Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for September 18, 2015

“No Retreat, No Surrender!”

Well, “Retreat” maybe …

Sure enough, exactly one hour late tonight.

22ph called it.

Looks like Sputnik and Satellite are the only ones left standing. That could mean Apollo, Mumbles and Rocket are either dead or wounded. That explosion yesterday and the shooting down of the drone could have been the doing of the Munros. The explosion happened below the square structure at the top where the stairs are located. That flying square thing is probably the door that got blasted away when the Munros tried to force it open. That door looks like it is made of sturdy stuff and could not be blasted away by gunfire. They could have used explosives to open the door or it could have been booby trapped and the gunfire triggered the explosion. Since the drone was shot down could only mean that the Munros were able to get into the 6th floor safely.Then what is that pink button that Bribery/Bigg pressed is for? Let’s have another look at Suite 6B :)

Another Munro Brother down.

Onto the 6th Floor …

… but has Mr. Bribery already gone “Up, Up and Away” …?

@22phI think you’re right. Sputnik likely shot down the drone as a side effect of blasting through the door. (I’m sure Mr. Bigg knew that barring the door wouldn’t keep people out for long.) The pink button made an opening through which Mr. B could escape. The gunfire then shot down the drone. At least, that’s what I think now.

The fact that Rocket has been left behind strongly suggests that he may be lying dead on the floor below. We haven’t yet confirmed the whereabouts of Mumbles and Apollo. One or both of them could be among the casualties.

So, the Munros want to get to the roof. Of course, they’ll need to get past Mysta and Punjab, etc., but I’m not sure it will do them much good if they do succeed because the Blackhearts helicopter is disabled. Maybe the Smith Industries one is there and in working order.

… who cuises like the Earnhardt used to …“cuises” = “cusses”? “cruises”? ?!?

Suspect trickery to get us to Sunday. I think Bribery wants people to think he went up and out – when he’s gone down and through. He’s headed to the subway to bookend this adventure back underground …

See, here I must respectfully disagree.

Sputnik and Satellite are explicitly stated to be on the stairs to the 6th floor, moving upwards towards roof access.

Unless the stairwell abruptly terminates upon the facade of Ace Tower, that door almost certainly opens inward towards the penthouse suites.

That explosion from a few days ago was more likely caused by Bribery blowing a hatch to enable his escape route.

The brothers should, however, be in an ideal position to witness Bribery’s daring escape from Suite 6B.

Or to inadvertently scuttle said escape.

By the way …

I agree with everyone who’d suggested that a “down and out” route to freedom makes more sense than an “up, up and away into plain sight” escape.

Bribery does enjoy his moon tech, though.

If he has something that even just simulates a magnetic air car, he’d probably use it!

Don’t go all “Yosemite Sam” on us, Guido.

Next, you’d end up channeling Feerless Freep.

In any event …

Mumbles’ current location remains unknown. Possibly among the undisclosed casualties on the 5th floor, but we’re not sure.

Smith, Mysta, Honeymoon, Annie, and Punjab(!!) are on the 6th floor, along with T-Bolt and Bribery.

Sputnik and Satellite are en route from the 5th floor to the 6th.

With the escape copter disabled, the rooftop is a dead end. Perhaps literally.

We know this.

The Munro Brothers probably don’t.

Gweedo said,Left late notes for Speedy Gonzales Bill Raley-———————————————————————————.Now did you know who was part of my FiOS router identity logotype, Gweedo? “Speedo” is the name of my router! All my computer playthings have names! G’morning Gweedo!

Good morning guys!.Still recovering from a fruitful but very wearing week! All is finished now and I can rest and recover.

Good morning, Bill.

What’s the backstory on today’s avatar?

Oh, wait …

I get it now.

D’Oh!

Part of our dilemma here is that we don’t really know the relative timeline: e.g., are these scenes today with the Munros taking place before, or after, or simultaneously with, the “blasting of the hatch” we saw yesterday? It makes a big difference in how we might then interpret these events….For example, I am not convinced that Mr. Bigg has escaped yet (“I’ll believe it when I see it”).

For anyone who didn’t get the “Fearless Freep” reference, this might help refresh your memories

Gweedo remarked,Good morning, Hot shot Bill !-————————————————————————————————.Gweedo, I’m out of touch with today’s world. Who is that guy? .BTW, my current lineup is Comet (my dream desktop), Shadow (desktop #2), Sunshine (W10 laptop), Shadow 2 (dream laptop), Echo (iPhone), Hummingbird (drone), Speedy (FiOS router). Don’t laugh, Gweedo! We’re having fun!

Gweedo inquired,What’s the backstory on today’s avatar?-————————————————————————-.Gweedo, all of my “Vista Bill’s World of Electronics” devices have names and an identity logotype to accompany the name. “Sppedo” is my name for the new FiOS router. The logotype was quickly done to use on/with the router. All 80+ year olds are not completely senile and leading an unenjoyable life! I like to play and have fun! Ask my friends!

Transmogrify is a good word for all of this, Neil..

Opps! I’m stlll tired! I mistakenly repied to AnyFace’s quetion to Gweedo. Then in another post, I said “Speedy” as the name of my new router. The name is “Speedo”! I’m returning to our coffin for more sleep!

Blasting away at a steel door with a machine gun at close quarters in a narrow stairwell! Those Monro Bros. should end up with nasty shrapnel wounds from the ricochet bullet fragments.

So one thing I’ve been wondering…Bribery was originally going to leave via the roof, leaving the contents of 6B behind. Was he planning a remote self-destruct of its contents, so that it did not get into police hands?

Going to* leave

I tell ya, this new, 2am EST strip update has made it impossible for me to post any new poems (Is that a chorus of Hosanna’s I hear? LOL!!!). I’m waaaaaay too old to survive on 4 hours sleep! I think it’s a conspiracy! Diet Smith’s had it in for me ever since I called him fat!

And I did not know you lost both parents. I am sorry to hear about that. Please accept my belated sympathy.

Good morning fans.-—————————-Gweedo is the Speedy Gonzalez of GoComics-—————————-Have a blessed day, my friends.

Am I the only one who thinks the drone was simply destroyed in one of the explosions? It was zooming close to where the bomb or whatever it was went off, then blam. Then another explosion, and the drone fell out of the sky. I realize Wendy said something about it being “shot” down, but I saw no evidence of that, and we haven’t seen any sign of the Blackhearts being concerned about the drone, much less shooting at it. The “shot” comment was just a loose way of saying that the drone was destroyed by whatever happened up there, as I’m reading the story events. And as someone already mentioned, the Munro brothers are shooting their way out of a stairwell, not out a window.

avenger: Your poems would be welcome any time of the day!!

The comments are messed up. They keep repeating.

”Once set, it will make a noise”Sounds/smells like a certain poster I know and love! LOL!!!”You hear that noise and you can wake up to post all those Zzzzz’s and LOL’s regarding this strip that enrich our lives”

Do you mean Enriches?Just asking!!!

S.I.T.O.A.S.O.T.N.M.I.

Gweedo!! I would never call you FAT buddy boy! Why, just look at this recent picture of you. Definitely not fat!!!

Is the 2am strip a done deal? I just thought it was a mix-up the past few days.

Your lady must have been quite the looker, Bill-—————————————————————————.I was extremely fortunate, Gweedo!.You are indeed an ethical guy, Gweedo. Here’s the picture: http://billsrailroad.tripod.com/In_Memory_of_Jo_Ann_Raley/Jo_Ann_May_1960.jpg

The car was our new 1960 Oldsmobile 98 convertible.

My sympathy and prayers to all who have had a parent, wife, or child pass away. God Bless You All.

Reminder from me, Rikki, and Abner, on September 27, 2015, there will be a “Supermoon” Full Blood Moon. The werewolves will be out in full force that night! Check your supply of silver bullets, wolfsbane, and garlic cloves. Bring in the pets and be sure to lock your doors and windows!

Let’s see – one Monroe brother is finding out first hand if a space coupe can handle the 600+ MPH non-stop winds of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, let alone it’s crushing gravity while the other seems to have died from a sudden and very severe case of lead poisoning.

I said a few days ago that it made more sense to have an escape system that takes you down and out through an underground conduit. Going up and out makes you visible and a target to shoot at or track. I don’t think we can know for sure yet based on what we’ve seen but it seems Bribery is going up somehow. Hopefully we’ll know soon.

Bratatatatatat…

Now, I’m thinking that the two men pointed out as shot are Apollo and Rocket. I don’t think Mumbles is there because he would probably have been the 1st one Tracy would have noticed and said so, considering their long history together. So where is Mumbles? He seems to have an ability to escape so may be hiding someplace.

An hour late again?

Thanks for the effort, Gweedo!