I always found it difficult to make my way through the complex and idiosyncratic narratives of Chester Gould. The world of Dick Tracy was not appealing, particularly in the Warren Beatty manifestation. Only when I scanned individual panels did I realise the nature of Gould's imagination and skill. His closeup of Forensic details and the graphic means to realise enough of the clues (including arrows and explanatory prose - "CUT AWAY VIEW) led to rivetting pictorial propositions. Even his crashes and a traffic accident with a pig are original and characteristic. His deployment of stars (white and black) is a constantly recurring feature which he seems to have enjoyed. As a composition I recommend the Trueheart Mansion panel in the third row as particularly satisfying.

random pages from

the French edition