Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for February 24, 2019

Splitface, he does now dominate. Haf’s grievances so old.

Revenge it shall be served up at a temperature quite cold.

Once a star most famous with a good side and a bad

Haf-and-Haf now split three ways: the meek, the bold, the mad.

Equipment now in storage. Behold Zelda in a cage

She’ll dive for life, this former wife, as Splitface he does rage.

To test one’s skill is such a thrill, yet not with gun at head

Nail her high dive and stay alive or refuse and be dead.

Good morning™, detectives with keys!

It’s so nice of Zelda’s ex to give her two options, don’t you think?

Decisions, decisions,

What to do

Take the plunge

Or a bullet or two

Life is filled

With choices we make

Get up early,

Sleep in late

The end result

Can bring us joy

Or make us feel

Like a misfit toy

We never know

Until it’s done

If A was right

Or B was the one

Between a rock and a hard place…

I’d love to see further exploration of the idea of sane, even friendly henchmen of insane criminals.

That officer must have seen “It’s A Wonderful Life,” or perhaps even a certain Billy Joel music video.

If Splitface were an actor, he and his other personalities would be deemed Oscar worthy for their performance.

@ SISYPHOS: FROM YESTERDAY: You said: “Maybe the key action will take place off-stage?”

Looks like you were right! (Panel 2, 2nd Row.)

Anticipation gnawing at you? feeling fearless? Jumping for life? Will Tracy and Sam get there on time? Well I guess tomorrow we will find out!!!

That last panel is really hard to wrap my brain around

TULZA on weekdays, TULSA on Sundays.

Have no fear,Dick is near!

Sort of a “talking heads” day with excellent renderings by Joe Staton, especially the three-story warehouse.

Assuming it is an open-space building, Zelda’s dive could be around 30-35 ft.

We learn that Tracy and Sam have contacted both Circling Brothers and their lawyer to obtain keys to the building. Excellent flatfooting by Tracy and Sam and stuff that is OK to happen off-panel. Any scenes depicting that action would be inconsequential and Tracy explains it all very concisely today.

We see the action in the warehouse is somewhat a variation of yesterday (which makes the situation seem like there is a lack of urgency) with a final panel meant for dramatic effect (looks a little more silly than scary). It would give the situation more urgency and Splitface would be more scary if Zelda was being roughed up a bit. It all seems too gentle if he’s got murder in his eyes.

I’m just hoping Dick doesn’t get into the spotlight of the center ring and decide to stay there for a couple of months.

It all seems too gentle if he’s got murder in his eyes.

And for a moment, I thought that The Phantom punched him in his right eye! O<|];o)

Therese:..Actually Splitface was an actor…Mike Mazurki in the 40s film Dick Tracy. Looks like a Sweatbox wind up is on the horizon

I would prefer to see Tracy get there in time…..to see one of his other personalities save her out of love, and it totally take over from the rest. The best possible happy ending…

Tracy and Sam, just in time, even with all the off-panel key action. But they must seize just the right moment, lest the 3-in-1 shoot Zelda off her diver’s perch. Meanwhile, I am disappointed in the opportunistic Clybourne, who has skipped over multiple chances to do a face-turn and instead has opted to go full-on heel. This makes him expendable, and he may eat lead from Tracy and/or Sam when things heat up and gunfire is exchanged in the dimly-lit warehouse.

What a circus!