Collected for the first time in softcover, American publisher Clover Press and the Library of American Comics will be bringing you new Dick Tracy books, featuring the US newspaper strip by Chester Gould year by year, with new covers by eclectic contemporary artists, housed in beautiful slipcovers.
The new line, which has smashed its initial crowdfunding goal, includes a new cover by 2000AD artist Stewart Kenneth Moore for Dick Tracy 1942, along with his slipcase design he created that features Tracy’s two-way wrist tv….the screen of which is die cut to reveal the various covers.
“I couldn’t be more delighted to contribute to two of the world’s great fictional detectives,” Stewart, perhaps best known for his art on “Judge Dredd”, tells downthetubes. “It’s a wonderful thing to be involved in, I love Gould’s work. His villains in particular.”
Dick Tracy debuted in newspapers on Sunday 4th October 1931. Creator Chester Gould wrote and drew the hard-boiled daily strip until 1977, before passing it to writers and artists who continue the strip to this day. Through Gould’s nearly five decades of dedication on the strip, he created a pantheon of eclectic supporting characters like Prunceface, 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 LOAC are bringing the collections back to print in an affordable softcover format.
“We’re collecting the strip strictly by year, reprinting each instalment from January 1 to December 31,” Clover Press explain. “Each volume will measure 11″ x 8.5” in a horizontal format. Additionally, each book will slide into a vertical slipcase, designed for protection and easy shelving. Plus, each year’s collection features a new cover by a diverse selection of contemporary artists.
“In this first offering, we’re collecting the strip from years 1941 to 1944. By backing this Backerkit campaign, you will receive all four volumes at once, as well as commemorative prints of each of the covers by Jerry Ordway, Stewart Kenneth Moore, J.K. Snyder III, and Juan Jose Ryp.
“We expect to fulfil all rewards no later than May 2026.”
Check out The Complete Dick Tracy – Back in Print Softcovers crowdfunding campaign here on BackerKit
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 Jorge Jimenez, David Mack, Alex Maleev, David Nakayama, Russell Dauterman, Michael Allred, Tyler Kirkham, Mike del Mundo, Kevin Eastman, Steve Niles, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ruben Bolling, Richard Bennett, Ray Troll, John K. Snyder III, Stewart Kenneth Moore, Aron Wiesenfeld and more.
Since its inception in 2007, the Library of American Comics has committed to keeping the history of the classic American newspaper strip in the public consciousness. Founders Dean Mullaney and Bruce Canwell have published over 250 high end, hardcover archival books featuring some of the greatest comic characters ever created, including Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Flash Gordon, For Better or For Worse, Steve Canyon and Terry and the Pirates.
• Check out The Complete Dick Tracy – Back in Print Softcovers crowdfunding campaign here on BackerKit
With thanks to Stewart Kenneth Moore
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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