this story kind of ended kind of suddenly, without much imagination compared to many others in the past…..I guess that’s the danger when you set the bar so high for yourself with some of the previous ones….
Wertham Woods? Now THAT is stupid…Splitface got out before and just promised to get out of jail (had a plan)…we are going to hear from him again! Boo Hiss on this ending.
Talk about a screeching halt. And we don’t even know how the musical ended. Storytellers these gentleman ain’t. Tons of potential in this story left undone. Too bad
Tulza Haf-Split’s assurance to Clybourne that he will again break out should have clued readers in that this is not the end. Why mention “the place I told you about” if it won’t play a future role? Why have Sam tell Tulza Haf-Split that he is “going back to Wertham Woods” unless it is to confirm that a second break out is assured? While we may well return to the knife-wielding typewriter man before the next act in Splitface’s saga, I’m inclined to see this story as unfinished. Will the “new” arrival play a role in the tale of the insulted writer? Looking forward to finding out. Great Zelda panel. I think she’ll be in town for a while.
Ray Toler has summed up really well all the plot holes in this story. (There are enough holes to qualify this story for the “Swiss Cheese Award.”) Unless they all are supposed to be continued sometime in the future, which means they are all loose ends. But, as others have pointed out, we already have a mind boggling collection of “maybe some day” plot points, stretching all the way back to when Team Tracy took over.
On the other hand, this story’s ending (and the last couple of weeks leading up to the ending) has a definite “Dick Tracy Vibe” – at least to me it feels like a classic Dick Tracy story. And the art, complete with bullet trajectories, has been top notch. I have opined in the past that Joe’s Sunday inks leave much to be desired, but this Sunday and last, the lines seemed to flow much more fluidly, which I definitely like.
Please, Mr. Mike, if you are reading these comments, don’t be offended. It’s just that most of us fans are perhaps too heavily invested in our favorite comic strip! I really, really wish you would see all this as constructive criticism. You have to be yourself, but could you see your way clear to telling a full story in linear fashion, with appropriate twists and turns, but with no seemingly meaningless side steps, and a satisfying conclusion? We’d appreciate it.
I’m in agreement with the tone of constructive criticism offered today. Mike can be an awesome writer, but he’s at his best when he sticks to the basics of narrative storytelling in a daily comic strip medium. Keep the story moving in a straight line, avoid subplots except when absolutely necessary, & don’t introduce any plot points that can’t be resolved within the current storyline. Dick Tracy is one of the very few sequential narrative comic strips left, and its fans are as loyal as it gets, but even we have our limits (ask veterans of the Locher era) it would be a shame if it fails because readers get turned by too many stories that last forever & end leaving us frustrated & unsatisfied.
Voila! Sunday wraps up the tale much as I had expected. Zelda is brought down safely from the dive tower (and her main complaint is that it was chilly up there?!); Splitface is up and conscious, under arrest, and probably headed back to Wertham Woods (if they will take him back again!). The only unforeseen thing is the arrival of the square-jawed Good Guy in the final panel—Joe Sampson, apparently, as several comments have elucidated.
But Ray Toler’s list of “loose ends” or pointless digressions is to be reckoned with. And what was the contribution to the continuing saga of that interlude with the hostage-holding, knife-wielding, typewriter-using disgruntled sports hack, unless in some way the arrival of Joe Sampson (if indeed that’s who this is) is going to lead us into that scenario?
avenger09 about 5 years ago
’Tis a shame I have to say
I don’t remember when
A Dick Tracy comic strip
Had a satisfying end
Plots with holes
That neither come or go
Trails that lead no where
Slow at the start
Then an end like a fart
Gone like a puff in the air
A minority view
That perhaps one or two
Agree that I might have a point
The rest will dismiss
With a sinister hiss
And advise me to read something else
Hopefully one day
I’ll be able to say
The strip has regained all it’s zest
But until that day comes
I’ll create my own fun
And remain everyone’s least favorite pest
Pequod about 5 years ago
None wish to see his melted face. Brags he’ll escape again
Clybourne turns and runs away from Haf’s lopsided grin.
“I’ll find you at the secret spot. Know you recall the place
To be captured by Dick Tracy ‘tis far from a disgrace.”
High above, Zelda looks down. The tub does seem so wee
Gunshots ring out! She wants to shout. Eyes tightly closed can’t see
A bullet through Dick Tracy’s hat. A trophy for the case
He and Sam both find their mark, thus take down melted face.
“Back you go to Wertham Woods. The world’s not your playpen
Pad his cell. Solitary hell. Don’t let him loose again.”
Neil Wick about 5 years ago
Good morning™, rescue personnel!
I liked this story overall. I’ll try to explain better later today or tomorrow.
I recognize the man in the last panel, but I’m not going to give that away this early in the day.
HarryCK about 5 years ago
Good morning™, shivering high divers !
That guy looks too much like Tracy. Has Putty Puss escaped too ?
PicaraJustina about 5 years ago
Looks like Tracy with a nose job.
michaeljwolff about 5 years ago
Just try not to seduce any innocents while at Wertham Woods.
fredville about 5 years ago
this story kind of ended kind of suddenly, without much imagination compared to many others in the past…..I guess that’s the danger when you set the bar so high for yourself with some of the previous ones….
Knightman Premium Member about 5 years ago
Close one case open another. Loose ends???
h.v.greenman about 5 years ago
I feel like I should recognize the visitor in the last panel but my coffee hasn’t kick started my brain yet
vanisleson about 5 years ago
Wertham Woods? Now THAT is stupid…Splitface got out before and just promised to get out of jail (had a plan)…we are going to hear from him again! Boo Hiss on this ending.
tsull2121 about 5 years ago
andy.vaughn about 5 years ago
Could that character in the last page be Jonny Adonis?
rickmac1937 Premium Member about 5 years ago
Tracy gets his man and recuses the young lady. Good old Tracy
Blot about 5 years ago
I agree. Just not ol’ Dickie T.
Lyons Group, Inc. about 5 years ago
Good Morning™, Horse Divers! Closure at last! Well at least he’s not rubbed out. Good work as always, Team Tracy!
iggyman about 5 years ago
New story?
buckman-j about 5 years ago
Talk about a screeching halt. And we don’t even know how the musical ended. Storytellers these gentleman ain’t. Tons of potential in this story left undone. Too bad
Pequod about 5 years ago
Tulza Haf-Split’s assurance to Clybourne that he will again break out should have clued readers in that this is not the end. Why mention “the place I told you about” if it won’t play a future role? Why have Sam tell Tulza Haf-Split that he is “going back to Wertham Woods” unless it is to confirm that a second break out is assured? While we may well return to the knife-wielding typewriter man before the next act in Splitface’s saga, I’m inclined to see this story as unfinished. Will the “new” arrival play a role in the tale of the insulted writer? Looking forward to finding out. Great Zelda panel. I think she’ll be in town for a while.
Ken in Ohio about 5 years ago
Ray Toler has summed up really well all the plot holes in this story. (There are enough holes to qualify this story for the “Swiss Cheese Award.”) Unless they all are supposed to be continued sometime in the future, which means they are all loose ends. But, as others have pointed out, we already have a mind boggling collection of “maybe some day” plot points, stretching all the way back to when Team Tracy took over.
On the other hand, this story’s ending (and the last couple of weeks leading up to the ending) has a definite “Dick Tracy Vibe” – at least to me it feels like a classic Dick Tracy story. And the art, complete with bullet trajectories, has been top notch. I have opined in the past that Joe’s Sunday inks leave much to be desired, but this Sunday and last, the lines seemed to flow much more fluidly, which I definitely like.
Please, Mr. Mike, if you are reading these comments, don’t be offended. It’s just that most of us fans are perhaps too heavily invested in our favorite comic strip! I really, really wish you would see all this as constructive criticism. You have to be yourself, but could you see your way clear to telling a full story in linear fashion, with appropriate twists and turns, but with no seemingly meaningless side steps, and a satisfying conclusion? We’d appreciate it.
BreathlessMahoney77 about 5 years ago
I’m in agreement with the tone of constructive criticism offered today. Mike can be an awesome writer, but he’s at his best when he sticks to the basics of narrative storytelling in a daily comic strip medium. Keep the story moving in a straight line, avoid subplots except when absolutely necessary, & don’t introduce any plot points that can’t be resolved within the current storyline. Dick Tracy is one of the very few sequential narrative comic strips left, and its fans are as loyal as it gets, but even we have our limits (ask veterans of the Locher era) it would be a shame if it fails because readers get turned by too many stories that last forever & end leaving us frustrated & unsatisfied.
GoComicsGo! about 5 years ago
In the last panel, to me, it looks like the guy asking the question is in disguise with that moustache, glasses and hat.
Sisyphos about 5 years ago
Voila! Sunday wraps up the tale much as I had expected. Zelda is brought down safely from the dive tower (and her main complaint is that it was chilly up there?!); Splitface is up and conscious, under arrest, and probably headed back to Wertham Woods (if they will take him back again!). The only unforeseen thing is the arrival of the square-jawed Good Guy in the final panel—Joe Sampson, apparently, as several comments have elucidated.
But Ray Toler’s list of “loose ends” or pointless digressions is to be reckoned with. And what was the contribution to the continuing saga of that interlude with the hostage-holding, knife-wielding, typewriter-using disgruntled sports hack, unless in some way the arrival of Joe Sampson (if indeed that’s who this is) is going to lead us into that scenario?