Comic Title: Rip Hunter... Time Master #1
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Mar/Apr 1961
On Sale Date: January 19, 1961 Newsstand Date January 19, 1961
Source: House Ad, Batman #138, Page 9

Copyright Date January 19, 1961
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1961

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "The Thousand-Year-Old Curse"
Pages: 25

Feature(s):
Rip Hunter (of Earth-1)

Writer: Jack Miller
Penciller: Ross Andru
Inker: Michael Esposito

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents:Rip Hunter, Time Master Vol. 1 TPB (2012)

Feature Character(s)

• Rip Hunter (last appearance in Showcase #26; next appearance in Rip Hunter... Time Master #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jeff Smith (last appearance in Showcase #26; next appearance in Rip Hunter... Time Master #2)
• Bonnie Baxter (last appearance in Showcase #26; next appearance in Rip Hunter... Time Master #2)
• Corky Baxter (last appearance in Showcase #26; next appearance in Rip Hunter... Time Master #2)

Villain(s)

• Karatan (a 10th century wizard; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• An indian tribe and some highwaymen (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Martin Craig (an old friend of Rip Hunter; no further appearances)
• Elliot Craig (a 17th century frontiersman; no further appearances)
• Hiram Craig (Elliot's uncle; no further appearances)
• Bern Craig (a 14th century man; no further appearances)
• Bern's two friends (no further appearances)
• Sir Edmond Craig (a 10th century man; dies in this story; no further appearances)

Comments:
Chap. 2: "The Secret of the Volcano Creature"
Chap. 3: "The Wizard of the 10th Century"

Synopsis:
Rip Hunter and his team travel back in time to the 17th century to disprove a curse upon the family of Rip’s friend Martin Craig. Rip meets Elliot Craig, Martin’s ancestor, and saves his life from a tribe of indians. The curse seems to have been broken until news of the death of Elliot’s cousin reaches them. Rip learns the location of one of Elliot’s ancestors and travels further back in time.

In the 14th century, Rip tries to save Bern Craig from a volcano monster. However, the monster captures Bern and apparently takes him to his death inside a volcano. Rip soon finds Bern alive however. Bern had hoaxed the townspeople with a fake monster in order to rid himself of a cowardly reputation. While Rip now knows the curse is phony, the official town records indicate Bern did die, so he has no proof.

Rip and the team continue back to the 10th century where the curse originated. They learn that the wizard Karatan placed the curse on the Craig family because Sir Edmond Craig spoke against him. Karatan murdered Edmond in order to make his curse seem real and gain the king’s favor. Rip’s arrival gives Karatan a heart attack, but Rip is able to retrieve a diary in which Karatan confesses to the curse being a hoax.