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Dick Tracy (2024)
Dick Tracy, Vol. 1
DICK TRACY RETURNS IN A NEW ONGOING COMIC BOOK SERIES FROM MAD CAVE!
A new era for the iconic detective starts here, from bestselling and acclaimed authors Alex Segura and Michael Moreci, as an all-new, noir-infused chapter in the Dick Tracy legacy kicks off with superstar artist Geraldo Borges.
In the aftermath of World War II, the country stands frozen–waiting for the other shoe to drop. In The City, a brutal murder draws the attention of rising star detective Dick Tracy, who soon discovers the bloodshed is just the beginning of a complicated web that threatens to ensnare everything he cares about.
Blending the classic elements of the Dick Tracy world (including his iconic villains, supporting cast, and unforgettable watch radio) with a hardboiled and realistic take, DICK TRACY Vol. 1 kicks off a fresh and modern take on the iconic detective that remains true to his rich history.
A new era for the iconic detective starts here, from bestselling and acclaimed authors Alex Segura and Michael Moreci, as an all-new, noir-infused chapter in the Dick Tracy legacy kicks off with superstar artist Geraldo Borges.
In the aftermath of World War II, the country stands frozen–waiting for the other shoe to drop. In The City, a brutal murder draws the attention of rising star detective Dick Tracy, who soon discovers the bloodshed is just the beginning of a complicated web that threatens to ensnare everything he cares about.
Blending the classic elements of the Dick Tracy world (including his iconic villains, supporting cast, and unforgettable watch radio) with a hardboiled and realistic take, DICK TRACY Vol. 1 kicks off a fresh and modern take on the iconic detective that remains true to his rich history.
130 pages, Paperback
Published December 17, 2024
9 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Alex Segura
275 books573 followersAlex Segura is the bestselling and award-winning author of Secret Identity, which The New York Times called “wittily original” and named an Editor’s Choice. NPR described the novel as “masterful” and The L.A. Times called it “a magnetic read.”
Secret Identity received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist, was listed as one of the Best Mysteries of the Year by NPR, Kirkus, Booklist, LitReactor, Gizmodo, BOLO Books, and the South Florida Sun Sentinel, was nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Hardcover, the Lefty and Barry Awards for Best Novel, the Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, and won the LA Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller category.
His upcoming work includes the YA superhero adventure Araña/Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow, the follow-up to Secret Identity, Alter Ego, and the sci-fi/espionage thriller, Dark Space (with Rob Hart). Alex is also the author of Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, the Anthony Award-nominated Pete Fernandez Miami Mystery series, and a number of comic books – including The Mysterious Micro-Face (in partnership with NPR), The Black Ghost, The Archies, The Dusk, The Awakened, Mara Llave – Keeper of Time, Blood Oath, stories featuring Marvel heroes the Avengers, Sunspot, White Tiger, Spider-Man and DC’s Superman, Sinestro, and The Question, to name a few.
His short story, “90 Miles” was included in The Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories for 2021 and won the Anthony Award for Best Short Story. Another short story,“Red Zone,” won the 2020 Anthony Award for Best Short Story.
Alex is also the co-creator of the Lethal Lit podcast, named one of the best fiction podcasts of 2018 by The New York Times.
A Miami native, he lives in New York with his wife and children.
Secret Identity received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist, was listed as one of the Best Mysteries of the Year by NPR, Kirkus, Booklist, LitReactor, Gizmodo, BOLO Books, and the South Florida Sun Sentinel, was nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Hardcover, the Lefty and Barry Awards for Best Novel, the Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, and won the LA Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller category.
His upcoming work includes the YA superhero adventure Araña/Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow, the follow-up to Secret Identity, Alter Ego, and the sci-fi/espionage thriller, Dark Space (with Rob Hart). Alex is also the author of Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, the Anthony Award-nominated Pete Fernandez Miami Mystery series, and a number of comic books – including The Mysterious Micro-Face (in partnership with NPR), The Black Ghost, The Archies, The Dusk, The Awakened, Mara Llave – Keeper of Time, Blood Oath, stories featuring Marvel heroes the Avengers, Sunspot, White Tiger, Spider-Man and DC’s Superman, Sinestro, and The Question, to name a few.
His short story, “90 Miles” was included in The Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories for 2021 and won the Anthony Award for Best Short Story. Another short story,“Red Zone,” won the 2020 Anthony Award for Best Short Story.
Alex is also the co-creator of the Lethal Lit podcast, named one of the best fiction podcasts of 2018 by The New York Times.
A Miami native, he lives in New York with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 21, 2025
3.5 stars
"I won't apologize for doing my job, and I won't apologize for good men putting their lives on the line to serve justice." -- the title character, in response his chief's barrage of questions
At nearly 94 (!) years old, I suppose it's no surprise that the righteous plainclothes detective - if you can call banana yellow a proper shade for a trench coat and fedora - from an unnamed metropolis is given a 21st century updating of sorts, but Segura & Moreci's Dick Tracy establishes a mostly solid base to launch a new graphic novel series. The action is moved slightly forward - it's now 1947, and Tracy, as well as many of the supporting characters, are WWII veterans who experienced the horrors of combat - but this is presented as a retooling of an origin story. While Tess Trueheart is initially presented as too much of a shrew (early appearances set my teeth on edge), at least the dependable villain Flattop could be counted on to liven up a scene with his psychotic grin and blasting away with a Tommy gun. The plot is a basic 'cops-and-robbers' narrative, occasionally enlivened by a unique color palette (in a nod to the original comic strip series) or the in-joke references (such as the street intersection of 'Gould & Collins,' invoking both the creator Chester Gould and later writer Max Allan Collins). While Tracy is not presented often enough with his signature square-jawed profile, he at least is provided a nice final scene that promises further action-packed, crime-solving adventures.
"I won't apologize for doing my job, and I won't apologize for good men putting their lives on the line to serve justice." -- the title character, in response his chief's barrage of questions
At nearly 94 (!) years old, I suppose it's no surprise that the righteous plainclothes detective - if you can call banana yellow a proper shade for a trench coat and fedora - from an unnamed metropolis is given a 21st century updating of sorts, but Segura & Moreci's Dick Tracy establishes a mostly solid base to launch a new graphic novel series. The action is moved slightly forward - it's now 1947, and Tracy, as well as many of the supporting characters, are WWII veterans who experienced the horrors of combat - but this is presented as a retooling of an origin story. While Tess Trueheart is initially presented as too much of a shrew (early appearances set my teeth on edge), at least the dependable villain Flattop could be counted on to liven up a scene with his psychotic grin and blasting away with a Tommy gun. The plot is a basic 'cops-and-robbers' narrative, occasionally enlivened by a unique color palette (in a nod to the original comic strip series) or the in-joke references (such as the street intersection of 'Gould & Collins,' invoking both the creator Chester Gould and later writer Max Allan Collins). While Tracy is not presented often enough with his signature square-jawed profile, he at least is provided a nice final scene that promises further action-packed, crime-solving adventures.
February 27, 2025
Retelling the story of Dick Tracy versus the colourful characters mob through the lens of Tracy's wartime PSTD was a clever choice, I'm here for vol. 2 even if visibly identifying some of the heavies was trickier than by any rights it ought to have been.
Now, because that's how my mind works, a series of Simpsons gifs.
As you were...
Now, because that's how my mind works, a series of Simpsons gifs.
As you were...
March 6, 2025
I’m old enough to remember watching a few Dick Tracy cartoons in 1961 on TV, which was my introduction to this character. The cartoons sucked imho. I had never heard of Dick Tracy, and I could care less at this point. He was a guy with a pointed chin introducing dogs who were dumb cops.
https://youtu.be/igMx2-WmOiw?feature=...
I didn’t watch them more than a few times. Dick Tracy did not really appear in them except at the first few seconds and the last.
Then Madonna appeared in a movie called Dick Tracy in 1990, with Warren Beatty as Dick Tracy. I watched it because Madonna was in it. It was about a police detective called, well, you know, and Madonna plays a criminal’s moll.
https://youtu.be/VYHlBbnzpyM?si=lhC7A...
Madonna and Warren Beatty are great in it, but the other characters were so ugly! Wtf? Why do all of the bad guys appear to be guys with monster faces? Ugh! I moved on. Everyone said it was based on some comic strip from the 1930’s. Ok, then.
Then I saw an announcement Dick Tracy comics are available on Hoopla a week ago. They have the older comics, too, which I did not know existed until I was searching for what I now know is a 2024 reboot of Dick Tracy on Hoopla. I wondered what was all of enduring interest in the character Dick Tracy about?
This comic, ‘Dick Tracy Vol. I’, was published in 2024, and it is a reboot of the original comic strip by Chester Gould in 1931 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Tracy).
In this new reboot, Dick Tracy is a police detective in a large city. It’s 1945. There is a reporter, Tess Trueheart, whose father, Emil Trueheart, an alderman, is killed. She wants to know who killed her father and why, and so does Dick Tracy. His investigation leads him to a lot of dead bodies and gun battles. He discovers a conspiracy of corruption involving men on the city council and in the police department! The criminals doing the killing are all really really odd looking or outright ugly, and they love guns which spew out bullets fast and many at a touch of the trigger. The floors are swimming in blood due to massive numbers of murdered people whose bodies sprawl everywhere. Tracy has a lot of work ahead of him! To be continued in Vol. 2….
I don’t really understand the continuous hold Dick Tracy has on our culture, yet, but since the internet is now available for us, I have been researching. Not only are the original 1930’s comics available out there (which I had never seen or knew about), but the strip became comic books, of which the old ones and the new reboot are available on Hoopla, which became a 1937 black-and-white serial, which became 4 black-and-white movies made in 1945. The 1937 serial and the 1945 movies are available on Youtube.
I am clueless, gentler readers. At this point, I’m not particularly a fan. However, it’s obvious some ongoing cultural fascination for some readers, which has been happening completely over my head, is apparently still continuing. I plan to check out the old black-and-white serial and movies on Youtube, and check out the older comics on Hoopla. Generally, I enjoy police procedurals and detective mysteries.
https://youtu.be/igMx2-WmOiw?feature=...
I didn’t watch them more than a few times. Dick Tracy did not really appear in them except at the first few seconds and the last.
Then Madonna appeared in a movie called Dick Tracy in 1990, with Warren Beatty as Dick Tracy. I watched it because Madonna was in it. It was about a police detective called, well, you know, and Madonna plays a criminal’s moll.
https://youtu.be/VYHlBbnzpyM?si=lhC7A...
Madonna and Warren Beatty are great in it, but the other characters were so ugly! Wtf? Why do all of the bad guys appear to be guys with monster faces? Ugh! I moved on. Everyone said it was based on some comic strip from the 1930’s. Ok, then.
Then I saw an announcement Dick Tracy comics are available on Hoopla a week ago. They have the older comics, too, which I did not know existed until I was searching for what I now know is a 2024 reboot of Dick Tracy on Hoopla. I wondered what was all of enduring interest in the character Dick Tracy about?
This comic, ‘Dick Tracy Vol. I’, was published in 2024, and it is a reboot of the original comic strip by Chester Gould in 1931 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Tracy).
In this new reboot, Dick Tracy is a police detective in a large city. It’s 1945. There is a reporter, Tess Trueheart, whose father, Emil Trueheart, an alderman, is killed. She wants to know who killed her father and why, and so does Dick Tracy. His investigation leads him to a lot of dead bodies and gun battles. He discovers a conspiracy of corruption involving men on the city council and in the police department! The criminals doing the killing are all really really odd looking or outright ugly, and they love guns which spew out bullets fast and many at a touch of the trigger. The floors are swimming in blood due to massive numbers of murdered people whose bodies sprawl everywhere. Tracy has a lot of work ahead of him! To be continued in Vol. 2….
I don’t really understand the continuous hold Dick Tracy has on our culture, yet, but since the internet is now available for us, I have been researching. Not only are the original 1930’s comics available out there (which I had never seen or knew about), but the strip became comic books, of which the old ones and the new reboot are available on Hoopla, which became a 1937 black-and-white serial, which became 4 black-and-white movies made in 1945. The 1937 serial and the 1945 movies are available on Youtube.
I am clueless, gentler readers. At this point, I’m not particularly a fan. However, it’s obvious some ongoing cultural fascination for some readers, which has been happening completely over my head, is apparently still continuing. I plan to check out the old black-and-white serial and movies on Youtube, and check out the older comics on Hoopla. Generally, I enjoy police procedurals and detective mysteries.
November 8, 2024
Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.
I used to read the classic newspaper strips of Dick Tracy in the 1970's as a kid. I always enjoyed his outlandish rogues gallery and exciting adventures. So, this new series was right up my alley. Plus, I am very familiar with Segura's writing from other books and such; I knew this character was in good hands.
This first story opens in a very powerful fashion that sets the tone for this gritty reboot. This seems to be set very early in Tracy's time with the force, including his first meeting with Tess Trueheart. One needs no previous knowledge of the characters or the strip to enjoy this one. The art and the dialogue give it that perfect late 1940's vibe.
And if you are a fan of the rogues, they are here: Flattop, Mumbles, Itchy, Pruneface and more. The story delivers well on that whole nostalgia factor.
I am definitely looking forward to more from this team on this series.
I used to read the classic newspaper strips of Dick Tracy in the 1970's as a kid. I always enjoyed his outlandish rogues gallery and exciting adventures. So, this new series was right up my alley. Plus, I am very familiar with Segura's writing from other books and such; I knew this character was in good hands.
This first story opens in a very powerful fashion that sets the tone for this gritty reboot. This seems to be set very early in Tracy's time with the force, including his first meeting with Tess Trueheart. One needs no previous knowledge of the characters or the strip to enjoy this one. The art and the dialogue give it that perfect late 1940's vibe.
And if you are a fan of the rogues, they are here: Flattop, Mumbles, Itchy, Pruneface and more. The story delivers well on that whole nostalgia factor.
I am definitely looking forward to more from this team on this series.
February 20, 2025
The original top cop from the funny papers returns…as you get to learn his story from the beginning…
Dick Tracy is a newly minted detective when he catches an unusual murder case…one involving hit men targeting two diametrically opposed civilians…a reporter and a politician.
With the politician’s daughter getting involved in the case, Dick Tracy has a new criminal element on the scene…one that’s more violent and coordinated than before.
The comic clearly plans to slowly introduce various figures from the mythology (starting with a few notable names) as it explores the criminal underworld and provides why the best cop around is named Dick Tracy.
I am anxious to see what friends and enemies pop up next as we get a few hints.
I’m a big dick tracy fan as I loved the movie and I’ve read a ton of the old newspaper comics.
Dick Tracy is a newly minted detective when he catches an unusual murder case…one involving hit men targeting two diametrically opposed civilians…a reporter and a politician.
With the politician’s daughter getting involved in the case, Dick Tracy has a new criminal element on the scene…one that’s more violent and coordinated than before.
The comic clearly plans to slowly introduce various figures from the mythology (starting with a few notable names) as it explores the criminal underworld and provides why the best cop around is named Dick Tracy.
I am anxious to see what friends and enemies pop up next as we get a few hints.
I’m a big dick tracy fan as I loved the movie and I’ve read a ton of the old newspaper comics.
May 28, 2025
I read the Dick Tracy comic strip in the newspaper back in my youth, so I was curious to see how it would translate to a modern audience. I found it quite well done; I like that it is firmly set in the 1940s, and the moody artwork makes for great atmosphere. While grittier than the newspaper version (in part I think because it's in vivid color in the graphic novel), the classic Tracy villains are here: Pruneface, Flattop, etc. as well as the supporting cast. I quite enjoyed it.
November 20, 2024
I’ve loved the Sunday funnies for a long time.
I’d go through all of them on a Sunday morning. One that I would always read, was Dick Tracy.
As I got older, I’d read the funnies less frequently, but still try to keep up.
I was excited when I found out that Mad Cave had a license for a new Dick Tracy comic book.
I was not disappointed in the book at all. It was the Dick Tracy of old. A nice noir take on a set of classic characters.
Under the pen of Alex Segura and Michael Moreci, we were given a tale of a town under seige. With one crime boss trying to come out on top. There was lots of things in there for long time fans, but still accessible to new readers. All the while I was reading it, I was thinking of it like a four color version of LA Confidential. One of my favorite movies.
Art by Geraldo Borges was top notch. It really brought the city to vibrant yet nuanced life. I can’t think of anything I’ve seen him do before, but I’ll definitely be looking for his name in the future.
Please bring on volume 2 soon!!!
I’d go through all of them on a Sunday morning. One that I would always read, was Dick Tracy.
As I got older, I’d read the funnies less frequently, but still try to keep up.
I was excited when I found out that Mad Cave had a license for a new Dick Tracy comic book.
I was not disappointed in the book at all. It was the Dick Tracy of old. A nice noir take on a set of classic characters.
Under the pen of Alex Segura and Michael Moreci, we were given a tale of a town under seige. With one crime boss trying to come out on top. There was lots of things in there for long time fans, but still accessible to new readers. All the while I was reading it, I was thinking of it like a four color version of LA Confidential. One of my favorite movies.
Art by Geraldo Borges was top notch. It really brought the city to vibrant yet nuanced life. I can’t think of anything I’ve seen him do before, but I’ll definitely be looking for his name in the future.
Please bring on volume 2 soon!!!
December 17, 2025
Since I ended 2024's reading challenge on a low note, it was only right that I start 2025's reading challenge on a high note.
As a child, I read the Dick Tracy comic strip daily in my local newspaper.
However, I enjoyed watching the Dick Tracy cartoons on my local TV station even more.
This TPB featured many of the villains I remembered from the cartoons: Pruneface, Itchy, Flat Top, and my favorite-Mumbles.
The TPB also ended with the caption To Be Continued. I can imagine hearing Dick Tracy say into his phone "OK Chief. I'll get on it right away. Six-two and even. Over and out."
As a child, I read the Dick Tracy comic strip daily in my local newspaper.
However, I enjoyed watching the Dick Tracy cartoons on my local TV station even more.
This TPB featured many of the villains I remembered from the cartoons: Pruneface, Itchy, Flat Top, and my favorite-Mumbles.
The TPB also ended with the caption To Be Continued. I can imagine hearing Dick Tracy say into his phone "OK Chief. I'll get on it right away. Six-two and even. Over and out."
Currently reading
June 20, 2024Issue #1 - I bought this b/c the cover art doesn't show Tracy with his usual clean-shaven depiction. He looks like a street brawler.
Alas, the variant covers sport a more traditional look, as does the interior art.
The writing could be tighter, but I'm curious to see where this goes.
2 stars
Issue #2 - Much better. Not tighter, but there's less intentionally endearing BS dialogue.
And Mumbles's fate is compelling.
3 stars
Alas, the variant covers sport a more traditional look, as does the interior art.
The writing could be tighter, but I'm curious to see where this goes.
2 stars
Issue #2 - Much better. Not tighter, but there's less intentionally endearing BS dialogue.
And Mumbles's fate is compelling.
3 stars
November 13, 2024
3.5 Stars.
Review submitted on X @AdamReadsComics for MadCave Studios.
Review submitted on X @AdamReadsComics for MadCave Studios.
May 5, 2025
I've loved Dick Tracy since I was a child watching a recorded VHS version of the Warren Beatty/Madonna film from the 90s. I must have seen it a million times and could possibly do a one-man show verbatim. What kid wouldn't love it? It was flashy, colorful, and had a great cast of villainous gangsters. I was obsessed with villains as a kid. I never wanted the heroic action figures, only the "ugly men" (aka villains) as my grandmother would say. The villains were always way cooler looking and the Dick Tracy film was a smorgasbord of iconic gangster villains. In retrospect it still holds up with great actors chewing up scenes that are saturated in bold colors with a decent (if simple) story that holds your attention from start to finish.
While I enjoyed being able to spend time with the yellow-clad detective again the whole outing was little more than retreaded territory with heavy-handed moralism. It lacks nuance or complexity. This rehash didn't expand, expound, or progress a theme/idea worth mulling over unfortunately. And that's coming from someone who loves the familiar!
While the story wasn't anything new or exciting, there were some interesting choices which had the potential to be quite intriguing if they had been given more room to breathe. It was a bit jarring at first, but I ended up appreciating that Tess Trueheat is a much bolder character here who's not afraid to put herself in harm's way to get to the truth of why her father was gunned down. She's infiltrating gang offices, jumping out of windows, coming to raids, and running people off roads. This Tess Trueheart is not a woman to be trifled with.
I also appreciated that they brought the story forward to a post-WWII America. The introduction of the after effects of the war and PTSD gave some additional insight into why Dick Tracy operates the way he does. I wanted more from these concepts and felt like it could have been used to show so much more about his motivations and the demons he's fighting. However, this story only scratches the surface and it's never really connected to his unwavering moralism which can come across heavy-handed and bombastic.
That said, it was still a pleasant enough experience with a somewhat new story about the old detective. I'm happy that there's an audience for him in the 21st century (despite Beatty's desperate efforts to keep him off film and television for 30+ years). I got my fill of crazy-looking villains, so I can't say that I was entirely disappointed. Hopefully, as the comic progresses they'll find some new ground to cover and hone in on some of their newer concepts that allow the reader to see our golden gumshoe in a whole new light.
While I enjoyed being able to spend time with the yellow-clad detective again the whole outing was little more than retreaded territory with heavy-handed moralism. It lacks nuance or complexity. This rehash didn't expand, expound, or progress a theme/idea worth mulling over unfortunately. And that's coming from someone who loves the familiar!
While the story wasn't anything new or exciting, there were some interesting choices which had the potential to be quite intriguing if they had been given more room to breathe. It was a bit jarring at first, but I ended up appreciating that Tess Trueheat is a much bolder character here who's not afraid to put herself in harm's way to get to the truth of why her father was gunned down. She's infiltrating gang offices, jumping out of windows, coming to raids, and running people off roads. This Tess Trueheart is not a woman to be trifled with.
I also appreciated that they brought the story forward to a post-WWII America. The introduction of the after effects of the war and PTSD gave some additional insight into why Dick Tracy operates the way he does. I wanted more from these concepts and felt like it could have been used to show so much more about his motivations and the demons he's fighting. However, this story only scratches the surface and it's never really connected to his unwavering moralism which can come across heavy-handed and bombastic.
That said, it was still a pleasant enough experience with a somewhat new story about the old detective. I'm happy that there's an audience for him in the 21st century (despite Beatty's desperate efforts to keep him off film and television for 30+ years). I got my fill of crazy-looking villains, so I can't say that I was entirely disappointed. Hopefully, as the comic progresses they'll find some new ground to cover and hone in on some of their newer concepts that allow the reader to see our golden gumshoe in a whole new light.
December 1, 2024
I received a free eARC of this graphic novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
It was interesting. Seeing the characters from the old comic strips translated into a more "realistic" artistic style was well done. The backstories on some of them made good sense. Tracy's backstory less so for me. Some of the "surprises" were not too surprising. Some of the plot points were more like plot holes. Overall, I found the story to be a little less than satisfying, and I that disappointed me. I would read more to see if it moved in a better direction.
It was interesting. Seeing the characters from the old comic strips translated into a more "realistic" artistic style was well done. The backstories on some of them made good sense. Tracy's backstory less so for me. Some of the "surprises" were not too surprising. Some of the plot points were more like plot holes. Overall, I found the story to be a little less than satisfying, and I that disappointed me. I would read more to see if it moved in a better direction.
March 9, 2025
This was well-done. Hard-boiled but with enough of the ridiculous designs and names for the villains to keep that “Dick Tracy” feel. And making him a war vet adds a little more to his character than just “stoic lawman.” I’m interested to see where it goes.
April 12, 2025
it was ok. felt writer didn't really capture the Mob members, art was too dark felt it needed to be brighter for Dick Tracy.
November 15, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for an advance copy of this graphic novel that features one of the toughest cops to ever where yellow, his eponymously named villains, with new adventures told in classic noir style.
My parents moved from the Bronx to a small town in Connecticut, but did not give up their big city ideas of what media to consume. They watched only New York news, listened to New York radio, and on weekends bought the Times the New York Post, and the Daily News. The News was my favorite, as I loved the funnies. The smell, the colors, and the stories. Among my favorites was Dick Tracy. Grantie jawed, yellow clad, quick with a poke but big on technology and righting wrongs. Things that it seems have been forgotten. I loved the art, the color, the characters and the names. Flattop, Mumbles, Tracy had a group of rogues as good as Batman even the Flash. I still have a warm spot for Tracy, though I might question his tactics a little. That and the Warren Beatty movie. That's why I was excited to see the Dick Tracy was coming back to comics. Dick Tracy Volume 1 is written by Alex Segura and Michael Moreci with art by Geraldo Borges and looks at the early days of Tracy, as he is faced with his first big crime, his first meetings with friends and foes, and the love of his life Tess Trueheart.
The comic opens on a late night dinner with two men discussing crime in the bad City. One is a reporter the other is a politician. Suddenly the rattle of Chicago typewriters are heard, Thompson submachine guns and everyone in the diner is murdered. Dick Tracy arrives takes in the scene, and instead of going with the story of a robbery going wrong, knows something much bigger is afoot. The daughter of the dead politician confronts Tracy with evidence, daring Tracy to do something. Reluctantly at first, Tracy and Tess Trueheart begin to work together to find out what is going on. Tracy also finds a war buddy, Pat Patton who has come to the city to find out what happened to his brother. All signs are pointing to a conspiracy between the police city hall, and the crime lords who control things. A mixed bag on monikered mobsters with no fear of reprisal, nor a fear of killing. Soon the city is aflame, the dead filling the streets, and Tracy left with few options, but to keep fighting.
A good retelling of the origin story that Tracy had in the comics, with a lot more corruption added in, stuff that funny paper stories could never have dealt with. The story is bit of Sin City and the author James Ellroy, with a tad of the Spirit tossed in. The story is good, the mobsters are evil the heroes are good, and the characters are very much what they were in the comics. There was also a lot of hints dropped for future stories. Tracy's time in the war, how these mobsters got entrenched in the city. Tracy does have the watch radio, if anyone is concerned, though I don't think I saw anything about Diet Smith. The art is really good. Tracy looks like a brawler of the old school. Sort of like Don Lee in the Roundup movies. If Tracy hits someone, that person is going down. The use of shadows is well done, and the yellow of Tracy really adds to the story. The criminals look weird, the backgrounds look great, and Tracy's car is really, really well-done.
Fans will enjoy it, though older fans might be surprised at the violence of the story. Noir fans will dig it also, as the look and the feel of the comic is well portrayed in the art. Nice to see Tracy out on patrol again.
My parents moved from the Bronx to a small town in Connecticut, but did not give up their big city ideas of what media to consume. They watched only New York news, listened to New York radio, and on weekends bought the Times the New York Post, and the Daily News. The News was my favorite, as I loved the funnies. The smell, the colors, and the stories. Among my favorites was Dick Tracy. Grantie jawed, yellow clad, quick with a poke but big on technology and righting wrongs. Things that it seems have been forgotten. I loved the art, the color, the characters and the names. Flattop, Mumbles, Tracy had a group of rogues as good as Batman even the Flash. I still have a warm spot for Tracy, though I might question his tactics a little. That and the Warren Beatty movie. That's why I was excited to see the Dick Tracy was coming back to comics. Dick Tracy Volume 1 is written by Alex Segura and Michael Moreci with art by Geraldo Borges and looks at the early days of Tracy, as he is faced with his first big crime, his first meetings with friends and foes, and the love of his life Tess Trueheart.
The comic opens on a late night dinner with two men discussing crime in the bad City. One is a reporter the other is a politician. Suddenly the rattle of Chicago typewriters are heard, Thompson submachine guns and everyone in the diner is murdered. Dick Tracy arrives takes in the scene, and instead of going with the story of a robbery going wrong, knows something much bigger is afoot. The daughter of the dead politician confronts Tracy with evidence, daring Tracy to do something. Reluctantly at first, Tracy and Tess Trueheart begin to work together to find out what is going on. Tracy also finds a war buddy, Pat Patton who has come to the city to find out what happened to his brother. All signs are pointing to a conspiracy between the police city hall, and the crime lords who control things. A mixed bag on monikered mobsters with no fear of reprisal, nor a fear of killing. Soon the city is aflame, the dead filling the streets, and Tracy left with few options, but to keep fighting.
A good retelling of the origin story that Tracy had in the comics, with a lot more corruption added in, stuff that funny paper stories could never have dealt with. The story is bit of Sin City and the author James Ellroy, with a tad of the Spirit tossed in. The story is good, the mobsters are evil the heroes are good, and the characters are very much what they were in the comics. There was also a lot of hints dropped for future stories. Tracy's time in the war, how these mobsters got entrenched in the city. Tracy does have the watch radio, if anyone is concerned, though I don't think I saw anything about Diet Smith. The art is really good. Tracy looks like a brawler of the old school. Sort of like Don Lee in the Roundup movies. If Tracy hits someone, that person is going down. The use of shadows is well done, and the yellow of Tracy really adds to the story. The criminals look weird, the backgrounds look great, and Tracy's car is really, really well-done.
Fans will enjoy it, though older fans might be surprised at the violence of the story. Noir fans will dig it also, as the look and the feel of the comic is well portrayed in the art. Nice to see Tracy out on patrol again.
January 4, 2025
A Special Thanks to Madcave and NetGalley for the ARC.
It’s time to jump back in time with Mad Cave Studios’ newest approach to an iconic comic series that got its start in American Comic Strips in the 1930s by the American Cartoonist, Chester Gould about a hardboiled and intelligent detective named Dick Tracy.
The creative team for this series consists of Writers Alex Segura (Archie Meets Kiss, The Black Ghost, The Question: All Along the Watchtower), Michael Moreci (Black Star Renegades, Roche Limit, Hoax Hunters), and artists Geraldo Borges (NO ONE, Titans Hunt, Nightwing), and Mark Englert (Revival, Savage Dragon: God War, Savage Dragon). Also, a friendly reminder that Dick Tracy Volume One Collects Issues One through Five.
It’s a new day, a time of uncertainty as World War II comes to a close, but crime never stops as tragedy strikes in The City! A brutal murder catches the attention of a rising star in the police force, Detective Dick Tracy, who soon discovers the bloodshed is just the beginning of a complicated web that threatens to ensnare everything he cares about.
It’s another take on an iconic Comic Hero, bringing him into the modern age that has been done in the past but hasn’t seen much success according to fans of this legendary series, however, this current run feels different. With it being brought into a new age, it was a question of how the characters would be portrayed and written. Alex Segura and Michael Moreci put a unique spin on Dick Tracy’s World, giving it a proper Noiresque approach which works well in the period it’s set in. Tracy’s Rogue Gallery is even more ruthless than they have ever been, preparing for an all-out Gang War, and leaving Dick Tracy caught in a web of mystery, suspense, and memories of his time on the battlefield while trying to stop endless bloodshed brought on from the likes of Flat Top, Prune Face, and Big Boy Caprice.
As a fan who discovered Dick Tracy through the 90s film with Warren Beatty, this new take on an iconic hero was amazing. The story was well-written, an excellent blend of pulp and noir, reminiscent of the hardboiled detective stories from pulp magazines such as Black Mask. This wasn’t the detective fans were used to reading about, this had the yellow coat-wearing detective in his first run-in with his future enemies, meeting the love of his life, Tess Trueheart. One of the things that stood out the most about this approach was that it had the charm that Tracy was known for, but he also was experiencing flashbacks from the war, suffering from PTSD from his time in World War II.
As for the artwork, you have the artistic team of Geraldo Borges and Colorist Mark Englert knocked it out of the park on the artwork in this collected volume. The Character designs stayed true to Chester Gould’s original work, Borges’s line work, and eye for detail between emotional expressions and action sequences accompanied by Englert’s impressive color palette to give the book that special, gritty noir feel to go with Segura and Moreci’s script/story. This book is certainly one that is accessible to new readers of Dick Tracy, fans of hardboiled detective stories, and Dick Tracy fans.
It’s time to jump back in time with Mad Cave Studios’ newest approach to an iconic comic series that got its start in American Comic Strips in the 1930s by the American Cartoonist, Chester Gould about a hardboiled and intelligent detective named Dick Tracy.
The creative team for this series consists of Writers Alex Segura (Archie Meets Kiss, The Black Ghost, The Question: All Along the Watchtower), Michael Moreci (Black Star Renegades, Roche Limit, Hoax Hunters), and artists Geraldo Borges (NO ONE, Titans Hunt, Nightwing), and Mark Englert (Revival, Savage Dragon: God War, Savage Dragon). Also, a friendly reminder that Dick Tracy Volume One Collects Issues One through Five.
It’s a new day, a time of uncertainty as World War II comes to a close, but crime never stops as tragedy strikes in The City! A brutal murder catches the attention of a rising star in the police force, Detective Dick Tracy, who soon discovers the bloodshed is just the beginning of a complicated web that threatens to ensnare everything he cares about.
It’s another take on an iconic Comic Hero, bringing him into the modern age that has been done in the past but hasn’t seen much success according to fans of this legendary series, however, this current run feels different. With it being brought into a new age, it was a question of how the characters would be portrayed and written. Alex Segura and Michael Moreci put a unique spin on Dick Tracy’s World, giving it a proper Noiresque approach which works well in the period it’s set in. Tracy’s Rogue Gallery is even more ruthless than they have ever been, preparing for an all-out Gang War, and leaving Dick Tracy caught in a web of mystery, suspense, and memories of his time on the battlefield while trying to stop endless bloodshed brought on from the likes of Flat Top, Prune Face, and Big Boy Caprice.
As a fan who discovered Dick Tracy through the 90s film with Warren Beatty, this new take on an iconic hero was amazing. The story was well-written, an excellent blend of pulp and noir, reminiscent of the hardboiled detective stories from pulp magazines such as Black Mask. This wasn’t the detective fans were used to reading about, this had the yellow coat-wearing detective in his first run-in with his future enemies, meeting the love of his life, Tess Trueheart. One of the things that stood out the most about this approach was that it had the charm that Tracy was known for, but he also was experiencing flashbacks from the war, suffering from PTSD from his time in World War II.
As for the artwork, you have the artistic team of Geraldo Borges and Colorist Mark Englert knocked it out of the park on the artwork in this collected volume. The Character designs stayed true to Chester Gould’s original work, Borges’s line work, and eye for detail between emotional expressions and action sequences accompanied by Englert’s impressive color palette to give the book that special, gritty noir feel to go with Segura and Moreci’s script/story. This book is certainly one that is accessible to new readers of Dick Tracy, fans of hardboiled detective stories, and Dick Tracy fans.
February 10, 2025
Admittedly Dick Tracy is not quite my vintage, so I don't have the same nostalgia other readers may find themselves experiencing, however, I am a fan of hard-boiled detective fiction and enjoyed the 90s film. As such, I believe this new Dick Tracy from Mad Cave Studios has something both long-term fans and new readers alike can enjoy.
Alex Segura and Michael Moreci successfully strike the delicate balance between goofiness and seriousness with Dick Tracy. Tracy and his rogues gallery are colourful, larger-than-life and cartoony in appearance, yet these traits do not limit them to become lame, one-dimensional, tropey characters. We are introduced to a young(er?) Tracy early in his career, a man with a strong sense of justice who doesn't play strictly by the book and is working through his own PTSD. Tracy's villains are equally manic in their exterior but menacing in their actions. This is not the Penguin television show levels of serious, but it is also not entirely tongue-in-cheek or going over-the-top in its presentation either, Segura opts to play somewhere in the middle in this contemporary noir reimagination of the 1930s character.
We've got gang wars, corruption, shootouts, Tommy Gun's and a big burly man in a yellow trench-coat at the centre of it all. I am having a lot of fun diving into Dick Tracy's world and I believe this book is an ongoing series and not just a limited run? Definitely looking forward to where this story goes next!
Alex Segura and Michael Moreci successfully strike the delicate balance between goofiness and seriousness with Dick Tracy. Tracy and his rogues gallery are colourful, larger-than-life and cartoony in appearance, yet these traits do not limit them to become lame, one-dimensional, tropey characters. We are introduced to a young(er?) Tracy early in his career, a man with a strong sense of justice who doesn't play strictly by the book and is working through his own PTSD. Tracy's villains are equally manic in their exterior but menacing in their actions. This is not the Penguin television show levels of serious, but it is also not entirely tongue-in-cheek or going over-the-top in its presentation either, Segura opts to play somewhere in the middle in this contemporary noir reimagination of the 1930s character.
We've got gang wars, corruption, shootouts, Tommy Gun's and a big burly man in a yellow trench-coat at the centre of it all. I am having a lot of fun diving into Dick Tracy's world and I believe this book is an ongoing series and not just a limited run? Definitely looking forward to where this story goes next!
January 31, 2026
I've known about the detective "Dick Tracy" for most of my life, yet I'd never read any of the comics based on him. I am glad that I took a chance on this comic.
Alex Segura's version of Dick Tracy is very interesting, and I liked it. Complimented perfectly by Geraldo Borges' art style that works perfectly for this late 1940s Era crime story.
The story starts with a massacre at a diner. Det. Tracy tries to unravel the motive behind this shooting. He will unravel a sordid plan with corrupt city officials and feuding mob bosses. Segura's Tracy is a brave, former WWII vet, and honest to a fault. I also really enjoyed the various mob bosses, many of whom I remembered the names of, and Segura's versions have some interesting characters and are well fleshed out.
All in all? A good crime story coupled with very good art, makes this a great volume. It certainly surprised me, and I enjoyed it more than I assumed I would. I will likely be getting more of this series. Any Dick Tracy fan ought to love this, but even a novice should find this a great point to jump into the world of Dick Tracy.
Alex Segura's version of Dick Tracy is very interesting, and I liked it. Complimented perfectly by Geraldo Borges' art style that works perfectly for this late 1940s Era crime story.
The story starts with a massacre at a diner. Det. Tracy tries to unravel the motive behind this shooting. He will unravel a sordid plan with corrupt city officials and feuding mob bosses. Segura's Tracy is a brave, former WWII vet, and honest to a fault. I also really enjoyed the various mob bosses, many of whom I remembered the names of, and Segura's versions have some interesting characters and are well fleshed out.
All in all? A good crime story coupled with very good art, makes this a great volume. It certainly surprised me, and I enjoyed it more than I assumed I would. I will likely be getting more of this series. Any Dick Tracy fan ought to love this, but even a novice should find this a great point to jump into the world of Dick Tracy.
September 29, 2024
I'm a huge Dick Tracy fan and when I saw Man Cave studios was releasing a new story, I was excited. I think the last run was in 2017 by IDW. (And I missed the run!) I ordered these and finally got my first three a few days ago. The first one was full of action but the pacing to the story has a few issues. Not a reboot but you are seeing the characters interact in new ways. For instance, Tracy and Tess Truehart are not an item and do not even know each other in the book. I was hoping for it to be a tad more gritty, not gory, but gritty, but even so I cannot wait to read the other two. Loved the cover art but inside the book I was a bit unpleased, but I am also currently reading Jack Kirby's The Forever People and seeing the slightly bubbled look to the faces in Dick Tracy annoys me greatly, mostly on Ms. Truehart's face. All in a good read and not a bad book to pick up.
And no one draws like Jack Kirby anyway!
And no one draws like Jack Kirby anyway!
January 9, 2025
Dick Tracy returns in a dark and innovative reimagining of the iconic comic strip hero. A captivating crime narrative that seamlessly integrates into its vibrant universe. The artwork is impressive; Any opponent struck by Tracy is sure to be defeated. The shadow work is skillfully executed, and the vibrant yellow associated with Tracy enhances the narrative. The portrayal of the criminals is unusual, the backgrounds are visually appealing, and Tracy's vehicle is exceptionally crafted. While fans are likely to appreciate it, long-time followers may find the level of violence surprising. Additionally, noir enthusiasts will appreciate the authentic aesthetic and atmosphere conveyed through the artwork with Dick Tracy standing out as one of their finest offerings. I eagerly anticipate the unfolding of the next chapter. This volume is undoubtedly accessible to newcomers to Dick Tracy, enthusiasts of hardboiled detective fiction, and long-time fans alike.
November 23, 2025
As someone who as a child enjoyed the 1990 movie a lot that sent me on a path of reading comic book crime fighting, reading pulp crime novels, and watching many noir detective movies, I has molded me into fan I am. This retooling of the Dick Tracy storyline feels new but comfortably familiar to anyone who knows the original strips. First off I feel this new series has a more grounded storyline with great writing. The art is also well done and the more realistic look to the characters changes the feel to a more believable lived in world. I can see this book sitting on my shelf next to my Hard Case Crime collection and it wouldn't feel out of place. This book collects the first 5 issues and features the iconic villains Lips, Flattop, Pruneface, and Big Boy Caprice. An entertaining read and a must for crime comics fans. Volume 2 is going to have "The Blank" as the main storyline villain. Can't wait.
December 1, 2024
Dick Tracy returns in an excellent, dark reinterpretation of the classic comic strip hero. They've tried and failed to tell Tracy stories this over the past few years. This time, Mad Cave has assembled the creative team that succeeds. As someone who loves the character, this is exactly what I wanted in the series, a great crime story, but felt like it fit perfectly into the colorful world. In the age of digital services like Marvel or Comixology Unlimited, I don't read a lot of single, paper floppies anymore, but Mad Cave has consistently delivered the goods, making their line of comics must-reading, and Dick Tracy is among the best of the best. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Special Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
May 22, 2025
This first volume is built by a large cast and crew! Alex Segura & Michael Moreci are the co-writers of this book. Artwork done by Geraldo Boges. Chantelle Aimee Osman (Creative Consultant), Mark Englert (colorist) and Jimp Campbell (letterer) round out the team that makes the book a solid, enjoyable read. If you are unfamiliar with Dick Tracy this is a great place to start. If you know about the character and his over-the-top villains, then you are prepared for all that is about to happen within this volume. I am shocked…shocked that characters that exist in the show, comic do not make it out of this very first volume! This is an updated version of the story…but not TOO UPDATED, which I believe helps keep the original flavor of the characters. Good stuff…I wish I could call it GREAT. I am excited to give the subsequent volumes a chance.
December 8, 2024
The first collected volume of the new DICK TRACY comic book by Alex Segura, Michael Moreci, Geraldo Borges, and Mark Englert is terrific! It does right by the character by keeping his essence but modernizing the world. The story takes place in 1947 but the criminals are vicious. This is not a nostalgia comic so much as a new story using the classic elements. Segura and Moreci write a page-turner of a story that will keep you gripped. I wasn’t terribly surprised by a big reveal, but that’s okay. The story was good enough that it didn’t matter. Bordes’s and Englerts art are superb. They pull the reader straight in.
I want more. And I’m happy there’ll be more. I can’t imagine where it’ll go and that’s a GREAT thing!
I want more. And I’m happy there’ll be more. I can’t imagine where it’ll go and that’s a GREAT thing!
February 13, 2025
This relaunch and reimagining of Dick Tracy is nothing short of incredible. I had the joy of reading these issues monthly as they hit comic stores.
The art is colorful and maintains that aesthetic seen in adaptations like the 90s Dick Tracy film. The story is propelled by a beat-by-beat pacing. However, beneath the underworld mob plot, readers are presented with a post-World War II world where heroes and villains alike are dealing with their traumas from the warfront.
It's haunting but creates this dichotomy in how vets move forward after returning home. The war never goes away, but it's our characters' choices on how to deal with it that matter.
Would recommend this to anyone who likes Dick Tracy, mobsters, or pulpy comic book thrillers.
The art is colorful and maintains that aesthetic seen in adaptations like the 90s Dick Tracy film. The story is propelled by a beat-by-beat pacing. However, beneath the underworld mob plot, readers are presented with a post-World War II world where heroes and villains alike are dealing with their traumas from the warfront.
It's haunting but creates this dichotomy in how vets move forward after returning home. The war never goes away, but it's our characters' choices on how to deal with it that matter.
Would recommend this to anyone who likes Dick Tracy, mobsters, or pulpy comic book thrillers.
May 28, 2025
I like Dick Tracy being a WWII vet, and the parallel between the horrors he saw in the war and what the 'crime war' is doing to the city. His PTSD flashbacks in the middle of the case really sell him as someone who does indeed want to do good, not because he's some super-moral perfect guy but there's a real trauma out there that is influencing him. Like, it's a cop story, he's the good cop who tries to take down the bad guys, I don't think it really stands above all the other noir stories in some significant way, but it's a fun read with some great art. Fun cast of characters, it can be serious but all the literally colourful and brightly coloured characters stop it from feeling like too much of a downer.
December 13, 2024
In 40s era America amidst a backdrops of crime on the rise a mass murder is committed in a diner, seemingly to target only two people. To solve the mystery in walks Dick Tracy in a somewhat grittier reimagined take on the ip. As a new ongoing series this volume more or less sets the stage and introduces some of the players. It's well written, with more "cops n robbers" feel than "detective noir", and the art is quality, with a bit of a "pop" feel that is slightly reflective of the original strips.
A promising renewal to a long slumbering series
ARC provided by NetGalley & MadCave Studios
A promising renewal to a long slumbering series
ARC provided by NetGalley & MadCave Studios
December 30, 2024
Dick Tracy is back in action! Mad Cave brings back Dick Tracy in all his yellow glory with a tale by Alex Segura and Michael Moreci. The story opens with a bang - a shootout at a local diner that brings Dick Tracy together with reporter Tess Trueheart. Pat Patton is added to the cast in round two as the good guys face off with Flattop, Mumbles, Pruneface, Lips Manlis, and Mr. Big. A good beginning to an ongoing series with plenty of twists, turns, and action.
Thanks Netgalley and Mad cave for the chance to read this volume.
Thanks Netgalley and Mad cave for the chance to read this volume.
November 25, 2024
A good throwback novel to an old comic strip hero. It is interesting how his trademark item (the wristwatch that is a phone) is now a reality. The story is fast paced and full of action with great villains to fight against. This will definitely be a hit with the older readers who remember him from the comic page days. A good read overall.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 25, 2024
The artwork is top-notch. It is easy on the eyes and pulls you in. The text changes often, showing they put some artistic effort into changing the usual style.
I don’t typically read these types of graphic novels, but this one is quite entertaining. If you are a fan of old-school stories and the esteemed Dick Tracy, you gotta grab this one.
I don’t typically read these types of graphic novels, but this one is quite entertaining. If you are a fan of old-school stories and the esteemed Dick Tracy, you gotta grab this one.
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