Rip Kirby
Rip Kirby is a 1946-1999 American comic strip created by Alex Raymond and Ward Greene featuring the adventures of private detective Rip Kirby. With a run spanning five decades, the strip was in the hands of writer/artist John Prentice for more than 40 years.
| Rip Kirby | |
|---|---|
 Rip Kirby | |
| Author(s) | Ward Greene (1946–1956) Fred Dickenson (1956–mid-1980s) John Prentice (mid-1980s–1999) |
| Illustrator(s) | Alex Raymond (1946–1956) John Prentice (1956–1999) |
| Current status/schedule | Defunct daily and Sunday strip |
| Launch date | March 4, 1946[1] |
| End date | June 26, 1999 |
| Syndicate(s) | King Features |
| Publisher(s) | David McKay Publications IDW Publishing |
| Genre(s) | Detective fiction |
Publication history
After World War II, Raymond did not return to work on any of his previous successful comic strips (Flash Gordon, Jungle Jim, Secret Agent X-9) but instead began work on a new strip in which ex-Marine Rip Kirby returns from World War II and goes to work as a private detective, sometimes accompanied by his girlfriend, fashion model Judith Lynne "Honey" Dorian. (Her given name and nickname were borrowed from the names of Raymond's three daughters.)[2]
Rip Kirby was based on the suggestion by King Features editor Ward Greene that Raymond try a "detective-type" strip. First published on March 4, 1946, the strip was given significant promotion by the syndicate, even including fully painted promotional art, a rarity in comic-strip promotions.[3] The strip enjoyed success, and Raymond received the Reuben Award in 1949.[4]
During Raymond's years on the strip, the stories were initially written by Ward Greene and later, following Greene's death, by Fred Dickenson. Some sequences were also written by Raymond. In 1956, Raymond was killed in a car crash.[4] King Features quickly needed a replacement and found it in John Prentice. Dickenson continued to write the series until the mid-1980s when he was forced to retire for health reasons. Prentice then took over the writing along with others.[3] Prentice kept the strip going until his own death in 1999. The strip ended with Rip's retirement on June 26, 1999. Prentice received the National Cartoonists Society Story Comic Strip Award for 1966, 1967, and 1986 for his work on the strip.
Over the years of publication, the strip was ghosted and assisted by many artists and writers, including Frank Bolle (who completed the last episode), Al Williamson,[5] and Gray Morrow.
Characters and story
Comics historian Don Markstein notes how the character of Remington "Rip" Kirby broke away from the usual pulp detective archetype:
Circulation rose steadily during the strip's first few years — even tho' Rip wasn't the kind of private detective they were used to from pulp fiction. This one did more cogitating than fisticuffing, and smoked a leisurely pipe while he did it. He had a frail, balding assistant, Desmond (a former burglar), instead of a two-fisted sidekick. Instead of carrying on with an endless series of female clients, he had a steady girlfriend, Honey Dorian. If that wasn't enough, he even wore glasses! Even Kerry Drake didn't depart so far from the standard. If Rip was more sophisticated and urbane than the average fictional private eye, that's okay, because he was very successful — both for himself and for the people who wrote, drew and distributed him.[3]
Writers and artists
| Writers | Artists | Assistants | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
|
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Reprints
In 1948, Rip Kirby strips were reprinted in issues #51 and #54 of David McKay Publications's Feature Book. Issue #51 included a biography of Alex Raymond with a photograph showing him sketching an unnamed model for Honey Dorian.
IDW Publishing
In 2009, IDW Publishing started to reprint the Rip Kirby strip as part of its The Library of American Comics. The first four volumes contain a complete reprint of Raymond's stories including the last one, finished by Prentice. Volume 5 continues with Prentice's work.[6]
| № | Years | ISBN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–48 | 978-1600104848 | Preface (by Dean Mullaney); Crime does pay (by Tom Roberts); "The war made a realist out of me" (by Brian Walker) | |
| 1948–51 | 978-1600105821 | Introduction (by Howard Chaykin); "Let's not slurp our soup" (by Brian Walker) | |
| 1951–54 | 978-1600107856 | "Comic-Art Work is an Art-Form in Itself" (by Brian Walker) | |
| 1954–56 | 978-1600109898 | "He was completely absorbed with Rip and seeking his own pleasures" (by Brian Walker) | |
| 1956–59 | 978-1613773567 | "Getting Rip Kirby was the natural way for him to go" (by Brian Walker) | |
| 1959–62 | 978-1613777107 | Introduction (by Brian Walker) | |
| 1962–64 | 978-1631400346 | "Like father, like son" (by Brian Walker) | |
| 1964–67 | 978-1631403040 | "John Prentice in his own words" (compiled by Brian Walker) | |
| 1967–70 | 978-1631407543 | "The tenor of the times" (by Bruce Canwell) | |
| 1970–73 | 978-1631409226 | "Untarnished after twenty-five years" (by Bruce Canwell) | |
| 1973–75 | 978-1684054978 | "A Respite from the Headlines" |
Story list
| № | Title | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Dates | № of strips | Strip № | Reprinted in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chip Faraday Murder | 1946-03-04 / 1946-04-22 | ||||||
| The Hicks Formula | 1946-04-23 / 1946-06-26 | ||||||
| Liquid Murder | 1946-06-27 / 1946-11-02 | ||||||
| Fatal Forgeries | 1946-11-04 / 1947-01-20 | ||||||
| Past Imperfect | 1947-01-21 / 1947-05-24 | ||||||
| Death in the Doll's House | 1947-05-26 / 1947-10-11 | ||||||
| Bleak Prospects | 1947-10-13 / 1948-06-12 | ||||||
| Terror on the Thames | 1948-06-14 / 1948-12-04 | ||||||
| Major Mystery | 1948-12-06 / 1949-01-08 | ||||||
| Family Fortune | 1949-01-10 / 1949-05-21 | ||||||
| Second Chances | 1949-05-23 / 1949-09-03 | ||||||
| Lost and Found | 1949-09-05 / 1949-12-03 | ||||||
| "Borrowed" Trouble | 1949-12-05 / 1950-03-25 | ||||||
| Correspondence Crisis | 1950-03-27 / 1950-06-10 | ||||||
| Treasure Hunt | 1950-06-12 / 1950-09-23 | ||||||
| Mystery of the Missing Songstress | 1950-09-25 / 1950-12-23 | ||||||
| Unlucky Seven | 1950-12-25 / 1951-04-28 | ||||||
| The Great You | 1951-04-30 / 1951-09-22 | ||||||
| The Disappearance of Bijou Benson | 1951-09-24 / 1952-01-26 | ||||||
| Hell Hath No Fury ... | 1952-01-28 / 1952-05-24 | ||||||
| Return of the Mangler | 1952-05-26 / 1952-09-27 | ||||||
| The Millbanks Murder Case | 1952-09-29 / 1953-01-31 | ||||||
| The Treasure of Silas Stone | 1953-02-02 / 1953-05-09 | ||||||
| International Incident | 1953-05-11 / 1953-09-05 | ||||||
| Monkey Business | 1953-09-07 / 1953-11-21 | ||||||
| Calendar Girl | 1953-11-23 / 1954-04-17 | ||||||
| Grand Passion | 1954-04-19 / 1954-07-10 | ||||||
| In Freedom's Cause | 1954-07-12 / 1954-12-25 | ||||||
| Kismet | 1954-12-27 / 1955-04-09 | ||||||
| Carno's Carnivores | 1955-04-11 / 1955-07-09 | ||||||
| Hep-Cat Hijackers | 1955-07-11 / 1955-09-24 | ||||||
| Turnabout Justice | 1955-09-26 / 1955-11-26 | ||||||
| The Reluctant Heiress | 1955-11-28 / 1956-02-18 | ||||||
| The Missing Key | 1956-02-20 / 1956-05-19 | ||||||
| Zero Hour | 1956-05-21 / 1956-07-28 | ||||||
| Elixir of Youth | JP | 1956-07-30 / 1956-09-29 1956-10-01 / 1956-10-20 | 18 | 3313-3330 | |||
| Misdirections | 1956-10-22 / 1957-02-16 | ||||||
| Dangerous Deceptions | 1957-02-18 / 1957-05-25 | ||||||
| Casino Con | 1957-05-27 / 1957-08-10 | ||||||
| Sirene | 1957-08-12 / 1957-12-07 | ||||||
| The Fatal Photo | 1957-12-09 / 1958-02-08 | ||||||
| Into the Eye of Monara | 1958-02-10 / 1958-06-14 | ||||||
| Murderous Masquerade | 1958-06-16 / 1958-08-23 | ||||||
| ESP Extortion | 1958-08-25 / 1958-11-01 | ||||||
| A Date with Destiny | 1958-11-03 / 1959-02-28 | ||||||
| Case of the Twin Who Didn't Exist | 1959-03-02 / 1959-06-06 | ||||||
| Matches in the Telescope | 1959-06-08 / 1959-10-03 | ||||||
| Ghost Town Showdown | 1959-10-05 / 1959-12-05 | ||||||
| Doom on the High Seas | 1959-12-07 / 1960-04-09 | ||||||
| Fortune's Folly | 1960-04-11 / 1960-08-13 | ||||||
| Treasure Haven | 1960-08-15 / 1960-11-19 | ||||||
| Honor's Choice | 1960-11-21 / 1961-04-08 | ||||||
| The Town That Time Forgot | 1961-04-10 / 1961-09-16 | ||||||
| Too Much Amour | 1961-09-18 / 1962-02-10 | ||||||
| All for Love | 1962-02-12 / 1962-04-28 | ||||||
| Peril of the Poet Crook | 1962-04-30 / 1962-08-11 | ||||||
| The Unwilling Heir | 1962-08-13 / 1962-11-10 | ||||||
| Ming the Merciless | 1962-11-12 / 1963-03-09 | ||||||
| Sting of the Scorpion | 1963-03-11 / 1963-08-03 | ||||||
| Poison Pen Campaign | 1963-08-05 / 1963-12-14 | ||||||
| Duelling Detectives | 1963-12-16 / 1964-03-14 | ||||||
| Fagin's Folly | 1964-03-16 / 1964-07-11 | ||||||
| Bond Hunt | 1964-07-13 / 1964-10-10 | ||||||
| Prettypetal's Poison Plant Plan | 1964-10-12 / 1964-11-28 | ||||||
| A Prince in Peril | 1964-11-30 / 1965-04-03 | ||||||
| Past and Present | 1965-04-05 / 1965-06-26 | ||||||
| Prim's Plunder | 1965-06-28 / 1965-09-25 | ||||||
| The Chameleon Strikes | 1965-09-27 / 1965-12-04 | ||||||
| Deceiving Appearances | 1965-12-06 / 1966-03-19 | ||||||
| The Shape of Things to Come | 1966-03-21 / 1966-07-30 | ||||||
| Hi Seas Hi-Jinx | 1966-08-01 / 1966-10-22 | ||||||
| Fatal Fortunes | 1966-10-24 / 1966-12-31 | ||||||
| Too Much Amour, Too | 1967-01-02 / 1967-03-25 | ||||||
| Hostile Takeover | 1967-03-27 / 1967-07-08 | ||||||
| Desmond's Betrayal | 1967-07-10 / 1967-11-04 | ||||||
| Hijacked | 1967-11-06 / 1968-03-16 | ||||||
| The Almost-Perfect Crime | 1968-03-18 / 1968-07-06 | ||||||
| Who's Got Who | 1968-07-08 / 1968-10-26 | ||||||
| You Can't Judge a Book ... | 1968-10-28 / 1969-03-08 | ||||||
| Treachery on Tanga | 1969-03-10 / 1969-06-07 | ||||||
| Rip Kirby, Butler | 1969-06-09 / 1969-10-04 | ||||||
| Kirby on Campus | 1969-10-06 / 1970-01-10 | ||||||
| Immortal Mystery | 1970-01-12 / 1970-04-25 | ||||||
| Dr. Data's Deadly Predictions | 1970-04-27 / 1970-08-01 | ||||||
| Ghost Town Death Duel | 1970-08-03 / 1970-11-28 | ||||||
| Femina Fatale | 1970-11-30 / 1971-03-20 | ||||||
| Perils of Pierre | 1971-03-22 / 1971-06-26 | ||||||
| Revival | 1971-06-28 / 1971-09-18 | ||||||
| Precognition Peril | 1971-09-20 / 1972-01-29 | ||||||
| Paragon of Vice | 1972-01-31 / 1972-06-10 | ||||||
| The Counterfeit Countessa | 1972-06-12 / 1972-10-21 | ||||||
| Case of the Mixed-up Missive | 1972-10-23 / 1973-01-20 | ||||||
| Danger in the Devil's Frying Pan | 1973-01-22 / 1973-05-26 | ||||||
| Secret of the Shark | 1973-05-28 / 1973-08-11 | ||||||
| Tomb Terror | 1973-08-13 / 1974-01-05 | ||||||
| Royal Double | 1974-01-07 / 1974-04-06 | ||||||
| House of Mystery | 1974-04-08 / 1974-06-29 | ||||||
| Ghost Ship | 1974-07-01 / 1974-09-07 | ||||||
| Conning the Con | 1974-09-09 / 1974-11-30 | ||||||
| 100 | The Pillars of Destiny | 1974-12-02 / 1975-02-22 | |||||
| 101 | The Rebel Queen | 1975-02-24 / 1975-04-05 | |||||
| 102 | Mangler's Big Heist | 1975-04-07 / 1975-06-28 | |||||
| 103 | The Power | 1975-06-30 / 1975-10-11 | |||||
| 104 | The Hades Hexagon | 1975-10-13 / 1975-12-20 | |||||
| 105 | The Monkey's Secret | 1975-12-22 / 1976-02-28 | |||||
| 106 | The Cherub Locket | 1976-03-01 / 1976-06-05 | |||||
| 107 | Lost Empire | 1976-06-07 / 1976-10-09 | |||||
| 108 | Lethal Letters | 1976-10-11 / 1977-01-08 | |||||
| 109 | Manhunt | 1977-01-10 / 1977-03-26 | |||||
| 110 | Macho Mayhem | 1977-03-28 / 1977-06-25 | |||||
| 111 | Return of Dr. Destiny | 1977-06-27 / 1977-09-24 | |||||
| 112 | Cat Burglar | 1977-09-26 / 1977-12-03 | |||||
| 113 | The Death Cave | 1977-12-05 / 1978-02-18 | |||||
| 114 | Madam Casino and Joe Rimfire | 1978-02-20 / 1978-04-22 | 10009-10062 | ||||
| 115 | The Hunt for Cinderella | 1978-04-24 / 1978-08-05 | 10063-10152 | ||||
| 116 | The Shark and the Treasure | 1978-08-07 / 1978-11-04 | 10153-10230 | ||||
| 117 | Dirty Business | 1978-11-06 / 1979-02-03 | 10231-10308 | ||||
| 118 | The Return of Mangler | 1979-02-05 / 1979-06-09 | 10309-10416 | ||||
| 119 | Dangerous Eyes | 1979-06-11 / 1979-08-18 | 10417-10476 | ||||
| 120 | The Imposter | 1979-08-20 / 1979-11-10 | 10477-10548 | ||||
| 121 |
Kidders Treasure |
1979-11-12 / 1980-02-23 | 10549-10638 | ||||
| 122 | Back to Harmony | 1980-02-25 / 1980-06-28 | 10639-10746 | ||||
| 123 | Kidnapped | 1980-06-30 / 1980-11-01 | 10747-10854 | ||||
| 124 | The Tiger Hunt | 1980-11-03 / 1981-01-24 | 10855-10926 | ||||
| 125 | The Gold Curse | 1981-01-26 / 1981-05-16 | 10927-11022 | ||||
| 126 | Desmond on the Run | 1981-05-18 / 1981-09-05 | 11023-11118 | ||||
| 127 | The Narkobarons Castle | 1981-09-07 / 1981-12-12 | 11119-11202 | ||||
| 128 | Gold from Heaven | 1981-12-14 / 1982-03-06 | 11203-11274 | ||||
| 129 | The Pickpocket | 1982-03-08 / 1982-06-05 | 11275-11352 | ||||
| 130 | The Stuntman | 1982-06-07 / 1982-10-09 | 11353-11460 | ||||
| 131 | The Sea of Death | 1982-10-11 / 1983-02-05 | 11461-11562 | ||||
| 132 | 1983-02-07 / 1983-05-28 | 11563-11658 | |||||
| 133 | 1983-05-30 / 1983-09-17 | 11659-11754 | |||||
| 134 | 1983-09-19 / 1983-12-03 | 11755-11820 | |||||
| 135 | 1983-12-05 / 1984-02-25 | 11821-11892 | |||||
| 136 | 1984-02-27 / 1984-06-30 | 11893-12000 | |||||
| 137 | 1984-07-02 / 1984-11-10 | 12001-12114 | |||||
| 138 | 1984-11-12 / 1985-02-09 | 12115-12192 | |||||
| 139 | 1985-02-11 / 1985-04-13 | 12193-12246 | |||||
| 140 | 1985-04-15 / 1985-06-22 | 12247-12306 | |||||
| 141 | 1985-06-24 / 1985-10-12 | 12307-12402 | |||||
| 142 | 1985-10-14 / 1986-02-22 | 12403-12516 | |||||
| 143 | 1986-02-24 / 1986-05-24 | 12517-12594 | |||||
| 144 | 1986-05-26 / 1986-09-06 | 12595-12684 | |||||
| 145 | 1986-09-08 / 1986-11-22 | 12685-12750 | |||||
| 146 | 1986-11-24 / 1987-02-07 | 12751-12816 | |||||
| 147 | 1987-02-09 / 1987-04-25 | 12817-12882 | |||||
| 148 | 1987-04-27 / 1987-07-25 | 12883-12960 | |||||
| 149 | 1987-07-27 / 1987-10-24 | 12961-13038 | |||||
| 150 | 1987-10-26 / 1988-01-23 | 13039-13116 | |||||
| 151 | 1988-01-25 / 1988-04-23 | 13117-13194 | |||||
| 152 | 1988-04-25 / 1988-07-16 | 13195-13266 | |||||
| 153 | 1988-07-18 / 1988-11-05 | 13267-13362 | |||||
| 154 | 1988-11-07 / 1989-02-04 | 13363-13440 | |||||
| 155 | 1989-02-06 / 1989-04-29 | 13441-13512 | |||||
| 156 | 1989-05-01 / 1989-08-05 | 13513-13596 | |||||
| 157 | 1989-08-07 / 1989-10-21 | 13597-13662 | |||||
| 158 | 1989-10-23 / 1990-01-20 | 13663-13740 | |||||
| 159 | 1990-01-22 / 1990-04-14 | 13741-13812 | |||||
| 160 | 1990-04-16 / 1990-07-14 | 13813-13890 | |||||
| 161 | 1990-07-16 / 1990-11-10 | 13891-13992 | |||||
| 162 | 1990-11-12 / 1991-02-16 | 13993-14076 | |||||
| 163 | 1991-02-18 / 1991-06-01 | 14077-14166 | |||||
| 164 | 1991-06-03 / 1991-08-17 | 14167-14232 | |||||
| 165 | 1991-08-19 / 1991-10-26 | 14233-14292 | |||||
| 166 | 1991-10-28 / 1992-02-01 | 14293-14376 | |||||
| 167 | 1992-02-03 / 1992-05-02 | 14377-14454 | |||||
| 168 | 1992-05-04 / 1992-07-18 | 14455-14520 | |||||
| 169 | 1992-07-20 / 1992-08-29 | 14521-14556 | |||||
| 170 | 1992-08-31 / 1992-12-19 | 14557-14652 | |||||
| 171 | 1992-12-21 / 1993-03-06 | 14653-14718 | |||||
| 172 | 1993-03-08 / 1993-07-03 | 14719-14820 | |||||
| 173 | 1993-07-05 / 1993-08-28 | 14821-14868 | |||||
| 174 | 1993-08-30 / 1993-11-27 | 14869-14946 | |||||
| 175 | 1993-11-29 / 1994-01-29 | 14947-15000 | |||||
| 176 | 1994-01-31 / 1994-06-04 | 15001-15108 | |||||
| 177 | 1994-06-06 / 1994-07-23 | 15109-15150 | |||||
| 178 | 1994-07-25 / 1994-10-22 | 15151-15228 | |||||
| 179 | 1994-10-24 / 1994-12-24 | 15229-15282 | |||||
| 180 | 1994-12-26 / 1995-04-08 | 15283-15372 | |||||
| 181 | 1995-04-10 / 1995-07-22 | 15373-15462 | |||||
| 182 | 1995-07-24 / 1995-10-28 | 15463-15546 | |||||
| 183 | 1995-10-30 / 1996-01-20 | 15547-15618 | |||||
| 184 | 1996-01-22 / 1996-05-04 | 15619-15708 | |||||
| 185 | 1996-05-06 / 1996-08-10 | 15709-15792 | |||||
| 186 | 1996-08-12 / 1996-10-12 | 15793-15846 | |||||
| 187 | 1996-10-14 / 1997-01-18 | 15847-15930 | |||||
| 188 | 1997-01-20 / 1997-03-08 | 15931-15972 | |||||
| 189 | 1997-03-10 / 1997-06-21 | 15973-16062 | |||||
| 190 | 1997-06-23 / 1997-08-30 | 16063-16122 | |||||
| 191 | 1997-09-01 / 1997-12-13 | 16123-16212 | |||||
| 192 | 1997-12-15 / 1998-02-28 | 16213-16278 | |||||
| 193 | 1998-03-02 / 1998-06-13 | 16279-16368 | |||||
| 194 | 1998-06-15 / 1998-08-08 | 16369-16416 | |||||
| 195 | 1998-08-10 / 1998-12-19 | 16417-16530 | |||||
| 196 | 1998-12-21 / 1999-02-27 | 16531-16590 | |||||
| 197 | 1999-03-01 / 1999-06-26 | 16591-16692 | |||||
gollark: (you just plonk down a glowstone cooler in bits where there are two moderators, and then copper in the empty spaces where you can't put glowstone coolers)
gollark: Glowstone coolers.
gollark: Yes, but moderators.
gollark: So I tried to design something satisfying as many of those constraints as possible, and came out with this, which coincidentally has *great* cooling support.
gollark: Also I think the cells need to be on the same axis as other cells to improve efficiency.
References
- Holtz, Allan (2012). American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. p. 332. ISBN 9780472117567.
- Mendez, Armando E. The Look of Love: The Rise and Fall of the Photo-Realistic Newspaper Strip, 1946–1970: "Alex Raymond and Rip Kirby, Page 2" Archived March 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed January 1, 2009
- "Rip Kirby". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on January 19, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
- "Alex Raymond". Lambiek Comiclopedia.
- Yeates, Thomas, "Chapter 4: Atlas" in Yeates, Thomas, and Ringgenberg, S.C., eds. Al Williamson: Hidden Lands. Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Books. (pp. 81-84) ISBN 978-1569718162.
- "Library of American Comics". Archived from the original on 2012-01-09.
External links
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