Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for March 23, 2015

To those who were complaining that previous stories started off kind of slowly, this one’s starting off with lots of action. So, T-Bolt knows why Adonis is there. I don’t know. Why is he there? I mean, I expect he’s spying on them, but who hired him?

I wonder if the “Blackhearts’ downtown headquearters” is the same as the penthouse Where Venus, Apollo, and Méliès hang out. I think it is. If B-B Eyes and his bunch are all working for the Blackhearts, do they have an office there, too?

“OH NO!” Johnny yelled as he stumbled to the groundHe hoped it wasn’t obvious he had such a girly soundIt’s bad enough to have to deal with being caught asleepIf Tess found out she’d start to pout her anger running deep

This Wesley Snipes wannabe that’s boldly standing over meWill have to pay the price that’s due for causing me to look like such a foolIt’s bad enough to have been WhackedThe scorn I’ll face they’ll show no tack“OH NO” my shame’s spread over the mapI’ve now allowed myself to be Whapped!

Strike two!

Good morning guys!

I’m getting to old to stay up this late! ZZZZZzzz,,,

Totally Grace Jones!

Off and running!

Good morning everyone. The story is moving fast. Will we find out what happens to Silver and Sprocket? Or will we have to wait several weeks? Y’all have a great day my friends.

Nanook!

What happened in the last story: I’ve been analyzing the story that just finished and I’m working on a new way to present the story structure. In the meantime, I’ve learned a few things about what just happened.

The story had two main intersecting plots, although the story of the Nitrates dominated, especially the story of Sprocket. Two incidents incited these two plots and set them in motion. First was the return of Agate Aggie to Tracy’s City. This led to Silver Nitrate’s objective of conning her. The second incident was the birth of Tracy’s grandson, Dick Tracy III. This finally gave Stiletta an idea of her objective of exacting revenge on Tracy by kidnapping his newborn grandson. Neither of these objectives was achieved, partly because of the way they intersected.

There were 34 different characters with speaking parts during the 70 days of the story. The main characters were Sprocket and Silver in terms of the number of days they appeared and the number of days they had lines to speak. The next characters were (appropriately) Dick Tracy and Sam. After them came Kandikane and Stiletta, followed by Blowtop and Vitamin, then a host of minor characters. The development of Kandi and Vitamin’s relation was an important sub-plot that wove its way through the narrative.

In terms of settings, three locations combined to make up just over half the days of the story. The main one was the Skyview Drive-in, the home base of the Nitrates, which appeared on 24 days and was introduced on Day 1. Blowtop’s apartment was Stiletta’s home base (until she had to abandon it) which appeared on 10 different days, being introduced on Day 2. The other major location was The Old Transit Company (theater supply warehouse) which appeared on 12 different days, but was not introduced until Day 56. (I’m assuming the commercial was not filmed there but at Kane Studios, but I’m not so sure Kandikane has her own sound stage.)

The last story was kind of like a 3 act play with 3 main locations. The Nitrates’ plans were not well thought out however.

On another note, this is not looking good for Johnny. I wonder if the Blackhearts are trying to deliver a message or kill Johnny. If they were going to kill him, I would think his assailant would use a gun. At any rate, the action of late has been crazy good.

@Neil Wick: thanks for posting. Have an awesome day my friend.

@ Neil – Thanks for the “diagramming” of the previous story. I’ve never thought of analyzing a story through a diagram, much like diagramming a sentence in school, but it cuts through the haze!

Private Op?

Neil, that was an insightful analysis. I have often said that the reason we have so many complaining at times about the daily strip is that we have 24 hours to tear apart three panels that could go several directions. If this was a continuous graphic novel we would not have that much to nit-pick. This has been the best story from the team so far. Most loose ends have been tied up. And the art work as been outstanding. This new story is starting out with a bang, or should I say a whack.

Could this be the start of the best story arc since the takedown of Mr. Crime et al? Sure hope so.

thunderbearr said, about 2 hours ago

Private Op?-—————————————————————————-Private Operative. I think Dan Dunn used to call himself one of these years ago.

This has been a day or 2 ago, but Pouch was in court in front of a judge with Lizz and Groovy back in the early 70’s.

Peq and Neil are the current go-to story guys !

Thanks. I hesitate to do any story analysis with Pequod around, but it’s fun.

they are NOT beating up on Johnny (THE MAN!!) adonis!

Given their origins in Europe, is it possible that they have, at one point or another, fought against Tintin?

They seem to be international in scope, but you you actually think their origins are in Europe? When Apollo was introduced, he was welcomed “home” after some time in Europe. It could be an American organization that has just opened a European branch, so to speak. A Tintin crossover might be fun for some, but I think that Tintin is not well known among Dick Tracy readers. Also, permissions to do something along those lines would be very difficult.

Ouch. That has to smart! Adonis is going to need some dental work, I suspect—if in fact he survives TBolt’s two-by-four smash to his face. I have to suppose that the Blackhearts have been suspicious that someone might be covertly observing them and have put TBolt on protective anti-detective patrol. As Tess’s partner in their agency, Johnny will surely be missed, motivating Tess into some kind of action; the Blackhearts may anticipate this and have bad things in store for Dick’s wife. This could become intensely personal for the chief of detectives….

everyone for your kind comments!

Here’s Kandi Kane in 40 years!

Thanks to Marcus, sixam, Starman1948, Night-Gaunt49, NightShade09, Ken in Ohio, Gweedo, and Christ Sherlock for you appreciative response to my analysis. There is more to come.

Joe’s design for TBolt shifted a lot between Sunday and today. (The Sunday strips need to be drawn weeks earlier, due to printing concerns.)

Guessing that Joe acquired better reference of Grace Jones in the interim.

And here’s Vitamin in 40 years:http://www.clipartpal.com/thumbs/pd/holiday/halloween/R_I_Pgravestone.png

The sun beat down on this moment in timeIt’s rays unaware of just what they were illuminatingThe introduction of individuals who’s motives remained cloaked in a marauding sense of simmering violenceBlaze tentatively approached this giant with her voice quivering yet eager to get the introductions over with.Arrogance was always a part of BB eyes DNA and Blaze knew today would not change in anyway who he was.BB snickered at the thought of someone claiming to bebigger than he and just one look confirmed nothing changed.Recogization is a tremendous edge and only a fool would reject the gift of advantage and BB eyes was no one’s fool!

. Something different today kiddies.

The sun beat down on this moment in timeIt’s rays unaware of just what they were illuminating.The introduction of individuals who’s motives remained cloaked in a marauding sense of simmering violence.Blaze tentatively approached this giant Bolt with her voice quivering yet eager to get the introductions over with.Arrogance was always a part of BB-Eyes repertoire and Blaze knew he could be trusted not to change who he was.As consistant as a political scandal BB-Eyes snickered at the thought of someone claiming to be bigger than he was.Affording himself one look inward confirmed the outward..Recogization is a tremendous edge in his line of employment and only a fool would reject the gift of advantage it brings and BB-Eyes would never be confused as someone’s fool!

. Something different today kiddies.

who is that boy anyway.

let him shoot you