Book Review: Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive

Lee Allred, et.al., Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2019. ISBN: 9781684054145. 

Genre: comics

Subgenre: crime, detectives

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington Public Library 

 

This was a fun romp to read. Dick Tracy, the iconic detective with the yellow trench coat, hat, and his two-way wrist radio, is modernized for the 21st century. However, the writers and artists maintain the essence of the character. 

Tracy is as honest as they come. After a big bust costs him his job in one city, he ends up in Chicago. He soon starts to clean up the city, and he soon clashes with the local corruption from the mayor, police chief, so on. Only support from the state government keeps him on the job, and a special task force helps him when he gets framed for a crime, an attempt to get him out of the way. 

The story is fast paced and fun overall. Once you start reading, you just keep going. The art feels like the classic comic strips,  but they also have a bit of 1990s or so style of cartoons. In modernizing, the authors try out some interesting things. For example, his wrist radio uses a special technology so cannot be tracker. This counters the need and risk of using a cellphone. 

Overall, the story feels retro and modern. In a time when so many comics want to be dark, gritty, and edgy, this one is just fun. It has a silly moment here or there, but that is part of the charm. The art is colorful and light. Old fans and new fans alike can enjoy this book. The book features the first four issues of the series. The book also includes an overview and historical timeline of the comic strip plus some extra annotations and editorial art. I am not sure if the series has continued at this time, but I would read more of it. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: