Dick Tracy: The Collins Case Files, Volume 1

Dick Tracy: The Collins Case Files #1

by Max Allan Collins, Chester Gould, Rick Fletcher (Illustrator)

First of several volumes collecting Collins' masterful yet controversial 15-year run, including the stories "Angel Top's Last Stand," "Return of Haf-and Haf," and "Big Boy's Revenge."

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Crime

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 29, 2003

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[Justyn Rampa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Allan Collins took over for Chester Gould in the writing of Dick Tracy. In 1978, Collins began an 11 year run on the strip to great acclaim and great controversy. Everything I've read of Collins run on Dick Tracy has been great including this volume! The artwork is noticeably different as Rick Fletcher ended up taking over artistic duties (also from Gould), but not unpleasant. I think for Dick Tracy to survive and thrive in the late 70s into the 80s, there needed to be some changes.

I'll identify the stories by the villains because that is really what matters in Dick Tracy. Just like the hero he inspired (i.e. Batman), Dick Tracy's Rogues Gallery was something to be admired. The first story features AngelTop (daughter of Flattop) and Brow Jr (son of the Brow). It was a great re-introduction back into Tracy. The second story featured Haf and Haf (the inspiration for Two-Face) and was one I had at least read parts of before, but it was GREAT! The final story was actually probably the best of the bunch which I didn't expect as it featured Big Boy. It was however a very complicated and tragic story that was very well written.

I love Dick Tracy and always will!

[John Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely entertaining, with excellent, riveting storylines. Great job by Max Allan Collins and Rick Fletcher, stepping into the enormous shoes of Chester Gould. It was fun to see some characters from the past appear in the stories as well.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to the spirit of Gould, brings back memories. Major development re. Moon Maid.

[bluetyson]

isbn,original

[Matt Piechocinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun stuff ... all the more impressive that it's a newspaper comic strip.