A screw? When was this a plot point in the story? Obviously people in Tracyville know about the Screwy bandit but we in the real world have been deprived of this information.
We wonder how Roboto can be such a “screw” ball. I mean, he’s lured a super-powered alien chick to his house and handcuffed her to a chair. What now, man? But it hit me yesterday that that fits exactly with Vitamin’s play.
In Metropolis, Futura the seductress makes men go wild with desire, lose their minds, and do crazy stuff. Exactly what is going on with Roboto. Granted, he’s a clever if audacious criminal, but he also has a steady job, has been careful enough to avoid capture, and even seems to have a bit of a conscience. But one look at Mysta on stage, and now he’s gone completely off the rails, thinking that the character she’s playing will fall in love with him if he kidnaps the actress playing her and holds her against her will? Exactly. Futura has driven him bonkers with desire. Art imitating life, imitating art, or something like that.
I don’t recall that bit about leaving a phillips head screw behind before either. But ti sounds to me to be something that Tracy would want to keep inside the squad. So how would Mysta know about it?
It’s his trademark,all right.He’s got a screw loose.Like DICK TRACY tries only once and then gives up.Curtis&Staton have tried to show that the villains in the strip at least have SOME brains.But I missthe Gouldian phrase NON COMPIS MENTIS!!,which would come out whenever a bad guy pulled a boner(which was often).The English translation is “soggy cornflakes for brains”.
Oh, and by the way… dont you just LOVE it when mike decides to throw in details later on that in reality SHOULD have been in the “case file” on Roboto to begin with? One would think that a bank robber (which, by the way he ISNT!) leaving a “calling card” at the scenes of his robberies would be mentioned in his profile, however thin it may have been to begin with.
On top of THAT… we have never EVER seen him leave a phillips head screw at ANY scene whatsoever
Ten bucks says that the reveal is gonna his name is Phillip Head.. or Killroy Phillips
Mysta’s eyes aren’t drawn as big as they used to be. I don’t like it. Now, except for the horns, she looks like everyone else. The huge eyes were part of the Moon Maid look.
I had not read Dick Tracy in years. I remember Mood Maiden entering the strip using Diet Smith’s space ship, but that’s about the last. Who is the lady with the antennae, and what are the sparks coming from them. Also, what are her “Lunar powers”? Somedy catch me up on what was once one of my favorite strips.
I’ll add my two cents about this suddenly appearing screw. What a perfect opportunity to show Tracy finding a screw at the various crime scenes, and following up at hardware stores, manufacturing companies, etc. Instead we find out about it from someone who shouldn’t know anything about it herself, like it was an afterthought thrown into the story. (Sigh!)
Honestly, I don’t think Roboto’s “calling card” is a self-acknowledgement that he’s screwy so much as a “screw you!” to the cops, who can’t [so far] catch him.How Mysta came to know about this when we (with the author’s full storyline up to this point available to us) did not is one of those painful moments in Mike’s “on the fly” composing.
However screwy Mr. Roboto may be, he really should take Mysta’s admonition (panel 3) more seriously….
AnyFace almost 5 years ago
Neil Wick almost 5 years ago
Good morning™, calling card readers!
I knew he was screwy, but I wonder why he leaves a Phillips head screw. That has me puzzled.
Dick Tracy will get him yet, one way or another! That other time was only a minor setback.
wallylm almost 5 years ago
(Metal) X marks the spot? :-p
yumpinyiminey almost 5 years ago
Did we learn about the Phillip’s head screw thing before today?
artsyguy65 almost 5 years ago
For the want of a screw, his marbles were lost…
seanyj almost 5 years ago
I bet Honeymoon will sense that Moon Maid’s in trouble and lead Tracy to her location to rescue her.
Ray Toler almost 5 years ago
A screw? When was this a plot point in the story? Obviously people in Tracyville know about the Screwy bandit but we in the real world have been deprived of this information.
Ray Toler almost 5 years ago
His real name is probably Phillip Head.
BigDaveGlass almost 5 years ago
Would have thought a bolt would have been more appropriate rather than a wood screw…..
Gent almost 5 years ago
A screw? I thought a nut represented you better.
AngeloVentura almost 5 years ago
That’s screwy!
yumpinyiminey almost 5 years ago
We wonder how Roboto can be such a “screw” ball. I mean, he’s lured a super-powered alien chick to his house and handcuffed her to a chair. What now, man? But it hit me yesterday that that fits exactly with Vitamin’s play.
In Metropolis, Futura the seductress makes men go wild with desire, lose their minds, and do crazy stuff. Exactly what is going on with Roboto. Granted, he’s a clever if audacious criminal, but he also has a steady job, has been careful enough to avoid capture, and even seems to have a bit of a conscience. But one look at Mysta on stage, and now he’s gone completely off the rails, thinking that the character she’s playing will fall in love with him if he kidnaps the actress playing her and holds her against her will? Exactly. Futura has driven him bonkers with desire. Art imitating life, imitating art, or something like that.
tripwire45 almost 5 years ago
So now that he’s got her, what’s he going to do with her? He can’t keep her handcuffed to a chair forever.
L Silverman almost 5 years ago
I guess there are so many robbers in robot masks running around that Roboto has to leave a screw to sign his crimes….
WilliamVollmer almost 5 years ago
I don’t recall that bit about leaving a phillips head screw behind before either. But ti sounds to me to be something that Tracy would want to keep inside the squad. So how would Mysta know about it?
Major Matt Mason Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Q: What do you call vodka and milk of magnesia?
A: A Phillips Screwdriver.
jrankin1959 almost 5 years ago
It’s kind of my calling card; other people leave a ball next to it, though… don’t know why…
kantuck-nadie almost 5 years ago
He’s definitely screw-y
iggyman almost 5 years ago
He’s screwy, Louie!
iggyman almost 5 years ago
Will that get Tracy “Torqued off”
iggyman almost 5 years ago
She is lookin’ good again today!
rickmac1937 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Tracy always gets his man / screwball
Gerard:D almost 5 years ago
Anyone knows where in the world is HarryCK? Is he in a cruise around the world? I hope he is OK.
Kip W almost 5 years ago
It’s to divert suspicion, because why would a robot drop a wood screw?
Another Take almost 5 years ago
I missed a couple of days. Did HarryCK leave an explanation for his disappearance? Where is he?
Another Take almost 5 years ago
1-HANDLES: I want no part of your costume themed restaurant so let me go. NOW!
2-KABUKI: OR…we could…here’s a hint…
3-HANDLES: Really? Has that ever worked for you and if so did you find yourself unexpectedly paying money at the end of the ‘date’?
KABUKI: Wow! It’s like you’re in my head!
passthejelly almost 5 years ago
It’s his trademark,all right.He’s got a screw loose.Like DICK TRACY tries only once and then gives up.Curtis&Staton have tried to show that the villains in the strip at least have SOME brains.But I missthe Gouldian phrase NON COMPIS MENTIS!!,which would come out whenever a bad guy pulled a boner(which was often).The English translation is “soggy cornflakes for brains”.
tsull2121 almost 5 years ago
Probably because he’s got a screw loose.
Oh, and by the way… dont you just LOVE it when mike decides to throw in details later on that in reality SHOULD have been in the “case file” on Roboto to begin with? One would think that a bank robber (which, by the way he ISNT!) leaving a “calling card” at the scenes of his robberies would be mentioned in his profile, however thin it may have been to begin with.
On top of THAT… we have never EVER seen him leave a phillips head screw at ANY scene whatsoever
Ten bucks says that the reveal is gonna his name is Phillip Head.. or Killroy Phillips
CynthiaLeigh almost 5 years ago
Mysta’s eyes aren’t drawn as big as they used to be. I don’t like it. Now, except for the horns, she looks like everyone else. The huge eyes were part of the Moon Maid look.
buckman-j almost 5 years ago
First mention of this “calling card” out of the blue. Bad enough, but how does Mysta know this? Sloppy & disconnected to any previous info
McGehee almost 5 years ago
Riiiiight — because he only gets one try, and if he fails he’s given a lifetime supply of Alpo and sent offstage to make room for the next challenger…
LeeAkersSr. almost 5 years ago
I had not read Dick Tracy in years. I remember Mood Maiden entering the strip using Diet Smith’s space ship, but that’s about the last. Who is the lady with the antennae, and what are the sparks coming from them. Also, what are her “Lunar powers”? Somedy catch me up on what was once one of my favorite strips.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 5 years ago
The colorist wanted Futura to be fully robotic looking instead of exotic dancer with lots of skin showing as other colorists have done.
1MadHat Premium Member almost 5 years ago
A fully tapered screw?
Constantinepaleologos almost 5 years ago
Better than leaving the sink running, I suppose.
Ken in Ohio almost 5 years ago
I’ll add my two cents about this suddenly appearing screw. What a perfect opportunity to show Tracy finding a screw at the various crime scenes, and following up at hardware stores, manufacturing companies, etc. Instead we find out about it from someone who shouldn’t know anything about it herself, like it was an afterthought thrown into the story. (Sigh!)
Sisyphos almost 5 years ago
Honestly, I don’t think Roboto’s “calling card” is a self-acknowledgement that he’s screwy so much as a “screw you!” to the cops, who can’t [so far] catch him.How Mysta came to know about this when we (with the author’s full storyline up to this point available to us) did not is one of those painful moments in Mike’s “on the fly” composing.
However screwy Mr. Roboto may be, he really should take Mysta’s admonition (panel 3) more seriously….
Maximara almost 5 years ago
Interesting development though I really hope they don’t go the lazy route and have Mr Roboto turnout to be some nobody named Kilroy (Or Yorlik)