Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for February 26, 2024

and now it begins… and Shell’s name is still on the header…

I do NOT like the way Dick’s head looks in panel two… too elongated…

since when does Dick exclaim “Phooey”?

Not another story with the LOA characters with they creepy empty eyes…oy vey!

dam-nation, Sam has got some serious follicle foliage growing topside…

Good morning™, everybody!

For those who missed any recent Facebook announcements:

(From Shelley) A good fellow and former inker from times past, Charles Ettinger will make his debut as the new Dick Tracy artist on 2/26. In the meantime, I hope everyone is enjoying the work of Dee Fish on the current Minit Mystery. She was a great help to me on the Sprocket story and X Libris as an inker. : )

(From Joe Staton) My great co-worker on the Dick Tracy, Shelley Pleger, has made it official that she is leaving the strip. She’s had a great run, first as inker on my pencils and then as full artist. She also occasionally wrote continuity to take up slack. I often told writer Mike Curtis that we should just let her go ahead without us. So now she is ready to rest. Taking over for her is another seasoned (though not often credited) member of Team Tracy, Charles Ettinger. Charles has inked and pencilled and saved all of us when necessary. Good Job! to Shelley and Good Luck to Charles! And remember, it’s not long until Tracy’s 100th Anniversary. We’re all counting on Team Tracy to be around for the occasion.

(From Eric Costello) And so, the third story arc I did for Dick Tracy has come to end. William Palmer, the poisoner, gets what he deserves. Sam Catchem, alas, does not get what he deserves…

My thanks to Dee Fish, who did a very good job on the story, right through to the last panel punchline, and renewed thanks to Shelley Pleger, who helped shepherd this through.

Apparently in Dick Tracy’s world either people do not carry mobile phones so people trying to reach them still have to leave messages at their offices or else one of the most powerful men in the country with all his resources cannot find a phone number for Dick Tracy except for the main MCU number.

Nope!

Welcome aboard, Charles, to the Tracyville express.

May your stay be long and prosperous.

technologically advanced enough to have a two-way but not a simple cell/mobile…

and what’s with the white trim on Dick’s blacksuit?…

Good morning™, Elongated Blockheads !

Tracy has a lean look. Sam is looking very full; it complements his swarthy heritage despite MC lightening up his skin tone so that he can be white, just like Tracy.

Looks like Chucky is here to stay.

Welcome to the ADD or fruitcake factory, if you prefer, Charles Ettinger. :-)

Holy Batarang – Tracy – of course no luck on Fata. Fata’s long gone and used the two (2) weeks to flee to who knows where while your alter ego / clone has been on important “Teapot” duty. Not a total loss – the “darbies” (handcuffs) finally snapped shut on the villain in the Teapot story.

Oliver Warbucks…the cameo appearances are back. Calling in a question will Daddy Warbucks advance the storyline, or will he be a distraction?

Too bad you is has to depending on luck instead of sensible investigation methods.

Not the greatest first impression for me. I don’t know if Tracy is drawn too awkward or too straight in P2 plus the hair, where’s the Brylcreem swept back hair? He looks comical, dare I say he looks like Fosdick? He reminds me of one of the old WB cartoons I saw as a kid about the Yale v Harvard football game if I remember correctly where they were drawn that straight.

The hair is a major problem for me, especially Sam who appears to have hair added on top in P3.

It seams as if P1 was drawn differently by another person, as if it was a transition piece from Shelley to Charles,

New artist, hm.

Clue Number One: “Siam” is “Mais” spelled backwards!

I like Tracy’s new look. Sam Chia-do is impressive. Very Kryptonian!

Regarding Dick’s hair… he just removed his hat and has “hat hair” and hasn’t combed it yet…

Daddy’s Back! Can Annie be far behind? arf

Looks like only a one-panel wrap-up to the Fata/Rikki storyline.

Sam using the toothpick again, don’t remember seeing it for a while.

Warbucks? As in Daddy Warbucks of Little Orphan Annie?

MOVIE QUOTE—-

“This country’s bigger than any one man. They couldn’t ruin it if they tried”

Will Rogers—DAVID HARUM—1934

I shall also mention that in t his film, Rogers lives in an upstate New York town callled “Homeville”,whichis also the name of the town where DIck Tracy tussled with Cut Famon and Cut’s sweet old Mother

“Phooey”, Sam’s afro, Tracy’s rigid physique…oh yeah, off to a great start…and all with no fanfare or goodbyes or thank yous to Shelley…totally classy

Okay,I liked the close up of Sam. Compare Gould’s early art with the 1950’s and you’ll see that artists “grow into” a strip if you give them enough time. Like I said, I hope he gets the ladies right.The era of “Chief Lizz The Sexless” still makes me cringe

Oh,yes—maybe it made NATIONAL news services.Big fire in the Bronx with firemen performing aerial rescue by rope.1 dead, dozens injured.

Fire started from—-a lithium battery. Again.

That’s probaby why Diet Smith Industries went up with such a big boom. The lithium storeroom caught fire.(It’s a power element in the 2-way wrist gadgets)

1-DT: Grrrrr! Looks like somebody hung their coat on the “Reserved For The Chief Of Detectives Coat Rack” again. Say, where’s your coat, Sam?

2-SAM: Uh, I didn’t wear one. DT: Geez Sam – get a haircut ya dam hippy. Here. Wear my hat until you can get into Madame Fluffy’s Hair Design – Look Your Best Above AND Below! SAM: I can’t…”

3-…I’m undercover at the Tracyville High School. I gotta look like one of the students. I thought I was onto the source for Mary Jane but this dime bag turned out to be oregano when I smoked it. Oh. Can I get reimbursed? DT: Only for the real stuff.

SAM: That’s cool, Daddy-O. DT: Leave your kid-speak at the door, Sam! SAM: Sorry. Maybe I’ve been “under” too long. DT: Yeah – UNDER the mistaken impression that you’re a good detective SAM: What? DT: What?

Artist Howie Noel is a true disciple of Chester Gould. He has an incredible Instagram page highlighting his art and tributes to Dick Tracy. I urge you all the check it out. He really ought to be running this strip because of his love and respect of the character and the history >

Tracy: “So, Oliver— you’re staying at a hotel?”

Warbucks: “S, I am!”

Dick’s head, in panel 2, it looks like he has a button in his back you can push and pop the head out and replace it with another.

MEANWHILE: Leapin’ lizards! ANNIE crossover…comin’ right up??

Well howdy there, devoted DT readers! While I’d admit to being a bit rusty as I have endured some major life events over the past couple of years and haven’t put much energy into art, I have been flexing those muscles again and it’s been exciting and terrifying at the same time. Your constructive feedback is always appreciated as I know I can never replace Shelly or Joe, I can only succeed them. Shelly has gone above and beyond to help me with the transition and should have gotten more credit at the end. Please send Shelly some love on her other platforms. Joe is ever so kind as to offer his feedback so there may be a slight difference in the look over the next couple of weeks. Just keep in mind there’s a lot of moving parts behind the scenes and I’m acclimating to my role. My hope is to keep with the core of the characters and honor them as best I can. I will try to engage when I can but in the meantime, enjoy!

Phooey ! Couldn’t have said it any better .

Oh goody , goody , goody . The Little Orphan Annie crap is about to start .

And if you remember Nat The Fur King, you’re the only freakin’ one

Fata is bringing in Xaviera Libris to take out Dick Tracy. Good!

Does Honeymoon know her frienfs is in town?

OOOOHHHH… FINALLY! The story we were promised almost a year ago!

But whoo-hoo, the faux-bow is back on Dick’s chapeau! A big plus for me!