Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for October 12, 2022

Good morning™, everyone!

Who’s counting? But, yeah, I’d say that Vitamin Flinthearts definitely owes them a favour or two. “No big deal” is the word of the day.

Since when are Sam’s eyes blue? I think they’ve been brown on all recent Sundays.

“Calling in favors.” ✨

Sam’s too chicken to ask for himself.

Looks like Tracy’s gun switched sides mid strip.

Why does Sam have a black toothpick, tar buildup?

Why is this story moving at a snails pace?

“Another one in the books! Cheers!”

Finally, Dick Tracy!

Good morning™, pre show practice peepers !

Nice bit of leveraging there, Sammy. I don’t have a description for Tracy’s P.2 expression but it sure looks good. His P.3 smile is good. Nice “P-38” hook bill too.

Shelley’s illustrations are outstanding… Great angles, perspectives and stylish detailing!

What’s a bud for if you can’t ask a small favor once in a while?

Oh, very weaselly of you Sam. Not subtle at all.

I think Sam is clairvoyant !

Big Bold Sam, too chicken to ask for a favor?

And when do we get to the PLOT of this story? The Villain? The Scheme? I mean, Steelface hasn’t been anything but nice (though he can be a mean drunk, I guess)

I guess Sam suspects something is about to happen. From what evidence I don’t know.

As the story unfolds, this is a pause that refreshes……..I think?

“Hey, Tracy. How many licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?”

“Sam, shut up!”

It’s Pocky. Sam’s sold out out the insanely powerful international snack food lobby.

TRACY: “Why SURE, Sam. It’ s not like we have actual CRIMES to investigate, or we’re a POLICE FORCE. Go right ahead.”

1-SAM: You wouldn’t have to do the filing if you’d stop sexually harassing our clerical help.

2-DT: A little pinch on the butt or a compliment about how perky their bullet bras made their breasts was not a problem when I first came into this job. grrr, mumble, muttered complaint

3-SAM: Yeah – neither was beating a confession out of an innocent guy.

DT: smiles Ahhh, the 1930s – good times!

Of course, Sam could wait until they begin preview performances, when Vitamin would surely comp him a ticket.

Let me see if I get this…Sam wants to go to the rehearsal where he will see Robert and connect him with Steelface.

Sam has the gift of “discernment”. Knows whose tree the “apples” fell off of.

MOVIE QUOTE—

“Why do they all look like unhappy rabbits?”

Marilyn Monroe looking over possible “Sugar Daddies”—ALL ABOUT EVE—1950

Who saved Vitamins’s life from 1951 through 1976??

Gould always portrayed him as financially irresponsible.

When Collins brought him back in 1978,he had this huge mansion in California and everything he touched turned to platinum.

panel 2 is the most we’ve seen Dick possibly doing actual police-related work by looking through a file cabinet and then in panel 3, staring at paperwork…

Do they charge for rehearsals ? If Vitamin does then he will from Flintheart to Skinflint !!!

…perhaps he’s carrying two guns?……..

I love Curtis/Pleger giving a backhanded acknowledgement that ‘Dick Tracy’ has been around for many, many decades.

Dunno about this: Sam the Mooch, stuffing his pockets at crime scenes, begging Tracy to guilt Vitamin into granting rehearsal admission? [FULL DISCLOSURE: when in college, I would often attend “major production” drama department rehearsals, especially if friends had parts. I had many friends in drama….] Tracy’s reaction (panel 3) seems to be one of bemusement at his long-time partner’s wish.

Betimes, the MCU paperwork (or computer work) plods onward, and we still have not even a hint of a crime, even if Steelface is a suspicious-looking character.

Too much time on set-up, leading to a hasty resolution? This seems to be an issue too often here….