Dick Tracy, the tireless lawman and detective, made his first appearance in comic strips almost a century ago, and has long been a favorite among fans of his colorful exploits. Whether his adventures pop up on the radio, on screen, in newspapers, or in comics, you’re sure to be entertained by his efforts to stave off the macabre menaces who would do harm to his home of The City.
Just this year, fans of the yellow-garbed do-gooder were treated to a brand-new Dick Tracy comic book series from Mad Cave Studios from the creative minds of writers Alex Segura and Michael Moreci, artist Geraldo Borges, colorist Mark Englert, and letterer Jim Campbell. I spoke with Alex Segura and Michael Moreci about where we find Dick Tracy at the beginning of the series, the world in which the detective finds himself, why they were drawn to the project, and the timeless appeal of the character. The first volume of the series goes on sale this December.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Dick Tracy and his menagerie of villains or you’re new to the famous fictional lawman, Segura, Moreci, and the creative team have put together a story that stays true to the character while giving some polish and shine to a timeless comic.
DICK TRACY Vol. 1 cover
FreakSugar: Before we get into the book itself, what are your histories with the Dick Tracy character and his world?
Alex Segura: I became obsessed with Dick Tracy when the movie came out. That was my first exposure to the character, and I’ve been hooked ever since. The movie, which I still love, opened the door to the comic strips, cartoons, novelizations, and more. I was always baffled by Dick Tracy not being as big as Batman or his contemporaries.
Michael Moreci: It’s hard to recall—it’s just one of those character that have always seem to be part of my life. I loved the newspaper strips, the Beatty movie, and it all grew from there. And like Alex, it has shocked, and saddened me, to see Dick Tracy not receive the legacy treatment he’s deserved for far too long.
FS: For folks who might not be familiar with Dick Tracy, what can you tell us about the world of Dick Tracy?
AS: Our take on Dick Tracy hits in the strange, complicated days after the end of the second World War, in a city very much like the metropolises of the time – riddled with crime, class inequality, and an eerie sense of displacement and fear. As the streets themselves become awash with blood thanks to a deadly gang war, a yellow-clad crusader steps into the fray to bring justice to his hometown. That man is Dick Tracy.
FS: How did you become involved in the project? Is it something you pitched?
AS: Michael and I were slated to write a Dick Tracy series for another publisher years ago, but when there proved to be an issue with the license, the opportunity went away. We never lost our passion for the character or our desire to make it happen, so we partnered with our friend Chantelle Aimée Osman to get the rights ourselves – and then we brought it to Mad Cave, where we connected with Geraldo Borges, Mark Englert, and Jim Campbell to complete our team.
FS: Where do we find Dick Tracy and The City at the onset of the series?
AS: I like to call the series a “Year One-And-A-Half.” We meet Dick Tracy early in his career, before he’s become a legend – but a little after he’s returned home from the war. We’re experiencing him grow into the role of DICK TRACY as his own city struggles to find itself after a global crisis.
FS: There have been other iterations of Dick Tracy over the years. What kind of research did you do for this book, both the character and the real-world time period in which it takes place?
AS: Michael and I are both Dick Tracy obsessives, so it feels weird to call it research – but we leaned into the source material, and we asked ourselves what kind of spin we wanted to put on the stories we loved. We knew that we wanted to evoke the original work without imitating it, to bring a film noir sensibility to the character and his world and supporting cast. First and foremost, this is a hardboiled crime comic – it also happens to feature some of the most iconic pulp heroes ever.
MM: Exactly—the whole agenda has been to honor what’s come before but not ape it. In doing so, we wanted to get close, but not so close we lost objectivity.
FS: Readers and viewers keep coming back to Dick Tracy. What do you think is the appeal of the character?
AS: He’s a good man in a dark world, up against a rogue’s gallery of villains and criminals, but he doesn’t lose his resolve or desire to do what’s right.
FS: The book is so gritty and gorgeous. What is the collaboration like with the creative team?
AS: It’s great – it’s a team effort. Michael and I hash out the plot, then we split the script, then trade our halves and edit. By the end of it, I can’t tell who wrote what. We’re so used to working together that it’s painless. Then Chantelle and our editor, Chas!, give us notes, and the fun begins – we get to watch Geraldo, an artistic genius, visualize our story and make it a thousand times better. By the time Mark Englert and Jim Campbell came in to color and letter, we got to witness the synergy of really talented artists. It’s a great process, and I feel lucky to be a part of it.
MM: We’re certainly lucky to have such a wonderful and talented collaborative team. Everyone has been firing on all cylinders.
FS: What are you reading right now?
AS: I’m in research mode for my next novel, which is going to be an organized crime epic/political thriller, so I’m reading a ton of stuff in that space. Comics-wise, I’m rereading Love & Rockets and enjoying the stuff creators like Erica Schultz, Preeti Chhibber, Steve Foxe, Tini Howard, Chip Zdarsky, and Liana Kangas, Julio Anta, Henry Barajas, Jamal Igle, and Kelly Thompson are doing.
MM: I’m making my way through Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby and Opposable Thumbs from Matt Singer.
FS: If you had a final pitch for Dick Tracy, what would it be?
AS: IF you love crime comics – or film noir, or pulp novels – you’ll want to give this book a shot. If we succeed, Dick Tracy will feel like that – a dark, noir-ish story set in the world of one of pop culture’s most beloved characters.
MM: Perfection from Alex!
Dick Tracy Vol. 1 goes on December 17, 2024 from Mad Cave Studios.
From the official graphic novel description:
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.