Chester Gould’s classic Dick Tracy comic strips are coming back to print from Clover Press in definitive deluxe slipcase editions, featuring new contemporary cover art by comic book artists and Dick Tracy fans Jerry Ordway, Stewart Kenneth Moore, J.K. Snyder III, Juan Jose Ryp, and David Mack.
The new Clover Press collections (now available on Backerkit) will give readers a chance to see the original Dick Tracy strips published between 1941 and 1944 and each volume will measure 11″ x 8.5″ in a horizontal orientation, replicating the original presentation in the funny pages of old.
We spoke to Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz about the archival project (and some of Clover Press’ upcoming projects) in this exclusive interview.
What was the genesis of Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy deluxe editions?
Hank Kanalz: We had published a set of six hardcovers, covering 1931-1941, in a horizontal format. These were originally published by IDW in a vertical format, and then the Library of American Comics took the series over with volume 7 in that horizontal format. It drove collectors nutty, as they have a complete set of Dick Tracy, but mismatched formats and trade dress. So, once the rights came available, we thought it would be a good opportunity to reprint those first six editions in a matching horizontal format. There were skeptics internally, but we knew there was a demand for those first six books. What we didn’t count on was all the emails asking us to continue the series beyond volume 6!
So we gave it some thought, and decided that now was the time to roll this content out, but in softcover form, so that we could do something different, and then make each purchase a little bit more affordable. And in typical Clover fashion, we want to do nicer versions. We can’t just put out a softcover, ha hah!
These four volumes collect every Dick Tracy strip from 1941-1944. What was it about his period of the comic strip that made Dick Tracy such a household name and success?
Kanalz: I can only guess that we were coming off of The Great War and unknowingly going into World War II. Folks wanted to escape, but also craved justice for the lawlessness rampant at the time. Mobsters had their nicknames, and Gould capitalized on that, making some of those nicknames literal, which made for an amazing rogues gallery.
You were able to get a number of modern comic artists to contribute covers to the project. Were they also fans?
Kanalz: Absolutely, they are. I get a lot of “I’ve always wanted to draw Dick Tracy” and “Can I please draw [this character], I always loved that character…”
In terms of the format, what can you tell us about the deluxe edition?
Kanalz: Each volume is published in horizontal format to really maximize the detail of strip, but then is stored vertically in a slipcase, so the books are easier to shelve. Each slipcase has a die-cut element, revealing part of the cover on the book itself. And like we’ve mentioned, each volume features a new cover by a contemporary artist.
What types of perks and add-ons are available?
Kanalz: Our designer, Kurtis Findlay, is a huge Dick Tracy fan – so he’s put together a 36-card trading card set, plus some great character stickers. We also have prints of each of the covers, including the David Mack piece we are using on the slipcases. They’re all incredible pieces. And we also have this great lithograph featuring Tracy and many of his rogues together, for a piece Gould did for LIFE Magazine.
Clover Press always has some exciting projects on the way. What can you tell us about some of them?
Kanalz: If you like newspaper strip collections, we’ll be launching our new Amazing Spider-Man Newspaper Strips collection later this month. We also have a special Tom the Dancing Bug campaign we’ll be launching that completes our long-running collection of Tom the Dancing Bug strips. And before the end of the year, you can expect another Marvel Art of and a DC Art of project.
The Complete Dick Tracy is available to back until September 30.
