Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for November 17, 2024

As danger goes, Dick Tracy knows a tower can bring pain

Too easy to barricade and on good people rain

Deadly fire. Plaza dire. Death comes from on high

The body count can quickly mount. The coroner soon nigh.

Hands on the face they do not trace the passing of the time

Make a note. The shoppers float. Susceptible to crime.

A clock so still, Dick Tracy will investigate the place

Protect and serve. He has the nerve into danger to race.

more of Dick’s ESP at work about the clock tower?…

It’s a “hands” off project.

Suddenly, a black DeLorean appears out of nowhere and Marty Mcfly jumps out of the car.

“Dick! We need you back in 1985!”

Good morning™, everyone!

I get the idea that somebody is in the top of the clock tower and they are not supposed to be there. Since it seems that the clock is not running, nobody has a reason to go in and discover whatever it is that’s going on inside.

Today’s strip would have been really great …. last Sunday, during Veteran’s Day weekend.

Crimestoppers Text Book. “The thieves took everything, Officer.” “Do you have photos of the items? That’ll really help us in getting your possessions back.” “Yes, Officer, I have pictures on my smart phone.” “Can we see them?” “Er, the thieves took my smart phone, too.”

Duhhhh …. Maybe they’re working on something else???

We don’t have time?

BTW, as I mentioned weeks ago, the largest 4-faced clock in the world for years (until recently when the Saudis surpassed it) was on a factory in Milwaukee, WI. This one is way bigger than the Milwaukee clock (although not as large as the one in Mecca).

The inspector should switch helmets

Obveeously that a secret hideout of some villain.

“It’s a separate project being handled by a K. Ronos.”

TIME will tell!

Eric’s dialoguing in this arc seems extra clunky in spots, to wit: “Should be able to handle, safely, thousands every day, Tracy.”

How it should have read… “No problem, got a soft spot for this place you know…my grandpa worked here back when they made stuff for the Big War…you remember that Tracy…you served in that one.”

Mexican cartel fentanyl cutting lab in the clock tower…sure enough.

Time to light the Hat signal, to send for Bob Oscar Plenty and his bomb sniffing chicken.

1- DT: Did you know that over in England, they call Detectives “Inspectors” so if I took your job part-time, I’d be Detective Inspector Dick Tracy. INSPECTOR: Yeah…fascinating.

2- DT: This hard hat reminds me of the helmet I used to wear in one of the world wars. You know – because it’s hard. And protects your head… INSPECTOR: Uhhh…sure… Why are you here?

3- DT: A Turnstile Jumper died after being apprehended for that heinous crime. But before he died, he claimed that… HE WORKED ON THIS JOB SITE! INSPECTOR: NO! …

4- DT: So I’m here to get some G-2 on this Sprengstoff character? INSPECTOR: G-2? DT: INFO! THE LOWDOWN! THE SCOOP! INTEL! INSPECTOR: Oh. Well, he’s our demolition expert – “was” I guess. He was going to bring down the clock tower with high explosives.

5- DT: Oh. That clocks. That means… INSPECTOR: I KNOW! DT: Oh. Lookit the time. Sam will be at the deli… INSPECTOR: Uhhh…that’s not the right time – it’s 9 AM. That clock always indicates 5:10. DT: SO THAT’S WHY SAM ALWAYS SAYS “IT’S 5:10 SOMEWHERE!”

INSPECTOR: Yeah…one of you is an idiot. DT: COULD BE BOTH!

…WHAT big war? There seems to be one or more of THOSE going on every day……..

I feel reassured that images of my valuables can be done in almost any format. I simply can’t decide between watercolor or oil!

Now the Plaza is in full operation?

Everyone has a phone on them with the time?

“Save the Clock Tower!”

It’s a superdpercamouflaged BIg Time Atomic Rocket!

TRACY: So, when is the work going to end so we can begin an investigation?

SUPER: Kinda hard to say. Some idiot hired the Monroe Brothers, and they’re kinda’ quirky. Their last ob was the Hooterville Bank and Trust. Still, for a chicken coop, it wasn’t al that bad. Too bad thy forgot to add chicken wire to he frame."

Great profile image of Tracy in the last panel. I’m liking Ettinger’s work more and more every day. The story itself is rather slow, but hopefully it will pick up with some good old fashioned Dick Tracy crime fighting.

The tower clock not keeping time……….

The last panel art of Tracy really good!!

Save the clock tower! Save the clock tower! We are going to “Back To The Future”

Clock tower does not have top priority as renovation of the buildings. After all, bulk of the money will be made when they open as stores and food courts.

I’ve never heard of WW2 called ‘the big war’ where the heck did that come from?

Loved the last panel—Tracy looks l ike The Rock of Gibraltar.

Don’t go in the clock tower—-you’ll disturb Oracle and Nightwing