[[quoteright:318:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rip_kirby_1982.jpg]]

A [[NewspaperComics newspaper comic strip]] about a debonair and intelligent private detective who also happens to be good with guns and fists.

''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".

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.

Beginning in 1946 and running 53 years (though Alex Raymond died in 1956), it was a popular and influential strip.
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!!Tropes seen in ''Rip Kirby'' include:
%% * BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible: All too common among witnesses.
* 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.
%% * BettyAndVeronica: Honey and Pagan, respectively
%% * {{Blackmail}}: A very frequent occurrence in the series, often targeting Pagan, who has a lot of darkness in her past.
%% * BrainyBrunette: Pagan, though it's more street smarts than book learning.
%% * BumpIntoConfrontation: Lady Lilliput does not take well to being bumped into by a child.
%% * CardSharp: "Fingers" Moray
* ComicBookTime: The characters aged little if at all over the decades.
* 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.
%% * FemmeFatale: Pagan Lee, initially.
%% * FilleFatale: "Silky" Shaw, leader of a street gang and accomplice of a forger/blackmailer.
%% * TheGamblingAddict: Elizabeth "Betya" Bannister
%% * HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Honey is young, sweet, wholesome and reflexively kind, a strong contrast to Pagan.
%% * HeartwarmingOrphan: Lupo, and the two even smaller girls he's taking care of.
* HighHeelFaceTurn: Pagan is influenced both by Rip's handsome integrity, and by the Mangler cheating on her.
* KickTheDog: Lady Lilliput thrashes a child with her cane for accidentally bumping her; the first indication she's not the harmless eccentric she appears.
%% * NapoleonDelusion: Captain Cormorant is borderline with this towards Lord Nelson.
%% * NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Mangler.
* NeverFoundTheBody / NoOneCouldSurviveThat: One of the Mangler's special talents; his unusually strong swimming talents were established in the strip he first appeared in.
* NoodleIncident: Whatever Pagan did in France that she can't even admit to Rip.
%% * ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules: Rip Kirby, in response to an offer by Derek Starlock.
* 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.
* SmokingIsCool: Rip smokes a pipe to show he's intellectual.
%% * StartToCorpse: The second strip.
%% * UnclePennybags: The Starlocks' true nature, once Rip figures out how to get them out of the mess they've created.
%% * WronglyAccused: A frequent plot in the series.
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