(May 7, 2027) Dick Tracy debuted in newspapers on Sunday, October 4, 1931 and was written and drawn almost entirely by creator Chester Gould until 1977. Through Gould’s nearly five decades of dedication on the strip, he created a pantheon of eclectic supporting characters like Pruneface, The Mole, Flattop, and Tess Trueheart that make Tracy the beloved character he is today. The Library of American Comics remastered and collected the strip in a series of hardcover collections, many of which are out of print and highly sought after. Now Clover Press and the Library of American Comics are bringing the collections back to print in an affordable softcover format with Dick Tracy: 1961-1964, featuring Gould’s iconic early 60s strips. Backers will receive all four volumes at once, as well as commemorative prints of each of the covers by Cat Staggs, Brent Schoonover, Howie Noel, and Daniel Hillyard. The Kickstarter is now live.
“It’s great to see how Gould handles the themes and fashion of the 60’s, especially working in the Space Race,” said Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz. “Plus – Moon Maiden! How cool is that?”
The new softcover will collect the strip strictly by year, reprinting each installment from January 1 to December 31. Each volume will measure 11″ x 8.5″ in a horizontal format and will slide into a vertical slipcase, designed for protection and easy shelving. Each year’s collection will also feature a new cover by a diverse selection of contemporary artists.
“Dick Tracy was my introduction to the great art form of the comic strip,” said Brent Schoonover. “Chester Gould’s style and storytelling was uniquely bold, brash and unforgettable, just like the characters he created. I was instantly hooked and loved reading the dailies in my local paper. Getting the chance to contribute to this collection is an absolute honor.”
“My first experience with Dick Tracy was watching the live action film with my Dad,” said Daniel Hillyard. “I’m sure he had told me that it was a comic series first, but I was of an age where that kind of information just goes in one ear and out the other. But getting the opportunity to do a cover for this series was like getting to live in that memory again. And now that my Dad is no longer here, it was even more special to be a part of this!”
“I have always been a fan of the Detective genre, and Dick Tracy is the OG detective,” said Cat Staggs. “It has been an absolute honor to be a part of this.”
“I discovered Dick Tracy while reading the comic strip in the newspaper with my Dad,” said Howie Noel. “I immediately connected with the character and his colorful Rogues’ Gallery and sought out every book and reprints I could find. I’d redraw the strips and put my Dad in them. Since he passed away, drawing Dick Tracy and works inspired by the world Chester Gould created brings me the same feeling I had when I drew the strip as a kid and showed my Dad.”
Backers will receive all four volumes at once and can choose from different tiers and add-ons with a multitude of incredible extra rewards, including a sticker pack, trading cards, and a lithograph including art by Chester Gould featured in the New York Sunday News. Backers who pledge within the first 48 hours to “The Early Bird Edition” tier will receive a discount and an exclusive bookmark featuring art by Brent Schoonover.
Fans can support Dick Tracy: 1961-1964 on Kickstarter. For more updates, follow Clover Press on Blue Sky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
About Clover Press: Headed by IDW co-founder Robbie Robbins and former DC executive Hank Kanalz, Clover Press publishes a wide variety of collected and original content ranging from re-mastered reprints of classic newspaper strips to horror graphic novels, and high-quality art books. Clover Press is working with a wide variety of creators including David Mack, Jorge Jiménez, Alex Maleev, David Nakayama, Russell Dauterman, Michael Allred, Tyler Kirkham, Mike del Mundo, Dan dos Santos, Bruno Redondo, Kevin Eastman, Steve Niles, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ruben Bolling, Richard Bennett, Ray Troll, John K. Snyder III, Stewart Kenneth Moore, Aron Wiesenfeld and more.
