The first volume includes the five sample strips that Gould used to sell his groundbreaking strip, as well as over 500 comic strips, encompassing the series' beginning, from October 1931-May 1933. Among these strips are the first appearance of many long-time Dick Tracy characters, such as Tess Trueheart, Junior, and Chief Brandon. This special first volume features an overview and introduction from Consulting Editor and longtime Tracy writer Max Allan Collins, as well as an interview between Collins and creator Chester Gould. Each volume will feature book design from award-winning designer/artist Ashley Wood.

Four Color is a series of various comic strips published between 1939 and 1942 over 25 issues. Every issue is a standalone and only with 19 did the series begin to put the number on the cover. The most common strip featured in this run of the series, sometimes called "Four Color Series I", was Dick Tracy who appeared in four issues. Dell would begin "Four Color Series II", the same year this one ended and find much more longevity with a run of over 1000 issues.

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