Who Can You Trust
The city was under siege. Bullets and death were the currency of those employed by the criminal element. Despite that grim reality, Detective Dick Tracy was dedicated to putting an end to it. The question was, could he count on his fellow officers to back him up? At this point, it seemed like his old army pal, Pat, was the only one he could trust – him and Tess Trueheart.
Their top priority was dealing with Pruneface. His attempt to eliminate Dick and Pat had effectively put him at the top of the list. In addition, their original target, Lips Manlis, had disappeared without a trace. However, going after Pruneface was just as risky as going after Manlis. But they had to begin somewhere before more innocent people were harmed in the conflict.
Tess On the Case
As Tess continued to investigate her father’s targeting, she managed to infiltrate a mob money drop-off site by posing as a new hire. She convinced the office worker that mob boss Jimmy White had brought her, which led the worker to search for him, providing Tess with a chance to examine the files. The data she gathered from the woman and the files suggested a connection—money flowing from the mob to the city council, with her father as the sole exception. This exclusion seemed to be the probable cause of his death.
Meanwhile, Tracy and Pat decided to begin their search for Pruneface by paying his man Itchy a visit. Itchy was not that concerned. As a cop, he knew that Tracy would be limited in what he could do. Unfortunately for him, Pat was NOT a police officer. So those limitations didn’t apply to him. With a little bit of physical persuasion, Itchy found his voice. And it sounded like a canary.
Coming for Pruneface
However, when Pat and Tracy reached the location provided by Itchy, it appeared at first that he had misled them. That notion was quickly dispelled when several thugs emerged from the building. Words were sparse as the confrontation began. Tracy and Pat managed to hold their ground until another figure appeared at the doorway. Pruneface, accompanied by his attack dog Flattop, had entered the fray. Instead of retreating, Tracy brandished an improvised shield to fend off Flattop’s barrage of bullets. Moving forward, the distant wail of sirens gave him hope that reinforcements were on their way.
But Pruneface informed him that he was mistaken. The approaching sirens he was hearing were indeed coming to their location. But it wasn’t Pruneface they were coming to get. Which was quickly proven as they surrounded Pat and him. So, it looks like the answer to the question posed in the beginning was a resounding NO!
Thoughts
When the mob bosses were at their strongest, it was proven time and again that it was difficult to know who could be trusted. Money could be counted on to hold sway with even the most upright citizens. Whether it be City Councilmen, or members of the police department. The right price could persuade even the most morally upright conscious. But if you proved to be stubborn, you could just as easily find yourself six feet under. That is what apparently happened to Emil Trueheart. And it’s possible that Dick, Pat and maybe even Tess could not be far behind.
The Quintessential Dick Tracy
In this issue, Alex Segura, Michael Moreci, and Geraldo Borges are in top form. The confrontation between Tracy and the mobs’ powerbrokers have escalated dramatically. During the conflict, Tracy is still plagued by war flashbacks. Trust has become a crucial element in the battle. No matter how brave Dick, Pat, and Tess may be, their success hinges on having support. This dynamic heightens the suspense, embodying the quintessential Dick Tracy experience with constant danger and pervasive trust issues. It wouldn’t be Dick Tracy if that wasn’t a part of the equation.
Mad Cave Studios Dick Tracy, Issue 4 by Alex Segura, Michael Moreci, Geraldo Borges, Mark Englert and Jim Campbell is available now where great comics are sold.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
