Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 28, 2023

Panel one:

Dick felt recharged, engaging all this mindless yaking with Jerry and Joe.

“Anything’s better than hearing Sam talk about his latest pastrami sandwich!” he chuckled softly.

Panel Two: Dick, feeling a rush of hot air that seemed to engulf him, suddenly heard an enormous boom as he felt himself being pushed to the ground.

Panel Three: Tracy, lifting his head and gazing all around, could only get out a shocked, “Ye Gods!” as he realized something terrible just took place.

For those who like some action/excitement/mystery/suspense in their story

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Eric’s story was far more exciting than this one is, so far.

Neil, help me to see the silver lining as only you can!!!

Mr. Costello, please forgive me!

Good morning™, everyone!

I’m guessing that Plentia Kopz is a new member of the Plenty clan? (I won’t bicker with the fact that it seems that her given name is much like the surname of the rest of the clan.)

They wear matching uniforms, so they must be troopers from the same state. That means that Metropolis and Dick’s city are both in Ohio?

The real Joe Shuster was originally from Toronto, Canada, and the real Jerry Siegel was from Cleveland. If either of the state troopers here came from Metropolis, I would have expected it would be Joe. (Toronto later added a higher level of government that replaced the former county, known a “Metropolitan Toronto” which for many years was commonly referred to casually as “Metro.”)

“That’s right Sam. Very good! I’m very proud of you for figuring that out! Go get a treat from the Cafeteria vending machine!”

“They’re in town to meet Xaviera Libris.”

Good morning™, unbelievable Plenty clan relations !

Looks like the Plenty UGLY gene has passed these two by. We can hardly blame M.C. for doing both outfits the same color when Shell has drawn them to look identical even down to their badges.

With those names, hopefully they are not investigating an incident involving Superman .

Isn’t today a bit contrived? I could accept a natural introduction that lasted until tomorrow, but this feels forced, especially in P2. Maybe a “space” in P2 and then the introduction in P3.

“Howdy boys, Sam’s the name. Betcha you wish your hat matched your jacket the way mine does!”

Plentia Copz eh. Pastis is guest writing this one eh.

Related to the Plenty clan, eh? Very interesting…B.O. has relatives in law enforcement.

There are “Plenty” of B.O.’s relatives around!

Well drawn today, almost as if you are there!

“Sam, we’re here to arrest you.Now, where did you stash our CAR?”

Their here to track down arch villain Lotsa Robbers.

Shuster was actually from Toronto, his family moving to Cleveland when he was in high school. He based Metropolis’s look on Toronto.

A teen friend of mine had a father in our state’s Highway Patrol. He sometimes had trouble getting visitors.

“The Friends of Sam Catchem” are well pleased today .

Yes! Siegel and Shuster’s hometown is being used for the new characters.

Now we need Sam to get Derby Dugan into the conversation :)

MOVIE QUOTE

“You’ve already violated all the laws of man, Luthor. Now you’ve violated the laws of nature!”

Christopher Reeve—-SUPERMAN 4:THE QUEST FOR PEACE—1987

Nice intro over this holiday season. Hoping the DT team is getting time for some reflection on the reason for the season and some holiday cheer.

Dear Dick Tracy Creative Team: How are you? I hope you had a good year. There’s a reason Funky Winkerbean is no longer in existence, and you are following the same path. Yours, me.

It won’t be long before BO Plenty jumps off the roof of Sunny Dell Acres, certain that he has inherited the ability to fly.

Who will the bad guy be?Kryptonite is dead.Maybe he had a blonde sister,Gold Kryptonite.

Or maybe con man brother of BO,Goodin Plenty;who escaped.

So they’re related to B.O. Plenty? And “Plentia Kopz?” They’re not even trying anymore.

Don’t forget their rude cousin Kopza Feel

Okay more introductions……..how about the story?

1-SAM: Visitors? What are you guys doing here?

2-SIMON & SHUSTER: We’re here applying for the Detective position that’s supposed to available soon. SAM: Really? I didn’t know we were adding to staff.

DT: Uh…we’re not adding to it so much. Sam…a word in my office, please. SAM: How about later? I got work to do. DT: No you don’t…

I didn’t know Jerry and Joe created Superman.

Plentia Kopz?!?… oh, bro-o-o-o-other…

Try “Egan Oipse”, “Rotiart”;or 1939’s “Wolley”

Obviously having Jerry Siegel being from Metropolis is a sly reference to his and Joe Schuster’s famous creation. In real life they were both from Cleveland.

Thought you all might be interested in this — it was posted earlier today by Mike on my Facebook page:

https://www.Facebook.Com/photo/?Fbid=7441207692570720&set=pcbDOT7441210025903820

(Change DOT to “.”)

Plentia Kopz?! Part of the Plenty Clan? We’ll have to see about this one, (For starters, how does a variant of “Plenty” become her -I assume the name is female- first name, while the family name is totally different?) We note that Tracy also says Shuster and Siegel are related to the Plenty Clan.

Shuster of Cleveland shakes Sam’s hand, while Siegel of Metropolis looks on (I hope there is no actual crossover Superman forthcoming). The Real Life Shuster was born in Toronto (Metropolis?), Siegel in Cleveland. Both Shuster and Siegel (RL) were living in Cleveland when they collaborated to create Superman. Since the two fictive troopers seem to wear matching uniforms, however, I tentatively conclude that they are to be considered as coming from the same state, which must be Ohio, where we find Cleveland (once with a much larger population than now) for sure; might “Metropolis” then be the state’s current largest city and capitol, Columbus?