Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for January 20, 2011

“Dead in the water”, snerk!

Look at panel #2, where Locher & Brozman ( the Bonnie & Clod of inept) have their names alongside the “Wanted” posters. Ain’t they presumptuous?

And everyone is so eager to call Thick dead. Locher’s subconscious is speaking again.

Only fifty-three snarking days left until the return of the real Dick Tracy!

Yes, any time somebody I know goes out in the rain and doesn’t check in with me after a few minutes, I naturally assume they have died.

Klypzyxm said, about 5 hours ago

Hi everyone

Mike Curtis and Joe Staton here. We do read the comments here, and look forward to hearing what you think of our work come March. ——————————-

OK, I have a huge problem with this. Locher and Brozman have a well-established practice of never reading the comments here, and thus never allowing our comments to influence the content or quality of the strip.

You are trampling all over tradition!

This is a disaster. Tracy might not be dead by now.

Panel #1: Speaking of disasters, Sheriff Chief, what if the incredibly evil Dr. Mordred has escaped?

The artwork has already improved. Look, not even one of the usual lazy silhouettes!

I’m really looking forward to the team of Mike Curtis and Joe Staton. Mike used to be my publisher back when I was doing the Last Kiss comic books at Shanda and Joe is a great artist and a friend. Both good folks!!

Yes, but are Curtis and Staton capable of properly executing a Power Approach?

Stop the car and turn around before they hit the water? Odds are they can execute that maneuver.

I am actually looking forward to having two people in charge of this strip who actually read the feedback here. In fact, I’m thrilled. As a DT fan, I haven’t been able to share the current stories with my friends for fear of being ridiculed and publicly stoned or something.

Dick Locher retires from Dick Tracy Posted by Alan Gardner January 19, 2011

Tribune Media Services has announced a new creative team to keep the long-running comic Dick Tracy running. Dick Locher is stepping down after 32 years with the strip. Dick was an assistant to Dick Tracy creator Chester Gould fro three years starting in 1957 and then resumed artistic duties in 1983 after Rick Fletcher passed. Dick took over writing duties as well in 2006.

“For a long and wondrous 32 years I’ve been in the right-hand seat of Tracy’s squad car,” said Dick Locher. “I can only hope that in this time I’ve entertained my readers and lived up to the lofty expectations of Chester Gould’s glow. It’s been an incredible ride, but this is where I step off.”

The creative team will be artist Joe Staton and writer Mike Curtis. The new story arc from this new team will appear in newspapers the week of March 14.

things won’t be the same without Locher and Brozman.

I see the two policemen are weathering the storm. Must not be as bad where they’re standing. Hark! Is that a cab driver or policeman on the left?

HALLELUJAH!!

http://www.gocomics.com/outofthegenepool/2011/01/20/

good timing for this repeat

I wonder if Locher really thought this through and actually wanted his final story ever to involve a guy in a gimp mask.

For Mike Curtis and Joe Staton: I want a great strip with great storyline. Solid dialogue, short preambles, a good dose of action and strong characterization.

Mike Curtis and Joe Staton - I am looking forward to reading your work with baited breath. Your taking the helm of this fine old strip marks another milestone in the history of comics. And please feel free to comment here on this board. One thing I really appreciate about John Lustig is his participation in the discussion in the “Last Kiss” forum. I remember Ted Slampyak used to comment occasionally on the Annie forum and I always appreciated his participation.

Oh, how we are all looking forward to the return of the original Dick Tracy!!!Mike and Joe, this is the best news I’ve heard in years!!!

HUZZAH!!!!

Bells peal throughout the land Musicians strike up the band A new day is about to dawn The dreaded Locher will soon be gone Long have we railed at his work Calling him names, like tool and jerk Innumerable arguments have ensued Some were lofty, others, crude Commenter’s came and commenter’s went Their two cents having been spent Villains come and villains go And always the arcs move real slow Talking heads and silhouettes too All part of an incomprehensible goo Traze-R, Angelorious and “Pops” the clown The Maestro, Blank and now Mordred might drown Don’t forget the caper with the thousand dollar bill That was one the made us all ill A long rocky road it certainly has been Probably the worst comics we’ve ever seen But this storm will soon blow over The meadows will be covered in fresh clover The sun will shine, and the birdies will sing And we will dance the “Buck and Wing” So take heart, be of good cheer 2011 is going to be a very good year.

Thank you, davidf42, billdi and woodworker318.

Sometimes you guys remind of the two old men on the Muppet Show. Your comments are negatively witty. But I must admit that I agree with you. I have been collecting the Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy books (looking to buy volume 11 now) and there is simply no comparison! I grew up in NY reading the NY Daily News and the thing started to fall apart when Gould was nearing the end (Putty Puss was an awful story line). I lost the detective during seminary and only began to catch up again online about 10 years ago. Things only went down hill! I too hope the new team in March will bring back the old Detective. How hard could it be? Read the old stories and follow the master’s lead!

The cops are seriously looking for Thick. Look at the first panel; they called a Checker cab for him. I haven’t seen one of those caps in quite a while!

Meanwhile, in the snowstorm, Officer Checkers McBrokennose and Sergeant Squint are hot on the trail! ;)

Checkerhead is just on loan from the Chicago PD. Go rent “Blues Brothers” for remedial education.

From Wikipedia:

The Chicago Police Department is one of only four in the United States to use the chequered bands on its headgear, known as the Sillitoe Tartan after its originator, Percy J. Sillitoe, Chief Constable of Glasgow, Scotland in the 1930s. Whereas British and Australasian Sillitoe tartans feature three rows of smaller squares, Chicago’s has two rows of larger squares. The chequerboard colours for patrolmen and detectives (detectives are occasionally uniformed for ceremonies and details) are blue and silver/white; the colours for sergeants and higher ranks are blue and gold. Service caps, the campaign hats of the mounted unit, bicycle helmets, and knit caps all bear the Sillitoe tartan; the edge of the ball caps’ bills show a narrow, flattened Silitoe tartan. The department also use the pattern on some signage, graphics, and architectural detail on newer police stations.

My Bad, checkerhead must be on loan from Scotland Yard !! Locher still has some tricks up his ink-stained sleeve (yeah, right.)

Chester Gould’s work needs 2 be re-syndicated and put back in2 newspapers. This is just beating on a dead horse. Sad…

Bravo WW. The storm can’t be too bad if the police are out looking for Tracy. When I say police I don’t mean the Naperville Two. Still, looking for them does not entail moving around. They are staying away from the new corner lake. Maybe they think the Loch Ness monster is in there.

Will the next storyline feature the hideous villain “Ted” whose wanted poster appears in panel two?

Let me see if I understand this.

The weather is bad, and the cops don’t know where Tracy is. Communications are down. Mordred is saying threatening things.

You could easily go back in the past month and find a dozen panels that would be interchangeable with today’s. The amount of new info in this strip is zero.

Great to hear about the new team! I’ve been a fan of Joe’s since E-Man (well, the First Comics series). Not familiar with Mike Curtis, but according to Wikipedia he’s the Deputy State Pathologist in the Republic of Ireland, so I’m sure we will get some excellent forensics in the strip!

I think trampling all over recent traditions is a great idea, and Mike Curtis and Joe Staton are just the guys to do it!

The first tradition I hope to see trampled on is that every adventure must be worse than the one before.

We can easily do without snarking at Dick Tracy – there are plenty of things to snark at on the net.

I’ve marked March 14 on my calendar. Until then, I suppose I’ll keep snarking….

-Cougar :{)

Locher has two months to wrap this quagmire story up and then, finally, a breath of fresh air. Today is starting out to be a good day.

liz and testy’s maximum effort is as effective as thick’s power approach.

the transition from locherverse to the new team will be interesting. at the rate this arc is going they may have to clean up this mess.

another nice one ww

This new team will obviously improve the strip, but in doing so, will ruin this forum.

BillThompson: the true meaning of panel two is that Locher and Brozman are wanted for crimes against this comic strip.

Panel three: just like Dr. Mordred to get all waffly–now he’s only saying Macy might soon be dead. Just a week ago he was promising to kill Thick as soon as they got out of the rain:

http://www.gocomics.com/dicktracy/2011/01/13/

Obviously the Doctor is starting to respond to Thick’s seductions… I sense a Big Romantic Climax, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

we could migrate our snarkiness to the FBOFW comic forum; they could use a cold dose of reality there.

anyway, regarding yesterday’s news: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RrDB0cC8xE

I say we throw a party on Locher’s final day. Maybe THEN we’ll see some GOOD storytelling and artwork here.

Great poem today, wndrwrthg, proving that postive comments can be entertaining! I hope you will continue to find inspiration.

To pending new artists, I hope you do read these. Please!!! Better villains, not old school retreads. Possible use of some old characters like Vitamin, Diet, etc. But MOST IMPORTANTLY. Stories that MOVE, do some research on the old strips wherein even the most mundane character villains were in stories that changed locations, had interesting chases, narrow escapes and the like. For instance, this present story has been going for over a month and nothing has really happened. You can get by with so-so art (see early Gould) and so-so characters, but this is a cop strip, it requires action, not 3 week of talking abvout how bad a storm is. I think the comments will be much more favorable if you give this a shot. Looking forward to it.

Joe and Mike: Welcome! Seriously looking forward to your fresh take on our favorite detective. Your work over at Plainclothes is awesome!

(And WW: Some of your best work today, heralding the upcoming changing of the guard!)

Maybe one of those two guys with the turds on their hats could say something like “Told the idiot not to drive into the water”

I’ll believe it when (1) IT HAPPENS; (2) Simon Penn reveals his true identity; (3) Mattie wears his red sweater to fingerpainting class; and last, but not least, (4) when Judyhansel posts the pics from the last family reunion.

Bring back the Plenty Family! B.O., Gertie, Sparkle, and Perfume!

Well my undying loyalty to Dick Tracy may have paid off. The news that Joe Staton is going to draw the strip and Mike Curtis to write is unbelievable. Especially in light of the recent loss of Annie, Cathy and Brenda Starr. It seem like Tracy was possibly bound for the same faith. Remember “FOOM” last year? I couldn’t help but finally say that it was the low point for me as a fan. I’d resign myself to just reading reprints, especially the ones from my childhood. Ironically the 30’s years back, when Max Collins, Rick Fletcher took over. So I’m wary yet optimistic.

Very uplifting wndrwrthg!

Im looking forward to this new team as well but first Id love to see how Locher finishes this mess. Things only get worse for Tracy and this is Lochers last arc. Think hell end it nicely? Or will he end it with something that will anger everyone such as ’The storm ends, they step outside and the courthouse is right across the street’?

It always seem to work out that way …

You’d think that the artist/author knowing it’s his final shot would try to put someting impressive out there, a great story he has been saving, a truly fabulousl Villain design, one he has been saving just for this occasion.

That’s the sort of thing from which great ”memories” are born. But NO ! – it’s out with a whimper !

Joe and Mike taking over is the best thing to happen to this strip in many years.

If they manage to keep it half as good as “Plainclothes” it will still be three times better than what we’re being served up now.

Question: How many of you will depart this forum once the new team takes over? I hope snarking isn’t the only thing on our plates, seems to me that other comics (notably “Last Kiss”) have a loyal following of commentators who don’t chew the author a new one every day several times a day.

Next question; what will Simon Penn do if everybody starts giving favorable comments once the new team takes over? Part of his thing was disagreeing with us disagreeable folk, he won’t know what to make of such a drastic change.

To the new creative team: Please return Junior to the way he SHOULD look as your first order of business. Locher had no business changing the way he looked. Also, please don’t make Liz(z) look so butch.

I’m looking forward to what they bring to the table. Can’t be any worse.

Ye gads! two more months of Mordant’s emotive mask and threatening Macy, Sam & Liz wondering what’s keeping Macy.

Come now, its only two more months of Tracy and Mordred getting into various escapades and Mordred talking trash about how Tracy is going to die. Surely it wont be that bad.

OK, snark up, because we only have until March 14th. After that, I hope that snarking will no longer be necessary.

I only hope that ‘the Pig-On-Wheels’ will be a returning character, we love him so.

Michael McMillan, I intend to stay here, although I expect a lot less reason to snark.