Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 14, 2020

”No-Win Scenario.” ✨

Good morning™, bosses!

Bill is lucky Aquarius doesn’t shoot his employees like Yeti did.

I suppose that Bill took enough for his regulars and Aquarius took back a large amount for Cheesecake.

Okay, we now know for sure that Aquarius is the boss. But, is he the supplier or just the kingpin that collects the profits? If he’s the supplier, doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t keep enough of the product for Cheesecake so he wouldn’t have to hit Bill up to the detriment of the business. Or, is Bill keeping some of the supply for himself so he doesn’t have to give Aquarius his cut of the profits?

Good morning™, free giveaways !

Does he mean “give” as in free or that he allocated too much for sale to her ?

As of today, I’m on the bandwagon with those who believe this story puts “old hippies” in a bad light. On the other hand, it’s something Gould may well have done; it is known that he had no use for liberal reforms. (Tracy complaining about the accused’s rights, &c)

Sure could use a Nitrates story about now. She reformed, and he went down, so I guess they’re off the table for now.

(I’d really love to see them bring back the Flatmobile!)

Aquarius has to pay his supplier too!!! Its his own fault for having a coke-head for a girl-friend!!! I wonder who? is his supplier?

Re yesterday’s talk on comics takeover by new authors;

Pluggers has a great new guy who is upholding tradition nicely.

https://www.gocomics.com/pluggers/2020/12/14

Never use your own product—or in this case, have a person in the pipeline that’s siphoning off supply.

this is not going to look good on his year end review

WOW ! , Now that is quite a wild looking jacket for sure . And also in panel two I knew someone who looked just like him . And he was scary also . Really great images again .

Okay, this is getting stupid fast. Aquarius seems unaware there is an increase in sales in Tracy City. Okay, he’s not a part of it, because if he were he wouldn’t have the shortfalls. He gets (we’ll say) 50 grams of product. He has a single pusher working under him? Why not cut out the middleman and sell direct. And if your one pusher gets arrested you’re sunk. He provides Bill with (we’ll say) 45 grams of product, and keeps taking from that amount to keep the girlfriend happy, and then blames Bill? Bill, you’re working for an idiot who provides (we’ll say) 45 grams of product – keeps taking it back – and then demands you sell (we’ll say) 50 grams to keep the customers satisfied. (cue Simon & Garfunkel – Keep the customer satisfied, Album: Bridge over Troubled Waters, 1970) Who is dumber in the relationship, Aquarius for making impossible demands, or Bill for working for an idiot? And how does their apparently small scale operation tie in with the claim that sales of drugs are way up? Does Aquarius have a number of pushers working for him? If he’s calling in nose candy from all of them that’s enough blow to put Cheesecake in a black mariah. If he has several, why pick on Bill – and then demand Bill sells more product than he’s been given?

That’s unprofessional Bill! What are you? An amateur?

1-NARKY MARK: WHADAYA MEAN, YOU WANT YOUR STUFF BACK?!?!

2-SUMMER O. LOVE: Well, Mötley Crüe is getting a reunion tour together and they’ll be looking for my services.

3-NARKY: IDIOT! They’re all clean now! The only thing they need you for is to remind your current customers to save back enough money to buy a ticket so’s they can hear that one hit they still sorta remember!

SUMMER: Heh, heh. I was the inspiration for Dr. Feelgood.

NARKY: When I’m finished, they can dedicate Girls, Girls, Girls to what’s left of you – if you take my meaning!

SUMMER: Gulp I’m guessing you’re not talking about a fashion make over. Erm, nice talking to you. Gotta go. See ya around. Don’t be a stranger.

Let’s be honest – real “old hippies” are really old! Woodstock was more than 50 years ago, so they’d be pushing past 70, not pushing coke. These guys are wanna-be hippies.

Aquarius read Dollar Bill the riot act today. Cheesecake must be using the “product” around the clock. Maybe its use helps her with her cooking. No mention made if she uses recipes from the internet or works from scratch. (no pun intended) Dollar Bill will be Dead Bill if he dips into the “supply” again. At the risk of getting ahead of myself, Pouch could be hired as a hit man to take out Bill. Nah, my make believe scenario only happens in the movies.

Meant to say this yesterday, but got caught up in other things:

I predict that next Sunday will see a one-day interruption in the story line for a Christmas-themed strip.

Pound the table all you want, hippy drug supplier: it is a perfectly valid excuse, and it’s your own fault for dipping into Dollar Bill’s regular allotment to satisfy Cheesecake’s apparently growing habit (she seems destined for the Emergency Room soon if she continues doing so much nose candy).

Of course, despite the total lack of logic in Aquarius’s rant, as a low-level pusher Dollar Bill has no option but to do what he is told to do (or else!). And, there is also the lurking turf danger of a vindictive Pouch and his imported muscle, Tiger Lilly. It ain’t easy, being Dollar Bill in these dangerous times!

Well, I’ll stick with it out of the expectation I’ll get to see Sonny Bono here have his ironical demise.

My, what Hippie Vitriol! What happened to the general people!!