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Review: Dick Tracy Forever #2

Nemesis

DICK TRACY FOREVER #2 CVR A OEMINGI’ll admit that I’m beginning to get up there in years but, believe it or not, I am not old enough to have read the original Dick Tracy comic strips from the 1930’s.  However, I have seen some of them over the years after first being introduced to the character in the 1990 movie Dick Tracy featuring Warren Beatty and Madonna.  (Side note, if you are a fan of Dick Tracy you should pick up this film.  The design work on the film is impeccable and Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino turn in memorable performances as Mumbles and Big Boy respectively.)  Since that movie and my examination of those old strips I have not seen anymore Dick Tracy material.  Imagine my surprise then when I received this book for review, and a pleasant surprise it was.

Dick Tracy Forever #2 by Michael Avon Oeming (Thor, Omega Flight) features a series of unrelated stories.  These various stories have a definite comic strip feel as they present Dick Tracy in a situation or encounter that is resolved organically within the confines of the story.  Oeming has remained faithful to the setting of Dick Tracy, at least as far as I know it, with the titular character fighting outlandish mob figures whose appearance and mannerisms are defined by the nick name they have given.  For instance, in one story the main villain is a man named Broccoli Rabe, who of course has a floret of broccoli that adorns his head.  It is outlandish and ridiculous and thoroughly enjoyable.  Never taking himself too seriously, Oeming writes enjoyable vignettes that have classic detective and punch-em-up action set in this golden age world.  However, Oeming also manage to introduce new characters that would not have been possible in the 1930’s.  The most notable of these is African-American detective “Bricks” Walker who manages to save Tracy at one point and is a character I’d love to see more of going forward.

As well as writing, Oeming also pencils and inks the series.  His artwork is impeccable, hearkening back to the classic comic strips while borrowing some of the style work from the 1990 movie.  Additionally, Oeming has used modern day pencil and inking techniques but has managed to give the whole book a nostalgic look.  His character design is spot on and, while updated, Tracy and company look like they could have stepped out of the classic comic strip.  The pencil work is simple and classic with bold, strong inkwork that makes the characters pop.  Additionally, Oeming and company use a dot shading technique on the characters and backgrounds which adds to the sense of nostalgia.  Speaking of color, colorist Taki Soma colors the entire book in vibrant one tone colors with all shading being done with inking.  This is very symptomatic of the era and makes the book feel “old” and correct to the period.

All in all this book was a joy to read.  While the writing is neither groundbreaking or “deep” in a traditional sense, it is never the less very enjoyable and absolutely accurate to the character and genre.  Furthermore, the presentation of the book in art and style is spot on, presenting a modern take on this classic title.  I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

Writing – 4 of 5 Stars
Pencils – 5 of 5 Stars
Inking – 5 of 5 Stars
Color – 5 of 5 Stars
Overall – 4.75 of 5 Stars

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Story and Art – Michael Avon Oeming
Color – Taki Soma
Letters – Shawn Lee

Author Profile

Nemesis
Nemesis is a poet, writer and author of the upcoming novel The Long Game. He is a writer of science fiction and supernatural thrillers. Besides novels and short stories he writes for UK based ASAP Comics developing new stories for Level 8 and OPSEC. Nem is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and tries to bring those experiences into his writing.

He lives and works out of his home in Riverside, California with his wife and three children. When not writing he enjoys reviewing comic books and graphic novels for ComicCrusaders.com and living the Southern California life with his family.
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