Line #13 ComicStrip/RipKirby


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.
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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.

Context ComicStrip / RipKirby