Beauology 101: Time To Be Ripped Off

 Beau Smith Wearing His Rip Hunter White T-Shirt.  They should market this look (It could also pass as the Wyatt Wingfoot T-Shirt).

Beau Smith Wearing His Rip Hunter White T-Shirt. They should market this look (It could also pass as the Wyatt Wingfoot T-Shirt).


by Beau Smith

I grew up reading most every comic book that I could get my hands on. In the beginning, I had no real favorites. I was just happy to own and read whatever comics I could get. Usually, the wilder the cover, the better I liked it.

The Forgotten Heroes.  I love this piece so much.

The Forgotten Heroes. I love this piece so much.


DC Comics were the ones that I guess you could call my “first love”. For whatever reason, they were always at my local drug store, supermarket, and various gas stations. They must have had better distribution in our little area. I was always attracted to the wild and varied characters that they had. It seemed that nothing was too far out there to be a DC Comic; Tomahawk, the early frontiersman that fought Indians, bad guys and sometimes giant purple apes, dinosaurs and aliens. Cave Carson, scientist and adventurer that dug up more dirt that the National Enquirer on a good Kim Kardashian day. He ran into everything from giant prehistoric moles to lava creatures.

Cave Carson Adventures Inside Earth #31.

Cave Carson Adventures Inside Earth #31.


To round it out there were The Sea Devils, Blackhawk and the Challengers Of The Unknown. So much to choose from and always a fun read. One of my favorites was Rip Hunter-Time Master. Oh, man! Now there was some far out fun and adventure.

Rip Hunter-Time Master #15

Rip Hunter-Time Master #15


Rip Hunter first showed up on the scene in Showcase #20 in 1959. This was time travel at its best because they never bothered to try and make the science by-the-text-books-real. Rip and his crew traveled in a big, round sphere and they were never short on action. They could talk to any person in any time without wasting time explaining how. It was like the TV series The Outer Limits where you just suspended all reality and just had fun. Is that asking too much? Nope. Now there is talk of Rip Hunter on the screen. Granted, I’m sure it won’t be everything I remember from my childhood, after all, times have changed and we’ve all gotten older, but I’m sure it’ll be fun.

Time Masters

Time Masters


Rip Hunter has had three great cycles in comics. His first one that I just mentioned to you, his second one in 1990, Time Masters, and a run in Booster Gold. Each cycle has its own charm and fun. I’m very happy that DC Comics collected Time Masters into a nice 220 page trade paperback. The original 8-issue series came out in 1990. It was written by Bob Wayne (former retailer and VP of Sales for DC) and great sci-fi novelist, Lewis Shiner with art by Art Thibert and Jose Marzan, Jr.

It’s a wonderfully written series that has equal amount of action and story. There are no heavy blocks of needless text and it’s loaded with all kinds of great DC guest stars that leaves you wanting more.

It’s a smart read and one that you’ll truly enjoy. It’ll make you appreciate the great work that has come before. Bob Wayne and Lewis Shiner make a very good sci-fi writing team that have a natural way with pacing.

Rip Hunter 90s Version.

Rip Hunter 90s Version.


Take my word for it all. Go find some old issues of Rip Hunter-Time Master. Buy the trade paperback Time Masters. Put Booster Gold back issues with Rip on your personal pull list. Drop some of those crummy books you’re buying right now (and you KNOW which ones I’m talking about). Remember, I give this advice away for free and I shouldn’t.

Enjoy your weekend and do a little time traveling of your own. I will.

Your amigo,

Beau Smith

The Flying Fist Ranch

www.flyingfistranch.com

 

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