Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for February 13, 2009

They’ve all got their fists clenched. Maybe they are afraid of a bad hand alert!

We were just talking about the absent CIA agent. His ears must be burning. Morrow, you are looking tall, dark, and handsome tonight.

So the Dr. is a terrorist now? Weeks have past and the CIA is just getting information on an explosion in the U.S.? Since when have we had so many explosions that it would take weeks to track down? Oh, now I remember, there was never an investigation, so there was never any data.

I like the “BIG OIL” sign in the second panel.

You know, in Pre-Cheney/Bush days the CIA wasn’t allowed (by law) to operate inside the USA. That was suppose to be the FBI’s job. I don’t think that this law has changed. Another small reality point that DL doesn’t care about.

If you folks want artwork and story progression,go to Annie. Otherwise,I guess this will have to do. At least I finally learned what APB stands for.

Wait, I GET IT!!

Oh, wait, no I don’t.

Wait…Locher is hopeless!

I didn’t know that Google was able to track down terrorist bombers!

That is one tiny little keyboard on Cosgrove’s desk. Especially compared to that massive monitor.

And since when did Jay Leno work for Big Oil?

@tommys: At least I finally learned what APB stands for.

Only a decade (or millennium) too late – they use BOLO this century ,,,

Oh brother…..

Put that CIA guy on the Osama search team. He’s top notch…

The terrorist bomber is under “T” in the yellow pages.

In spite of the use of “him” at the CIA, me thinks the terrorist is Angel-whateverthenamedejour and she’s set old Big Oil Driller up for a double cross. Just wait till she gets her hand on that formula (but which one?)!

And yes - (L.O.) Annie has one great little retro-artwork story in the works over yonder.

Egads! Friday the 13th falls on a Friday this month!

For Igopogo2 – couldn’t Noll be the bomber they’re searching (there have been lots of wannabe-bombers in Gaza, West Bank, and FATA who have made the ONE unaffordable mistake in handling explosives…)?

Cosgrove: “I got my man! Put out an APB for a tall bearded Muslim hiding in a cave on the Pakistani/Afghan border.” On the double!

Whatever happenned in the third panel to the big sign that should read “CIA” (?), so that little Dicky sitting on Grandpa’s knee could easily remember which office has the good guys that help Tracy catch the crooks. Not that there are too many in that age group. I think I’ve read just about all of Dick Locher’s work on Dick Tracy, that’s some 29 years of strips. And I think without actually knowing the man I have a pretty good feel for what workable techniques he picked up from Grand Master Gould. What makes his strip tick and what clearly bogs it down. You may not agree with all I say but I suspect that you will on most. From time to time I’ll bring them all up. Problem is that way back then, when Gould was having all those planning and strategy meetings with other experienced practitioners, young Dick wasn’t concentrating too much on what was being discussed, it must have passed right over his head. Paying close attention wasn’t his thing Working with Collins wasn’t much different either. “Collins did the writing , MY job was only the drawing, and in any event, I had to focus on MY important Editorial cartoons”. Locher’s attention span and focus then, apparently didn’t rank amomg the “best” in the Proffession. It probably “showed” when a naive Kilian was there, mentally calling for “help”, particularly after his first two “extremely serious themed” stories (George White and Molly Drear), “tanked out” without the saving grace of a traditional “colorful” villain. The latter HAD to sit it out on a back seat along with Artist Locher who happily found an unexpected opportunity to by-pass mind popping “creative” effort and indulge in an art only vaccation. What we are looking at today is the outcome, an adaptation of one Gould strategy. One where the Author tries to “fool” himself so that he doesn’t know what is “happening” or going to happen next, on the theory that his “readers” wouldn’t either. Today, it looks as if he has succeeded. (?) Problem is that like the drawing of hands he has never used the technique with any degree of finesse. As we move forward he will try to unravel that Boy Scout “Constrictor” nott, having forgotten how to use the more useful “Bowline” one.

I’m giving some thought to introducing a “contest” and I’m hoping that there will be at least a modicum of participation on the board. Readers will be invited to make judgements and “vote” for the Monthly Award. At first I thought there should be a Chinese flavor to it. James Bond Character “ODD JOB” (from Goldfinger) crossed my mind but as they’re probably more Spanish speaking papers that carry the strip, I thought what seemed more appropriate was: “SENTENCIA para DIFORMA MANOS LOCO” (Roughly in English “Award for Deformed Hands” The use of “LOCO” (MAD) Right at “home” as the name suggests. It’s a Monthly Award for the most “striking” artistic rendition of (mainly) “hands”, each month. I rather like the “Sentencia” part, in English, it sounds like a “sentence” for an unacceptable artistic infraction. Any preferences on the name ? Just having some childish fun! More later !

prasrinivara - I agree with grokenstein - red herrings abound!

I’m hoping that the terrorist is NOT the DDoctor. It has nothing to do with fondness for the forgetful, confused old coot. I THInk having him be the terrorist carries a near zero suspense factor as all the hints have leaned his way.

We’ve yet to find the motivation for Angel-whateverthenamedejour and where her alliances may align.

A.P.B.=All Points Bulletin. Gee, thanks, Dick Locher, 4 making my day. For 40 years, I have always wondered what that meant. Now my day is made…geesh tell us something your average reader might not know!!!