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Dick Tracy was created by Chester Gould. The police detective with unwavering scruples debuted in newspapers beginning in 1931. 3 years later, Dick Tracy would hit radio airwaves before a string of movie serials would thrill kids and adults alike in 1937 with a 15-parter starring Ralph Byrd. Add in a Dick Tracy cartoon that aired on television during the early 60s, that was the limit to the character's non-print appearances in the media until the 1990s.
Disney Studios through Touchstone Pictures and Buena Vista Pictures finally got involved in the Dick Tracy project in the 80s. With Warren Beatty leading the project not just as the lead actor but now behind the lenses as director, superstars came out of the woodwork to appear in the film. Al Pacino, Dick Van Dyke, Dustin Hoffman and Madonna, arguably the biggest female pop singer of the time, all signed onto the picture which finally debuted on June 15, 1990.
There was a ton of licensing for the film. Toys, bubble gum cards, clothing, even a video game were released as tie-ins. Disney released a 3-issue comic book miniseries. During this time, Disney self-published their own comics for a very brief 3 year period. They were high quality works featuring art by media juggernauts. Unfortunately, Disney Comics was one of the many smaller publishing houses that couldn't survive when the comic book bubble burst in the early 90s.
John Moore wrote the script for this series. Art was from Kyle Baker. If you were expecting this issue to be an adaptation of the movie, you'll have to wait. Issues #1 and 2 are actually the prequel build-up. The story begins in 1938. Prohibition is about to be repealed. The gangs of 'The City' are in chaos as the lucrative cash flow from illegal bootlegging runs dry. Prune Face is attempting to encroach into the numbers racket controlled by rival Lips Manlis. Numerous small time thugs hide in the shadows in hopes of picking through the debris and casualties left in the war of the growing mob war.
Most of the City's police force are on the payroll of either Manlis or Prune Face... Or BOTH! That is except for one police detective that wears a bright yellow overcoat and matching fedora everywhere he goes: Dick Tracy. Having recently arrested the son of an important socialite for public intoxication, Tracy finds himself stuck at a desk job. But when his girlfriend, Tess Trueheart's father is murdered while transporting 'kitchen supplies' for Lips Manlis, Tracy disobeys orders. With Tess distraught and the police claiming that Mr. Trueheart was really a smuggler, Dick investigates on the sly to find Mr. Trueheart's killer.
This was a totally unexpected treat. But probably not how you think. I wasn't expecting this to be the comic book adaptation of the film. Based on the cover title proclaiming 'Big City Blues', and how I have learned over the years that Warren Beatty longed a trilogy of Dick Tracy films, I came into this selection of my reading challenge as being a continuation of the 'first film.' I didn't know that I was going to get the inside track on how things lead up to the events of the film.
A must for fans of Dick Tracy. It took me forever to find all 3 issues. I like to have an entire story run before I read the title. However you won't have to worry about a cliffhanger here. The story ends with a satisfying ending that you could use as the entryway into the film. Or you could wait until you find issue #2. But if you decide to skip ahead as it turns out that issue #3 actually is the adaptation of the movie, you'll be just fine, I think.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
Completing this review completes Task #38 (A Crime Comic) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.
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