160) Dick Tracy…

Dick Tracy by Chester Gould 8-13-1953

This year we celebrate ninety years of Dick Tracy, which premiered in October of 1931. Plainclothes Tracy (the original title) was a tough and intelligent police detective created and drawn by Chester Gould. The adventures of this stalwart cop were very popular. Dick Tracy has appeared in books, movies, animated cartoons and radio shows. 

Tracy’s rogues gallery likely contributed to the success of the feature. Dick Tracy went up against a wild assortment of bizarre and grotesque villains such as Flattop, Pruneface, and the Brow. I think Bob Kane probably took inspiration from Chester Gould in creating a rogues gallery for Batman. 

Gould also introduced a science element to his strip with his visionary creation of the two way wrist radio, which would later become a real device. Venturing into science fiction, Gould introduced Moon Maid into the storyline in 1964.

The exploits of Dick Tracy continue to this day under the guidance of writer Mike Curtis and artist Joe Staton.

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