Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for February 06, 2016

Great art in panel 3!

The Russians are aware of Smith’s prototype (typo in panel 3 – protype) goggles. I still do not trust Ivanov’s masters.BTW what’s the < and > for in the dialog

Let’s see if Ivanov goes after those specs….

Thank you @cpalmeresq and @Neil Wick, I did not know that.Good morning, sleepy Vista Bill.

Gweedo indicated,Good morning, the Late Vista Bill !-——————————————————————.That sounds sort of ominous, Gweedo. Should I be concerned? Good morning.

.Good morning friends!

Once again it seems our Joe (Staton) has used his ability to reveal (this time) … younger versions of Ivanov and what could well be a descendant (in 2), of Joseph Stalin (minus the mustache). Possibly, a grandson of his daughter Svetlana ?

But it’s in panel 3 that he seems to have (subtly) located his ‘communication’ masterpiece (the Clock) – amidst that Kremlin architecture ? The TIME reads Ten (like in asking “When”?) will Tracy “get around” to investigating his City’s largest EVER Bank Robbery, one that occurred … more than a month ago (comic strip time) ?A Four Billion $ robbery - has been put ‘aside’, while looking for a fellow that ‘may’ be ‘taken for a ride’ ?

WHY Chase a guy to Cuba - who has committed ‘No Known’ Crime ?

When, Oh! When (?) Will ‘priorities’ Over-ride ?

Ivanov’s phone is thicker than you’d expect for a modern portable—it;’s probably got some sort of signal scrambler.

Morning, Tracy Fans!

I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but compare the picture on the wall in panel 1 to the overall picture in panel 3. One shows a bright sun-shiny scene, while the other is dark and stormy. Does this represent a hopeful and optimistic USA contrasted to a dark and gloomy Russia?

<And we want it, too!>

Quirky thieves, cutting edge technology, and an international manhunt, combined now with the potential for industrial espionage. Sounds like fun to me!

I Love Russia..

Gweedo assured,Just a little Mauso- humor, Bill. Don’t be alarmed.-—————————————————-.Whew! That’s a relief!

“Thanks for the reminder. A 4th panel would be a big help in fleshing out a little more detail while not hampering the pace . . .”+-————————————————————-

*Thanks !

And recall, as I do, *_that “2 panel”* strip (1-19-16) - with Ralphie and his Garbage Truck, it seemed so critical, so important, in keeping the “pacing” of the strip ‘on track’ ! ?As his Assistant holding those 2 ‘Weighty’ (& restraining?) ‘Garbage’ Bags - seemed in - a ‘flash’ to note, their ‘relevance’ and ‘importance’ (?) to a ‘timely’ story line . . .His exclamation - - “Hee Hee Haw !”

We could call him “Quick Draw” McGraw ! ?

So Tracy probably thinks that Ivanov is back in Russia – will he suddenly pop up at MCU, or secretly travel to Cuba and meet Tracy and Wunbrow there?

You’re on a roll today. (A drum roll and a rim shot)

JPuzzleWhiz noted,“Gweedo, you are tomb much!” said JPuzzleWhiz, crypt-ically. ☺-————————————————————————.Gweedo’s spending too much time with me n’ Rikki, and Abner.

“It was a dark and gloomy Russia…suddenly a shot of vodka poured out!” ☺

That happens a lot in Russia — except when people drink straight from the bottle. (Good reference.)

This story is going to be something new and different. I like that.

@ JPuzzleWhiz

-—————————————————————-“But it is “known”…he stole the X-ray goggles.”

-—————————————————-

-—————————————————————-

GEE WHIZZ !!

If we believe Spicy ‘below’ - it’s FREE !Everyone’s there to get a ‘Free’ Pair . . .He “took” what was ‘offered’ to him !There on Dec. 29th, Specs picks up the last pair, others had left on the “offered” tray ?

Good providence ! Not theft !

December 28, 2015

December 29, 2015

Gweedo, don’t forget to come for dinner tonight. Which would you prefer? Scorpion on a stick or spider kabobs?.

.Hold on, Gweedo! Rikki is frying bat wings!..and a delicacy for dessert, wasp crackers!.

Feb. 3, the Chief says that this proposed trip to Cuba is “In the interest of International Cooperation.”I took from that remark that the governments involved fear the potential damages from Specs’ activities, and are trying to avert an international incident. (Of course, we have been shown that the Russians may have an ulterior motive, but Tracy’s Team doesn’t know that yet.)Also, whatever Specs may have thought about the goggles being free or whatever, it seems clear from last weeks’ conference that Diet considers them to be stolen.

Specs may not have stolen the glasses, but there was a plan in action which switched them with the ones Specs was meant to get. They were always meant to be stolen, just not by Specs. From the police (and Smith’s) POV, there was indeed a theft. A plan was implemented to illegally remove the glasses from Smith Industries, and that’s what happened.

The < and > also remind us, as was stated during their first communication (that we saw), that they are speaking over a secure line that cannot be overheard….What we have here is a communication allowing us to foresee Porfiry and Tracy working at cross-purposes at some crucial point (cross…crucial: pretty punny, if I do only amuse myself!) of the joint investigation….

<Ivanov, you vill assist the old American Detective in obtaining zee xray glasses or I vill crush your girly hand as easy as I crush zis phone in my fingers!>

<LOL!>