Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (Dark Horse)

(Dark Horse, 2002)
™ and ©2002 Dark Horse Comics, Inc.

In addition to being “strange but true,” Robert Leroy Ripley’s Believe It or Not cartoon feature was a genuine success, beginning in 1918 and running for 30 years without interruption. Through the years, the franchise has burgeoned to include radio shows, television series (Dean “Superman” Cain is co-host of the current incarnation), magazines, and, of course, museums.

Published by the likes of Harvey and Gold Key, Ripley’s Believe It or Not has also spawned a number of comic books, the latest of which comes to readers courtesy of Dark Horse. Supported by 21 historical notations, the first issue (of four) focuses on the mysterious disappearances of Amelia Earhart, D.B. Cooper, and various other figures of note who seemingly vanished into thin air.

Although an odd fit in today’s super-hero-crazed marketplace, this comic book deserves to find an audience among curiosity seekers, trivia buffs, and fans of the outré. Writer Haden Blackman, who obviously gets a kick out of relating these stories, imbues the script and narration with a sense of fun, and artist Cary Nord gives the panels a decidedly welcome old-school look and feel.

While not a must-have, “It” is certainly recommended.

— Brett Weiss

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