Rip Kirby - Whom Gods Destroy (Sep - Nov, 1953)

Rip Kirby was a classy gentleman - he was like James Bond without the philandering - Sherlock Holmes without the opium. In an introduction by Tom Roberts, Raymond says Rip is "a conglomeration of all the likable qualities I have seen in men I know." Rip’s flaws? A ruggedly handsome broken nose and spectacles. Even Rip’s fictional Irish identity was stripped, as Raymond changed his surname from O’Rourke to Kirby. 

Our today's post involves an old Rip Kirby strip from Alex Raymond's era - RK025. It originally ran in paper from 7th September to 21st November, 1953. It has been appeared in the 3rd volume of IDW's reproduction.

This is Rip’s first adventure saving someone from death row. It’s a simple mystery where he discovers the truth behind the murder with some non-credited, nods to both Sherlock Holmes and Dupin. It is one of the Raymond's best foreshadowing on the strip - some exquisite panels for the suspense parts of the story makes readers spell bound.

Rip Kirby - Whom the Gods Destroy (Sep - Nov, 1953)

PLOT:

Working at home, Rip is interrupted by a visit from the fiancée of Royce Hunter, recently sentenced to death for the murder of her brother, and asked if he wants to review the case in an effort to establish the truth. Accepting the case despite the difficulty of overturning the verdict and with very little time before the sentence is carried out, Rip picks up an unusual clue at the scene of the death which proves to be a catalyst for a string of baffling events...

The story may be short, but it is so concentrated on the mystery, that we hardly miss Honey Dorian here. At the same time Desmond also gets more to do than in much longer stories. 

Read here the 1st part of that vintage suspense Rip Kirby strips - Happy Sunday...

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   >> 1st Part (11 Pages)
   >> 2nd Part (11 Pages)

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