Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 27, 2024

“I’ll be in my car.”

— Old Herb Tarlek joke from WKRP.

Sam’s getting pretty cocky these days. Must be all those pastrami sandwiches he eats every day.

Big Brother let me type cocky but not s.p.i.c e.s.

Go figure

Is that a toothpick or a dagger Sam’s holding?

I am now convinced that the two-week gap had something to do with this part of the storyline….Got a feeling Tribune asked for changes…

He’s such a {Nazi} “treasure” to have around.

Good morning™, Wily Second Bananas !

If Sam gets promoted after this will Dick become subordinate ?  What an air of confidence Sam has !  I dare say Sam has dashing and debonair going for him.

Good morning™, everyone!

Sorry about it being obvious, but it seems that Sam is getting copies of government information without the government’s permission. Oops!

Probably a contraband Ivory Toothpick. Illegal to buy now.

I will have to remember that, Sam!

I like how Costello is doing this story.

Oh! As I said yesterday.

Still wasting time and gettings nowhere.

Sam appears to be bragging about committing a Federal crime, obtaining classified documents without permission.

Actually, I suspect they are available under the Freedom of Information Act some Republicans are trying to close. Was Sam’s friend trying to make Sam think this was “special” stuff and Sam is clueless, or is Sam trying to make the MCU think he’s got special pull in DC? Of has Sam actually committed a Federal offense?

Once again, the artwork never fails to impress, while the writing never engages.

Unless he is picking his teeth with a dagger then it is a toothpick !

Our government took in so many high level nazis, and either forgave or ignored their egregious sins against humanity in the name of national security or just simple “I told you we can do it!” prestige, people like Werner Von Braun the “father” of our moon program.

“Easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission”…..Hoo Boy……like they also say: “Sin freely the first 6 days, repent on the 7th”…..end of problem for another week!!

“ The Friends of Sam Catchem “ are pleased today .

I think I’ve heard that phrase from a tv show before… like it being a rule.

SAM (wide eyed and sweating): WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?!?!?!!!!

“Is this a toothpick I see before me?”

Don’t BRAG Sam. It’s only that past date pastrami . It’ll pass in time.

SAM: NUh-UH! I’m so TOTALLY corrigible! In so many ways!

1- DT: Sam – you been “dicking” around doing nothing all week. I’d sure hate to be your boss, you funny guy!

2- SAM: I would too – I’m a handful! BUT I haven’t just been wasting time. See this here in my left hand?

3= : …It started out as a limb from my backyard but I chewed it down into a…a… pointer for use when presenting documents at your desk to passersby. Yeah – a _Document Pointer! Just the right size. As you can see on this doc, it’s…uh…oh – they misspelled “Walter”. So , uh, this is an example of bad spelling in an otherwise spellbinding document.

DT: Good work, Sam! I wouldn’t have noticed had you not POINTED it out. Could you make me one of those Document Pointers?

SAM: No.

TOMORROW: Sam gets that vital lead and goes rogue cop to tackle the LUANN Mob.

If Lizz and Lee need Sam… what are you going to be doing, Tracy?

Sometimes I wonder if Sam might one day become Tracy’s true arch-nemesis. That all-knowing look he has in the second panel has a particularly naughty list look on him.

“Totentanz” is German for “dance of death.”

Sam qouting one of NCIS’ Gibbs rules?

Sam is in top form today, and no wonder—his trusty toothpick is back!

And it serves a useful artistic purpose: in P3 it draws the reader’s eye to the title of the document.

Sam looks very pleased with himself!