There’s that song again, so Blackjack (another one of Mike Curtis’s greatest hits) is back. He gets knocked down (or in prison) and he get up again (or breaks out again). That should distract Tracy, but I’m not sure Ace is behind that.
I’d think it would be unlikely for this to be a coincidence — looks like Black Jack is being revealed as the new Ace of Spades. I haven’t been reading through the comments as scrupulously as usual of late but I don’t recall anyone theorizing about this scenario, even though the monikers are both card related. And will Fritz Ann be showing up as per usual since BlackJack is involved?
Did someone call this?!? Did BlackJack tunnel out behind a Bridget Bardot poster? Is he calling Chumbawamba to get the gang back together again? …
I wonder what Tracy did with Blackjack’s Tracy collection. Tracy promised to take care of it back when Blackjack was jailed in 2017. (I just read that strip a couple of days ago.)
Is there a logical progression in the strip? ‘Tubthumping’ is playing on the oldies station (presumably the Chumbawamba version – although there are fun covers by They Might be Giants and The Wurzels) so Tracy decides to call the warden at the state pen. Does he make a call every time he hears it played? And, by amazing coincidence, Black Jack has escaped only minutes earlier – or the MCU and the media would certainly be aware of the fact.
So, as LawrenceS points out, Tracy walks in to HQ and suddenly is overcome with an urge to call the warden at the state prison, just because that song is on the radio? Is that what we’re supposed to get from this?
Nice art today. The combination of Joe’s drawings and Shane’s colors and shading makes both Tracy and Sam look particularly good.
1-RADIO: ♫ ♪♪♫ _ I get knocked up and I get locked up again_ ♫ ♪♪♫
RADIO DJ: AND THAT ONE GOES OUT TO RIKKI TIKKI TAVI IN…Oh. In the State Pen. Well, you know what they say – ain’t no listener as loyal as a captive listener! Now for…
2-SAM: Good mor… DT: Shaddap! That DJ mentioned Rikki’s name! I better call the Warden. There ain’t no coincidences in Tracyville!
SAM:choke! No, of course not. Never…
3-DT: This is Tracy, Warden. I need you to go check Rikki Tikki Tavi’s cell and make sure she’s still in it. I’ll wait…
4-WARDEN: Yeah, she’s there but… DT: Took you long enough.
WARDEN: I wasn’t finished. Her bunk mate JackBlack IS MISSING!
5-DT: Your prison is CO-ED???
WARDEN: Yes. It’s an experiment to cut down on prison male-on-male sex offenses.
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! The delightful Blackjack has sprung the slam and is back in the Game! Could he be the New Ace, as some have pondered? My opinion is that he is not. But I think he will make an unerring yet unpredictable impact on the affairs of Ace of Spades with Queen of Spades and Apparatus vs. Smith Industries and Major Crimes Unit! Tracyville may have been asleep, as Tracy implied, but it’s about to wake up with a Tubthump and a bang!
We’re working on an interesting lineup of criminals in this story arc that I imagine will come together at some point. For this one, Tracy could use the time drone to follow Blackjack during his prison break and find out where he’s staying – perhaps hanging out with an Ace and a Ten given the players so far. ;)
Intro (skip if you’ve already read any of the previous intros):
Hello, greetings, casual readers of past Tracy stories. I’m here because I’m on 2 missions. The first is something I’ve never done before, read each Tracy story by Mike Curtis (or his occasional guest writer) in one sitting each. I feel his stories are worth it. IMHO, Curtis is by far the best post-Gould writer this strip has ever had, and we’re all lucky to have him.
My second mission is to provide an immediately useful Featured Comment whenever needed. My 3 friends below will reply to me. You can read their replies if you like, but their only real purpose is to bump up this comment to the Featured Comment.
There are 2 basic types of immediately useful Featured Comments: the first type is to provide you with a Mumblespeak translator when needed. The other type (this type) is anytime that day’s strip quotes a real song. I will provide an html to a recording to that song so you’ll know the tune even if you’ve never heard it before.
End Intro
No ambiguity here. Sam’s listen to Tubthumping on the radio so here it is:
Pequod over 2 years ago
Nobody’s gonna keep him down
The escape artist likes to clown.
Behind jail bars a bitter cup
Blackjack knocked down. He got back up.
This bird has flown, could not be kept
The Warden cursed before he wept.
Gained renown as a tub-thumper
O’er prison walls he’s now a jumper.
Neil Wick over 2 years ago
Good morning™, everyone!
There’s that song again, so Blackjack (another one of Mike Curtis’s greatest hits) is back. He gets knocked down (or in prison) and he get up again (or breaks out again). That should distract Tracy, but I’m not sure Ace is behind that.
https://youtu.be/2H5uWRjFsGc
Leo Cannyn Premium Member over 2 years ago
Looks like this storyline is a best of series for the past half decade of strips with cameos. I’m enjoying it so far.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray over 2 years ago
Good morning™, sideways story cuts !
New story or will mr. “Thumper” be working concurrently during the time machine arc ? Can MCU handle two crime actors going at the same time ?
artsyguy65 over 2 years ago
Good Morning™, Tubthumpers!
I’d think it would be unlikely for this to be a coincidence — looks like Black Jack is being revealed as the new Ace of Spades. I haven’t been reading through the comments as scrupulously as usual of late but I don’t recall anyone theorizing about this scenario, even though the monikers are both card related. And will Fritz Ann be showing up as per usual since BlackJack is involved?
Did someone call this?!? Did BlackJack tunnel out behind a Bridget Bardot poster? Is he calling Chumbawamba to get the gang back together again? …
Johnny Q Premium Member over 2 years ago
Tracy loves to gossip with the warden!
blunebottle over 2 years ago
Blackjack, the lovable villain.
Jab Jr 1957 over 2 years ago
I wonder what Tracy did with Blackjack’s Tracy collection. Tracy promised to take care of it back when Blackjack was jailed in 2017. (I just read that strip a couple of days ago.)
iggyman over 2 years ago
I am eating a can of sardines as I am waiting with baited breath to see where all this is going!
EOCostello over 2 years ago
Hurrah! One of my favourite characters.
LawrenceS over 2 years ago
Is there a logical progression in the strip? ‘Tubthumping’ is playing on the oldies station (presumably the Chumbawamba version – although there are fun covers by They Might be Giants and The Wurzels) so Tracy decides to call the warden at the state pen. Does he make a call every time he hears it played? And, by amazing coincidence, Black Jack has escaped only minutes earlier – or the MCU and the media would certainly be aware of the fact.
crobinson019 over 2 years ago
Not the Best Tracy villain, but certainly has the class to attempt this
Ken in Ohio over 2 years ago
So, as LawrenceS points out, Tracy walks in to HQ and suddenly is overcome with an urge to call the warden at the state prison, just because that song is on the radio? Is that what we’re supposed to get from this?
Nice art today. The combination of Joe’s drawings and Shane’s colors and shading makes both Tracy and Sam look particularly good.
orbenjawell Premium Member over 2 years ago
That ray-didi-yo in P1: Ooooh! I want one! I WANT ONE!!
436rge over 2 years ago
Dick Tracy will be celebrating 90 years next week!
Wichita1.0 over 2 years ago
Or, in my case, “I get knocked down. Don’t get up again. Just lie on the floor and bleeeeeed.”
cmerb over 2 years ago
Terrific , images again today . This is getting to be a great story .
iggyman over 2 years ago
I was just reading about Blackjack and how he took the name of Blackjack Ketchem, an old West outlaw. Any relation to Sam?
ChucklinChuck over 2 years ago
Looks like Tracy’s wearing his bowlesss chapeau today. Must be his Sunday best.
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 2 years ago
Blackjack breaks out of prison before Tracy’s visit…how inconsiderate!
Ray Toler over 2 years ago
Sam just happens to be listening to Tubthumping just as Blackjack breaks out of jail? No coincidences in Tracyville.
Ray Toler over 2 years ago
Does the wrist radio make phone calls? I thought it only connected to others with wrist radios. Does the warden have one as well?
Kip Williams over 2 years ago
“That’s it. It’s time to round up every criminal named after a playing card, especially those who would be part of a Royal Straight. Let’s go!”
Durak Premium Member over 2 years ago
“Oh, by the way Warden, I was just calling you to check on Rikki. How’s she doing? Pregnant? I don’t even know the girl!”
Steve Bartholomew over 2 years ago
Where can I get a watch that makes lightning bolts?
Another Take over 2 years ago
1-RADIO: ♫ ♪♪♫ _ I get knocked up and I get locked up again_ ♫ ♪♪♫
RADIO DJ: AND THAT ONE GOES OUT TO RIKKI TIKKI TAVI IN…Oh. In the State Pen. Well, you know what they say – ain’t no listener as loyal as a captive listener! Now for…
2-SAM: Good mor… DT: Shaddap! That DJ mentioned Rikki’s name! I better call the Warden. There ain’t no coincidences in Tracyville!
SAM: choke! No, of course not. Never…
3-DT: This is Tracy, Warden. I need you to go check Rikki Tikki Tavi’s cell and make sure she’s still in it. I’ll wait…
4-WARDEN: Yeah, she’s there but… DT: Took you long enough.
WARDEN: I wasn’t finished. Her bunk mate JackBlack IS MISSING!
5-DT: Your prison is CO-ED???
WARDEN: Yes. It’s an experiment to cut down on prison male-on-male sex offenses.
DT: Fascinating. How’s it working out?
WARDEN: I don’t wanna talk about it.
patroman over 2 years ago
Waitaminnit! Didn’t Blackjack promise Tracy he’d serve his sentence & go straight? What happened?
IvanB.Cohen over 2 years ago
“Blackjack has broken out of prison”. So much for maximum security. On second thought was this an inside job?
IvanB.Cohen over 2 years ago
I suppose Tracy and Sam could use the time drone to find him…provided the Ace of Spades and the Apparatus did not beat them to the punch.
Sisyphos over 2 years ago
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! The delightful Blackjack has sprung the slam and is back in the Game! Could he be the New Ace, as some have pondered? My opinion is that he is not. But I think he will make an unerring yet unpredictable impact on the affairs of Ace of Spades with Queen of Spades and Apparatus vs. Smith Industries and Major Crimes Unit! Tracyville may have been asleep, as Tracy implied, but it’s about to wake up with a Tubthump and a bang!
dalemcnamee9 over 2 years ago
And back by popular request… He-e-ere’s Blackjack !
jim_pem over 2 years ago
We’re working on an interesting lineup of criminals in this story arc that I imagine will come together at some point. For this one, Tracy could use the time drone to follow Blackjack during his prison break and find out where he’s staying – perhaps hanging out with an Ace and a Ten given the players so far. ;)
boboscar about 1 month ago
Intro (skip if you’ve already read any of the previous intros):
Hello, greetings, casual readers of past Tracy stories. I’m here because I’m on 2 missions. The first is something I’ve never done before, read each Tracy story by Mike Curtis (or his occasional guest writer) in one sitting each. I feel his stories are worth it. IMHO, Curtis is by far the best post-Gould writer this strip has ever had, and we’re all lucky to have him.
My second mission is to provide an immediately useful Featured Comment whenever needed. My 3 friends below will reply to me. You can read their replies if you like, but their only real purpose is to bump up this comment to the Featured Comment.
There are 2 basic types of immediately useful Featured Comments: the first type is to provide you with a Mumblespeak translator when needed. The other type (this type) is anytime that day’s strip quotes a real song. I will provide an html to a recording to that song so you’ll know the tune even if you’ve never heard it before.
End Intro
No ambiguity here. Sam’s listen to Tubthumping on the radio so here it is:
h
t
t
p
s
:
/
/
www
.
youtube
.
com
/watch?v=2H5uWRjFsGc