Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for September 05, 2009

I like that tiger drawing, and the story still progresses.

Judas Priest! Look at the art quality the last couple of days! I should be pleased, but I’m even angrier, because a boost in art quality raises the obvious question of why they couldn’t do this ALL ALONG!

Also, Ringo’s panel 3 face is pretty nightmarish, but it’s not particularly poorly-drawn. Just disturbing.

The writing hasn’t kept up with the art’s leap in quality. If it’s a secret, how did you find out? And if you’re in the witness protection program… why did they give you a name that looks fake from the first glance?

@avatarjk137 He found out about their secret plan because the sent him a threatening note.

The story progresses…even if it makes NO sense.

So, why not just kill Ringo instead of the performers?

Something has changed; the artwork all of a sudden improved. Could it be……..?

So the Feds raided his business. His bosses realize Ringo is the whistle blower. And decide to kill him. Why aren’t they in jail? Ok, ignore that. Then the government hides him for his own safety. As a ringmaster in a circus. Performing in front of thousands of people per show. Hundreds of times a year. Uh-huh. Because Katey Couric was already doing the evening news on CBS. No, if he was in a witness protection program he would not be performing out in public in a circus. This makes no sense.

Paste up panel ALERT !

Art may be a tad better these days but two brazen “past ups” are coming.

One from yesterday “the tent”, mid panel, repeated on 9-09-09) The other “Girl on Elephant” appearing 9-08 REPEATED on 9-11-09.

…….an d that’s when I ran away to join the circus.

I note where one poster (name witheld - to protect his Identity) thinks we have “ACTION”. I ask - WHERE (?) Tracy’s been standing in a Ring for EIGHT weeks and we’ve seen only “verbal” action and Lt. Teevo once ! Then he’s noted DRAMA (?) Where ? Did I miss Dick kicking the Elephant?

Oh! Seems I forgot we did catch him peeping down at Barb Els’ pectorial area - but that’s “emotion” not really drama.

Then he’s noted a “DASTARDLY VILLAIN”. (?) Is he looking ahead too ? Beyond what I can see ? Regular readers haven’t seen one, and it’s now EIGHT weeks and counting !

Then he’s seen a “RIGOROUS HERO” — WOW ! And all the time I thought. I was seeing one where “RIGOR MORTIS” had apparently set in.

We must be reading two entirely different stories. Perhaps he’s confusing it with the Gould “reprints” (?) He’ll FIND all that and more there ! I’m not going to pin a tail on a Donkey, but I haven’t SEEN what he’s talking about in modern Dick Tracy for over SIXTEEN years.

Has anyone ?

avatarjk137 : Obviously fake names have been the stock in trade for DT ever since the Gould days. So in the strip, no one would even take note. It’s like nobody notices that everybody has a 555 area code in movies and on TV. Even after Sydney’s explanation, I have no idea how “Ringo” could end up in the same circus populated by all those bad guys. They know who he is but he doesn’t know who they are? Or he does, and he just keeps hanging in there, presumably because the pay is so good? I just have to sit here and bang my head on the desk, except it’s a wood desk and I don’t want to damage it.

So, Ringo is living an iconic dream, he ran away to join the circus!

You know over the past two years the boys from Woodstock who have met Locher a few times INSIST that it’s a serious TMS mandate that the Sunday page MUST be a “recap” of the previous Monday to Friday. That they say, is why Locher can’t carry the story “forward” — the way it used to be and had been for the first 60 years of publication (?) Back then no reader, even Sunday ONLY, had a problem. I know I was one ! (It comes from another source)

But considering the mandate of unshakable “repetition” how are we going to get all those “SUGAR PLUMBS” that seem to be dancing in Matthews mouth ?

Reason ? I’ve read up to Saturday Oct. 3 and NOT one of those things have appeared in the week to be “repeated” (?)

But I’m really puzzled (?) Mattie just couldn’t invent all that stuff although he does have a “creative” mind — (he’s “practising” to be a comic strip artist one day). Does this mean that Locher just “UPPED”, biting his tongue and THEN, with a sort of reckless abandon, broke the TMS law on the required REPETITION ??

We will probably have to wait and see, although perhaps before that, Mattie could explain this apparent conundrum?

Better be careful, Sydney. You are treading on grounds that got me bleeped. I just agreed with another poster and the big zapper zapped!

Syd, my god, speak not the name that must not be spoken, lest you unleash the fury of he that bans. THINK ONLY GOOD THOUGHTS and speak not your true feelings. That which must never be named, haunts these formerly hallowed halls and will call down the wrath of the “Lord High Executioner” of GO.

Here am I thinking only “good thoughts” of all those “Sugar Plumbs” Mattie said were on the way that will pull this story like the “rotten apple” it is, from the bottom of the barrel.

I’m not attacking him. I’m cheering him ON !

And in any event, HE that “censors” probably doesn’t work on Saturdays (?)

I’m transgression free today ! ;) Can’t promise about the future.

Thanks for the warning. I wish those guys would come back. The board will never be the same without them.