Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 31, 2016

.Good morning everyone!.Specs needs to be careful when dealing with the gamblers.

Well, for the doubters, they’ve actually arrived in Cuba, Spicy seems to be starting a gang (so much for earning money honestly), and Specs is falling into the gambling habit that the tattoo of dice on his arm seemed to indicate (but it’s really not a gamble when he has those x-ray specs).

I’m not sure “The Shell Game” works that way.

Is “Lt. Walter Reimer” the strip’s new police consultant?

Morning all!-It’s too bad this guy didn’t do the shell game trick of palming the pea, so no matter which cup is chosen, it’s the wrong one. That could have had some fun consequences.-Of course, Specs beating the game will have the old man talking, and that can bring Specs and Spicy some unwanted attention.

Now you see it, now you don’tGuess which thimble, bet you won’tAy caramba, how can it beSo creepy it caused one of the S’s to fleeThis Gringo is trouble of that I do knowHis shirt and his glasses reek totally of woePerhaps I should go and exit stage rightBefore all my money desolves in the night.

Actually, getting the ball once is not particularly difficult. There is of course a 33% probability of winning. Now, if he did it 10 times in a row, that would really be astounding. (The odds are 59000 to 1.)

On the acres of Sunny Dell an Air Car does resideNow blocking up a drainage ditch, left there so as to hideFrom prying eyes a fun-filled ride purloined by BriberyWho has a new scheme up his sleeve, which unexpectedlyRequires special services from vile Igor GlitchA life form to be owned by Bigg, with one potential hitch.His name is to be Matty Squared, a man boiled aliveDeep in a bubbling cauldron where no mortal could survive.Matty was despicable, he tried to kill the MaidLocked her in a dark bank vault, his plan was soon waylaidBy the angry Governor who rushed in to her rescueTo save his darling daughter there was naught he would not do.Don’t Bogart the Roach my friend, we all must learn to shareAll that we know with Tracy who seeks to save the pairFrom the foul Apparatus that would slay X-Ray on sightLay waste to Spicy Condiment, which none can claim is right.Elsewhere, in Havana, now you see it now you don’tKeep eyes peeled on the wee ball. Lose money if you won’tUse the magic goggles, gaze upon a future pastWhen the sharp sword of Damocles threatened not to blastYou from this life with one swift cut. Where did the future go?Sweet tender times with Spice of life were once all you did know.Now on the run, stress fetters fun, a bounty on Specs’ headHeroes and hoods in Tracytown want Specs alive or dead.

A few more rounds and Senor Specs will be in big trouble.

Two poets today… thank you avenger09 and Pequod

Specs and Spicy are in Havana, and Spicy is urging Specs to start a gang? Easier said than done! And trying to X-Ray con the old local grifter is asking for big trouble right off the start. What muscle does the old guy have protecting his game? Will Specs be mugged for his hubris?

Remember what happened to Ray Milland in the Man with the X-Ray Eyes? Good movie!

Today the weather in Havana is to reach a high of 83°F. Spicy may not be comfortable in her turtlenecks much longer.

I know the U.S. Embassy has reopened in Havana, but don’t we still need special permission from the State Dept. to travel to Cuba? A little confusing.

I wonder if Specs and Spicy are aware of the Cuban secret police. They need to be, because Cuba is still a very oppressive dictatorship (ask those being held in Castro’s prisons for dissent, if you don’t believe me), and I have no doubt whatsoever that they are watching Spec and Spicy, along with every other American who sets foot there.

O Ya, they are gonna need a gang..

Crimestopper’s tip" TRUST NO ONE!

Absolutely! Actually, you just need to find the right car rental agency. I find that most rental cars are not marked, at least not very clearly. You’d have to look hard to find any that make it obvious.

“I’m looking through you. Where did you go?” Cuba! Specs knows they are well off to be out of Tracytown. Off of the small supply ship and onto the streets of Havana. I’m very fond of the way Team Tracy makes use of a wide variety of interesting locations. We have street music, old cars, a mix of head gear and a hustler out-hustled by savvy Specs. When did the strip last leave the US? A tip o’ the hat to the new member of Team Tracy: Lt. Walter Reimer. Welcome!

Thanks to Chris Sherlock, 22ph, Jonathan K., JPuzzleWhiz and Neil Wick for the kind words. Very much appreciated!

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to let me know you enjoyed my dumb little ditty!

Thanks for your fine poetry, avenger09 and Pequod!

Today’s Gasoline Alley has cameos of Tracy, Annie and the Shadow, plus a few other characters from old radio.

I left an answer to your query about Tracy’s hat for you at today’s Gasoline Alley.

Spicy still seems to be directing this operation. The speech by Specs in the second main panel would make more sense if it had a question mark after it – like, “Wait, this is our first stop here in Havana??” I think that is the intent – he is surprised until Spicy explains it to him.

Just checked – the story ran in Spring, 1960.

On the acres of Sunny Dell an Air Car does reside

Now blocking up a drainage ditch, left there so as to hide

From prying eyes a fun-filled ride purloined by Bribery

Who has a new scheme up his sleeve, which unexpectedly

Requires special services from vile Igor Glitch

A life form to be owned by Bigg, with one potential hitch.

His name is to be Matty Squared, a man boiled alive

Deep in a bubbling cauldron where no mortal could survive.

Matty was despicable, he tried to kill the Maid

Locked her in a dark bank vault, his plan was soon waylaid

By the angry Governor who rushed in to her rescue

To save his darling daughter there was naught he would not do.

Don’t Bogart the Roach my friend, we all must learn to share

All that we know with Tracy who seeks to save the pair

From the foul Apparatus that would slay X-Ray on sight

Lay waste to Spicy Condiment, which none can claim is right.

Elsewhere, in Havana, now you see it now you don’t

Keep eyes peeled on the wee ball. Lose money if you won’t

Use the magic goggles, gaze upon a future past

When the sharp sword of Damocles threatened not to blast

You from this life with one swift cut. Where did the future go?

Sweet tender times with Spice of life were once all you did know.

Now on the run, stress fetters fun, a bounty on Specs’ head

Heroes and hoods in Tracytown want Specs alive or dead.