I loved the way Sam called the comics the “funny papers”, when I grew up, they were called “the funnies”. People would say, “pass me the funnies”. Great memories. As strips like DICK TRACY, ALLEY OOP, KERRY DRAKE, Li’L ABNER, and so many others were such an important part of my childhood!
What a sad day. Tragic day in Boston, tragic. Also, RIP Frank Bank. We’ll miss you, Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford. These things are reasons we must always have the “funny papers” to help get us through. Thanks, Team Tracy.
I like the Jumbler and his little dog, Crypto. We got to see the MCU team working together, as well as a glimpse of Sam at home. It would have been fun to see Jumbler back at his apartment after the rare comic book heist. What comic would he have read to little Crypto? Duncan the Wonder Dog?
That’s funny. I’m a frustrated comic-loving thief who wanted to own a Scottie. Maybe we can work something out? And what police department building allows smoking nowadays?
My original post was, I thought Jumbler WAS the brief intermission story! Avenger09: I fully agree. Jumbler’s dog was more of a threat than the Jumbler! (Just ask DT!) And the point has been made, more than once, that it appears that this entire story line, along with the Dick Tracy themed Jumbles last week, were simply an attempt by Tribune Media to use the two comic strips as “commercials” for each other. (Likely, that’s what Sam really wanted to say in that last panel!) Looking forward to better stories from Mike and Joe once upper management gets out of their hair.
Cheapskate0 speculated that the purpose of the Jumbler story was as a dual-promotion of both the Dick Tracy strip and the Jumble feature. Whether or not this was true, it did cause me to read and solve each Jumble connected with the strip so in that sense, the cross promotion worked. I thought the cross promotion was in good fun.
The Jumbler arc was not spectacular but “OK.” Will we see Jumbler again in a future Tracy arc? Maybe but doubtful—he is not in the same league with Mumbles, BB Eyes, or even Doubleup. His motivation (as stated by Tracy today) is a bit thin to expect more crimes from him.
I am not generally a fan of villains whose purpose seems to be outwitting the police by sending them clues. (Blackjack also falls into this category). I prefer criminals who are motivated by greed to get money or power and want to fly under the radar. The last thing a criminal would want to do is notify the police. This is a “Crime” strip not a “Super Hero” strip.
I did enjoy seeing the MCS doing actual detective work searching for clues. However it all seemed too easy. Where were the “Red Herrings?” This case was solved so easily that it could have been handled by MCS in their sleep.
The ending was a bit lame. After a big build-up, it seems anti-climatic for Tracy to simply go over and arrest the perp (same thing happened in the Phishface arc). Where was the excitement? Where was the sense of danger? The most violent thing that happened in this arc was Sam falling through the floor.
I didn’t hate the Jumbler arc (it was fun while it lasted). The Jumble puzzles allowed for reader participation which was fun. But it is FAR from my favorite Tracy story.
What were you expecting here a big shoot out? A sky tower rigged to explode—-then explodes?
Fair enough question NG49.
1. I was expecting a story that didn’t whimper out at the end.
2. I was expecting a story that didn’t contain such a big contradiction in its main character (Jumbler goes from a slick, intelligent foe to a surrendering meekly buffoon)
3. I was expecting a story that didn’t have so many unanswered questions ( What’s the purpose of the 13 on the eyeglasses, Who were those two guys at the beginning of the story and what purpose do they serve, Why did Jumbler leave a personal video for Tracy, Why the need to leave clues before pulling off these heists, etc.).
I don’t think it’s too much I’m asking for. Feel free to disagree with me.
When Tracy was explaining about a frustrated young lad who got passed over for the Jumble strip, that rang a bell. Maybe the same applies to a cartoonist who wanted the Tracy strip. Coincidence? or Karma.
OK, since Willy completely destroyed the spirit of the board by posting a spoiler that there will be a long MM story soon (LOL!!!) let me ask something. MM stirs up many intense feelings on both sides of the fence. She’s either loved or hated. I’m almost completely in the middle regarding her but truth be told my feelings lean 51% against her. Can anyone give me a reason to switch MM sides? (Does anyone care? LOL!)
As far as the number 13 goes. It all has to do with prime numbers. This has been discussed quite a bit on previous posts.In any case it made Jumbler a PRIME suspect. (grin)
Hey Jumbler Jeff… just wanted to pass along that Jumble is one of my favorite features, and is usually the second place I look in the Tribune comics section (right after Dick Tracy)
How slow I am. So, LUJBEM FEJF is, in fact, one of the Jumble authors. Glad you had fun with the combined story lines. Truth be known, even though I can rarely solve a Jumble puzzle (I just wait for the next day to see the answer), your Jumble strips were better than the Tracy strips these last few weeks. (At least, this is my humble opinion) As for Ray Toler and Avenger09, well, they said what I wanted to say far better than I did. The story simply didn’t seem to be going anywhere – and I maintain that Jumbler’s heists were hardly the stuff that ought to have been assigned a Major Crimes Unit. In the end, I suppose the Mayor’s cameo was to assure that Tracy got the job, rather than a junior detective. To quote Sam, that’s life in the funny pages!
Willie007: Love your impassioned defense of Moon Maid. There is not a logical reason in the world for me to want her to return, but I want her to return, anyway. If other Team Tracy’s wanted to kill off the Space Era, they made a mistake by not taking out Honeymoon, too. I certainly hope the current Team Tracy has a plausible line as to why Moon Maid didn’t die in that car bombing in 1978. Sparkle ought not to feel threatened by the return of Moon Maid. Even if she did, she now has another arc with Montana Joe. Either way, Honeymoon deserves to have her mother back. And I sincerely hope that is where this story line is going.
Willy, good post. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, as it took heart to write it as passionately as you did. Some folks, however, feel disempowered with women – especially attractive women. But that’s between them and their analysts and beyond my pay grade.
DICK: So Chief – how about we focus on the Moon Maid case now?CHIEF: That? Oh we gave up on that. We came to our senses that it wasn’t worth investigating a car bombing from the late 1970s. We’re going to focus on the case of someone that is the Joker’s 3rd cousin twice removed from the city of Gotham. DICK: Well, Junior will just have to suck it up ^^Well said
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ over 11 years ago
Good morning all…
Moon Maid is back!
margueritem over 11 years ago
Life in the funny papers, indeed!
Good morning, VB!
DaJellyBelly over 11 years ago
*I like Sam breaking the 4th wall a bit. :-) *
Rod Gonzalez over 11 years ago
Way to break the fourth wall, Sam!
DrSid1 over 11 years ago
Nudge, nudge, wink, wink…
Mikeyj over 11 years ago
instead of stealing all that money, he should have gone to the Sun times and offered to do a “Rumble Puzzle”
SCOTTtheBADGER over 11 years ago
Mr. Hunter is a frustrated cryptographer, and nut-bunny. Any word as to whether Belle is out of the hospital yet?
willy007 over 11 years ago
Mike Curtis has announced that “the EXTRA LENGTH Moon Maid adventure” will begin after a brief intermission tale. :)
blunebottle over 11 years ago
Well, as I figured……looks like a simple wrap-up and no mention of the #13.I wonder if they found a home for the dog?
dennis4476 Premium Member over 11 years ago
I loved the way Sam called the comics the “funny papers”, when I grew up, they were called “the funnies”. People would say, “pass me the funnies”. Great memories. As strips like DICK TRACY, ALLEY OOP, KERRY DRAKE, Li’L ABNER, and so many others were such an important part of my childhood!
miqq1234 over 11 years ago
…j 1-3…..odd….that’s fitting
jazzmoose over 11 years ago
Love the motive.
coldsooner over 11 years ago
What a sad day. Tragic day in Boston, tragic. Also, RIP Frank Bank. We’ll miss you, Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford. These things are reasons we must always have the “funny papers” to help get us through. Thanks, Team Tracy.
morrisssm8781 over 11 years ago
Post to the GoComics board that next is a brief intermission tale, the onto theEXTRA LENGTH Moon Maid adventure.
Mike
William Bednar Premium Member over 11 years ago
Are Staton and Curtis making a connection between the Jumbler and Moon Maid (in panel 2)?
Pequod over 11 years ago
I like the Jumbler and his little dog, Crypto. We got to see the MCU team working together, as well as a glimpse of Sam at home. It would have been fun to see Jumbler back at his apartment after the rare comic book heist. What comic would he have read to little Crypto? Duncan the Wonder Dog?
LUJBEM FEJF over 11 years ago
That’s funny. I’m a frustrated comic-loving thief who wanted to own a Scottie. Maybe we can work something out? And what police department building allows smoking nowadays?
tsull2121 over 11 years ago
i cant help but thinking that “K.T. HUNTER” is a jumble for something else :)
kantuck-nadie over 11 years ago
Quite an enjoyable story, gentlemen. Thank you for it! I enjoyed it. Especially after that rather dark and foreboding Sweatbaux storyline.
Sardonis over 11 years ago
I hope there is more to this—this ending is lame so far.
Cheapskate0 over 11 years ago
My original post was, I thought Jumbler WAS the brief intermission story! Avenger09: I fully agree. Jumbler’s dog was more of a threat than the Jumbler! (Just ask DT!) And the point has been made, more than once, that it appears that this entire story line, along with the Dick Tracy themed Jumbles last week, were simply an attempt by Tribune Media to use the two comic strips as “commercials” for each other. (Likely, that’s what Sam really wanted to say in that last panel!) Looking forward to better stories from Mike and Joe once upper management gets out of their hair.
jmcx4 over 11 years ago
I want one of those cool Moon Maid lamps like Tracy has in P2.
Ray Toler over 11 years ago
Cheapskate0 speculated that the purpose of the Jumbler story was as a dual-promotion of both the Dick Tracy strip and the Jumble feature. Whether or not this was true, it did cause me to read and solve each Jumble connected with the strip so in that sense, the cross promotion worked. I thought the cross promotion was in good fun.
The Jumbler arc was not spectacular but “OK.” Will we see Jumbler again in a future Tracy arc? Maybe but doubtful—he is not in the same league with Mumbles, BB Eyes, or even Doubleup. His motivation (as stated by Tracy today) is a bit thin to expect more crimes from him.
I am not generally a fan of villains whose purpose seems to be outwitting the police by sending them clues. (Blackjack also falls into this category). I prefer criminals who are motivated by greed to get money or power and want to fly under the radar. The last thing a criminal would want to do is notify the police. This is a “Crime” strip not a “Super Hero” strip.
I did enjoy seeing the MCS doing actual detective work searching for clues. However it all seemed too easy. Where were the “Red Herrings?” This case was solved so easily that it could have been handled by MCS in their sleep.
The ending was a bit lame. After a big build-up, it seems anti-climatic for Tracy to simply go over and arrest the perp (same thing happened in the Phishface arc). Where was the excitement? Where was the sense of danger? The most violent thing that happened in this arc was Sam falling through the floor.
I didn’t hate the Jumbler arc (it was fun while it lasted). The Jumble puzzles allowed for reader participation which was fun. But it is FAR from my favorite Tracy story.
avenger09 over 11 years ago
@Night-Gaunt49
What were you expecting here a big shoot out? A sky tower rigged to explode—-then explodes?
Fair enough question NG49.
1. I was expecting a story that didn’t whimper out at the end.
2. I was expecting a story that didn’t contain such a big contradiction in its main character (Jumbler goes from a slick, intelligent foe to a surrendering meekly buffoon)
3. I was expecting a story that didn’t have so many unanswered questions ( What’s the purpose of the 13 on the eyeglasses, Who were those two guys at the beginning of the story and what purpose do they serve, Why did Jumbler leave a personal video for Tracy, Why the need to leave clues before pulling off these heists, etc.).
I don’t think it’s too much I’m asking for. Feel free to disagree with me.
dennis4476 Premium Member over 11 years ago
WELL PUT Chikuku!
fhoffman01 over 11 years ago
I will also throw in that I enjoyed the Jumble crossover. Love Jumble!
Jerry1967 over 11 years ago
Ha! Is that Moon Maid with two M’s? ;)Moon Maid’s story starting very soon? Yeehah, sign me up. It’s going to be a blast.
Morrow Cummings over 11 years ago
When Tracy was explaining about a frustrated young lad who got passed over for the Jumble strip, that rang a bell. Maybe the same applies to a cartoonist who wanted the Tracy strip. Coincidence? or Karma.
avenger09 over 11 years ago
OK, since Willy completely destroyed the spirit of the board by posting a spoiler that there will be a long MM story soon (LOL!!!) let me ask something. MM stirs up many intense feelings on both sides of the fence. She’s either loved or hated. I’m almost completely in the middle regarding her but truth be told my feelings lean 51% against her. Can anyone give me a reason to switch MM sides? (Does anyone care? LOL!)
Tarry Plaguer over 11 years ago
As far as the number 13 goes. It all has to do with prime numbers. This has been discussed quite a bit on previous posts.In any case it made Jumbler a PRIME suspect. (grin)
Farmboy71 over 11 years ago
Hey Jumbler Jeff… just wanted to pass along that Jumble is one of my favorite features, and is usually the second place I look in the Tribune comics section (right after Dick Tracy)
Cheapskate0 over 11 years ago
How slow I am. So, LUJBEM FEJF is, in fact, one of the Jumble authors. Glad you had fun with the combined story lines. Truth be known, even though I can rarely solve a Jumble puzzle (I just wait for the next day to see the answer), your Jumble strips were better than the Tracy strips these last few weeks. (At least, this is my humble opinion) As for Ray Toler and Avenger09, well, they said what I wanted to say far better than I did. The story simply didn’t seem to be going anywhere – and I maintain that Jumbler’s heists were hardly the stuff that ought to have been assigned a Major Crimes Unit. In the end, I suppose the Mayor’s cameo was to assure that Tracy got the job, rather than a junior detective. To quote Sam, that’s life in the funny pages!
Cheapskate0 over 11 years ago
Willie007: Love your impassioned defense of Moon Maid. There is not a logical reason in the world for me to want her to return, but I want her to return, anyway. If other Team Tracy’s wanted to kill off the Space Era, they made a mistake by not taking out Honeymoon, too. I certainly hope the current Team Tracy has a plausible line as to why Moon Maid didn’t die in that car bombing in 1978. Sparkle ought not to feel threatened by the return of Moon Maid. Even if she did, she now has another arc with Montana Joe. Either way, Honeymoon deserves to have her mother back. And I sincerely hope that is where this story line is going.
Morrow Cummings over 11 years ago
Willy, good post. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, as it took heart to write it as passionately as you did. Some folks, however, feel disempowered with women – especially attractive women. But that’s between them and their analysts and beyond my pay grade.
Mikeyj over 11 years ago
DICK: So Chief – how about we focus on the Moon Maid case now?CHIEF: That? Oh we gave up on that. We came to our senses that it wasn’t worth investigating a car bombing from the late 1970s. We’re going to focus on the case of someone that is the Joker’s 3rd cousin twice removed from the city of Gotham. DICK: Well, Junior will just have to suck it up ^^Well said