Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for November 30, 2014

Dick and Tess out on the town, take in opening nightAt the Patterson Playhouse, Jonathan gives a fright.Tracy now detecting a criminal in the castKnows he’s heard that voice before, recalls it from the past.Goes out to the lobby, not for a snack to eatConfirms his strong suspicion there’s a villain to defeat.Tracy calling Catchem! Gruesome’s on the loose!Securing trusted backup, now tightening the noose.Backstage, Mel pays off his debt, to secrecy he’s swornGruesome likes the theatre, except for Flintheart’s horn.Sam’s secured a warrant, he’s Johnny on the spotLizz out in the alley looking dangerously hot.Gruesome feeling confident, so arrogant and smugNo idea the MCU is ‘bout to pull the rugOut from underneath his feet; one thing is for certainThe MCU is on the job, poised to drop the curtain.

Good morning guys!

Nice one Pequod77!

Two detectives in the house; one out back at the stage exit. That might be enough to bring down an ordinary felon, but Gruesome is smart, dangerous, and desperate. What if he goes for the audience to seize hostages as he tries to make his escape? What if Kandikane is one of Gruesome’s hostages?…

“Lizz out in the alley looking dangerously hot.”

Cool ya jets there PQ77, throttle down a wee bit! LOL! I do like her Fantastic Four outfit but have never been a fan of the raccoon look! It was so stupid of Gruesome to risk getting caught over money. It least the curtain appears to be coming down on this off Broadway production! Have a great Sunday everyone!

Morning, Tracyville!It looks like Sam is ready to make the bust now, instead of waiting for the end of the play.

Nice one Pequod! Thanks once again!

Well, Gruesome finally got his money, but I don’t know if he’ll make it to that “show stopper” performance.

Simply a MASTERPIECE for a Dick Tracy Sunday Page - and our hero’s profile (save the logo) - is not even appearing !!

The introductory panel (top) sets the presentation, upper section - reminding of the Play,while below the shadowed Police Car (insignia barely discernable) slips quietly in . . .

But it’s those illustrations of Sam and Lizz, in their arrival, panels 2 and 3 – really blast sleepy EYEBALLS out of any somnolent waters

. Tracy had warned - "*keep an EYE out * for anything Unusual, now we know, he knew what he was ‘talking about’.!

Easy to appreciate Sam’s positive stance, arm forward, (steady), ready to burst into the theatre, and firm faced, yet so easily recognizable even without his smoking trademark cigarette. Then she’s waiting, the signaled readiness of Lizz, in the back Alley, as those early Snow Flakes fall so gently, all around her and the car,.as those orange colored, electronic Wrist Wizard bolts, nail your attention

The team’s staff colorist’s done an impressive color blending job there as had Joe Staton, not only in his GRAPHICS layouts but in anticipation of that ‘early’ Snow Fall, for strip art, done several weeks before.

Those two panels alone, make the Original Art page a *

Collectors Item !*(And you might find yourself quietly thinking, someone who’s been “buying up” these beautiful “illustrations” - (for that’s indeed what they are) - may later be feeling up in the World like Mr. Bribery . . . as they ‘sell them over’ one day for a handsome “Packet” . . . if you’ll pardon the questionable pun (?) Recall, Joie Packet - was Mr. Bribery’s real name !..

No problem with the remaining panels, another focus on the current Villain, and his Heads - like before, but no new facial expressions, (the repertoire’s likely exhausted?). But it’s fun, to remember,Joe Staton’s unique talent on the admirable work on Boris Karloff (Gruesome) Face !

And how could you consider it a valued Dick Tracy art piece without a Villain ?

Good morning VistaBill, davidf42, Gweedo and other friends. Good poem Pequod. Good comments all. Y’all have a blessed Sunday.

I think Gruesome is counting on the discovery of Otis’ body to be the distraction he needs to make his escape.But – if it had been stashed in the window box, it would have been found before Jonathan and Dr. Einstein arrive. Mortimer opens it early in the play, discovering Mr. Hoskins’ remains (he’s number 12). (Why yes, I have just watched the movie again.).

Love today’s art, the digital colors give it depth and realism – especially the scenes with Sam and Lizz.-—Thanks, Sgt. Jim for another interesting Hall Of Fame segment (now to Google the “FBI holster”).

PQ, they move the centerfield fence back a hundred feet and you still cleared it!

Sam and Lizz are on the case. Always good to see two of my favorite characters. As Sydney notes, the Sam and Lizz panels are exceptionally fine. The backstage and alley settings are rich with detail, providing a strong sense of place and season, as the snowflakes fall gently on Lizz and her car. Mel escapes a harsh penalty for late payment, yet Gruesome remains a formidable villain, appearing unperturbed in the face of Sam’s intrusion. Bravo, Team Tracy! .Sam enjoys a fresh cup o’ coffee to start the day. Here’s a look at Sam in 1967 and (a rare blonde) Lizz in 1972.

Thanks to VistaBill, Neil Wick, Gweedo, Night-Gaunt49, davidf42, Starman1948, Sydney Phillips, Ray Toler, Jonathan K. and Morrow for the kind words. Very much appreciated! Kudos to Team Tracy for the inspiration.

PQ77 you have outdone yourself again…What’ll happen next..Egads..

Here. We. Go.

All right, seriously, why are they going to try to arrest him NOW, in the middle of a crowded theater, where hostages are plentiful? It would have been more sensible to wait ‘til the show had ended and people were leaving, then catching him as he leaves the theater. If they missed him, well, so what? They’ve got his new face, and he doesn’t exactly blend into a crowd. He’d turn up sooner or later.

I “get” that Boris Karloff played Gruesome in the movie, but I am really getting a bit tired of the “in jokes” about Gruesome in the strip looking like Karloff.

On side note… Lizz is looking RIDICULOUSLY SMOKING HOTTT today if I may say so ;) lol

Sorry but I just don’t see why everyone’s panting over Lizz today. I agree that normally she’s the goods but today she reminds me of Alice Cooper! LOL!

GWEEDO! Keep your eyes on the road my man! LOL!

1. Good old “Dick Tracy snowflakes” today. A tradition of the strip from way back.2. This is the first time that I can remember that Joe has depicted Lizz with her traditional eye make-up.Both of the above make today’s strip quite Gouldian. Cool!

And also, Mel. O. Dee looks particularly like a Chester Gould 50s style minor villain character in the lower left panel today. I sure appreciate when Joe does that sort of thing!

I know I’ll be in the minority, buy I really dislike the way Chester Gould drew Lizz’s eyes. I don’t mind when Little Orphan Annie and co. don’t have pupils, but side views of Lizz a’la Gould have no pupils either. (The front views weren’t much either, IMHO. I mean – where’s her nose?)

Timmy, you all play nice, heah?

Dick and Tess out on the town, take in opening night

At the Patterson Playhouse, Jonathan gives a fright.

Tracy now detecting a criminal in the cast

Knows he’s heard that voice before, recalls it from the past.

Goes out to the lobby, not for a snack to eat

Confirms his strong suspicion there’s a villain to defeat.

Tracy calling Catchem! Gruesome’s on the loose!

Securing trusted backup, now tightening the noose.

Backstage, Mel pays off his debt, to secrecy he’s sworn

Gruesome likes the theatre, except for Flintheart’s horn.

Sam’s secured a warrant, he’s Johnny on the spot

Lizz out in the alley looking dangerously hot.

Gruesome feeling confident, so arrogant and smug

No idea the MCU is ‘bout to pull the rug

Out from underneath his feet; one thing is for certain

The MCU is on the job, poised to drop the curtain.