Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for October 19, 2011

A Top Hat? Didn’t see that one coming. Looks like someone straight out of Dickens.

I wonder who he found?

Who’s in the dumpster for the toff to find? What an interruption to his elegant meal!

I believe that would be a classic hobo. You certainly don’t see those hats everyday. They’re older than Dick Tracy!

Nice Jackie Gleason Show reference. Anyone else catch it?

Missed the Gleason reference but, Holy Cow, what a beautiful strip today.

“American Scene Magazine” in the background of panel 2. I don’t remember much about that part of Gleason’s show, but I do remember.

An apple intended for the Waldorf salad, perhaps. I would have gone for the leftover steak first.

That was an astonishingly well drawn strip today, gents. Well done! My hat’s off to you :)

Obama’s in there with Biden…

byzcath: “American Scene Magazine” was the name of Gleason’s variety show back in the ‘60s. I think it originated in Miami. I remember lots of musical numbers, including frequent song parodies ("they’ll watch me cut… the green, green grass of home…“), sketch comedy, big-name guests. Recurring spots included Gleason doing a monologue as a bartender, a silent bit in which he was a bum (”The Poor Soul," I believe), and of course the Honeymooners.

Well, I think Brandon hit his mark.Beautiful artwork, love the detail.

Clem Kadiddlehopper?

Actually, Fredie the Freeloader.in a realistic style.

W.C. Fields in need of a shave.

Just because a gentleman’s down on his luck is no reason to ditch his chapeau for a mere cap. Of course, instead of saying “Hey, pal, are you okay?” he should have said “My good fellow, are you all right?” I like this guy and hope we see him for more than just this one arc.

I remember the Honeymooners (Gleason) well. I also remember several years later Gleason had a new show and was miffed because it was getting a lower rating than a certain rerun! (That certain rerun was the “Honeymooners”!) The Honeymooners were preserved, but unfortunately none of the June Taylor Dancers were.

To steal a line from The Phantom: New Adventure!

Love the Dickensian cut of his jib. The fingerless gloves. Yes.

The Gleason character was called “Joe The Bartender”, and the Frank Fontaine character was “Crazy Guggenheim”.

I always enjoyed the June Taylor dancers. Poor Soul made me sad and Ralph Cramden made me mad with his “Wanna goo to the moon, Alice?”

I can see two possible ways for this to go. He’ll call for help and we’ll be in a new story arc that doesn’t include this character. Or he is mistakenly charged with with assault and robbery but Tracy will believe in his innocence and look for the real criminal. Of course, I’m probably completely wrong which is why I’m not writing this strip.

Dick Tracy = ★★★★★

I beileve this is the same arc. I’m thinking it’s Brandon’s shooter, in the dumpster.

Reginald Van Gleason on his uppers?

Dick Tracy is my hero next to Dirty Harry. So get ’em.