Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 24, 2022

Good morning™, everyone!

So Paul Chandler is a known counterfeiter. That does make Dekko look guilty. The painting in the middle of frame 1 is “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer. The others I don’t know from memory.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_with_a_Pearl_Earring

Lee is so proud of her gal pal she deserves a wink and a slap in the rear!

Good morning™, Masters at work !

With the way Pauly paints he could be somebody in the art world, legitimately. Team monitor is shaping up, with the players set to start the crime we have been pining for for some weeks now. I just hope the long wait will be worth it. :-)

I’m missing some of the old, standby characters. I wonder what Pouch is up to these days?

For those who have wondering about Art Dekko’s appeance he is based on the drawing of John Held, Jr. A 1920’s artist whose cartoons featured the sheiks and flappers of that era.

If computer criminals are banned from using computers then wouldn’t the legal system ban Chandler from painting?

Will Blaze join the MCU?

Counterfeiters will also paint their own works to practice their styles…

Hoping and praying everyone in Tracyville is safe and well during this freezewave. Stay indoors if you can.

Gweedo, make sure to bring the goats indoors!

And, the following day, the Tracyville Daily Babbler trumpeted the spectacular discovery of the ORIGINAL Sid Clown on Velvet masterpiece! A cultural WONDER long thought lost, and available for fifteen bucks! Limited time only No refunds. Ignore the still-tacky spots.

Do I see a look of fondness in Lee’s eye toward Blaze?

Are there any old masters who specialized in stick figures and lolly pop trees? I believe I could copy those and make a fortune.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

1-DT: Paul Chandler got his painting chops from those “Paint By Numbers” things that used to be so popular. His were so good that he was able to sell them as originals. Well. One. To me…

2-SAM: Does everyone involved in this caper have a bad haircut?

3-DT: Butch certainly does!

BUTCH SASSY DEE: Thanks Tracy. That’s a compliment coming from a guy who just got a Tony Home Perm.

LEE: Why am I falling for a girl who dresses and cuts her hair like a guy? Maybe I’m not gay at all…just confused?

It occurs to me that this may be the last we see of Blaze in this story (although I’m confident we’ll see her tomorrow for the Christmas Sunday strip, and even more confident we’ll see more of her next year in 2023). Tracy & Lee asked Blaze to do some investigating on their behalf, she did, she’s thanked for her help, and now her part in this story is done.

I don’t think Sue Reel is going to be too happy about this.

DEMENTEDLY OFF TOPIC: My writing can occasionally acquire a certain evil (spiteful?) life if its own. Case in point the new fantasy book. I was writing away, with everything straight in my pea brain.

Then I glance at the page and discover the lead’s adopted daughter had just requested he adopt a sister for her. Soooo, human, goblin wife, cyclops child and now a harpy who can’t actually fly as such??

No idea how to handle this. Maybe I’ll get back to an unfinished P.I. story. These, at least. Play true to form.

Sue Reel I could probably cope with…..but Blaze….that’s just asking too much.

What is the end game with Art? Palm the fake Da Vinci on a museum desperate enough to get bodies through its doors?

Art Dekko, Sue Rise, Paul Chandler…one of them will slip up. I’d bet on one of them but cash flow ain’t what it used to be.

Blaze Rize has successfully completed her undercover assignment. Paul Chandler has a record, and it ties in with Dekko’s scheming, seemingly. Tracy thanks Blaze with a friendly smile on his face (panel 3), while Blaze gives a thumbs-up and seem proud to have been of help to the MCU (but especially as it helps cement her developing friendship with Lee Ebony)….

Hey,this is Dick’s wedding anniversary!!(71st).SOMEBODY forgot and there’ll be you know what to pay

I threw up and made a perfect copy of a Jackson Pollack painting