Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 26, 2019

Good morning™, rats and “rattesses”!

Well, they’re surrounded and outnumbered now, so I guess that’s the end of that. Clybourne the crow isn’t going anywhere after all.

Looks like the end of the road for Splitface and Clybourne #2…

@HarryCK

I don’t strike a pose, I strike posers! But today being Christmas, I won’t strike you. ☮

That hippy sign saved your bacon, buddy.

@HarryCK

Being alone at this time of year can be depressing. I hope you’re OK. I on the other hand:

I’m quite happy to be alone

There’s no one I’m missing

There are no lips I’m kissing.

Sounds like how I live. Was on the phone to some and had a visit with upstairs neighbor lady with some gifting done. All in all a good day.

Good morning™, wide eyed stooges !

Splitt’s may have a degree of cool about the situation but Cly clearly looks startled.

Little does Mike know that one of Split Face’s goons is sneaking up behind him.

Really, Split Face? You were expecting the alligator to eat all four men? He’s a alligator, not a dinosaur!

If Nomad just needs A Little Help From His Friends, then I have a few questions:

Do you neeeed any-body? “I need some backup for once.”

Could it beeee any-body? “I’d take Sam Catchem, that dunce.”

Have you achieved a big bust here tonight? “Yes, I’m certain that we’ve stopped another crime.”

You were deceived though, and that’s not too bright. “Got ‘plot armor’, so I know I’m fine.”

Oh, I get by…

Good Morning™, Cornered Rats!

Hey Nomad, you really know to “get by”! (song reference)

Finally the rats are caught!!! Now arrest them both and call it a day!!!

“You’re the jerk”

Ye Gads, you can’t make this dialogue up!

Unless there’s a post Christmas miracle that somehow salvages this mess of a story can we all agree it’s best to simply forget this ever existed and hope that 2020 brings a renewed determination by team tracy to put out stories up to the caliber they’re capable of?

Unless they can’t anymore. Sometimes the well runs dry.

Shoot him now

1-CLUELESS: HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! I got you covered.

2-GRANDPA: Well it looks like we have us a little standoff here because I got YOU covered!

SHADY: Grandpa! That’s your finger!

GRANDPA: What? Oh…DON’T MAKE ME PULL THIS!

SHADY: Nice recovery Grandpa.

3-CLUELESS: Don’t make a move unless you want to meet my 9 leetle friends. I know what you’re thinking. Did he shoot 8 or 9 times. Well did I Punk? Wait. Did I load this thing? Well, did I, punk?

Queue in Beatles’ music here.

“What do you see when you turn out the light?” “Two bad guys all set for doing time.”

Is it over yet?

How far away is Clybourne as the crow flies?

Looks like this case is a wrap. Tulza a.k.a Splitface has appeared three times? And the unspoken commentators chanted “lock him up”. To Staton and Curtis…it’s time for a new rogues gallery of crooks. “Recycled ones” such as the current character have worn out their welcome. Tracyville can certainly feature episodes like television crime dramas. What no street gang issues in Tracyville? Been more than a minute since a good who done it murder was featured in this strip. 2020 will soon be here, ain’t it time for an upgrade?

You’ve done well, Nomad! —Especially since the Criminal Masterminds didn’t bother to relieve you of your weapon when they trussed you up as ’gator chow. And now Tracy (as it seems) is looming in the background, also armed. Clybourne is clueless and Splitface is helpless (unless he talks everyone to death)….