Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for March 21, 2011

Again, there is nothing I can make fun of.

:-(

Prophetic words…

I was only 6 years old when Flyface was around.

Fill me in, those of who remember the story

What is it between Lizz and Flyface that seems to have irked her.

Also, a good start to the week.

No repetition, the story moving on, what more can we ask for???

Yeah, Flight Suit, the best I can do is that Friday’s front page news now appears to be on the inside pages. It just ain’t like the bad old days. I think marvee is right and this is a clue about the new mystery.

Tomorrow, will it turn out that Flyface has just stepped through the door or has appeared on a TV screen?

(Oh, yeah, Friday’s panel #2 makes it seem that Dick sees the headline on the back page–which would make sense if Sam also handed him a copy of Daily Forward.)

Totally off topic personal spam:

The April 2011 issue of “Star Wars Insider” just hit the newsstands, and on page 75 you’ll find a photo that I submitted!

Check it out:

http://tinyurl.com/4s534gg

safeway674 said, 2 minutes ago

No repetition, the story moving on, what more can we ask for??? ——————-

Yes! I remember wondering yesterday whether they would keep the practice of having the daily strip repeat the Sunday strip, which itself repeats the previous week’s dailies.

Thank God, that practice has been put to rest!

Nice photo, Brendan. I was 20 something when the first Star Wars came out.

On Sunday, only 2 panels did a recap of Chief Patton returning after that, the story continued.

We will know by next weekend if this is how the Sunday format will be.

A little of the old and just enough new to keep you interested.

I am sure there are many people who have skipped the Sunday edition because there was never anything new in it.

margueritem said a few minutes ago -

“Prophetic words…..”

This reminds me of an email I received recently.

I read online that a guy just started his own business, making landmines that look like prayer mats and selling them in the Middle East.

His company is doing very, very well.

He said:

PROPHETS

are going through the roof…

——————————————-

Vista Bill - your late tonight!!!

As to Fly-Face, here is what I found about him at http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Ultimate-Classic-Comics-Strips–II-71500.html

“Flyface. Flyface, a disgusting looking villian with an Elvis Presley-like hair-doo, had a swarm of flies constantly buzzing around his face. If that wasn’t bad enough, Flyface also had a sweet little old mother, who also had the swarm. Also in this loathsome family was his little nephew, named Little Doc, who looked a little like the character Dondi with glasses, who was also teeming with flies. Although grotesque, these characters were very humorous.”

Evidently this character grossed out so many when it was introduced in 1959 that a large number of newspapers dropped the strip.

The art gets simpler and blander as the days pass…

Just a reminder that I’ve done a Granary collage! ;)

http://marmelmm.deviantart.com/art/The-Granary-201632327

MMM, I checked it out, and it is really cool.

safeway674 said, “Vista Bill - your late tonight!!!”

Thanks for noticing, safeway674. I went to bed early. Here on the east coast, it’s 1:15 am when the comics are posted. BTW, really liked your humor.

Good morning all…

M. Mitchell Marmel said, “Just a reminder that I’ve done a Granary collage! ;)”

I like it!

One thing I notice is that there are only 15 comments so far this morning. Usually there’ve been about 25 or so by this time. I’m guessing that the improved quality of the strip is going to result in a diminished number of comments each day.

Gee, I guess giving readers an improved comic strip will mean fewer comments - no surprise since most seemed to be complaints about the strip’s quality.

That’s just fine by me. I’ve just come back to reading Tracy after years of avoiding it.

Joe & Mike - I love the art and story. I haven’t looked forward to reading Dick Tracy since Max Allen Collins’ tenure.

Keep up the great work!

There seem to be about as many comments now as before It Happened. There’s just less criticism.

And I think I’ve guessed the song Lizz may sing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUuXmZa5kLI

The Granary Collage is weirdly compelling, almost Warhol-esque. I suggest it for inclusion in the Locher Wing of the Museum of Modern Art, along with another series on the Mighty Morphin Power Pacer.

What I notice is thankfully there is more conversation and sharing about past characters and story lines and how they may help provide backstory to what is about to unfold.

Sunday I actually hit the computer to see Tracy before toddling downstairs to read the printed comics with my morning coffee!

A deep and sincere thanks to Joe and Mike!

Does the headline refer to an actual past DT story, and if so, does that signal that this is happening immediately after that story (wiping out all the years of continuity in between)? Or is it something that happened “off-stage” but it somehow related to the Fly-Face story? Hmmmmm…

JonahHex said: “Also in this loathsome family was his little nephew, named Little Doc, who looked a little like the character Dondi with glasses”

Man, I haven’t thought of Dondi in years…. used to read that strip when I was little.

Relatively new to gocomics, but Dick Tracy fan since ’50s. I missed the Pig On Wheels. Can someone please link me to the image? Thanks.

Amazing strip, again. In a only week we have again a great strip! Dick Tracy is back!!!

I missed a day and actually had to catch up! Too bad about Thistle Dew! Where is Junior?

I hope when Junior shows up that he looks like the Gould version not Locher’s.

Safeway, Lizz may not be irked at the mention of Flyface’s name as much as she remembers their first encounter. Lizz was responsible for the death of The Fifth’s brother, Halfa Millyun. Fifth put out a contract on her and Flyface was part of the gang. Flyface was also the first member Tracy was introduced to. By the way, Flyface’s real name is Felixweather Limpp, but not everyone remembers that. Another little-known fact is that Fifth did show his entire face on a number of strips during this run. It can all be found in Blackthorne’s Dick Tracy books #69-73. You may be able to find them at Spec Productions. Hope that answers some of your questions.

Never fear, Dakota,Junior will be back and looking like the old Junior and not the Max Collins version.

Dyl K said: about 13 hours ago The art gets simpler and blander as the days pass…

I respectfully take exception to that idea, considering the low quality that this classic strip suffered through for such a long period. Staton’s art, which is not only amongst the best seen here. But those of us who are well past 35 will recognized his cartoon artistry from decades ago. He’s still got it, and hasn’t shown signs of stagnation unlike most artist half his age. He’s 63 for crying out loud. And as far as today’s minimal backgrounds, I’d just chalk it up to meeting his deadline and getting up to speed. Let’s see the Gen-X whiners try and compete with that. Once again I’m not flaming here, just respectfully disagreeing.

Also… I love how he’s put Tracy in shadow, seeing his classic profile restored to proper visage. He doesn’t dominant the scene, you know he’s there and it’s his strip. But Sam and Lizz are allowed to have there exchange without him overpowering the scene. Okay I’ll shut up now.

BillT, you could say that Dick Locher was “predictable” !

He’s gone, the New Team is here with a bright flash of promise and everyone is milling around, waiting, to see HOW that will actually unfold.

Where is the real Junior ?

I suspect Joe and Mike are having a hard time breaking him OUT of that ‘RUBBER DUCKY’ shell.

But I’m betting here, he will be back, just like the Tracy hat !

Just wanted to say how good it is to see Sam smile again. He always looked so dour when Locher drew him, like he had a perpetual stomach-ache or something. The return of that puckish smirk to the face of Tracy’s assistant makes me think he’s as happy about the current handling of the strip as most everyone else is.

Hi Maxine!! Nice to see you back…I guess the “new” strip is causing people to come out of the woodwork! (Sparkydog, where are you??)

Flightsuit: Interesting photo. I was 14 when the first Star Wars came out (Episode IV) in 1977…I love all of them!!

MMM…Nice collage.

Such a treat to see the strip looking so good…!

Please note that the re-designed Junior was Dick Locher’s doing, not Max Collins’.

Nice work on that collage M. Mitchell Marmel

what is with the daily colorization?! glaring palet, not at all like the sunday version. thought they were gonna stick w/ b&w. they had better. quite a let down for what looks like a very promising reboot!