The "beef" between Dick Masterson and Eric July is a public feud that has unfolded across various online platforms, primarily rooted in a mix of personal animosity, professional rivalry, and ideological differences. Both are polarizing figures in internet culture: Dick Masterson is a comedian and podcaster known for his provocative, trolling style, notably through "The Dick Show" and "The Biggest Problem in the Universe," while Eric July is a musician, YouTuber, and comic book creator who founded the Rippaverse, a crowdfunded comic universe positioned as an alternative to mainstream "woke" comics. Their conflict has been fueled by a series of events, accusations, and retaliatory actions, drawing in fans,
detractors, and other online personalities.
The tension appears to have ignited around mid-2023 when Masterson critiqued July’s flagship comic, Isom #1. Masterson, after reading it, argued it lacked a cohesive story and didn’t live up to the hype, sharing his notes publicly. This wasn’t just a casual review—Masterson’s style is deliberately inflammatory, and he framed it as a takedown of July’s work. July, who had successfully crowdfunded millions for the Rippaverse, took this personally, especially as Masterson’s co-host Vito Gesualdi and their audience amplified the criticism. July’s defenders rushed in, but Masterson doubled down, turning it into a comedic bit on his platforms, portraying July as thin-skinned and his fans as blindly loyal "paypigs."
Things escalated when Masterson accused July of shady business practices tied to a charity initiative. July had promoted a deal where buyers could purchase Isom #1 at a discount, with the comics supposedly donated to sick kids via a charity. Masterson investigated, contacting the charity, and claimed it was a scam—alleging the charity wanted money, not comics, and that July might be exploiting it for tax write-offs or profit. July denied this, insisting the $8,000 he donated in cash disproved fraud claims, but the damage was done. The narrative of "charity fraud" became a weapon Masterson wielded repeatedly, even as others, like lawyer Nick Rekieta, tried to mediate and argued July hadn’t broken laws—just explained it poorly.
The feud got messier with personal jabs. Masterson mocked July’s reactions as "sub 80 IQ" and claimed July used racial slurs against him, framing himself as a victim of "reverse racism" in a satirical twist. July, meanwhile, accused Masterson of jealousy, calling him a "nobody" latching onto his success for clout. This led to heated exchanges, including a debated confrontation on YellowFlash’s Flashcast in June 2023, where Masterson called Isom "trash" and July hit back hard. Fans allege Masterson’s crew took it further—showing up at July’s business, harassing his associates, even targeting his family’s grave—though evidence of this is anecdotal and disputed.
By 2025, the beef had morphed into a content mill. July released a "manifesto" slamming Masterson, which his Rippaverse fans ate up, while Masterson kept poking, claiming July’s business was failing and he was obsessed with responding. Other figures—like Ethan Van Sciver, Alex Stein, and Nick Rekieta—got dragged in, picking sides or hosting debates, but the core remained Masterson’s relentless trolling versus July’s defiant counterattacks. Posts on X show Masterson gloating about "winning" with his fanbase, while July’s camp sees him as a victim of envy-fueled harassment.
At its heart, this isn’t just about comics or charity—it’s a clash of egos and audiences. Masterson thrives on chaos and comedy, using July as a punching bag; July, a self-styled anti-establishment entrepreneur, views Masterson as a leech threatening his legacy. Neither shows signs of backing down, and their followers keep the fire burning. Whether it’s truly about principle or just internet theater, it’s a self-sustaining saga as of March 11, 2025.