Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for September 12, 2008

What ridiculousness - even going to fight crime on the moon would make more sense and entertainment.

BTW: Robocop should run for President - loved that movie

And the robot’s arm is too short…

I’m torn between a [facepalm] and a [headdesk] right now.

Robo-Tracy! Ye Gods!!!

How big was the tarp that was covering it and where the people who removed the tarp?

If you’re its pal, you can just call it Robo-Dick.

Does it transform?

Reading this strip has become a lot like watching the old Ultraman show back in the 60’s.

It was SO bad, SO cheesy and yet…as much as my brain said to turn it off, I was strangely compelled to watch to see if it could possibly get any worse.

Unlike Ultraman, the past two years of Dick Tracy never fail to deliver the next platform of implausibility.

A huge robot…uh huh.Like THAT would be inconspicuous. Sigh. So now I suppose we’ll have to go through the field test, where Diet will discover the world isn’t ready for his creation…maybe if it were an android?? Naaah…

Like you Grokenstein, I just knew this was going to be a robot of somekind! Now, I want to hear what the group who hates the “space age” of the strip, has to say about this! And look at this, DL still can’t stay consistant from one panel to the next. The thing has pincers on its arms on panel two, and in the third panel, it has a hand.

WOW! Locher pulled it off so smoothly! So realistic-like! Traze-R was created with short arms, just like Tracy! In defense of Tracy’s creator, Toto tells me it is because Locher didn’t want him to be standing around with his finger in his a**, like Useless Teevo.

It’s even got Transformer hands! Just like Tracy, they change. Note that in the middle panel, both hands are side-cutters; but in the third panel, it’d left side-cutter turned into a humanoid-like hand. Wonder if it can do a cheap imitation of a pancake flipper like Tracy does occasionally? If so, it can moonlight @ IHOP.

Haha, Dick Tracy looks appalled at a giant mechanic likeness of himself. What about Robo-Dick scares you, Tracy? Is it the square jaw, the stumpy arm pitched 45 degrees out of its body, or its squinty eyes? Is this how Dick Tracy reacts every time he looks in the mirror, too???

Welcome to the space age of terrible comics, Dick Tracy!! What will Locher draw next? Maybe a mechanical dog for Robo-Dick to play with??

I made all those fat jokes yesterday, and now Diet seems to be transforming into a pig (panel one). Aw, this storyline is going to be a poorly drawn version of Frankenstein. And I bet it gets terrible MPG to.

I’d like to know what Dorothy & Toto think of Robo Dick. (Although I think I already know what Toto thinks)

I read the strip, and thought, “It must be April 1st”- and looked at the calendar and wished I was right.

Un-frickin’-believable…

oooo-hhh chills - on the bright(er) side - now maybe DT can retire and Locher will be out of work -Naaahhhh - he’s got a syndicated franchise - and either a standard of living to which he has become accustomed and must maintain - or a pile o’ bills - y’d think, after studying Gould he’d have learned to do perspective in black and white - but it’s like DT, et. al, exist in the Flat Earth Society’s version - except for the overlapping, of course -

From the differing perspectives of TRAZE-R in Panel 2 vs. Panel 3, how can you (Andyh40 & morrow, specifically) be so self-confident that the “pincer’s” appearing in P2 appear “incorrectly” as “hands” in P3. I don’t buy this criticism for one second! They are BOTH part of TRAZE-R, fyi. Some of you should take an art class before criticizing dimension and perspective in an artists work publicly. On a lighter note, I’m both SHOCKED and strangely curious to see what is to become of this “monster.”

(Nice way to shake some of the dust off of your daily critics, Dick!! Three CHEERS, pal! Though, when I mentioned on the phone to you that I’d enjoy seeing Diet again soon in the strip, I didn’t quite expect that THIS is what I’d be seeing!-JK)

Eugeno, as a life-long student of Chester Gould’s art style myself, I must politely disagree with your assertion. Gould created his own unique perspective and dimension to his rendering of Dick Tracy and DL has simply followed in his tradition. On occasion, Locher actually brings a little bit MORE accuracy in these details than Gould did. No other comic strip can compare, and that continues to make DT unique from a design perspective, especially in this contemporary “minimalist” TOON world we now live in.

“(Nice way to shake some of the dust off of your daily critics, Dick!! Three CHEERS, pal! Though, when I mentioned on the phone to you that I’d enjoy seeing Diet again soon in the strip, I didn’t quite expect that THIS is what I’d be seeing!-JK)”

Way to name drop, Dorothy. Since you’ve got Dick on your speed dial maybe you can let him know some of our concerns(Oh, I forgot that us Magpies are not allowed to have any opinions in your universe). to quote Toto;

“Sigh”

I thought Chester Gould’s departure from the Dick Tracy premise in his “moon maid” storyline was awful, but this giant Dick Tracy robot hokum is much worse. The strip’s appearance seems, to me, is being done by someone who has lost interest in it. This slapped out drawing style, complete with incorrect perspective (Tracy’s arms and hands in panel one) looks to me like someone who is hurriedly utilizing some kind of “shorthand” visual depiction. I think margueritem and I are on the same page-give me Chester Gould reprints, if this is all we’re going to get in the “contemporary” Dick Tracy.

Though I doubt this is the best use of my time on a rainy Friday afternoon in Chicago, Bob, I find myself “itching” to respond to your post, you BAITER. I guess they don’t call you bassmanbob for nothin’ – right, Bob?

First, I just have to say that it disappoints me that you have nothing to say about the content of my comments but choose, rather, to resort to prankish name-calling and restrained rage – it is rage, of some sort, isn’t it, Bob? Your WAR with my colleague, Matt Hansel, has left you bitter and seething like a pit-viper ready to STRIKE at any moment. I was not a party to your WAR, Bob, so in the future, please leave me out of your mythological WARGAME fantasy – “but it ain’t me, babe, no..no.. no, it ain’t me babe…it ain’t me you’re looking for, babe!” - Bob Dylan, 1964.

I’ll finish my thoughts in a few, Bob…..JK

It’s raining in NY also Jeff. I like you, Jeff, I really, really do! I’ve no doubt your a very intelligent and passionate person. What irks me to no end is your double standard regarding opinions.

Rage, certainly not! Disappointment, absolutely! Name-calling, all in good fun. Call me whatever you like. Content of your post, nothing new from you.

Cheers.

PS, say hi to the scarecrow for me.

Secondly, let me be crystal CLEAR – I’m NO Judy Garland, Bob, in ANY stage of HER life (for that matter). So if I AM Dorothy, then what, Bob – that makes DL playing The Wizard, I guess, in YOUR version of “Oz”? I don’t agree. Not for me, Bob – its not accurate of MY life experience anyway. I’d say Shel Dorf plays The Wizard in my “Oz.” DL doesn’t, per se, really fit into any of the “Oz” roles very well, but, if pressed, I’d say that he’s the Tin Man in my version of “Oz”, for his oversized HEART which he shares gladly with ALL who encounter him.

Anyway, your mythological Wizard of Oz “exploration” kind of leaves me puzzled at what kind of a mixed-up cat you really ARE, Bob. I truly don’t care to know, but suffice it to say, Bob, you haven’t done your homework on me.

NOW TO THE “RED” MEAT OF YOUR POST: You are free to contact DL with your comments and criticism by sending comment to him through the TMS Features website or via “snail-mail” to: Dick Locher Chicago Tribune 435 N. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611

I KNOW FOR A FACT, that Dick would enjoy any constructive criticism or your opinions on the strip and his efforts creating it. He GETS all the mail he receives and he responds to quite a bit of it, as I understand. You can always call the Tribune offices as well and leave a message for him. What you characterize as NO access to Dick Locher for a variety of opinion and criticism is unfounded, completely, Bob.

Now that we have all THAT behind us, let’s get off on a proper foot here, Bob – I value every opinion on its face, and I’ll decide whether it has merit with ME or does not. I choose NOT to attack, rather discuss in the negative or affirmative any constructive comment with respect, civility and a level of intellect.

I can’t explain the Dylan references, but sometimes I get in a mood for Bobbie and can’t deny or control it. I leave you with this parting thought:

“For them that must obey authority That they do not respect in any degree Who despise their jobs, their destinies Speak jealously of them that are free Cultivate their flowers to be Nothing more than something They invest in” - Bob Dylan, 1964

“It never rains in California But girl, don’t they warn ya It pours man it pours.”

You crack me up Jeff. Thanks for the laughs.

Why does it bother you so much that some of us express opinions?

“Born free, as free as the wind blows As free as the grass grows Born free to follow your heart”.

Say hi to the Tin Man for me.

BB

I’m disappointed that NO COMMENT so far today has been the collective response to today’s strip on the DT Yahoo! Group. ‘The silence is deafening,’ as they say. Well, I gave it a STAB and I’m sharing it below…

“I was SHOCKED at first, in much the same response physically as Tracy has in the strip when he first encounters TRAZE-R. I’m left extremely INTRIGUED and eagerly CURIOUS to discover what this MONSTROSITY could possibly be capable of, technologically-speaking, and how such a “non-descript” machine could detect with any measure of secrecy or anonimity. The size is eclipsing, but it strangely reminds me of Kirbyesque robotic designs and (I REALLY HOPE!!) we are able to at least get ONE Sunday vertical multi-panel full-shot of this beast. Dick Locher continues to leave me dumbfounded at the endless span of his creativity and design with TRAZE-R.

I’m on the edge of my seat, folks, eagerly awaiting TOMORROW’S STRIP!”

Jeff, if you had anything better to do than bicker on the web, there is a huge loss of life and property going on right now, I am expecting a 20’ storm surge to go through my house in a few hours. I live in League City,Tx. It’s headed for Houston (4 million)tonight. Then tomorrow, you and your a**hole buddy, Todo, can laugh.

Morrow

I suppose that, thankfully, we are not all alike as individuals. What I think is just dreadful, someone else thinks is great. Granted, that Chester Gould had his moments of very bad anatomy also, but was not consistent in that way. He meant the strip to be a serious comment of good triumphing over evil. Then, again, he too strayed from the original intent of the strip with the ridiculous “moon maid” story. However, this freakishly idea of a giant robot Tracy is too much!

Morrow buddy, you are in my thoughts & prayers. Hang in there.

Peace & Safety.

BB

Oh man, on most days no one is as funny as Grok, but I am loving all of this discussion today. The only entertainment value I get from DickTracy is mocking the poor drawings and juvenile storyline. I hope it stays that way. Jeff, I suppose it is possible that the robot has a third limb, meaning that the pincer arm is just out of our view, below the hand-limb in the third panel. This is a silly position to take because DL will probably prove you wrong at some point; as he constantly draws inconsistencies. I think you will exhaust yourself defending him (handcuffs off/on, band-aids off/on, mustache’s etc….). For real entertainment, try to pose like DT in panel 2. His left hand looks like it is taped onto his cuff link. Either he has a poltergiest in his wrist, allowing him to have fingers pointing up, when his elbow point down, or he has his arm facing straight at us with atari-like dimensions.

I guess I can see the fun in all of the criticism of the Dick Tracy strips-if you like a “campy” approach-and I see it as such. But as a long time fan, I don’t like it in that way. I liken the present day strip to the very bad Batman TV show. Corny and “campy”

Morrow- NO RESPONSE, thank you, to your filthy vitriol in suggesting I would dare laugh at such horrific tragedy. Shame on you–with that you’re gonna need Bob’s prayers, indeed.

Deadly seriously, though, Morrow – GET THE HLL OUT OF THERE - MAN!* YOU NEED TO FLEE FOR YOUR LIFE. WHATEVER YOU LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT WORTH A CENT TO YOU WITHOUT YOUR LIFE, MAN. YOU GOTTA GO FOR YOUR SAFETY AS WELL AS YOUR FAMILY’S. PLEASE, PLEASE, Morrow – YOU MUST LEAVE NOW, MAN! MAY the Lord guide and protect you, brother.

(This gives me a great idea – a way that the Museum can perform a service to victims of the Hurricanes to DT collectors and fans. Let me noodle with this for a couple days….)

Morrow, the robot in the strip today is ludicrous. It is also insignificant compared to the storm that is heading toward you.

Good Luck, my friend, to you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thanks, you all. We battened down the house and came up to Houston (50 miles) where we are staying with a friend of my wife’s - actually, her maid-of-honor 40+ years ago. Now, we are just watching it unfold on TV. I took my laptop & WiFi to keep tabs on you, my second family! You all are the only thing I still have to keep my sanity and sense of humor. I shudder, though, knowing I may not have a home Sunday. I’m praying hard, though. Thanks for all of your prayers. And thank you for the kind words, Jeff. We ALL love each other….. you know that! FYI, 40% of Galveston’s population stayed - can you believe that? The officials just directed that everyone there write their SSN2’s on their arm in waterproof ink. 2 yrs ago I lived there. But Katrina and Rita taught me to move. We moved 30 mi inland. No help for this storm. They say the tidal wave will go inland 40+ miles. It’s due to hit tonight.

Morrow

I can’t wait until tomorrow when Diet spells out for us what Traze-R stands for.

Tomorrow? It will probably be a week from now when we hear the explanation. Seriously, Dick Tracy has been my favorite since I was a kid (about 45 years back). I’ve endured the long, strung out, stupid story lines from Locher, but this takes the cake. The s-t-r-e-t-c-h has always been tedious, but this ends it for me. I’ve just received volumes 2-5 of the Dick Tracy reprints from day one, and they are well worth the money! I’m through with the drivel in the strip now, but I must say that I get a good laugh every time I read all of your comments!

Davboyd, you should have been with us on the Comicspage board. Those were the days for us Magpies.

Morrow, Keep the faith!!

Traze-R = One too many Krispy Kremes.