Rick O'Shay

The final Rick O'Shay comic strips written and drawn by Lynde were the daily for 7 May 1977 and the Sunday for July 17, 1977. He left the syndicate after a disagreement. Publication ended on March 8, 1981.

• Title — Rick O'Shay • Creator — Stan Lynde • Status — Ended • Syndicate — Chicago Tribune Syndicate • Genre — Western • First — Sunday: April 27, 1958 daily: May 19, 1958 • Last — March 8, 1981

The strip is set in the Western town of Conniption, where Rick O'Shay is the marshal. His best friend is gunslinger Hipshot Percussion. Other key characters include gambler Deuces Wilde, dance-hall owner Gaye Abandon, physician Dr. Basil Metabolism (and his nurse, Ophelia Pulse), deputy Manuel Labor, gunsmith and Civil War veteran Cap'n Ball, banker Mort Gage, barber Dan Druff, cafe owner Hominy Grits, preacher Jubal Lee, and a boy named Quyat Burp. The neighboring Kyute Indian tribe includes Chief Horse's Neck, his ugly but sweet daughter Moonglow, and her persistent suitor Crazy Quilt. Until the official announcement in the September 29, 1969 strip that it would be set in the late 19th century from that time forward, the strip was taking place in the present day but pretending it was about the Old West with anachronisms.

The backgrounds were realistically drawn; the characters were originally cartoonish, but became more realistic over the years. Surreal themes are mixed in (such as the pun-laden names). By the late 1960s, elements of adventure, philosophy, morality, and tragedy—such as Hipshot teetering on the brink of death following a gunfight—were added to the storyline. Hipshot is frequently referred to as an "outlaw", and in one strip, he decided to regain his losses at poker by holding up the local bank. Sometimes in the Sunday strip, he is shown alone, on horseback, in the Western background, speaking to his Maker, whom he addresses as "Boss". He does not attend church and prefers to recognize his God in a privately styled fashion.