Dick Tracy #6 Review- An Unlikely Return to the Classics
From Mad Cave Studios
Written by Alex Segura & Michael Moreci
Art by Geraldo Borges
Well, in what feels like no time at all, we are returning to an analysis of breakout comic book creator Alex Segura’s work, after recently covering the new DC Comics series, The Question: All Along the Watchtower. In that review I made mention of my love for his work on Dick Tracy with Michael Moreci, so I suppose it is only fitting that we dive into the latest installment of this surprisingly excellent revival series at Mad Cave Studios.
Dick Tracy is one of the longest running, most iconic comic book characters in the medium, having been introduced by Chester Gould back in 1931. The series spent the majority of its history as a Newspaper Comic Strip series, though the character has also appeared in long running comic book series such as Dick Tracy Weekly from 1986 by Blackthorne Publishing. Most recently, Dick Tracy was revived by IDW Comics with a limited series from Michael and Lee Allred which is something I was not aware of and now have to get my hands on immediately.
All of this is to say that the character has certainly had a storied history which makes it hard to think that a new Dick Tracy series could have serious, inventive narrative potential in the modern world of comics, and yet Alex Segura and Michael Moreci have demonstrably proven otherwise.
If you have not been following this series, then now is actually the perfect time to pick this comic up as issue #6 marks the beginning of a brand new chapter for Dick Tracy and the ensemble cast. That isn’t to say there isn’t some continuation of the plot from issues #1–5 (which is also available in a collected edition) but it is worth noting that a new reader could definitely pick up this issue and follow along.
What makes this series stand out so much is its unpredictability. To familiar comic fans, the series may appear like an unnecessary, perhaps pandering nostalgic revival, like the recent wave of Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge comics at Marvel Comics for example. However, merely the first few pages of this series dissuade that cynical thinking, showcasing this title as an earnest modern perspective of Dick Tracy and the “not so golden” era in which he was developed. Rather than awkwardly inserting the old school detective hero into an overtly modern setting, Segura and Moreci intelligently choose instead to utilize the pages of Dick Tracy in a dual role of exposing the reality of the Post-War era and the truly insidious criminal underworld that captivated the public imagination at the time. This is a dark, graphic, psychological take on the world of Dick Tracy comics with only traces of the light hearted, campy, gilded age sentiments that is traditionally associated with the series.
Furthermore, the plot of the series thus far has been equally refreshing and surprising, delving into a complex mystery while exploring themes of trauma, gentrification, governmental corruption, and the psychology of crime. This is a nuanced, affecting title, that is elevating the name and content of Dick Tracy in comics as much as it is paying homage to it.
If you are looking to get more into comics from publishers outside of the big names like Marvel and DC, or if you are just a fan of classic crime fiction, like books by Agatha Christie or even great noir film Fritz Lang’s classic, M (1931) or Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954), then you will definitely find something to love in this new saga for Dick Tracy.
Let’s talk more specifically about Dick Tracy #6 which means,
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Our story begins with the slow, deliberate, chilling perspective of a concerned citizen checking in on his neighbor’s home which has clearly been broken into. Like a scene out of the best retro-horror film of the year, our citizen slowly enters the home, memories flashing before his eyes, before he stumbles upon his neighbor being beaten to death by a man dressed entirely in white, calling himself, “The Blank.”
The narration in this opening scene is excellently written, really drawing you into the world of the story, and eliciting emotion for characters that only end up appearing for three pages. Moreover, the artwork from Geraldo Borges and the coloring from Mike Englert work in harmony to make this scene feel as cinematic and horrifying as it should be.
From here, we cut to the Club Ritz, where we see Dick Tracy and his recently deputized partner Pat interrogating the new mob boss in town, Fangs Foreman. Never one for subtly, Tracy asks Fangs directly about the recent mystery killings of men loyal to him, a question which Fangs cooly dodges. Fangs’ business-like mentality causes Pat to fly off the handle and strike the crime leader, which means Tracy has to leave without answers.
As a fan of this series to date, it is evident from this introductory scene, that Segura and Moreci are layering in details that are not yet evident but will be expanded upon later, which just speaks once again to the high caliber capability of these writers. In only a few pages of this issue they have been able to instill an infectious feeling in the reader of wanting to know more, wanting the layers of the mystery to be peeled back.
Next we are treated to a scene with Tracy and Tess Truehart, as the two heroes attempt to evolve their “will-they-or-won’t-they” relationship from the first volume of the series with a date at a local restaurant. However, Tess remarks that Tracy is clearly distracted by his work and the mysterious murders which Tracy takes as an attempt from her to get information out of him as a reporter. Before things can get too ugly, hilariously both Tracy and Tess are literally called away by business, departing like, “two stars shooting across the sky,” as Segura and Moreci eloquently put it.
Following Dick Tracy, we join Pat at the morgue as the two detectives are shown the gruesomely mutilated body of the latest victim of the killer, and told by the morgue director that it was clear from the nature of the wounds that the killer enjoyed what he did. Furthermore, Tracy muses to Pat about the motive of the killer, confused as to why Fangs Foreman would benefit from the murder of career criminals once loyal to Lips Manlis (our villain from Vol 1) that had willingly joined his new operation. Coldly, Pat replies that he isn’t too concerned with a few dead gang members getting knocked off the board, but Tracy assures Pat that this killer needs to be stopped before he decides to start hurting anyone innocent.
As if on cue, the morgue receives a call from Tess who reveals that she picked up a lead on the killer “on the south side” and is now frightened that she is being followed.
As Tracy and Pat rush to the scene, we see Tess stalked into a dark alley by the “Blank” killer who holds a knife to her head and whispers, “You are only alive because I allow you to be alive,” which was all just so sinister it gave me goosebumps and made me check the locks on my doors.
What’s more, this sequence is rendered so effectively by Borges, with an intimate, claustrophobic focus on Tess and a heavy modern noir stylistic influence for our backdrop, that makes the whole scene that much more striking.
In our final pages, Tracy and Pat are able to rescue Tess and a fellow officer that mysteriously followed the lead to the scene, as they stumble upon the horrifying scene of yet another murder.
The shocking, pulp-noir inspired tone of this new chapter, as well as the excellent design of the “Blank” killer, and the captivating writing throughout has contributed to making Dick Tracy one of my most anticipated comics which I honestly did not expect going into the series.
Please support your local comic book stores by checking out Dick Tracy #6 on shelves now!
-Nicholas Aaron Hodge
