List of Dick Tracy characters
The comic strip Dick Tracy has introduced numerous characters.
Allies
Tracy family
- Dick Tracy - The titular hero of the strip. Born in 1909. In 1931, before even joining the Police, he had captured his first villain Pinkie the Stabber. While leading a posse against the Arsons and Cutie Diamond, Tracy is seen in a police uniform and not his regular plainclothes. He served as a lieutenant in US Navy Intelligence during World War II.
- Tess Trueheart - The detective's love interest and later wife. When she was first introduced, she was kidnapped by Big Boy Caprice's men after they robbed and shot her father Emil Truehart. She served as a WAC in World War II, and later opened her own photography agency. She is the mother of Bonnie Braids Tracy, Joseph Flintheart Tracy, and adoptive mother of Junior Tracy. Temporarily divorced her husband in the 1990s, but later reconciled with him.
- Junior Tracy - The adopted son of Dick Tracy. First appeared in a Steve the Tramp storyline. In 1937's The Blank storyline he is 10 years old. He was originally named John "Jackie" Steele, and his birth parents were wealthy prospector Hank Steele and his wife Mary Steele, both of whom appeared in the strip. Became a police forensic artist.
- Moon Maid - The beautiful first wife of Junior Tracy. She was one of the moon people, an alien race with large eyes, giraffe-like antennae, and laser powers. First introduced to the strip in 1963, Moon Maid was the daughter of the supreme ruler of the moon, known as the Moon Governor. She had blonde hair and wore a black body stocking, thigh high boots, and white gloves. She fell in love with Junior and took him back to the moon in Diet Smith's space coupe, then returned to Earth to live her life with her husband. She often used her laser powers to help the police capture criminals. In 1965 she and Junior had a beautiful daughter named Honeymoon. In 1978, Moon Maid was accidentally killed by a car bomb intended for Dick Tracy. After his daughter's death, the Moon Governor broke off all relations with Earth. In 2011, Moon Maid's first name was revealed to be Mysta, shortly after, the new "Moon Maid" destroyed Mysta's gravestone.
- Sparkle Plenty - Daughter of B.O. Plenty and Gravel Gertie. She married Vera Alldid, divorced, then married Junior Tracy. She and Junior have one daughter named Sparkle Plenty Jr.
- Crystal Plenty - Cousin of Sparkle Plenty, a vegan who practices New Age spiritual arts.
- Bonnie Braids - Daughter of Dick Tracy and Tess Trueheart. Born in the back of a squad car May 4, 1951.
- Joseph Flintheart Tracy - The younger son of Dick Tracy and Tess Trueheart, named after Vitamin Flintheart for his bravery in saving both Tess and Joseph.
- Honeymoon Tracy - Daughter of Moon Maid and Junior, born in outer space. When very young, she witnessed her mother's death from a car bomb meant for Dick Tracy. She was later adopted by Sparkle Plenty when she and Junior were married. Half-sister of Sparkle Plenty Jr.
- Sparkle Plenty Jr. - Daughter of Junior Tracy and Sparkle Plenty, granddaughter of Dick Tracy and Tess Trueheart and B.O. Plenty and Gravel Gertie. Half sister of Honeymoon Tracy.
- Gordon Tracy - Dick Tracy's brother.
- Jean Tracy - Dick Tracy's sister.
- Chester Tracy - Father of Dick, Jean, and Gordon Tracy.
- Edna Tracy - Mother of Dick, Jean, and Gordon Tracy.
- Ray Tracy - Brother of Chester Tracy, he is a minister and has performed all the Tracy family wedding ceremonies.
Professional comrades
- Chief Brandon - Chief of Police in the strip's first appearance on October 4, 1931. He joined the police in 1919 and later replaced Chief Norris who was elected Mayor. Brandon retired in 1949 in shame after the murderer of Brilliant Smith, an inventor who was under the department's protection slipped past Brandon's personal vetting. After retirement, he opened a hardware business named "Lawn Order". Years later, Big Frost tried to kill Brandon. Brandon was wounded and Big Frost was killed.
- Pat Patton - Former welder turned police officer who was Tracy's long-time sidekick and partner on the police force. Later appointed Brandon's successor as Chief of Police upon which Sam Catchem became Tracy's new partner. He served as comic relief due to his inexperience although that role eventually was reduced as his various adventures allowed him to grow into his profession. The introduction of B.O. Plenty/Gravel Gertie and Vitamin Flintheart would later supplant him for humor. However, with Patton's ascension to Police Chief, his character took on a much more serious tone with his previous role as Tracy's partner rarely mentioned again. Known for his "Irish temper". Shot by corrupt police officers Climer in 1982 and Lt. Teevo in 2007, but recovered both times. Recently reappointed as Chief after a successful treatment for cancer.
- Sam Catchem - Tracy's current partner since Pat Patton was appointed Chief. The 1990 film, Dick Tracy, featured both Pat Patton and Sam Catchem as Dick Tracy's partners.
- Lizz Grove - Former nightclub photographer turned police officer with a particular talent for hand to hand combat. Briefly married to a newspaper reporter named Jimmy until Jimmy's death. Even more briefly married to Officer Groovy Grove. The ceremony was conducted as Officer Grove was on his deathbed. He died shortly after he and Lizz were declared man and wife. Served as Chief of Police during Pat Patton's temporary retirement. Her sister was murdered by Joe Period in the 1950s.
- Diet Smith - Industrialist who supplied advanced equipment for Tracy and the police department. Responsible for the creation of the Space Coupe, Two-way Wrist Radio, Two-way Wrist TV, Two-way Wrist Computer, and Two-way Wrist Genee. Originally suspected of murdering his partner in 1946 in his first appearance. Regularly seen drinking glasses of milk.
- Brilliant - Son of Diet Smith, inventor of the Two-way Wrist Radio. His murder at the hands of mob leader Big Frost led to Chief Brandon's retirement and the promotion of Pat Patton to Chief.
- George "Cal" Bullet Sr. - Highway Police Chief murdered by his own son Cal Bullet Jr. when he discovered his son's treasonous involvement with Pruneface. The accidental discovery of his body by Dick Tracy led to Pruneface's capture and the death of Cal Bullet Jr. at the hands of his own deadly poison gas.
- J. Scotland Bumstead - British detective assigned to the European Secret Police. Brother of mob attorney Giorgio Spaldoni.
- Frizzeltop - One-armed woman friend of Dick Tracy and Junior Tracy, named for the shock of frizzy hair on her head.. After Pruneface's associate Clara is captured, Frizzeltop impersonates her to trick Cal Bullet Jr. into leading the law to Pruneface. Frizzeltop later married Dennis O'Copper.
- Porfiry Ivanov - Russian detective who Dick Tracy has been obliged to work with from time to time.
- Haku Kou - Native Hawaiian undercover cop in the Honolulu Police Department who worked with Tracy on the Willie the Fifth and Li'l Pineapple cases.
- Dan Liu - Real-life Chinese-American Chief of the Honolulu PD at the time the Willie the Fifth and Li'l Pineapple cases were published, who made several prominent appearances in the strip, consulting with Tracy during those cases.
- Lottie Latte - First appeared on April 8, 2006 as the criminal associate of Al Kinda in a plot to con the Plentys out of their lottery winnings. Lottie appeared to be either a male transvestite or a transgender person. After turning the tables on Al Kinda, it was revealed that Lottie is in fact the FBI's top undercover agent and "best marksperson in the department."
- Kitty - Comic relief pet cat addicted to cigar smoke. Belonged to Matty Square and Mr. Bribery. Member of the Police Department Zoo.
- Li'l Dropout- A chimpanzee with a talent for painting. Member of the Police Department Zoo.
- Mugg - A boxer dog who helped Dick Tracy bring down his own particular enemy Pearshape. Partial to riding on top of police cars. Member of the Police Department Zoo.
- Captain Bowline - US Navy Intelligence and Tracy's superior. He appeared in the storylines for Flattop Jones and The Brow.
- Lt. Marks - US Navy Intelligence plainclothes officer who assisted Tracy during The Brow case.
- Nolan - Police clerk who helped Tracy trace ownership of Arthur "Nip" Dolton's wrecked car.
- Constable John Doe aka John Law- Officer who foolishly tried to follow alone killer Cutie Diamond to his Mountain Hideaway and was killed by Diamond in valley below hideout in 1930.
- Constable Ferrett - Saved Tracy's life with a blood transfusion. After his daughter was killed in a car crash caused by Trigger Doom, Ferret saved Tracy's life again from a raging bull.
- Deputy Sheriff Jim Lester - Murollo, California Deputy Sheriff mortally wounded in 1939 by criminal Whip Shute which led Tracy after Shute.
- Detective Adonis - Hunky, mustachioed detective in the vein of Magnum P.I. Appeared in the strip in the 1980s.
- Detective Frisk - Ambitious female detective on the police force antagonistic to Dick Tracy. Member of Major Crimes Unit. Jumped after criminal Sal Monella into the back of a garbage truck. After the trucks' contents were dumped into a garbage scow and then dumped into the river, the only trace found of her was a shoe. However she reappears "alive" as a Private Detective
- Detective Lee Ebony - African-American policewoman and Tracy's partner in the Simon "Sweatbox" Baux case.
- Patrolman Dawson - Uniformed beat patrolman who went with Tracy and Patton to investigate Schultze Innis' death.
- Patrolman Ferris - Highway patrolman murdered by Mumbles' gang when he tried to stop them for driving a stolen car. Although Tracy had to release the Mumbles gang, subsequent events led to the gang's downfall.
- Patrolman Grant - Highway Patrolman seen in The Brow storyline of 1944.
- Patrolman Charles R. "Groovy" Grove - Ex-convict wrongly convicted of murder in 1958. When the real killer was exposed, Grove was released and later joined the police force in 1970, becoming a uniformed beat patrolman and the fiancé of Lizz. He was also the father of blind Tinky from his brief first marriage. In 1984 he was fatally wounded in the line of duty. Grove married Lizz while on his deathbed, so that she would receive the "widow's benefits" traditionally paid to the spouse of a police officer killed while on duty.
- Patrolman Jenson - Unseen patrol officer who found block message left by The Blank in a dime store.
- Patrolman Milligan - Stock character Irish uniformed beat patrolman who figured in many of the earliest stories. Nearly had neck broken when Pop Warner's son tried to break out of jail but was saved by Tracy.
- Patrolman Murphy - Stock character of Irish uniformed beat patrolman who appears in several storylines, including 88 Keyes; Flattop Jones, The Brow and Pruneface. Although first appearing in the 1930s, he appeared as late as 1967 in the Haf and Haf storyline.
- Officer Dennis O'Copper - Stock character of Irish uniformed cop; a state trooper appearing in the Pruneface storyline.
- Patrolman O'Malley - Stock character of Irish uniformed beat patrolman sent in plainclothes by Tracy to contact B.B. Eyes' gang. B.B. Eyes delivered "hot tires" and O'Malley's body to Tracy. His murder would lead to B.B. Eyes' downfall in 1942.
- Officer Shawn- Police officer killed in 1939 by Scardol during a car theft.
- Police Chief Moyson-Police Chief of Dick Tracy's City. Was killed by Tommy McConny in 1920. Succeeded by Police Chief Norris the predessor of Police Chief Brandon.
- Chief Yellow Pony - Native American who formed a posse with Dick Tracy and Pat Patton to track down the Arson siblings and Cutie Diamond. Based on the Pawnee Chief Yellow Horse. A stereotype who can barely speak English.
- Special Agent Jim Trailer - FBI agent who helped Tracy in the Famon Brothers case and the Black Pearl episode. Also appears years later in further episodes, assigned to work with Tracy on the kidnapping of Diet Smith, and in other cases like Dr. Kryos Freezdrei and the return of Pruneface
- Special Agent Fritz Ann Dietrich - The FBI agent who has been seen the most often in the 2010s.
- Ms. Steffihawk - Receptionist at police headquarters.
- Town Marshal Wilke Wilkinson - Marshall of Layon Junction. Killed August 8, 1938 by the Jojo Nidle gang who had captured Junior Tracy and friend.
- Trace - Police robot developed by Diet Smith Industries.
- Jay Waljo - Narcotics officer who had been missing since 1969. Waljo's remains were accidentally found by Tracy 11/04/1971.
- Francisco Wunbrow - Cuban detective who Dick Tracy has been obliged to work with from time to time.
Dick Tracy's Police Department
Police Chiefs in Dick Tracy comic Strip 1920-2020
- Police Chief Moyson-killed by Tommy McConny in 1920
- Police Chief Stanley Norris-1920/1921-prior to 1931
- Police Chief Brandon-1931-1949
- Police Chief Pat Patton-1949-1982
- Deputy Chief Climer-1982-1983
- Police Chief Pat Patton 1983-2007
- Police Chief Lizz 2007-2011
- Police Chief Pat Patton 2011-
- Mrs Anna Enog-Jail matron who was engaged in dope smuggling; tried to murder Gravel Gertie but was accidentally killed; her lover a unnamed Guard at the Jail committed suicide and left a confession for Dick Tracy.
- Deputy Chief Climer-tried to kill Pat Patton and Dick Tracy; accidentally shot and killed on a Police Target firing Range
- Lt. Teevo- Commications specialist-who had ties to the "Apparatus"; tried to kill Pat Patton but killed by a man eating plant trying to escape arrest.
- Inspector Price- member of Organized Crime Unit-also had ties to the "Apparatus"; was given Immunity from Prosceution in return for testimony against Organized Crime Bosses
Personal acquaintances
- Bob Oscar "B.O." Plenty - In his first appearance in 1945 he was a bachelor farmer living in a mess of a house, wearing torn clothes bought "on account", who hadn't left his farm for fifty years. "B.O." constantly chews tobacco and is noted for having a rather "musky" scent that follows him around. He is a former criminal and later personal friend of the Tracys. After Shaky's body was discovered by his stepdaughter Breathless Mahoney, Breathless stole his estate money from her mother and met B.O. on the run. Plenty and Breathless eluded Tracy. Eventually, Plenty forced her to lead him to the bank where the money was hidden in a safety deposit box where he then nearly strangled and robbed her in the viewing room. After escaping with the money, he attempted to enjoy his wealth, which unfortunately drew the attention of the widow of B.B. Eyes and the sadistic gangster, Itchy, who robbed and attempted to murder him by tying him to a board and casting him into the city sewer system to drown. However, Plenty managed to safely exit the system and entered open sea where he was rescued by a tramp steamer headed for China. After returning to the city, he met Gravel Gertie and finally got his criminal charges resolved. Unable to pronounce Tracy's name correctly. He and Gertie are the parents of Sparkle Plenty, who married to Junior Tracy. In an Archie's TV Funnies episode, he appeared as a captive of "Pear Shape" Tone who tried to capture Dick Tracy.
- Gravel Gertie - Former criminal and now wife of B.O. Plenty. Introduced in The Brow storyline in 1944. She was a widow for thirty years after her first husband sold her farm rights to turn the farm into a gravel pit and then died when his car backed into his own gravel pit in 1914. Tried to hide the Brow from the police after she found him in a wrecked car and was arrested when her hair from her clothes brush matched gray hair found near a burning car. In a comic relief moment, the Brow fled in terror when he caught his first glimpse of his guardian angel. In his struggle to escape an old-fashioned lamp was knocked over burning her shack and her long hair. Later married B.O. Plenty and gave birth to Sparkle Plenty. In a later storyline, it was established that Gertie had spent part of her childhood in an orphanage; while she was there, criminals shaved her head and tattooed onto her bald pate a treasure map showing the location of their buried loot, then allowed her hair to regrow to conceal the map which was belatedly rediscovered well into Gertie's adulthood. Dick Tracy was a popular strip for the railroad workers, and Gravel Gertie is the affectionate nickname of a part of the Clifton Forge line of the C & O Railroad. It stretches from Hinton, West Virginia to Clifton Forge, Virginia and delivered limestone gravel quarried from Fort Spring to the iron furnaces of Virginia as a fluxing agent.
- Vera Alldid - First husband of Sparkle Plenty, unilaterally divorced her. Cartoonist of "The Invisible Tribe", a strip revolving around a Native American tribe who speak but are never seen. Once a millionaire cartoonist, he was forced to work by Abner Kadaver into drawing horror comics for a living. He later created another popular comic strip that parodied Dick Tracy.
- Emil Trueheart - Father of Tess Trueheart. His murder by Big Boy's gangster "Crutch" would lead to Dick Tracy's vow to fight crime.
- Kiss Andtel - A blonde singer engaged to Mumbles until she found out he was a thief. In revenge, Mumbles stole her car which resulted in the death of a highway patrolman. Later she was forced to sing with his old group after he threatened to blind her. At sea in a cabin cruiser Mumbles tied her up and set up a bomb - which Dick Tracy threw overboard at the last minute. She later becomes a singing star. Mother of Kisme Quick by Mumbles.
- Mrs. Trueheart - Mother of Tess Trueheart. Present when her husband was murdered. Although wounded by Pruneface, her photograph of the villain helped lead to his downfall. She also made cameo appearances in the Flattop Jones and The Brow storylines.
- Vitamin Flintheart - Former motion picture thespian who in his heyday made over $500.00 a week, now just a hypochondriac ham actor who, when he is not quoting William Shakespeare, has to take vitamin pills and Bismuth subgallate. Husband of Snowflake Falls, he first appeared in the Flattop Jones storyline at the age of 50 years. Also appeared in the storylines of The Brow and Shaky. His medicine bottle led to Flattop's doom while his fur coat brought about Shaky's demise. Was unwitting accomplice to Flattop's brother, Blowtop Jones. Both Vitamin and Snowflake made cameo appearances in the Dr. Kryos Freezdrei and Pruneface storylines. It has been established that one of Vitamin's film appearances was in The Bowery Boys Meet the Bard, presumably as the Bard.
- Kandikane Lane - Documentary filmmaker, and since Nov. 2014 she and Vitamin Flintheart have been sweethearts. Her distinctive feature is alternate white and red stripes on her bangs, and her penchant for sucking on candy canes. In one strip she spoke on the telephone with her sister Margot about their sister, Lois, who had a thing for men who wore capes.
- Loma - Secretary/circus trapeze artist who saved Dick Tracy's life after Littleface Finny's henchman untied the window washer's platform Tracy was using to spy on Little Face. Later kidnapped by Little Face, she was knocked unconscious in a car accident after Little Face killed the driver of the hijacked car and subsequently found by Tracy.
- Don Quick Oatie - Crazy senior citizen who dressed in medieval armour. Saved Tracy and Liz from the killer Oily when Oatie accidentally short circuited a fuse box in a garage causing snow to melt leading the roof to collapse, knocking Boily into a vat of boiling oil. Later Oatie attacked a "dragon" in which Oily and Slick had taken refuge, causing Oily and Slick to fall to their deaths in an electric power plant. Oatie survived but was returned to the Leafy Acres Mental Asylum.
- Hank Steele - Blind silver miner and biological father of Junior Tracy. Murdered by Stooge Viller while trying to protect his son.
- Mary Steele - Mother of Junior Tracy. Married to Hank Steele but foolishly ran off with "Steve the Tramp." Reunited with her son in 1935. Instrumental in capturing Boris Arson. Was seen briefly in "The Blank" storyline in 1937. Her accidental death in 1962 lead to the exposure of fugitive Tommy McConny.
- Mary X - An amnesia victim who could only lead Dick Tracy to the body of Freez. After Mason tried to kill her twice, the second attempt restored her memory. She became a singer with Rudy Seton's band.
- Rudy Seton - Big-band leader and friend of Dick Tracy. His name "Seton" spelled backwards is "Notes".
- A. B. Helmet - Millionaire meat packer murdered by 88 Keyes' gang at the request of Helmet's wife.
- Homer 'Peanut Butter' Barley - Precocious 10-year-old scientific genius addicted to peanut butter sandwiches. Proved to be both a help and a source of irritation to Tracy.
- George Tawara - Movie star who was imprisoned as a boy at the Lake Freedom internment camp during World War II.
- Toad Spencer - Young girl who accidentally discovered evidence that led to the exposure of Simon "Sweatbox" Baux as a serial killer. Kidnapped by Baux to force George Tawara to make a false confession of murder. Toad was saved by the efforts of Mole and Pouch. To keep Baux from hurting Mole, Toad threw a baseball that stunned Baux long enough for Dick Tracy to arrive.
- Mysta Chimera - Introduced as an apparently resurrected "Moon Maid", she was eventually revealed to be Glenna Ermine, surgically and mentally altered to simulate the original one's appearance and powers, in a scheme to steal Diet Smith's Moon technology. In a retcon, her powers are high voltage electricity and telepathy.
- Buddy Waldorf; - In 1932 2 year old Son of wealthy parents who was kidnapped by Big Boy and smuggled aboard an ocean liner. Chased by Dick Tracy, "Big Boy" tries to kill Tracy by throwing him overboard and later when "Big Boy" is cornered by Tracy, "Big Boy" throws his accomplice overboard and is stopped by Tracy from throwing Buddy Waldorf overboard as well. After Waldorf is returned, this leads "Big Boy" imprisonment and Alec Penn's exposure as a forger.
- Oliver Warbucks and other principal characters of Little Orphan Annie have made periodic appearances in Dick Tracy since June 10, 2013. The last story arc of Annie was resolved in Dick Tracy, June 1 to Oct 11, 2014.
Enemies
- Abner Kadaver - Horror movie host until replaced by Charles Addams-esque host Baron Clegg. Clegg later would be killed by hit-and-run driver Sizzler Sitzes, a hitman for "The King of Crime" who disappeared, only to be found dead by Honey Moon Tracy. His fog at the Panda Agency during a police raid accidentally caused Panda to be eaten by his own barracuda. Enforcer for B.B. Eyes. Charged in 2013 with 30 counts of first degree murder. Gimmick is a skeleton face along with a top hat.
- Acres O'Reilly - Girlfriend of Heels Beals. Over six feet tall with long blonde hair. Reformed after being betrayed by lover Heels Beals.
- Alec Penn - Had metal plate in skull after being shot while trying to desert from British Army in World War I; his postwar career included being a "Don Juan" thief, killer of wealthy women under the alias "Count Gordon", and forger of stocks and bond certificates. The forgeries came to light after Buddy Waldorf; was rescued by Dick Tracy. "Penn" is an abbreviation for "penman".
- Al Kinda - Kidnapped the Plentys in order to swindle them out of their lottery winnings, then tried to blow up the U.S. Capitol building until shot and killed by Lotte Latte.
- Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice aka "Gabe Famoni" - Organized Crime boss patterned after Al Capone; whose gang killed Dick Tracy's prospective father-in-law Emil Trueheart in 1931 during a home robbery; in 1932 after numerous attempts to kill Tracy, Caprice went one-on-one with him after Buddy Waldorf;' rescue, only to get the worst of it and be exposed as a cowardly thug who hides behind hired guns. Briefly escaped after associate boss Jim Herrod was killed but recaptured again after writer Jean Penfield survives being almost killed by Big Boy's associate Jimmy White. Years after being caught and imprisoned by Dick Tracy for kidnapping Waldorf;, "Big Boy" died of a heart attack December 24, 1978 in his bed in his mansion, raging because his greatest wish was unfulfilled: to kill and outlive Dick Tracy before his own death. In the 1990 movie Dick Tracy, "Big Boy" looked like villain Sketch Paree more than the character drawn by Chester Gould.
- Angelica "Angeltop" Jones - One of the first villains to appear in the strip following Gould's retirement. Angeltop was Flattop's daughter. Her beautiful long blonde hair turned out to be a wig which concealed the hereditary flat cranium.
- Anja Nu - Play producer working with Johnny Nothing to try and kill Dick Tracy during a play. After saving Dick's life by shooting the Blank, she was crushed by a plane in the Science Museum while trying to kill Dick Tracy for publicity.
- Arsons, The - Boris and Zora Arson were sibling bank robbers and cop-killers. Zora was killed and Boris was wounded and captured by Dick Tracy and a posse.
- Art Dekko - Art forger and high class painting thief. Wounded by Tracy after he tried to ambush Detective in art gallery. Spoof of Art Deco style.
- Arthur "Nip" Dalton - Member of the 1926 Redrum gang. Crime lord who fought the entire underworld in 1935 to become czar of the city's slot machine racket. Killed by the Blank and found by Tracy in the trunk of his own car after a train wreck. After his death, his slot machine empire was inherited by Czar Rinnis.
- Astral Turf - Green-haired phony psychic and accomplice of corrupt policeman Climer. Exposed as a phony by Tracy and arrested. The name is a pun on AstroTurf.
- B-B Eyes - Tire bootlegger, kidnapper, and head of a car and truck thief ring. He killed Patrolman O'Malley and tried to kill Dick Tracy and Pat Patton. While trying to escape from the police via a garbage scow, he was believed to have drowned at the bottom of a bay trapped in an old tire. However, in 2011 it was revealed that he had escaped and returned to a life of crime. In 2013 "Mr. Crime" put him in charge of a gang with enforcers Doubleup and Abner Kadaver. Charged with criminal conspiracy, assault on two police officers and the killing of Officer O'Malley. His trademark was unusually small eyes resembling BB pellets. Brother of B.D. Eyes and Jacques.
- B.D. Eyes - Brother of B.B. Eyes and Jacques. Teamed up with Itchy Oliver's younger brother Twitchy in order to scare horror author Stephanie Queen out of the same house in which Itchy met his fate for the coveted $100,000 which their older brothers hid in the house years earlier. "B.D." is a pun on "beady eyes".
- Belle - Broadway Bates' gang moll. Accidentally shot her own gang member in a fight between Bates and Dick Tracy and was later arrested.
- Bernard Breakdown - Diet Smith executive who kidnapped Smith and Dick Tracy. Tried to humiliate them both but was arrested. Gimmick was his quivering when under pressure.
- Big Ace - Leader of casino scam and boss of One-Eyed Jack. Dick Tracy stopped him by pretending to be another casino swindler and concealing an ace of spades in his sleeve to beat him at a double-or-nothing gamble. Nose is shaped like the spade symbol.
- Big Brass - Conman/swindler, seller of brass "Health Rings". Kidnapper/murderer killed by Dick Tracy.
- Big Frost - Modeled after Gould's publisher Joseph Patterson. Murdered scientist Brilliant Smith which prompted Chief Brandon to resign. Years later tried to kill Brandon but was himself killed. Among the visitors to the morgue where Frost's body was kept was Chester Gould himself.
- Big Al - Public owner of Al's Waste Management Company; secret partner of Sal Monella. Killed in a gun battle with Detective Frisk. February 29, 2004
- Bird Gang - Jay Hawk, Buzzard and Coot, a trio of jewelry store thugs who escaped from the state prison. They took revenge on an old member of their gang who squealed and forced a stool pigeon named "Tweety" and Hawk's girlfriend "Lovey Dove" to try to trap Tracy. Dove had a change of heart and refused to trap Tracy. Tracy tried again to trap the gang only to be captured. The Bird Gang tried to feed Tracy to a tiger, but two of them ended up being killed by the tiger while the third member was killed by the police as he was about to shoot Dove.
- Blackjack - A bank robber who took the guise of a western bandit from an old television show. Motivated not by a lust for money, but a fanatical devotion to Dick Tracy and the wish to join Tracy's rogues gallery. A deadly shot, he gave himself up only after shooting a hole through Tracy's hat.
- Black Pearl - a.k.a. Pearl Erad. Government blueprint thief who nearly killed Dick Tracy and Pat Patton. Captured with Horace by Jim Trailer.
- Blank, The - Alter-ego of Frank "Faceless" Redrum, slot machine gang leader and killer who escaped from prison in 1927. Wearing a mask of cheesecloth that made his face appear to be blank, he killed nearly all of his old gang in revenge. Tried to kill Dick Tracy, Pat Patton and Stud Brozen by blowing up Brozen's boat. Later tried to kill Tracy and Brozen on Brozen's other boat. Patton knocked out The Blank and Tracy removed the mask to reveal the disfigured face of Redrum. In the 1990 film Dick Tracy, The Blank was manipulating both Tracy and "Big Boy" Caprice, only to be fatally shot by Big Boy before meeting his own doom. The unmasking revealed The Blank to be nightclub singer Breathless Mahoney.
- Blowtop Jones - Brother of Flattop, who tried to kill Dick Tracy by blowing up Tracy's house as an act of revenge for the death of his brother. Also tried to kill Vitamin Flintheart. Captured after being caught in a barbed wire fence. Blowtop is also known for an explosive temper, but only about trivialities while usually quietly accepting criticism on important matters. Since his most recent release from prison, his only crimes have been letting his relatives stay at his house.
- Bolo - Manager of singing star Irma from the musical group "Gallstones." Got rich by secretly running off counterfeit copies of songs of the acts he managed.
- "Bookie" Joe
- B.O. Plenty -
- Boris Arson -
- Boss Jim Herod - Old time political city boss and politician who was secretly allied to crime boss "Big Boy" Far. Killed by the police in a gunfight.
- Braces - Braces-wearing thug with a robot accomplice. Tried to steal industrial secrets. Electrocuted by his own robot after its wiring caught in his teeth's braces.
- Brain - Eccentric gang leader who played an ocarina and wore a hat whose top was made to resemble a human brain. While trying to escape Tracy and Catchem, Brain and his gang drove into a train tunnel and were killed when they crashed into a freight train. January 26, 1975
- Breathless Mahoney - Stepdaughter of Shaky who found his body and stole his strongbox keys. Took $50,000 hidden in the strongbox and went on the run after killing a gardener who found her cache of money. Captured by Dick Tracy, she poisoned him and was again on the run after killing her landlady who was going to the police. Met with B.O. Plenty who nearly succeeded in strangling her and taking her money. Later she died of an illness in prison. Sister of Heartless Mahoney and aunt of Restless Mahoney. Played by Madonna in the 1990 film, in which Breathless disguised herself as The Blank.
- Broadway Bates - Kidnapped Dick Tracy for ransom money. After jumping bail, he tried to kill Tracy on a train in the woods, but ended up being thrown off of the train and stranded in the middle of nowhere. Looked like Batman villain the Penguin. In fact the post Chester Gould Dick Tracy hints that William "Broadway" Bates is a brother of Oswald Cobblepot aka the Penguin.
- Brow, The - a.k.a. Alfred Brau . A sadistic German spy ring leader nicknamed for his prominent brow ridges. Kidnapped the Summer Sisters and forced them into working for him by making one sister collect his spy reports while he tortured the other sister, not stopping until the reports had been delivered. One sister managed to shoot his henchmen but the Brow escaped; he later killed both sisters and a cab driver and ended up fleeing into the welcome arms of Gravel Gertie. Tracked down and beaten in hand-to-hand combat by Tracy before being arrested. Brow later tried to escape with a stolen police gun smuggled to him by Gravel Gertie. Before Brow could shoot, Tracy flung an inkwell at his head, knocking him through a window to be impaled on a flagpole which ironically is part of a "Roll of Honor" for those in Dick Tracy city who are serving their Country in World War II. In the 1990 movie, Brau Sr. appeared as one of the five gangsters killed by Flattop and Itchy at the beginning of the film.
- Brow, The - a.k.a. "The Hangman" aka Alfred Brau . Son of German Spymaster "The Brow" who he closely resembled. He worked with Angelica "Angeltop" Jones, who he was in love with, to get revenge on Tracy in the 1980s. Alfred Brau Jr. reformed at some point, but a film being made titled Boss Tracy, in late 2015, sent him over the edge and he killed several persons connected with the film under the nom de crime of 'The Hangman', then died at the end of that story arc.
- Bud Jenkins - 10-year-old pickpocket and the blackmailer of Flattop Jones. After buying expensive skates with Flattop's hush money, fell through the ice while skating in park pond and drowned. Ironically, this is the same pond in which Flattop also drowns while trying to escape from Dick Tracy.
- Constable Caleb - Law officer of Smallville; set by Tracy to keep an eye on Doc Codd; arrested with Codd by Tracy for taking a bribe from Doc Codd.
- Cal Bullet - Chemical genius/traitor who murdered his own father when he discovered his son's treason. Tried to sell poison gas to "Boche", a.k.a. Pruneface. When he unknowingly led Tracy to Pruneface's hideout, Pruneface sadistically forced Cal to test his own poison gas. Before dying Cal confessed to the murder of his father to Tracy and names Boche as the head of the espionage ring.
- Chameleon
- Chameleon Gang - The members tried to infiltrate a jury by dressing as an old woman, a Boy Scout leader and a preacher, but were discovered guilty and sentenced to 20 years.
- Charlie - Flattop gang member killed in a gun battle between Flattop and Tracy.
- Charlie Yenom - Cold storage worker who saved Little Face Finny from an icy death in exchange for $10,000.
- Chin Chillar - Thief and murderer who at one time worked for Diet Smith on the moon. He wore a small beard on his chin and large earrings, as did his scantily-clad wife. Chin Chillar and wife stole a police Space Coupe, freed Mr. Bribery from prison, and used the Space Coupe and a "bird cage" provided by Bribery to collect $100,000 that was orbiting the Earth.
- Chuck Hole - Appeared in a Dick Tracy mini-comic in Reader's Digest using Tracy as a spokesman for an auto shocks and car battery manufacturer. Hole was a smuggler running counterfeit shock absorbers. Tracy and Catchem stopped his truck with a dynamite charge and arrested him. Tracy had figured out which truck in the convoy was carrying counterfeits by timing the speed between telephone poles: the truck with the lightest load was the fastest vehicle between two poles. Hole's trademark is a "hole" in the top of his head. Resembled Elvis Presley.
- Cinn Ozone - Ex-wife of George Ozone who murdered him to get hold of his hidden treasure. Accomplice of Mumbles who she also tried to kill. but he killed her first. July 7, 1955
- Clara - Jukebox operator who was part of Pruneface's sabotage ring. Served as contact between Cal Bullet Jr. and Pruneface. Arrested.
- Claw, The - From the film Dick Tracy's Dilemma. Stock character villain with a hook for a hand who, after robbing a fur warehouse, killed a night watchman, a fake blind peddler and his two accomplices before electrocuting himself with his hook while trying to kill Dick Tracy.
- Climer - His name is a pun on a social climber. Corrupt Police Chief who shot retired Police Chief Pat Patton after Patton decided to write a tell-all book on corruption/organized crime within the Police Department. When Climer disbanded the Major Police Squad, Tracy resigned in protest and formed his own detective agency. His first client was Patton's wife who wanted to know who had shot her husband. When Astral Turf revealed it was Climer behind the shooting, Tracy was knocked unconscious and put behind a police target made to resemble Flattop Jones by Climer. However Tracy was able to free himself and Climer was accidentally shot and killed by a police cadet. Feb 20, 1983
- Coffyhead - Shown constantly drinking coffee and with a head shaped like a coffee pot. After serving his sentence, he reformed himself and became owner of an espresso shop.
- Count Gordon - a.k.a. Alec Penn.
- Crewy Lou - A professional portrait photographer and criminal. Sported a crew cut hair style with combined braids. Inadvertently kidnapped Bonnie Braids while being pursued by Tracy. Later died falling from the window of an observation tower after Tracy threw tear gas into it. With her last breath she told Tracy where the baby was.
- Crutch - Member of Big Boy Caprice's gang who killed Mr. Trueheart. First criminal killed by Dick Tracy. November 26, 1931
- Crystal - Girlfriend of Big Brass. She used a crystal ball to tell fortunes. Paid bond for Fencer, and was later killed by Brain after being forced to lead his gang to Big Brass's hidden cache of loot.
- Crypto - Scottish Terrier and unwitting accomplice of the Jumbler.
- Cueball - From the film Dick Tracy vs. Cueball. Bald thug who killed a diamond courier, a fence and an extortionist saloon owner before being killed by a train while trying to escape from Dick Tracy.
- "Cut" Famon
- Cutie Diamond - Bank robber, sadistic and cold-blooded killer and accomplice of Boris and Zora Arson. Boasted of being involved in four murders-a bank teller and three law officers. Hid in a cave guarded by wildcats in the "Ozarks" but was tracked down by Dick Tracy and a posse. Cutie vowed to kill Tracy but in a pistol gunfight it was Cutie who died of wounds and Tracy who lived.
- Czar Rennis - Crime boss successor to Arthur "Nip" Dolton of the slot machine racket. Killed by henchman Trigger Doom.
- Dan "The Squealer" Mucelli - In charge, along with Texie Garcia, of the city's narcotics traffic as part of Big Boy's organization. Cousin of Ribs Mocco.
- Danny Supeena - Crooked lawyer who injured and exploited his victims/accomplices to defraud insurance companies. He killed Mintworth's mother who threatened to denounce him. Mortally wounded by Dick Tracy, Supeena confessed to Mrs. Mintworth's killing before dying in the hospital. His surname is a spoof of subpoena.
- Davey Mylar a.k.a. "Mr. Crime" II
- Deafy Sweetfellow
- Debbie Thorndike Socialite girl secretly married to Jacques. With her boyfriend Sailor Kelly, she reopened the Bird Club. Nearly killed with Dick Tracy by former brother-in-law B.B. Eyes.
- Diamond Tooth Harris Rinkles Gang Boss whose beheaded body was found in 1962; in 1973 his missing skull was accidentally found; his killer was Keeno the Great. Diamond Tooth was the father of "Pockets" Rinkles who didn't know his parentage-he thought that his aunt Florabelle Rinkles was his grandmother.
- "Dippy" McDoogan - Thuggish accomplice of Steve "the Tramp" Brogan when Brogan was on the run after kidnapping Junior Tracy for a reward from Blind Hank Steele, who was looking for his lost son. Brogan and McDoogan hijacked a railroad section hand car from two railroad workers to get away from Tracy. Too late they found themselves on a railroad trestle with a locomotive engine bearing down on them. Junior and Brogan dove to safety into a river, but the train hit the handcar, killing McDoogan.
- Dirks - Thug in the employ of Danny Supeena and former member of the old Redrum gang. Along with Neely, tried to murder Junior Tracy. The Blank gassed them both in Dick Tracy's garage.
- Doc - Brow's henchman who helped kill the Summer sisters and a cab driver. Later killed in car accident while trying to flee from the police.
- Doc Codd - Greedy physician who amputated Krome's left arm for $10,000; bribed his friend Constable Caleb so he could escape with Krome's money. Both arrested by Dick Tracy who turned them over to the State Attorney General for disposition.
- Doc Hump - Mad scientist who tried to kill both Dicy Tracy and Junior Tracy but was killed by one of the dogs he was experimenting on.
- Dr. Kyros Freezdrei - Brought Pruneface back to life from freezing. Together with Pruneface, he tried to sell the secret of "immortality" so as to set up a new Fourth Reich and also help Pruneface take revenge on Dick Tracy for the death of Mrs. Pruneface. Freezdrei was supposedly killed in the explosion of his own laboratory, but reappeared years later working with Pruneface. After developing a viral blindness which he used on Tess Trueheart, he was killed after being crushed by a satellite dish that he tried to drop on Dick Tracy and Sam Catchem.
- Dr. Klippoff - Mad scientist who tried and failed to revive a frozen Purdy Faller.
- Dr. Plain
- Doubleup - Tried to sabotage the shooting of a movie based on one of Dick's old cases. Has a verbal tic of repeating the last two words of his sentences. In 2013 he was an enforcer for B.B. Eyes charged with criminal conspiracy and assault. In Jan. 2017 he was providing security for Perenelle Flamel while out on bail for the earlier charges.
- Dubbs
- "Duke the Dip" - Pickpocket who almost succeeded in killing Dick Tracy. Kidnapper and armed car robber murdered by the Mole. Apparently a former member of Mole's old gang. After the body was found by police, the trail led to Mole.
- Ed D. Edd a.k.a. Machine Gun Eddy - Flattop gang member before and after the kidnapping of Jim Trailer and Professor Roloc Bard. Was killed in a gun battle between Flattop and Dick Tracy.
- Eddie Moppet - Racketeer killed in a gunfight with Dick Tracy and Sam Catchem on June 1, 1952. His accomplice, a knife thrower, was captured after falling into hot grease.
- Eddy - Member of Shaky's gang, killed by jumping out of a window in panic during an apartment fire.
- Edward Nuremoh - A former pro baseball player, Nuremoh seriously dated Tess during the period when Tess was annoyed that Tracy showed no signs of proposing marriage. At first, Junior was dazzled by Nuremoh's ability to hit a small target with a thrown baseball from an extreme distance, but then became disillusioned upon learning of Nuremoh's criminal activities. When Nuremoh accidentally killed his sweetheart instead of his wife, he took his mistress' body and jumped off a cliff.
- El Tigress - Cigar-smoking revolutionary and client of Johnny Scorn. Killed with Molene in the explosion of Scorn's underground bunker.
- 88 Keyes - Piano player and the secret head of a murder gang for hire; his interests are music, women, money and murder. Killed his own gang member "Jinny the Girl Singer" when she found out he was going to double cross her. Eloped with Mrs A. B. Helmet and killed her for insurance money. Killed accomplice "Red Bluff". The discovery of Bluff's body by police led to Keyes' own death in a railroad shed in a gun battle with Dick Tracy. In the 1990 film, he was the piano player for Big Boy at the Club Ritz, and with the help of the Blank, framed Tracy for the murder of D.A. Fletcher.
- Empty Williams
- Filthy Flora - Proprietor of the Dripping Dagger Saloon.
- Fencer - Partner of Big Brass. Hid over $2,000,000 in stolen mob money in a house. Just as Tracy and Catchem were recovering the stolen loot, a tornado destroyed both the house and the loot. Committed suicide by jumping from city bridge, along with his dog as well, but the pet was saved by Tracy.
- Flattop a.k.a. Floyd "Flattop" Jones - Came from Chester Gould's home state of Oklahoma. Contract killer hired to murder Dick Tracy for $5,000. Decided to hold Tracy hostage and blackmail his employers for more money before doing the job. However he only wounded Tracy in a gun battle which wiped out his own gang. On the run, Flattop killed conman Hawker Davis. Bribing a blackmailing Bud Jenkins led to Jenkins' accidental death and Flattop on the run again where he met Vitamin Flintheart. Captured after trying to shoot Dick Tracy, Flattop escaped again with Flintheart as a hostage. Tracked down by Tracy, Flattop accidentally drowned while trying to escape. His name is based on the nickname for an aircraft carrier. Portrayed by William Forsythe in the film from 1990, he was the last gangster to be gunned down by Tracy. Shot multiple times, he did not fall down dead until his Tommy gun ran out of ammo.
- Floyd "Flattop" Jones Jr. - The son of Flattop, who strongly resembled him, was a talented artist and mechanical genius. A borderline juvenile delinquent, he lived in his car, which he modified by installing various electrical devices connected to the dashboard's cigarette lighter. Driven insane by the ghost of a girlfriend whom he had killed. Killed by Policewoman Lizz.
- Flyface - A lawyer marked by him and his whole family being personally swarming with flies to the point where a female companion is constantly spraying bug spray around him.
- Frank Diamond - Member of Big Boy's gang.
- Fred Mason - Factory owner who tried to kill Mary X for witnessing the murder of his partner Freez. Murdered by Junky Doolb after Mason failed to deliver rigged gambling equipment to the Doolb gang.
- Gargles - Killer of Themesong's mother, driver of a glass truck, had a few henchmen, and was finally caught in a glass store where Dick Tracy used a panel of bulletproof glass to walk towards him as he wasted all of his bullets, then fell off of a platform and was impaled and dismembered by several falling shards of broken glass. Gargles profited illegally by manufacturing and bottling large quantities of ineffective mouthwash, which he and his strongarm boys would bully druggists into purchasing as merchandise. Gargles had the habit of constantly gargling with mouthwash...but always made a point of using a legitimate brand rather than his own worthless product.
- Ginger Ferrett 16 year old Daughter of Constable Ferrett and Teenage girlfriend/moll of "Trigger Doom" who betrayed her father's attempts to capture Doom;killed in a car accident trying to escape the Police with "Trigger Doom"
- Giorgio Spaldoni - Corrupt lawyer and Big Boy's mouthpiece. Murdered author Jean Penfield before she could expose his lucrative underworld connections, and framed Tess Trueheart for the crime. Made a last stand against Tracy in an abandoned refinery, and was subsequently killed by Tracy in a shootout; after his death it is revealed that his real name was George Bumstead; he is the brother of International Detective J. Scotland Bunstead. Appeared as a crime boss in the 1990 Dick Tracy movie played by James Caan, where he is known as "Spuds" Spaldoni: he refuses to submit to Caprice and dies by a car bomb.
- Goodin Plenty
Archie tie-ins