Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for June 21, 2011

Good Evening All! No he isn’t! No he isn’t!

I’d say not! Say not!

Good morning all…

That wouldn’t be Tracy dressed as The Scarlet Sting, would it?

It could be. Could Be!

This is awesome! AWESOME!!!.Salutations Everyone!

It’s a sting operation. Sting operation.

I hope this ain’t the end of the story arc already already.

Wow! It IS happening—the bullwhip versus bullwhip showdown! Crackin’ good action, lads! (Lizz, are you looking to us for help there in panel 3?)

Just because. Where there’s a whip, there’s a way!

We have the boots, we have the whips, all we need is the trampoline. Somebody call the cops, this is getting too kinky.

@NVash Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. One of the disadvantages of this comment format is that sometimes comments get lost in the fray. The Yahoo group of which I speak is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DickTracy/ which has been around for over a decade now and is run (last I knew) by Beau Kaelin. It boasts some illustrious members, but it could prove difficult to join. I left a few years ago, and reapplied for membership over two weeks ago. That membership is still pending for approval :( Sydney or Jim, if you could poke whoever is the current leadership at that group, I’d be much obliged. @Everyone, for discussion: Which Tracy stories shaped you into the fan that you are today, your favorite storyline, or perhaps just the most nostalgic one? For me, it’s the Brow which is still my yardstick for measuring all other Tracy tales.

@barticle35End of story arc ?It’s one month . . . It’s one month, already !

Why would the rescuer talk like Double Up? There would be no mistaking the identies angle.

It’s tracy??

@idesama:Just after Sam Catchem was introduced, there was a nice long story arc about “Sleet” – the Harvey comics chopped it up with editing, but I was able to read the entire story in a book called “America’s Most Famous Detective” put out by Citadel Press. Many classic Tracy elements are in play in this story. The trench coat, the 2-way wrist radio, a long chase, Sam in peril, several eccentric secondary characters that Sleet involves while she is trying to escape Tracy and Sam – plus, Sam’s personality really shines in this one.My all-time favorite story, however, is when Tracy and Tess finally get married, and then run in to “Wormy” while on their honeymoon. Harvey called this “The Case of the Interrupted Honeymoon”. This was one of the first Dick Tracy stories I had ever seen, and it really grabbed me as a kid. There is a flaw in the continuity – Tracy tells Tess that their cabin is 150 miles up in the mountasins, but when they start chasing Wormy, on foot, he ends up hiding out in the city. But, you know what? That actually contributes to the “mood” of the story, and it is something that Chester Gould used to do in his stories from time to time. Plus, I enjoy the art during this period very much.

morrow, I certainly agree. At these lengths the stories are a few whips snaps, there is an arrest and it’s ‘all over’ ! No room for a Chase sequence, which was always an expected, hard core part of any Gould tale.

I believe from the Kilian days some Editor had the notion that short stories worked better . In late 2001 the Bill Bailey sory lasted 3 weeks and the following 2002 tale, G.R.Eed only 6 weeks *!*Joe Staton in an Interview earlier this year indicated that they were aiming for very short stories, I believe of about *5 weeks** or so

My guess, that’s TMS driven - although the current people haven’t said so, Mike Kilian certainly did.

On the Yahoo DT board Mike says they are likely to adjust future stories to about 8 weeks, but this one and the next are already ‘complete’ in SHORTER form, and can’t be adjusted

If readers prefer longer stories they ought to keep on saying SO, until there is some change. I gather they feel that readers don’t have long ‘attention spans’. Which would seem logical living with Locher’s SLOW (and ‘repetative’) pacing.

But the current Authors are in a world of a “different class” !

.

lizz is looking at us and thinking, what is it with these guys and their whips just because i’m all tied up and helpless?

I was just a little kid. I do remember Flat Top, and Prune Face.

@allI too wish the stories were a bit longer . But, Mike already said the story arcs will be longer. I don’t think Team Tracy will let us down. They haven’t really disappointed us yet.

Since they are both repeating, how will we be able to tell who’s who? More importantly, can Liz tell?

Not to complain (much), but I am ready for longer stories featuring MORE Dick Tracy. Like so many others here have said, the new era of DT is spectacular.

I would like a story to draw out a little more though.

Does anyone know if these stories will be collected ? Who decides, Tribune ?

For me, it’s a matter of the story being just as long as it needs to be. Doubleup, I agree, would benefit from a longer story, but alas, approval from TMS did not come in time to allow it to be any longer than it currently is. In fact, I believe it will not be until the story after the next story that benefits from this longer timeframe. That said, Gould had a number of shorter stories as well, that were very satisfying, and there is nothing wrong with the shorter story, if it is written well. After all, Locher had a number of stories that were long, and none of them any good. It’s pacing, not length, making sure that the strip has enough details to make sense, but not so many details that it becomes repetitive and dull. So far, Mr. Curtis has avoid the latter, but not quite achieved the former, however he is aware of the problem, has acknowledged the problem, and is working on fixing the problem, three things that I can’t say for Mr. Locher or for Mr. Kilian before him. He is also succeeding in being entertaining, another thing I can’t really say for Mr. Locher (and only occasionally for Mr. Kilian).Aaron

@idesama:Please elaborate. I am not familiar with “IDW” that you mentioned in your latest comment. Is this a reprint collection, or what? Thank you for your thoughtful comments, I can tell that you know Dick Tracy history quite well.

My guess is that the second Scarlet Sting is Haku. Dick Tracy will arrive with his gun drawn and have to guess which one is the real Scarlet Sting. Actually neither of them are really the Scarlet Sting – one is DoubleUp and the other is Haku.I think DoubleUp said “You can’t be the Scarlet Sting. I am! I am!” and Haku said “Are you? Are you?” While Double Up has a psychological speech problem, Haku was merely repeating himself for emphasis.

Double Up is doubled up!

Edit – Remove Cringer from the above comment and replace with Panthro. I had a He-Man hiccup.

@everyone Some nice links for Tracy fans: Buy Tracy at IDW Publishing I Love Comix – Vintage Archive The Drex Files – Dick Tracy A source of the original B&W DT version If you have other links, let me know!

Awesome! Thanks. I do like seeing the strips of the current team in its intended B&W. I don’t mind the color, but the art and inks look so much better without it. And I like seeing some of the Collins/Locher Sundays, it’s the era and legacy I prefer to think of when I think of Mr. Locher, the stuff that I hope he will be remembered and admired for. @NVash You’re welcome, again, sorry it took me so long to get back to you, but on the other hand, I’m still pending. :( Perhaps it’s just as well, an old…hrm, acquaintance, shall we say…has reared his head, and the messages there lately have been ugly…I wish people would just ignore him, we (and he) would be happier, I think. On the plus side, though, the group is frequented by such illuminaries as Andy Feighery of Spec Productions who puts out Dick Tracy Magazine, another wonderful resource for Tracy enthusiasts…Officer Jim Doherty who has been a member of those boards for years, a wonderful contributor and individual (and current creator of the Crimestoppers segments)…Jeff Kersten, the curator of Dick Tracy Museum and a fine gentleman in his own right…a gentleman you may have heard of by the name of Mike Curtis. I hear he’s a pretty good writer, not sure if you’re familiar with him…So please do not think that the board is usually as ugly as it currently is.Aaron

I agree, the stories seem too short. Preferable to too long, but still too short. Dick’s not been in my local paper for many years, which is a shame since it’s Dick Locher’s hometown. The stories I remember best from my youth are Dick losing his vision and wearing “blind” glasses, carrying a cane and having little mirrors in the glasses so he could see behind him, being able to see long before he told anyone his vision had returned. That and a kid named Peanut Butter. Then I read a book which collected the first 25 years! That was all in the 70’s.

am I I don’t know are you

Wow, it seems that some readers can’t be satisfied. Can’t be satisfied. It was just four months ago we were whining about the interminable arcs of Locher & Brozeman. Of Locher & Brozeman. I too would like to see stories slightly longer. Slightly longer. But for now, I’m pleased with good artwork and a coherent story line. A coherent story line.

Author Mike Curtis has clearly stated on several occasions that there will be longer arcs, the current runs were predetermined, etc. I can’t understand why people don’t get it, and just enjoy the Dick Tracy Renaissance. Dick Tracy Renaissance.

I almost forgot to mention. Today is the 100th strip by the new team!