As I recall, when Will Eisner originally pitched The Spirit, he was told the publishers wanted a superhero type character, which was the trend at the time.
Don’t know if anyone else has noted (or complained), but the extreme cartoon nature of “Sammy” bothers me. Now, I know he has a “look” from whatever medium he appeared in. But the “Howdy Doody” look doesn’t do well in this strip.
“They basically strip-mined my life’s history and killed almost all the villains in the first few minutes. After that they made up stuff and kept stopping everything for songs. Anyway, it was colorful.”
Stopped reading Tracy years ago when they stopped printing him in my daily newspaper. Always thought it was a strange mix of comic characters that sometimes met ghastly ends. Don’t know much about The Spirit but he and Tracy could be an interesting team.
Recall a punk rock story line from Tracy 4 decades ago. They did a cartoon version of the Cheap Trick band but replaced one of the two pretty boys with Elvis Costello. LOL.
I’m Old School, strictly, and strict. One of the biggest reasons I happily don’t speak British is the grating, horrid “different to” that I read far too often. “Different than” may not be quit that bad, but as far as I am concerned, only “different from” is correct. Yes, I believe in normative, not descriptive, grammar. The latter is content to sit by and watch the gradual decline and fall of communication, already much further advanced than most of us realize. We excuse it as “generation gap,” or as “jargon,” or as “regionalism” (in ever-smaller and more distinct regions), etc. It is increasingly difficult to suss out what some “English speakers” may men.End of Rant.
Tracy is concerned to be a “good cop,” professional, by-the-book. The Spirit, as a justice-seeking vigilante, is less constrained.
But it appears that none of the players yet know what the game is. Somebody must be setting this up. Mayor Armstrong? —That is hard to believe. Diet Smith? —Seems improbable. Who?
A very interesting post yesterday (28 Dec) about language. This year, I started to try to learn how to write my own Appalachian dialect in my stories, and I found quite an interesting thing; our dialect is more in line with 1800s Victorian English than modern.
But then we are more of a pre-modern culture vs the mainstream culture. You said that “As for whether regions are becoming more smaller and more distinct,” it may be. But it’s odd how Appalachian culture has kept their dialect of a pre-modern time for over 200+ years. Will it continue in the future despite mass media? I don’t believe so, what I hear I don’t write normally. Mine is definitely a modern, plus educated vocabulary, but once I’m back home, I can switch to the dialect within a few hours. It may just depend on when your speaking. I might be soundin like a idjit next ta one of yens eddicated fellas, but that there’s how we spoke back in the old days :)
It’s quite interesting, but also know this; at least the Appalachian native american tribes of the Cherokee are teaching culture and language within their schools now so that the children will be able to continue both in the future.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ almost 8 years ago
.
Good morning guys!
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
Little bit of a dig there from Tracy.
Neil Wick almost 8 years ago
Even the Spirit doesn’t know exactly why he is there.
Good morning VB!
22ph almost 8 years ago
Is there some resentment on Tracy’s voice?
Neil Wick almost 8 years ago
If you check out this figurine from the 2008 movie, The Spirit, you’ll notice what the character wore on his feet:
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/images/AUTOIMAGES/DH15817lg.jpg
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
As I recall, when Will Eisner originally pitched The Spirit, he was told the publishers wanted a superhero type character, which was the trend at the time.
.
Will’s solution?
.
He added the mask.
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
Also, as legend and coloring has it, The Spirit does not wear socks.
davidvmason almost 8 years ago
Two great crime fighter from days of yore. I commend the creators, now doing their best to carry on the grand tradition of Chester Gould.
charliefarmrhere almost 8 years ago
Is that “mask” glued on, painted on, tattooed on, or what? I don’t see any strap holding it in place.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray almost 8 years ago
All the way from yesterday,
Jim Kerner PRO D.T. staffer said, about 4 misreads ago
@Gweedo – It’s legal here !!! – Murray
Welcome back Gweedo. I hope that everything went well.
Wasn’t in the hospital, just visiting.
blunebottle almost 8 years ago
Morning, guys!
Sounds like Tracy has a boring assignment in this episode and the Spirit gets to handle it the way he sees it. Tracy might just be jealous.
doctor075 almost 8 years ago
The mask is held on with……wit for it…Spirit Gum!........Ok,I’ll just go stand in the corner….again.:>)
the too late song almost 8 years ago
Someone want to tell me what’s going on?
Cronkers McGee Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Dick Tracy is setting the boundaries.
Pequod almost 8 years ago
I like Sammy’s wide-eyed look from the back seat: silent but watchful. Seems Sammy is wise for his years.
Cheapskate0 almost 8 years ago
Don’t know if anyone else has noted (or complained), but the extreme cartoon nature of “Sammy” bothers me. Now, I know he has a “look” from whatever medium he appeared in. But the “Howdy Doody” look doesn’t do well in this strip.
Morrow Cummings almost 8 years ago
What’s with the goofy-looking kid in the back seat? The one who looks like a really-spaced-out druggie?
Kip W almost 8 years ago
“They basically strip-mined my life’s history and killed almost all the villains in the first few minutes. After that they made up stuff and kept stopping everything for songs. Anyway, it was colorful.”
riddlemethis almost 8 years ago
Stopped reading Tracy years ago when they stopped printing him in my daily newspaper. Always thought it was a strange mix of comic characters that sometimes met ghastly ends. Don’t know much about The Spirit but he and Tracy could be an interesting team.
riddlemethis almost 8 years ago
Recall a punk rock story line from Tracy 4 decades ago. They did a cartoon version of the Cheap Trick band but replaced one of the two pretty boys with Elvis Costello. LOL.
kantuck-nadie almost 8 years ago
Well, as one remarked yesterday Tracy doesn’t like vigilantes, and that last panel seem to suggest that.
puddleglum1066 almost 8 years ago
In the missing third panel, Tracy’s pulled over by the Grammar Police and written up for a 476©1.4, “different than when different from is preferred.”
Sisyphos almost 8 years ago
I’m Old School, strictly, and strict. One of the biggest reasons I happily don’t speak British is the grating, horrid “different to” that I read far too often. “Different than” may not be quit that bad, but as far as I am concerned, only “different from” is correct. Yes, I believe in normative, not descriptive, grammar. The latter is content to sit by and watch the gradual decline and fall of communication, already much further advanced than most of us realize. We excuse it as “generation gap,” or as “jargon,” or as “regionalism” (in ever-smaller and more distinct regions), etc. It is increasingly difficult to suss out what some “English speakers” may men.End of Rant.
Tracy is concerned to be a “good cop,” professional, by-the-book. The Spirit, as a justice-seeking vigilante, is less constrained.
But it appears that none of the players yet know what the game is. Somebody must be setting this up. Mayor Armstrong? —That is hard to believe. Diet Smith? —Seems improbable. Who?
Morrow Cummings almost 8 years ago
Will someone please tell me the significance of the kid? Is it The Spirit’s plaything? Should CPS be looking into this?
abdullahbaba999 almost 8 years ago
Some of us have to maintain Order!!
kantuck-nadie almost 8 years ago
@Neil Wick:
A very interesting post yesterday (28 Dec) about language. This year, I started to try to learn how to write my own Appalachian dialect in my stories, and I found quite an interesting thing; our dialect is more in line with 1800s Victorian English than modern.
But then we are more of a pre-modern culture vs the mainstream culture. You said that “As for whether regions are becoming more smaller and more distinct,” it may be. But it’s odd how Appalachian culture has kept their dialect of a pre-modern time for over 200+ years. Will it continue in the future despite mass media? I don’t believe so, what I hear I don’t write normally. Mine is definitely a modern, plus educated vocabulary, but once I’m back home, I can switch to the dialect within a few hours. It may just depend on when your speaking. I might be soundin like a idjit next ta one of yens eddicated fellas, but that there’s how we spoke back in the old days :)
It’s quite interesting, but also know this; at least the Appalachian native american tribes of the Cherokee are teaching culture and language within their schools now so that the children will be able to continue both in the future.