In his worst-ever act of mass murder, Dr. Mordred killed over five hundred Dick tracy fans this morning. They died laughing at the sight of his supervillain costume.
This statement was released by the TMS Art Director: “This tragedy is tragic,” Blind Pew told reporters. “We’ve just lost a third of our Dick Tracy readership, and that’s just the online fans.” Officials fear more losses when the morning editions roll off the presses.
In the face of the devastation, Dick Locher maintained his usual Calvinesque optimism. “It could be worse,” he said. “Fortunately everyone ignores my editorial cartoons.”
Panel 3: “It’s a high-risk operation. That’s why we need you, Dick.”
Poor Thick. It doesn’t get the hidden meaning behind Liz’s words. High risk means a good chance of getting killed. Liz is thinking to herself: “Maybe this time I’ll get rid of this jerk…”
Panel 1: Finally were getting this hot mess on the road!
Panel 2: Oh my gosh, they found a way to shrink The Iron Giant!
Panel 3: We get it! Its dangerous! Why arent you heading for the doors to get to work already? And why wont you tell me why you are bothering poor defenseless Dick with this?
They have to leave for Rivertown now, because the sheriff will deliver the Frog of Doom in an hour?
First, shouldn’t Horn Hair take a minute to outline the plan to everyone?
Second, if “the FBI” made the request, how did Dr. Mordred end up in a sheriff’s custody? That’s how Ted Bundy escaped after his first arrest. (And I guess Locher forgot that Froggy was already convicted and is on his way to a sentencing.)
Third, if crowds and assassins are a problem, how did the FBI deliver Mordred to the sheriff without trouble? Why didn’t they just take him directly to the Nappingville courthouse?
Pannel-Panner, I have to ask questions. Otherwise I laugh so hard I hyperventilate.
What if that isn’t really Dr. Mordred? What if he’s already escaped, and this arc is some deranged Locherian plot to let the Feds hide the embarrassing truth? That could be an FBI agent inside the costume! Thick gets alone with the Frog of Doom … the “prisoner” gets loose, knocks Thick unconscious … climbs out of the costume … calls for help, claiming he was following Thick and saw the escape …
Dick Tracy and Liz are local police. The sheriff is county police. At the federal level, they have marshals.
A bit of detail helps too, especially if you’re dealing with those of us from the neighborhood who know the local area. Wheaton, where the county jail and the sheriff’s office and most of our county offices here are located, isn’t fifty two miles away from Naperville. Try somewhere between five and ten miles, depending on which end of town we’re talking about (Naperville does cover quite a bit of land). Maybe you’re trying to get the sheriff from Lake County to deliver the prisoner??? Waukegan is about the right distance away. Problem: I’ve seen the county jail in Lake County (from the outside) and they mean business there. Assuming they had the prisoner there, why would they transport him some fifty miles to put him in a police station lock-up, which is far less secure than the county facilities are?
OK, fergit it. I suddenly realize I’m trying to get a handle on something that could make sense only on a really bad drug trip. Sorry.
Good points, all, about another quality Locher product.
US Marshals and their staff are used for this kind of thing, NOT local detectives, no matter how Dirty-Harryish they are. Lizz should know this; if not, she needs to resign and seek work in an elder hospice or something.
And, don’t tell me, Macy will be doing all this forthcoming escort/transfer service ALONE. This the guy who has fled screaming like a little girl from danger in numerous other quality Locher efforts over the past several years. How in the @$%& can a comic like My Cage be canceled and dreck like this survive?
Let’s not forget the most important part of this epic plan: the transportation! Thick must be given a vehicle that befits both his dignity and the gravity of the mission. Hitch up the Pig on Wheels!
What a burst of ” creativity ” by Dicky Locher on his way out !
Now, so many questions to ask …
1) Are the three (or is it 5?) “look alike” actors, going to wear similar costumes to confuse possible killers and potential rescuers ?
2) Will the Silver Surfer come gliding in, or does all this blinding rain portend that it will be Hydraman raising up from the waters to free him ?
3) Could it really be Dr. Ock behind that mask, armed with additional body arms to bypass the chains and so choke Tracy from behind ? - (told you Sam should have gone along - to ride ‘shotgun’)
4) And after Tracy is overpowered by all these powerful forces (this in not Johnny Nothing – he can’t just run away), will Spiderman come web swinging in to the rescue ?
With these astonishing developments ahead, remember Dicky Locher’s sound advice to his Fans … “Keep your Wrist Radios ’ tuned ‘..
And SimonPen must be estatic, perhaps he will do another pilgrimage to kiss Locher’s …? Dick Tracy stature in Naperville (?)
If Locher was dealing with the real world, he’d know better than to try this shell game with decoys. You know what would happen when all those cars and cops show up? Some civilian will get on his cell phone and call the local Action News station. “Hey, are they about to move the Frog of Doom?” After that TV crews show up and more people with cellphones catch the action. Someone will notice the famous Dick Tracy alone in a car with Mordred.
Whatever you feel about the role of the media in such a situation, that is what would happen. The only way to provide proper security would be with an armored Black Maria, carefully-selected departure and arrival points, enough police to keep potential shooters distant from the felon, a secured route and quick action.
i still can’t figure why this mordred is not in prison garb like any other prisoner. maybe he’s spacy’s twin and that’s why the feds want thick involved. anyway,
Bring back classic DT! Free Chester Gould! Gould Lives!
billdi, one ultra-lame explanation for the mask (aside from Locher’s ignorance and slovenly style) is to keep Thick and the other characters from realizing that the man in the armor and chains is not Froggy but a substitute.
Yesterday Dr. Mordred appeared to have the appearance of a medieval executioner in a suit of mail, today he looks like the Frog Prince in chains………Perhaps they’ll encounter a fire breathing dragon along the way…….
No wait – the Non-Human in the Leather Mask. That’s to make him inconspicuous.
I think he got hold of a cell phone (or used his non-human powers to build one out of a spoon, a bar of soap, toothpaste, etc.) and called the Naperville PD and used his non-human powers to talk to them in different voices and convince them to devote all their resources to helping him escape. He’s going to disguise several other prisoners (or guards he’s hypnotized) as decoys to fool the more intelligent police but he wants to make sure he goes with Dick Tracy because Tracy will be a pushover.
Dr. Frankenfurter is going home!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Xn-DWHuuM
No but seriously Locher, whats up with the silly get up? Is this some Silence Of The Lambs thing? Why is his face even covered up? Everyone knows its him.
And another thing. I see you want to cover the man up but could we at least get a decent looking outfit? This is atrocious.
One can easily see the dialogue that’ll be upcoming in the next dozen strips:
“The FBI wants you to help move the prisoner, Dick.”
“This is going to be a tricky situation.’
“We have to safely move the prisoner from point A to point B.”
“The prisoner is truly evil.”
“You’ve been requested to help on this case, Dick.”
“This maneuver will be difficult.”
“We have to move the prisoner without him being harmed.”
“The prisoner is truly evil.”
“The FBI needs your help, Dick.”
“We’ll have to use decoys for this move.”
“It’s important that this evil man not be harmed, so we’re going to put innocent decoys in harm’s way.”
One has to appreciate the original name “Rivertown” As they leave Rivertown, they’ll progress through Lakeville, into Flat Prairie, on to Deep Valley(where they’ll stop for lunch at the Hilltop Rest Area) and taking the by pass at Fruited Plain before meeting up with the diversion project at the Naperville city limits
Anthony2816, sadly I do believe youre correct. Im anxiously awaiting the dialogue once they meet Mordred. Surely Dick will scream and run before the man even says anything.
I still can’t figure out why they let the creature from the black lagoon aka Dr. Mordred keep his civilian clothes and chains while in prison. All the prisons I’ve ever been in require one to wear the standard garb for that particular prison.
Anthony 2816, I have to suspect that you have a “WikiLeaks” spy chip in Locher’s Studio, as he relates to wife Mary, the “Merry-Go-Round” mode of this new plot ! (?)
Your prognosis seems right on !
… or are you getting feedback from Jim Brozman’s comic shop ?
As long as it’s going to be a funny comic strip with extremely weird characters, this certainly doesn’t remotely compare to Brewster Rockit, a truly brilliant strip.
I think Mordred has paid off someone to put Spacy in charge. Why else would federal police put their top felon in the hands of a guy without eyes and teeth and who forgets that he carries a gun?
And to think he was once a force for good in our times:
http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/r/rocketmn.htm
Be afraid, Thick! It shows that even a superhero can turn to evil. It starts with simple things … running away from a villain … trying to keep ill-gotten thousand dollar bills … humming “Domo arigato Mr. Roboto” …
Rain, Sydney Phillips? Will the Frog of Doom spawn in the puddles? Is that the battle Thick must fight? But where else can the Frog of Doom reproduce? At home? He has no home! Hunted, despised, living like an animal! The jungle is his home! But he will show the world he can be its master! He will create a race of atomic superfrogs!
This comic strip only gets unimaginably worse with each new arc. Any “alleged” mass murderer would not be in jail wearing any kind of mask or chains. I don’t know why I keep reading this, except maybe to see the extremely low depths to which our culture has sunk. I’ll take SpongeBob Squarepants over this, or one of the best of all time, Ren and Stimpy. (And I mean it!)
FLIGHT SUIT about 14 years ago
OMG, they have a gimp!
FLIGHT SUIT about 14 years ago
Dick, I hope you’ve had all your shots, because we’re going to let you indulge in some high-risk activities with the gimp.
Panel-Panner about 14 years ago
Why is Doctor Mordred so evil?
He killed 11 people. So what. Bush and Cheney are responsible for a lot more than that.
They call Mordred “human debris” and “non-human.”
Well, anyone can call someone else any name they want. It doesn’t mean it’s true.
So how do we know Doctor Mordred is truly evil?
Simple. Count the number of times the chains are looped around him.
Boy, he is EVIL! And with a hood, to boot.
Panel-Panner about 14 years ago
Panel 2: Is that Doctor Mordred or Spider-Man’s most feared foe, Kinky Frogman?
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
DR. MORDRED KILLS AGAIN!!!
In his worst-ever act of mass murder, Dr. Mordred killed over five hundred Dick tracy fans this morning. They died laughing at the sight of his supervillain costume.
This statement was released by the TMS Art Director: “This tragedy is tragic,” Blind Pew told reporters. “We’ve just lost a third of our Dick Tracy readership, and that’s just the online fans.” Officials fear more losses when the morning editions roll off the presses.
In the face of the devastation, Dick Locher maintained his usual Calvinesque optimism. “It could be worse,” he said. “Fortunately everyone ignores my editorial cartoons.”
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
Froggy love daddy? Daddy love froggy!
margueritem about 14 years ago
You need Dick Tracy? What a pack of fools you are!
Aw, I like Dr. Mordred. I want to watch his face change each time we see him.
Panel-Panner about 14 years ago
Panel 3: “It’s a high-risk operation. That’s why we need you, Dick.”
Poor Thick. It doesn’t get the hidden meaning behind Liz’s words. High risk means a good chance of getting killed. Liz is thinking to herself: “Maybe this time I’ll get rid of this jerk…”
Midnite about 14 years ago
Panel 1: Finally were getting this hot mess on the road!
Panel 2: Oh my gosh, they found a way to shrink The Iron Giant!
Panel 3: We get it! Its dangerous! Why arent you heading for the doors to get to work already? And why wont you tell me why you are bothering poor defenseless Dick with this?
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
They have to leave for Rivertown now, because the sheriff will deliver the Frog of Doom in an hour?
First, shouldn’t Horn Hair take a minute to outline the plan to everyone?
Second, if “the FBI” made the request, how did Dr. Mordred end up in a sheriff’s custody? That’s how Ted Bundy escaped after his first arrest. (And I guess Locher forgot that Froggy was already convicted and is on his way to a sentencing.)
Third, if crowds and assassins are a problem, how did the FBI deliver Mordred to the sheriff without trouble? Why didn’t they just take him directly to the Nappingville courthouse?
Panel-Panner about 14 years ago
BillT:
You’re asking too many good questions. Stop it! Don’t be so critical (or just intelligent)! Just sit there and drool with fanboy glee like Simon Penn.
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
Pannel-Panner, I have to ask questions. Otherwise I laugh so hard I hyperventilate.
What if that isn’t really Dr. Mordred? What if he’s already escaped, and this arc is some deranged Locherian plot to let the Feds hide the embarrassing truth? That could be an FBI agent inside the costume! Thick gets alone with the Frog of Doom … the “prisoner” gets loose, knocks Thick unconscious … climbs out of the costume … calls for help, claiming he was following Thick and saw the escape …
gasp … wheeze …
mjmsprt40 about 14 years ago
Locher, don’t you pay attention to anything?????
Dick Tracy and Liz are local police. The sheriff is county police. At the federal level, they have marshals.
A bit of detail helps too, especially if you’re dealing with those of us from the neighborhood who know the local area. Wheaton, where the county jail and the sheriff’s office and most of our county offices here are located, isn’t fifty two miles away from Naperville. Try somewhere between five and ten miles, depending on which end of town we’re talking about (Naperville does cover quite a bit of land). Maybe you’re trying to get the sheriff from Lake County to deliver the prisoner??? Waukegan is about the right distance away. Problem: I’ve seen the county jail in Lake County (from the outside) and they mean business there. Assuming they had the prisoner there, why would they transport him some fifty miles to put him in a police station lock-up, which is far less secure than the county facilities are?
OK, fergit it. I suddenly realize I’m trying to get a handle on something that could make sense only on a really bad drug trip. Sorry.
btmosley about 14 years ago
Good points, all, about another quality Locher product.
US Marshals and their staff are used for this kind of thing, NOT local detectives, no matter how Dirty-Harryish they are. Lizz should know this; if not, she needs to resign and seek work in an elder hospice or something.
And, don’t tell me, Macy will be doing all this forthcoming escort/transfer service ALONE. This the guy who has fled screaming like a little girl from danger in numerous other quality Locher efforts over the past several years. How in the @$%& can a comic like My Cage be canceled and dreck like this survive?
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
Let’s not forget the most important part of this epic plan: the transportation! Thick must be given a vehicle that befits both his dignity and the gravity of the mission. Hitch up the Pig on Wheels!
JCFremont about 14 years ago
As a member of Slipknot, I’m sure that Mordred approves of being called a “despicable non-human.”
sydney about 14 years ago
That’s a costume right our of MARVEL COMICS !!!
What a burst of ” creativity ” by Dicky Locher on his way out !
Now, so many questions to ask …
1) Are the three (or is it 5?) “look alike” actors, going to wear similar costumes to confuse possible killers and potential rescuers ? 2) Will the Silver Surfer come gliding in, or does all this blinding rain portend that it will be Hydraman raising up from the waters to free him ? 3) Could it really be Dr. Ock behind that mask, armed with additional body arms to bypass the chains and so choke Tracy from behind ? - (told you Sam should have gone along - to ride ‘shotgun’) 4) And after Tracy is overpowered by all these powerful forces (this in not Johnny Nothing – he can’t just run away), will Spiderman come web swinging in to the rescue ?
With these astonishing developments ahead, remember Dicky Locher’s sound advice to his Fans … “Keep your Wrist Radios ’ tuned ‘..
And SimonPen must be estatic, perhaps he will do another pilgrimage to kiss Locher’s …? Dick Tracy stature in Naperville (?)
veldy about 14 years ago
Let’s see-there are supposed to be 3 decoy vehicles, what are they going to do, meet the real thing at the city limits?
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
If Locher was dealing with the real world, he’d know better than to try this shell game with decoys. You know what would happen when all those cars and cops show up? Some civilian will get on his cell phone and call the local Action News station. “Hey, are they about to move the Frog of Doom?” After that TV crews show up and more people with cellphones catch the action. Someone will notice the famous Dick Tracy alone in a car with Mordred.
Whatever you feel about the role of the media in such a situation, that is what would happen. The only way to provide proper security would be with an armored Black Maria, carefully-selected departure and arrival points, enough police to keep potential shooters distant from the felon, a secured route and quick action.
billdi Premium Member about 14 years ago
i still can’t figure why this mordred is not in prison garb like any other prisoner. maybe he’s spacy’s twin and that’s why the feds want thick involved. anyway, Bring back classic DT! Free Chester Gould! Gould Lives!
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
billdi, one ultra-lame explanation for the mask (aside from Locher’s ignorance and slovenly style) is to keep Thick and the other characters from realizing that the man in the armor and chains is not Froggy but a substitute.
moonmaid about 14 years ago
Yesterday Dr. Mordred appeared to have the appearance of a medieval executioner in a suit of mail, today he looks like the Frog Prince in chains………Perhaps they’ll encounter a fire breathing dragon along the way…….
CyberV about 14 years ago
Yes, because there’s NOBODY I can think of that’s a higher risk than Dick Tracy.
Araldite about 14 years ago
It’s a high risk operation only because of the cock’n bull plan they put together.
CougarAllen about 14 years ago
The Man in the Iron Mask!
No wait – the Non-Human in the Leather Mask. That’s to make him inconspicuous.
I think he got hold of a cell phone (or used his non-human powers to build one out of a spoon, a bar of soap, toothpaste, etc.) and called the Naperville PD and used his non-human powers to talk to them in different voices and convince them to devote all their resources to helping him escape. He’s going to disguise several other prisoners (or guards he’s hypnotized) as decoys to fool the more intelligent police but he wants to make sure he goes with Dick Tracy because Tracy will be a pushover.
Dr. Frankenfurter is going home! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Xn-DWHuuM
-Cougar :{)
Midnite about 14 years ago
No but seriously Locher, whats up with the silly get up? Is this some Silence Of The Lambs thing? Why is his face even covered up? Everyone knows its him.
And another thing. I see you want to cover the man up but could we at least get a decent looking outfit? This is atrocious.
riley05 about 14 years ago
One can easily see the dialogue that’ll be upcoming in the next dozen strips:
“The FBI wants you to help move the prisoner, Dick.” “This is going to be a tricky situation.’ “We have to safely move the prisoner from point A to point B.” “The prisoner is truly evil.” “You’ve been requested to help on this case, Dick.” “This maneuver will be difficult.” “We have to move the prisoner without him being harmed.” “The prisoner is truly evil.” “The FBI needs your help, Dick.” “We’ll have to use decoys for this move.” “It’s important that this evil man not be harmed, so we’re going to put innocent decoys in harm’s way.”
I can easily see this going on until January.
MisngNOLA about 14 years ago
Aircraft-eng, you beat me to the punch. I was just going to say this will all be a setup for Monday Night RAW.
veldy about 14 years ago
One has to appreciate the original name “Rivertown” As they leave Rivertown, they’ll progress through Lakeville, into Flat Prairie, on to Deep Valley(where they’ll stop for lunch at the Hilltop Rest Area) and taking the by pass at Fruited Plain before meeting up with the diversion project at the Naperville city limits
Midnite about 14 years ago
Anthony2816, sadly I do believe youre correct. Im anxiously awaiting the dialogue once they meet Mordred. Surely Dick will scream and run before the man even says anything.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 14 years ago
I still can’t figure out why they let the creature from the black lagoon aka Dr. Mordred keep his civilian clothes and chains while in prison. All the prisons I’ve ever been in require one to wear the standard garb for that particular prison.
Groundzero about 14 years ago
I thought The Creature From The Black Lagoon was killed by Richard Carlson in 1954.
sydney about 14 years ago
Anthony 2816, I have to suspect that you have a “WikiLeaks” spy chip in Locher’s Studio, as he relates to wife Mary, the “Merry-Go-Round” mode of this new plot ! (?)
Your prognosis seems right on !
… or are you getting feedback from Jim Brozman’s comic shop ?
OldTracy about 14 years ago
As long as it’s going to be a funny comic strip with extremely weird characters, this certainly doesn’t remotely compare to Brewster Rockit, a truly brilliant strip.
OldTracy about 14 years ago
I think Mordred has paid off someone to put Spacy in charge. Why else would federal police put their top felon in the hands of a guy without eyes and teeth and who forgets that he carries a gun?
thejensens about 14 years ago
“high risk operation” The high risk here is Tracy being invoved.
BASSMANBOB6 about 14 years ago
Dr. Mordred in action
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 14 years ago
I love it, Bassmanbob6, but where are the chains?
BASSMANBOB6 about 14 years ago
Hey VistaBill, he must have dropped them when he picked up the girl.
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
VistaBill, the chains were there in “The Revenge of the Creature.:”
http://www.wrongsideoftheart.com/wp-content/gallery/stills/revengeof_creature03.jpg
Locher’s version looks more like “The Revenge of Mr. Magoo.”
(You’ll have to insert an underscore between “revenge” and “of.”)
BASSMANBOB6 about 14 years ago
Thanks Bill!
Poor Dr. Mordred is alway’s misunderstood.
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
And to think he was once a force for good in our times:
http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/r/rocketmn.htm
Be afraid, Thick! It shows that even a superhero can turn to evil. It starts with simple things … running away from a villain … trying to keep ill-gotten thousand dollar bills … humming “Domo arigato Mr. Roboto” …
Bill Thompson about 14 years ago
Rain, Sydney Phillips? Will the Frog of Doom spawn in the puddles? Is that the battle Thick must fight? But where else can the Frog of Doom reproduce? At home? He has no home! Hunted, despised, living like an animal! The jungle is his home! But he will show the world he can be its master! He will create a race of atomic superfrogs!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Tor_Johnson.jpg
goodyart about 14 years ago
This comic strip only gets unimaginably worse with each new arc. Any “alleged” mass murderer would not be in jail wearing any kind of mask or chains. I don’t know why I keep reading this, except maybe to see the extremely low depths to which our culture has sunk. I’ll take SpongeBob Squarepants over this, or one of the best of all time, Ren and Stimpy. (And I mean it!)
Wiseking about 14 years ago
Gee the character in panel 2 looks like some sort of robot from outer space…I would be careful there Thick!