Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for September 14, 2009

You were so well hidden, Ringo…

Well, Tracy’s narrowed it down to someone in the circus troupe. There are only about a half dozen performers and three animals (including the pig on wheels). Should be easy. We can probably get this over and done in another few months.

Why “smoke them out”? Why not do a proper investigation…wait I forgot, this is an ACTION strip.

Gweedo, where?!? Don’t we wish…

The art in today’s strip seems almost… good.

Heck, Tracy’s hand in Panel One looks almost normal!

Oldhipster, I hope you’ve got your stash ready, ‘cause Tracy’s still lookin’ to smoke somebody out!

I’ve heard of sweating bullets, but Ringo appears to be sweating birdshot in the second panel. Why’s it all at the middle of his face?

“One with a big motive! I have a lot of experience with people with small motives, and they don’t generally shoot acrobats.”

Instead of smoking out the culprit, how about we talk him to death?

Say, has it been 48 hours yet? Is the clock done ticking?

I’ll have to remember this in case I ever have to go into hiding. Don’t get a job as a ringmaster of a circus. Hardly any job could be more highly visible at the very time you need to be invisible.

Goodness, I was on leave 1/2 of last week but the strip has not moved on at all.

:-) What did move on is Mattie’s ranting. Shame.

OldHipster - I love your new avatar

We will soon find out what Tracy has been smoking.

In case you missed yesterday’s big announcement, all of my DT parodies and manipulations have been consolidated into one place for your reading pleasure and easy access:

http://kraptastrophe.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to post comments there, but be forewarned that if you post any negative comments, I shall report you to Liam and I will have the company that handles Morrow’s wife’s employer’s building maintenance change all your locks while you’re not home.

And I will give you an affectionate nickname.

The art is very good today.

Ringo says what we all want, “Do something.”

Carlo, I agree with you for the most part. Panel Two is nothing new, but Panel Three is a lot more realistic and dramatic than what we’ve come to expect; The composition, and Tracy’s and Ennen’s postures, are particularly pleasing.

I still think Agent Ennin is hot! Now that Tess and Bonnie are gone………..,

I thought the recap strips were Sunday.

I’m sorry, I’ve been in a coma the past two months. Did something happen at the circus?

Ringo is worried and sweating. With DT and FBI I might too. Reminds me when I do something where I work pt and the boss not happy I get nervous and start sweatting, I don’t do the same again. I know Ringo could do like me stay out of the way of bosses.

Oct 4 is the last day of the 2009 LA County Fair. Does that help?

Oh, and just for the heck of it: LOGIC CHECK!

What is the “big motive” to murder Ringo? It’s been vaguely established that somebody wants to get even with him for something, but that’s all.

If the motive to kill him is so “big,” why didn’t they just shoot him in an alley somewhere instead of shooting Louise Trapeze during the show?

Why hasn’t any mention been made of who might have shot Louise Trapeze? With thousands of people in the audience, didn’t anyone see anything? Has a gun been found? Or looked for?

What purpose was served by the threatening notes, except to draw attention to the whole business?

Why hasn’t anyone asked where the notes came from, or who delivered them?

Given that there were thousands of witnesses to the shooting and Tracy’s arrival, how can he be sure the murderer is part of the troupe?

If the murderer is part of the troupe, why doesn’t he question them?

How many hours/days have elapsed in comic strip time since the shooting? (two months and counting for us, but for Tracy, it’s all been one conversation).

Whatever happened to the giant crimebusting robot?

And the most inexplicable question…

Why do I keep hoping this strip will improve???

Smoke them out?

Is George W. working with Locher now?

On Oct. 4, this strip will be 78 years old. And aging very poorly.

Now that Locher has had Tracy standing around for two months like a homeless man in a daze, a sort of “Tin Cup Joe” on a street corner TMS wust have threatened to “retire” him again unless he pulled the lead out of the seat of his trousers.

It’s reasonable to expect the TMS Editors to be exasperated, probably irretated at what is now a struggle to market a “no action” no “forward” movement comic strip ! One without the expected attractive villain, an attempt to cook something off empty gas cylinders. Heck, Locher isn’t even lighting a match

Decision makers, (potential buyers), are pointing out these short falls and inadequate action sequences in the current presentations, one left so dull it reminds of Bonzo snoring on tthe carpet !

The one “positive” emerging, is that Tracy looks 25 years younger under Brozman’s pen (not ready to retire next year) and on “occasion”, those “itsy-bitsy”, baby hands - look normal

Later this week, Locher steps off the dime.

The giant robot, Mega-Dick, is safely back at Diet Smith Industries and is said to be halfway through pregnancy with another Lil Bot. It’ll join Macy after the birth announcements. Teevo is the father.

Come to think of it, isn’t a “Witness Protection Program” for.. you know, witnesses? For trials? Since when does shooting a guy before he shoots you qualify you for government hiding? If that was true, Han Solo would be in a garish costume running a circus on Tatooine.

“Come to think of it, isn’t a “Witness Protection Program” for.. you know, witnesses?”

The way this story is going, I think we should be talking about the “Witless” Protection Program.

I’ve been keeping my Wrist Geenee “tuned” to Woodstock all this morning and I cant even hear the Town Clock “ticking” (?)

Has any one heard anything ?

Did the mouse run up the clock ? Not even a “meoww” from Master P ! So the clock struck “frown”, the mouse ran down – on the Dickery, “Prickly” Clown

BASSMANB0B said, “Anyone else had a Major Matt Mason growing up?” ———————– YES! Matt Mason was my absolute favorite toy, er, “action figure” when I was growing up. I had his buddies, space station, the works.

Good memory, BB… you’re showing your age! (Guess I am too.) I have very fond memories of MATT Mason!

http://home.comcast.net/~storto10/major.jpg

To the tune of: Time has come today

Tick tock, tick tock, cuckoo

The time has come today Someone wants to get their way He won’t put it off another day He says that we won’t play his way So the time has come today Hey!

Oh, the rules better change my way I want you all to have no say He’s thinking about litigation, (oy vey!) He refuses to just go away His tears have grown and grown Not a happy home Not a happy home

Now the time has come Ultimatums with the rising sun He’s really burned up about this one He’s had no fun He’s not loved and is pushed aside He feels crushed by the snarky jibes And his name has not been recognized

Now the time has come To make them all realize I will have my way I will have my way

Somebody’s shorts are WAY TOO Tight today.

I personnally recommend changing your shorts every 48 hours or so. Everyone needs a “freshy” now and then.

The art is rather good today but I fear the “blackout” face in panel three is getting a bit overused.

“Tomfoolery?”

That is a harsh indictment!

Reading the cyber police blotter in Woodstock, there was a 911 call about a guy who had held his breath until he turned blue and passed out. The EMT’s reported that when they arrived on the scene, he had red frilly DT undies on, a DT wristwatch, and a DT pacifier in his mouth. There was a chart on the floor next to him with the numbers 1-48 on it and red crayon “X“‘s on each number. Strange.

Smoke’um out , smoke’um out , smoke’um way way out !

Hey Morrow, speaking of Teevo - where is the Useless One? Where did he wander off to? Did he leave with Tess and Bonnie and there’s a party going on at the Tracy house?

Ah, Matthewvius, you bring a much-needed dose of entertainment to the page…don’t blame poor Liam for forgetting your deadline, there weren’t 50 posts a day to remind him it was coming.

And I will admit today’s art has a bit more energy than I’ve seen…I have to wonder what Brozman could do if he had more than talking, talking, talking to illustrate.

…like, imagine what he could do if the giant crimefighting robot got hold of the Space Coupe and laser-strafed the circus till the culprit confessed.

After that Square warning I’m gritting my teeth, feeling like Braces, readying myself for a Magnum Force bolt of electrical shock.

More than enough time and warning has been given. I guess from here on out, there may be a few uncontrolled Aflack style “QUACK” attacks and before you know it, they’ll be a resignation AGAIN ! A new round of “self-imposed” punishment will begin !

You may now call me “Nostradamus” (hint) but I can predict one young artist who won’t be launching his “new strip” here ! Call the name and I’ll whistle.

Tracy’s hair looks very dark in the first panel. Just For Men, perhaps?

“general tomfoolery”? I think he led the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Mattie, Mattie, bo-battie, Banana-fana fo-fattie Fee-fi-mo-attie Mattie

Now get over yourself, for crying out loud!

Who knows, maybe Matt can come up with some funny “nicknames” for us all. I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s got. Come on Matt open fire! (By the way, is Matt OK or does that bother you also?)

Hey Araldite - try “BNM”. He responds to that sometimes. I think it is an affectionate moniker his friends gave him earlier. I don’t know what it means; possibly the kind or model of car he drives.

I am a car freak, and in all the automotive world, I don’t know of a make or model with the name BNM.

There is a company called B&M who manufactures superchargers and shift kits, however.

Has anybody considered the possibility that MPH’s tirades might be part of an elaborate, Andy Kaufman-style performance-art piece?

And as long as I’m axin’ questions, what is the significance of Woodstock? Is that where Locher and Brozman live?