Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 31, 2012

Good morning all…

Man, this arc has been great!

If the EMT in panel 3 is legit, I think Cueball is all done, for good. A moment of silence. I guess Harley “P. Puss” Niav survived, and the henchmen Tracy brought down are conscious and able to sit up. Meanwhile Sam has again understated his success in subduing the two big bouncers. Mop up the few remaining details, and this sub-plot is history. Onward to catch the drug pushers, and others higher up!

I don’t know—- here lately we’ve had a problem with dead people who don’t stay dead. Might be true this time though. Point-blank range, impossible even for a bad shot to miss— Cue Ball might be really dead.

Cue Ball made the mistake of talking instead of shooting. h should have taken a lesson for Tuco in the Good The Bad and the Ugly. “When you have to shoot, shoot.; don’t talk.”

Sorry to see Cueball go. Chet the coroner gets another one. Crime doesn’t pay!

ah, but is it CUEBALL who punched the clock or is it PUTTY PUSS? the EMT could be mistaken, after all how familiar is he with tracy’s rogues gallery?

It makes sense to keep PP alive and kill Cueball. PP can do crazier stuff, which is what this strip thrives on.

must have scratched on the 8 ball….

It may have been said before, but perhaps Harvey still being alive plays into a “Let’s Make a Deal”—have PP disguised as Cueball to get to Mr. Crime…

Another quickie—-I thought someone in the know here said this story was supposed to go till July? Or is this just Chapter One? I was all set for a full-length adventure and instead we get another short subject?And when do we get to see Dick do some real detecting to catch crooks? So far it seems like he’s caught every crook because of dumb luck (“Hey, look I just knocked over a case full of blow”) or by simply crashing into buildings, guns a-blazing.

I kind of hate to see Cueball meet his end. In panel 2, the drawing of the bouncer’s face (the guy with his back to us) is really some great artwork, and Dick is looking sharp in panel 1 as well.

As all ways, a well written and well drawn strip.

The Ambulance,and Medics could be on Mr.Crimes’ payroll. They grab Putty and split,leaving Cueball to die in the gutter. His only chance would be to groan after those Medics leave and Tracy calls dispatch to have the unit return to the scene only to learn It hasn’t arrived on scene YET!

I don’t think they would send a coroner if Cueball was alive.That’s a shame, between the two, I was hoping Putty would be the one going out in a body bag.But, with Putty alive I wonder if Screwball will be looking for some revenge.Great Arc, Team!!!Although, I think there’s still a little left to this story. Mike said before, arcs will be ending on Sat. or Sundays. It’s only Tuesday, so…..

I wonder if Putty Puss is singing Cher songs right now

Bang bang, you shot me downBang bang, I hit the groundBang bang, that awful soundBang bang, my baby shot me down

Although, I personal prefer another song with BANG! BANG! in the chorus.Anyone want to guess who had long hair in the eighties? ;-)

It’s nice to see Dick Tracy again! I haven’t seen nor read him in a LONG time!

In the Collins ERA, Sam was even - Acting Chief of Police.

The EMT looks shifty to me.

@Newenglandah

Sam was never a “goofy comic relief” – He came on board in 1949 as a top, professional cop. You may be thinking of Pat Patton. In the very early days of Dick Tracy, in the 30’s, Pat was often seen as comic relief, doing silly things like looking through key holes when there were armed crooks on the other side of the door. Sam has always been portrayed as first class and competent – unless I missed something during the Locher years.

Of course, there WERE several times when Sam got into jams from which he had to be rescued. His first case, involving Sleet, almost got him killed. Pearshape had him wrapped up in a roll of wire fencing at one point, and Empty and Bonnie the Lady Barber did him some harm. But he always bounced back, ready to be at Tracy’s side in time for the big showdown.

Can’t wait until tomorrow for more.

Looks like someone scratched the Cueball so to speak