That's all you needed to say.

The strip debuted in 1931, and tapped into the public's longing for strong law-enforcement agents to do something about the scourge of flappers and women smoking. Wikipedia notes:

Tracy uses forensic science, advanced gadgetry, and wits, in an early example of the police procedural mystery story—although stories often end in gunfights just the same. Stories typically follow a criminal committing a crime and Tracy's relentless pursuit of the criminal.

The strip's most popular villain was Flattop Jones, a freelance hitman hired by black marketeers to murder Tracy. When Flattop was killed, fans went into public mourning.

Seems a bit contrary to the creator's intention.