I think that is done in a strip such as this to indicate that a moment of time passed between the panels, even though the individuals didn’t change position.
Well, Gould did things like that fairly regularly in the classic strip. The “Emptier” Brush Co. (Fuller in real life), for example. Or pro golfer “Ralph Smead” (Sam Snead in real life). Or “Glance” Magazine (Look in real life). What he didn’t do is try to make an entirely different fictional universe fit into the Tracyverse. Sly references to real life are one thing; forced crossovers are another.
While I certainly was annoyed at Mike’s shoehorning an appearance of the Batmobile into Dick Tracy, I have to be fair – now it appears that he’s making it part of the story. Chester Gould more than once had B.O. win a contest of some sort which directly or indirectly led to him getting entangled with a crook. Perhaps this will develop into an actual Gouldian style story. (We can hope!)
Print newspapers, although certainly struggling, and different than they were, are still very much a “thing”. I myself have a corded landline telephone – it gives me much better audio for long distance conversations with my sister than my cell phone. And it wasn’t too long ago that I noticed a pay phone on a pole next to the parking lot of the Shell gas station that I use – I’ll have to make a point to see if it is still there next time I get gas.
Thanks. I’ve read a few of the Ross MacDonald books, and all of the Sue Grafton books. I didn’t make the connection about “Santa Teresa” – that’s interesting that the authors cooperated behind the scenes like that.
It is except when it isn’t! Chester Gould obviously had Chicago in mind for “the City”, but he also had very fluid geography, putting the City near mountains or the ocean depending on what was going on in the story.
I just looked it up to be sure my memory was correct. Sam was actually right there with Tracy when they captured Blowtop (if that’s who fourteenpeeves is referring to, above.) Sam was shown using his key to uncuff Blowtop from the wire fence where Tracy had cuffed him when he went back to check on Vitamin, who had been shot.
I took the first strips as showing that Calvin’s initial “behavior” was just after Rosalyn arrived. Excuse me if I got it wrong, but I have been enjoying the whole arc (although not every comment.)
Sure I’ve seen this before. I was just expressing what I think it conveys.