Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 14, 2015

Today’s image of the Brow’s son looks more like him than the last panel of yesterday’s strip (properly older since the last time we saw him). After all this time, we now know the Brow’s real name. Now, how about Mumbles and the Mole (although, I guess we’ll hear Mole’s real name whenever his wedding occurs).

Tracy lurking iconically in the shadows today.

That does look more like Alfred Brau Jr. and now we have confirmation of his motives, beyond Tracy’s speculations which seem to have been accurate.

Seems the helicopter pilot was a nameless extra.

Looks like the finale of a grim sequence between The Brow, Angeltop Jones and the Son of The Brow.

Pretty much today’s strip recapitulates Sunday’s adding not much that is new. But is that last remark of Tracy’s filled with unintentional irony? Could trouble be brewing for Junior and the family?

LIZZ in TEARS ?

Some thoughts do come to mind as Mike’s 1st full mystery story unwinds . . .

Who would (with real confidence) have guessed that that the double murderer was The Brow’s son ?One might rationalize that with an unstable personality he - “flipped” ! (?) … but despite his ‘assistance’ to Angeltop to ‘do in’ Tracy in his first Collins appearance 1978 (depicted yesterday) which was quite clear, it ran contrary to his personality that was clearly reflected in his second and last (1982) appearance - - (until now)..

Back then, after firing a glancing shot to Angeltop’s hand to prevent her killing Lizz, he ‘lectured’ her . . .

" I love you Angeltop *-But I couldn’t stand byAnd watch you causeAnother senseless death"*

In the same story, he released the captured Lizz from the basement, urging her to rush to a nearby wedding (Junior and Sparkles) where all the major Dick Tracy “characters” were gathered in the Church . . . while below a powerful Bomb (placed by Angeltop) was “ticking away” to explode, to kill Tracy and all of them attending !

Young Brow further emphasized his ‘perspective’ of ‘concern’ for others when on releasing Lizz - he directed her -

“You can crawl out a basement window -The church is only a couple blocks from here -You have to WARN THEM ! \

At no time during his 2 appearances did he ever display any affinity for his father. Seems almost as if he never really knew him (?) We readers were never told !So it throws into “question” any “assumption” that he may have acted as the Hangman out of any sensitivity for his fathers ‘image’ or even his own. He had just served his jail term, and one ‘assumes’ released ? Paying his debt to society.

The name of the Brow and his son were not featured in the name of the play. Their roles were cursory (lost among others) … incidental at best.

And further, the “bad guys” in the book and play were cast in a “favorable” light, as upright, dutiful citizens, police officers while Boss Tracy was the criminal. I’d have to think, given these factors, that was a “ludicrous” assumption - were anyone to try to make itHis actions here (my view is) - they were ‘out of established character’.

In many respects it’s like we have another Vera Alldid here, and on display, only ‘one side’ of a multi-faceted personality actually revealed. The other (good) the dominant one - ignored !

And one can’t help but notice the considerably more “mature” look Joe has given to the face of Alfred Brow (?) Compare also the straight jaw bone ?Not recessed like sonny’s clearly was in 1982 ?

And as Anyface’ has noted, young Brow’s masked assistant doesn’t come *with a Name or a motive - yet another “frustrating” challenge … it’s a new “Nothing Ball” for Boboscar in ‘updating’ his Death ListWhat NAME to put ??

@SYDNEY PHILLIPSAnd as Anyface’ has noted, young Brow’s masked assistant doesn’t come *with a Name or a motive – yet another “frustrating” challenge … it’s a new “Nothing Ball” for Boboscar in ‘updating’ his Death ListWhat NAME to put ??

There’s no indication that the assistant died. In fact, he’s “signing” about Alfred, so he’s clearly alive, though under arrest.

I usually don’t comment here……leave that to the “pros”….but…….Tracy’s last remark in P3 (complete with the “noir” look!!) WOW!! I am reminded of the U2 songs from their debut album (BOY) “Twilight” and “Shadows and Tall Trees”…….whoa……

@SYDNEY PHILLIPSThe name of the Brow and his son were not featured in the name of the play. Their roles were cursory (lost among others) … incidental at best.

As the sidekick to the detective, The Chalice, it could be argued that Alfred Brau was a fairly prominent character in the movie. He could be playing the role of Robin in the Batman movies or Sam in Dick Tracy. Maybe not, but we weren’t really shown enough of the movie to determine that.

I don’t disagree with anything you are saying about Brau Junior’s personality. It does seem rather out of character for him to be murdering people left, right, and centre. That’s the danger of using well-established characters. You have all of their history to consider. It’s safer to use entirely new characters, who come as a “blank slate.”

Groan – that pun at the end!

.Good morning all!.Late start again.

@Neil Wick

“There’s no indication that the assistant died. In fact, he’s “signing” about Alfred, so he’s clearly alive, though under arrest.”-————————————

My mistake - (talking of two things at the same time - ;-)Of course, he’s very much alive, but oddly – No Face, No Name and No Motive ascribed ?

Small potatoes . . . but ‘WHY’ would he ‘Want’ to be there ?If he has the ‘skills’ to pilot a Helicopter, he has better, more rewarding things to do with his time *! ?Better than ‘masking up’ for Carnival and playing ‘Bad John’ in the Sky !

Dick Looks good in Red!!!!

@SYDNEY PHILLIPS:Thanks for the art from the old Collins/Fletcher story. I had never seen that before. Also, your extra embellishments in layout and design were fun!I agree that this “solution” to the Hangman mystery seems to have come completely out of left field. Tracy said he “had a hunch”, but what? There was no indication anywhere in the story that I could see. Maybe Tracy will explain himself in the next couple of days???

I don’t think we actually know the real motive of Brow Jr. since he died before he could be questioned. Notice that yesterday’s explanation was speculation by Tracy: He “must have thought…” were Tracy’s exact words.

Even though Brow Jr. helped Lizz escape, there is no doubt that he still continued to pine for Angeltop. Her death (even by her own hand) could also have set him on his path to this final attempt at revenge as he festered in jail. As I showed in the panels I posted yesterday, revenge was a motivating factor for Brow Jr. so his sympathy toward Lizz seems more out of character to me than his reverting to his main motivation.

This ending is terrible. Tracy comments on what the unnamed accomplice has revealed after having been captured. What a coincidence. That is exactly what Tracy said at the very instant he saw Brau’s unmasked face (see Sunday’s strip). Joe Staton is an extraordinarily talented artist. Mike Curtis, well, his stories aren’t even at the same level of Staton’s ankle, to put it in a way. Curtis’s stories smell like reclaimed water. I don’t care if he is some sort of veterna or a hero, or if somebody considered that he was a good novelist or storyteller of sorts. Curtis’s Tracy’s stories stink, a prime example of this being the “Annie” story. Sheesh!

For starters, what was the need of this Midnite Mirror story? What? No need, that’s what. Clever hint at a parallel universe. The rest was just swill. This “twist” is so forced and crooked that one can perceive that something is not right here. Remember the “Sweatbox” ending? Yes, Mr. Curtis. Sweatbox. And Charlie the Tuna too. Your opus magnus, or, more precisely, your opus infamus. Yes, Locher was a terrible writer. Curtis is probably not as bad as Locher, but does Dick Tracy need a mediocre writer? Well, obviously many people does seem to think so. “So, stop reading Dick Tracy, then”. No. Dick Tracy is an icon. You do not have the right to write such lame stories, Mr,. Curtis. Get better, or else!

It is a bad story. But I’m glad it’s good for you. And, yes, Dick Tracy is not as bad as Alley Oop. See? We agree in that.

Gweedo commented,Rikki just hates it when you have to go out to “work”.-—————————————————————.I was fired from my job at “Headaches Galore Used Cars™”, Gweedo. I wasn’t sneaky enough for selling cars, it seems. Oh, well, back to weeding at the cemetery.

So the Brow’s son, to avoid reminiscences of the past, goes on to a murdering rampage that add to all the bad memories with fresh ones! Really, what an idiot! And his accomplice remains in the premises long enough to be captured. All for stopping an absurd movie with an improbable audience following b eing made. Ye gods! Give us the best Curtis of the Nitrates and Stiletta and Blaze Rize!

@Ken in OhioTracy said he “had a hunch”, but what? There was no indication anywhere in the story that I could see.

My attempt at indications from the evidence available to us readers was posted yesterday. It’s possible that Tracy knew some things that we didn’t, but the case is wrapping up and I doubt we’re going to get long explanations. Long explanations don’t fit the comic strip format very well.

“signing” or “singing”

I was having a lot of trouble typing that word. I can’t believe that it still came out wrong.

About the copter pilot: he was also the getaway driver for Hangman; he wasn’t just there to drop him off.It wasn’t until they went over the side that it was obvious Hangman wasn’t going to get away, and then he took off.It may have seemed he was there several days, but the whole fight only would have lasted a few minutes.

I enjoyed the story, and it made sense that the offspring of one of the bad guys in the movie would be upset at the attention, especially if he’d worked to keep his own name clear.In the real world, Al Brau Jr. would have probably changed his name, and gotten that brow fixed, but would still be afraid of being exposed.

I admit this wasn’t my favorite story. They can’t all be enjoyable as Fall of the Blackhearts. On to the next tale.

Gweedo asked,I thought sure you’d succeed at moving questionable merchandise.-———————————————————.Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t, Gweedo.

First off, I want to say thank you to Jim in CT for your defense of this story (which isn’t among my favorites, but I enjoyed very much) for saying a lot of things I was going to say to the naysayers.Sydney, you’re forgetting a small, but important detail. That 50th Anniversary story was not the last appearance of the Brow’s Son prior to this tale. It was the last story he had a major role in but not his last appearance. His last appearance prior to this was a cameo, shortly after Angeltop’s death. He can be seen in his prison cell, seeing Angeltop’s death being reported on the tv news, and tearfully declaring, “You shall be avenged!” I distinctly recall this brief moment, because I had liked the Brow’s Son at the end of the 50th Anniversary tale, for the reasons you pointed out, and was hoping he’d reform. I remember feeling disappointed to see him seemingly return to the dark side. I say, “seemingly” because this was his last appearance until now.To me, his motive makes a lot of sense, in a twisted way. All through this case one thing was bugging me, who would want to prevent a movie from being made that would depict Tracy and his friends in a bad light? Tracy’s allies wouldn’t seem likely to resort to murder to do that. Even the admiring crook Blackjack goes out of his way to avoid killing. If it’s one of Tracy’s old enemies, why would they be against a movie that depicts them in a positive light? Because the movie will do absolutely nothing to vindicate them. Nobody, not even the most enthusiastic Midnight Mirror fan, is going to seriously believe that Tracy and his allies are crooks or that their enemies are good guys. This is just a perspective swap, a scenario of “What if ‘real life’ good guys were bad guys while ‘real life’ bad guys were good guys?” The truth is still readily available. All this movie will do is call attention to the dark past of both the Brow and his Son. Enemies who are still active crooks like B-B Eyes and Mumbles won’t care, but someone like the Brow’s Son, who had a real chance at going straight, only to have his past dredged up by all the publicity would care a lot. And it must be pointed out that the Brow’s Son committed a lot of serious crimes. He personally shot Vitamin Flintheart, took part in helping Angeltop try to kill Lizz and Tracy, kidnapped Lizz and held her captive for a long time (even if he did free her), stood by and watched as Angeltop murdered the crooked plastic surgeon Dr. Carver. He even staged an attack on Tracy on the White House lawn, for crying out loud! It doesn’t seem implausible to me that a man who committed so many attempted murders in the past, might later become more successful at it.

@

Ray Toler

Of course having said all that and ‘pointed out’ the likely ‘character’ inconsistencies - it’s within the province of the Writer (Mike) to turn a character in his strip ‘anyway’ he chooses . . .Even if in so doing, a few readers like myself have to swallow hard - and wave a flag with Question Marks (‘???’)

Gweedo noted,Well, Bill. You’ve certainly succeeded at moving yourself here at D.T. !-—————————————————————-.“Toot your own horn. Nobody is going to do it for you!”. Jo Ann taught me that more than 50 years ago.

Gweedo jokingly stated,Aaa-oooo-gaaah !!!-———————————————————————.Very funny, Gweedo! You made my day!

Maybe a Model A horn is better.

This is an original Model T horn.

I promised I would try to put up a picture of the original artwork I received yesterday, but I couldn’t get a decent shot of it, so I’m posting shots of a couple of details from the original art, along with clips of similar portions of the published strips for comparison. I’m sorry that the shots are a little out of focus and the contrast isn’t great, but it’s the best I could do at the moment.