Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for September 11, 2009

Ringo, I told you to lay off the drugs; you’re gettin’ all paranoid!

That poor elephant gets more squinty eyed every day.

Would it not be prudent for the FDA agent to now leave with Ringo in protective custody? And can we see the something besides the cut and paste elephant and tiger?

I knew the elephant would be back today. So far, the audience has seen a ringmaster, a clown, a trapeze artist (now deceased), a girl on an elephant, tiger in cage, several sideshow people plus a pig on wheels. Not much of a circus. Betcha Tess and Bonnie Braids went out for pizza after the shooting!

The elephant is still missing his tusks.

Okay, so we have been in the Big Top discussing the situation for EIGHT WEEKS now. Here’s what’s happened:

Louise Trapeze got shot Ringo said he’d got a threatening note Ringo got another threatening note Ringo said he was in the witness protection program An FBI agent showed up and said there was more to Ringo’s story than he was saying

At three panels a day, six days a week, for eight weeks (and to be fair, I’m not even counting the Sunday strips) that’s 144 panels, or 28.8 panels for each of the five plot developments!

Honestly. SOMEBODY from TMS, or Brozman, or Locher, must be reading these comments. Can you PLEASE give us some idea of why you think this is acceptable???

Well said, Bassman.

Arrest the elephant. He’s planning something, look at those eyes.

About Bassman’s comment: I watched it on TV as the second plane hit. Any thought that this was just an accident disappeared at that moment. One plane might hit by accident (at that time conjecture was that it might have been a much smaller craft than was actually used) but never two planes within an hour. I knew we were being hit at that moment.

It’s not Ringo’s fault, actually; he wanted to stay off the “funny stuff,” but Detective Tracy spiked his drink:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/flightsuit/ringoflipsout.jpg

We must never forget 9/11.

I just finished reading all of yesterday’s comments, and if what MPH says is true about the TMS Editors, than I believe Dick Tracy should be allowed to be retired. It’s obvious they are trying to change the strip to their “standards” which is, in effect, killing it!

You can’t have a classic adventure strip like this continue in the “talking heads” tradition! It’s just not right! Now, I must admit, the last story with the Plenty’s and Jack of Hearts, was a huge step in the right direction (although it had it’s flaws). I thought the two paralel story lines and the action at the end was great, it just had too many contradictions and lacked good continuity (as always). This new story may have been better if more attention would have been paid to it’s execution…as it is, it’s pretty bad.

I can even understand replacing Chief Patton with a woman to be more politically correct…but why has Sam been delegated to “Invisible Man” status? Did they want the Special Crimes Unit disbanded? The strip is called “Dick Tracy” so is he the only character to be utilized? It makes no sense! I also remember a comment made a few months ago about The Editors wanting to get rid of Tracy’s fedora. Matt you say that The Editors want the strip used purely for promotional reasons. I take it then that they had to approve the new Shocker Toys Dick Tracy figure, which is wearing the yellow hat. I guess they also had to approve the Tiki figure produced a couple of years ago which is also wearing the hat. Once again, it just strikes me as strange!

The Editors obviously don’t have to kow-tow to the public, but there are just too many funky things going on behind-the-scenes here for any of us “true-fans” to just sit still about!

If I was as worried as the ringmaster, who is in witnessprotection, I would be sweeting big time wondering why did the FBI do this to me, why wasn’t I more protected, etc. It looks like DT is catching on fast. I haven’t read most of gocomics but I hope others do remember 9/11. I know where I was at the time and how shocked. I’m not from New York.

Most Tracy names have some meaning. I cannot for the life of me figure out what Karen Enen means.

DT strip so far is the only one who has remember 9/11. :( I myself have to say about DT drawings and the other strips drawing its better then what I could do. I cannot draw a straight line or perfect circle.

This just drags on and on and on………

what cute little stubby paws!

Annie has done a wonderful tribute to 9/11.

Is Ringo pleading with Dick Locher in panel 3 ?

If Locher got one thing right in his plot line it was to have Riingo “Blow the Whistle” on that shipment of modern weapons to another country !

Now Mattie’s advice to us is, if we see something obviously WRONG, like say, the city’s Official Service Attendant “defacing” that Locher designed sculpture of Dick Tracy (in Naperville), Because he doesn’t like the stature. Mattie’s advice IS - just DON’T tell anyone, don’t complain. Keep your trap shut. That way you get a Hensel Lollypop. Stop reading and looking, walk away immediately, and you qualify for a MATURE citation and admiration.

Problem is, that’s a warped moralistic approach “designed” it seems to protect the “Service” Attendant , NOT the vauable Work of Art for thr whole population which belongs to the City (TMS), and certainly not the paid “Service Attendant” (Locher), providing service and maintanance. The viewing “public” must complain if maintenance is unsatisfactory, even if the Attendant is in a Union

Now this “opinion” about Locher and Brozman giving their “hearts” and “souls” - “their ABSOLUTE best” given the low quality product is a crushing indictment on Locher’s “learning curve”, having worked alongside both Gould and Collins for (a collective) 15 years. WHAT did he learn ? WHAT did he retain ? AND why (?) has he DISCARDED 95% of the “techniques” (?) both Gould and Collins used (?) And then, implemented HIS NEW (untested ones), which have no track record of success anywhere ?

For example what happened to 1) The “time” to crime within 72 panels to “kick start” action? 2) the CHASE sequence? (this doesn’t happen again ?) 3) the good guys never get shot or injured, not for the last 17 years ? 4) Death traps (serious ones) a thing of the past 6) The introduction of a known villain EARLY ?

As the Senior partner with Kilian and and now on his own, he stands culpable of working at his “absolute best” with flawed tools having questionably “DISCARDED” the HEART off what really worked.

That team inherited 350 newspapers under their control all but 50 papers vanished, A loss of 86%, just frittered away. And Collins worked under the same heavy TMS restrictions

Dick Locher it seems tried to re-invented the Wheel ! (?)

Readers have to wonder if HE knows what he is doing. And if YOU Matt, realize the gravity of the situation (?)

What was the ADVANTAGE (?) of changing the facial appearance (and personalities) of 60% of the HQ staff (ie Patton, Lizz and Junior) ? Articulate how it helped the strip ! Shrugging them off as is your wont is not an answer. it’s an admission that you don’t have one !

I think you need to address the above questions (indeed, problems) “competently” and in DETAIL, before you look to debate anything. I’ve set them out many times on the other board. you should be familiar with them ?

I’ll be frank, I don;t think you have ANY answers and there is strong reason to believe that the unset of circulation problems commenced with L&K’s silly adventureism in naive, untested ideas and the thoughtless DISCARDING of working, time “tested” techniques together with the altered facial “designs” that serve no “identifiable” advantage or purpose.

The well liked end of story “camarderie” at HQ that added a human touch is no more. Everythig now starts at home with Tess AND a telephone call. He’s hardly seen with his co-workers anymore,

In the meantime, Locher continues down a path of ongoing failure, continuing to use flawed tools and techniques that are destroying the strip – and your view is they are just fine, BETTER than those he dropped ? Do it his way (?), let him continue ? WHY? What’s the “upside” to that direction ? Tell us please !

Don’t try to shift Lochers unsound practises (over which HE DOES have “CREATIVE” control) onto the shoulders of TMS ! It won’t fly !

Bassman,

That’s a tough thing to be reminded of, but it is important to remember,

Matthew, There you go again - putting words in the man’s mouth. “ENTITLED” ! (?) He never used that word. You did !

It is reasonable for concerned readers to ask questions. Particularly, if there are millions who would like to hear some answers. And we still live in a world where it is courteous and sensible to pay some attention to your readers. That’s yet another thing that’s changed in Dick Tracy - Gould always courteousy replied. !

I’m not “entitled” to have answers to my questions (asked of you), but then, I don’t expect any. For the simple reason you haven’t got a “foggy” on how to answer any of them.

And Mattie, I’m not surprised ! ;-)

Aw Sydney, ya went and took the bait.

Now me personally, I am figuring Locher, Brozman, and the executive team at TMS have an ABSOLUTE MORAL IMPERATIVE to fly out to California THIS VERY AFTERNOON and BEG MY FORGIVENESS for having offended my HIGHLY DEVELOPED SENSIBILITIES with this REALLY POORLY DONE comical strip, and put me in charge right away so I can right the EARTH-SHAKINGLY CATASTROPHIC things they have done to it.

That’s what I think I’m entitled to. Oh, and they should bring some cookies.

ps macadamia nut chocolate chip.

Not really, I’ve been having debates with him for about two years on the other (Yahoo board). he’s a young lad (age 27) and needs guidance. which I try to give him periodically. But he thinks that Locher is the best thing in field since sliced bread. He’s met him a couple times so he in now a lifetime member of the DL Fan Club.

I think he owes the board an apology for misleading posters and encouraging the belief of his having something special in the strip on Oct 4.

That was as bogus as Locher fooling readers with Tess’s credit card scam. How does the saying go ? “Monkey see, Monkey do” ?

Did some posts from Matthew Hansel get censored before I arrived? It’s always hard to guess what’s going on in a censored forum; all you know for sure is the secret police are at work.

On this day of all days we ought to remember what this country stands for, and never forget government is not the only enemy of freedom.

-Cougar :{)

It never ceases to amaze me how one person with an out-of-tune instrument can disrupt an entire symphony.

Jazz hands!

That girl still hasn’t gotten off the elephant.

I know he’s coming back but where has Sloppy the Clown run off to?

Mattie,

I note you like responding to trivia, reading the board like a hawk now, after your sabatical, but you won’t touch anything of substance that I raise. Probably for good reason.

Concerning your age I dont have access to anyone’s HR Department. I picked up your age as YOU reported it on the Yahoo board early last year (i.e. then 26.) It’s now one year later !

I’m shocked to hear anyone would try to “investigate” you Matt, Why would they want to do that ?

Let me add, you see how posting picks up when you are involved ?

Lifes just to hard today You hear a little someone say In my pursuit of happiness I mean to even the score And he blames TMS, for Lochers pathetic mess And he cowers in the shelter of someones little helper He just wants to get his way, makes sure you will have no say

Jumbobrain–that was a brilliant statistical analysis. 28.8?!!!

Astonishing. Thanks for providing this info.

Does Morrow’s wife’s employer’s Human Resources department have the same respect for the law that Dick Tracy has shown? If so, I can understand MPH’s feeling violated!

Peter,

Aw ya flatter me. I just added and divided was all. If there were any subtlety to the glacial pacing of this strip the math would have been beyond me.

But I was also surprised, I knew it was slow but I didn’t think it was that slow. Dick Tracy has always been redundant between daily and Sunday, but to have just the dailies cover the same conversation for two months is kind of amazing.

Good gosh.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Matthew, with all respect for your communications skills, and for someone who has posted as much as you have today, there is no better word than motorfingers.

Matthew Hansel, I’m finding your comments as confusing as the strip itself. “the RULES that TMS places on the strip–NO GUN PLAY–which means NOBODY CAN GET SHOT” – didn’t you notice Louise Trapeze got shot, a few minutes ago in Dick Tracy time? We’re still standing around in the ring talking about that. People got shot in the last adventure, too, and others got their hands caught in steel traps and were visibly bleeding and audibly complaining about the pain for quite a long time….

You never said anything SIGNIFICANT will happen on Oct. 4th? What did you say, exactly? “Watch this space on Oct. 4th when nothing significant will happen!!!eleventy!!”? Was that the gist of what you posted every day? My memory isn’t what it used to be….

-Cougar :{)

Whether you agree with Mattie or not, you have to give him credit for standing up and defending his friend.

Someone has way too much time on their hands…sigh.

No, no, DON’T DO IT MATT! Er, Matthew… um, I mean…

Mr. Hansel.

OOOPS! I thought I was on the Dick Tracy comments board. I seem to have accidentally wound up on “Matthew Hansel Rules the World. I’d point out how many times he has obsessively commented today, but that would be “stalkerish”. Meanwhile, back at the strip, it has taken how many weeks for absolutely nothing to happen? Did Tracy even ask where the notes came from? How did they make it to police headquarters for analysis? Did Teevo take them? Why not a panel of Tracy handing the to him? Instead of how many repeat panels of the circus tent, tiger, or girl on rather bloated elephant? Why the heck is Tracy referring to these notes as ransom notes? What the heck is being ransomed? It is very unclear if Tracy and Ringo have been standing in the ring a hours or weeks. What were Ringo and Mister Pops talking about in such conspiratorial tones before Louise Trapeze was shot? Anybody?