Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for July 29, 2021

Good morning™, advance planners!

So, Tracy’s just going to race off on a call and leave Homer sitting there? So, I guess Alldid does prepare strips in advance — or he would if he knew he’d be away. I actually think that some advance strip were already prepared but Archival’s forged voice message put those on hold for now. Hopefully, Homer has said enough to Tracy to get him investigating.

Mayne this is a call from Smith Enterprises?

“Pizza in the break room!”

Getting that “Lead Time” issue wrong on episodes of “Remington Steele” and other shows has always been a pet peeve of mine.

Vera was briefly in jail in a 1975 story about an obscene caller in whose murder he was a suspect…

“Hello?” “Our records show that the warrenty on your car is about to expire …”

Today I learned: The reason Peanutbutter’s “Bugs and Worms” comic strip ended might be the same reason that Garfield creator Jim Davis couldn’t get his “Gnorm Gnat” comic strip syndicated after five years of it running in only one paper: people have a hard time relating to bugs. Eventually, he took someone’s advice and made a cat comic strip instead, with enormous success.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ei_eNTmCsU

“The small details are the most important.” A Sherlock Holmes quote.

If team Tracy can’t be bothered to make sure something as simple as making sure a cup handle is on the same side one day to the next(see Tracy’s cup of Joe yesterday and today) then how are we to believe that they even care whether or not their story is plausible and entertaining?

As I said before – Archival didn’t plan things out as well as he thought he did. Might take a while but he’s gonna get caught.

Good morning™, urgent callers !

“Mr. Smith on line one.” Aaaaaannnd we’re underway on that investigation some of us have been clamoring for.

You can say everything about Vera. But he’s a true professional.

2=Way Wrist Radio→

His hand looks a might elderly today!

“Calling Dick Tracy!” … That’s a blast from the past isn’t it? Seems a very long time since we had one of those. :-)

I’m sorry to harp on it, but I can’t help but complain about the style change of the excellent depiction of PB on Monday https://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2021/07/26?ct=v&cti=2117175

Unlike these past few days which ain’t good imo.

Tracy wearing that cheap knockoff brand today…dont even got no hologram!

“Valued customer, our records show unauthorized access to your account. Please call back with your social security and card numbers, so we can resolve the issue. This is NOT a scam.”

Yes, take the call, Tracy!

Not the annoying kid from 72-73, the adult Homer comes to Tracy with concerns prompted by his knowledge of how lead time works. Tracy knows that “Peanutbutter” is onto something, recalling that Alldid continued to work while in jail. Homer declares his opinion that “something has happened to Vera and Mysta!” His youthful crush on Moon Maid may have led him to follow Mysta’s career in the press. I like the positive change we see in Homer. Tracy gets a call that is likely related to what will soon be viewed as a “missing persons” case. Calling Dick Tracy!

1-HOMELY: HANDS UP, TRACY! I GOT YOU COVERED, SEE.

DT: Oh no. How’d I let this chimp get over on me…wait, that’s chump…no, he DOES look like a chimp. Anyway, what am I going to do????

2-WRIST WIZARD: THE TIME IS 12 NOON. TIME FOR LUNCH.

DT: WHAT A LUCKY BREAK!

3-DT: Well, as you heard, it’s lunch time. Gotta go!

HOMELY: DANG IT! I’ll get you next time, Tracy!!!

“Right-o, Chief! I’ll get on it right a— DARN IT! That’s just an old reflex, sorry.”

Whatever happened to the two-way wrist radio with a screen? Seems like they went back to the traditional two-way.

Well Homer and Tracy believe something happened to Mysta and Vera. Can’t wait when they find out what the something is.

Mysta and Vera are on Archival’s not so enchanted island by now. Oh wait a minute, they are still at the estate. Mysta had a large shopping list of must have’s.

Archival “her shopping binges are going to max out all my credit cards”.

BTW, when did PB become “A person of Color?”

MCU mug? Stands for two things? I know one starts “Marvel…”

“Tracy, get back to your desk. Your paperwork is breeding!” And yes, Joe & Mike you CAN use this quote yourselves sometime.

Don’t remember the story Tracy is referring to in panel 1, but it sounds like Alldid got a big break, typically prisons & jails don’t allow inmates to continue to conduct their outride businesses while behind bars, it’s one of the main reasons it’s called prison.

The game is afoot!

Aha! At last, we’ve got the motor running ((I was going to say “the game’s afoot,” but Stacey just beat me to it). Homer “Peanutbutter” Barley gives Tracy the nudge he needed to take action (as soon as that pesky “Wrist Wizard” call can be dealt with in some semblance of privacy) (yes, agreed with many above, new technology is sorely needed here).

How are the Collecteds holding up, I wonder?

I got one of the live calls from the “Microsoft Team” alerting me that my computer was infected. I responded “Thanks for calling the Cobb County Police Department. Can you please repeat that for me?” Click!