Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for March 02, 2015

Silver gazed upon a sceneThat certainly wasn’t nice and cleanWhat did Sprocket do this timeTo overwhelm this queen of crime“Sister mine what happened herewhy’d you knock her on her rear?”“Brother, you don’t have a cluethe evil deed she planned to doShe asked my help I answered noher aim was wide I sent her low”“You know what babies mean to mea mothers what I long to beHer wickedness I couldn’t takeshe’ll long regret her big mistake”.

.

Thank you. Thank you. Than,,, ZZZzzzz……

No one could have predicted this. Outstanding job, Team Tracy! You keep us on our toes!

Down and out!

And I stand by my previous “Stiletta barely weighs 100 pounds” assessment.

Your’e getting better every time, av09…No ZZZzzzz’s from me!

No, Sprocket could never kidnap a helpless baby. All she does is feed people to a hyena.

Dead fish dead.

I did not expect this. A great turn of events.

Good Morning, DT fans!No itineraryFor Mrs Flattop No kidnapMaybeHyena snack

Have a nice day!

If Mrs. Flattop is only injured, it would be funny to see her wake up in the hospital bed that is next to Blowtop’s!

So … Looks like they have a dead body on their hands. Legitimately self-defence, but they obviously can’t call the police. It also seems that they now have the Wonder Car, the money from Stiletta, and the bonus money from Stiletta. It hardly seems worthwhile to scam Agate Aggie, but Silver has been insisting that they proceed with that.

“What now?,” I wonder.

Definitely an outrageous turn of events.

“When Miss Sprocket Nitrate throws that steel film can”

“It’s best to avoid it, if you have a plan”

“If you don’t, bad for you, aspirations undo”

“And that knifing attempt you must suddenly rue”

“When Miss Sprocket Nitrate throws that steel film can!”

Sung to the tune of …

Like I said- gross underestimation by Stiletta of her opponent. Didn’t expect this 2 or 3 days back, when we saw Sprocket cowering!

Oh no! Did Sprocket just kill Mrs. Flattop?

The Nitrates seem to at least think Stiletta is dead.

Will we segue into “The Trouble With Harry” or “Weekend At Bernie’s” – style hijinks?

The only other out I can see is if Stiletta ends up with concussion-induced amnesia.

This whole out-of-the-blue explosion of violence and potentially escalating consequences is very Chester Gould.

Good morning all!

Has the can with my Vista Bill movie become a murder weapon? I think not! I cannot picture Mrs. Flattop gone from the cast. Certainly a week of guessing lies ahead.

But what of Stiletta’s burly underlings? She left them home? Apparently she expected no problems with the Nitrates. She was wrong.

Well, in the words of Major Payne – “If she ain’t dead, she ain’t happy!”

Avenger, you’re getting better with practice! Practice, practice, practice some more and in no time you’ll hit the Big Time! If Team Tracy hadn’t ended the cat fight so abruptly, I was gonna tell Sprocket to get Stiletta in the NYPD Choke Hold and then feed her to Lena!

Good on you, Sprocket. I’m wondering if Stilleta’s just K.O.’ed or REALLY down for the count.

I doubt that Stiletta is dead. I think Silver is just referring to the fact that she’s been knocked unconscious.

Dead or out cold the Silvers still have a problem. Remember that Stiletta has the man that drove her to the Silvers still sitting out there waiting for her to return. How long before he decides to see what is taking his boss so long?

Wait…that’s how Stiletta goes out?

Good ole Sprocket has a good heart at the core.

So Stiletta’s been canned. Didn’t see that one comin’.

Morning, Tracyville!

No. She’s not dead. We’ve just begun to figure out her personality and nuances. Team Tracy has to save her to fight another day.

Good work Sprocket! Doubt that Stilletta is dead, so get out while you can! (Just not in that souped up wonder car)

I rather expected the fight to last longer. Does this mean what’s left of the Jones family will turn its attentions from Dick Tracy to the Nitrates?

Now, if the Nitrate’s were smart, they’d hotfoot it to Tracy, give him the info on Stiletta’s plan, and MAYBE “johnny law” would go easier on tem for their scams

the ONLY thing tying them to Mrs. Flattop’s plan (at the moment) is that they sold her back her son’s car. Tho i can see Silver turning against his sister to help Stiletta if it came down to it.

stiletta may be deadly with those knives, but Sprocket showed her that 70 pound film canisters have a LOT more uses than knives! i’m glad for this, i hope Sprocket turns over a new leaf

My guess is the Nitrates will hightail in the supercar, take the cash Stiletta laid out for it, and alert Tracy and co. of her wherabouts and kidnapping plans. And that when Mrs. F. recovers, Silver and Sprocket will have (temporarily) taken Tracy’s place at the top of her revenge list.

Ah. Now I see why they made a point of introducing the film cannisters and mentioning how heavy they are; and that Sprocket is practiced at lugging them around. A classic example of Chekov’s Film Cannister.

Stiletta’s dead? There’s a kick in the head. I was not expecting this. I liked the character, but I like this development more! It reminds me of the old days when Gould would kill off villains unexpectedly. It left me feeling a little shaken, but that got me more involved in the story. Great move!

Good morning my friends. WOW! What a turn of the plot! _______________________________@avenger09: you win the poet laureate award! (Your poems are so well written that I bet you could write these poems in your sleep.

I have a feeling if they show up at police HQ with Stiletta and their story, Tracy is going to cut them MAJOR slack!

Looks like Sprocket already changed out her Shirt: I don’t see any tears.

Exactly. Stiletta wasn’t hit in the head with the canister but in the chest. But the force obviously threw her into a wall and possibly hit her head but good. She going to be feeling that for a while.

Your compliments are always appreciated Morrow but that was not my concern. Given the controversy in NYC regarding the use of chokeholds by the police on suspects being arrested I was wondering if David who found my joke last week about Texans offensive thought your joke was at best ill advised. That is all!

No one dies in this strip, except sweatbox, so hold the flowers.

This is getting better all the time..

Thank you for the kind comment cpalmeresq

Thank you for the kind comment Neil Wick

Thank you for the kind comment NightShade09

Thank you for the kind comment Jim Douglas

Thank you for the kind comment Gweedo – It’s legal here !!! – Murray

Thank you for the kind comment Morrow

Starman1948 – Thanks Starman, I actually kinda do. I first cheat by looking at the current days strip around 12:30 then I write the poem, post it at 1:10 and go to sleep.

Someone in these comments — you know who you are — recently found Sprocket ‘ugly’. May I take a moment to nay-say your finding? Joe Staton sure knows how to draw, most especially when it comes to drawing super-cute, super-beautiful and super-sexy females of all ages — when he wants to, of course! Whilst I must concede that Sprocket isn’t amongst the upper echelon, I believe that ‘ugly’ goes too far.A recent close-up clearly shows that she has a tip-tilted nose with sharply defined triangular nostrils, a particular weakness of mine. What say you, gentle readers?

I think Stiletta’s dead. Or if not, she will be very soon.Showing her legs like that is ominous. Silver’s comment, “not going anywhere,” is pretty clear in my mind.But even if she isn’t dead, will brother and sis allow her to recover? She tried to kill Sprocket. She’s a vengeful person and will probably try again. We know the Nitrates don’t have a conscience about murdering people that threaten them, as we saw with the actor when they were first introduced. Put all that together, and I don’t see Stiletta walking away from this.I think she’s going to be supper for Lena.

Thank you for the kind comment Night-Gaunt49

Rightwingmoron said, 2 days ago

*Rightwingmoron said, about 18 hours ago

I wonder if Sprocket will refuse, be killed, and Nitrate stricken by grief, turns to Tracy for help.

avenger09

avenger09 said, about 17 hours ago

@Rightwingmoron

No.*

Looks like I got the first part right. Despite the conviction of the all knowing that I was wrong, Sprocket is very close to his sister, and if Stiletta killed her, Tracy might be Sprocket’s best bet to take her down..

Nope!

Good morning all – you too VB!

Things have come a long way since I first ventured across the Tracy boards back in ‘07. MPH was a recent addition to the comments, Kurt and George Strum provided a treasury of Tracy background and a fellow who went by Sparky created a contest to trace Tracy’s adventures across the map, giving clues as to his whereabouts that sent a number of us to research maps and almanacs to solve.

Here’s to many more years of Tracy, respectful exchange of info and opinions and daily greetings from VB!

Thank you for the kind comment Lonnie Cavenee

100 comments and it’s only 10:00am where I am. Wahoo this is good.

I highly doubt she’s dead…..for the simple fact I think Mike and Joe aren’t likely to kill off such a popular character, lol. Of course, I guess you could say Stiletta missing the mark from so close and then getting nailed by being unable to dodge a bulky 70 pound canister after Sprocket dodged a blazing dart is kind of unlikely as well too, though…..anyways, with the comment count in triple digits again, this story is obviously a WINNER!!!

“Hey, this may be as close as Lena gets in terms of “ordering Chinese” for her, lol

While there’s still a faint possibility Mrs. Flattop’s alive, it seems much more likely she’s dead. As Chief Patton pointed out, showing her legs like that is ominous, implying that everything above her legs is too gruesome to show in a family strip.In hindsight, last Saturday’s strip (Feb 28), looks like the climax of her entire character arc. Most of the time, Stiletta has seemed fairly calm. Just below the surface, she was filled with hate, obsession, and revenge, but she was able to keep focus and avoid looking crazy with a clam façade. But in that strip, with Staton depicting her with her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth wide open, she didn’t look calm at all. She was literally ranting and raving. The fact she confided so much of her monstrous plan to someone she barely knew indicates how far off the deep end she’d gone. Perhaps Curtis decided there was no further her character could go beyond the predictable and obvious, so he went for the unpredictable.

If Joe and Mike read this far down, i can see a future DT setting of the City Poetry Society, co-hosted by Mr Pequod and Mr Avenger…..after seeing Vista Bill immortalized in the movies, why not?…

What an artistic coup! The varying expressions we can read on Sprocket’s face in the three panels, and yet all done with those large, opaque shades covering every bit of her eyes (the eyes being often the most telling part of a person’s expression)! We must be prudent about whether Mrs. Flattop is alive or dead at this point. Silver’s remark in panel 3 is in fact ambiguous, and it appears that Sprocket’s attempt to ascertain the downed Stiletta’s condition (panel 1) was interrupted. Her death would be a vey dramatic unexpected event, but her survival, wounded, could cause numerous problems, too.

Stiletta may not be dead, but she is probably pretty well incapacitated,….given the drawing of the impact in yesterday’s strip, i would venture to say that she probably has a few broken ribs, maybe a lung puncture or two, and possible a jaw injury…..

which leads me to wonder./…if she is KO’d, will she wake up in a hospital bed? Or with a new kennel-mate aka Lena? (My money is on the hyena, and i dont mean Stiletta!)

I would like to thank the fabulous Morrow for giving me the inspiration to acknowledge everyone by name for the nice comments regarding my poems. Morrow, you are indeed an amazing, insightful person and Tracyville is a warmer, better place because of you.

Thanks for the kind words Chris Sherlock.

EVERYONE: Maybe, when Stiletta fell, she broke her neck and severed her spinal cord. I’m just saying it’s possibly why Silver made that comment in panel 3.

FUN FACT #2: The voice in the opening credits belongs to veteran announcer Dick Tufeld, who also provided vocals for a certain robot which was LOST IN SPACE …According to Gerry Dooley’s book Zorro, Television Companion, it was Dick Tufeld who did all the coming attractions teasers at the end of each Disney’s Zorro episode, as well as the opening announcement. Very interesting that both he and Guy Williams went on to Lost in Space.

Regarding the question of whether or not Stiletta’s dead, would her legs be bent at the knees as shown in Panel 1 if she were dead?

At least Hanna-Barbera’s Fantastic Four had real animation. Maybe one day all 20 episodes will finally be released. You can find some on the Internet.____________________

The rights issues surrounding the Hanna-Barbera Fantastic Four cartoons are apparently a nightmare.

FUN FACT: Hanna-Barbara retained full animation rights to the Fantastic Four till about 1978, when at the behest of NBC they made a swap with Depatie-Freleng Studios (… later known as Marvel Productions) for the animation rights to GODZILLA …

Seems NBC wanted a Godzilla show, but preferred that Hanna-Barbera produce it.

The swap allowed Depatie-Freling to make that odd, Torch-less Fantastic Four series with Herbie The Robot …

FUN FACT #2: The voice in the opening credits belongs to veteran announcer Dick Tufeld, who also provided vocals for a certain robot which was LOST IN SPACE …

FUN FACT #3: “Herbie” was portrayed by the multi-talented Frank Welker. No “speeding up” of his performance necessary.

Herbie’s design – Believe it or not – Was by Fantastic Four co-creator, Jack Kirby …

FUN FACT #4: Why no Human Torch? Because his television rights were tied up with Universal Studios at the time, as part of the deal which brought us TV Movies for The Incredible Hulk, Doctor Strange, and Captain America.

And we forgot to add Hot Rize, Flaky Biscuits and Ponytail, MK I to the casualty list.

So the Staton/Curtis Death Count currently stands at …

SweatboxDavey Mylar (… A.K.A. “Mr. Crime”)The Mumbles Quartet (3 members)Lt. TeevoPanda.Tabby AngusMeaslesHot RizeFlaky BiscuitsPonytail, MK I

And I’m not even going to mention those faceless Apparatus members that Abner Cadaver did away with.

On the plus side, the boys did resuscitate B.B. Eyes, so that balances things out slightly.

… and we forgot Miles Mycroft!!

(A.K.A. “Hyena-Chow”)

Could someone do me a solid and organize the Staton/Curtis Death List in chronological order?

That way, it will be easier to cut-and-paste fresh victims onto it as time goes by.

Just to be thorough …

The Butcher of The Balkans’ was also referred to as “Henrik Willemse,” though that was likely an alias.

So, I’m digging through GoComics looking for Ponytail MK I’s real name, and happen upon this blast from the past …

And Ponytail MK I’s name was Emma Parks …

Y’Know …

The cruelest thing Mike and Joe could do right now is cut away from this scene to something else for a few days …

… So how much you wanna bet that’s what they’re gonna do?

For me the 1967 Fantastic Four was the best of the animated versions. Sound effects, music and look were all excellent. Also characterizations too. Fantastic voice cast…____________________

Led by Paul Frees as Ben Grimm, and the woefully under-appreciated Gerald Mohr as Reed Richards.

FUN FACT: Gerald Mohr also voiced Green Lantern for Filmation Studios …

Bonus points if you recognize the narrator’s voice.

Check out Mohr’s work as Radio’s Philip Marlowe …

The Heat Wave

And learn about his extensive radio career here …

More About Mohr

Fixed a spelling error I’d caught, also added The Butcher of The Balkans’ “Henrik Willemse” alias into the notes, ’cause I liked it.____________________

The Unofficial GoComics Staton/Curtis Death ListAs compiled by boboscar

The Fifth and Eddie Garcia (at the same time)Earl (Flaky and Hot Rize’s innocent co-worker)Hot RizeEmma Parks (A.K.A. Ponytail Mk I)The 2 terrorists who tried to hire and double cross Morning GloriaBig FrostFlaky Biscuits (never confirmed, but implied)CueballMr. Levitz (Doubleup’s main henchman in his first story; later killed by Kadaver to get Doubleup off)The 3 supporting members of the Mumbles QuartetPandaDavey Mylar (A.K.A. Mr. Crime Mk II)Bookie (Measles’ partner)MeaslesSweat BoxBardollHy PressureDrs. Sail, Ghote, and Flash Munroe? (still alive last we saw them, and ambiguous that they’re dead, but it often sounds like Curtis thinks of them as dead)Bill “Shortcake” Mitchell (never confirmed, but implied)Miles MycroftMr. KolossalEd Rosato (never confirmed, but implied)Tabby AngusThe Butcher of the Balkans (A.K.A. “Henrik Willemse”)AxelOtis

The Unofficial GoComics Staton/Curtis Death ListAs compiled by boboscar

Flyface

The Fifth and Eddie Garcia (at the same time)Earl (Flaky and Hot Rize’s innocent co-worker)Hot RizeEmma Parks (A.K.A. Ponytail Mk I)The 2 terrorists who tried to hire and double cross Morning GloriaBig FrostFlaky Biscuits (never confirmed, but implied)CueballMr. Levitz (Doubleup’s main henchman in his first story; later killed by Kadaver to get Doubleup off)The 3 supporting members of the Mumbles QuartetPandaDavey Mylar (A.K.A. Mr. Crime Mk II)Bookie (Measles’ partner)MeaslesSweat BoxBardollHy PressureDrs. Sail, Ghote, and Flash Munroe? (still alive last we saw them, and ambiguous that they’re dead, but it often sounds like Curtis thinks of them as dead)Bill “Shortcake” Mitchell (never confirmed, but implied)Miles MycroftMr. KolossalEd Rosato (never confirmed, but implied)Tabby AngusThe Butcher of the Balkans (A.K.A. “Henrik Willemse”)AxelOtis

Sam the man, two in handcoffee’s hot but kinda blandBlowtop’s Jones, painful moansbut singing songs in various tonesWhat a dope, Still Tracy hopedStiletta’d soon be tied and roped.Wonder car seen by members of teamHopefully clues are nice and clean.

why will she kidnapp dick tracy new grandson maybe she wants revenge for him