Rip Kirby is an American comic strip created by Alex Raymond and Ward Greene featuring the adventures of private detective Rip Kirby. The strip ran from 1946 to 1999 and was in the hands of artist John Prentice for more than 40 years.
Rip Kirby
Alexander Gillespie Raymond Jr. was an American cartoonist and illustrator who was best known for creating the Flash Gordon comic strip for King Features Syndicate in 1934. The strip was subsequently adapted into many other media, from three Universal movie serials to a 1950s television series and a 1980 feature film.
Promotional photograph of Raymond from King Features' Famous Artists and Writers, 1949
While he was in the Marines, Raymond painted "Marines at Prayer" for the Marine Corps' Headquarters Bulletin (December 1944).
George Lucas, who has cited Raymond as an influence on Star Wars