Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 09, 2021

Good morning™, guys!

I’m sure Pouch knows about the curfew, although he’s pretending not to. He’s in that park every day. He’s not doing very well at talking Aquarius out of buying the blue balloon. There’s nothing more motivating than being told you can’t have something. It makes you want it all the more.

Agree with Neil. Pouch has really messed up the blue balloon issue.

Here …. let me get you change for that $20. Oooops! Oh My!

Up, up and away go my beautiful balloons …

Way up in the air go my beautiful balloons ..

Good morning™, messengers of the law !

Will Pouch try to tail Aquarius after the cops leave ? When he was on the phone earlier was he texting Tiger to come out to the park ?

I just had an idea about why Pouch’s balloons are suddenly less than a dollar. I think it might be a reference to the famous John Tenniel illustrations from the original Alice in Wonderland book:

https://resize.hswstatic.com/w_550/gif/mad-hatter-2.jpg

The price of his hat was 10/6 (10 shillings and sixpence). Incidentally, the reason the hatter was mad was because of a well-known phrase, “mad as a hatter.” The hat in the picture was most likely made of beaver hides (a fashion that did a lot to get the early economy going in what is now Canada). To make felt from beaver hides, they had to remove the fur and they used mercuric nitrate to do that. Supposedly, mercury poisoning was common among hatmakers, causing muscle tremors and behavioral changes. The Hatter was actually not called the “Mad Hatter” in Lewis Carroll’s book (even though Alice thought he was a little mad), but I think it was the Disney movie who gave him the title of “Mad Hatter.”

“Would you like to ride, in my beautiful balloon”! 5th Dimension long ago!

I wish that the lady policewoman face was not shaded out , she is a fox . Great images again . I’m not so sure about the face of 15 cents , tho .

You apologize for being in the park late and leave, balloons unsold. PERIOD It’s not that hard to get some psychological verisimilitude. Do you need characters to act like they have the logic of teens in slasher movies?

“Wow, the radio just said there is a four-armed maniac in the area armed with a machete, a chain saw, an ax, and a shotgun. We’d better split up and go out and look for him. Trudy, you’re in high heels, so you look in marsh. Tom, take this rolled up newspaper to hit him with. Jane, take out your contacts so you can’t see. And I’ll use the broken flashlight to help me see better.”

Now how long before this encounter reaches Tracy? The patrol officers should write this up on “contact” cards, which when reviewed by someone, ought to be earmarked for Tracy’s attention.

Two days in a row Joe has labeled that blue balloon for us (ala Gould) – there is something significant about it. What is not clear is why Aquarius suddenly fixated on it. The comments yesterday came up with several plausible explanations, the best being that Aquarius just happened to ask for the blue one when offering Pouch money. What he really wanted was information from Pouch; the balloon was just a ruse. But when Pouch declined, it suddenly made Aquarius realize that there must be something of value in the balloon.

But, if that is what is going on here, we have another example of unclear writing, where we readers write comments back and forth all day trying to clarify what is going on. A simple thought balloon from Aquarius would have made everything clear as to what his motives are.

I am 72, lifelong Montanan, and I have been a DT reader and fan for 67 years. I was broken hearted when Montana newspapers dropped the DT strip. I don’t comment much, but I enjoy reading the perspectives of fellow readers.

Just say you don’t want anything to do with this guy and walk away!

I like the label “Blue” for those who see the strip in black and white, and can’t picture taht one might be blue!

1-OFFICER ROOKIE: The Sarge is gonna teach Pinkie here some manners. Do you think you’ll remember any of that should you be asked about it later?

NARKY MARK: SAY YES! SAY YES! SAY YES!

2-MEL T. FACE: Remember what? This sign on my hat ain’t for customers. It’s to remind ME of my fee. Why, my memory is so bad…

ROOKIE: How bad is it?

MEL: It’s so bad, I have to pee before I remember that I’m a boy. I think the guy in the mirror is an ugly roommate who is mocking everything I say to him. I hit on Mom every time I see her until she reminds me who she is.

ROOKIE: Ugh! You didn’t have to got that far to convince me that you won’t squeal!

Blah, blah, blah…oh blue balloon!

Good folks in blue shut down these two. There’s curfew to observe

Pouch now does stew. Becoming blue. He’s been thrown for a curve.

Wrap it up. We have seen enough. Past time to leave the park

Blue balloon sold for meager gold. There’s trouble after dark.

Neil really has too much time on his hands. When did this “story” go off the rails. Dicko and Sam must have found some wacky tobaccky in that house and are “sampling” the evidence. Anyway they’ve suddenly disappeared

COMICMAKER’S TEXTBOOK: Even if you know them personally, it never hurts to put in a discreet note to the colorist—especially if it matters to the plot.

[signed: DICK TRACY]

I’ll bet the blue one won’t last as long if it has in it what I think it does.

Pouch could just say, “I’m fed up with this guy, I’m NOT selling him any balloons. Can I go?”

why doesn’t the red balloon have a little box saying “red”?

The officer speaking to Pouch says what needs to be said, and in a sense speaks for us all. But (panel 2) Aquarius won’t give up needling Pouch about the suddenly-central blue Balloon, which holds something of value….

One way or another, I hope the plot lurches forward tomorrow (Sunday)….

The comics are late again!! :-(

Sunday Tribune comics running late again.

WOW the best Sunday comments in ages!!!

LOL!

We seem to have a delay on Sunday’s strips. Here’s a preview. The sale is finally made, much to Pouch’s frustration. He’s going to put Tiger Lilly to work on it.

https://safr.kingfeatures.com/api/img.php?e=png&s=c&file=RGlja1RyYWN5LzIwMjEvMDEvRGlja19UcmFjeV9xcy4yMDIxMDExMF8xNTM2LnBuZw==&.jpg

What about today’s strip? And Brewster Rockit, too.

Okay, I’ve checked twice. See ya tomorrow.

Yeah, Pouch – let’s do a deal right in front of the cops! There’s a smart move…

Hmm…11:51 AM and the Sunday edition has not been posted yet. I hope the Tribune will double up tomorrow….send today’s and Mondays to GOComics.