Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for July 25, 2017

Blackjack is taken.

But Dick Tracy shows him something.

Blackjack is so pleased.

I usually read strips on Gocomics once a day.

If I haven’t responded to any replies, it’s not because I’m not interested in anything folks say.

Believe it or not, I do.

So, if anyone likes this haiku, I’m glad you do.

If not, too bad, but I’ll try to do better.

Thank you for your time.

I meant to write, “Believe it or not, I am.”

Sorry about that.

Good morning, late to the booking, VB, and to all the collared robbers in here !

Well, that concludes the “Banks o’ Plenty” story, as I call it. Here is my storyline map. I haven’t written what I wanted to say here yet.

http://worldofdt.info/banksoplenty/

The total length was 53 days by my reckoning, 4 days shorter than the “3 Margies” story. I will try to write more about my summation though out the day if I have time.

Tracy’s fedora collection here at GoComics is not well lighted. Everything in it turned grey

I’ve little doubt that somewhere down the line Blackjack will show up again.

Perhaps Mr. Bribery will return and a bit more nastiness with him sad to say.

Maybe Tracy will ventilate him like many others who’ve crossed swords with him have suffered.

Back in 2012, Blackjack had Tracy put his hat on a fire hydrant so Blackjack could shoot a hole in it before he surrendered.

When Tracy asked why Blackjack had done that, Blackjack responded, "It’s simple! I wanted to be included on your wall of hats! Why, I’d never shoot you! You’re my pal!

Blackjack looks very pleased today with the result.

They could have properly colored the hats all yellow like they did at the other comic site.

Good morning everyone!

Good Morning, VB, Gweed, et al- my goodness, it almost looks like BJ is choking up at the sight of the special place of honour he has on Tracy’s wall!

It darn near brought tears to my eyes, too!

Aaaaaw :3

So that’s what they do with Tracy’s former hats. Blackjack has the right to be honored.

To be honest, im surprised that Tracy didn’t invite Blackjack over for dinner after showing him the hats.

After all, Blackjack is ‘pretty tight’ with Tracy and he’s already met B.O., Gertie, and Sparkle.. why not bring your “BFF” home for dinner and introduce him to the wife and kids (literally)

By the way, this crow I’m having for breakfast is quite tasty lol (regarding my comment yesterday about Blackjack on Sunday)

Also, I like how Pat questioned Tracy with the comment “You took Blackjack into custody, didn’t you Tracy?” Nice to see the Police Chief laying the smackdown on the Chief of Detectives regarding his bizarre, unusual, unhealthy and most of all HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL relationship with a federal criminal

Makes you wonder if Pat knows that Tracy let Blackjack walk all those months ago

Haven’t seen Tracy’s bullet-riddled hat collection in some time.

So – does Blackjack now merit two hats on the wall?

Sweet, Ah Shucks! ending!

Can’t wait for Abner to kidnap Tracy and Blackjack escapes from prison to rescue his D-bro!

All those bullet-holes and not a one through Tracy’s skull. With luck like that Tracy should retire to the nearest race-track.

Blackjack is almost like a kid in a candy store.

Who’s going to look after his collection now that he is in jail? Blackjack’s treasure might be gone when he gets out of jail.

Blackjak´s eyes have changed in the last strips, he used to look always so cold, and now he just looks like a child, like Trimguy says. Like in a tame state.

Tracy’s Wall O’Hats reminds me of a photograph I once saw of Chester Gould in his garden, with drawings of bad guys Tracy “planted” over the years sticking out of the ground instead of seed bags.

Someone asked a little while back about where Blackjack got his nickname. He took it from am outlaw in the Old West named Tom Ketchum, popularly known today as “Black Jack” Ketchum. He robbed with an older brother named Sam Ketchum and was finally executed by hanging in 1901.

You can read more about Ketchum and his gang here:

http://www.historynet.com/tom-ketchum-and-his-gang.htm

Chief Patton is one of the people I thought might appear and speak today towards ending this poignant tale of the Bank Robber With a Heart of Gold. I’m glad Tracy let him see the Fedora Wall of Fame, with its prominently-labelled Blackjack contribution. Judging from the relative positions of Tracy’s and Blackjack’s arms in the double-width stretch-panel 2, it seems to me that Blackjack is handcuffed behind his back and that Tracy is leading him by the arm to a cell or to a bailiff, with this brief excursion to Fedora Heaven. I did expect to see the fire-scorched fedora, too, though.

One or two more days of wrap-up exposition and/or a return to an earlier theme, such as the Plenty’s at home or Sparkle musing over her experience with Blackjack, is, I suppose, a possibility….