Rip Haywire by Dan Thompson for August 19, 2021

Well a least he tried. Good thing Rip was backing him up.

Well, that was a step forward, something akin to Eustace Clarance Scrubb breaking Caspian’s second-best sword on the sea serpent…

Panel one has a great Jack Kirby look about it.

That phrase turned my stomach. That’s…something.

A for effort.

Give the lad time, he’ll improve.

Should RJ be worried? Nah, not about Chip.

Ka-Whop a monster punch!!!

KA-FINALLY!…a KA-WHOP!

Chip is giving Rip’s fists something to giggle at.

Maybe something sarcastic about a toothpick. Just blue-skying.

Actually i think it’s pretty good: i’m going to floss your teeth with a log!

This is the monster that beat the living tar out of Rip a year ago? A beating that took more than a week of strips? That caused Rip to be hospitalized and got him thinking about retiring? Now just a little dental care and some anesthesia to the monster’s chin and it’s out for the count?

As with Rip and the back of his head, the monster too seems to have an Achilles’ heel: the point of it’s chin.

Giggling fists make all the difference.

I believe Dan Worf’d the Monster of Blood-Curdlin’ Pass to show that Chip isn’t such a coward and to highlight Rip overcoming his fear.

KA-FLOSS YOUR TEETH!

As far as phrases go, not bad for a first try. By the way, great artwork in today’s strip.

Hmm… Not bad for a beginner. And he did swing a mean stick… for a second or two.

ka-funny

If Rip was to deputize him, I think he could eventually wield some giggling batons.

Rip, for crying out loud! Give the kid a break, he’s new at this!