A lot of comic strip fans have been looking forward to these updated early volumes of The Complete Dick Tracy. Here are Vols. 1 and 2, just in today. This project reprints the first six volumes in the larger format that matches the rest of the series.
When The Library of American Comics initiated this full run of Chester Gould’s masterwork many years ago the first six volumes were in a squat format. The oblong form factor allowed for two sizable reprints of the dailies per page. I have to say that at the time I liked the inky blacks this paper/ink combo allowed, because it seemed to enhance the noir style for which Gould was famous. But this format also left the one-page Sunday reproductions achingly small. I believe that LOAC’s move to publisher IDW prompted the change to a larger book format with Vol. 7. This accommodated three dailies per page and a more legible B/W version of the Sundays. I got used to the duller blacks of the matte paper and appreciated being able to read the Sundays more easily. But for years, Complete Dick Tracy collectors had a weird-looking shelf: six early volumes whose spines looked little like the rest of the set.
I have only been able to crack open these for a second. First impressions are that all of the supporting material remains the same. The dailies or just a smidge smaller than the original two-per-page version. Alas only a small selection of the first Sundays are in full color. but this edition is fully restored and much more pleasing than the last version. Aside from this, all of the Sundays are reproduced in black and white, and the newer version does not seem any cleaner than old. I have to say that a major disappointment of this series is the lack of color Sundays. Gould’s palette was extreme and so vibrant. The Sunday Press did a wonderful oversized volume celebrating this aspect of Dick Tracy, so fans can get a good sampling here.
LOAC and new publisher partner Clover Press have an aggressive schedule for this revision. The two volumes launching this month are to be followed by Vols. 3 and 4 in November and Vols. 5 and 6 in January. Good on them. The Complete Dick Tracy may be the most fully realized comic strip reprint I have seen. The full 1931-1977 span of Gould’s career on the strip were republished in 29 volumes across almost 25 years. Every comic strip fan who has suffered countless discontinued reprint series can appreciate LOAC’s commitment.
Discover more from Panels & Prose
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Panels & Prose 
What in your opinion were the best years of Dick Tracy? Or the whole run was smooth and good?
Here I mean, that for example from my perspective the best stories of Steve Canyon were from the first 10 or so years and after that they started slowly deteriorate – there were less and less good stories and more mediocre ones with some plain bad. I’ve read all 12 LOAC volumes, but this’s obviosly my personal subjective opinion.
I’m asking because such a thing is possible and I can’t know beforehand and because I’ve missed all the LOAC volumes completely and now it’s imposible to collect them all. But if the stories in first 6 volumes are ones of the best, I might consider getting these new Clover reprints.
Personally I find the 40s and early 50s the prime of Dick Tracy. There are some very good stories in the 30s around Mary X, The Blank and Stooge Villers. But the age of eccentric villainy really starts in the 40s with The mole, Flattop, The Brow. And his visual style really gets honed to a sharp edge in these years.
Thank you!
Why can’t the Sunday Dick Tracys be reproduced in full color like the present Little Orphan Annie books?
John – jjparrillo@yahoo.com
John. I also wish they had done with Dick Tracy what they did so well with Little Orphan Annie. I can only guess that since this was their first reprint series, they felt they were already too far down the B/W Sundays road to change it. Maybe it has to do with sourcing good material. I suspect we may see a separate series of color reprints. The Sunday Press did put out a wonderful super oversized volume of 30s color Tracys that is a must have. Gould’ used color in such wonderful ways, it is a pit we don’t have more.