Rip Kirby

Created by Alex Raymond (1909-56)
and Ward Greene (1892-1956)

The first modern detective?

I’m not sure about that, but REMINGTON “RIP” KIRBY was certainly the most successful — and certainly the longest-running — attempt to bring a private eye to newspaper comic strip pages. Written by King Features Syndicate‘s editor Ward Greene, and drawn by comics legend Alex Raymond, the same artist who had previously proven himself with, Jungle Jim, Flash Gordon and Dashiell Hammett’s Secret Agent X-9, the strip ran for an amazing run of over fifty years, from 1946 to 1999.

Not quite as hard-boiled as the X-9, though — Rip is more the cerebral type. But he was also sorta cool, in a geeky sort of way. He’s a renowned scientist and freelance criminalogist, a sort of cross between “Philo Vance and Philip Marlowe,” according to The Encyclopedia of American Comics. He was an unflappable sort of gent, debonair and even suave, bookish in appearance, complete with glasses and a pipe. He possessed a superior intellect and a brilliant wit, and enjoyed classical music, chess and fine brandy — not your typical hard-boiled dick.

But don’t be fooled. He wasn’t a complete prat. He was also an ex-Marine, a crack shot, and more than willing to slug it out with the bad guys — or kick some ass — if he had to.

Rip made his home in a ritzy apartment in New York City, but his adventures took him all around the world, often accompanied by his faithful manservant (seems Rip has a few bucks), reformed burglar Desmond, and by his one true love, fashion model Honey Dorian. In fact, Honey’s job as a model gave Raymond a reason to bring a little post-war glamour to the proceeedings, dressing his female characters in ultra-chic clothes obviously inspired by Dior.

Of course, this was a daily strip, so Rip had his share of recurring enemies, too, and none was so charming as evil temptress Pagan Lee, who started out in the strip as a mere moll, but managed to claw, scratch and kill her way up the ranks to the position of full-blown mobster. She had this love/hate thing going with Rip. Dark-haired and seductive as hell, she made quite a contrast to blonde, pure-as-the-driven-snow Honey. Of course, doofus Rip thinks she’s just a good gal gone bad.

Based on a suggestion by King Features editor Ward Greene that Raymond try a “detective-type” comic, the strip worked hard to reflect its times, detailing everything from current fashions to occasionally tackling more serious contemporary issues, including the trafficking of black market babies and the cold war proliferation of atomic and biological weapons, which is perhaps what inspired IDW, the reprint publisher, to tag Rip as the “first modern detective.”

The script chores were taken over by Fred Dickenson in 1952, and the art chores by John Prentice in 1956 (both Raymond and Greene died in 1956). The strip finally ended its long run in June 1999, although it was still apparently running in some places as reprints years later.

Even better? In 20926, Mad Cave Studios brought Kirby back, in an ambitious revival, with plans for a new monthly series.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Alexander Gillespie “Alex” Raymond Jr. was an American cartoonist  best known for creating the Flash Gordon comic strip for King Features Syndicate in 1934, although we denizens of the Shamus Game also know him as the artist behind Dashiell Hammett‘s Secret Agent X-9 and, of course, Rip Kirby.

Ward Greene was an American writer, editor, journalist, playwright, and general manager of the comic syndicate King Features Syndicate, known for overseeing the works of Alex Raymond and other writers and artists. He is now credited with writing and/or co-writing the Rip Kirby strip from 1946 until his death.

COMIC STRIPS

• RIP KIRBY
  (1946-99, King Features Syndicate)
  Daily and Sunday continuities
  First strip: March 4, 1946
  Last strip: June 26, 1999
  Created by Alex Raymond
  Written by Alex Raymond, Fred Dickenson
  Art by Alex Raymond, John Prentice, Al Williamson
  • MAJOR EARLY STORY ARCS
  • “The Chip Faraday Murder” (March 4-April 22, 1946)
  • “The Hicks Formula” (April 23-June 25, 1946)
  • “Liquid Murder” (June 26-November 4, 1946)
  • “Fatal Forgeries” (November 5, 1946-January 20, 1947)
  • “Past Imperfect” (January 21-May 24, 1947)
  • “Death in the Doll’s House” (May 24-October 11, 1947)
  • “Bleak Prospects” (October 13, 1947-June 12, 1948)
  • “Terror on the Thames” (June 14-December 6, 1948)
  • “Major Mystery” (December 6, 1948-January 8, 1949)
  • “Family Fortune” (January 10-May 21, 1949)
  • “Second Chances” (June 1-September 3, 1949)
  • “Lost and Found” (September 5-December 3, 1949)
  • “Borrowed Trouble” (December 5, 1949-March 25, 1950)
  • “Correspondence Crisis” (March 25 -June 12, 1950)
  • “Treasure Hunt” (June 12-September 23, 1950)
  • “Mystery of the Missing Songstress” (September 25-December 25, 1950)
  • “Unlucky Seven” (December 25, 1950-April 28, 1951)
  • “The Great You” (April 30-September 22, 1951)
  • “The Disappearance of Bijou Benson” (September 24, 1951-January 26, 1952)
  • “Hell Hath No Fury” (January 28-May 24, 1952)
  • “Return of the Mangler” (May 26-September 27, 1952)
  • “The Millbanks Murder Case” (September 29-January 31, 1953)

COMICS

• FEATURE BOOKS
  (1947-48, David McKay Publications)
  2 issues, collecting reprints of strips.
  • “Rip Kirby: The Mystery of the Mangler”
    (1948, #51)
    Written and drawn by Alex Raymond
    Reprints first story arc of strip, plus another story
  • “Rip Kirby”
    (1948, #54)
    Written annd drawn by Alex Raymond
    Reprints of newspaper strip
• HARVEY COMICS HITS
  (1952, Harvey Publications)
  1 issue.
  • “Rip Kirby Exposes the Kidnap Racket”
    (May 1952; #57)
    Reprint of strip arc.
• STREET COMIX
  (1973, Street Enterprises/King Features)
  1 issue.
  • (1973; #1)
• THE OFFICIAL RIP KIRBY
  (1988-89, Pioneer Comics)
  6 issues of reprints
• RIP KIRBY
  (2026-27, Mad Cave Studios)
  Monthly
  Writer: Christopher Sebela
  Artist: Tango
  He’s back! With all new adventures, all new art. Mad Cave obviously has high hopes for this one. 

COLLECTIONS

• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume One (2009, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Two (2010, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Three (2010, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Four (2010, IDW)| Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Five (2012, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Six (2013, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Seven (2014, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Eight (2015, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Nine (2016, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Ten (2017, IDW) | Buy this book
• Rip Kirby: The First Modern Detective, Volume Eleven (2019, IDW) | Buy the book
• Rip Kirby, Volume One (2027, Mad Cave Studios)| Buy the book
  Collects the first four issues of Mad Cave’s ambitious new series.

THE DICK OF THE DAY

• November 11, 2026
  THE BOTTOM LINE: After too long in the wasteland, Mad Cave Studios has brought back the hero of the beloved comic strip (it ran for over fifty years!) in a new monthly series. Originally drawn by the legendary Alex Raymond, Rip was a war hero, an athlete, a scientist and a private eye, and above all else a gentleman. But he was no pussy. Eisner-nominated writer Christopher Sebela and artist Tango are bringing him back (along with his trusted valet, reformed burglar Desmond, and Rip’s one true love, the smart and sexy Honey Dorian) for a whole new audience. This is one to watch.
  

Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith. And thanks to Thor Willy Bakke for the extra info.