Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for June 18, 2015

Wow!

Who was it here that was speculating about Doubleup’s backstory yesterday?

[ I ended up posting on yesterday’s comments page till just before the strip rolled over onto Thursday, if anyone would care to go back and check. ] :)

Taps Microphone

“Is this thing on?”

I’m hardly ever first.

And apparently very first at that!

@Anyface@Chris SherlockThank you for yesterday’s compliments.

@AnyFace

Why not just repost it today?____________________

‘Cause I’m very lazy. :)

Nice. They’re making a mention of bullying and the toxic effects it can have on people, Well played!

So being bullied turned Doubleup into a killer eh? Interesting……

I survived bullying myself, and I’m scarred for life like everyone else.

**Good morning guys!

What a cute kid Doubleup was sure a cute kid!

Today’s strip is a sheer delight, in terms of comics aesthetics and construction: the long shot of Blaze and DoubleUp (with the amusing juxtaposition of the buddies in similar poses at very different scales) in panel 1 establishing the scene and context; the close two-shot in panel 2 setting up the question; and the flashback to DoubleUp’s youth in panel 3, serving to explain at least in part how he came to walk on the Dark Side, while introducing the announced main theme of the arc, bullying. Really superb sequential art!

Could Doubleup revealing the bullying in his past be a foreshadowing of what Honeymoon might face this fall when school starts again?

Aww, I’m starting to like this guy, this guy.

In the last story, we saw that there was more to Doubleup than just a big enforcer, and now we’re getting his backstory as a victim himself.Very interesting and very well done, running parallel to Honey’s revelation.And it’s good to see his interest in comic books hasn’t been forgottenI’m really beginning to like this lug. And not just because he’s a comic book geek.Thanks, Mike! Thanks, Mike!

Flashback. Flashback!

“Scarlet Sting” looks like a cross between The Shadow and Lash LaRue. When I googled to investigate possible inspirations, I learned that Scarlet Sting is:

- a magical weapon in some Dungeons & Dragons-type online game, and

- an item featured in an “adult” toy catalog.

It’ll be fun to learn more about Doubleup’s origin.

Good morning Tracy fans. -——-The vision in my left eye is a little better today. Objects are a little clearer.-——-Be happy and healthy my friends.

Well we’re Off Today (18 June), on a little Side Story, while another (Honeymoon /Annie) wait ready in the Starting Gate to experience her School Bully Confrontation.An that’s all well and good !

But it leaves us (foolisly?) holding a Bag without “answers”, or CLARITY, on what everyone here has been “talking about” trying to analyze, yet remain baffled onHOW Bribery ended up wit that Stolen Gold Shipment.

The strip tells us, everyone learned about the Gold theft at the same time, and from the same source *- the newspapers, week of April 12 (Save Jimmy Shooz who had cultivated ‘inside’ sources)And among the “informed”, I’d easily include Ted Tellum, (the “self centered” duffer") but who’s job who’s job as a Radio/TV commentator requires him to be au fait with current event so he can talk about themOddly, some here don’t think he ever could be (?) Too Self Centerd and Dumb‘’Forgetting (?) - that he had enough devious “smarts” to trick *Wormy into a ’Live’, On Air Confession of Murder

As we ‘look back’ (and “listen” to Tracy with ‘Chief Patton* (June 15), his was clearly not a Face buttressed with any sign of certainty, as he preface everything with *IF’s* and was unable to provide Patton with any answer on Jimmy Choo Shooz responsibility for the Gold Theft,’Here we had the Chief of Detectives of the Major Crime Squad (sorry, Unit ;-) personally investigating the Great Train Robbery since April 13th (“I’ll be in office in 10 minutes”), as you REALIZE that was over 9 Weeks Ago - comic strip time.

Clues were hard to come by but finally Mole provided him with a Good “WORKABLE” Clue, one to be *followed*’ the disguised Secret Tunnel used to transport the Gold to Lake Prachett !

But, “Oh Mi God!” . . .The Man seemed to Drop It right there on the tracks and unaccountably Walk Away ! ???

Next time seen he was back in the City driving around with SamAt the time mumbled some Munbo Jumbo for not bothering to go and without “examining” the Lake Area, “declared” that the was - “NO EVIDENCE” !

Mayor Armstrong an the natural result of No Progress ! are reflected on June 15,Whar to DO now ? ?June 15th 2015

“Is this thing on?”I’m hardly ever first.

I’m usually on when the new strip appears but I was exhausted last night. I decided to rest for a few minutes before making something to eat, and I didn’t wake up until morning!

I grew up in Morgantown West Virginia and there were a lot of bullies that changed many good kids for the bad. We had a black kid there his name was Galfney (cannot remember how to spell that) Smith, and he was a bully destroyer and a protector of the weaker kids. I watched him whoop the tar out of many hateful and mean guys. He later played pro football for the Houston Oilers and after retiring he came home and became a pastor, but died several years ago..I just spent more than an hour trying to find some history on him with no luck..Good ole Smitty will always be remembered as a hero to me and many of the kids that grew up in Morgantown.

Coming up: a new arc. Arc.

This an interesting twist! Couldn’t help but notice what appears to be a whip on the cover of the Scarlet Sting comic book.

Yes, bullies and children can be exceptionally cruel. I was outed in the 9th grade (which would be 1981.) and my lover and I learned who our real friends was. At least “Richard” was a bully killer and helped considerably. I must admit, I have more respect for Doubleup now. But being a thug and killer is inexcusable.

Now, will they directly connect the two bullying storylines, something like have Doubleup save Honeymoon from a bully?

Nevertheless, it’s good to see that characters are not just one-dimensional. Nobody in real life is 100% evil or 100% good.__________________________I agree. However, the theme of Dick Tracy as per Chester Gould is that “Crime Doesn’t Pay.”

I recall that during the Flattop Jr. story it was revealed that Jr. was an extremely accomplished artist who could have made a living from that profession rather than turning to a life of crime. His choice was his own. Because you may have been a victim of something horrendous does not excuse the violent choices he made himself. Victimization may attempt to explain but does not excuse his own behavior.

Doubleup still deserves the death that many DT villains receive.

Wow, Scarlet Sting. Scarlet Sting. 10 cents. I think almost everyone can recall being bullied as a child and seeking refuge in Comic Book Heroes…

“It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it, Buckaroo!”Some people turn into bullies themselves, some become criminals. Some become police officers and continue to bully. And some become politicians.Others have the good fortune to find a good quality counselor, who helps them to resolve their feelings and they go on to live happy, productive lives. (Wish I’d found mine sooner.)I have come to the conclusion that no one is exempt- ALL have been offended against and ALL have offended, in some way or other. No one can make you feel inferior without your total cooperation.

Character development is a good thing, but it will take a lot for me to ever have any sympathy for Doubleup. He murdered his first Ponytail girlfriend out of spite (and then “took out the trash”) and would have killed Lizz as an “object lesson” if he hadn’t been stopped. Hard to like a coldblooded maniac.

I like the way Doubleup’s facial features have evolved over time. Look at him n todays strip compared to the ones Willy posted.

Doubleup is quickly becoming my THIRD FAVORITE Tracy villain of all time (behind Measles and Mumbles)

@Vista Bill, Morrow, Gweedo, Night-Gaunt49 and Neil Wick: Thanks again for your kindness, my friends. -—-Next time I look at Gweedo, I’ll keep one eye closed. LOL.-—-@Ray Toler: I just went back and reviewed yesterday’s comments. Please, extend my heart felt thanks to Mike. And I’m sorry that he lost his left eye. -—-@SYDNEY PHILLIPS and Will007: thanks for posting the background comics featuring Double Up.-——God Bless You All.

This Mr. Kleen guy, aren’t you concerned you might be sued by the other Mr. Clean guy, Joe and Mike (From yesterday’s strip)?

What a shame. I’m sure that at one time or another, we’ve all been bullied. But, todays bullies have new tricks to bully others.

@Ray Toler: thanks for posting Mike’s reply.To Mike: you are most welcome my friend. I’m glad that you have successfully overcome your handicap. You are an inspiration to others who are struggling with various physical and emotional handicaps. Thank you for being my friend.-——I am richly blessed to have so many friends on GoComics. God Bless You All.

DoubleUp killed Ponytail. Her real name was Emma Parks, an older teen runaway in the Scarlett Sting story.

If Doubleup goes for blondes with tails, how would he react toward Honeymoon?-—————————————Since the Sweatbox story was shut down as inappropriate, I don’t expect to ever see another child predator in the strip.Max Allen Collins did write a prose short story with Tracy investigating a child’s murder in the paperback, “Dick Tracy – The Secret Files.”

Then, didn’t he go to the Vikings?

For the record, comic books were priced at 12 Cents when I was a kid.

Make of that what you will.

Also for the record, young Doubleup greatly resembles Pugsley Addams