Singh, Jeff :: Alex Raymond

Rip Kirby Daily 6/8/54 by Alex Raymond

Artist: Alex Raymond (All)

51 Comments - 6,269 Views - 15 Likes

Rip Kirby Daily 6/8/54 by Alex Raymond Comic Art

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Additional Images:

Before and After

Before restoration

Panel 1 detail

Panel 2 detail

Panel 3 detail

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Rip Kirby Daily 4/9/54 Alex Raymond

Artwork Details

Title:	Rip Kirby Daily 6/8/54 by Alex Raymond
Artist:	Alex Raymond (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Comic Strip
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	6,269
Likes on CAF:	15 16
Favorited on CAF:	3
Comments:	51
Added to Site:	12/10/2014
Comic Art Archive:

Description

This is something special, really special... and for a few reasons.

Alex Raymond is arguably the finest artist to have ever worked in comics. Although his work on Flash Gordon stands out artistically and had a cool space theme, I have come to love his later work on Rip Kirby with an equal amount of passion. There is a maturity in style, design and storytelling in these Rip Kirby's that showed the skill of an artist who cared about what he was doing and knew it was important. Raymond was never happy with the status quo and continually pushed himself artistically. I would say that Alex Raymond was at his peak during his run on Rip Kirby. Sadly his life ended too early for us to see where his art would have gone but he did leave a brilliant legacy and a large cannon of art to enjoy.

I think the high point from Rip Kirby artistically is this particular week. Six dailies where Rip and Pagan talk in a smoky remains for Pagan's burned down cottage. The mood and atmosphere created by simple things like changes in textures, line weight and line direction are amazing. I had only ever seen one daily from this week before and it is in the galley of my friend Thomas Ward. I have looked at it many times and wondered about the others in the run. There is a bit of a story behind how this one came to me but more about that in a moment.

This piece is a lesson for both artists and fans on many levels. I love strip art with silhouettes when done by the right artist. In some cases it looks like a quick and lazy way to finish a panel but in the right hands the opposite happens. Magic happens in the lines and shapes that are implied but not there. You pay more attention to posture, gesture and body language. Raymond's technique in creating the dark and smoky setting is something to be marveled at. There are few that could do this so well and only Frank King comes to my mind in the comic art world. The two portraits of the two main principles in the strip is also beautifully rendered and timed. Using a shading technique to create lighting and depth dramatically, we see Raymond flexing his artistic muscles. We would see as similar shading technique employed skillfully by David Wright in his Carol Day strips a decade later Essentially this is a 3 panel strip of two people talking. That is all that happens, but it is so much more than that and stands alone as a short story and sets a mysterious and ominous mood for the rest of the weeks strips.

From my perspective on strip art, this is the Best of the Best by the Best.

I owe a huge thank you to my long time friend and art collecting mentor Rob Stolzer for this one. Rob can sniff out art in the most obscure of places. He found this piece in an obscure auction and asked me my opinion on it. I was astonished. I told him exactly what I thought, this is was from a high point in Alex Raymond's career and we talked a bit about the auction. We were trying to figure out a deal but in the end Rob sensed how important this piece was to me and stepped back to let me bid. It was his find and I would have been happy to buy this off of him for a decent profit but that is not the kind of guy Rob is. He could have easily bought this and flipped it or kept it. I have known Rob for over 10 years on line. We have met on two occasions at conventions and have exchanged many emails and correspondences over the years. He has helped me many times with insight and information and even with several ebay buys from sellers who won't sell to Canadians. There are many great people in this hobby, but like this strip, Rob is the best of the best. My humblest gratitude to my friend for making this possible.

Voted Best Strip art of 2014 in the Annual Comicartfans poll. 39 votes.

Restoration Nov 2015 by Robert Dennis.

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About the Owner

	Jeff Singh ( 7 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	November 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	http://www.art4comics.com
Country:	CANADA
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Jeff's Classifieds Jeff's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About JeffSingh

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Comments on this Artwork

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CHRIS OLIVERIA
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

This is a really beautiful example! Congratulations

Rub�n DaCollector's Paperback Art
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

WOW! So amazing to see a daily with Raymond employing such a linear style, which is a huge juxtaposition with the big, solid blacks he normally employed on this strip. Simply fabulous, and I look forward to seeing it framed and in person one day. Congratulations, man!

Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Rub�n DaCollector's Paperback Art wrote:

Thank you. I might end up getting a little restoration done on it before framing. Not sure yet. There is a small tear in one panel but it could use some deacidification and perhaps a bit of whitening. This art has certainly been exposed to the air, hung up by 2 thumb tacks for probably over half a century.

Rub�n DaCollector's Paperback Art
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Jeff Singh wrote:

As long as it's even across the entire strip, I actually like when they are a bit browner than usual. I find it gives it a bit of color and a nice aged look. But hey, I also know it may get worse another 30 years from now, so do whatever you feel you have to do to it, I'm on board!

Terry Maltos
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Incredible

Ray Cuthbert
Member Since 2003

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Congratulations Jeff on a magnificent Raymond and on such a lovely relationship with another nice guy in the comic art collecting community!

frank x townsondecker
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

INCREDIBLE!!!

P. Portillo
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

One of the best Rip Kirby samples I have ever seen. Raymond's skill were unlimited. Congratulations, Jeff!

Hart R.
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Exquisite line work!

Comicart.dk Peter Hartung
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Surely this is one of the best Rip Kirby strips by Raymond. It would be a jewel in any collection. Congrats.

Santi Ferrer
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Museum piece !!!

Davide G.
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Of course this piece is amazing on many levels, but the one that maybe fascinates me the most is that Raymond "dares" to apply a technique used by master engravers since XV Century to a "mere" comic strip. And he does that not (or at least not just) to get some "oooh" from readers, but because this technique is perfectly useful to what he intends to achieve. An absolute master at his best!

Rob Stolzer
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

I'm so glad you wound up with this piece, Jeff. The strip is where it belongs. And it's great to see some proper scans of the piece. Man, that ink work...

Rob L
Member Since 2003

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

LOVE IT!!!

Eelco V
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Absolutely beautiful!

steve roden
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

now that is a freaking masterpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oystein Sorensen
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Magnificent indeed. Raymond at his very best.

David K
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Absolutely gorgeous!!!

Eric F
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Just fantastic! Make me think a bit of David Wright in his best period. Congratulations!

Eric F
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Eric F wrote:

Just fantastic! Make me think a bit of David Wright in his best period. Congratulations!

I should have read more carefuly your text... (about Wright :-) )

Max C
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Jeff. This is outstanding. Where do you go from there ? And i've said it once before. You and Rob are among the best persons i met in my collecting career, a privilege corresponding with both of you.

Chris K.
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

First, and foremost, what a find - this is a stunning piece of art. Second, your description of Rob? That could be many in this hobby describing you! So happy for you, Jeff - congrats!

Ben Friedman
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Wow. Incredible strip. I have never seen an Alex Raymond piece like this, and it clearly shows what an incredible artist he was!

comicinkking. com
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Really stunning strip Jeff. Both jealous and happy for you! Congrats!!

Aaron N.
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Holy, um, smoke!

Thomas Ward
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

I am literally speechless! lol

Javier Murillo
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Incredible...

Brett B
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Beautiful Jeff! What a stellar example of the pen work Raymond had moved onto at this point in his career. All of that linework makes the strip breath life and sets such a great atmosphere. Really super find!

artless artmore
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

Magnificent RK example! On top of all you mentioned, the facial expressions and movement in these quiet panels are perfectly indicated

Will K
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

If it really was pinned up for so long, there's definitely a reason. Each panel on it's own is a masterpiece. And Raymond created a cohesive unit of a few panels to sustain the reader and make the reader want to see what happens next. That is also mastery. Without any description, the scan makes the art look like it was clipped from the paper. As long as the art is conserved, I think the tanning adds some character to the art. Congratulations on being the new caretaker.

DC's Showcase
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/10/2014

What they said.

Timothy Finney
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/11/2014

I know you want to get it restored and it'll probably look great once you do, but the discoloration gives it a bit of sepia-toned "character" that only time can give it and it seems, to my mind anyway, to fit the mood of this particular strip's subject matter.

comicinkking. com
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/11/2014

Regarding the yellowing - I actually like when comic art is a little yellowed - especially if it is vintage. Stains on the other hand are not so great. But this one is nice and evenly tanned. Compliments the piece in my opinion.

Steve Kro
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 12/11/2014

I'm late to the comment party here, but this is a stunner. Wow!

Shawn F.
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/11/2014

You probably will never see this buried comment, but this is possibly the BEST strip of any kind I've EVER seen!

J L
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/11/2014

This is a wonderful example (of course)--- but I really enjoyed reading how you got the piece through the help and generosity of a fellow collector. Despite the many horrors stories of collector greed, back stabbing, etc.,there are equally wonderful stories like yours. congratulations!!!!

Eric Seffinga
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/13/2014

Just lovely.

Mark Howland
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/16/2014

Talk about your atmosphere! Wow! Great stuff, Jeff.

Monty B
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/20/2014

Truely outstanding!!! You and Thomas really have the best Rip/Raymond's on CAF...

Massimo Ermanno
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 1/5/2015

Wow!!!!!Fantastic strip for your marvellous collection. Raymond is the greatest Master and I love his works .

Thomas Ward
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 1/27/2015

And by a landslide...the winner of the 2014 Best of Comic Strip category is...Jeff Singh's RIP KIRBY!!! Congrats my friend!

Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 1/27/2015

Thomas Ward wrote:

And by a landslide...the winner of the 2014 Best of Comic Strip category is...Jeff Singh's RIP KIRBY!!! Congrats my friend!

Thanks!

Max Comic Box .
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 4/25/2015

The best from the Master Raymond... speechless! thanks to share the story of this so intersting piece.

Rub�n DaCollector's Paperback Art
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 11/30/2015

Turned out great, Jeff. Glad to see it!

P. Portillo
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 11/30/2015

This strip well deserved that restoration. It brights now with full splendor. Well done.

GAB R
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 7/12/2017

Love Raymond�s atmosphere!

Terry Doyle
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 10/31/2017

Stunning RK example . . . one of the finest I've ever seen.

Michael Peters
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 3/15/2018

Exquisite!

Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 8/24/2018

Yowza! This is astonishingly good! Such powerful drawing. Raymond is a master!

LB Jefferies
Member Since 2003

1 - Posted on 12/31/2020

Well … good luck topping this one. What a gem.

Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 12/12/2023

It should have been awarded best restoration later on as well as best strip.

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