Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for March 14, 2019

Good morning™, techies!

It seems they have extra copies of hi-tech devices to spare. Maybe that’s the wrist device they loaned to Vitamin Flintheart in the last story.

Good morning™, outside undercover helpers !

Another pair of eyes with added deductive reasoning is always welcome at times like this even if all he can do is call it in.

I just miss the slick futuristic new design. Police at least have radios on their person.

they usually end up needing them, too….

I want to see the serial killer. I’m curious.

No spare mugs?

It helps to be able to communicate with the Tracy squad when needed!!!

Golly Gee Mr. Wilson!

Was I ever wrong about the strip!

Today is filled with excitement, suspense and anticipation!!

“Already have an I-Watch; half the size, twice the the features.”

Neil Wick about 6 hours ago@avenger09I really doubt that any comment would be removed simply because it was critical of the strip.

It’s cute to see the naiveness of the children.

And, here is the user’s guide. It’s only as long as the latest court decisions book.

I see he os only getting a “Wrist Radio” as a loaner, as opposed to one of the “Wrist Wizard” devices

TRACY: “Here Joe, even tho we’ve got nothing against throwing you into the line of fire, we can’t LEGALLY deputize you, but we CAN throw you one of this ‘lovely consolation prizes’ that we have laying around here. Apparently, since he got out of the time travel/moon travel business, Diet Smith has been mass producing these things like unattended rabbits. We can’t get rid of them fast enough.”

JOE: “Gee thanks Tracy, this will look great on my wrist, it’s almost like I’m official. Hey, by the way… what kind of battery does this thing run on? I don’t want any suspicious melanomas on my wrist when i go home.. if i make it home that is.”

TRACY: “Joe… don’t ask questions youre not prepared to hear the answers for. Just take our word for it, these things are fantastic. Well, unless we gave you a non-working model… but hey, we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.”

SAM: “Hey Joe… want a cup of… yourself?”

“LIZZ: "Don’t mind me guys.. I’ll just sit here filing my nails until you have some use for me.

LEE EBONY: “Lizz, youre joking right? I’ve been on vacation for almost a freakin’ YEAR now.. ain’t nobody noticed i’m not around anymore?”

JOHNNY (THE MAN) ADONIS: “Really Lee?”

Joe is a tried and true cop that Tracy knows personally. Why can’t they give him official status? Perhaps because he came on his own time? But why was it necessary for him to take a leave of absence to continue a case that started in his own jurisdiction? None of this makes very much sense, and it’s all pretty much preliminary to the main story anyway.

Joe is chasing a serial killer, that chase brings him to Tracy’s city, and Joe has a history with Tracy’s daughter Bonnie. This has the possibility of being a real good story.

what I don’t get is the lack of ‘officisal status’ and how he’s on a leave of absence etc.

Congra

Congratulations Joe, Mike, and Team Tracy —on your eighth year anniversary. Thanks for a great run.

After this strip I have this urge to grab a coffee cup!

Alternative Script: 1) Check it out Tracy; Most Coolest Underling. 2) Big deal. My mug’s letters stand for Most Competent…(coming from outside the panel) THIS IS A STICK UP! Gimme your valuables. 3) Tracy: Dag. Not again! Criminal: Yeah, maybe you should fix the cell door locks. What? Another one a these crummy watches?!?!?

I also like how the story is progressing !

I love the developing backstory which is tying up “fragments and loose ends” and integrating them into the main story as well as offering possible resolutions for the “sub plots”… ( Bonnie and Joe Sampson, etc. )

Just in case youre keeping track…. February 15th and 16th is the ONLY time we’ve seen the “serial killer” in this story… so its going on a MONTH since they intro’d this storyline

So anywhere Det. Tracy goes, he’s THE LAW, but cops from other cities have no pull in his?

Haha, love the comments on the story. Agreed. Can I just comment on the imagery/beauty of the three panels? Super job.

Sam looks totally unimpressed.

What kind of official status was offered to The Spirit?

Stay in touch, Joe.

Right; sure will, Tracy!

—So, now Joe “Unofficial” Sampson has the unofficial support of the MCU. —Actually, I think the somewhat confusing issue is that Joe still has his Yakima Police powers but is On Leave from them, while Tracy is not authorized to hand out Tracyville Police Powers. Only the Superintendent (Chief Patton?) or the Mayor can do that….