Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for May 11, 2021

Rikki at the wheel of the Kadaver-mobile!

Good morning™, guys!

Well, we did get a chase, even if it was very short because Rikki and Abner were long gone by the time Tracy and his backup could get there. At least it’s a bit of action.

Cue the Munsters theme song!

Too late?

To save this arc?

“We was too late… The Rev. Neuk saw the light.”

Nice touch that you can see Abner’s eyes in the rear-view mirror.

Good morning™, getaway drivers !

That Rikki is one fast chicky, baby !

Underneath that dead facade, Abner is seething with anger at a missed opportunity, one that may not repeat. The only death in this story will be Abner expiring from his malady while Rikki, if she gets away clean, will wind up in the home for unwed mothers.

Too late? Too late for what?

It’s too late, to turn back now. I believe, I believe I’m falling in love?

But I was a little too lonely, and you were a little too late?

Got to leave this town before it’s too late… too late to make the change?

It’s too late, baby now it’s too late, though we really did try to make it?

Rikki should be driving that modified hearse from Harold and Maude.

Next panel: (phone rings) “Kadaver here… Apparatus? Oh, I was supposed to kill him BEFORE he testified? Sounds like nitpicking to me. In any case, I missed. My next contract is to kill myself? Ok but that’s going to cost extra…”

Panel 2 Rikki looks a bid “Cagneyish”!

Tracy thought Abner would wait on the roof for him? Station officers around building (it would have taken Abner time to get down) before running up five flights of stairs.

Does Abner’s ride have warp drive or something?

Oh good. Tracy did take backup.

Hey, gang, it’s Mike’s birthday today.

The artistic quality of this strip really amazes me. I’ve grown 60 years older with an ageless DT. Not sure why fishwrappers dropped quality strips like this. Broke my heart.

Another great hat day.

So wait! How did all of this happen? Rikki is there to pick up Abner? Tracy on the runyells, “to late.” A lot of action missing!

Does the city have traffic cams? If so, Tracy could use them to track for suspicious vehicles hi tailing from the scene.

Check the grassy knoll, Dick.

1-DT: I’M CERTAIN THAT THEY’LL BE WAITING RIGHT OVER HERE…

2-RIKKI T.T.: I’m your Uber Driver – Rikki. Do you care for some music? A bottled water or mints?

A.B.: No thanks. Just drive away without drawing any undue attention please. I’m…shy.

3-DT: Huh? They didn’t wait? Well stick a hand up my butt and call me a dummy! I thought sure they’d still be right here!

Neil calls this “action”. Man he must really like watching Darts on TV. BTW, how did Abs get off the roof and into a vehicle while Dicko and back up were ascending?

Talk about a vanishing act….who did Abner get this technique from….David Copperfield or Penn & Teller?

He who runs away…..gets to carry out his assignment another day.

No wonder Tracy and the officer didn’t catch Abner….they were wearing the wrong kind of shoes.

So Abner’s hit fell flat,

Just because of Sam’s green hat.

He had one shot and missed;

The Apparatus will be…. very unhappy!

On vacation for 2 weeks. I won’t have an internet connection except periodically. Can’t always comment but I am reading whenever I can.

Tracy is in running pursuit, but Rikki puts the pedal to the metal and glances back derisively as she speeds Abner away to their secret lair. Tracy and his backup find an empty rooftop.

Too bad Tracy didn’t have a perimeter patrol of vehicles….