Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for October 28, 2012

Mornin’ all. Me thinks it’s a time to call in the troops!

Good morning all…

Thanks for making my 78th birthday special, guys!

Things are getting tense! Good morning, VB! You’re most welcome!

Measles might need the pain patches when he gits a-caught in Gertie’s baar traps!

Good morning, VB!-———————Will there be a Measles-Moon Maid confrontation? Having her dispense with a classic villain seems the right way to bring her to the fore.

Morning gang, now we can worry about Gertie and co.!

Seems the “quiet evening at Sunny Dell Acres” isn’t going to be so quiet after all. I’m glad at least Gertie has the heads up on the probable visit by Measles. She needs to call Tracy muy pronto!

At least Gertie knows whats coming. how will she prepare?I love this strip!

I think Measles is the one who should worry, Gertie is as tough as a stainless steel porcupine

Tension’s mounting fast! Which reminds me why I enjoy this strip so much. Each day we’re treated to a visual feast provided by Joe Staton, and Mike Curtis’ storytelling continues to pull us into the story events and characters. Thanks to their great work, it is once again a pleasure and delight to read Dick Tracy.

Forewarned is forearmed! And now that she has been warned, I think Gravel Gertie can take care of herself, though she may defer to “Mr. Macy” out of courtesy….

I think Gertie and Sparkle can handle that punk!

It is like 1977 again, interesting Dick Tracy in the newspaper and Loose Wheel on the radio.

I like the changing expressions on the faces of Gertie and Sparkle. Joy to anxiety to fear to panic, all in four panels. Well done!

I missed your birthday, VistaBill. Hope it was a great one, and belated best wishes!

Measles has murder on his mind. I hope Gertie and Sparkle come up with a plan, and quick!

This is so good. Elements like “loose wheel” – Gertie was always getting her song lyrics mixed up. At one time in the history of the strip, their house was under a freeway overpass. Does anyone remember what happened to that?

If I was Measles, I might begin worrying right about now. Taking on Gravel Gertie is no small task, just ask the last fellows that tried it. Before this is over, Measles might be glad to see the police show up—- to protect him from her.

Love today’s strip -Humor giving way to impending danger, all with great art! And another great Crimestoppers (which also explains the origin of the name “Reeve,” as in actor Christopher Reeve). Thanks again, Team Tracy!

Y’know, Mike – You could turn Gertie’s song into an ode to NASCAR…“You picked a fine time to leave me, loose wheel,Leavin’ a pit stop at the front of the field,You picked a fine time to leave me…”

Will someone please put out an APB for this woman? She hasn’t been seen in these parts for far too long and is needed immediately at Sunny Dell Acres. Also needed later today for a private meeting at Junior Tracy’s house. Last seen allegedly committing tombstone desecration at Wildwood Cemetery. Thank you.

Measles’ ill will is turning to action. It was easy to map out the way. Gertie is shocked, yet a front door that’s locked, won’t keep this junkie at bay. Sparkle’s close by, to protect her mother, and the innocent child, Jewel. But with blood in his eyes and revenge as the prize, Measles aims to be violently cruel. All could end in tragedy. These three could use skilled aid: A cop on the beat, Junior packing heat, or the mysterious crime stopper, Moon Maid.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Quartermain!!!.Mine is tomorrow, I guess good things come in 3’s. ;-)

Good Morning Detectives, and Happy Belated Birthday, VistaBill!Gravel Gertie will have her own loose wheel to deal with when Measles comes a’knockin’ for revenge!

I think Gertie will be fine. I wonder if Measles is using Google maps street view.

Nice tribute to Kenny Rogers. LOL the NASCAR ref.

Happy Belated Birthday, Vista Bill! I’m worried for Measles; the Tracy women have proven their capability more often than most.

Oops. I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t realize Sparkle brought one of her kids with her to visit Granny Gertie….Sparkle and Gertie have more than just themselves to think about here…And no, I’m not worried about them. They’ll do just fine. They’ve got Measles outnumbered.

Upon further review (sorry, NFL Sunday jargon) it appears Tracy and company might arrive just in time to save Measles!

I see that Measles knows how to use Google Earth/Maps.

It’ll be good to see that bum Measles get his!

Hmm — a man with a “very strange name”. In this strip?

either measles is using google earth maps or he is just checkign out hte gocomics site ;) lol! i hope he doesnt end up getting killed.. i kinda like him. i’d be fine with him being arrested and thrown into a rehab facility, but lets hope they dont kill the guy! btw, i’m “getting ready” for hurricane sandy so i may or may not be on for the next two days!

Well Measles, I hope you don’t think you can get over GG. We “hillbillies” don’t take to being threaten’ none. Threaten our family, our stills, or our clan. Will get ya some buckshot in yer behind. /if your lucky/ Threaten GG might get ya killed! She’s survived all them years with BO and that ain’t easy. ’Specialy now they got that attitude Plenty! Best you turn tail and run back to your safe big city, in yer big limousine. Cause yer not impressing us none.

Sorry to all, my Appalachian roots tend to come out when I see family threaten :)

i dunno.. i still dont want measles dead and i think a rehab facility would be better than prison for him (and MUCH better than death! lol)

Time to call Bracy!

Happy Belated Birthday, Vista Bill… I always enjoy your comments. And a Happy Birthday today to you, Quartermain… and thank you for your service to your (and our) country.

Given that the sherrif was the shire reeve, I have often pondered the question of why the spelling morphed to sheriff.

Intro (skip if you’ve already read any of the previous intros):

Hello, greetings, casual readers of past Tracy stories. I’m here because I’m on 2 missions. The first is something I’ve never done before, read each Tracy story by Mike Curtis (or his occasional guest writer) in one sitting each. I feel his stories are worth it. IMHO, Curtis is by far the best post-Gould writer this strip has ever had, and we’re all lucky to have him.

My second mission is to provide an immediately useful Featured Comment whenever needed. My 3 friends below will reply to me. You can read their replies if you like, but their only real purpose is to bump up this comment to the Featured Comment.

There are 2 basic types of immediately useful Featured Comments: the first type is to provide you with a Mumblespeak translator when needed. The other type (this type) is anytime that day’s strip quotes a real song. I will provide an html to a recording to that song so you’ll know the tune even if you’ve never heard it before.

End Intro

Gertie’s song is clearly a parody of the Kenny Rogers hit Lucille. Here’s the original:

https://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=kulJsH8v0ok

What you might not realize is that Gertie’s parody is also an actual song. Posted on the internet back in 2003. Here’s a recording of that parody:

https://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=mJIn6gMlo6A