“Dad, wait! I was trying to tell you…….. I traded the Stradivarius for $2 mil AND an original Amati, the very first one made! And if you hadn’t smashed it on my head, the Smithsonian was interested in it. Sotheby’s would have given you $25 mil for the Amati; we’d buy back the Strad for $3 mil and split $22 mil. The first $2 mil is my commission.
Isn’t that why you sent me to Harvard Business School ?”
I’ve never commented on this strip before but I just had to say that THIS is what Dick Tracy needs to turn itself around.
No more stupid circus plots. No more constant repetition of pointless statements. Just scene after scene of senseless violin beatings. Seriously, how much worse could it be than the last story arc?
And yes, I saw the Violins=Violence pun, I just chose not to use it.
I’m looking on the bright side here. Stand by for some Locher apologetics
Re the location of the bruise: the son says, “…stop beating me…” so we can presume that what we saw in the first panel was just a glimpse of a furious pounding by the enraged dad. The lump came from an “off-camera” blow. Be thankful we didn’t have to witness the whole thing.
Re the relative height of dad: I think the son is trying to duck the blow and is bent over.
In spite of the obvious drawing problems, the story is moving and is pretty intriguing. What could possibly be the reason for selling a $10 million violin for $2 million? Can’t wait to hear.
Now, I strongly suspect that the reason will make about as much sense as putting the ringmaster/circus owner into an identity where he is surrounded by his enemies, but I’m going to hope for the best here.
Okay, now you guys can start in on me.
Yesterday, some posters commented on Sparke Plenty who some will recall, got married to Junior in the Max Collins era. Seems Kilian and Locher had her in on one occasion only (since 1992), when their daughter,(newly created character) - “Jewel” was kidnapped by a child molester. Sparkle was seen in late October and on Dec.15, 2002. She looked normal then !
It all looked a little rediculous not seeing Junior’s daughter ”Honeymoon” anywhere and then the awkwardness of seeing Sparkle married to Dick Locher’s son “John”, who I call the “new” Junior after a sort of nepotistc design change was made.
Those who have access to the Archives (which go back to year 2000), can read the tale.
Unfortunately, the team of Kilian and Locher “forgot” to name the rogue. A “minor” detail that eluded them 4 times in their partnership with a fifth one added on in a panel at the end.
Locher has a disconcerting habit of omiting characters that “ought” to be there. Like Joe Tracy (renamed Cool Dude) being at home at anytime during Tess’ perfume story (?) or when Bonnie brought home those Circus Tickets ?
Yet, last Christmas “New Junior” (only), was depicted with Dick and Tess for that “family” occasion !
My theory is that TMS gets paid by the character, and their current contract stipulates that Sam, Lizz or an of the beloved background characters can only appear once a year due to budget cuts and characters that do appear must do so with freakishly small hands.
Think of all the money Gould use to rake in on one of those Christmas strips with all the characters depicted at once.
In these troubled financial times, we must learn to do with less characters with even smaller hands in our comic strips.
It’s pretty clear by now that Locher couldn’t write an interesting story to save his life, but … could graphic sex and violence save Dick Tracy? That could add a kind of interest…. Especially if the violence is perpetrated with unusual weapons, such as a violin! He’s a conductor – if he owns a violin, perhaps he owns other musical instruments as well! This could get interesting as we wonder what instrument will he smash on his son’s head next? A bassoon? A trombone? A glockenspiel? Be sure to read tomorrow’s exciting episode to find out!
Then, after the conductor has destroyed an entire orchestra, the next adventure could begin with Tess dragging Dick off (why change a losing formula?) to a Victoria’s Secret fashion show, where of course a crime occurs. We will have to examine all the lingerie models closely to see which one has stuffed the stolen jewelry into her underwear. That could be an interesting sequence even without a coherent plot or good writing. It would, of course, require all the models to pose with their hands behind them so as not to make the story too difficult to draw.
”How CHANGE as you now ‘see it’, came to Dick Tracy”
(or a ’confession’ by Dick Locher on behalf of the Kilian/Locher team on the art of “remaking” a comic strip)
”I started one morning ‘fore the Sun starts to shine
Great plans for the writing, with spanking new designs
‘Twas the Max Von Bibber “road map” to ‘realistic’ styles,
First to go was the curved chin, and Patton’s round eyes
Max’s change-plan for Winnie Winkle saw a circulation rise
But the “interpretation” in Dick Tracy raised readers loud cries
Now, I won’t be a fibber … I’ll tell you no lies
Locher’s no Von Bibber … he gets hands - the wrong size.
Do a ‘draft’ of Stan Drake’s ‘Juliet Jones’, then Lizz was just fine
And as you know Junior’s morphing, was of course - 100% mine.
Close Patton’s eyeballs, carve a square jaw to refine
No smoking for Sam Catchem … nicotine a ‘political’ crime
Then,Groucho’s eyebrows on Tracy, with a “HAT” wearing decline
He started this change quest - the art world’s Andy Devine
Circulation, - funeral bells chiming - newspapers now “forty-nine”
‘Ye Gods Dicky, wasted “efforts” they didn’t bring in a “dime”!
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ almost 15 years ago
hmmm… dad hit the kid on the left side of his head and the swelling is on the right. Where’s Tracy?
Llewellenbruce almost 15 years ago
His dad learned that from watching the Honky Tonk Man on the WWF .
margueritem almost 15 years ago
Can’t wait to hear this explanation.
Steve Bartholomew almost 15 years ago
The fiddle was sold to a blue grass band.
FLIGHT SUIT almost 15 years ago
All right! Finally some good violence! With a violin, no less!
coratelli almost 15 years ago
Yeahhh!!
FLIGHT SUIT almost 15 years ago
“Smash, clown, smash!”
LudwigVonDrake almost 15 years ago
So judging from the angle of the violin hit either the father is 7 foot 2 or the kid is sitting down.
Morrow Cummings almost 15 years ago
“Dad, wait! I was trying to tell you…….. I traded the Stradivarius for $2 mil AND an original Amati, the very first one made! And if you hadn’t smashed it on my head, the Smithsonian was interested in it. Sotheby’s would have given you $25 mil for the Amati; we’d buy back the Strad for $3 mil and split $22 mil. The first $2 mil is my commission.
Isn’t that why you sent me to Harvard Business School ?”
ventrue1 almost 15 years ago
I’ve never commented on this strip before but I just had to say that THIS is what Dick Tracy needs to turn itself around. No more stupid circus plots. No more constant repetition of pointless statements. Just scene after scene of senseless violin beatings. Seriously, how much worse could it be than the last story arc?
And yes, I saw the Violins=Violence pun, I just chose not to use it.
sydney almost 15 years ago
merrymarge said :
“Can’t wait to hear the explanation”
This is Locher “writing”, do expect to get one ? I’ll bet we don’t !
Ray_C almost 15 years ago
I’m looking on the bright side here. Stand by for some Locher apologetics
Re the location of the bruise: the son says, “…stop beating me…” so we can presume that what we saw in the first panel was just a glimpse of a furious pounding by the enraged dad. The lump came from an “off-camera” blow. Be thankful we didn’t have to witness the whole thing. Re the relative height of dad: I think the son is trying to duck the blow and is bent over. In spite of the obvious drawing problems, the story is moving and is pretty intriguing. What could possibly be the reason for selling a $10 million violin for $2 million? Can’t wait to hear. Now, I strongly suspect that the reason will make about as much sense as putting the ringmaster/circus owner into an identity where he is surrounded by his enemies, but I’m going to hope for the best here. Okay, now you guys can start in on me.
prrdh almost 15 years ago
Ah…I perceive that Maestro is a graduate of the Pete Townshend school of stringed instrument handling.
sydney almost 15 years ago
Yesterday, some posters commented on Sparke Plenty who some will recall, got married to Junior in the Max Collins era. Seems Kilian and Locher had her in on one occasion only (since 1992), when their daughter,(newly created character) - “Jewel” was kidnapped by a child molester. Sparkle was seen in late October and on Dec.15, 2002. She looked normal then !
It all looked a little rediculous not seeing Junior’s daughter ”Honeymoon” anywhere and then the awkwardness of seeing Sparkle married to Dick Locher’s son “John”, who I call the “new” Junior after a sort of nepotistc design change was made.
Those who have access to the Archives (which go back to year 2000), can read the tale.
Unfortunately, the team of Kilian and Locher “forgot” to name the rogue. A “minor” detail that eluded them 4 times in their partnership with a fifth one added on in a panel at the end.
Locher has a disconcerting habit of omiting characters that “ought” to be there. Like Joe Tracy (renamed Cool Dude) being at home at anytime during Tess’ perfume story (?) or when Bonnie brought home those Circus Tickets ?
Yet, last Christmas “New Junior” (only), was depicted with Dick and Tess for that “family” occasion !
MrBriberysShrunkenHeads almost 15 years ago
My theory is that TMS gets paid by the character, and their current contract stipulates that Sam, Lizz or an of the beloved background characters can only appear once a year due to budget cuts and characters that do appear must do so with freakishly small hands.
Think of all the money Gould use to rake in on one of those Christmas strips with all the characters depicted at once.
In these troubled financial times, we must learn to do with less characters with even smaller hands in our comic strips.
Froxkrybra almost 15 years ago
This story is actually quite comical…
jpozenel almost 15 years ago
He needs a good dope slap!
CougarAllen almost 15 years ago
It’s pretty clear by now that Locher couldn’t write an interesting story to save his life, but … could graphic sex and violence save Dick Tracy? That could add a kind of interest…. Especially if the violence is perpetrated with unusual weapons, such as a violin! He’s a conductor – if he owns a violin, perhaps he owns other musical instruments as well! This could get interesting as we wonder what instrument will he smash on his son’s head next? A bassoon? A trombone? A glockenspiel? Be sure to read tomorrow’s exciting episode to find out!
Then, after the conductor has destroyed an entire orchestra, the next adventure could begin with Tess dragging Dick off (why change a losing formula?) to a Victoria’s Secret fashion show, where of course a crime occurs. We will have to examine all the lingerie models closely to see which one has stuffed the stolen jewelry into her underwear. That could be an interesting sequence even without a coherent plot or good writing. It would, of course, require all the models to pose with their hands behind them so as not to make the story too difficult to draw.
-Cougar :{)
sydney almost 15 years ago
”How CHANGE as you now ‘see it’, came to Dick Tracy” (or a ’confession’ by Dick Locher on behalf of the Kilian/Locher team on the art of “remaking” a comic strip)
”I started one morning ‘fore the Sun starts to shine Great plans for the writing, with spanking new designs ‘Twas the Max Von Bibber “road map” to ‘realistic’ styles, First to go was the curved chin, and Patton’s round eyes
Max’s change-plan for Winnie Winkle saw a circulation rise But the “interpretation” in Dick Tracy raised readers loud cries Now, I won’t be a fibber … I’ll tell you no lies Locher’s no Von Bibber … he gets hands - the wrong size.
Do a ‘draft’ of Stan Drake’s ‘Juliet Jones’, then Lizz was just fine And as you know Junior’s morphing, was of course - 100% mine. Close Patton’s eyeballs, carve a square jaw to refine No smoking for Sam Catchem … nicotine a ‘political’ crime
Then,Groucho’s eyebrows on Tracy, with a “HAT” wearing decline He started this change quest - the art world’s Andy Devine Circulation, - funeral bells chiming - newspapers now “forty-nine” ‘Ye Gods Dicky, wasted “efforts” they didn’t bring in a “dime”!
Araldite almost 15 years ago
Speaking of morphing, the son is starting to look like Don Imus.
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Good thing the kid wasn’t a tuba player.
Morrow Cummings almost 15 years ago
Or a Wurlitzer pipe organ!
Quantumtorpedo1 almost 15 years ago
Did the child of Moon Maid and Junior go back to the moon?
G.V.007 almost 15 years ago
What a bully… on the other hand what a wuss.