Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 27, 2009

This is the first useful Crimestopper’s that I’ve ever seen.

Panel Two is funny, ‘cause it’s basically Tracy admitting he’s no excuse for a real cop!

Panel Seven: “Electrified Stradivarius?”

Something tells me he’s not building a Laurie Anderson-style Synclavier. I’m guessing he has some big, convoluted plan to electrocute a certain musician.

Well, I must say, this is an exciting Sunday strip. Yea!

Telly needs to go on a diet! Electrified Stradivarius, eh? That’ll draw a crowd. Wonder who’ll play it?

Hope he buys a long enough cord…..

Tracy actually says something that makes sense! Hooray!

At least half of Sunday’s strip is not rerun.

WOW! Everyone seems pleased with this strip, do you think Locher and Brozman read the comments?

Tracy was there, but he’s not a violin expert. Call in Sherlock Holmes! About the rest of the crimes: None of them happened in front of Tracy this time, everything was behind the scenes. He’s finding out about them after he gets home.

About not wanting to detect this one: Give the guy a break, he just got back from almost being killed by a clown and a tiger. He needs a night off to be with his wife.

One little technical problem (unless I am missing something). When Phil called the cops, he didn’t have that bruise on his jaw. That was after Junior hit him. And did he have that Kung Fu warrior headband on then? I don’t think so. Other than that, best Sunday I can remember. Locher must have screwed up and it came out right! BTW, one little question: who called the police dispatcher to report a little family argument?

I think I’m speaking for the whole room here when I say I DON’T want to hear an electrified Stradivarius.

Or for that matter Dick Locher electrifying anything else…

an electrified stradivarius i could just imagine Jimi playing one

Why in heck would the police know Tracy had been to the can, the grocery store or a concert?

Hasn’t some musician already tried to electrify a Strad, by now? Brilliant plan my eye.

The son’s scarf is still acting like Dilbert’s neck tie.

I could play the air Stradivarius. But the electrified Stradivarius? Does not sound like it’ll catch on. Most great violinists like to practice in the bathtub.

Not to throw water on my DT friends who think the Crimestopper’s Textbook is the best it’s been in a while, and it is a good tip, but what does it have to do with, you know, stopping crime? :)

About Crimestoppers: Having a fully charged cell phone might be a good idea, but I’m not sure how much help it would be. Generally, there’s a number of people stuck out on the roads in bad weather and emergency people have their hands full trying to reach everybody. Let them know you’re there, then sit tight and wait. You did bring blankets, emergency food, some way of making heat and so on, didn’t you? Fill your tank before leaving ? That fuel might keep you warm (with precautions) until help arrives.

I never knew getting stuck in bad weather was a crime. Good advice but nothing to do with crimestopping.

Some folks keep a 12 V charger in their cars for the phone. Not to worry, though! The wrecker drivers have their best days in icy weather. They are working the roads like vultures and probably have territorities worked out between them. You won’t be there long. Best way to stop one - have your wife stand outside flashing them as they drive by.

I see this strip is still the strip that everyone loves to hate.

I’m telling you, the electrified strad has nothing to do with musical innovations; Kojak’s fixin’ to electrocute someone!

I’ve got a killer Arion Over Drive effects pedal if he wants 2 buy it. Would give that violin some mofo distortion…

This kid is thinking real clear. He steals a Stradivarius so he can buy guitars and play in a rock band as if nothing happened?? That makes about as much sense as hiding a person in the witness protection program as the ringleader in a circus. Even Tracy is doing his best to get out of this stupid story.

A Sunday page with one “Grockstein” style “tit bit” forward. i.e A panel announcing the electrified Stradivarious.

What’s disheartening for those reading forward into mid-January is, the only substantive thing that roles out (if I can call it that) is the release of Telly’s ‘comic strip’ NAME.

Everything else is mishmash rehash

To mid-January he’s had near eight weeks to tell WHAT ? 1) Tracy and Tess go to a Concert 2) Son sells Dad’s Violin 3) Father and Son quarrel

Hardly anything ELSE … just PABULUM, “stalling”, meaningless FLUFF

Why does Locher make me feel like “Stupefying Jones” with “pace” at break-pedal speed ?

Where do you find the read-ahead strips, Sydney?

When did Dad start wearing a chef’s hat (panel 5 of the main strip)? Will we soon see him on “Cooking With Strad”?

Keeping a cell phone with you when you travel in bad weather is a good idea, but I don’t exactly see how it helps stop crime… I’ll be a lot more impressed when Locher and Brozman come up with a half-decent CRIME-STOPPING tip.

I’ve got to agree with you puddleglum.

Getting stuck in bad weather isn’t a crime as far as I know.

Anthony 2816,

I’d really like to give you the link, but the individual who kindly passed it on, did so on condition that I don’t.

Wish I could.

Electrifying was the word Could it be more absurd? To take a strad and apply the hardware And try to create a sound beyond compare Resonating as they do throughout the wood Vibrations create the sound that is good To compromise the instruments integrity Seems to be the height of insanity Father, son are in a scuffle It’s just one big kerfluffle The father displays his wounds he got that night The son swung from the left and they’re on the right Dad talks big and makes a threat Five years in the Pen he could get Grand theft, assault, dealing stolen property Sonny boy surely has not acted properly Big bossman looks forward to some fun All the while dressed as a nun It makes him look like a freak Next thing you know he’ll sing “Dominique”.

Is Baldy channelling Littleface and Brow, where are his bloomin’ ears??

fishbulbGenius_badge said, about 7 hours ago

Why in heck would the police know Tracy had been to the can, the grocery store or a concert?

From the ankle tracker he has to wear as a condition of parole for all his criminally incompetent behavior in past episodes.

Talking of cellphones, did anyone notice the SWITCH in panel 2 today ?

Last Sunday and on Wednesday Tracy was all Wrist Geenee communication. Now after Shazam ! …today, it’s a “cellphone” in hand. Dicky does it again !

Bucket of “Creativity” - near vacuum, Memory bucket - a state of vacillation.

Murdering maestro’s, electric violins what next a live Norweigen blue?

mumbles asked, what happened to Baldy blooming ears(?)

Knowing Locher’s propensity for art “goofing”, I panicked … for there seemed to be none. But I did find a panel (Dec, 25) revealing one.The others are in shadow or covered with “hair”

Wondered if our Woodstock Chums might shed a tear, if their hero’s man had no ear, to hear that “electrical” air. Artistically blighted, it was clear when “suddenly” within one panel - “Chubby” lost his hair !

Wow! The BAD guy is Stevie Wonder!

the “Kung Fu warrior headband” is more likely a bandage.

R_Noonan63 said, “Reflection on the crime stopper today. I got stuck in the snow trying to get to town to get my Paper this Morning. Wish I read this first. Would of helped me know what to do.”

Yes. You could have called and had someone bring a paper to read while waiting for the tow truck.