Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for September 21, 2015

Good thing Venus has her looks, ‘cause she ain’t too smart! And this is pretty informative for a Monday strip: “Bribery has made his exit” (so he really did get away!); and Sam doesn’t seem too worried about Rocket or Apollo, so I’m guessing “Dead Fish Dead”.

s Venus lay, bleeding away, with time slipping quickly byShe could’nt help, curse the hand that was dealtAnd wonder the purpose or reason whyIt all seemed so good, like a perfect plan shouldHow did it all go so wrongOne moment it’s clear but then clouds soon appearAnd we’re left with an out of tune songAnd the most infuriating insult, is that Dick Tracy has felta need to fawn and hover and gloatLet’s see how he feels when he tastes this steelThat I’ll gleefully ram into his police coat.

Finally 2:11am. Hopefully I can get up at 6 to get ready for work,,,, ZZZZzzzzzz

YIKES….guess we’ll soon know if bullet-proof includes knife-proof.

I think Tracy’s vest will protect him from any serious wound. But Venus is being really stupid. Sam could have cut her in half with his sub-machine gun if he had chosen to….

What’s Venus’ history with Tracy that she’d be so dim?

Kadaver had claimed that what Bribery & Company were doing would tie into his plans.

How so, I wonder.

And no “Air Car” for weekday-only readers. :(

IIRC modern vests in addition to being designed to absorb the impact of bullets, the kevlar layers double as being resistant to puncture too. That said Sam’s warning may allow Tracy to step back far enough to avoid any injury. I agree with Yngvar that she’s not thinking straight.

Let’s be fair, she’s had a lousy day …

She appears to be stabbing straight into the vest, but Tracy has plenty of exposed skin and she could slice open his arm. She probably realizes she can’t escape, but she may just be lashing out against her captors. She really can’t get in any more trouble at this point.

125 posts yesterday.

From Mike Curtis at The Dick Tracy Fan Club.Just in and reading the many comments on GoComics. Can’t seem to post there, so somebody feel free to copy this and put it there.

LIVE AND LET DIE seemed like good musical background for this storming of the Blackhearts HQ, although I used SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL when getting inside Bribery’s head. LIVE AND LET DIE is my favorite Bond film, but for a very special reason.

The motorboat chase scene in LET DIE was filmed basically in my backyard. For many years I lived in the Castle on Irish Bayou, which is a local landmark. Irish Bayou is where ships have been built and tested since at least the early 30’s. So although the Castle isn’t in the film, each time I see, I see a lot of my old neighbors.

Reading the finals on the first week of MIDNITE MIRROR. Can’t wait to hear responses.

Against the star of the strip? While he’s wearing a flak vest? You ARE new at this, aren’t you?

A pleasant day to all my friends.-—————-A futile attempt at killing Tracy. Will she now expire or live to rejoin Bibery at a later date?-—————-Thanks to Stagger Lee for posting Mike’s comment-—————-Be happy and healthy everyone.

Good morning guys!.G’morning Gweedo, 22ph, Starman, AnyFace, et al.

SHOOT, Sam, SHOOT!!! Pull the trigger quick!!

I wonder if Sam’s comment which pretty well tells everybody that Apollo is dead made Venus flip out.

Venus never seemed to be that kind of stupid.

“Bribery has made his exit…” Okay, no last-minute air duel there.

The Venus attack was a surprise – even after she heard about her brother – because she just had an exchange with Tracy about why it seems he is invulnerable in situations just like this.

Gweedo, as you are aware last week was a very busy one for a nearly 81 year old man. My plan for today is to go back and read your late night postings from last week.

Just realized that the A didn’t wake up in time for this morning’s poem. The first word should be AS. Thought I’d correct this before my buddy does! LOL!!!

personally id like to see mr briber have a “spectacular exit” like timothy Dalton did at the end of the rocketeer movie lol

May I introduce you to Sue? You may remember her as Elly’s coworker in For Better or For Worse. She was in the strip recently, about a month ago.Vista Bill has Rikki. I have Sue and Linda (from the TV series Kim Possible).SUE

The Unofficial GoComics Staton/Curtis Death ListAs compiled by boboscar and Tarry Plaguer

NOTE: Names with a + were found dead or killed prior to the story start.

+ Wormy & Thistledew (Reported dead in armory fire)03/21/11Flyface 04/22/11The Fifth & Eddie Garcia (at the same time) 04/25/11Earl (Flaky and Hot Rize’s innocent co-worker) 05/12/11Hot Rize 05/28/11Emma Parks (A.K.A. Ponytail Mk I) 06/14/11The 2 terrorists who tried to hire and double cross Morning Gloria 08/13/11Big Frost 10/20/11Apparatus Member (Killed by DoubleUp) 10/25/11 & fed to Tonsils 10/27/11Flaky Biscuits (never confirmed, but implied) 10/29/11+ Sizzler Sitzes (Hired by Kadaver to kill Charles Adams A.K.A. Baron Clovis in a hit and run. Was then shot and killed by Kadaver to keep him quiet) 10/31/11 identified 11/09/11Cueball 01/31/12 Mr.. Levitz (Doubleup’s main henchman in his first story; later killed by Kadaver to get Doubleup off) 03/13/12+ Vincent Vinyl 05/05/12 confirmed 05/11/12The 3 supporting members of the Mumbles Quartet 05/20/12Lt. Teevo 07/06/12 confirmed 07/18/12Panda 07/15/12 confirmed 07/23/12Davey Mylar (A.K.A. Mr. Crime Mk II) 07/13/12 tombstone 09/30/12+ Arthur Curry (aquarium director) 08/22/12Bookie (Measles’ partner) 10/14/12Measles 11/10/12+ Stephen Baux’s fiancée 02/08/13 identified 02/27/13Simon Baux A.K.A. Sweat Box 02/24/13Diet Smith Industries Guard (supposedly killed by Bardoll) 06/25/13 (uncertain; shown lying on the ground and called a “casualty” on 6/29/13, but unconfirmed)Bardoll 07/07/13 confirmed 07/16/13Hy Pressure 09/28/13 confirmed 10/08/13Drs. Sail, Ghote, and Flash Munroe? (still alive last we saw them, and ambiguous that they’re dead, but it often sounds like Curtis thinks of them as dead) 10/18/13Bill “Shortcake” Mitchell (apparatus member) (never confirmed, but implied) 10/31/13Miles Mycroft 01/26/14Mr.. Kolossal 04/30/14Ed Rosato (never confirmed, but implied) 05/14/14Tabby Angus 05/28/14The Butcher of the Balkans A.K.A. Henrik Wilemse (Punjab placed his magic blanket over him, sending the Butcher on to “fly with the Maji” where none have ever returned) 07/27/14Axel’s “crack combat troops” (implied to have all gone the same way as The Butcher of the Balkans a la Punjab) 09/30/14Axel 10/05/14Otis 12/05/14Mrs.. Flattop 03/01/15 confirmed 03/06/15Cork 04/29/15 confirmed 05/01/15Fontane 05/06/15 confirmed 05/12/15Jimmy Choo Shooz 06/04/15Melies 8/23/15 confirmed 8/31/15Rocket Munroe & Apollo They would’ve been fatally shot by 09/12/15, on 09/13/15 it’s implied Venus is the only one on that floor still alive, on 09/21/15, Rocket & Apollo are among those on that floor who are identified.

VENUS . . .

Before she departs … (one assumes to Jail, no Bail} …?- . . . (no ‘Kleen Up’ - this time,)

So thought, I should make a point of congratulating Joe on the excellent “cleavage” he’s bestowed on her.* . . .*No second look needed to confirm greater - ‘heft’ and likely, far more - ‘bounce to the ounce’ !

Only those nurses Morning Gloria and Mina (Sept. 2011) ‘come to mind’, but theirs, although much larger, suffered from spatial (visual) deficiencies. If we put the comparisons in a more ‘reasoned’ perspective.

In a Dick Tracy ‘period’, one might think - dominated by two ‘B-B’ sized Eyes . . . Venus comes Out Front, a welcome ‘CHANGE’, a new Leading Edge of the strip’s visual spectrum.

Thanks ‘loads’ Joe ! Keep up - the excellent work !

For those space fanatics who may not have yet seen them, there are some great new pictures from Pluto uploaded just before the weekend and some others from 11 days ago. Follow this link to NASA: Pluto ‘Wows’ in Spectacular New Backlit Panorama

Why that little vixen. I guess she’s either quite stupid, or else not thinking well. Either way:

When I was arrested; why, I didn’t have a dime. The sheriff said, "Son, you’re ridin’ free this time.

Where you’re goin’ you won’t need a cent ’cause the great state of Texas gonna pay your rent.

‘Cause where you’re goin’ (I think he means jail) you won’t need a cent (When he knows I’m broke)

‘Cause the great state of Texas (Yippee!) gonna pay your rent. (I’m mighty grateful, fellas)

Hover and gloat could be what Mr. Bribery Bigg is doing now .

I imagine he’s gloating a lot at this point. He may have lost the gold, but he still thinks Diet can supply with with a vehicle that will allow him to mine all the riches of the moon. (At least I think he expects that.)

Gweedo asked,Thanx, Bill. Busy as it was, sounds like you got a lot done. Were you in electronics design, fabrication or repair in your long illustrious career as Pre Vista Bill Raley ?This nosy mind wants ta know.-————————————————————————.Electronics has always fascinated me. Only as a hobby, though. Model railroading and computers are my other hobbies. My working career was in typography and graphic design, the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve (Military Police Corps). Now you know all about me, Gweedo!

Gweedo mentioned to Jonathan K.:I hope you and Bill aren’t going to get into a “legs” race over how many girls you got in the stable .. or coffin as the case may be. *-——————————————————————-,Me and Rikki are pals. Even though we are very close pals.

In the next panel will we see her sobbing uncontrollably like Lucy …

The next panel should be interesting in any case. Tracy nearly has her cradled in his arms as it is. It’s somewhat parallel to the injured Fritz Ann in the arms of Sam, though there is obviously a much different dynamic at play here.

Neil mentioned,Typography is my specialty,—————————————————————————.I worked with metal type, phototype, digital crt type, and desktop publishing over the course of 60+ years. My father introduced me to metal type at the age of eight. I never got into illustration (drawing).

Look at her expression, I’m not sure she isn’t as surprised as Tracy.

Sue needs to return to Canada to be in tomorrow’s FBOFW. I hope she doesn’t end up in Albakoikee. That’s what happens when you get directions from that wascally wabbit.

@avenger: Now we know how you get those poems written so fast. I thought you were psychic. LOL. -————@boboscar: Thanks for posting the death list.-————Be well my friends.

Gweedo complimented me…Bill…. You’re a force to be reckoned with and as an ex cop I can see why you “keep the peace” here at the D.T. detective squad room.-———————————————————————-.Gweedo, I would not trade my life for anything.

Gweedo said,A gentleman never tells, Bill.-——————————————————————.Our coffin is soundproof and sealed from the inside. Only someone with xray vision can see what goes on.

Gweedo asked,Can I trade my life for yours, Bill ?-————————————————————————-.No way, Gweedo! I put nearly 81 years into ‘fine-tuning’ my life.

Gweedo cautioned,My drone is in the shop for a Gamma rays upgrade. Going to a higher res camera too.-————————————————————————-.Hah! We are prepared for your drone, Gweedo. We have new high tensile cobwebs in place to trap it and our bats are trained to take your drone down! .BTW, we cast no reflection anymore.

Watch out, Tracy! She may be beautiful, but she has a nasty temper.

In the real cop world, that type of move earns her a bullet in her ‘B’ Brand. C’mon Sam, one less bad one to keep up with.

Venus, what are you doing? No one can kill Tracy, you already admitted it. I hope you survive even if you are a bad girl, because you’re quite the cutie.

Dick, however, is made of sterner stuff. Check out the expression in panel 1.

Although he looks stern, it looks like he cares. He’s concerned for her well-being.

Well, I’m off to bed. I’ll probably be back about 4 hours after the new strip comes up.

And of course, his bulletproof vest won’t stop a knife.

Gweedo confidentally replied,*Bill, Hornyboypeeper Labs will be working round the clock from one late turnover to the next to crack that code. So enjoy the security while it lasts !*-——————————————————————.Gweedo, I fear that they have met their match here. Vista Bill as well as Bill’s World of Electronics has 80+ years of experience in overcoming such as what you mention. A proud reputation of a 99.99% success rate!

Gweedo, look in your crystal ball and see if my next avatar is a “blank”. Since we cast no reflection, does that mean that we cannot be photographed? To be continued…

Venus certainly lived up to her name. Beautiful, but also deadly.

Punjab relished this part of his jobSo easy at times like a ball softly lobbedProtecting the princess his mission in lifeAnd fools like these two helped eliminate strifeA sword of this kind, like a glass of fine wineIn the hands of an expert an exceptional findBut perhaps the job needs a more personal touchThe thrill of the feel is that asking for too muchThere’s always a critic or two in the bunchProwling slowly about looking for today’s lunchPunjab never did care what the crowd had to sayHe’ll continue to guard Warbucks child his unique way.