Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for August 13, 2020

Good morning™, colleagues!

If Fritz Ann heads up a department at the FBI (did we know that before?), she may be an inspector. As I commented yesterday, an inspector at the FBI spends most of their time doing internal investigations, but also goes out in the field sometimes.

It’s nice to see that the sexual harassment of Sam has finished now.

Yeah, Sam looks absolutely thrilled.

Looks like we’re about to relaunch the Fritz-has-the-hots-for-Sam trope once again.

I’ve just noticed that most of the time the artist doesn’t draw their mouths open when they’re speaking. And for some reason it bugs me and I don’t know why.

One of the “D” students in my high school class almost spelled his name that way. He had a “ck” in the end instead of a “ch”. The other two had more inventive spellings.

“Coney crossed the line this time.” A state line, which would give the Feebs jurisdiction? (I believe that the law is written so that, after some period of time, a kidnapping is presumed to have crossed state lines, even if this hasn’t been proved.)

Now that the intros are over, lets get with it!!!

Kidnapping is only a federal offense if the person is moved across state lines. But, this is Tracyworld.

Since Insp. Dietrich is asserting FBI authority into this case, we have to assume that Howdy DID cross state lines when he kidnapped Guy, and, brought him to the warehouse. But, can we also presume that Coney DID NOT tell Howdy (in any form) to kidnap Guy, and, especially not to bring him to the warehouse. Presuming those last two statements are true, that’s what Coney gets for hiring such cheap labor. "Cause I’d think he still could be charged as an accessory (at least) to the kidnapping charge. (Usual disclaimer here. I’m not a lawyer…)

Fritz needs a hat; somebody get her a hat

From a rest stop in east Iowa…

Good morning™, line crossers !

Yeah, Sam looks sooo happy to see his old “girlfriend” again. I wonder if anybody is looking out a warehouse window to see this assembly. I bet Shaggy is just the guy to be daydreaming out the window, like a bored school boy, and just might notice something. The “collateral” needs to be relocated pronto !

Look at Dethany’s eyes – conveying a suspicion that there’s some backstory here :)

I flagged Wizard of Ahz-no relation s comment about “agent…from the Geheime Staatspolizei” (“secret state police” – in German).

I did so because, intentionally or not, it is comparing individuals in the comic with the actions of the Germans in the darkest episode of 20th Century history (and perhaps of all time).

Yes, I know that “Geheime Staatspolizei” is not the same as the SS (Schutzenstaffel), but making up a name of this sort, and doing so in German, is close enough.

Far more appropriate would have been the actual agency, “Bundeskriminalamt” or BKA, today’s German equivalent of the FBI, which would have been far less inflammatory.

So where IS Coney? We haven’t seen the villain of our piece for two weeks.

Coney won’t like the ice cream choices in prison :D

Hmm.. could that black officer be THE CINNAMON KNIGHT on his first assignment?

Let’s hope that if it IS that his first outing as a law enforcement agent in the strip is a lot better than it is in DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND lol

y’know….. judging by today’s strip i’m beginning to think that fritzy and dicky are related…same wide face and hatchet jaw… its possible!

Sam doesn’t look very happy

Anyone else notice that as you move from left to right in the last panel, the facial details fade to – literally – black? Full facial detail on Sam on the left, nothing but shadow on DT on the right. Interesting perspective.

1-DT: I didn’t arrest the victim, Marlayna. This is Deth, Deth Warmedover.

2-MARLAYNA HOOVER: Sounds like a personal problem. Well, whadaya know, if it isn’t good old Sam. What’s new Sam?

3-SAM: I lost my prowl car and my gun.

MARLAYNA: If I remember correctly, that “gun” of yours was prone to firing at the lightest touch if you know what I mean. AND, it was only a 22 caliber – if you know what I mean.

DT: You’re mistaken, Marlayna. Department weapons are 9mm and per Department Directive, must be kept in good working order.

MARLAYNA: Oh brother, Tracy. Let’s paint some colored squares on your head and use it as a Rubik’s Cube, ya blockheaded loser!

DT: I’m not sure but I feel like you’ve violated some Workplace Harassment rules here, Marlayna.

MARLAYNA: You’ve done it now Tracy. Everyone here just heard you say “HER ASS”

DT: What?!?! But…but… MARLAYNA: LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!

Panel 3, Sam is wishing he were really at home with his wife and nowhere near Inspector Fritz Ann Dietrich! Still, she seems to be keeping it “professional,” for now at least. So, maybe we can get this Warehouse Takedown Gig going, now that everyone has been introduced, okay?

Dietrich is wrong. Ditto the cartoonists. Kidnapping is a state crime, up to and until the perpetrator takes the victim across a state-line. Then it becomes a federal crime. Hence distinguishing between the Lindbergh Law and the Little Lindbergh laws. (This may still be a “violation of civil rights” crime, which is federal.)