actually crime (unlike say, the second Sal Monella appearance, or just about any of the stories of Locher’s solo run) and most importantly, CRIME DOESN’T PAY! Two stories, so far, and both end with the death of the villain! Even with the constraints imposed by the syndicate, these have been effective deaths. Flyface’s demise has been particularly striking, underscored but some great dialogue by Tracy (It sure kills flies!). Really, I could go on and on, but really what I want to say to the current creators is thank you. Thank you for making Tracy Tracy again.Aaron
The art work just continues to get better. Yesterday’s was probably the very best I’ve seen on any adventure daily since Caniff’s Steve Canyon. And today’s is equal. Perspectives are accurate and interesting. Backgrounds are filled with relevant items. This is what an adventure strip should look like! And the story is full of intrique, although they have been shorter than what I would like. Keep up the good work, team!
I promise they will be longer later. But Joe and I and Shelley and Shane work so far ahead that I am currently extending adventure 5, while the rest of the crew are finishing up adventure 4.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ over 13 years ago
Good morning all…
Tarry Plaguer over 13 years ago
Good Evening All! One member of Doubleups family went into law enforcement. I think his name was BackUp. I guess he was pretty good, they kept calling for him to come and help whenever things got sticky Looks like Ms. Parks could use him about now.
LordDogmore over 13 years ago
I suspect, Liz won’t be the only one tied up on this production.
margueritem over 13 years ago
Oooo, the whip! Next the chains?
Sisyphos over 13 years ago
“Ponytail” Parks is about to feel the sting of Doubleup’s wrath. But these impulsive villains with their rash actions (remember Hot Rize, for example) bring themselves quickly to a fateful end. Tracy need do little more than certify their demise, it almost seems.
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
As a display of villainy and menace, this works better than that annoying verbal tic. But he’d better have some way to blackmail her into keeping quiet, or she’s likely to go to the cops.
Aaron Mimura over 13 years ago
Well, I haven’t had a real chance to introduce myself to this board yet. I’m a former member of the Yahoo group (which I’m currently trying to rejoin, but have not been able to attract Sydney or Beau’s attention in this matter) who left because of the unreadable strips produced during Locher’s solo tenure. It was not, as I am sure most of you agree, the best of times for the Dick Tracy comic strip. I have been a fan of Tracy for some twenty years now, and like many of my generation, I blame the Warren Beatty Dick Tracy movie for that. Well, not so much the movie itself, which is fun but flawed, but all of the great merchandise, particularly reprint books, that preceded it and followed in its wake. The Celebrated Cases was my first taste of Tracy, and since then, I have been hooked on Gould’s classic vision. I am also a fan of comics and cartoons in general (and yes, Terry, anime and manga as well. Gunsmith Cats is one I have enjoyed, but for gritty crime dramas in anime, though it is rather mature in content to say the least, I would have to say Crying Freeman is a master work. Miyazaki and the works of Rumiko Takahashi and their respective anime adaptaions are among my favorites). I have a lot of comments to make and catching up to do, and am pleased to make the acquaintance of some of you, and to continue the acquaintance of others of you.Aaron
Aaron Mimura over 13 years ago
Now, as to the strip itself, particularly in its present form. I hate to sound like a broken record, but what a vast improvement in such a short amount of time. Mr. Curtis and Mr. Staton (as well as the rest of their team) are to be commended. It has been ages since I actually looked forward to the next day’s strip, and this in itself is perhaps the highest praise anyone could give any adventure strip. During my time on the Yahoo group, I didn’t often criticize the art, but just compare the strip of 3/13 to the strip of 3/14, and I now realize that at best I tolerated the old art. And while it still holds true that I will read a comic with fantastic writing but only so-so art (but not the inverse), I could not praise Mr. Staton enough for his rendition of the Tracyverse. The sheer menace projected in the third panel of today’s strip is brilliant. Man, it feels good to actually be able to PRAISE the strip again, instead of just criticizing it. As to the writing, we see our old favorites actually acting and behaving like our old favorites. The characterization is spot on, down to little forgotten touches such as having B.O. call Tracy anything BUT Tracy. The plots actually make sense and contain actually crime (unlike say, the second Sal Monella appearance, or just about any of the stories of Locher’s solo run) and most importantly, CRIME DOESN’T PAY! Two stories, so far, and both end with the death of the villain! Even with the constraints imposed by the syndicate, these have been effective deaths. Flyface’s demise has been particularly striking, underscored but some great dialogue by Tracy (It sure kills flies!). Really, I could go on and on, but really what I want to say to the current creators is thank you. Thank you for making Tracy Tracy again.Aaron
Major Matt Mason Premium Member over 13 years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbt30UnzRWwWhen a problem comes along, you must whip it… B)
Dkram over 13 years ago
Ether she’ll mean it when she says “I’m tied right now.” or She’s a headin’ for the last roundup.
\\//_
Morrow Cummings over 13 years ago
Idesama, if you came off the Yahoo Board, you must remember MPH. He’d rant like a Banshee and Sydney would take himk to the woodshed. Good ol’ days!
prrdh over 13 years ago
Is that a cat-o’-two-tails he’s pulling out of his desk drawer?
coratelli over 13 years ago
Wow, the last panel is full of tension. Great!
coratelli over 13 years ago
Welcome, idesama!
browngsa over 13 years ago
The art work just continues to get better. Yesterday’s was probably the very best I’ve seen on any adventure daily since Caniff’s Steve Canyon. And today’s is equal. Perspectives are accurate and interesting. Backgrounds are filled with relevant items. This is what an adventure strip should look like! And the story is full of intrique, although they have been shorter than what I would like. Keep up the good work, team!
MikeCurtis Premium Member over 13 years ago
I promise they will be longer later. But Joe and I and Shelley and Shane work so far ahead that I am currently extending adventure 5, while the rest of the crew are finishing up adventure 4.
Det.DanDone over 13 years ago
I don’t think The Scarlet Sting ever whipped th REAL Ponytail.But, I could be wrong…
Morrow Cummings over 13 years ago
My buddy, whom my wife calls a male Chauvanist pig, says if Ponytail is fixing to get it, she probably did something to deserve it.