Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 27, 2014

Abner? Nitrates? Sunday’s strip should be great!

Good morning guys!

Abner Cadaver! Long time, no see!

Opps! Abner Kadaver.

Has to be Abner Kadaver, judging by the drippy speech balloons — and didn’t he have a job at an amusement park a couple of years ago.

Or is it Rikki Mortis (remember her sitting next to the “Abner mask”)?A nd what about that Apollo guy who appeared with Venus & Melies in October? And on & on…We have a lot to look forward to! I love it!

And where else might you expect to bump into Abner but the Monstercon?

The plot thickens …

What happened to Sarah Karloff?

Was Abner Kadaver at MonsterCon incognito?

Will the Blackhearts successfully recruit Gruesome?

Where are the Nitrates?

… and what of Agate Annie?

Stay tuned!

Or….it might be Sara. Hmmmm?

My money’s on Abner Kadaver. —Who just happens to meet the fleeing Gruesome and Einstein, By The Power Of Coincidence, the most potent weapon in the writer’s arsenal!

Hoping it’s Abner!

Love the Spencer Tracy reference, as well!

Morning, Tracyville!Goofy Golf is also a reference to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Maybe there’s an alien presence here. Mysta, perhaps?

@Jim DohertyI read and appreciated your post yesterday evening. It was very well written and carefully considered. Although this is not a theological forum, you expressed your views quite well, and the views of many of us who seek peace and tolerance in this crazy world. Thank you.

Good morning friends and fans. I’m betting that it is Abner.

@davidf42: my feelings also. Jim’s post was well written and I believe it was timely.

Have a great weekend.

Can someone please explain how Abner Kadaver got out of that cement deathtrap? And I wonder if Gruesome and the Nitrates will be joining the Blackhearts?

I recognized Abner’s voice immediately! And it makes perfect sense that he’d visit the MonsterCon (he was a TV host of horror movies).The real question is, is it the real Abner, or Rikki Mortis in disguise? (Who cares? I’m just happy to see him, eh, her, um, them back! They’re among my favorite characters of Mike and Joe’s creations.)

Yeah Abner, although I do wish it was Sarah Karloff.Great story by the way, it almost makes up for the last one.

That first panel is killer. Tracey,Wizard pop-up and Sam in the background. First rate artwork here.

boy that Gould guy sure could tell a story, even with weak characters like the Kitten sisters. The good old days, guys, the good old days.

@ Jim Doherty:Thanks for your comments yesterday. I will respect your idea that this is not a forum for theological discussion (although, you did take up several paragraphs to express your views). If I had the privilege of knowing you personally, I might suggest we sit down over a cup of coffee for a good discussion. May I suggest, instead, that you read Gospel of John, Chapter 3: verses 16 thru 21? I understood from your words that you have a deep respect for the Bible, and I do also. God Bless.

Ah! But is it Abner or Rikki in Abner make-up and mask? Much like the age old question of how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop… the world may never know ;)

Nightshade, i liked your little song yesterday, tho i admit i barely know the tune… i just remember it from… i think.. a chuck wagon dog food commercial, im not old enough to have heard the actual song itself.

and for the record.. just because i ABHOR the character of “kandikane lane” DOESNT mean i dont like women in the strip….in fact, the women characters are some of my favorites..Perfume Plenty, Astral Plane, B.U. Tiffil, Zelda, Sue Reel, Lizz (of course), Lee (of course), Tess (duh), Bonnie (even BIGGER duh! lol), Angeltop, Blaze Rize, Christmas Early, Sparkle, Honeymoon, Wendy Wichel, Rikki, Quiver Trembly, Claudine, Moon Maid/Mysta TRACY, Jewel, (but i’m still a little “iffy” on sprocket nitrate..tho mainly because she didnt get much “airtime” before), Gertie…and THOSE are just off the top of my head!

Ken,.I am, of course, familiar with the Scripture passage you reference..Regrettably, I can’t really respond to what I infer is your interpretation of that passage at length without engaging in precisely the sort of theological discussion that doesn’t really seem appropriate here..I would welcome the chance, should it ever come, to sit down over a shared meal or drink, and discuss this at length..In the meantime, we’ll have to be content in our shared assurance that we both, despite some differences, are part of the larger confederation of believers that C.S. Lewis once called “Mere Christianity.”.Thank you for your civil and well-thought-out responses.

of course, it doesn’t explain why Abner’s voice would be on the golf course closed message as well, as he didn’t own the whole park I presume. I love Abner, but am hoping this is not a cameo, as his best stuff lies in his elaborate plots to kill Tracy. And I won’t bring them up here, but once again things about future events here that were “leaked” to us in advance have dampened my enthusiasm for the upcoming events a little…oh, well.