The picture of Gertie in panel one is dead-on Chester Gould. But it seems like BO’s nose just continues to grow. And I don’t know what’s up with this One Eyed Jack and his hair or wig problems. Continuity, gentlemen, is the name of the game!!!
There were two “Hallmark” practises that innovator Kilian brought to Dick Tracy. One was what I call the “HUNCH” technique. It’s so much “simpler” than busting their creative brain to set up clues or tangible evidence on which to make a move. From the Writer’s perspective it requires far less ingenuity. The second one is to have Tracy fly off solo without conventional back-up on a potentially dangerous assignement or investigation. With a (three member) Pod squad that’s been “short-staffed” by one (-33%), since Liz(z) got promoted to Chief over two years ago.
Prior to the current case, Tracy has had eight criminal challenges, ONE in Washington (The Baron and Gretchen) and SEVEN at “home” (Queenie to Angelorious). In all these he has been forced to call in the “SWAT Team” ! Regular back up practically non-availabe. While Teevo is barely better than a Message Stenographer and Sam has never “clicked” with Kilian or now Locher.
Glad Grok raised the missing White Wig on One Eye’s head and most important of all the “wasted”, gigantic space between panels. Less effort? less work perhaps? Yet, first to “complain” that there’s not enough “space” for “text” or “art”.
A little “dust” in the eye there?
On the positive side, am I right in noticing that the lettering has improved “significantly” in recent times ??? See today !
Maybe ridenslide65, that “explains” a lot of things. Locher quick to “copy” the unconventional (head-wise), and perhaps too that’s why a yellow rubber duckie was somehow morphed into a “boob”
(Regulars here will remember when Li’l Jeffy K unconvincingly attributed ALL of the strip’s “problems” to shrinking space in his Frog Applause guest strip, neglecting to mention all the white space in each *DT* strip.)
Yeah, and isn’t it interesting, Grok, that the same newspaper editor’s I aimed my strip at demand these over-sized gutters? What a bizarre coincidence! Nice try.
Don’t want to get deeper into the imbroglio of size of space between panels gut a glance through other TMS strips throws up some interesting info.
One strip, Brenda Starr has almost similar spacing, most including “Annie” are half the Tracy size. While Broome-Hilda and Sylvia are a “third” of the space and Gasoline Alley and The Middletons use “zero” spacing.
Thumbing through the two strip reprint Tracy Books collated by Collins and Locher, clearly show that the wide panel spacing is a Locher “thing”. ‘Twasn’t used by Gould or Fletcher (?). I can’t discern any advantage to it, and even today’s (3-31=09) strip shows a need to push the “text” into the margins.
about the website ridenslide65 provided….
the whole case of people having ‘big heads’ seems to me a bit far fetched….look at the angle of all the photos of the hollywood glamor queens: they are all shot at an elevated angle making the head look larger than the body simply because the head is closer to the camera—check out the legs in each photo , you are looking DOWN to the feet instead of perpendicular to the camera as you would normally be if you are comparing head sizes in relation to body size.
just an observation
Think I’ve found a good “indicator” as to WHEN, Jim Brozman started drawing Dick Tracy.
It’s the thickness of the “stripes” on Tracy’s TIE. Brozman’s stripes are much thinner.
Although Locher signed the daily strips alone up 3-14-09 Brozman was clearly DOING the art from Wednesday 12th March 2009.
Today’s third panel is a good (tie) example! That change also fits in with the timing change in the cross-hatching style. While subtle Tracy face changes in some panels also become more apparent.
bleeep problem is, the new man has retained the thick Groucho Marx eye-brows and the “mini” hands from Lilliput in most panels.
Isn’t “DARN” something you do with needle and thread to a hole in your socks? The word is right there in every Dictionary, without a “warning” provision.
BO strutted towards the entrance of the casino.
“Who’s da man, who’s da man”? he chuckled to himself.
“We must be important to get a free night at the casino” he blurted out.
Gertie was trying her best not to barf.
“Dag, that’s some funky B.O. BO has going on today”. She lamented.
“Yep, we don’t get out too much anymore”. She forced herself to say, trying to distract herself from the smell.
Eyejack, going outside to greet the Plenty’s remembered to put on his best Errol Flynn imitation.
“Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Plenty. We’ve got a special night planned for you”.
BO wondered what happened to Eyejacks fingertip.
Elsewhere, back at Tracyland, Dick “Han Solo” Tracy was having a movie moment.
“Something’s fishy about BO’s winning all that money. I’ve got a really bad feeling about it”.
It’s not so much the finger “tips” as the LACK of finger “nails”. Can’t figure out why he doesn’t like to draw them (only 3-16 and 3-20 I’ve found any)
Perhaps he has them all is someone’s (?) coffin, somewhere !
Kind of dated yourself with that Errol Flynn reference there !
margueritem over 15 years ago
I see that Gertie has abruptly changed her mind. That’s a well drawn hand in panel three, but it’s too small for the size of his head.
andy.vaughn over 15 years ago
The picture of Gertie in panel one is dead-on Chester Gould. But it seems like BO’s nose just continues to grow. And I don’t know what’s up with this One Eyed Jack and his hair or wig problems. Continuity, gentlemen, is the name of the game!!!
LudwigVonDrake over 15 years ago
Continuity is not a strong point in this strip lately.
Gertie continues to have a different look each day.
Morrow Cummings over 15 years ago
What did you say about small hands, Ludwig?
prasrinivara over 15 years ago
Hint, BO–their “free” night is for them to clobber you of what you won earlier plus any “interest” you wanna add.
sydney over 15 years ago
There were two “Hallmark” practises that innovator Kilian brought to Dick Tracy. One was what I call the “HUNCH” technique. It’s so much “simpler” than busting their creative brain to set up clues or tangible evidence on which to make a move. From the Writer’s perspective it requires far less ingenuity. The second one is to have Tracy fly off solo without conventional back-up on a potentially dangerous assignement or investigation. With a (three member) Pod squad that’s been “short-staffed” by one (-33%), since Liz(z) got promoted to Chief over two years ago.
Prior to the current case, Tracy has had eight criminal challenges, ONE in Washington (The Baron and Gretchen) and SEVEN at “home” (Queenie to Angelorious). In all these he has been forced to call in the “SWAT Team” ! Regular back up practically non-availabe. While Teevo is barely better than a Message Stenographer and Sam has never “clicked” with Kilian or now Locher.
Glad Grok raised the missing White Wig on One Eye’s head and most important of all the “wasted”, gigantic space between panels. Less effort? less work perhaps? Yet, first to “complain” that there’s not enough “space” for “text” or “art”.
A little “dust” in the eye there?
On the positive side, am I right in noticing that the lettering has improved “significantly” in recent times ??? See today !
ridenslide65 over 15 years ago
http://www.splendicity.com/snarkstress/hollywoods-giant-head-syndrome/
sydney over 15 years ago
Maybe ridenslide65, that “explains” a lot of things. Locher quick to “copy” the unconventional (head-wise), and perhaps too that’s why a yellow rubber duckie was somehow morphed into a “boob”
jkersten over 15 years ago
Grokenstein says:
(Regulars here will remember when Li’l Jeffy K unconvincingly attributed ALL of the strip’s “problems” to shrinking space in his Frog Applause guest strip, neglecting to mention all the white space in each *DT* strip.)
Yeah, and isn’t it interesting, Grok, that the same newspaper editor’s I aimed my strip at demand these over-sized gutters? What a bizarre coincidence! Nice try.
sydney over 15 years ago
Don’t want to get deeper into the imbroglio of size of space between panels gut a glance through other TMS strips throws up some interesting info.
One strip, Brenda Starr has almost similar spacing, most including “Annie” are half the Tracy size. While Broome-Hilda and Sylvia are a “third” of the space and Gasoline Alley and The Middletons use “zero” spacing.
Thumbing through the two strip reprint Tracy Books collated by Collins and Locher, clearly show that the wide panel spacing is a Locher “thing”. ‘Twasn’t used by Gould or Fletcher (?). I can’t discern any advantage to it, and even today’s (3-31=09) strip shows a need to push the “text” into the margins.
Nighthawks Premium Member over 15 years ago
about the website ridenslide65 provided…. the whole case of people having ‘big heads’ seems to me a bit far fetched….look at the angle of all the photos of the hollywood glamor queens: they are all shot at an elevated angle making the head look larger than the body simply because the head is closer to the camera—check out the legs in each photo , you are looking DOWN to the feet instead of perpendicular to the camera as you would normally be if you are comparing head sizes in relation to body size. just an observation
sydney over 15 years ago
Think I’ve found a good “indicator” as to WHEN, Jim Brozman started drawing Dick Tracy.
It’s the thickness of the “stripes” on Tracy’s TIE. Brozman’s stripes are much thinner.
Although Locher signed the daily strips alone up 3-14-09 Brozman was clearly DOING the art from Wednesday 12th March 2009.
Today’s third panel is a good (tie) example! That change also fits in with the timing change in the cross-hatching style. While subtle Tracy face changes in some panels also become more apparent.
bleeep problem is, the new man has retained the thick Groucho Marx eye-brows and the “mini” hands from Lilliput in most panels.
sydney over 15 years ago
A “bleeep” ???
I can’t believe it !(?)
Isn’t “DARN” something you do with needle and thread to a hole in your socks? The word is right there in every Dictionary, without a “warning” provision.
Or is it just “bleeeping” nonsense?
bassmanbob over 15 years ago
Hello Jeff, good to hear from you. Hope all is going well.
BB
bassmanbob over 15 years ago
BO strutted towards the entrance of the casino. “Who’s da man, who’s da man”? he chuckled to himself. “We must be important to get a free night at the casino” he blurted out. Gertie was trying her best not to barf. “Dag, that’s some funky B.O. BO has going on today”. She lamented. “Yep, we don’t get out too much anymore”. She forced herself to say, trying to distract herself from the smell. Eyejack, going outside to greet the Plenty’s remembered to put on his best Errol Flynn imitation. “Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Plenty. We’ve got a special night planned for you”. BO wondered what happened to Eyejacks fingertip. Elsewhere, back at Tracyland, Dick “Han Solo” Tracy was having a movie moment. “Something’s fishy about BO’s winning all that money. I’ve got a really bad feeling about it”.
BB
sydney over 15 years ago
bassmanbob, Good to see you “percolating” again !
It’s not so much the finger “tips” as the LACK of finger “nails”. Can’t figure out why he doesn’t like to draw them (only 3-16 and 3-20 I’ve found any)
Perhaps he has them all is someone’s (?) coffin, somewhere !
Kind of dated yourself with that Errol Flynn reference there !
Morrow Cummings over 15 years ago
Hey Sidney! I noticed the Errol Flynn comparison, with a little Clark Gable thrown in first!