Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 25, 2009

Gweedo, good to see you, my friend.

Naperville Emergency Operations Center 911 Transcripts for January 8, 2009. (21:05:10 - January 8, 2009) Dispatcher: 911, state your emergency . Caller: This is (unintelligible) at 1313 Mockingbird lane, there’s been an explosion. Dispatch: An explosion? Are there any injuries? Caller: I don’t know, the house shook and there is this smell that’s making me sick. Dispatch: Was the explosion at your address? Caller: No, it was the next block over, at 742 Evergreen Terrace. Oh, that smell is so strong, my head hurts. Dispatch: Does it smell like gas? Can you identify it? Caller: It’s like ah, ah, a good soap, or a cologne, but really strong. Dispatch: Ma’am I want you to close all doors and windows and shut off your air conditioner if it is on. Emergency units are being dispatched now. Caller: oh, thank you, oo, oo, that smell, got the smell of it all around, ooo, I think I’m going to be sick. Dispatch: Again, close all doors and windows and shelter in place. Units are on their way. Caller: Thank you, thank you. (call ends) (21:06:03 - January 8, 2009) (21:06:05 - January 8, 2009) Dispatch: Squad 51, Station 51, explosion with strong overpowering odor, nature unknown, at 742 Evergreen Terrace, repeat, explosion with strong odor, 742 Evergreen Terrace. Time Out - 21:06. (21:06:15 - January 8, 2009) Dispatch: One Adam 12, One Adam 12, see the man, 001 cemetery lane, reports of explosion and odor. (21:06:20 - January 8, 2009) Dispatch: 911, state your emergency. Caller: Yeh, I live at 31 Spooner Street and there’s been an explosion a couple of streets over from here. Dispatch: An explosion? Do you know where? Caller: I think it’s on Evergreen Terrace, oh god, what’s that smell. Oh god, oh god, oh god“. (speaking away from phone) Oh god, Brian, close the windows. Dispatch: Sir? Emergency personnel are en route, please get all family members indoors and shelter in place. (call ends) (21:06:59 - January 8, 2009) (21:07: 06 - January 8, 2009) Dispatch: Car 54, car 54, what is your location? Respond to 323 cobblestone lane, reports of falling debris and possible injuries. Contact “Fred”, no last name. Additional units en route. (21:07:12 - January 8, 2009) (21:10:17 - January 8, 2009) Dispatch: All units be advised, contact was established with occupant at residence, and Dispatch is informed that “everything is fine” and “there is no need for your services“. Units are to return to base. Squad 51, proceed as ordered to assist in mop up operations.

I am very saddened by the current state of affairs on the Dick Tracy comic board. I would prefer to see the comment section for Dick Tracy done away with entirely than to have it be held in thrall by one person’s monomania.

wndrwrthg says:

Naperville Emergency Operations Center 911 Transcripts for January 8, 2009. (21:05:10 - January 8, 2009) Dispatcher: 911, state your emergency .

Nice job, ww! BTW, that short story we were discussing the other day was, I believe, an episode of ‘Twilight Zone’, and Billy Mumy played the child.

Okay, Dick. You’ve just heard someone say out loud that they intend to sell exploding perfume. Arrest her. Dipstick.

This makes as much sense as the Catwoman movie where the cosmetics company planned to sell a product that would have killed it’s clients. Oh, wait…

OH GOD! DICK TRACY’S A REMAKE OF THE CATWOMAN MOVIE! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

margueritem, thank you, it was fun composing it. Yes, that story was an episode of the “Twilight Zone”. I always thought it was great. So, remember “think happy thoughts”. Strange how one person can disrupt so many.

Groc, when I saw your name and started reading the script I thought “Hmm! Groc has a ‘guest’ writer in today! ? It sounded so faniliar, holding out the sort of phrasing that rings doorbells and earns warm hugs up in Naperville. It was all “Superb” Then, at the end I read the “sigh’ of contentment and saw the confirming signature.

PS: What does the first “H” stand for? Could it be “HOLLERING”?(MPH)

Wow, the events of today don’t match up with the events of yesterday. SHEER GENIUS! Give the man a raise!!

COMMENT on the SUNDAY STRIP: First the compliments: a) The colors in the logo, particularly with the HAT remains the best ever in the strip. b) There is plenty pleasant ‘Dick Tracy’ yellow on the Sunday page. Locher should be congratulated. c) Hmm! Keeping the fashion up-to-date with those new ‘pockets’ on the yellow coat. Is it a “Tutto” from Italy? The name, somehow sounds ‘familiar’. Now some queries: a) I rather liked the Author’s ‘Crime Stopers Textbook’ this Sunday. It seemed appropriate and a coincidence in the wake of a recent personal “Hit and run” event. As advised I took down the license number. It began with an “L”,I am not certain if, as it in Trinidad, the ‘L’ signifies that the driver of the other car was a Learner? But it’s really not important. b) How does Tracy know that it was the ‘perfume’ that exploded? c) The Sundays certainly seem to be a different story to the daily strips. Where did Angelorious come from? She had vanished in the daily strips after the explosion (?) d) Finally, I could not find the yellow rubber duckie (?) Could it be concealed under Noll’s left eye lid? The Author has become ingenious in hiding it these days. HELP!

margueritem wrote:

“I am very saddened by the current state of affairs on the Dick Tracy comic board. I would prefer to see the comment section for Dick Tracy done away with entirely than to have it be held in thrall by one person’s monomania.”

mjmsprt40 (remember me?) writes: I second that. It would be better to go back to the way it was, perhaps with a warning that we tone it down a bit. The way it is now, so many of us are being disingenuous and it shows. I haven’t posted since we got nuked about a week ago, but I’ve been reading and believe me the present state of affairs are not an improvement.

About “Freedom of Speech”, a word to the wise is in order here. It’s not an absolute, the person who owns the board and pays the rent here gets to make the rules. I’ve been through several “board wars” and when the board owner steps in, his word is law. If you want to say whatever you like without fear of being “censored”, set up your own board and pay the bills on it yourself. Then you get to make the rules. That’s usually also when you find out you can’t just let everybody say whatever they like and you have to set rules to keep the fights from getting murderous and to keep libel and slander to legally defensible levels.

I’d really like to see this return to the way it was, but with the warning to keep it toned down so we’re not attacking each other so much for daring to disagree on a comic.

How about “Love Bomb”?

JUDY, Thanks! It seems the Artist no longer attepts to disguise it as a rubber duckie. It clearly seems to be a woman’s mammary nipple. Needless to say, it peaks one’s curiosity as to why this particular symbol is used (?)Frankly, I hesitate to say what comes to mind! Mama Mia! Really best that I don’t say … IF you get my drift. Speaking of drifts and mammary glands look at the last panel today, it looks as if we have horizontal gravity affecting that part of Bullethead’s anatomy. We see the cleft, how now something(?) pointed, seems to be ‘sticking out’ even further out to the left? Now, who told you to leave, was it Liam (?) OR that member of the Praetorian Guard?

Judyhansel says:

Sydney, look over Bullethead’s left arm in the last panel. I hope this gets printed as I was told to leave the board. Judy, did someone actually follow up on the madman’s request to have you removed? I notice he hasn’t shown hisself here yet today. maybe he is suffering a case of martyr’s post orgasmic exhaustion. added later: now how did that happen? MPH comments were not here when I originally posted this. hhhmmmmm

My fellow posters, I would like to repectfully suggest that we follow GoComics rules by ignoring posters who come to the board with the intent of causing disruption and disharmony among us. I know that this may be very difficult at times, but we can prevail.

ok, My take on Dick Tracy and why I am drawn to it (in spite of the cheesy storylines and the glacial pacing and the inexpertly drawn hands) is the colors. The colors —look at all the background colors, some are solid some are gradient , the DT yellow is particularly pleasing. This infusion of color with the strong contrasts was correctly incorporated in the Beatty/Madonna movie. Its just pleasing to look at. For further entertainment I just turn to the comments and get many a LOL from some of these hilarious and quite imaginative posters. Besides, you guys who come down the hardest on Lochner, deep down really like the strip. You would miss it if it was gone because then you wouldn’t have Dick Tracy to kick around anymore. ….(to paraphrase another Dick!)

7 posts today so far on the MPHmeter. Tuesday. Tess is leading Dr. Noll to the Tracy residence. Dr. Noll resists and is back in his lab. Sunday, without explanation, he is instead in the Tracy house. With The Joker’s twin sister who invited herself in without knocking, and apparently stayed there staring at the ceiling while Dick & Tess left and returned without/with the doctor. Jokeretta is wearing Judy Jetson zero gravity bracelets on both wrists. We still have no actual villain. Oh, yeah. I forgot. SUSPENSE!

doctortoon: Your mother is indeed a wise woman. Hope you’re enjoying your day off.

MPH, It’s really very simple. Angelorious’ left breast, which YOU will SEE “pointing” through the dress to the RIGHT, has even been ‘highlighted’ by the Artist with a splash of yellow. The perspective as it faces us, should have it pointing to the ‘front’ and not the side. But then, as we all have known for years, the human anatomy has never been one of the artist’s areas of compelling ‘expertise’. Not so? Until Judy spotted the duckie, I thought THAT is where Locher had (appropriately?) concealed it, right there on Angelorious! It’s yellow, AND pointed! Now, you’ve caught me by surprise about ONE poster having a NUMBER of ‘aliases’ on this board, including that of Judy (?) As you realize I’m relatively new here. But what makes you think so? And, you might not want to say, but do you suspect anyone? Then a little curiosity here. How do you feel trying to take on nearly the whole board, when Locher opens the door so often, and so wide, to humor and critiques?

Fishbulb said “… Oh,yeah, I forgot. SUSPENSE! This is the second time you have surprised me with what seems like deeper knowledge on the strip and things MPH has said. The “suspense” line was used on the other board. Could you be one of those extra identities that MPH suspects? ;). You know, just like a friend who comes here the same way using the pseudonym, what was it? DeLicious?

I’m not sure how to say this without being attacked from both sides, but I think all of you have a point. Locher’s artwork is not very realistic. His perspectives and proportions are pretty scary sometimes. I remember that Chet Gould went for a more realistic look for Tracy and his crew, but the fact that Locher has chosen to be more surreal than real doesn’t make it bad, just different. He does sometimes portray motion well. It’s fairly obvious in the last panel where Angel (What was her real name? I have seen so many variations on this board that I don’t remember anymore.) flings her arms wide, her bracelets would be moving on her wrists just as they are drawn. I have to agree about the rubber ducky, though. In recent weeks it has looked more and more like a mammary than a duck. If that’s a duck, where is his bill? Maybe the duck is hiding under something & all you see is the bulge where his head is poking up a bit? I have been thoroughly enjoying the comments section on this strip, especially the delicious irony of the past few days. There is nothing wrong with expressing one’s opinion. What today’s board shows is that a board like this can be lots of fun, insightful and very, very opinionated. Keep up the good work, all of you!

I don’t “diss” the comic or the writer because I find it amusing. I do so to point out the problems and weaknesses in the vain hopes of getting him to improve. His efforts on this series are totally and completely below any acceptable standards for a strip as historically important and treasured as this one.

The story’s inept on every level. The artwork is awful. Dick Tracy and the readers deserve better. I just think Locher needs to know it.

I don’t do it out of hate. I do it out of love.

Matthew Hansel says: A) The suspense keeps you reading each day, doesn’t it? B) The perfume lady is obvious moving her arms which would cause the bracelets to move about on her wrists. Locher captured the action when they were moving and not just merely “laying” there on her wrists. Really, have you been reading comics for as long as you profess and the most basic conceits of the medium still elude you?

After finally getting through all of yesterday and today’s comment, I’m going to ignore doctortoon’s wise advise and add a comment.

A) I now read this strip for the comments. There is very little suspense. It doesn’t really move forward. Judge Parker is another comic that moves very slowly (I think their last arc took longer than the last arc here), but it was suspenseful - there were several people that could have been the shooter and when they found out who did, that person almost got away.

B) I didn’t get the bracelets were moving, so I’ll admit I have more to learn about the medium

I do like seeing the recap on Sunday as well as the crimestopper tips - but the recap needs to follow the same story we’ve all just read during the week.

doctortoon, ignore him all you want but he WON’T go away. In fact, expect numerous more posts from him today.

It probably wouldnt be too hard for goComics to add an ‘ignore’ option on our main page, just like there is a ‘follow’ button. Heck, I’d even go PRO for something like that.

Please notice scary clown face lady has got her arms sticking straight out again, what is up with that? Emphasis? An interjection? It must be a personal trait, thank goodness none of the other characters have it. They’d all be walking around looking like they’d just finished signaling a touchdown.

I mentioned earlier that there might be a rule that would tell us not to attack each other. It’s an idea who’s time has definately come. One user today has consistently lit into everybody else here, and I need not mention any names.

About multiple names: I have only two “names” that I’ve ever used anywhere on the ‘net. One is mjmsprt40, which is the handle I signed on here with and which this board still recognises as my sign-in name. The other is my real name, Michael McMillan. That became the recognised name you see at the top of my posts on the day I filled out the Profile page here. If other posters here are using multiple names, I wouldn’t know about it unless I spent time comparing posts for similarities. Not gonna do it.

MPH asks if anybody else had trouble with the “flag”. No, because I’ve had no cause to use it. I’ve only flagged posts a few times, that was on another system entirely. I’ve flagged for spam, and for racist comments. Other than that, there isn’t much reason to be flagging each other’s stuff.

Now, I’m going to get off my soapbox for a bit. I’m here to enjoy the comics and the sometimes comical posts about the comics, and that’s what I’m going to do.

On the other hand just plain ignoring an childish little prat isnt all that difficult. goComics doenst need to go to all the trouble of adding any new buttons.

Michael, I appreciate your frankness about your screen names. This is the only one I use. I have another, but created it as a joke for another comic. I don’t even remember what it was. While Dypak isnt my real name it is an old handle I’ve used for years, I’m confortable with it. Like most of the posters here, I have nothing to hide.

PS Margueritem! I love your new icon. I’m an old Prince Valiant fan. I think they’ve finally budged out the sea of seaweed this week. A truly great comic. Maybe more of the older comics would benefit if they were posted weekly, rather than weakly. Food for thought? Brooke McEldowny tried it, but he didnt really need it, thank goodness.

Cheers!

A) The suspense keeps you reading each day, doesn’t it?

No, I keep waiting for a decent story. A lost cause apparently.

B) The perfume lady is obvious moving her arms which would cause the bracelets to move about on her wrists. Locher captured the action when they were moving and not just merely “laying” there on her wrists. Really, have you been reading comics for as long as you profess and the most basic conceits of the medium still elude you?

Don’t get into a battle of wits with me, sonny. You’re unarmed.

Yes, Gould’s work was often surreal. But it made sense. He would even remind us of a plot point with a little box and arrow pointing to an important object, such as ransom money. The alleged plot here moves leaving a slime trail behind it, so no need to remind us of anything. Maybe he could us the “Gould boxes” to point out various points of disinterest such as “poorly drawn hand”, “impossibly short arm”, or “complete lapse of logic”.

At the risk of him attacking me again, and I am not coming back today, no one has mentioned the smoke going in and out of Dr. Nolls ears, nose. At 90 degree angles, just like smoke always does.

What will Tracy find in Doctor Noll’s house? the missing plot? Will he actually have a search warrant?

15 posts my MPH so far today. Strangely enough, this is not his board.

Mr. Matt Hansel (aka Sigh, MPH) has way too much time on his hands and should look to do more constructive things with his time like solve the issues of World Peace or maybe just solve the issue between Israel and Gaza for the moment.

I’m off to have a chocolate shake. This whole thing is giving me a headache.

BYW - Wndwrthg -That first post today made me LMAO. Good Job.

Dypak says: PS Margueritem! I love your new icon. I’m an old Prince Valiant fan. I think they’ve finally budged out the sea of seaweed this week. A truly great comic. Maybe more of the older comics would benefit if they were posted weekly, rather than weakly. Food for thought? Brooke McEldowny tried it, but he didnt really need it, thank goodness.

Cheers!

Lol, I was just going to comment on your new avatar! I don’t recognize the drawing, who does it represent? Yes, I love ‘Prince Valiant’, and when I saw that sea monster last week, I knew it would make a great avatar. This week the ship has reached open water again. I agree that some comics would be much better if only printed weekly. The story would advance much faster, and would try the readers’ patience much less. Yes, pushing ‘Pibgorn’ back to three times a week did not really work. We’d love to have it seven days a week if we could, but Mr. Mc Eldowney does need some rest. ;-)

Why do I think : a) We won’t hear from DeLicious again? He has blown his cover! b) Dick Tracy won’t find the missing plot? After nearly seven weeks it hasn’t been ‘created’ yet. We are all still going happily around the Mulberry bush. c) Why does MPH defend the Author so stoutly? He is an ‘admitted’ Dick LOCHER fan, Dick TRACY has to sit at the back of the classroom. d)Why is Angelorious’ nipple drawn pointing to the right? MPH likes it that way - it’s sureal, it’s ‘different’! Very, VERY, different ! d) Why can’t MPH win a scuffle with ‘fishbulb’? Locher draws Mattie’s arms too short, and he is paralysed with ‘suspense’!

margueritem says: Lol, I was just going to comment on your new avatar! I don’t recognize the drawing, who does it represent? Yes, I love ‘Prince Valiant’, and when I saw that sea monster last week, I knew it would make a great avatar. This week the ship has reached open water again. I agree that some comics would be much better if only printed weekly. The story would advance much faster, and would try the readers’ patience much less. Yes, pushing ‘Pibgorn’ back to three times a week did not really work. We’d love to have it seven days a week if we could, but Mr. Mc Eldowney does need some rest. ;-)

The figure is Sam Vimes, from Pratchett’s Disk World series. If you haven’t read them, you need to. The funny parts make you laugh out loud, the sad parts will make you weep. True heroic fantasy, the way the world should be. It’s written for adults, with 100’s of inside jokes and hidden humor that hits you later like a ton of bricks. I teach 8th graders and try to get some of them to read it every year. The ones who do are hooked for life. If you havent read it you’re in for a treat.

Good gosh.

ATTN: Liam from GoComics.com

Please confirm for those here who suffer from an overactive imagination that, indeed, I am not DLisagenius. They have suspected and, apparently, continue to suspect that I’m hiding behind this other name, ever since this individual began posting here. In the interest of honesty and transparency, I would really appreciate your setting the record straight on this. Thank you, Liam.

And, for that matter, please confirm that I’m also not hiding behind ANY OTHER name here, as well. I have a reputation to uphold and, apparently, it is going to require YOUR confirmation to put this unfortunate matter to rest. Thanks again, Liam!

Wow! the postings since Liam got Miss Mannerly on everyone, certainly has taken a Sue Reel (remember her?) turn. That said, I’ll risk this comment: in panel five, Angelwhatious appears to have the cosmetic base of an Auguste clown, why is Dr. Noll still having that jagged smoke coming out of his ear? Tess’ right hand on the doctor’s shoulder looks like a polydactl talon. In the last panel, Angelwhatious demonstrates a single-mindedness on prospecting a product, oblivious to the frazzled state of Dr. Noll. Please, Tess, expell this unwelcome stranger from your domicle!

Matthew Hansel said: “It was determined by the COMICSPAGE people that several posters, including the one with the Judyhansel alias were using multiple screen names in a pathetic effort to try and make it appear as if more people were upset about the the strip and more people were attacking me. ISP numbers do not lie, and friends at TMS were able to confirm to me that there really only were a handful of idiots posting there.”

Thank you for revealing the TRUTH about this, Matt. Strangely, I’m not surprised at the lengths some will go to further their POV. PATHETIC is too flattering a verb to describe it, IMHO. What continues to AMAZE me is how anyone who shares a different POV on the strip here is immediately sullied and personally attacked, instead of relying on an actual defense for their differing opinion. Strength in numbers has actually been a point made against the opinions I’ve shared here historically – ‘how could we ALL be wrong and you be right, Jeff?’ Most everyone missed the fact that opinions and personal tastes have NOTHING to do with right or wrong.

Apparently, healthy debate is viewed as “disharmony” by some. Thank you, again, for looking into this and reporting back here what you uncovered.

Ooops! Thanks for clearing that up. I clearly meant adjective…DOH!

Umm, excuse me, Jeff? Pathetic is not a verb. Just a friendly comment.

Peace.

Matt Hansel: Investigative Reporter. Breaking the stories that everyone else is afraid of. He’s a regular Brenda Starr.

And when you respond (and I’m sure you will), don’t use the “Hair Shirt” reference, it’s not amusing and is dumb.

Dypak says: The figure is Sam Vimes, from Pratchett’s Disk World series.

I’ve never read the books, I’ll have to do so. Ray_c told me about the Preston and Child books, and I’m in the midst of reading them.

I know you won’t be surprised, LudwigVonDarke, but I think the “hair shirt” reference is an absolute laugh riot! I love it!! You mentioning it the way you did just now makes it EVEN FUNNIER to me. LOL :))

I think I’m getting slap-happy now after reading today’s posts. After spending 18 hours doing research this weekend and now messing up my verbs and adjectives in that post, I think its’ time to relax.

Thanks again, Liam, for looking into this and confirming back when you can.

Wow - a lot of plot advancement today. I love that first panel of Noll looking disheveled - hilarious! And Dick is back to being a detective, as it should be. Good stuff.

I don’t know why you all don’t believe me, especially when this is the third or fourth time I have posted to this board that I am not JK or MPH or anyone else who posts to this board. Say good night, Gracie!

Goodnight!

I’ve tried everything I can to prove you’re absolutely correct. Though, I feel your chosen name is a little lacking for objectivity.

Can we assume that you prefer DL’s work over Gould’s, DLisagenius? If you don’t mind my asking, what was the first Tracy story you ever read? Mine was the Rod & Nilon Hose story…still a favorite.

Liam’s response here will clear this whole issue right up and you can stand on your own two feet here, DLisagenius. Welcome.

Wow! 66 posts yesterday. 72 today (so far). What will Monday bring? 100? I tried to stay away, but this is too good.

Peace Y’all. I’m Gone.

Dorothy, you would think the hair shirt reference is a riot since it came from your bosom pal, Toto. If anyone else came up with it, you’d accuse us all of somehow attacking your beloved Puppet Master Mr. Locher.

You might want to ask Mr. Locher to explain to you the difference between a verb and adjective. It’s quite simple.

Get a life Matt Hansel…even if you have to buy one at WalMart…….