1 | [[quoteright:318:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rip_kirby_1982.jpg]] |
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3 | A [[NewspaperComics newspaper comic strip]] about a debonair and intelligent private detective who also happens to be good with guns and fists. |
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5 | ''Rip Kirby'' was created by Alex Raymond, who was also the original creator of the ''ComicStrip/FlashGordon'' comic strip. When he returned from serving in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, he discovered that the syndicate had [[ExecutiveMeddling given that strip to another artist]] and wouldn't let Mr. Raymond take it back. As a consolation prize, they offered a much better financial deal if Mr. Raymond could come up with a new strip for them. After some consultation with the editorial staff, Mr. Raymond chose to make a detective strip, featuring a man who was a combination of cerebral and hardboiled, while also being very modern and "cool". |
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7 | Rip Kirby was a man of many talents: athlete, scientist, amateur (later professional) sleuth and decorated Marine reservist. He was ably assisted by his British manservant Desmond, who was a former safecracker. While many attractive young women visited the strip, Rip's primary romantic interest was fashion model Honey Dorian, a sweet-natured blonde. Her most common rival was Pagan Lee, a dark-haired gun moll who'd reformed for love of Rip and become a movie star under the name Madelon. |
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9 | Beginning in 1946 and running 53 years (though Alex Raymond died in 1956), it was a popular and influential strip. |
10 | ---- |
11 | !!Tropes seen in ''Rip Kirby'' include: |
12 | %% * BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible: All too common among witnesses. |
13 | * BecomingTheMask: Honey initially goes undercover as a model to help Rip solve a murder. It turns out she's really good at the job, and within a couple of years is considered expert enough to mentor beginning models herself. |
14 | %% * BettyAndVeronica: Honey and Pagan, respectively |
15 | %% * {{Blackmail}}: A very frequent occurrence in the series, often targeting Pagan, who has a lot of darkness in her past. |
16 | %% * BrainyBrunette: Pagan, though it's more street smarts than book learning. |
17 | %% * BumpIntoConfrontation: Lady Lilliput does not take well to being bumped into by a child. |
18 | %% * CardSharp: "Fingers" Moray |
19 | * ComicBookTime: The characters aged little if at all over the decades. |
20 | * FalselyReformedVillain: "Fingers" Moray's second appearance had him claiming to be reformed and working as a private eye. He was actually planning to engage in some jewel theft. |
21 | %% * FemmeFatale: Pagan Lee, initially. |
22 | %% * FilleFatale: "Silky" Shaw, leader of a street gang and accomplice of a forger/blackmailer. |
23 | %% * TheGamblingAddict: Elizabeth "Betya" Bannister |
24 | %% * HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Honey is young, sweet, wholesome and reflexively kind, a strong contrast to Pagan. |
25 | %% * HeartwarmingOrphan: Lupo, and the two even smaller girls he's taking care of. |
26 | * HighHeelFaceTurn: Pagan is influenced both by Rip's handsome integrity, and by the Mangler cheating on her. |
27 | * KickTheDog: Lady Lilliput thrashes a child with her cane for accidentally bumping her; the first indication she's not the harmless eccentric she appears. |
28 | %% * NapoleonDelusion: Captain Cormorant is borderline with this towards Lord Nelson. |
29 | %% * NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Mangler. |
30 | * NeverFoundTheBody / NoOneCouldSurviveThat: One of the Mangler's special talents; his unusually strong swimming talents were established in the strip he first appeared in. |
31 | * NoodleIncident: Whatever Pagan did in France that she can't even admit to Rip. |
32 | %% * ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules: Rip Kirby, in response to an offer by Derek Starlock. |
33 | * ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: Derek and Ellen Starlock, though they mean well, and the initial rule (preventing the Starlocks from adopting because Derek had served a term in jail some 30 years before) was a bit unfair. |
34 | * SmokingIsCool: Rip smokes a pipe to show he's intellectual. |
35 | %% * StartToCorpse: The second strip. |
36 | %% * UnclePennybags: The Starlocks' true nature, once Rip figures out how to get them out of the mess they've created. |
37 | %% * WronglyAccused: A frequent plot in the series. |
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