Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for December 29, 2015

X-Ray specs, Specs?

.Good morning guys!.Don’t worry, Gweedo, Krypto (the superdog) won’t hurt you!

And now a new reason to call him “Specs”. I also wonder if those glasses will give him abilities similar to that of the feared former criminal INFLUENCE.

Gweedo inquired,Is he an actual VBR home resident ?-—————————————————————-.Nope. Our last dog was Mercury (1970s). You should fear Mercury, though. .

He could have bought those from the back of the comic book for 50 cents plus postage and handling.

Amazon has some for $7.95 so I guess the price has gone up. I did find this old-time-y original ad:

So, at least he moved his hand away from his face but it looks like we’re never going to see his eyes. His remark in the last panel may mean that his migraines are finally gone.

These are the ones they sell at Amazon (potentially useful for a criminal if they’re actually good for “under cover spying” like the package claims):

It would be hilarious if this were actually the end of the Spicy/Specs story.

Of course …

… there are always side effects.

By the way …

… Specs’ tattoo seems to have stabilized at a “three” and a “five.”

22ph remarked,It was honest enough to say You seem to be able to look right through the flesh and see the bones underneath.—————————————————————.We weren’t interested in seeing the bones, 22ph! Just through the clothing..

Darn! I’ve read all the comments down this far and none of you seem to have first-hand experience with these! Now I’ll never know.

I agree with JonahHex — I’m getting a strong Infuence vibe from this.

More fun with X-Ray Specs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkmYZ1xHXao

Neighbor bought a set, they were pretty lame.

Why I believe the villain of this story has his first appearance in this story.

These special specs developed by the Diet Smith research lab may help Specs with his migraines (as suggested above by Neil Wick). But they continue to obscure his face, which may be a blessing; I don’t think the boy is too handsome….What that relief might enable or encourage him to do is, at this point, of course, spec-ulative….

X-Ray Ability to ‘SEE THROUGH’ Solids has been a ‘FEATURE’ of the Wrist Geenee (now, known as the Wrist Wizard) … since April of 1997 !It was created by Diet Smth Industries (during the Kilian / Locher era) and available to users ever since April of that year

First appeared in the Nutsy story-line of 1997, when the device was updated by Diet Smith, and the first model was subsequently STOLEN off Tracy’s desk by Roxy (a girlfriend of Nutsy)

Other than in that’ strory-line, I can;t recall the feature being ‘used’ by the police *…

Here - some visuals from that introductory tale to jog - the ‘memory’ * . . .*

Nowadays there’s less need for x-ray specs thanks to the trend of spandex & yoga clothing that so many women wear.

Hey what are the specs on those specs, Specs?

I’m kind of surprised one of the options wasn’t ruby quartz lenses.

Why do I sense lawyers for Marvel Comics about to make several phone calls?

With spectacular stolen spectacles, will Specs make a spectacle of himself? Thanks for the panels, Sydney.

‘Speaking’ of “See -Through” . . .And in the ‘context’ of my earlier post today on the Wrist Geenee’s “update” that incorporated the See – Through X-Ray vision - facility in the new 1997 device . . . Here’s a truly AMUSING - indeed, a “HILLARIOUS” sequence !

See Below - On the lawn, outside the Beautox residence Tracy calls for “Backup” on his fully “equipped” Wrist Geenee . . .Inside THE Beau Tox home are Heartless Mahoney and Prune Hilda, there to ‘disfigure’ with ‘acid’ (and/or kill) him for their “botched” facial operations by him . . .Recall, this is a fast forward to Dec. 2003, some 6 plus years after the device update . . .

The classic revelation on Lizz’s arrival with armed police comes in Tracy’s statement . . .

“GLAD YOU’RE HERE - DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE !”

Seems Tracy, along with Authors Kilian and Locher - simply forgot the “X-Ray” facility to SEE INSIDE was sitting right *_there -

On his Hand !!! ;-)*

Makes one wonder (?) Might Mike and Joe have - ‘forgotten’ TOO ??

December 14, 2003

Could this new guy’s full name be Xavier Raymond Specs?

X-Ray Specs for short?Chester Gould would have given him a name like that.

If he wants to wear them in public, he will have to stick to 3d movies and costume parties.

The two vintage X-Ray Spex/Specs ads contain a disclaimer which probably went over the heads of the kids reading the comic books. It clearly describes the experience as a “funny illusion” or an “hilarious optical illusion.”The obviously newer (“made in China” gives it away) “XRay Gogs” package contains no such description. By now it has become common knowledge that this is a gag item.

Almost looks like Otto Octavius behind him in Panel 3

Along with the sea monkeys and teacup sized dogs! And the whoopee cushions!

Hi Gweedo. Just thought I’d pop in. How was your Christmas? Mine was very good. Got my Samsung Flatscreen TV!I also got some lovely perfume as well. Believe it or not. The perfume is actually called “Lovely”-I also got some perfume for my 21st Birthday as well. It’s supposed to be better than Chanel No.5 which has always been the best perfume around. -Anyway, I’m pretty sure you don’t care about all that stuff. I wish you a very Happy New Year when it comes! It also falls on a “Finally Friday”

Night-Gaunt49 responded,He went through a series of levels he could see, and in each case he saw more and more reality till he couldn’t stand it.-———————————————————————-.Thanks! I might watch the movie later.

Night-Gaunt49 stated,Now that is the cutest Krypto puppy ever.-—————————————————————-.I bet Mike Curtis likes the puppy! My 2-1/2 year old great grandson has a Superman® cape. Cool!

Night-Gaunt49 replied,But I didn’t know that at the time I read such advertisements.-————————————————————————.I was so excited when I first saw the ad that I didn’t read the description. My imagination took hold! A possible reason that I never ordered was that I was afraid of what my parents would say/do when they saw them!

Five and Three..

Night-Gaunt49 mentioned,I saw a child recently wearing a super boy cape.-—————————————————————-.I’d like one of the capes with my “Vista Bill” logotype on it!.

Rikki thinks I’d look silly in a superhero cape. She prefers a fashionable “Count Dracula” style cape..

Or cafepress.com.