Comics: Too Harsh in Putting Down Evil

The day after Robert Kennedy died by a bullet, another sort of shooting was taking place in the comics. Encapsulated in his crime-busting space ship, Dick Tracy was just about to let his enemy Intro have it with a laser ray gun. "This is not a no-win game like the sadists play," Tracy shouted at Intro, below him aboard an old-fashioned yacht. "We're out to vaporize you." The strip, carried in 800 newspapers, then concluded with a panel showing a spindly hand, labeled "under world," being bashed by a gold bar. Said the caption: "Violence is golden, when it's...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!