Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for September 18, 2009

Oooooh, I’m shaking. Is Tracy passing gas in the second panel?

GASP, a gun!

Yes, Tracy forgot his Beano, WW.

Good thing Tracy already called in the SWAT guys. He did, didn’t he?

Uh no, but hey there is still the clown with the gun, no not Tracy the OTHER clown (the one with the make up & funny shoes)

Is this the end of Tracy?

Has Agent Ennen found out that the elephant and the tiger are impostors? What about the pig on wheels?

Okay, so the Hitchcock swipe is cute but what the heck is going on???

A, yesterday they were standing in the middle of a big circus tent, with plenty of space on all sides, not somewhere you could just pop out from a curtain and surprise someone.

B, it’s a BIG HEAVY TENT, not curtains you can poke a gun through, unless it’s curtains inside the circus tent, and why would you do that?

C, It’s a CRIME SCENE, ie, there should be cops everywhere, and the area secured.

D…oh never mind. I am just really disappointed at the lack of thought and care that goes into making this strip any more. Dick Tracy used to be so much better than this, and there is no reason it can’t be good now.

On the up side, at least something happened. Will the whole story take place while they stand in the same spot, then?

Oh, and does anybody know what city this strip takes place in?

In the second panel Tracy have Botox. Anyway, finally a little bit of action, but I know already who is the man with the gun.

So, the FBI has solved Tracy’s case for him?

Panel One:

Ennen IS a Predator alien in disguise! You can tell because her facial mandibles keep moving around! As somebody else previously pointed out, yesterday they were in front of her ears. Today they’re behind her ears.

Yes Tracy, this is the, “Relocation Circus”. The FBI set up a program to put all the new-identity and witness relocation people into one place, a circus. It has taken a long time to get to this point; gender changes for many of the performers, circus training, equipment, animals….etc.

Tracy smells himself and is thoroughly disgusted!

CONTINUITY ALERT: Notice that we can see the fingers (and fingernails) on the hand that is holding the gun. File that in the back of your head for a couple of days.

Matthew, You’re off point again. Of course, you’re going to find countless references to street names, small town names and familiar building for those were “tip of the tongue” places and easy ‘model’ buildings. It’s logical for Gould to have used them. The strip is littered with familiar street names. But YOU don’t want to address the central point - -

You keep on ignoring the “hard”, SPECIFIC references to New York City, “unable” to find Chicago named anywhere, except where I’ve told you to look (Spots -1960), so you clutch on to 3rd rate items, “piddling” little clues as if somehow they presented “substance”.

Sad !

I’ve made my point in SOLID fashion and don’t have to prove anything else. It’s up to YOU to come up with substantial “meaningful” information that disproves my contention. (Which has been clearly stated).

And I know you can’t !

You imply there’s only one “McHenry County” (?) Flawed information on the board again ! You really need to brush up on your U.S. geography. For starters try North Dakota and Maryland and make carefull “notes”, so that you don’t make the same mistake again.

We wouldn’t want you to become a board “parody” of Dick Locher, consistently putting out flawed story elements or information that’s embarrassing. Do a little less bluffing and try to state things accurately.

There’s and old adage that seems appropriate for your condition : “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still !”

If you want to continue (I really don’t), get some SUBSTANCE first. Otherwise your wasting everyone’s time !

Now me, I would have run the background checks BEFORE putting my witness there for protection.

But that’s just me.

…drums keep a-pounding a rhythm to the braaaaain….

Hey has anyone noticed how the art is really SUPERB in today’s strip? I love it! It reminds me of Roy Lichenstein, or late Gould when he was really getting pop-artsy.

I just wish the story line was as good. But the strip itself sure LOOKS good.

Today I didn’t enjoy the weird shadows coming from the right side, mixing up with Agent Ennen’s hair - and the strange white streaks of hair that sometimes disappear are distracting. The talking heads sequence is also a little bit static - but, I liked the final panel, with the Hitchcock reference. Unfortunately, no running around, no “chase” no action, no mystery… I almost feel tempted to suggest a “reboot” that would be fitting the end of this storyline.

jumbobrain, regarding our conversation yesterday: I agree - calling Locher senile is a cheap shot. However, typos and art inconsistencies are really really annoying. I remember reading something about “The Cabbie” - years ago. Then I forgot about that. I am definitely going to check that on Amazon!

Matthew Hansel: I can understand the reluctance of TMS about comic books/graphic novels… considering the “poor sales” of such a publication and the lack of respect they seem to have with some of the characters (Like the examples of bad editing we’ve seen recently in the Dick Tracy strip). However, the idea of a reboot (or some change of direction, would be most welcome) - I understand the respect and friendship you have with Dick Locher - I grew up with his DT drawings, as I started reading the strip with the Cryonic man sequence, in 1983, that was his first continuity, if I am not mistaken. However, I cannot accept that some of the flaws that the fans criticize here - the poor pacing, talking head panels and absence of action… are caused by Editorial control. Maybe the change of direction is necessary to avoid Tracy to die in obscurity and mediocrity. … and I admit I am curious about the October 4th announcement.

Sydney Phillips: I really respect and admire your knowledge and keen eye for detail regarding the strip. Here & in the yahoo Dick Tracy group, I really enjoy reading your posts… most of the time. However, sometimes, when we start talking about Tracy’s city - some of the comments get Boring, not only from you, but the LOOOONG post you and Matthew write about this subject. I always imagined that DT lived in an “imaginary city” like Gotham City for Batman or Metropolis for Superman, with little bits of other cities, depending on what was necessary to be shown by the artist. However, is fascinating to read about the details that you notice, to really prove your theory case. You could be a perfect “DT continuity consultant” - to a writer that respects continuity.

Wonderful.

jumbobrain said, about 11 hours ago:

B, it’s a BIG HEAVY TENT, not curtains you can poke a gun through, unless it’s curtains inside the circus tent, and why would you do that?

jumbo, maybe that’s the hand of the midget (sorry, not pc - little person) under the skirt of the fat lady! (again, not pc)

Jumbobrain: While you are correct that circus tents are made of heavy canvas that don’t drape like the third panel, the performer’s entrance is made of lightweight, easily movable fabric so it can be opened and closed easily. I would assume that’s where the gun is being poked through.

Okay, I’ll buy that it’s a midget poking out from under the fat lady’s dress.

But still, and maybe it shouldn’t honk me off so, they were standing in the middle of the circus floor yesterday, with 20-30 feet of space in all directions. So there’s nowhere someone could sneak up on them with a pistol without shouting. And again, the place should be crawling with cops. It’s typical of the sloppy writing on this strip, Locher thinks “okay now someone pulls a gun on them” and poof, the situation he’s spent two slow, grueling months establishing no longer apply. Reading this strip is like listening to a ten-year-old make up a story.

And unless this person is Ringo, where’s the mystery? We’ve seen a couple other circus folk but don’t know anything about any of them. So does it matter who it is?

When I left my house this morning, there was a new post from Judy. Now it’s gone. Does anyone else remember it? It didn’t look offensive, but………..

Roberto,

I was just looking for my copy of “The Cabbie,” but apparently I sold it when I was purging books a while back. It’s a trippy book, Gould distilled down to his freaky essence. The artwork could easily be mistaken for 1940s Gould work. It looks like you can find it pretty cheap online.

@BASSMANB0B - if we did ever put Sydney and Matthew together, I suspect there might be a real murder for the police to investigate.

“”fingernails on the hand on the gun !”

Keen eye there neonleon59, and there will be a repeat tomorrow.

By Monday it will be a “gloved” hand. No surprise really, now that Matt tells us Uncle Dicky is still involved in the art..

In the meantime, Uncle D has made sure the heavily armed police team (8-27- “you’re all safe for the time being”) has completely DISSAPEARED (?) Security gone - it never happened ! Not unlike said team in the Magnum Force story last November.

“Fly away Police, fly away all, another Locher Goof, and a Matthew bawl” (?)

Lending understanding to that “closed” eyes perception - yes, the entire script is normal.

morrow, - re Judy !

I’m sorry I missed that. Someone must have complained.

And I could make a guess. The worst thing is to disown family !

She doesn’t post often, but when she does it’s loaded with ‘interesting’ information.

I would rather read 1000 posts by JUDY than read one by matt. Oh, and matt, nothing can spoil this strip, that is an impossibility.

Matt, if you ran Judy off like the others by having her unplugged, then you might consider others. I am here to tell you in no uncertain way that Ludwig Von Drake isn’t Donald Duck’s uncle. So he isn’t real. Believe me when I tell you that the chimp on my avatar isn’t real, either. I doubt that NotNormanChubsyUbsy is not his name or face. You are really having a hard time adjusting to today’s internet, aren’t you?

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

SPOILER ALERT!

Please do not read any further if you don’t wish to know details of a future plot twist in this story line. You have been warned!

In a strip that will be published December 14, 2009, Detective Dick Tracy will resume his conversation with Ringo inside the big top, while in the second panel the Girl On The Elephant makes another cameo appearance!

Thanks for that post Chubsy.

Strange thing is, Matt is always advising readers who don’t like content in the strip to - STOP READING IT !

Can’t understand why (?), IF he thinks that’s such sound advise HE fails to take it here !

Good for the Goose ? What say YOU to that Matt ?

Oh ! Nearly forgot, Will you give some kind attention to this matter ?

Captainzero, are you a close personal friend of Locher’s or something, with FIRSTHAND PERSONAL INFORMATION? That is sooooo cool. Do you know if the girl will be on the elephant, or standing next to it? Will we get to see the outside of the tent again? I’ll bet those bleeep editors will place restrictions on how many bars will be in front of the tiger’s face.

and why the bleeep hell does this site put “bleeep” in whenever I write bleeep or shit??

oh, that’s even weirder. It censors bleeep and bleeep but not hell and shit? Straaaange. I mean, bleeep is a regular word, in the Bible and dictionary and everything. You can say it on television. bleeep, this is some weird shit.

It puzzles me how quick Mattie is to advise that if you don’t like what you read in the comic strip, “the MATURE thing to do - is to STOP reading it” !

Strange ! (?) He doesn’t want to feel MATURE when he doesn’t LIKE comments that he reads on this board ?

I’m curious too. If Judy is not a “real person” how does she send posts ?

Morrow, if Donald’s not my nephew then why does he insist on coming to the house for family events?

Again. I must note how puzzled I am that Matt who advises that if one doesn’t like what they READ in the comic strip, the MATURE thing to do, he suggests - is to STOP reading the strip.

It really is odd, that he doesn’t take his OWN advise, and cease reading “comments” on the board, when he doesn’t LIKE them (?)

I always thought he was a MATURE young man ! (?)

Sydney: I see 4 variations of the same thing. Your posts are here, must be something wrong on your end.

Sydney, I see four posts from you that are essentially duplicates. Try a hard refresh (Control-F5).

As I’ve said before, I’m not reading ahead myself because I prefer reading your previews. You tell me just enough of what’s ahead.

-Cougar :{)

Matt, Syndey…you guys set a date yet?

I don’t think DT is you know. He is just tense and being on the alert. I hope he senses someone with a gun.

I don’t dare put in a “SIGH” here….OOOPS I just did!! Actually, I don’t find the HANSEL & PHILLIPS dialogue boring at all. Some of Syd’s references had me digging into the old archives to check them out and I ended up reading a couple hours worth of the good ‘ol stuff. Too bad Flattop can’t be resurrected like Friday the 13th. Or good ‘ol Shakey, I kinda liked that guy. We could have the BLANK back cause it could be anyone, even Jeremey Trohs.

Tracyfan,

Collins was able to come close to such a revival, with his long “Tracy’s Wartime Memories” saga, an “untold story” flashback containing nearly all the villains of that era…I was impressed with that because he kept it consistent with a continuity that probably 95% of his audience was unaware of.

Awww this aint fair. Now that the killer has gone and revealed him/herit/self, we’ll never get to hear Tracy’s plan to smoke out the murderer. Anyone actually believe there was one? Sigh.

Sorrry for the duplications. We had reached the end of board ONE and I thought Mattie was calling in to complain and they were being erased.While they were over on two.

My fault I was the first post on board TWO and hadn’t reaized it

Again sorry guys ,I’ve deleted some of them.

How sweet.