Rip Kirby

Atlas Comics published Rip Kirby from 1951 to 1956, a 19-issue series starring the intellectual, pipe-smoking detective created by legendary cartoonist Alex Raymond. This strip-based comic followed Kirby’s sophisticated, methodical investigations, blending hardboiled crime with Raymond’s polished, cinematic artwork. While Raymond’s Flash Gordon and Secret Agent X-9 are better remembered, Rip Kirby represents his final major creation and a mature, thoughtful pivot away from adventure serials toward a more modern, character-driven detective story. It remains a key title for fans of classic newspaper-strip adaptations and Raymond’s elegant storytelling.