Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Shelley Pleger for July 18, 2014

G’morning everyone.

DT’s been transported back in time and now, Mandrake the Magician is also on a time trip (back or ahead).

…..and I don’t know how Mike and Joe come up with THIS stuff – it’s great!

Joe Corntassel was played by Mel Torme on some of the radio shows.

So, according to Annie, the radio show puts them into a “trance.” It does sound like hypnotism, and there’s no suggestion here that Tracy is immune. It think Annie’s right. It’s up to her to save him.

Tracy has been in many death traps over the years. Hasn’t it happened often that others had to get him free, or am I mistaken?

I wouldn’t mind if Tracy stayed in Annie’s little world a lot longer! I am really excited about Sunday too…

Click for “The Daily Cartoonist” article!

Yeesh, getting that Twilight Zone feel now: “Annie, you didn’t listen to Belinda. Listen to Belinda, Annie…or else.”

Has it been resolved yet whether Tracy and Annie are actually in the past? I lean to saying no they aren’t, but has it been clarified?

Yup; it’s up to Annie to find some way to get Tracy out from under the Belinda mind-control. Maybe she’ll slip a message to Lum and Abner when they visit on Sunday, and they’ll pass it on to the MCU or Warbucks….

So it’s not time travel but MIND CONTROL…..insidious…

One of my concerns is that Annie seems to be outside during the Belinda broadcasts a lot. Does Axel patrol the streets during the broadcasts to see if anyone is avoiding them? Or does he post spies to be on the lookout for him? I’m concerned that Annie might get caught out of doors during the Belinda broadcasts.

Ten bucks says that the Belinda Show airs right after The Sounds of Plenty from Montana joe’s station… where I hear people are just DYING TO GET IN lol :)

Second panel reminds me of the classic Charles Atlas ad where the guy is sick of being a weakling and is going to gamble 50 cents and get Charles Atlas’ pamphlet

Annie has to come up with a distraction to pull Tracy away from the radio at 4:45. (Or just change that clock!)

Good morning fans. Joe to the rescue!

Or Martin Trace, Keener than Most Persons!.(Tip of the hat to Bob and Ray)

If only Flatop could make an special appearance on this Time Travel Arc….. and then bring him back to the present…. ahhhh wouldn’t be nice?

Why 4:45? A Quarter to Five? funny time for a show to begin! To Be Continued..

You will be absorbed. Your individuality will merge into the unity of good, and in your submergence into the common being of the body, you will find contentment, fulfillment. You will experience the absolute good. — The Return of the Archons

Since Annie appears to be the only one in town “Belinda’s” radio program hasn’t brainwashed, it appears it is, indeed, up to her to save Tracy.

This is what Tracy looks like after staring at that decoder badge for too long:

As pointed out many soap operas and children’s shows (like Little Orphan Annie, or The Adventures of Superman) were only 15 minute shows. Even on TV there were 15 minute shows. Until 1963 all of the nightly news shows in the US were 15 minutes long.

Been so busy staying awake forgot to mention that today’s my birthday. I want to say I’m 39 but I passed that a long time ago!

Can anyone tell me why that barber pole has black stripes, in addition to the traditional red, white and blue ones?

Don’t forget that the strip is meant to be displayed in black and white, so the white represents white and the black represents darker colours like red and blue. It looks best for a black and white strip to maintain the contrast rather than just draw outlines as if it were a colouring book, but that does pose a problem for colourists.