Comic Review- Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive #1

[bedsitter23]

Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive #1 by Lee Allred

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Dick Tracy is probably still best defined to my generation by the Warren Beatty movie (which wasn’t good, though memory fades and I think we have been nostalgic for it).

Is there a market for this character? IDW hopes so.

In a post-The Dark Knight world, the pre-WW2 newspaper script seems even less relevant. That said if any modern comics writer was meant to write Dick Tracy it’s probably Michael Allred.

Allred is joined on script by brother Lee. If that wasn’t enough to sell me then it bears mention Rich Tomasso’s art is wonderful (with colors and inks by Mike and Laura Allred)

This is a fun comic that realizes it has to compete with more modern characters. The Allreds give a lot of quips that give it that 90s indie comic feel (of which Allred is royalty). Tomasso’s work is nostalgic and modern, reverent to the character's history, but striking and accessible to current comic fans.

This very much feels like Dick Tracy and many of those books in the 90s indie comics boom that were influenced by Chester Gould’s creation. Because of that, if you are not a fan of that kind of storytelling, it might not be your cup of tea. My only knock is that the plot feels a bit rushed than maybe what feels natural. I enjoyed it enough though and recommend it to those who might like such things.



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