Next week, the long running daily newspaper comic strip, Dick Tracy, will get a new creative team. Current artist and writer, Dick Locher will turn over his duties to Joe Staton and Mike Curtis on March 14th. Locher has been responsible for the strip for the last 28 years and worked with the strip’s creator, Chester Gould, 4 years prior to taking over the daily comic.
Both Staton and Curtis have a long history in comic books, with both having contributed to books such as Scooby Doo, Casper and Richie Rich.
In its 80 year history, the story telling of Dick Tracy has been fairly consistent. Creator, Chester Gould, drew a violent comic strip in 1931 where the bad guys were incredibly ugly or deformed and often perished under the most painful and gruesome situations. Over the years, Tracy’s pursuit of law & order enabled the franchise to find a home on the radio and in the movies of the 1930s and 1990s. The storylines did stray a little during the 1960s with Dick Tracy having a rocket ship and adventures on the moon. Fortunately, that period didn’t last, but the damage was already done. The comic started losing readers and it wasn’t long before it returned to its roots as one of the most violent comics in print (last week’s villain was eaten alive by rats).
Based on the pedigree of the new creative team, I’m not sure how long Dick Tracy will remain true to these roots. But 2011 could be the last year of this venerable strip if Tracy starts talking to friendly ghosts and super rich kids. I hope that’s not the eventual fate for this comic treasure.
Hey, Staton also drew E-Man from Charlton and First, as well as an incredible run on All-Star Comics. He was responsible for the look of the original Huntress (yum).
So it’s all good with me.
Thanks. I don’t think Staton will be an issue. I just hope Curtis will remain true to the Tracy history as he has promised to do.