The last venture led to a massive explosion? Must not have been too bad, as the good doctor survived (less a few fingers that Locher is showing us). Instead of calling past employers and spreading gossip, the CIA needs to fight terrorism a little more. DL fails to show how the little guy broke the law. The last time I lit a firecracker, that caused an explosion.
It’s time to ‘focus’ on Dick Locher flawed writing practise (picked up from Kilian?). This relates principally to what many describe as dull, glacial “pacing”
One ‘MARKER’ to look for is how many ‘weeks’ into the story it takes before a CRIME is committed!
The following can easily be checked by anyone. The story information is easily available. Pacing is one of DL’s big impediments as it was with Kilian. Gould’s “story-structure” formula usually had the crime committed in the first THREE weeks, often, in week ONE!! This acts as a “trigger” to get things happening. As the examples below will show Locher’s stories run for weeks before a CRIME takes place to get the ‘action’ rolling. He, like his predecessor gets bogged down by “buikd up”,”build up” and MORE “build up”. A setting of the stage, a practise that makes for dreadfully dull story telling, while readers become impatient waiting for someting of “substance” to happen! For example it took EIGHT weeks for Braces’ gang to commit a crime. It’s easy to to be missled by “ping-pong” dialogue between characters that creates a mirage that there is meaningful forward movement.
Here are some Locher examples:
First, the famous 75th Anniversary tale of the strip, Dr.Figment Froid: Story length 21+ weeks. Crime at 14th Week. A lot of dull unnecessary talk in that time.
Before that, Al Kinda. Story, 21 weeks. Crime at 14 weeks.Then the Baskerville case. Story,12 weeks, 5 days. Crime at 4 weeks, 4 days!
I’ve already mentioned Bracea at 8 weeks to crime. But I’m not saying ALL his stories are like this, but most by Kilian and Locher where !
In contrast GOULD in his final two years had numbers as follows: LISPY: (ST)Story 1O Weeks, 1 day. (C)Crime, 1st day ! PUCKER PUSS: (ST)14 Weeks, 4 days. (C)2 Weeks, 4 days. BOLO:(S)9 Weeks (C)1 Week. PERFUME Thieves: (S)14 Weeks, 2 days.(C)10 Days. ZERO NAUGHT: (S) 12 Weeks,4days. (C)At 2 Weeks,3 days! DADE PLENTY: (S) 28 Weeks. (C)In 7 Days.
That was a “key” part of Gould’s strategy for an “interesting” story. It triggered the excitment of the “chase”. He was never bogged down in boreing repetition which young “wanna’be’s” like Mattie are “hypnotized” into thinking that it is a process of “building suspense”. No future for him if he “parrots” Locher’s style. He’ll be dead in the water!
The most powerful thing DL has going for him is the recognition of being the Writer/Artist of Dick Tracy! Some years ago Stan Drake told him he, “was working on the best strip in the business” Imagine, he took it as a compliment!! “WORKING on” doesn’t mean “PRODUCING the best”!! He should have looked at the rapid reduction in newspaer’s carrying the strip! Stan Drake may have been envious, he realized it was the continuity strip with the best “potential” in the business.
I’m not surprised! I think so too!
So what will be the crime committed by Nubby Noll? Perfume that doesn’t smell too good? Grossing out the welcome wagon by shaking hands with missing fingers?
Once again, why is the CIA involved and NOT the FBI?
Morrow, your posts give me a chuckle every day. The “explosion” reminds me that Locher has invented more sounds for gunshots in comic strips that the rest of the field put together. It’s like the Chinese setting of strings of them in a barell. The story of Slugs Magnum the marksman (who could hit a target in his sleep) is a classic for new ‘sounds’, and when it ended the only one ‘dead’ was Slugs from his own ricochet bullet.
Grockenstein noted:
“ADVENTURES IN PHONE TAG etc…”
Yes! And none of the three main partiscipants are using their Wrist Geenees.
For Dick Locher’s Tracy that’s the “modern” cutting edge communication instrument! When last has Sam or or Lizz used one? Or for that matter the Departmment’s ‘Communications” expert who never seemed to have had one(?) DL will probably promote him to Chief before he retires. By that time the Editors who don’t pay attention will find that only Tracy out of Gould’s original characters survived, and of course “New” Junior who was never ever one of them! Don’t mind, he hugs a Yellow Rubber Ducky and that gives him a free pass.
What more does Locher plan to take away to denude the strip??!
Some years back I thought they’d changed the name of the strip to …”DICK KILIAN”.A better reflection of the content!
Ummm, at thie risk like sounding like an old fogey, this plot sounds suspiciously like a storyline DT did in the late 70’s. Anyone else out there remember Perfume Plenty?
Yes jamesdee, I mentioned it a few days ago. This would have been an ideal break to have a return of PERFUME Plenty (From 1977 with Dade and the Governor)Chet’s final story!
Yet I sense that Locher isn’t extatic about what others see as the thrilling idea of on occasion reaching back to memories of the past. He blew a great opportunity to bring back the POUCH from 1970,
on the strip’s 75th Anniversary, although many suggested it. Both would have been refreshing. Then, there have been many ‘changes’ since those days. Regretably, few have proven to be improvements!
Manure explosions certainly can be awesome. It was a mixture of fertilizer and diesel fuel that brought down the Federal building in Oklahoma several years ago. Fertilizer is often just another name we give manure.
wndrwrthg over 15 years ago
And that was just cooking dinner.
EatDickTracySandwiches over 15 years ago
I know it is not Sunday yet, but here is an early suggestion for the snuf-snaufers tip book of the week:
“When mixing hazardous chemicals, do not hold them next to your face”!! (accompanying photo will look just like Panel #1).
EatDickTracySandwiches over 15 years ago
wndrwrthg says: “And that was just cooking dinner.”
Haha, good one!
Morrow Cummings over 15 years ago
The last venture led to a massive explosion? Must not have been too bad, as the good doctor survived (less a few fingers that Locher is showing us). Instead of calling past employers and spreading gossip, the CIA needs to fight terrorism a little more. DL fails to show how the little guy broke the law. The last time I lit a firecracker, that caused an explosion.
ridenslide65 over 15 years ago
Stumps for fingers. Holding the beaker by some weird glass-Magnetic force….STILL!
He knows Chemistry but can’t drive a lick.
Tess looks like she’s almost ready to scratch her own armpit like a monkey.
Is that Tracy’s cousin at the CIA?
sydney over 15 years ago
It’s time to ‘focus’ on Dick Locher flawed writing practise (picked up from Kilian?). This relates principally to what many describe as dull, glacial “pacing” One ‘MARKER’ to look for is how many ‘weeks’ into the story it takes before a CRIME is committed! The following can easily be checked by anyone. The story information is easily available. Pacing is one of DL’s big impediments as it was with Kilian. Gould’s “story-structure” formula usually had the crime committed in the first THREE weeks, often, in week ONE!! This acts as a “trigger” to get things happening. As the examples below will show Locher’s stories run for weeks before a CRIME takes place to get the ‘action’ rolling. He, like his predecessor gets bogged down by “buikd up”,”build up” and MORE “build up”. A setting of the stage, a practise that makes for dreadfully dull story telling, while readers become impatient waiting for someting of “substance” to happen! For example it took EIGHT weeks for Braces’ gang to commit a crime. It’s easy to to be missled by “ping-pong” dialogue between characters that creates a mirage that there is meaningful forward movement. Here are some Locher examples: First, the famous 75th Anniversary tale of the strip, Dr.Figment Froid: Story length 21+ weeks. Crime at 14th Week. A lot of dull unnecessary talk in that time. Before that, Al Kinda. Story, 21 weeks. Crime at 14 weeks.Then the Baskerville case. Story,12 weeks, 5 days. Crime at 4 weeks, 4 days! I’ve already mentioned Bracea at 8 weeks to crime. But I’m not saying ALL his stories are like this, but most by Kilian and Locher where ! In contrast GOULD in his final two years had numbers as follows: LISPY: (ST)Story 1O Weeks, 1 day. (C)Crime, 1st day ! PUCKER PUSS: (ST)14 Weeks, 4 days. (C)2 Weeks, 4 days. BOLO:(S)9 Weeks (C)1 Week. PERFUME Thieves: (S)14 Weeks, 2 days.(C)10 Days. ZERO NAUGHT: (S) 12 Weeks,4days. (C)At 2 Weeks,3 days! DADE PLENTY: (S) 28 Weeks. (C)In 7 Days. That was a “key” part of Gould’s strategy for an “interesting” story. It triggered the excitment of the “chase”. He was never bogged down in boreing repetition which young “wanna’be’s” like Mattie are “hypnotized” into thinking that it is a process of “building suspense”. No future for him if he “parrots” Locher’s style. He’ll be dead in the water! The most powerful thing DL has going for him is the recognition of being the Writer/Artist of Dick Tracy! Some years ago Stan Drake told him he, “was working on the best strip in the business” Imagine, he took it as a compliment!! “WORKING on” doesn’t mean “PRODUCING the best”!! He should have looked at the rapid reduction in newspaer’s carrying the strip! Stan Drake may have been envious, he realized it was the continuity strip with the best “potential” in the business. I’m not surprised! I think so too!
LudwigVonDrake over 15 years ago
So what will be the crime committed by Nubby Noll? Perfume that doesn’t smell too good? Grossing out the welcome wagon by shaking hands with missing fingers?
Once again, why is the CIA involved and NOT the FBI?
Durak Premium Member over 15 years ago
So, just because Tess and her friends are women they’re bound to be lured into Noll’s scheme because it involves perfume?
margueritem over 15 years ago
That’s gonna be some dynamite perfume!
(Sorry, the devil made me say that.)
ElVicente over 15 years ago
Folks, I hate to criticize the critics, but Locher is advancing the plot every day now. His writing has definitely improved.
sydney over 15 years ago
Morrow, your posts give me a chuckle every day. The “explosion” reminds me that Locher has invented more sounds for gunshots in comic strips that the rest of the field put together. It’s like the Chinese setting of strings of them in a barell. The story of Slugs Magnum the marksman (who could hit a target in his sleep) is a classic for new ‘sounds’, and when it ended the only one ‘dead’ was Slugs from his own ricochet bullet.
sydney over 15 years ago
Grockenstein noted: “ADVENTURES IN PHONE TAG etc…” Yes! And none of the three main partiscipants are using their Wrist Geenees. For Dick Locher’s Tracy that’s the “modern” cutting edge communication instrument! When last has Sam or or Lizz used one? Or for that matter the Departmment’s ‘Communications” expert who never seemed to have had one(?) DL will probably promote him to Chief before he retires. By that time the Editors who don’t pay attention will find that only Tracy out of Gould’s original characters survived, and of course “New” Junior who was never ever one of them! Don’t mind, he hugs a Yellow Rubber Ducky and that gives him a free pass. What more does Locher plan to take away to denude the strip??! Some years back I thought they’d changed the name of the strip to …”DICK KILIAN”.A better reflection of the content!
jamesdee over 15 years ago
Ummm, at thie risk like sounding like an old fogey, this plot sounds suspiciously like a storyline DT did in the late 70’s. Anyone else out there remember Perfume Plenty?
sydney over 15 years ago
Yes jamesdee, I mentioned it a few days ago. This would have been an ideal break to have a return of PERFUME Plenty (From 1977 with Dade and the Governor)Chet’s final story! Yet I sense that Locher isn’t extatic about what others see as the thrilling idea of on occasion reaching back to memories of the past. He blew a great opportunity to bring back the POUCH from 1970, on the strip’s 75th Anniversary, although many suggested it. Both would have been refreshing. Then, there have been many ‘changes’ since those days. Regretably, few have proven to be improvements!
kiddork over 15 years ago
I read the last panel quickly, and thought it read ‘manure explosion’.
Now that would be awesome.
mjmsprt40 over 15 years ago
Manure explosions certainly can be awesome. It was a mixture of fertilizer and diesel fuel that brought down the Federal building in Oklahoma several years ago. Fertilizer is often just another name we give manure.
LudwigVonDrake over 15 years ago
No…the current Dick Tracy strip is cow poop.