Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for March 31, 2019

Yee Haah, I called it!!

These guys often ‘want’ to get caught. ✨

Good morning™, students!

I suppose we now have an “official” name for our murderer. He calls himself “The Professor” because he teaches the teachers about death.

True.

A reviving development this is! (I think StillDaMan will get the play on words here)

Good morning™, frightened news ladies !

What Dick wouldn’t give to see that face !

If he wanted to make a real impression cutting off her nose, despite her face, would have done it too. But there is a limit on violence and mutilation here. It can hamper the story telling of a ruthless serial killer.

Still she will be very pale under that makeup she wears. And maybe speechless for a time. This is also an ego stroke since the serial killer tracked her down to warn her and threaten her! So she may be scared and proud at the same time. I wonder how that might feel?

The Stan Freburg Show only lasted for 15 radio episodes, possibly due to lack of sponsors. You can hear the “expert panel” discussing comics strips, including Dick Tracy’s adventures and Little Orphan Annie’s “extensive” wardrobe in this YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/j7VO0B85SKE

The quote in today’s panel starts just around the 8-minute mark of the YouTube video.

Well that’s one effective way to get them to write the story the way you want it spun…

Bah, he’s not even adjunct.

“You’ll be victim number eight.”

So now we know for sure what the trademark number “7” meant on our last victim. At the time, it was pointed out, but not explained if each victim had a “7”, or if each victim was numbered separately.

I recognized Stan Freberg as soon as I saw him, but assumed I must be mistaken.

jeez! touchy touchy!

I give Wendy credit for her simple yes and no answers. Recognize the situation and don’t try to be a hero. Survival is the name of the game.

Question; will she report this encounter to police AND will she keep her word to Dr. Mordred?

Stan the Man! Yay! :D

It’s interesting that the knife that appeared in the “preview” during the Half and Half arc has reappeared… It’s called a “drawback” knife and a variant of the familiar Ka-bar knife…

I wonder if Wendy will now seek out Dick Tracy’s help since she has come face to face with a criminal who wants to kill her ?

I really love the way this story is unfolding and how Barnabas keeps on changing his methods of killing his victims and we readers have been given the reason behind the “7” note left with the last victim…

Now, will there be an attempt at the diner that Wendy mentioned ?

“Just remember Freddie Lounds!”

Strangely enough, from the front the ski mask makes him look like Doctor Doom…

BTW,I looked up the “sawback bayonet” and only saw 2 bayonets that had the hole in the blade… I then visited the websites for the bayonets and didn’t see any explanation for the holes… So, it appears to be part of a design…

( Spyderco knives have a large hole at the back end of their blades for using one’s thumb to deploy the blades… )

Having a hole in the handle makes far more sense for using a lanyard, etc.

I know it fits the storyline, having Wendy Wichell being threatened by the villain in a dark parking lot. But, really. Wouldn’t an outfit like SBN have a well lit parking garage with plenty of security equipped with plenty of CCTV coverage?

Nca

I thought she would be a victim, but I did not think it would be just a warning, seems Very Effective though!

It should be interesting what Wendy writes next! (After she changes her sure to be brown drawers!)

Alternative Script: 1/5- BARN?: See this knife? Wait…I had it a second ago. 2/5: Ahh. Here it is! 3/5- BARN?: Let’s start over… 4/5: BARN?: See this knife?!? Geez lady. Did your face freeze like that? Do you have any other expressions? 5/5: BARN?: Awww, just beat feet lady – BUT KEEP YOUR HANDS UP IN CASE I CHANGE MY MIND…I probably wouldn’t look good in that hat anyway.

Wendy’s expression in today’s strip[ is priceless; Team Tracy really came through with the artwork. I believe that this is the first time I’ve seen an expression on her face other than her usual arrogant smirk.

That’s the problem with broadcasters with big mouths, and even stupider minds. You bring out the nutjobs.

Don’t worry, Wendy – you’re not a teacher, so he won’t kill you. Go ahead, keep using “Teacher’s Pet”! LOL j/k

I wonder if Barnabas will go after Wendy’s source next.

I guess she got the ‘’point.’’

Since Chicago’s WGN call letters stood for “World’s Greatest Newspaper,” I’m guessing SBN is “State’s Biggest Newspaper.”

(Apologies if this is old news.)

I bet this never happened to Jimmy Breslen.

What a rush!

Wendy will be wanting a parking space much closer to the entrance, I suspect. And a change of underwear. And a bottle of scotch (or is she a bourbon lady?). Only after all that, and after her saucer-eyes-of-fear return to their normal state, will she even consider calling on Tracy for protection from The Professor (not Teacher’s Pet, nor even The Butcher, although the Big Knife has reappeared). Having to seek police protection will really be painful for her. Maybe she’ll try to do without (not smart, but then who ever said Wendy Wichel was smart; a lot of other things, sure, but smart might not be among them).

But is The Professor really Bar Tar? Every hint we’ve had so far says so, and yet there have only been hints and no explicit reveal. So I still wonder if it is really him, or if it might turn out to be Reggie Rocks in a twist of plot….

Teacher’s Pet is all upset. The nickname drives him mad

Tacoma Cops did dub him thus. Situation bad.

At work he’s mild-mannered. Let no one remain fooled

Chokes the life from teachers, and fancies they are schooled.

“Call me ‘The Professor,’ or I’ll make you victim eight”

Threatens Wendy Wichel and articulates his hate.

Teacher’s Pet will get his yet. He loves so to provoke

He stirs the pot. His mind does rot. Feels strong need to choke.