Dr. Mitciv ("Victim" spelled backwards) was a psychiatrist who had been assigned to the treatment of the criminal and former actor Harley Niav, aka Putty Puss. He believed that Niav had made progress and had even regained his sanity, but Mitciv told Niav that he would not be able to secure his release. Harley strangled Dr. Mitciv to death and escaped by adopting the doctor's features. The body was discovered soon afterwards and Dick Tracy was called in to investigate.