“Hey, I remember when there was a comic strip with the original title ‘Plainclothes Tracy.’ That was a Tracy who was a police detective who was engaged in serious detective work against incredible larger-than-life villains with ingenious nefarious schemes & the stories were suspenseful & full of action, close escapes, & thrilling climaxes. I wonder whatever happened to that strip…”
What more does Tracy have to say ? He hasn’t read any of the books. Does he read any book by any who write in that vein ? Now that that is out will the story change scenes tomorrow ?
“I’ve carefully avoided reading any your books. I don’t even want to think about them.”
“Forgive my asking, but if that is the case why did you seek me out today and ask if I could have a cup of coffee with you?”
“It’s hard to say. Every now and then I feel the need to be somewhere to set up a coincidence. I feel one coming on. Do you have something else to do this afternoon?”
“Well, I’m meeting my significant other for dinner. Would you like to have dinner with us?”
The late Judith Merril, my friend and the mother of modern SF, was described by J. G. Ballard as the strongest woman in a genre created by weak and ineffectual men. While not always true it certainly is true that those effectual on the page are ineffectual in real life. In real life Judy was strong.
As in quite a few real life conversations, Austin used a lot of words but didn’t actually answer Tracy’s question. I’d like to see Tracy say something like:
“Write all the crime novels you want. My question is, why use my name? Why portray me as a crime boss, when I’ve devoted my whole life to fighting crime? Surely you can see how that would be offensive, mirror concept notwithstanding.”
“Books? HA! Wimp stufff! I only read LOCK ‘N LOAD Weekly. Helpful little self-help magazine. Got some interesting ideas for peanut butter and guava sandwiches in there, and don’t get me STARTED on the Lonely Hearts column!”
Tracy spends too much time trying to solve crimes, writing reports on those efforts, plus testifying in court, to want to read about fictionalized crime.
The Sunday strip gives Shelley more of an opportunity to show us the coffee shop and the different times reflected in it. The name “Jumping Java” and the swing dancers in the picture gives a 30’s and 40’s feel. The vinyl records could be anytime up through the 1980’s and are making a comeback. We also see laptops, which were most popular in coffee shops 10-15 years ago and are still used some that venue, have been replaced by the cellphone, as seen in the last panel. Even though in yesterday’s strip I got the impression that Tracy and Austin were ordering from the register (with the menu display shown), today I wouldn’t be surprised if a waitress came by to offer a refill. Nice job!
1-DT: OK, so I got your extortion note. Are you trying to ruin me because I made a public stink about your crappy writing?
2-ADAM AUSTINPOWERS: I don’t want to ruin you! I just want your money. It’s not my fault that one of the Tracy quadruplets…
3-…TURNED TO A LIFE OF CRIME!
4-…Your other brothers,Dr. Rick Tracy and Fireman Blaze Tracy paid big money to stop me from revealing that Taint Tracy is related to them. So when can I expect your “contribution”?
5- YOU FOOL! I AM TAINT TRACY DISGUISED AS GOODY TWO SHOES DICK! Now gimme that dough my other sucker brothers gave you or someday soon, when you least expect it…
AUSTINPOWERS: Yeah, yeah. I should’ve known immediately when you showed up without a suit, hat and rain coat. So…will you take a check? TAINT:Heh heh. I REALLY AM DICK. Wait. I think. ARRRGHHH! WHICH ONE AM I? AUSTINPOWERS: What? DICK/TAINT: What?
Dick Tracy is certainly well known, very well known, prompting artists to borrow from him in their work. And Dick Tracy expresses his annoyance at how artists depict him. I wonder what detective David Toschi thinks of the character “Dirty” Harry Callahan based off of him.
Tracy doesn’t need to read any of the Austin “Boss Tracy” novels to know they denigrate him and his law enforcement dedication. Any review seen or heard would suffice to tell him that and spare him the wasted time reading the bilious, cheap rip-off of his identity. An ethical, moderately talented author could write a crime novel without having to drag the top cop in Tracyville through the mud. Austin is just trying to cash in on Tracy’s name-value. At the very least, it’s a kind of identity theft-for-profit, quite possibly actionable since done without Tracy’s consent. Our hero needs to consult a top-flight lawyer if he wants to get any satisfaction from the overly smug Adam Austin….
Ah, forgot to update y’all…went to urologist Friday (8:30am) and I wasn’t able to get an xray done prior because there was no prescription for it…but I told the dr that the two stones I’m 99.99999% POSITIVE were the last because there was no pain or bleeding after mick and Keith were evicted (waaaaay back on may 1st) so he told me that they were calcium stones, and that “the goal is 80 ounces of fluid a day” to which I replied “I’ve been drinking 40 ounces of water and 40 ounces of cranberry juice first, then lemonade since December when I went to the emergency room”… so apparently I’m right on track, tho he suggested I cut back on sodium
Pequod 12 months ago
“Boss Tracy” is the villain of Adam Austin’s book
Adapted for the big screen, crowds sure did love the look
Of criminals as police, of cops as the bad eggs
Instead of serving to protect, they were cast as the dregs.
In Midnite Mirror opposites do populate the tome
Flattop a detective. The mean streets he does roam.
Pruneface, he was cast as Chief. Shaky was the Mayor
Catchem was a violent thug who’d shed blood on a dare.
Now he’s got a new one out, the title, Clocks Strike One
Violence, chaos, and mayhem! For readers it’s good fun.
Yet there’s a real-life mystery right in front of his face
“Susan” is really Sprocket and now nearing her disgrace.
Brian Premium Member 12 months ago
“Have you read any books?”
firestrike1 12 months ago
WHEW!… looks like Susan won’t be the topic of discussion between the two of them… yet…
avenger09 12 months ago
Happy Sunday, all you fellow snoozefest lovers!
The dialog is earth shaking!
GoComicsGo! 12 months ago
Ha. Nice one Tracy.
GoComicsGo! 12 months ago
Nice bicep muscle tone/definition appearing just below Tracy’s right t-shirt sleeve by Shelly. A small but nice detail by her.
Neil Wick 12 months ago
Good morning™, everyone!
I came in late today — I got distracted. Neither Doctor Tracy nor Fire Chief Tracy sound very good.
BreathlessMahoney77 12 months ago
“Hey, I remember when there was a comic strip with the original title ‘Plainclothes Tracy.’ That was a Tracy who was a police detective who was engaged in serious detective work against incredible larger-than-life villains with ingenious nefarious schemes & the stories were suspenseful & full of action, close escapes, & thrilling climaxes. I wonder whatever happened to that strip…”
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray 12 months ago
Good morning™, men of many trades !
What more does Tracy have to say ? He hasn’t read any of the books. Does he read any book by any who write in that vein ? Now that that is out will the story change scenes tomorrow ?
DaveG1960 12 months ago
Got to get the right job for the character. Dan Dare was originally going to be a space fairing priest. Space pilot being a bit more exciting…
fredville 12 months ago
Dick gets a chance to get even by locking up his barefoot lady, lol
The Reader Premium Member 12 months ago
Dick Tracy sticks to the comics page.
IvanB.Cohen 12 months ago
Jump’n Java, hmm this must be the flipside of Starbucks. Ideal beverage for all seasons..coffee.
IvanB.Cohen 12 months ago
If Tracy never read any of his books, chances are he would avoid the audio CD version of them as well.
iggyman 12 months ago
I like Tracy’s honest answer, “No”!
LawrenceS 12 months ago
“I’ve carefully avoided reading any your books. I don’t even want to think about them.”
“Forgive my asking, but if that is the case why did you seek me out today and ask if I could have a cup of coffee with you?”
“It’s hard to say. Every now and then I feel the need to be somewhere to set up a coincidence. I feel one coming on. Do you have something else to do this afternoon?”
“Well, I’m meeting my significant other for dinner. Would you like to have dinner with us?”
rhartt4363 12 months ago
The late Judith Merril, my friend and the mother of modern SF, was described by J. G. Ballard as the strongest woman in a genre created by weak and ineffectual men. While not always true it certainly is true that those effectual on the page are ineffectual in real life. In real life Judy was strong.
Ignatz Premium Member 12 months ago
Pimp Tracy.
crobinson019 12 months ago
so…No malice intended, jut a writer playing “What If.”
Nighthawks Premium Member 12 months ago
anh. I’m pretty sure it’s " even a cracked mirror is correct twice a day"
Nighthawks Premium Member 12 months ago
…or was it ‘step on a cracked mirror—-break your mother’s back’?
Ken in Ohio 12 months ago
As in quite a few real life conversations, Austin used a lot of words but didn’t actually answer Tracy’s question. I’d like to see Tracy say something like:
“Write all the crime novels you want. My question is, why use my name? Why portray me as a crime boss, when I’ve devoted my whole life to fighting crime? Surely you can see how that would be offensive, mirror concept notwithstanding.”
Batster 12 months ago
Looks like Professor/Doctor Hugo Strange sitting in the background of panel 3….
Chris 12 months ago
then why are you bothered by it.
Gent 12 months ago
Read your book? It less agony if hit me own head with a hammer.
General Trelane (Ret.) Premium Member 12 months ago
Total waste of a Sunday strip. No action . No plot advancement . Waste of Pleger’s art.
Wichita1.0 12 months ago
“Books? HA! Wimp stufff! I only read LOCK ‘N LOAD Weekly. Helpful little self-help magazine. Got some interesting ideas for peanut butter and guava sandwiches in there, and don’t get me STARTED on the Lonely Hearts column!”
tripwire45 12 months ago
Couldn’t Tracy sue him for defamation?
WilliamVollmer 12 months ago
Tracy spends too much time trying to solve crimes, writing reports on those efforts, plus testifying in court, to want to read about fictionalized crime.
Dkram 12 months ago
“Mirror, Mirror”
jrankin1959 12 months ago
Love the shading and the evil twin look on Tracy in Panel 5.
Don Bagert Premium Member 12 months ago
The Sunday strip gives Shelley more of an opportunity to show us the coffee shop and the different times reflected in it. The name “Jumping Java” and the swing dancers in the picture gives a 30’s and 40’s feel. The vinyl records could be anytime up through the 1980’s and are making a comeback. We also see laptops, which were most popular in coffee shops 10-15 years ago and are still used some that venue, have been replaced by the cellphone, as seen in the last panel. Even though in yesterday’s strip I got the impression that Tracy and Austin were ordering from the register (with the menu display shown), today I wouldn’t be surprised if a waitress came by to offer a refill. Nice job!
SGIBeachbum 12 months ago
Great images today. As for the story line……
MuddyUSA Premium Member 12 months ago
I really admire Shelly’s art work here……excellent!
tcayer 12 months ago
“No. I’m waiting for the free copies to come, along with my checks…”
Another Take 12 months ago
1-DT: OK, so I got your extortion note. Are you trying to ruin me because I made a public stink about your crappy writing?
2-ADAM AUSTINPOWERS: I don’t want to ruin you! I just want your money. It’s not my fault that one of the Tracy quadruplets…
3-…TURNED TO A LIFE OF CRIME!
4-…Your other brothers,Dr. Rick Tracy and Fireman Blaze Tracy paid big money to stop me from revealing that Taint Tracy is related to them. So when can I expect your “contribution”?
5- YOU FOOL! I AM TAINT TRACY DISGUISED AS GOODY TWO SHOES DICK! Now gimme that dough my other sucker brothers gave you or someday soon, when you least expect it…
AUSTINPOWERS: Yeah, yeah. I should’ve known immediately when you showed up without a suit, hat and rain coat. So…will you take a check? TAINT: Heh heh. I REALLY AM DICK. Wait. I think. ARRRGHHH! WHICH ONE AM I? AUSTINPOWERS: What? DICK/TAINT: What?
b2plusa2 12 months ago
Dick Tracy is certainly well known, very well known, prompting artists to borrow from him in their work. And Dick Tracy expresses his annoyance at how artists depict him. I wonder what detective David Toschi thinks of the character “Dirty” Harry Callahan based off of him.
ScottHolman 12 months ago
Crime boss Tracy? I like it!
Black76Manta 12 months ago
With Tracy’s schedule, I’m surprised he has time to relax and have a coffee, much less time to read one of that author’s books!
Sisyphos 12 months ago
Tracy doesn’t need to read any of the Austin “Boss Tracy” novels to know they denigrate him and his law enforcement dedication. Any review seen or heard would suffice to tell him that and spare him the wasted time reading the bilious, cheap rip-off of his identity. An ethical, moderately talented author could write a crime novel without having to drag the top cop in Tracyville through the mud. Austin is just trying to cash in on Tracy’s name-value. At the very least, it’s a kind of identity theft-for-profit, quite possibly actionable since done without Tracy’s consent. Our hero needs to consult a top-flight lawyer if he wants to get any satisfaction from the overly smug Adam Austin….
atomicdog 12 months ago
Hmm. Mirror Universe Tracy.
tsull2121 12 months ago
Ah, forgot to update y’all…went to urologist Friday (8:30am) and I wasn’t able to get an xray done prior because there was no prescription for it…but I told the dr that the two stones I’m 99.99999% POSITIVE were the last because there was no pain or bleeding after mick and Keith were evicted (waaaaay back on may 1st) so he told me that they were calcium stones, and that “the goal is 80 ounces of fluid a day” to which I replied “I’ve been drinking 40 ounces of water and 40 ounces of cranberry juice first, then lemonade since December when I went to the emergency room”… so apparently I’m right on track, tho he suggested I cut back on sodium
Ashmael 12 months ago
Tracy what about letting bygones be bygones?
198.23.5.11 11 months ago
In other words,the books were an ACCIDENTAL success and hekept writing for the money.And libel is tough to prove these days.
Well,Dick can alwAYS WRITE A BOOK ABOUT aDAM aUSTIN.
Wichita1.0 11 months ago
New Tracy baddie! Scratch ’N Sniff. Fondles all the items in the bakery and then puts them back. NOT good for fresh bread or anything with icing.