Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for February 22, 2015

Blowtop’s home a crime scene: a gruesome, bloody messPerpetrator left some clues, her name Tracy can guess.Lucky to still be alive, discovered just by chanceDetectives gaze with practiced eyes: observe yet fail to Glance.A threat it seems the tabloid screams, so easy to ignoreStiletta’s plan contemptible, her actions all abhor.Elsewhere Lena digs right in, devouring fresh meatOutside Kandi’s rolling up, Sprocket’s there to greetHer with a scowl and furrowed brow, a sister too possessiveSilver’s favors are all hers, peculiar and obsessive.Whispering to Lena, she makes no idle threatShould Kandi shine for Silver she won’t live to regret.Yet Kandi’s sweet on Flintheart, she murmurs in his earHer naughty nude agenda, which he’s so thrilled to hear.The old ham is in heaven, his heart swoons in a rushAgain today she’ll have her way, Flintheart’s too old to blush.

What a pleasant exchange (yet, with an air of mystery)! What would be in the film cases that Sprocket wouldn’t be privy to?

Sprocket was extremely pleased; the engine ran with perfect easeWith Hot Rod’s brawn, sweat and grease, the pending sale would be a breezeWhat’s this? Some cans of 35, Silvers joy, Silvers prideWho knows the contents held inside?Oh well it’s time to start the rideHot Rod’s such a gentlemanTo offer help to lift the cansNo need, for years I’ve used these handsFor any job, need or demand.

.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!.OK, that tired me out! ZZZZZzzzzzz……

The Wonder Car also serves as a ssubmarine!

Well there must be ONE truly ‘significant’ Movie in those cans ? They’ve been allotted a Whole Panel, and some might even ‘think’ - taken on a level of Visual importance that’s quietly served to dominate this Sunday Page presentation ? (Two new tires for a refurbished Flattop Car, might’ve seemed more logical ?)

So you do the Itchy Oliver ‘thing’, and wonder why a movie in 2 cans is (somehow?) more important, than (say) those missing segments that followed a Bomb Explosion at the Patterson Playhouse revealing Police arrival, OR showing Lizz’ “leapfrogging” from said Playhouse to the Goofy Golf Course, arriving . . ., ‘just in time’ - to escort Gruesome of to jail on Jan 7th ?

So we’ll we’ll just have to wait , , , and for now, be ‘content’ . . . with that Sound - – VRRUMMm . . .While awaiting, (obviously) some ‘Big Moment’ - (golly!), one HAS to come along SOON ! (?)

And another thoughtful & well-spoken comment from Jim Doherty! The Sunday strip, the poetry, & Jim…I can sleep well, tonight!

Good morning guys!

I wonder if those film cans contain bombs, a secret gift from Mrs. Flattop so she won’t have to pay the Nitrates after all.

Dang! boboscar beat me to it!

Welcome back, Pequod77

I seriously doubt that there is film in the cans. Maybe Chris Chendo worked his magic and planted bombs in them. Flooom!

Why would Mrs. Flattop have bombs placed with the car? If Sprocket had decided to open one of the cans to see what it contained, she would have blown up the car as well as herself. If she wanted them dead, I think she would use a more direct approach.

I have to think the film can will come into play in an upcoming scene. To what end, we’ll have to find out. I like how this story is coming together. Also thank you Pequod77 for the great poem!

Hmm. Is Silver running a racket of his own on the side, without Sprocket’s knowledge? Maybe pushing a little porn?Or is he just avidly collecting vintage films for private viewing?Either way, I guess I’m surprised to see the Wonder Car in such good condition after the lake submersion, even with Hot Rod’s ministrations. Sprocket Psychotic is the unpredictable Nitrate, the one to worry about. Will she go after Kandikane, “just in case”? Maybe catch Vitamin and Ms. Lane in flagrante?

Morning, Tracyville!

Stiletta wants two things. First, revenge on Tracy. Secondly, she wants her car back. Blowing up the Nitrates does not fit into that plan. My guess is that these films have something to do with whatever Silver does when he’s locked away in his room by himself.

Great job Pequod! I don’t know how you continue to outdo yourself. Thank you for your delightful weekly contributions in verse.

You too Avenger.

I believe she gave the Nitrates a check. Maybe Silver is already spending the money on something else.

The film canisters are featured too prominently to be a throwaway bit, they must have some significance.

Unless they’re only there to establish that Sprocket is wicked strong.

Still lots of pieces in play, kidnapping plots, car purchases, commercial scams, attempted murders, plus a romantic rendezvous, to name but a few.

No idea at all what fresh intrigue Monday’s strip will introduce.

Maybe we’ll check in with Blowtop at the hospital.

Good Morning Vista Bil, et al. There aren’t bombs in the Wonder Car—Stilletta didn’t know where the Nitrates were refurbing the car.. Good Rhymes all ‘round today. Can’t wait to see what comes in the week ahead!

Good morning my friends. Excellent comments all. Good job Pequod and avenge. Have a peaceful Sunday everyone.

Don’t ask, Hot Rod, just deliver…

@Pequod77@avenger09Great work from both of you.Pequod77 did a summary of the past Monday through Saturday; avenger09 recaps what happened today.

The two poems compliment each other. They are somewhat like chapters in a novel.

Old nitrate film was extremely flammable—those cans may still go up in smoke.

I also agree that the film canisters do not contain bombs. Stiletta wants the car back undamaged.

Could they contain the long-lost print of London After Midnight?

Another great week in Tracyville. I find Kandikane to be an extremely likable character. She is the spice of life to keep Vitamin young at heart. Her work in film adds to her depth, while their romance makes Flintheart even more compelling. His return to a prominent recurring role is one of many ways the strip is top-notch. I can imagine a film festival double-feature: The Moon Maid and Kandi’s documentary on The Life and Times of Vitamin Flintheart..Team Tracy has made Tracyville a compelling place. The stories do not exist in isolation, as other people and places are glimpsed, even as the current criminal acts and investigation unfold. Elsewhere, Sparkle and Junior are caring for their baby. Honeymoon and Mysta continue their friendship. Diet Smith contemplates the next round of research and development at Smith Industries. Blackjack is dreaming up who knows what kind of outrageous criminal undertaking. B-B Eyes, Blaze and Doubleup conspire to serve the ill will of Venus and the Blackhearts. TBolt menaces someone, somewhere. The Mole happily helps Toad and her mother in their underground abode. Pouch sells his balloons and information. Notta acts as caregiver to her stricken brother, Purdy. Lil’ Attitude chows down on delicious pizza procured by BO, having successfully avoided a bowl of turnip surprise from the big pot. What a great strip. They outta give it an award or something….Today we see the Wonder Car ready to roll. More Gouldian history put to good use. Lizz…well, who needs an excuse to cast an appreciative glance at Detective Worthington-Grove? She, too, has had a hand in the story of the return of the Wonder Car. We see the Nitrates bickering as they take their ill-fated road trip a year ago. I figured they died in the icy waters, but I was wrong. I think they are even more interesting this time around. Sprocket needed no help with those film cans. Strong woman. Looks like Stiletta will get her dead son’s car back in tip-top shape. Or will she? What a great story.

Thanks to cpalmeresq, VistaBill, Neil Wick, Night-Gaunt49, fhofmann, AnyFace, davidf42, Chris Robinson, Willy007, coldsooner, Chris Sherlock, Starman1948, Jonathan K. and JPuzzleWhiz for the kind words. Very much appreciated!.Yes, Ken, I am aware of Life and Look, thanks. My parents subscribed to the former for a time. Tracy had no reason to think the tabloid was pertinent to the attack on Blowtop, but we know better.

If this thing with Vitamin and Kandi gets graphic, Mike & Joe will have to put the strip on PPV! Hmmm……..

Pequod, as always, love the poetic summaries!Avenger, great job as well!A new wrinkle with the cans, or as some are supposing, related to Silver, perhaps? Sprocket wasn’t expecting them, so it could figure to somethig big between the two siblings.

Excellent work on today’s strip … THANKS Joe, Mike, Shelley, Shane and Jim!!! Shane – your color work on today’s edition really stands out!!!

Unfortunately, “Maintain the Right” too often becomes, on the part of some police, “Maintain the Far Right.”

@HAL69: I believe 8mm and 16 mm were used prior to 35mm, 70mm, etc. however, I could be in error. Anyone else have better info?

Thank you cpalmeresq, Neil, Willie, John, Chris and Jonathan. I appreciate your kind and encouraging words.

.You to David.,

Good poem, Stilldamatt. I think it is one of your better ones! And, I also forgive you for the Texas slam last week. We, being Texans, are a forgiving bunch. You’ll find a lot of manners south of the Mason-Dixon line!

Gweedo, you can be sure that you were in a “concealed-carry” state and that any lady that would have lunch with you and me would have her hand in her purse the entire time! And I betcha she appreciated you showering! (tipping my hat to Rose Rabbit)

Happy Chester Gould Day!

@Tarry Plaguer:Happy Chester Gould Day!

I keep forgetting to post this. You can read about the documentary on the Kane County Chronicle site or on the Northwest Herald site (slightly different illustrations on each).

Is that documentary available on DVD?

Look up “Chekhov’s Gun” under tropes.

Essentially what I said earlier, but this sounds familiar: “A reverse Chekhov’s Gun is also common. Explicitly showing a normally armed character forgetting his gun when leaving the house for example. The experienced troper knows that this will become the day he needs it the most.”

This would be what happened to Dick Tracy the day he left his Wrist Wizard in Diet Smith’s shop to be retooled.

In an only vaguely related note, February 22, 1922 was also chosen as the official birth date of Marvel Comics’ Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner …

Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner

why they call him hot rod.

Blowtop’s home a crime scene: a gruesome, bloody mess

Perpetrator left some clues, her name Tracy can guess.

Lucky to still be alive, discovered just by chance

Detectives gaze with practiced eyes: observe yet fail to Glance.

A threat it seems the tabloid screams, so easy to ignore

Stiletta’s plan contemptible, her actions all abhor.

Elsewhere Lena digs right in, devouring fresh meat

Outside Kandi’s rolling up, Sprocket’s there to greet

Her with a scowl and furrowed brow, a sister too possessive

Silver’s favors are all hers, peculiar and obsessive.

Whispering to Lena, she makes no idle threat

Should Kandi shine for Silver she won’t live to regret.

Yet Kandi’s sweet on Flintheart, she murmurs in his ear

Her naughty nude agenda, which he’s so thrilled to hear.

The old ham is in heaven, his heart swoons in a rush

Again today she’ll have her way, Flintheart’s too old to blush.