Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for May 19, 2024

Look to see these items three: paper-weight, note, and gun

Morbid scene now playing out. Suicide no fun.

Staring out the window. Grim decision has been reached

Raises gun up to his head. Breath of life is breached.

Security hears the gunshot. “We have an emergency!”

EMTs now on the way with utmost urgency.

Good morning™, all!

We welcome back Eric Costello to the writing desk. Is this his third major story? I’ve lost track.

It looks like the suicide is a major executive of Guardian Bancorp, maybe even the CEO. It seems that banks are high profile in a lot of Dick Tracy stories lately.

Minit Misery?

Good morning™, Self Annihilators !

What a heavy way to start a story. I hope it maintains this energy throughout.

The art is soo phuccin’ crisp ! :-)

A grim beginning

Try as I might, I don’t recognize what could chartibly be called a plot in that Croptop yarn.

well, EOC is back in town…

wonder how soon before all the negativity and critical criticism begins from the resident cri-teekers here, criticizing as to how the story is progressing, which MIGHT prove to be a progression of regression…

but we shall see what we shall see…

May be less than fearless in his old age.

Is this a C.E.O. who was at the end of his rope? The media will say he had everything going for him…was the guy being blackmailed?

Technology is amazing. Security can pinpoint which floor the shot came from.

Crimestoppers: We need to be aware of cars in close proximity and also cars at a distance? Isn’t that pretty much all cars? Maybe, going by the picture, we need to beware of cars parked beside a fire hydrant.

Does this mean that they’re giving Eric more story opportunities to ease him in the role of main writer to take over from Mike? Or is this another unfortunate emergency hiatus again for Mike? Does Wichita know anything?

Because it’s the Tribune, it won’t be death by suicide but death by misadventure while he was cleaning his gun. – Couldn’t help myself.

The previous story had potential but ended abruptly. Croptop might have tracked and, possibly, threatened B.O. The crime fighting features of the hatmobile might have been used to carry the day. Tracy might have used his detective skills to solve the bank robbery. But no! No plot twists, no surprises, no suspense. I’m disappointed.

Ominous…

Very promising start, in my opinion. It mostly raises questions and requires readers to come back for answers. Nice atmospheric art.

I feel cautiously optimistic at the moment.

It the second strangest ashtray me has ever seen.

…This isn’t the strip that was printed in my Sunday comics section today. What gives?

A dark beginning.

So that’s it for that last story? These guys are making Peanuts look deep.

Is this a relative of Tracy’s?

That fellow has a familiar-looking profile. Does Tracy have a wealthy grandfather in the banking industry that I’ve never heard about?

……..the sordid deed appears to have been conducted in the recently deceased’s business office……something is rotten in the Guardian Bancorp Tower (notice the name’s a shade darker in the security guy’s “balloon”)……..

Heaven, I don’t know what the problem is, but that’s no way to fix it.

In the distant future, an elderly Dick Tracy reflects on his life from the lavish office of his PI Firm…

1-psssssssssss, shake Ahhh. That’s better. The cleaning staff can mop that up tomorrow…

2-I forget which family I addressed this note to…

3-…My current wife, Annie or one of the 3 before her: Sparkle, Moonie or Tess? Eh – who cares – it just says “YOU’RE OUTTA THE WILL!” Hmmmm, I think I’ll enjoy a cigar with my bourbon…

4-…It sure was thoughtful of old Sam to gift me a lighter made out of my old service weapon. Let’s see how it works…

5-SECURITY:* Get me Captain Tess Tracy! Captain? We just heard a loud bang and a thud from your husband’s office! No, not Sam. No, not Johnny Adonis either. Dick. Dick Tracy! CLICK She hung up. Must be in a hurry to get over here…

Again (and again and again) the Tribune has published a repeat strip from 2017 instead of today’s strip! That’s not the only bad part; ALL of the Sunday repeats they’re substituting are the fanboy, con strips! ComicCon, Cosplay, everything except the freakin’ FurryCon! That one will probably be next Sunday! I can’t take it anymore! I’m cancelling the Sunday edition and if they don’t let me just dump the Sunday, then I’ll drop the paper alltogether! Where are my twinkies, DAG-NABBIT!! Get out of them, Nannybeyatch!!

but what about croptop? what about the hatmobil?

“And now for something completely different.”

With everything involving Croptop wrapped up, and the return of guest writer Eric Costello, we’ve undeniably reached the start of a new story. When I feel a new story’s started, I update the page in the Dick Tracy Wiki I created, “List of Dick Tracy Stories Available on GoComics”. If you go to that page, you’ll find my latest addition at the bottom:

Croptop (April 7-May 18)

the vic looks a great deal like an aged Dick Tracy

Interesting way to start a story.

Well, now I’ve seen EVERYTHING……