Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 28, 2022

“I mean, maybe. Or maybe dead. Not really that worried about it.”

Who’s the guy in the shiny eyeglasses in the first panel?

Good morning™, everyone!

A few weeks later in Tracy land, I agree that Blackjack would appreciate his collection being on display in the library.

This story was a break from the usual cliché, having someone other than Tracy in a deathtrap. Tracy could well be right that Blackjack followed in Tracy’s footsteps in escaping the trap. Blackjack always wanted to imitate his hero, Tracy. I wonder how many deathtraps Tracy has escaped from in this strip.

… much as Mike Curtis donated his “Superman” memorabilia. ✨

Shouldn’t it read; His collection belongs at the Gould library???

Couple of days of filler material.

Really nice artwork today! I’m a little surprised that no one at the exhibit is mobbing Tracy for his autograph or a selfie. I’d imagine they all must be big Tracy fans afterall.

Good morning™, mysterious hooded figures (p.3) !

That guy in the gray hood and glasses could also be a disguised Blackjack. He would want to see his collectible curios in a public display.

Shelley’s art is excellent. It has a je-ne-sais-quoi that Joe Staton’s DT drawings didn’t have.

A couple questions:

Is there a reason nobody’s mentioned that the next story will feature a villain making their second go-round and a returning guest writer? Or did I miss it?

Doesn’t Mr Bones beat a surprising resemblance to the out-of-character Buster Keaton? Check out the two pictures that have shown up this week at Mark Evanier’s newsfromme.com

While the Goodfellas riff makes sense, wasn’t “Bonhomme Richard” the name of John Paul Jones’s Revolutionary War flagship?

You are correct in your reference to the naval history of the Revolutionary War.

Many are rightfully commenting on Shelley’s fine artwork today and I’d like to also commend her on something I feel is very important about it. Thank you for depicting Tess Tracy in a manner where she still looks lovely but also looks like a woman who has grown children and grandchildren.

Ohhh… I was hoping for a find Blackjack in the background.

I think it would be creepy to look at a doll of your daughter in law as a child…

Tadd Pole.

Where is Tess`s scarf in the third frame?

Blackjack will be alive as soon as the story requires him to be.

Mr. Cobblepot called. He wants his umbrella back.

I’m noting that ‘some weeks later’ caption for future reference. It could come in handy for the next Real Time vs. Tracy Time debate….

We come full circle in the Bones vs Blackjack tale. All loose ends wrapped up a satisfying bundle. With the scarf and glasses man in all three panels, we may well be witnessing the last of the threads brought to closure. Tess and Dick aren’t the only ones taking a look at the Sparkle Plenty doll. The mayor called for Tracy’s presence at the Gould Library as the ruins of Diet’s Time Drone lab were smoldering rubble. The Ace altered his “hands off” policy regarding Tracy in the aftermath of having to hightail it to the tunnels with Doubleup. Lizz kicked a little tail in this tale, although the sudden arrival of a helper was, for me, unwelcome. Naturally, we did not see Lizz interviewing applicants for the Apparatus escort service. Still, her undercover work as Patty Cure paid dividends. The Queen is cuffed. This quality denouement promises we’ll begin again on Sunday. Tracy’s grip on the umbrella reminds us it is wet and windy in Tracyville. Tess pulls her coat tight, comforted by the knowledge that her detective agency helped to enhance the exhibit with its discovery of the stolen collection. No Gouldian fat flakes on this day. A peek in at Lilly Trueheart and Joe whipping up a tasty repast was the icing on the cake, even though my money is on an omelet in the skillet. More of the good stuff from Team Tracy.

It’s kind of like Mike anticipated our questions about Blackjack. Tracy suspects he escaped.

@Pequod:

Really good summary. One tiny thing I see differently – I don’t think the guy in the third panel is the same person as in panels 1 & 2. I think that is a woman, with a knit hat and scarf and shoulder bag. Guy in panel 3 has a hoodie over a ball cap.

Blackjack must have left Tracy in more control of his memorabilia than just to keep an eye on it while in prison, in order to have an exhibit like this. There’s no way he’s been declared dead so quickly, with no body found.

I find it absolutely incredible that the head of MCU could not afford a golf umbrella. What Tracy is holding in the third panel, I have owned one of those. When you collapse it, can be fitted in a coat pocket like what he is wearing. Yet it is an umbrella built for one not two people to get underneath.

“Some weeks later”….great that Tess and Tracy got the opportunity to see the Tracy Collection at the Gould library. Now how about the rest of us? I feel cheated. Madam Mayor carried on about how the collection was going to be yadda, yadda, yadda. And I have to settle for a glance at a Sparkle Plenty doll, a Dick Tracy target practice range, then they exit. That’s it? Yo! Mike and Shelley, send Lee, Liz and Sam to tour this collection. Will afford yawl an opportunity to expand what is there for those of us who read this strip. Not shrink it. Today’s strip was the equivalent of saying " Wham, Bam, thank you Mam". This sucks!

1-DT: Is that the doll they make those scary movies about – Annabelle?

TESSLA: No, you dolt – read the sign. However, Annabelle the doll is a saint compared to…

DT: Hey…

2-…Where’s Joe? TESSLA: Why are you asking me?

3-DT: Because he was with you and your mom some weeks earlier.

TESSLA: Was he? I guess he’s still with her then.

DT: I wish there was some way we could check. Oh well. Oh…sorry. This is a one-person umbrella – and barely that. You should a thought ahead. We both know you won’t melt, “Sugar”. Ha ha.

TESSLA: Real funny. Say. You know what this exhibit needs? – another one of your ventilated hats. I think that would make it lucky 13. Well, maybe lucky for me – FINGERS CROSSED!

DT: HA! Hey! Wait a minute…

While we’re on the subject of toys and merchandise;when Honeymoon was born in 1965;IDEALput a Honeymoon doll on the market.

For some reason,It bombed.Especially when you compareit to sales of the Sparkle Plenty doll.

Anybody out there actually HAVE one?

MOVIE QUOTE——

“Tonight you eat fresh fish for dinner.Tomorrow,maybefresh fish eat you”.

Akim Tamiroff to Gary Cooper—-THE GENERAL DIED AT DAWN—-1936

I’m holding out hope that Blackjack has cheated death too!

When do we see “Return of Blackjack”?

Wonderful strip, today. The artwork is really great.

oN sUNDAY,mISS iNDIA AND HER PET GORILLA WALK INTO HEADQUARTERS….

I wonder at some point if any Tracy story will involve buried treasure…

A nice wrap-up, “some weeks later.” Tracy has recovered from the injuries caused when Bonhomme shot him three times, center mass—just where his bullet-resistant vest offered him protection. The exhibit at the Gould Library of the Blackjack Collection of Tracy Memorabilia is continuing to attract numerous visitors [remember, for in-strip purposes, Blackjack is presumed dead (though Tracy suspects he may have survived) and so his collection might have been legally transferred to the public venue; ironically, as several have noted, Blackjack might actually be present at this moment though in heavy disguise].

A little more filler, or a teaser, tomorrow, then a new story begins on Sunday….