Rip Kirby Series by Alex Raymond

The first comprehensive archival collection of Alex Raymond's post-war, post-modern classic. Created by Raymond in 1946, it was a fresh approach to the crime genre, an about-face from the prevailing hard-boiled style of detective fiction. Rip Kirby was smart and sophisticated, but still a man's man. He often applied scientific methods to his crime-solving techniques, but was still involved in plenty of action-Kirby was an All-American athlete and decorated war hero... moreThe first comprehensive archival collection of Alex Raymond's post-war, post-modern classic. Created by Raymond in 1946, it was a fresh approach to the crime genre, an about-face from the prevailing hard-boiled style of detective fiction. Rip Kirby was smart and sophisticated, but still a man's man. He often applied scientific methods to his crime-solving techniques, but was still involved in plenty of action-Kirby was an All-American athlete and decorated war hero. The supporting cast featured Desmond, Rip's valet and assistant, and plenty of breathtaking women, particularly Rip's girlfriend, Honey Dorian, and the raven-haired and aptly-named Pagan Lee. Highly conscious of the fashions of the day, Raymond also brought post-war and early-'50s chic to the comics page.The first volume of Alex Raymond's modernist classic reproduces, from syndicate proof sheets, every strip from the beginning, March 4, 1946, through December 4, 1948. Co-written with Ward Greene, the stories sometimes address then-contemporary issues, including trafficking in black market babies and the attempt to limit the proliferation of atomic and biological weapons. But the real star is Raymond's lush and incomparable brushwork.2010 HARVEY AWARD NOMINEE! less

While investigating crimes on both sides of the Atlantic, the urbane detective encounters beautiful and conniving women, menacing men, jewel thieves, pickpockets, ex-Nazis, rich debutantes, spoiled heirs, kleptomaniac mothers, small town gossips, a fake Yogi named "The Great You," his recurring nemesis -- the Mangler -- and more than a murder or two. Meanwhile, the tension builds in his love triangle with Honey Dorian and Pagan Lee... moreWhile investigating crimes on both sides of the Atlantic, the urbane detective encounters beautiful and conniving women, menacing men, jewel thieves, pickpockets, ex-Nazis, rich debutantes, spoiled heirs, kleptomaniac mothers, small town gossips, a fake Yogi named "The Great You," his recurring nemesis -- the Mangler -- and more than a murder or two. Meanwhile, the tension builds in his love triangle with Honey Dorian and Pagan Lee. The second volume of Alex Raymond's modernist classic Rip Kirby contains nearly three years of strips, from December 6, 1948 through September 22, 1951, all drawn in Raymond's incredibly lush style. Edited and designed by Eisner Award-winner Dean Mullaney, with a biographical and historical essay by Brian Walker, and an introduction by Howard Chaykin.-The Library of American Comics is the world's #1 publisher of classic newspaper comic strips, with 14 Eisner Award nominations and three wins for best book. LOAC has become "the gold standard for archival comic strip reprints...The research and articles provide insight and context, and most importantly the glorious reproduction of the material has preserved these strips for those who knew them and offers a new gateway to adventure for those discovering them for the first time." - Scoop less

The third volume of Alex Raymond's modernist classic, Rip Kirby, contains nearly three years of strips, from September 24, 1951 through April 17, 1954, all rendered in Raymond's incredibly lush style. World's best photographer, the sexy Bijou Benson; a playboy sheik from Algiers; a revolution in the Middle East; the return of criminals Joe Seven, Fingers Moray, and the deadly Mangler; the deadly Lili Lavelle; all while Honey Dorian, of course, is not happy that Pagan Lee re-enters the picture.