Alex Segura and Michael Moreci Talk About the Return of Dick Tracy in New Mad Cave Series

Alex Segura and Michael Moreci Talk About the Return of Dick Tracy in New Mad Cave Series

Mad Cave Studios has joined forces with the rights-holders of DICK TRACY comics, Alex Segura, Michael Moreci, and Chantelle Aimée Osman, and with oversight from Tribune Content Agency, is bringing the iconic character back to the world of comics.

For over 90 years, the evolution of Chester Gould’s detective DICK TRACY has captivated audiences through comic strips, radio shows, merchandise, and even a 1990s movie adaptation which starred Warren Beatty as the titular character alongside Al Pacino, Madonna, and Dustin Hoffman. Now, Mad Cave is set to revive the square-jawed lawman for all-new adventures and a nostalgic resurgence that will surely hit stride with both new and longtime fans of the crimefighter.

Leading the charge for Mad Cave’s DICK TRACY series are bestselling and award-winning author Alex Segura, acclaimed author Michael Moreci, and renowned artist Geraldo Borges, with creative consultation from Chantelle Aimée Osman. With their passion, expertise, and love for the character, this creative team is determined to bring DICK TRACY back with a fresh new take.

As readers get ready for a thrilling return to the world of Dick Tracy, we spoke with creators Alex Segura and Michael Moreci about the long history of the character and what fans can look forward to in their take on the detective.

Dick Tracy #1 arrives at your favorite local comic shops and digitally in March 2024.

GN: For years, you three have worked hard to get the chance to tell Dick Tracy stories.  What is it like to finally be able to bring back such an iconic character and tell your own stories?

MM: Immensely gratifying, and even that doesn’t quite cover it. I’m thrilled, and I’m glad we stuck with it. It wasn’t always easy, but creative endeavors, unfortunately, rarely are. Many great projects have taken even longer to get off the ground, and we’re well aware of that–something that’s helped us keep our perspective.

Now that we’re here, now that we can finally tell Dick Tracy stories, we’re fully committed to telling the best stories we possibly can.

AS: Saying it’s “a dream come true”feels cliche – but it’s also apt. We’ve all been talking about working on this book for YEARS, and to finally see it coming together feels surreal. I’m so glad we stuck with it.

GN: Over the years, the formula for the detective story has changed.  Is this going to lead to a different or updated version of the Dick Tracy we know and possibly the setting he finds himself in?

MM: A little, yes. One of our goals has been to give Dick a bit of a modern twist; we don’t want to remove him from his roots–roots we cherish–but we also didn’t want to simply be a poor imitation of what Gould did so masterfully.

There’s only one Gould, and we could never replicate his success. So, we have to craft our own success, and we’re doing that, we hope, by giving Dick a new life as a new detective that reflects a more contemporary world.

AS: To echo Michael – we wanted to honor all the Dick Tracy lore, but we didn’t want to feel encumbered by it, if that makes sense. If you’re a DT fan and you read this, our hope is that you’ll enjoy the Easter Eggs and have a fun time.

But if you’re coming into this with no previous relationship to Dick Tracy, you’ll hopefully find a compelling, character-driven noir comic that evokes the strengths of that genre.

GN: Are you looking to put your own stamp on this new series of stories to distinguish yourself from the ones that have been told before?

MM: Definitely. And like I said, we’re not trying to diminish any of what’s come before; it’s more that, out of respect, we’re not aiming to replicate it.

AS: One hundred percent. We’re being additive to the mythos, but we’re also trying to make it as welcoming as possible. This is literally the story Michael, Chantelle, and I have wanted to tell since we all first talked about working on this. The vision has remained clear, and the response so far has been really gratifying.

GN: How has Chantelle Aimée Osman’s role as a Creative Consultant helped shape the stories you are going to tell or the creative process of the project?

MM: Chantelle has been instrumental to all things Dick Tracy.

AS: Chantelle is a friend and super-talented writer and editor, among other things. She’s another strong voice in the room and, like Michael said, was key in making this happen. The comic wouldn’t exist without her.

GN: What is your favorite Dick Tracy story and/or your favorite Dick Tracy villain?

MM: My personal favorite is Flattop. The best villains, in my opinion, are the ones who are the exact opposite of the hero, and Flattop fills that role perfectly. Tracy is a model of control, while Flattop is an agent of chaos. Both can’t exist in the same world at the same time, and we’re going to have a lot of fun colliding these two against one another.

AS: I love Pruneface – I just find him so compelling and horrifying. Of course, I love the Gould source material – but I have a huge soft spot for the Kyle Baker books produced around the movie. It felt evocative of what artists like Sienkiewicz, Chaykin, and Baker (again) did for The Shadow in the 80s.

I also read the Dick Tracy movie novelization by Max Allan Collins a dozen or so times as a kid – I even mentioned it to Max when a friend introduced us forever ago at San Diego Comic Con.

GN: Any final thoughts you guys would like to share with your fellow Dick Tracy fans out there?

MM: I’ve said it before, but we want readers, old and new, to know how much care, thought, and consideration we’ve put into this series. We don’t take the responsibility of ushering such an iconic character into modernity lightly.

Everyone involved is committing their utmost care and all our talents to getting this job done with the love it demands. We’re Dick Tracy fans first and foremost, and that’s the place we’re coming from.

AS: We’re, first and foremost, trying to write a great, cinematic crime comic. That it happens to feature one of our favorite characters in pop culture – and arguably one of the best Rogues Galleries ever?

That’s the sweetest icing we could imagine. We’re doing our best to make sure we give the fans of DT what they want and deserve while also making the book feel fresh, grounded, and welcoming to new readers. Let us know how we did.