The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy Dailies

Name: The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy Dailies and Sunday 1931-19334 Volume One
Reprints: 10/12/31 to 5/20/33 newspaper strips
Published by IDW Published in year 2011
Author and artist: Chester Gould
Reviewed by Allen Klingelhoets
Jazma Online

Volume One of Dick Tracy contains almost 600 comic strips encompassing the series beginning from October 1931 to May 1933. The book contains introduction from Max Allan Collins. He wrote the Dick Tracy comic strip from 1977 to 1993 and wrote 3 Dick Tracy novels. He is also author of the graphic novel Road to Perdition. He talks about how the Dick Tracy strip was one of the most popular, influential comics of the 20th Century. He talked about how young boys in particular were attracted to Chester Gould’s mix of violence, humor and melodrama.

Dick Tracy is a detective. Dick stands for detective.

There also was an interview part one with Chester Gould. Part 2 was in volume 2.

The stories of Dick Tracy were during time before World War II. It was also during time of Great Depression. There were gangsters and bank robberies in news. The stories of Dick Tracy were set during exact time period as if happening in real time and not fiction. The book than starts by showing actual black and white newspaper strips which Chester Gould used to sell his idea of Dick Tracy to Chicago Syndicate newspaper. The strip was to be called Plain Clothes Tracy. The head of Syndicate suggested he change the name to Dick Tracy. The first Dick Tracy strips in October 1931 showed what prompted Dick to be detective. His girlfriend name was Tess Trueheart. Her father was killed right in front of Dick Tracy. He was shot in robbery over 1000 in bedroom safe that was in Trueheart house. The stories moved swiftly from strip to strip. Dick Tracy also had introduction of many other co-stars. Dick though swore vengeance. Dick said in October 21, 1931 strip “Over, the body of your father, Tess, I swear I’ll find you and avenge this thing – I swear it –“

Tess had been kidnapped by thieves that murdered her father.

There were many crooks and gangsters in stories. Dick Tracy would use many devices to capture criminals. Tracy used ballistics tests, he uses a lie detector test on one person. He takes finger prints to solve crimes. He also used a teletype machine to talk back and forth between police stations. This is way before internet or even fax machines of present day time period. There is a lot of violence in Dick Tracy newspaper strips. I did though really enjoy reading old stories. Dick Tracy did not have any super powers. He could die if shot from gun or even stabbed by knife. He did not have Kevlar or other body defense to help if even in car accident. He though was fast with shooting with gun. He also could knock out almost anyone with fist.The stories of Dick Tracey were before creation of Batman. They were before creation of Wonder Woman made by creator of lie detector test. Chester Gould never had Dick Tracy fight against anything else than real life possible situations. This might even be kidnappings. It might be criminal injustice against innocent people. It might be taking in a child named Junior from crook and changing child’s life to want to become future detective. It might be taking on gangster named Alphonse “Bigboy” Caprice. Another character was named “Stooge” Viller. This would mirror ways that detectives from groups like FBI had to take down criminals like Al Capone or even Bonnie and Clyde. Real life surrounded Chester Gould. He was probably very aware of gangsters from his time period. I think those were some of the aspects that helped him create Dick Tracy.

It took me several days to read volume one. I think best way to read newspaper strips is in collected format. The book even included Sunday strips.

The book is for teen to adults. The book also includes Non-Continuity Sunday pages. The Dick Tracy strips didn’t join the daily continuity until May 29th, 1932. There was a section that contained all the Sunday strips up to that date. The strips in that section were even in color.

There are many volumes in IDW series of Dick Tracy. I noticed online at least 27 volumes.

My only real problem is wish they had made pages little larger. The print is very small. This is very present of bigger Sunday strips.

I found book through inter-library loan. The book otherwise cost $ 34.99.

ISBN – 13:978-1600100369

Chester Gould wrote and drew Dick Tracy from 1931-1977. Wikipedia information

Lived: Nov 20, 1900 - May 11, 1985 (age 84)

Spouse: Edna Gauger (m. 1926)

Children: Jean Ellen O'Connell (Daughter)

Education: Northwestern University

Parents: Gilbert R. Gould (Father) · Alice M. Gould (Mother)

Awards: Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame (2001) · Special Edgars Award (1980) · Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year (1977, 1959)

I found this note on Amazon:
Presenting a deluxe hardcover collection of Chester Gould's timeless comic strip, Dick Tracy. The first volume of this multi-year project will include the five sample strips that Gould used to sell his groundbreaking strip, as well as nearly 500 comic strips encompassing the series' beginning, from October 1931-May 1933. Among these strips are the first appearance of many long-time Dick Tracy characters, such as Tess Truehart, Junior and Chief Brandon. This special first volume features an overview and introduction from Consulting Editor and writer Max Allan Collins, as well as a never-before-published interview between Collins and creator Chester Gould. Each volume will feature book design from award-winning designer/artist Ashley Wood.

Allen Klingelhoets