I can take Blackjack or leave him. It seems to me that a lunatic who wears a flamboyant zoot suit, has a highly identifiable look with his pop eyes, and blasts loud music wherever he goes. It doesn’t seem like he’s be that hard to find. I’d start looking in places that sell Tracy memorabilia.
Have you noticed how many stories lately have involved fandom in some manner? I believe that writers should write about the things they know but I think Mike has been attending too many cosplay, furry animal, and comic conventions. Even two of my favorite creations by Mike, Silver and Sprocket, were motivated by their fandom of old movies.
Bank robbery is a federal crime out of Tracy’s jurisdiction. What happened to solving local murders or rounding up drug dealers or solving cold-cases or any number of other crimes within Tracy’s jurisdiction? (Where did all of the skulls come from in Sweatbox’s family tomb?) What happened to greedy sinister villains who want to keep a low profile requiring our detectives to do some detecting?
“Who is Baby Doll?” That question should be “Who was Baby Doll?”
“Baby Doll” was a female “child” actor turned villain (uh, villianess) from Batman: The Animated Series. She appeared in the title episode Baby Doll and the episode Love is a Croc as well as having a cameo as a doll toy (actually a bomb) in the Christmas episode Invasion of the Secret Santas in Batman, The Brave & The Bold.
So when I jokingly asked “I’m surprised he doesn’t have Baby Doll”, that’s who I meant. Hope that clears things up.
A few days ago a reader inquired if there was any site on the Internet where DT could be read from the beginning. The Chicago Tribune archives are available online up to Jan. 1991. “The Tribune first printed the strip March 22, 1932. It had appeared before that in October, 1931, in the short-lived Detroit Mirror.” So that’s a lot of DT available.
Ray Toler and others: Shout out to whoever said, yesterday, that Blackjack belongs in 1960s Batman. I think I said something similar when Blackjack first showed up, that this is starting to look more and more like 1960s Batman. “Banks that deserve it” pretty much says it all.
That said, I think I also tipped my hat to the first year 1960s Batman, some episodes which might have even been a bit scary. Remember Riddler? Wearing that elephant shaped gas mask? It seemed that the first Tim Burton Michael Keaton film stole that scene. I was a bit younger then, and that first year, not everything in Batman was funny…
I generally agree with some of the sentiments expressed today. While Mike has shown he can write some really first-rate stories, too often (especially lately) he seems a little too focused on elements like comic books, cons, collectibles, & such, in a way turning the strip into exercises in infantilization. Like today, seeing an allegedly grown-man playing with a doll. Mike, please, go back to your strengths. Gould-created villains, repurposed for the 21st century, in tight, self-contained stories. You can do it!
I like today’s additional insight into Blackjack’s psycho psyche. Perish the Paragon that picks on a Plenty! But I agree that this blatant fandom-based targeting should make it easier for Tracy and the MCU to predict Blackjack’s crime-spree pattern and be prepared to make a collar soon!
(At that point, I look for some plot twist that will allow Blackjack to escape/skate once more….)
AnyFace over 7 years ago
“This time, it’s personal~!!”
Rod Gonzalez over 7 years ago
I have to admit Blackjack does have some integrity.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 7 years ago
His outcomes may be good but his means are down right criminal.
AnyFace over 7 years ago
“Winston thinks, but Blackjack knows …”
“… a bank should pay out what it owes.”
“And if it doesn’t, he’ll be back …”
“… to stuff said earnings in his sack.”
AnyFace over 7 years ago
“Nickels! Dimes! Tens and Twenties!”
“That’s what you lose when you mess with the Plentys.”
Paragon Bank, they’ve a debt left to pay …"
“… and here to collect it? It’s Blackjack! Oi Vey!”
AnyFace over 7 years ago
“It’s sometimes been said, boys should not play with dolls.”
“Most mobsters, they’d much rather mess with their molls.”
“Though collectors agree, if the grade is ‘Near-Mint’ …”
“… keep it safely in storage: Take that as a hint.”
AnyFace over 7 years ago
Yup.
Think that about covers it.
Lyons Group, Inc. over 7 years ago
Good Morning, everyone! Good Saturday Morning, that is!
Ignatz Premium Member over 7 years ago
Blackjack: The hero we need.
Ray Toler over 7 years ago
I can take Blackjack or leave him. It seems to me that a lunatic who wears a flamboyant zoot suit, has a highly identifiable look with his pop eyes, and blasts loud music wherever he goes. It doesn’t seem like he’s be that hard to find. I’d start looking in places that sell Tracy memorabilia.
Have you noticed how many stories lately have involved fandom in some manner? I believe that writers should write about the things they know but I think Mike has been attending too many cosplay, furry animal, and comic conventions. Even two of my favorite creations by Mike, Silver and Sprocket, were motivated by their fandom of old movies.
Bank robbery is a federal crime out of Tracy’s jurisdiction. What happened to solving local murders or rounding up drug dealers or solving cold-cases or any number of other crimes within Tracy’s jurisdiction? (Where did all of the skulls come from in Sweatbox’s family tomb?) What happened to greedy sinister villains who want to keep a low profile requiring our detectives to do some detecting?
OMG, I think I’m starting to sound like Morrow.
tripwire45 over 7 years ago
At some level that probably includes a lot of banks.
Lyons Group, Inc. over 7 years ago
NEIL Ask Josh Lyons (your truly) Yesterday:
“Who is Baby Doll?” That question should be “Who was Baby Doll?”
“Baby Doll” was a female “child” actor turned villain (uh, villianess) from Batman: The Animated Series. She appeared in the title episode Baby Doll and the episode Love is a Croc as well as having a cameo as a doll toy (actually a bomb) in the Christmas episode Invasion of the Secret Santas in Batman, The Brave & The Bold.
So when I jokingly asked “I’m surprised he doesn’t have Baby Doll”, that’s who I meant. Hope that clears things up.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ over 7 years ago
Happy Saturday all!
ZZZZZzzzzz. Late start.
ssledge over 7 years ago
A few days ago a reader inquired if there was any site on the Internet where DT could be read from the beginning. The Chicago Tribune archives are available online up to Jan. 1991. “The Tribune first printed the strip March 22, 1932. It had appeared before that in October, 1931, in the short-lived Detroit Mirror.” So that’s a lot of DT available.
Cheapskate0 over 7 years ago
Ray Toler and others: Shout out to whoever said, yesterday, that Blackjack belongs in 1960s Batman. I think I said something similar when Blackjack first showed up, that this is starting to look more and more like 1960s Batman. “Banks that deserve it” pretty much says it all.
Cheapskate0 over 7 years ago
That said, I think I also tipped my hat to the first year 1960s Batman, some episodes which might have even been a bit scary. Remember Riddler? Wearing that elephant shaped gas mask? It seemed that the first Tim Burton Michael Keaton film stole that scene. I was a bit younger then, and that first year, not everything in Batman was funny…
BreathlessMahoney77 over 7 years ago
I generally agree with some of the sentiments expressed today. While Mike has shown he can write some really first-rate stories, too often (especially lately) he seems a little too focused on elements like comic books, cons, collectibles, & such, in a way turning the strip into exercises in infantilization. Like today, seeing an allegedly grown-man playing with a doll. Mike, please, go back to your strengths. Gould-created villains, repurposed for the 21st century, in tight, self-contained stories. You can do it!
Sisyphos over 7 years ago
I like today’s additional insight into Blackjack’s psycho psyche. Perish the Paragon that picks on a Plenty! But I agree that this blatant fandom-based targeting should make it easier for Tracy and the MCU to predict Blackjack’s crime-spree pattern and be prepared to make a collar soon!
(At that point, I look for some plot twist that will allow Blackjack to escape/skate once more….)