Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for October 11, 2014

Now, This is the perfect ending to this story!

The last panel is a cutie!

Good morning fellow fans!

A hotel that Warbucks canot afford? He should be able to buy it!

So that’s it huh? I invest 6 months on this crossover-gimmick story with more holes in it than a sponge and the pay-off is no answers to what happened. I think us readers really deserved better than that.I never followed Little Orphan Annie and didn’t really know anything about her or her cohorts until now. What I take away from all of this is I downright hate LOA and hope to never see her ever again.The good news is this shaggy dog soap opera is finally over and we can now look forward to a REAL Dick Tracy story. Bring on Gruesome, please!

Good Morning. What are we in for now…

Nice Mike through in a reference to the Len Starr “Annie” era.

Can we guess the girls knew each other before this? Adopted Daughter of The Richest man in America, and half Alien grand-daughter of America’s most decorated and well know Detective being friends isn’t so far fetched.

And it’s a wrap. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

1) At least Warbucks is putting his money to good use today to help the people who were kidnapped.

2) Warbucks still can’t afford to stay in Am’s hotel, so we circle back to the beginning of this adventure, but at least Mr. Am is generous to his good friends.

3) I’s nice that the girls were able to get together. Someone was wishing for that on yesterday’s comment board, I think. Is “Huckle Flynn” any close relation to Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn?

Warbucks can’t afford to stay at the Siam?! He must have blown his liquid funds buying the MCU. I’m sure he still has valuable holdings all over the world, however. (Or maybe he was just joshing Tracy.)Nice to see Honeymoon and Annie together, enjoying themselves in age-appropriate behavior!

Have we met Aster before? Will he be part of the new story? And notice how it’s spelled, with an e, instead of with an o.

What’s with the old time radio in panel 3? No reason for a hotel so fancy and expensive that even OW can’t afford to stay doesn’t have state of the art equipment in its rooms. Please don’t tell me it’s a carry over from the bogus time travel plot. That’s as dead as a door nail! LOL

The first time I met Mr. Am was during the Leonard Starr Era. I only saw a couple strips of that storyline, but Annie was in the company of Greenpeace-type fellow and the two had been picked up by Am on his private pleasure yacht — the Titanic. Yes, THAT Titanic.

The environmentalist is going on about the plight of arctic wildlife. Mr. Am chuckles and says things aren’t as bad as all that, and that things were much worse back during the ‘90s. Annie reminds Mr. Am that the current year is 1983 (or thereabouts; I’m going by memory). Am chuckles again and makes a joke, but leaves us with the strong impression — never explicitly stated — that Mr. Am’s pleasure yacht can travel through time. Or perhaps that Am exists outside of time so that the past and present are largely interchangeable for him.

The environmentalist’s sneaks into Am’s cabin and peeks into the ship’s log. We don’t know what he reads, but what ever it is, it prompts him to take a lifeboat and slip off the ship, presumably to try to make a difference in whatever era the ship is sailing through.

I didn’t see what happens next, and perhaps my memory of this small sliver of the story is as cloudy as Mr. Am’s. I don’t think we ever see the environmentalist again.

But back to the present; Mr. Am’s opulent hotel that’s too rich even for Oliver Warbucks stuck in my Willing Suspension of Belief too. How many visitors to Tracy’s city are richer than Warbucks? How can a hotel stay in business like that? Yet we see there are guests walking around in the background.

But maybe his hotel isn’t that kind of hotel. Since The Great Am is a Cosmic Entity, I’m guessing that like his yacht, his hotel does not exist in reality exactly the way most brick’n’morter building do. And perhaps the people who usually stay there have paid with something other than Visa.

I suppose it would have been too obvious if Joe had drawn the other guests at the hotel with wings and haloes, but that’s my guess.

Enough of Annie!!!! I’m so sick of her! May we clean up the facts of this never ending storyline and move on to another???? The previous writers on their worst day were better than this.

Good morning DT and Annie fans. The radio in the last panel lends a nostalgic touch to the story.

Back in the Harold Gray era Warbucks and Annie were hiding out from some murderers in the South American jungle in a secret home Warbucks owned. They discovered that up river from them Mr. Am was conducting an archeological excavation with what appeared to be ancient Egyptian slaves doing all of the digging. Annie questioned Am about the use of slaves. Am chuckled and stated that he had no slaves, they were all doing it willingly for him.

Here is a link to the first Am story:

First Story of Mr. Am

Just love kids being kids. Brings back some cool memories, and now our kids are all responsible and all … it all happens so fast. … somehow it does not seem fair .. all & all

I really enjoyed this story, even through the holes and over-complicated plot.Like a lot of people, I had great fun seeing some of my favorite characters together. (I hope it was a success for Mike, Joe and the Powers That Be at the Trib.)-I’m sorry it was torture for some readers, but unfortunately, that’s how it is with every story.-And yes, I’d like to see a new “Annie” strip. (Though I’ve had this nightmare about Axel showing up with prosthetic arms that turn into Swiss Army knives…)

I don’t think this story is “over” (as when the fat lady sings). Someday we will be back to the people who hired Axel.

“Honeymoon Tracy & Little Orphan Annie”Now there’s a crossover/team-up no one seen coming!Thank you "Team Tracy!:>D

Sigh, here we go again with the Dick Locher bashing. That mindset is so old and pathetic. I’d venture that the majority of Locher critics couldn’t come close to what he was able to create, even on his worst days. Kitty said to say you guys have a additude deader than a door nail! LOL!

Hmmm @ DoctorWho55……that could be an interesting future cross-over….the two girls team up to crack a case that the MCU cant touch!

As for Joe and Mike, while on vacation last week, i took the time to go back to the start and re-read the whole story over. While there were some plotholes (and lets face it, in most ANY fiction there are plotholes and some required suspension of belief), this is one of the most enjoyable tales i have read in quite a few years.

BRAVO TEAM TRACY! Take a bow, guys!

I kind of find it hard to credit the original Daddy Warbucks being so willing to spend his money helping other people. He’d have helped them find jobs or something so they could help themselves instead.

Indeed. This is NOT Harold Gray’s Daddy Warbucks. Gray was very Libertarian. “Mind your own business and skin your own skunks.” A Robert Heinlein quote, I’m pretty sure, but that would be Warbucks mantra, too. Gray was patriotic, but hated FDR and the New Deal.

operative word (hopefully) “ending”.

When we first meet Mr. Am his is a mysterious fellow who has direct knowledge of the past and some say he is millions of years old. (You can find the story on the Internet.)______________________I have posted the link to the story you reference in my comment above.

Somehow, I think today’s strip suggests that the Annie-verse is joining the Tracy-verse, for better or worse!.Some pretty harsh words today. Hey, this story wasn’t my cup of tea, either, but you don’t see me bashing anybody about it. Let’s grow up a bit!.Still, even at its worst, I’ll grant that the story was a decent nostalgic romp..And if Annie fans needed closure, looks like they got it!

The character referred to by Annie was named Huckie Flynn, not Huckle. That was in the early days of the Leonard Starr era. He and Annie shared quite a few adventures together. Huckie’s father Doug was even featured in some of those stories.

Digging deeper into Mr. Am, it was obliquely suggested by Harold Gray with his first appearance that he was a representation of God himself. So many comments by him attested to that fact in the first story alone. Leonard Starr kept the same narrative running when he took over the strip. Along the way a sinister character was introduced named Mr. Rune who was after Annie’s soul. This suggested that we were seeing The Devil in person. All of this culminated in a titanic struggle between Rune and Am for dominance with Annie becoming the catalyst which prevailed. Definitely a struggle between the forces of Good and Evil with Am coming out on top. The character has never changed since.

Like others, I was pulled into the story line and thoroughly enjoyed it until a very – very weak ending.

Love the final panel. Honeymoon and Annie together. Now that’s a keeper.

So if Warbucks can’t afford it there, who can? Wow.

You are that petty. Hate is too easy to reach by too many people. This was a REAL Dick Tracy story. Just that the characters were from another franchise. But you can’t please every sour puss that comes along. Don’t even try.—————————————————————Yup hate, and how arrogant and condescending it is for one to label someone “petty” because they hate an imaginary comic strip character. Yes hate is easily obtained by many people but it’s also in every one of us (except maybe you of course). This will really blow your mind I’m sure but I also HATE bad writing, rap music, studying microbiology, a few of Picasso’s paintings and brussel sprouts. And as an extra kicker, I have utter contempt for Mary Worth, J.R. Ewing and a few other fictional characters.I guess I just haven’t yet obtained that level of enlightenment that you and Mr. Buddha has.Yes, it’s true that you can’t "please every sour puss that comes along”, but obviously you can with any dingaling that does with ease.

I guess smoking a cigarette in a hotel lobby is permissible in Tracytown. I’m surprised nobody is upset and concerned about Warbucks’ health.

@jeaepri4774Enough of Annie!!!! I’m so sick of her! May we clean up the facts of this never ending storyline and move on to another???? The previous writers on their worst day were better than this.-Now I know you don’t know shinola about the previous writer. squat.___________________

Maybe not, but it has nothing to do with Jeaepri’s point and it’s still valid. Just a case of attacking the messenger instead of the message.I would have to agree that Locher’s stories were better than this one and so were Mike Curtis’ previous stories. I’m also sure the next story will be head and shoulders above any of them (except for last year’s moonmaid saga which I really enjoyed).

I found it! Honeymoon and Astor were dancing together with yellow raincoats and fedoras on August 26, 2012. But his name was spelled with an o, not an e.

Perhaps the price is a lot higher than mere money.

Since there are a few among us that did not enjoy the Annie crossover, perhaps Mike and Joe should get everyone’s approval before they unleash their brilliant imagination again! I loved the crossover!

Yeah, well you probably love brussel sprouts too, lol.

For anyone who forgot Warbucks’ remark about the unaffordability of the Siam Hotel back in June:Warbucks has been broke several times during the run of Annie as I understand it.

What the heck! It’s almost 5:00 AM, and no Dick Tracy!

Yeah, where’s today’s strip?

The Sunday strip is up at Comics Kingdom, so why is it not here? Sunday’s Dick Tracy

I really appreciate the tribute to the Annie strip and the artists and writers who made it possible. They could also have included the name Tex Blaisdell.

So the next day 10/12, Trady is missing. Was this the last for real???

See, the Annie strip’s influence was so strong it got Tracy cancelled! LOL!

Good morning DT and Annie fans. Where is the Sunday comic?

Somebody at GoComics fell asleep at the switch. Not only did we not get a Dick Tracy, we also didn’t get a Gasoline Alley or a Heavenly Nostrils. See my post above to see today’s Dick Tracy.

It’s not the first time GoComics has done this.Every Saturday night at midnight, I check out Tracy over at Comics Kingdom where it’s ridiculously small, then read it for real here in the AM.So WHERE’S THE STRIP?

The explosion is a doozy, down on Kenyon’s FarmAxel blown to smithereens, no more shall he do harm.Punjab and Asp, cut and bruised, buffeted by the blastAxel’s gone to pieces, his time on earth now past.Sought to bamboozle Kenyon: mix chemicals for harmSaid it was the Second World War, sounded false alarm.Good folks indeed did step right up, one being InfluenceHotshot Charlie took flight at night, ‘twas no coincidence.Later, Tracy lays it out: Chief gets an abridged storyAxel sought a deadly bomb, apt that his death was gory.Warbucks creates a legacy, helping youths who grieveA parent lost wearing the badge, help shall they receive.Annie’s time spent in the past brings tomorrow’s future nearCould it be her rich history portends Police career?Dining atop the old Siam, the band knows what to playA tender tune from a Rough Mix draws curtains on the day.Safe and sound is Annie, she’s met a fine new friendTick-tock time in Tracy’s town, her exploits at an end.

Are the two silhouettes in panel 1 significant? They’re very distinctly drawn.

Thanks to Comic Kingdom. I have to have my daily dose of Dick Tracy. Another excellent analysis, Pequod.

sup? no Sunday strip which should be the most important one of this series. Maybe because not everyone get the Sunday paper … or something like that

I couldn’t wait for the Crimestoppers, so I deciphered it (with difficulty). Here it is:

Save that evidence! When the Brown’s Chicken massacre occurred in 1993, DNA technology was limited. Because the police had the foresight to save food partially eaten by one of the murderers, they used the DNA from his saliva to identify him years later, when the technology had advanced.

@Pequod77Thanks for the great poem and for the re-post of the strip. At least this smaller version is better than nothing.

On the issues of a bribe: “All I will say is your city recently established an endowment scholarship fund for the children of fallen officers.”Hate to say ‘I told ya so,’ but I knew it would be a windfall for the city. Besides, any mayor stupid enough to try and squeeze a bribe from Warbucks wouldn’t get away with it; he has too many friends in much higher places (and I don’t mean Mr. Am). And some friends in much lower and darker places, too.

A nice, neat wrap up for the story along with a tribute to the creative teams who kept Annie on the go for so long. -Also like today’s Crimestoppers. A really interesting bit which makes me want to look that case up.-I’m sure I’m in the minority but I’d like to see these characters again. Maybe Tracy has to extradite a criminal from Warbuck’s city, or Annie spends a week visiting Honeymoon on school vacation, or Tess and Johnny have a case where the Asp … (Ah, the possibilities…)-Thanks Team Tracy – It was a fun ride!

A celebration atop the Siam Hotel brings the entertaining crossover to a satisfying close. Warbucks creates an endowment scholarship fund for the children of fallen officers, assuring them an education and enhanced opportunities. Nice touch. Few would begrudge a father doing what he could to find an abducted child. Whether or not the Annie strip is ever revived, there’s no doubt that Team Tracy has left the cast in a much happier state of limbo. I’d say the affection for Annie in particular, and comics in general, is palpable in this entertaining tale. .We may or may not learn the identity of Axel’s employers. Did Griswold make a desperate attempt to put the Apparatus back on top with the acquisition of a very powerful explosive? If so, we may see him taken out by colleagues unhappy to receive no return on their investment. If Venus was making a play to further consolidate the Consortium’s power, she may find herself the target of an ambitious underling looking to take her place. Venus already failed to obtain a Space Coupe, so may be looking over her shoulder these days. Uneasy sits the crown, even on a head as lovely as hers. Of course, it is just as likely that Axel was employed by a villain or villains we have yet to meet. Crime and punishment is messy business: it won’t be hemmed in by the confines of three panels a day. Those in charge of Kenyon’s abduction and Axel’s operation will eventually be revealed, I’d wager. This is not a loose end, but rather another sign of the complexity of Tracyville, as reconstituted by Team Tracy..As Tracy sips his club soda, I raise a toast to Team Tracy for this rich crossover. I was a college freshman when Townshend/Lane’s high caliber Rough Mix came out. I remember it well. The curtain falls as the band plays “Annie.” I wonder where Mr. Am is. He’d be late to his own funeral, although I suppose such an event is an impossibility. Good to see Annie and “Daddy” reunited after their longest separation. A much more satisfying close than the strip received upon its cancellation.

Thanks to Gweedo, Ray Toler and Niel Wick for the kind words. Much appreciated! Finally, well done on another interesting Crimestoppers. The vile, senseless murders at Brown’s Chicken were huge news in the Chicagoland area.

It’s a nice conclusion to 84 years of Annie, which I think was the real purpose of the whole exercise.

It’s an interesting note that they’re drinking club soda. I suppose it’s a stand-in for champagne to celebrate the entire run of Annie.

Annie has been detecting for all these years, really, but she wants to follow a career as a detective now, and she has found a new friend in Honeymoon, who is certainly a Junior Crimestopper herself. Mike said something on the Yahoo group about Annie visiting Honeymoon for the summer, so I guess that will happen in 2015.

I agree. This crossover was lame…let’s get back to a real Dick Tracy story. And while their at it, why isn’t the Sunday strip delayed in posting…come on Team Tracy, pull it together.

So, are they all drinking club soda or is Tracy the designated driver?

Where is the Sunday strip???

The song that they are referring to must be Annie from the Pete Townshend / Ronnie Lane collaboration album Rough Mix.

Good riddance Annie, Warbucks and company, don’t let the door hit you on your collected behinds. I hate you all (just because it causes someone deep distress).

God Bless all the writers, artists and readers who put on this fabulous summer event. This is a fitting way to bring it to a close…..to be continued..Inshallah..

I, for one, loved it, and am sorry to see it end. Thank You, Team Tracy For A Fabulous Story!

I just noticed the “honor roll” on today’s Sunday. David Lettick is mentioned but Tex Blaisdell isn’t? Blaisdell had the better run here. Lettick was so bad artistically it’s a wonder the strip wasn’t cancelled then and there. It’s because of Lettick’s two-month stint that the feature went into a five and a half year Harold Gray reprint sequence until Leonard Starr mercifully revived it.

Money should be no object. Oliver Warbucks is rich and that means he doesn’t have to pay for anything. Just ask any pro athlete!

I guess the return of Karloff’s GRUESOME is the only thing that tops this cross-over :)

How come sunday strip didn’t make it? This is yesterday’sre-run! Sunday, October 12, 2014

I don’t think Team Tracy is to blame here, but GoComics. But if it makes you feel better, we can blame Obama for 9/11.

Oh no! We’ve been trapped in Saturday!(And I thought it was bad when Tracy and Annie were in 1944!)

Where is the Sunday strip?

If Warbucks cannot afford to stay there, I am curious as to who can?