Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for March 22, 2021

Good morning™, hospital visitors!

I never knew before or had forgotten Pouch’s real name. In case you doubt what would have happened when the bullet hit the wallet, check out “How Many Titanium Wallets does it take to stop a bullet?”

https://youtu.be/7jmyvhBPIis

Those wallets are pretty darn effective!

Since Tracy is unable or unwilling to come up with $5,000 or a subpoena, I don’t think he’s going to get too far getting information out of Pouch. Aquarius already tried and all he got was a lousy balloon.

Unbelievable! What a crock of spoiled stew!

At that range no way he walks away unscathed.

Good morning™, Pouch protectors !

He might look into getting a full metal (Titanium) jacket. He would be quite a mess had the shooter simply peppered his belly.

Cartoon physics in full effect here.

I’m with StillDaMatt – Pouch should be pushing up daisies – or at least in ICU for weeks.

What’s with the 5G? Is that the standard Pouch fee?

Shouldn’t the doctor be the one explaining to Tracy how Pouch managed to survive being shot, instead of the way Joe, and, Mike have it?

Next panel: (Tracy) “This is a first-rate hospital. It’s run by Rex Morgan, S.O.B.”

(Lee) “Don’t you mean ‘M.D.’?”

(Tracy) “No, I’ve met the guy. He’s a real jerk.”

St. Hilaries? Who is paying the Bill? Ha ha!

I am glad Pouch survived, as I said an interesting character!

Dr. Patchwell has a clef lip. You would think he would have had that treated.

And isn’t it lucky he kept it in his shirt pocket instead of the pant’s pocket where most would carry their wallets?

The impact of that round should have shoved that wallet straight into Paul’s sternum, I don’t care what it’s made up.

Part of the way bullet proof vests work is by distributing the impact. Yeah, I know, all kinds of stories about this kind of thing happening. But most of those are ancient history. Not modern firearms.

Unless you’re going to suggest a hired killer used a .22?

It would have made more sense for Pouch to be wearing body armor when meeting his angry client. I’m glad Pouch survived, but this is a throwback to when Tess was shot – it was very bad, then non-existent.

At least Pouch doesn’t have to worry about trading in balloons, anymore. That business blew up in his face.

Is still alive?

Holy Crap! It is not over yet!!

It’s a bit unbelievable, but I’m still glad pouch is alive.

Maybe I missed something or expect too much detail, but in panel #2 the doctor lost his glasses from panel #1

1-DT: How’s he doing, Doc. Wait. Let me rephrase that: Ummm, what’s up doc? DR. PATCH ADAMS: I’ll let the patient answer that.

2-MEL: My American Express TITANIUM LEVEL charge card stopped the slug. I never leave home without it. What’s in your wallet?

3-DT: That didn’t look like a house key. I wonder who shot him and why. Is it this a case of “No Harm, No Crime”? Do you think we should’ve questioned him before he left for parts unknown?

DAUGHTER: Yeah. I would ask him how a regular person gets a Titanium Level AMEX card. I thought only the Kartrashians got those!

DT: Not Rob Kartrashian. They won’t even let him have a prepaid Visa card. Or, ah, so I’ve heard. I don’t watch that crap of course. Hey look! Is that a bird?

What a relief! Lucky man.

When I saw his full name it reminded me of a commercial I would see on television for “Paul Parrot” shoes. Calling in the question, will Pouch squawk like a parrot or like the raven in that Edgar Allan Poe story….“never more”!

“Treated and ready to be discharged”…he probably has Medicare Health Insurance.

Tiger Lily is in surgery to remove the stick fragments B.O. Plenty put on him.

Pouch….unseen bubble….I’ve learn my lesson well….I’m not cut out for the espionage business. Think I’ll just stick to selling balloons.

For the vision impaired, I think Panel #2 is our hero Pouch, not the Doctor. He got his belongings returned, and will be back selling balloons and/or info later this week.

I didn’t realize Pouch had a cleft palate.

Interesting… I wonder if he changed his last name (Pouch), or that’s his given one. Seems most likely it was a nickname.

Hey, Pouch didn’t do anything wrong! (well, maybe the gas leak thing, but that was a harmless prank). After all, Aquarius stole his balloon. He was merely trying to retrieve his property. (Aquarius did pay for it, but Pouch didn’t want to sell it)!

“Dr. Patchwell”—gotta love that.

Glad to see Pouch survived; there’s far too few authentic Chester Gould villains left.

Paul Pouch is a very lucky, if sore, man! His titanium wallet has deflected the assassin’s bullet and saved his unworthy life (BTW, full kevlar™ upper torso armor will resist a big-caliber bullet, but it will leave a bad bruise and plenty of pain). Tracy and Lee Ebony hope to question him before St. Hilarie’s discharges him, but the prospect of getting any answers out of him seems dim. Maybe Pouch will give Tracy a freebie tip; but I don’t think so, unless maybe Pouch sees it as a way getting revenge on a perceived enemy….

One clue from Sunday’s strip: the shooter is apparently left-handed.