Rip Haywire by Dan Thompson for January 05, 2015

Not like Rip’s going to feel it once someone beats him upside the head… :-)

Get ready to enjoy the great outdoors, Rip, because your angry wife probably won’t let you sleep the couch.

I bet Rip’s mom is more evil than Breezy’s mom.

Mother-in-law problems already? Rip just doesn’t like the way Breezy’s mother is warming up to that other guy.

And Breezy goes KA-RIP in 3..2…..

Avoid the ’Noid!

You made a pregnant woman angry…it was nice knowing you Rip!

Guess who’s sleeping at Finkle’s house tonight…?

Oops! R.I.P., Rip!

… what’s left of Finkle’s house…

If you don’t like Breezy’s mother, KA-Mum’s the word.

I once thought Dan made a mistake in marrying Rip and Breezy. They seemed to be so unequally yoked. I thought Cobra was a better spouse for Rip, but I was wrong. Rip and Breezy are perfect for each other.

Breezy is especially kind and very tenderhearted and a little naive at times, but she is no pushover. She stands her ground demanding respect as Rip’s equal partner in marriage. Rip quickly learned that if she doesn’t get it, he is in deep do-do.

Breezy also accepts Rip for what he is. Yes, she was attracted to him at first by his incredible good looks, but if all Rip had to offer was good looks alone, she would never have stayed involved with him. Remember what happened when Cobra lied and told her that Rip was a deadbeat dad?(07/18/2013)

Breezy knows that while she might succeed in smoothing some of Rip’s rough edges (what woman doesn’t try to do that with the man she loves?), trying to change Rip’s essential nature would be wrong. Rip Haywire is an adrenalin junkie. He must seek out danger and adventure. Otherwise he would cease being Rip, and Breezy knows and accepts that.

And finally Rip and Breezy trust each other. This is the most important thing of all. A man and wife have to be able to trust each other. They must know that even when differences arise (such as in today’s strip), when the chips are down, they have to be able to trust that they each had the other one’s back.

Rip could never trust Cobra. This strip illustrates their relationship perfectly:(06/11/2009)

Backstabbing is Cobra’s essential nature. If that ever was to change, Cobra would cease being Cobra and would become someone else, someone not Cobra. So Rip could never fully trust her, and as such their relationship would of necessity be limited.

Congratulations, Dan. You are a genius. :)

Methinks Rip will soon learn that a frying pan can be a deadly weapon.