Locher’s writing remains as incisive as ever. While he sets the ground for a conversation that involves what the FBI wants and what they won’t get, he still hides the obvious fact that we’re trapped in the D’ismal arc. Thick is now cowering while Horn Hair displays anatomical portions he lacks–and what sort of report did Agent Fursten make to his superiors?
barticle35, that’s why I suggested the FBI wants Thick to wear a red shirt. If the FBI is handling the Fiend Without A Face, they no doubt expect casualties–so why not give Thick a chance to do something useful?
Who else does Horn Hair need to contact about Thick’s special assignment? And will someone remember to inform all the local newspapers so the evildoer’s minions can be kept abreast of their master’s itinerary? Placing a call over a cell phone is a good first step, but surely Horn Hair can do more to dispell any hint of secrecy.
I guess whatever race of aliens Liz(z) belongs to has auditory organs in their necks. That would explain the way she is holding the telephone in Panel 3. It sure ain’t anywhere near her ear.
” Sureley there must be someone else you can ask chief?
And subconciously, through the mouth of Tess Trueheart Tracy, Locher asks himself (sotto voce) a good Question
As the other Detectives at HQ (Sam and Teevo) haven’t lifted a .darned finger for years other than provide meaningless, in office ‘small talk’ - between cases.
http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2008/02/24/
Here we see the style and level of activity depicted perfectly in panel 2 –- Sam relaxed, hands in ‘pockets’, Teevo, hands on ‘phone’.
Oh ! Apologies! They did find ”time” to attend that PLAY featuring Tracy, at the Science Museum.
But bar that ‘social’ duty, here is the 5 year ‘WORK’ record ’outside’ of Police Hooters, reflecting their lucunae in action *…
Sam : - only 3 panels in 5 years - in the Queen of Diamonds case (2007)
http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2007/03/28/
http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2007/04/01/
http://www.gocomics.com/dicktravy/2007/04/06/
and
Lt.Teevo : - 1 panel in the Circus story (2009)
http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2009/08/07/
Their only ‘fresh air’ exposure - in all of 5 years !
So, Tracy has become the classic ’lone wolf’ Detective, no team work evident … and by next week driving Hannibal Lecter 2 - alone (?) - we may see a repeat performance.
Who in the World is that hideous old bat in panel 1? That cant be Tess. Surely she didnt age by a hundred years and Dick hasnt aged a day. No, Locher wouldnt… yes he would.
So why would the FBI want Dick? Impressed by his amazing work on the D-Cubed case?
Sydney Phillips, have you ever seen the Turkey City Lexicon? It’s a guide for writers’ workshops and it has names for most of Locher’s blunders. “Message from Fred” is exactly what you’re talking about. The rest of today’s strip has “False Humanity” (wasting time on a character’s irrelevant problems) and “Brenda Starr dialog” (dialog with no clue as to who is speaking). There are also signs of the “Second-order Idiot Plot” (an Idiot Plot story only works because the main character is an idiot. In a second-order idiot plot, the story happens because everyone is an idiot.)
countoftowergrove, maybe Officer Fursten’s report is why they wanted Thick. He’s such a fathead he’ll send Hannibal the Cannibal’s cholesterol through the roof.
Sydney Phillips, the art of retiring? Locher already doesnt know when to quit, how will he get Dick to give it up already?
I got it! The FBI specially requested Dick because they want to tell him how he messed up the D-Cubed case and that hes a complete and utter chowderhead.
The reality here has nothing to do with Thick’s abilities, or lack thereof. Today’s FBI has developed a faith-based recruitment technique based on 1 Samuel 18:25. Thick is needed to help a new candidate meet his quota.
FLIGHT SUIT over 13 years ago
The Chief of Police has to ask permission from Dick’s mother before he’s allowed to come out and play?
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
Locher’s writing remains as incisive as ever. While he sets the ground for a conversation that involves what the FBI wants and what they won’t get, he still hides the obvious fact that we’re trapped in the D’ismal arc. Thick is now cowering while Horn Hair displays anatomical portions he lacks–and what sort of report did Agent Fursten make to his superiors?
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ over 13 years ago
Tess appears to be aging since I last saw her. I suppose being married to Dick Tracy is no picnic.
leakysqueaky712 over 13 years ago
Thats some nasssy FBI………….
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
The FBI asked for Thick … did they ask for him to wear a red shirt?
margueritem over 13 years ago
The FBI must be totally clueless if they asked for Dick…
Goodmorning VB and LS!
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
When I mentioned “anatomical portions” I of course meant the part of Horn Hair which holds the phone. It might be a hand.
Steve Bartholomew over 13 years ago
The FBI asked for big Dick??
woodworker318 over 13 years ago
It looks like Tess goes to the same hairdresser as Liz. The FBI asking for Tracy? It sounds like a Pink Panther Movie with Peter Sellers.
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
barticle35, that’s why I suggested the FBI wants Thick to wear a red shirt. If the FBI is handling the Fiend Without A Face, they no doubt expect casualties–so why not give Thick a chance to do something useful?
Who else does Horn Hair need to contact about Thick’s special assignment? And will someone remember to inform all the local newspapers so the evildoer’s minions can be kept abreast of their master’s itinerary? Placing a call over a cell phone is a good first step, but surely Horn Hair can do more to dispell any hint of secrecy.
LudwigVonDrake over 13 years ago
Liz(z) left out the word, “a”, in the last panel.
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
What’s more she misidentified herself to Tess, who believes she is talking to Chief Surely.
(C’mon, somebody had to say it!)
neonleon59 over 13 years ago
I guess whatever race of aliens Liz(z) belongs to has auditory organs in their necks. That would explain the way she is holding the telephone in Panel 3. It sure ain’t anywhere near her ear.
woodworker318 over 13 years ago
Rightwingmoron You sound like you are from Massachusetts.
sydney over 13 years ago
” Sureley there must be someone else you can ask chief?
And subconciously, through the mouth of Tess Trueheart Tracy, Locher asks himself (sotto voce) a good Question
As the other Detectives at HQ (Sam and Teevo) haven’t lifted a .darned finger for years other than provide meaningless, in office ‘small talk’ - between cases.
http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2008/02/24/
Here we see the style and level of activity depicted perfectly in panel 2 –- Sam relaxed, hands in ‘pockets’, Teevo, hands on ‘phone’. Oh ! Apologies! They did find ”time” to attend that PLAY featuring Tracy, at the Science Museum.
But bar that ‘social’ duty, here is the 5 year ‘WORK’ record ’outside’ of Police Hooters, reflecting their lucunae in action *…
Sam : - only 3 panels in 5 years - in the Queen of Diamonds case (2007) http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2007/03/28/ http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2007/04/01/ http://www.gocomics.com/dicktravy/2007/04/06/
and
Lt.Teevo : - 1 panel in the Circus story (2009) http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2009/08/07/
Their only ‘fresh air’ exposure - in all of 5 years !
So, Tracy has become the classic ’lone wolf’ Detective, no team work evident … and by next week driving Hannibal Lecter 2 - alone (?) - we may see a repeat performance.
Morrow Cummings over 13 years ago
ROFLMAO….. Rightwingmoron, you hit the nail on the head…. Barney Frank! This is the first time I laughed so hard my side hurt! Thank you!
prrdh over 13 years ago
woodworker318 said, 4 minutes ago
Rightwingmoron You sound like you are from Massachusetts.
If he is, he would probably know that the last name of the congressman is Frank, without the ‘s’.
Rightwingmoron, that was well struck. I, too, was wondering if they gave a last name, but hadn’t thought of the wholly owned subsidiary of Fanny May.
An alternative explanation is that J. Edgar has resumed command, by ouija board perhaps.
OldTracy over 13 years ago
This is similar to the Pink Panther movie where his boss was ordered to put Inspector Clousseau on a case.
coratelli over 13 years ago
Hi guys, my new strip it’s online:
http://shockdom.com/open/carl/2010/11/23/striscia-32/
Dr. Midnight over 13 years ago
The return of Agent Ennen?
puddleglum1066 over 13 years ago
If “Tracy’s Home” (panel one), why is Tess still on the phone?
In panel two, it doesn’t look all that big to me. Three bedrooms, maybe two and a half baths, tops.
Well, what else is there to comment on? Certainly not the (absence of a) story!
veldy over 13 years ago
The FBI, being the last bastion of competence in the federal government, is bringing Spacy in to fix the situation
MisngNOLA over 13 years ago
“It’s big Tess” “The FBI specifically asked for Dick” I really can’t add anything to that dialogue to make it more improbable or funnier.
Midnite over 13 years ago
Who in the World is that hideous old bat in panel 1? That cant be Tess. Surely she didnt age by a hundred years and Dick hasnt aged a day. No, Locher wouldnt… yes he would.
So why would the FBI want Dick? Impressed by his amazing work on the D-Cubed case?
thejensens over 13 years ago
Boy I wish I had a wife like Dick. When I have a problem at work, I could send just send her to see my boss to do my battles.
The FBI asked for Dick,
Well, the way he handled the last case, that is all their going to get is
“Dick All”
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
Sydney Phillips, have you ever seen the Turkey City Lexicon? It’s a guide for writers’ workshops and it has names for most of Locher’s blunders. “Message from Fred” is exactly what you’re talking about. The rest of today’s strip has “False Humanity” (wasting time on a character’s irrelevant problems) and “Brenda Starr dialog” (dialog with no clue as to who is speaking). There are also signs of the “Second-order Idiot Plot” (an Idiot Plot story only works because the main character is an idiot. In a second-order idiot plot, the story happens because everyone is an idiot.)
countoftowergrove over 13 years ago
Didn’t the FBI field officer in the 3D case submit a debriefing on Macy’s less than stellar performance?
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
countoftowergrove, maybe Officer Fursten’s report is why they wanted Thick. He’s such a fathead he’ll send Hannibal the Cannibal’s cholesterol through the roof.
Midnite over 13 years ago
Sydney Phillips, the art of retiring? Locher already doesnt know when to quit, how will he get Dick to give it up already?
I got it! The FBI specially requested Dick because they want to tell him how he messed up the D-Cubed case and that hes a complete and utter chowderhead.
Bill Thompson over 13 years ago
The reality here has nothing to do with Thick’s abilities, or lack thereof. Today’s FBI has developed a faith-based recruitment technique based on 1 Samuel 18:25. Thick is needed to help a new candidate meet his quota.