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The Original Dick Tracy Comic Album #2
Paperback
Published January 1, 1990
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About the author
Chester Gould
335 books23 followersChester Gould was a U.S. cartoonist and the creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip, which he wrote and drew from 1931 to 1977. Gould was known for his use of colorful, often monstrous, villains.
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January 5, 2026
The story contained in this volume dates from the beginning of 1946 and introduces a piece of equipment which would become an important part of Dick Tracy's world. This is the two way wrist radio. Actually I had never realized the wrist radio was this old. I had always presumed it had come into the strip the same time as a number of sci-fi trappings had, in the 1960s, and shortly before I started reading the strip. Of course since a technological invention is involved Diet Smith is part of the story. As well we are introduced to a fellow named Brilliant. He is the genius son of one of Smith's employees and is the inventor of the wrist radio. He will continue in the strip for quite a long time.
Tracy is brought into the story because Smith believes he has killed his business partner, inadvertently of course. Tracy investigates the death of course and is able to ascertain who in fact was responsible. During the course of the investigation Smith introduces Tracy to the wrist radio.
I daresay the whole purpose of this story was to introduce the wrist radio into the feature. it was certainly a useful piece of equipment as it allowed Tracy and the other detectives to be constant contact with each other. I am not sure whether Brilliant would have had a longer career than he had as he was written out of the strip by another writer who had taken over by that time upon Chester Gould's death. The wrist radio was part of the strip for a long time. It was even used in the animated television show which aired in the sixties.
I should mention something for people who are not familiar with the Dick Tracy series. This is police procedural rather than a mystery. Thus we the reader know who is committing the crimes and why from the get-go. The fun is seeing Tracy, who doesn't have our knowledge, putting the pieces together to arrive at the conclusion. So all in all a fun story which serves an important purpose for the series. Oh yes, and it also includes an appearance by B.O. Plenty, who actually helps solve the case. Happy reading.
Tracy is brought into the story because Smith believes he has killed his business partner, inadvertently of course. Tracy investigates the death of course and is able to ascertain who in fact was responsible. During the course of the investigation Smith introduces Tracy to the wrist radio.
I daresay the whole purpose of this story was to introduce the wrist radio into the feature. it was certainly a useful piece of equipment as it allowed Tracy and the other detectives to be constant contact with each other. I am not sure whether Brilliant would have had a longer career than he had as he was written out of the strip by another writer who had taken over by that time upon Chester Gould's death. The wrist radio was part of the strip for a long time. It was even used in the animated television show which aired in the sixties.
I should mention something for people who are not familiar with the Dick Tracy series. This is police procedural rather than a mystery. Thus we the reader know who is committing the crimes and why from the get-go. The fun is seeing Tracy, who doesn't have our knowledge, putting the pieces together to arrive at the conclusion. So all in all a fun story which serves an important purpose for the series. Oh yes, and it also includes an appearance by B.O. Plenty, who actually helps solve the case. Happy reading.
Displaying 1 of 1 review