Dick Tracy (character)

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Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy (character).png
Dick Tracy, as he first appeared. Art by Chester Gould.
Publication information
Publisher Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate
First appearance "Dick Tracy" (October 4, 1931)
Created byChester Gould
In-story information
Partnerships Little Orphan Annie
Moon Maid
Tess Trueheart
Daddy Warbucks
Abilities
  • Genius-level intellect
  • Detective skills

Dick Tracy is a fictional police detective in the American comic strip Dick Tracy created by Chester Gould in 1931. [1] Tracy is a tough and intelligent detective who uses forensic science, advanced gadgetry, and wits in his relentless pursuit of criminals.

The Dick Tracy comic strip made its premiere on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror . [2] The strip was distributed by Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate. Chester Gould both drew and wrote the comic strip until 1977. [2] Since then other writers and artists have continued to produce the strip, which is still running in newspapers to this day.

The character of Dick Tracy has been featured in the 1930s–1940s radio series Dick Tracy , with Tracy voiced by Bob Burlen, Barry Thompson, Ned Wever and Matt Crowley. [3]

The character of Dick Tracy has been featured in a number of films including, from 1990, Dick Tracy , which starred Warren Beatty as the titular character. [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Dick Tracy</i> American comic strip starting 1931

Dick Tracy is an American comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a tough and intelligent police detective created by Chester Gould. It made its debut on Sunday, October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror, and it was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate. Gould wrote and drew the strip until 1977, and various artists and writers have continued it. Dick Tracy has also been the hero in a number of films, including Dick Tracy in which Warren Beatty played the lead in 1990. Tom De Haven praised Gould's Dick Tracy as an "outrageously funny American Gothic", while Brian Walker described it as a "ghoulishly entertaining creation" which had "gripping stories filled with violence and pathos".

Chester Gould was an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip, which he wrote and drew from 1931 to 1977, incorporating numerous colorful and monstrous villains.

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<i>Dick Tracy</i> (1990 film) 1990 action crime film directed by Warren Beatty

Dick Tracy is a 1990 American action crime comedy film based on the 1930s comic strip character of the same name created by Chester Gould. Warren Beatty produced, directed, and starred in the film, whose supporting cast includes Al Pacino, Madonna, Glenne Headly, and Charlie Korsmo, with appearances by Dustin Hoffman, James Keane, Charles Durning, William Forsythe, Seymour Cassel, Mandy Patinkin, Catherine O’Hara, James Caan, and Dick Van Dyke. Dick Tracy depicts the detective's romantic relationships with Breathless Mahoney and Tess Trueheart as well as his conflicts with crime boss Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice and his henchmen. Tracy also begins fostering a young street urchin named Kid.

<i>Fearless Fosdick</i> American comic strip character

Fearless Fosdick is a long-running parody of Chester Gould's Dick Tracy. It appeared intermittently as a strip-within-a-strip, in Al Capp's satirical hillbilly comic strip, Li'l Abner (1934–1977).

Moon Maid is a fictional alien character from the Dick Tracy comic strip, created in 1964 by Chester Gould.

Flattop (<i>Dick Tracy</i> villain) Comics character

Flattop Jones, Sr. is a fictional villain created by Chester Gould for the Dick Tracy comic strip. His nickname comes from his large head that is perfectly flat on the top.

<i>Dick Tracy</i> (serial) 1937 American film

Dick Tracy (1937) is a 15-chapter Republic movie serial starring Ralph Byrd based on the Dick Tracy comic strip by Chester Gould. It was directed by Alan James and Ray Taylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice</span> Comics character

Big Boy is a fictional gangster in the comic strip Dick Tracy, created by Chester Gould, and was the first featured in a long line of colorful Dick Tracy villains. The character was featured in the 1990 film, paired with Breathless Mahoney.

<i>Dick Tracy vs. Cueball</i> 1946 film by Gordon Douglas

Dick Tracy vs. Cueball is a 1946 American action film based on the 1930s comic strip character of the same name created by Chester Gould. The film stars Morgan Conway as Dick Tracy in the second installment of the Dick Tracy film series released by RKO Radio Pictures. The villain, Cueball, is a murderous diamond thief who gets his monicker for his big, round head.

<i>Dick Tracy</i> (1945 film) 1945 American pulp action film

Dick Tracy is a 1945 American action film based on the Dick Tracy comic strip created by Chester Gould. The film is the first of four installment of the Dick Tracy film series, released by RKO Radio Pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan Conway</span> American actor (1903–1981)

Morgan Conway was an American actor, best known for his portrayals of Dick Tracy.

The Dick Tracy Show is an American animated television series based on Chester Gould's comic strip crime fighter. The series was produced from 1961 to 1962 by UPA.

Dick Tracy was an American detective radio drama series based on the popularity of the newspaper comic strip Dick Tracy by Chester Gould.

<i>Red Barry</i> (comic strip)

Red Barry is a detective comic strip created by Will Gould (1911–1984) for King Features. The daily strip about two-fisted undercover cop Barry began Monday, March 19, 1934, as one of several strips introduced to compete with Dick Tracy by Chester Gould. A Sunday strip was added on February 3, 1935. The daily strip ran for three years, until August 14, 1937, and the Sunday page ended almost a year later, on July 17, 1938.

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Sheldon "Shel" Dorf was an American comic book enthusiast and the founder of San Diego Comic-Con International. Dorf was also a freelance artist and graphic designer, who lettered the Steve Canyon comic strip for the last 12 to 14 years of the strip's run.

Breathless Mahoney is a fictional character in the American comic strip Dick Tracy, created by Chester Gould. She first appeared in the strip on May 11, 1945, and was apparently killed on August 26, 1946.

Tess Trueheart is the love interest character in the American comic strip Dick Tracy, which was created by Chester Gould in 1931.

The Complete Chester Gould's Dick Tracy is a series of 29 hardcover books published by The Library of American Comics, an imprint of IDW Publishing, that bring together every Dick Tracy comic strip in chronological order, both black-and-white dailies and Sunday strips, written and drawn by Chester Gould from its premiere on October 4, 1931, until December 25, 1977.

References

  1. Gustines, George Gene (June 23, 2014). "Annie Missing? No Worries, Dick Tracy Is on the Case". The New York Times .
  2. 1 2 "I Like 'Em Tough", Jim Doherty, 2009, Mystericale.com
  3. Dunning, John (7 May 1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Google Books . Oxford Press. p. 199. ISBN   9780199770786.
  4. Erbland, Kate (June 15, 2015). "Dick Tracy Turns 25: Why Has Everyone Forgotten the Original Prestige Comic Book Movie?". Vanity Fair .
  5. Canby, Vincent (June 15, 1990). "Dick Tracy (1990) Review/Film; A Cartoon Square Comes to Life In 'Dick Tracy'". The New York Times .