Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill for September 02, 2013

Maybe Brody Abro can draw him out.

Mrs. Mackey’s uber-cheerfulness is frightening. And why is she flashing a gang sign?

she may be SIGNING for a crack pipe, but she LOOKS like she’s on meth.

In panels such as No. 2 today, Gil is looking more and more like a native American or American Indian, whichever you prefer.

Raised thumb is easy. Getting just one segment of the index finger out takes concentration.

This story line is unfolding painfully slowly. And her hair in panel 2 looks like a pile of towels on Gil’s shoulder…weird.

In all reality, Gil will have Big John play QB to cure his verbal communication disorder.

selective mutism. nothing that a wrestling match or a peacock can’t fix.

There is just no way to tap dance around this one. Mrs. Macky is U-G-L-Y.

Ah ha, did I nail it on Saturday with this? "“No physical reason, kind of reaction to a traumatic experience, football will cure him”.

Man hands alert in P1!

A chalk talk and a pat on the back from The Fugitive should open up Big John.

Wasn’t “not talking” also one-armed Steve’s way of dealing with his issues? Kinda soon to be visiting the same psychological territory.

Kaz will open the gym door in his face as Mute walks by, and see if he talks then. If so, he’ll flash Gil the thumbs up.

If he can’t talk, how is he going to order one of those savory Subwich specialties?

Quick, make a “thumbs up” sign. Now look at it. Are the knuckles of your four fingers somewhat lined up? Or is the knuckle of the index finger jutting way out from the pack like Mrs. Mackey’s? I was being facetious about the gang sign (which, I may point out, is the goal of most of us on this board!) but that ain’t no normal “thumbs up” sign!

I still think he has no tongue. Possibly Mrs. Mackey had something to do with that, which would go a long way in explaining his trauma. Also, in which case this story line could get uglier than she is really quick.

Comments about EES, female mustaches, misplaced and distorted hands are like the joke about the Rorschach test:

Sex maniac? Doc, they’re your dirty pictures.

Where have you been? This is what the crowd has been doing for years. This is what this space is for. To tell everybody they are silly is silly itself. You’re dealing with veteran and jaded snarksters here who have known Gil for decades. Just embrace it if you can.

Gil is changing his name to Jim. Google it. I think they’re both 125.