Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 08, 2013

It is nice to see a former villian reformed.

‘The Wind in the Willows’, fits in nicely here.

Ah, a little “Wind in the Wilows” reference.

Mornin’ all!Mole is one of my favorite characters – both in Dick Tracy and “Wind in the Willows.”

For all of you who want to see a Batman-Dick Tracy crossover:

Good morning all…

Is it healthy to live underground?

I like Mikeyj’s car designs and I like The Mole. He’s such a sweet guy.

Is it strange that the Mole is one of my favorite characters? The coloring is just too bright on this page. Gocomics colorists blow the atmosphere again. Seattlepi comics has it a little better, they gave it a dusk half-light feel.

what is mole working on?

Now they still need a Ratty, an Otter, and a Badger.

I like Mole, too. Kind of a feel good side story.

Okay, here’s the latest from Mike Curtis:“With Carole in the hospital, my mind has been elsewhere. MM does not show up this week, sorry to disappoint anyone.Mike”

You’re replying to Gweedo Murray’s comment:

I like Mikey’s cars too and agree that cursing is out of character for D.T.^^NOW, maybe, 1940s, not at all

Mole has become such a kind and gentle soul. And he is so fortunate to have Toad as a friend, tutor, and inspiration. He is quite Dickensian in my view, and for that reason I worry about his long term prospects…. Keep watch over him, Tracy!

Ah! Now the nickname “Toad” makes sense and suddenly, it’s cute! I’m sure Mole installed some full-spectrum lighting down there.

With all this emphasis on toad, I’m thinking something serious is about to happen to her, kidnapping, perhaps?

mikeyj, in reference to your bad feeling about toad, maybe this is the storyline that mike was talking about concerning the pedophile? if i remember correctly, he DID say it was set to take place in january, so…..

@Still Da Man!

Well you really took me by surprise yesterday, as there you were in ‘over-drive’ mode displaying yourself – openly on the Board !Still Da Man – Eh ? Noted how you dropped that Paula address (or was it ‘dress’) – real fast. As thought you had something to display, and you certainly tried to show us detail, in all of the 19 POSTS – big effort to give us, one – little factoid. So will agree you’re ‘Still Da Man’ having tried supposititiously to bring back the “same sharp message” and ’ caught out ’ – playing Goldilocks.Yet your number (19) – might look like ‘small change’ to a one time, (now – part time) poster here, who once put up close to 50 in a day. So to him, yours is only a short “Heil Hitler” ! (?)And despite those death camp protestations – - no one would ever suspect that you’re a disguised, Ann Frank.Then as you rambled on in the excitement of returning to ‘full bloom’, inadvertently you dropped another ’ identity ’ CLUE with the word ’ FANBOY ’ ! No need for Sherlock H. to point it out.It was a favorite phrasing of your heavy posting predecessor. The only one known to USE it regularly on both boards. Another ‘similarity’ when added to others, that again points a finger at what’s now, only a thinly veiled identity.

You’ve come across a bit like MM, you’re a boy on the block, wearing a mask, one who likes ’ pointing ’ a finger to give JOLTS . . . and at times – if need be, even ’pretending. to be a woman ! (?)

Sorry to be the one to pull your veil !

To Mike Curtis:

A. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed about MM not showing up.

B. You’ve got your priorities straight. You have more important things to take care of right now. Best wishes to you and your wife.

The wind in the willows played Tea for TwoThe sky was yellow and the sun was blue . . .

@ Mike Curtis – Our best wishes and thoughts are for Carol at this time. Moon Maid is a patient woman, she will make her come back soon enough.

“Then as you rambled on in the excitement of returning to ‘full bloom’, inadvertently you dropped another ’ identity ’ CLUE with the word ’ FANBOY ’ ! No need for Sherlock H. to point it out.”Wrong, Sydney, he was reposting a comment made by Morrow on Saturday – Morrow used the word “fanboy.”

Two other characters that started out on the opposite side of the law were B.O.Plenty and Gravel Gertie. They were not actually typical Gouldian criminals. But B.O. saw a chance for a big score when Breathless Mahoney stumbled into his life. And Gertie fell in love with the Brow, probably not understanding that he was a very bad man. Anyway, they eventually came around to Tracy’s point of view (sort of) and became good, dependable folks.

THE FIRST OFFICIAL “BATMOBILE”! (FEBRUARY, 1941)

You’re replying to Still Da Man!’s comment:

Nice pictures Mikeyj but be careful about making them too large or you’ll get yelled at. Oh. wait, that’s ony STILL DA MAN who gets told off about the size of the pictures I post! LOL!!^^Sometimes pics that looked normal on my FB page look gigantic HERE… I try to keep them a reasonable size , but, it can be SO hard to judge

Hmmmm…….they said a pedophile story is coming? I don’t know, kinda over the top for a comic strip……perhaps Mole gets falsely accused, labeled Mole-ester?

Actually, I could totally see Chester Gould having Mole turn out to be suddenly evil and actually have been putting on an act just to lure Dick Tracy into a trap…..now that would be chilling…….of course, we won’t see it here but I’m sure Mike and Joe have something equally good coming our way!

I think a lot of readers here are unawares just how evil and vicious Mole was in the early strips…..I remember how unbelievable I felt it was when he was grateful for Tracy’s Christmas gifts, considering his behavior beforehand……and I do feel it was that change in behavior that might have triggered bringing him back as a good guy, though….hmmmm….I need to start getting this all done in one post, lol…..

For those of you disappointed we won’t see Moon Maid this week, this may tide you over. :)MOON MAID

I think everyone approves of toads.

Badger will be a police officer, I suspect. The markings on the face of a badger are called a “badge”, and the name ‘badger’ means ’One who wears a badge". Being a Deputy Sheriff in Wisconsin, I am SCOTTtheBADGER online, as Scott Olson is rather common.

Being short, chunky,, and gray haired, i even look like a badger.

Agreed — it’s plot twists and turns like the possbility you mentioned which keep us all coming back for more!

There is a small amount of retconnig going on here. When Mole appeared in the 70s, out of prison and staying with his granddaughter Molene, his hands were depicted as being quite crippled with arthritis. He also had dialog telling us of many ailments which he got from being in prison all those years. Now, he is apparently relatively healthy, and able to use his hands to use tools, etc. I’m glad he feels better – I hope he stays on the good side, as an example to others that it is possible to repent and change. Maybe hearing that Christmas carol all those years ago helped him.

Thanks to all of you who pointed out the references to “The Wind in the Willows” – I was not familiar with that book, but now I think I understand a line of lyrics in “Watching & Waiting” by the Moody Blues. There is a line which says: “Mole, he is burrowing, his way to the sunlight. He knows there’s someone there so strong.” Wikipedia says the book was written by an English writer, so Justin Hayward and Ray Thomas were probably aware of the story line.

I see the hat band design on your “Tracy Mobile” That’s very clever. When Tess had her fantasy image a while back, thinking what Tracy would look like if he was a super hero type, maybe she visualized a car like that for him?

</a.

1938 Graham Paige Supercharged “Spirit of Motion” aka Sharknose.

1936 Cord Convertible with it’s headlights exposed.

Well DrSid - There he goes again with another regular “downer” – - MAGPIES !

He loved that one, somehow seemed to think it had an extra sting in the tail.Trust me - - I know the man, his style, and his limited (but repititious) acrimonious vocabulary !

Let’s have a contest! Let’s see whether we have more total comments at the end of the day relevant to the strip, or more from the running troll battle……

Fortunately, what the job requires most of the time is a high tolerance for strange people, a sense of humor, and patience with people who seem to automaitically make the wrong choice.

I am becoming rather concerned with many of the 20 somethings, that seem to have no way of having fun that does not invole drinking to excess.

yes it is nice to see villains reformed I don’t want to offend anyone but wonder if Mole had a religious experience and repented?..like St Dismas the good thief on the cross

Mole’s place was cozier than Toad’s. Ever see “Rat and Mole’s Christmas”? Those singing fieldmice always get to me.