Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill for December 05, 2024

And more jerseys without numbers. Consistently inconsistent. OK, OK, and one more OK! Geesh.

Gil planned this back on 9/19/24!

Why don’t Goshen have no uniform numbers? Isn’t this some kind of violation of most leagues’ rules? Need to identify for penalty, eligibility and other purposes?

“Get in Gerads’ head.”

“Well, okay. Normally I use a crowbar for that. You got one?”

Henry, it looks like you are, once again, going back to the concept of “if you distract them with something odd, they will forget they are playing a football game” concept. Like when they sang “i’m a little teapot” to win a game, or they recited nursery rhymes to win a game. Putting aside the fact that sports teams do stay focussed on playing, trotting out the “if we can confuse or disorient the coach, then the whole team will forget how to play football” plot for the third time is just lazy and shows a lack of imagination. I hope you are actually going somewhere else with this plot than where it seems to be going.

P5 “Then run over to the Goshen sideline and punch Nonads in the stomach.”

Brilliant! Compelling! The best installment yet! -Henry Barajas

Nonads is probably wearing a steel plate under his Members Only jacket, just in case.

Here’s a tip Hank. Split Rod and Martin out left and right and let Leo have a field day chucking the rock to two studs. Translation. Get the ball in your best players hands.

Nice Selsun Blue sideburn highlights Gil. No doubt it will soon be all the rage.

P 5 (Gil): "…and if you get the chance, “accidentally” let a play carryover to their sideline and run him over…haha…"

Is the dude standing next to Nonads in P2 wearing a skirt?

Why are the Goshen players wearing white face paint in P2? Are they trying to channel The Icon, Sting? Speaking of which, I saw a few minutes of professional wrestling the other day and there was one guy wearing a shirt that said “Yeet” on it.

“Get in Gerard’s head. As soon as the ball is snapped, run full steam towards the Goshen sidelines and give that POS coach a concussion!”

Henry, Have you EVER played a sport in High School?

At least we’ve had some actual sports strips lately. Although with Henry’s (lack of) knowledge and Rachel’s lack of ability, I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

This reminds me of a movie I once (or twice) saw. It was called “Dumb and Dumber”. But it was actually funny.

who are you guys waving to in panal one ?

looks like coach perm is having a hard time holding in a deuce !

racheal makes most of her money drawing scenerys in central park for cash so why try here

I’m not sure Lucas is even eligible to play in this game. Did Gil bring him along and just put him on the team today? We never saw him play during the season. And Gil brought him to the bus, the rest of the team was already there with the (real) coaches. Of course, Gil is like the ruler of Milford, so I guess Gil does what Gil wants. And speaking of wants, I’m sure you want to read today’s Mopped Up Thorp.

moppedupthorp.wordpress.com/2024/12/05/sneaky-gilbot/

From today’s Comics Curmudgeon:

“Coach, let me rephrase that. It’s cool that you decided to come back from your extended sick leave and all, but I get the feeling you’re only doing it to engage in psychological gamesmanship against your hated rival and not because you’re interested in molding a new generation of student-athletes or anything like that. I’m just a teenager who wants to play football! I don’t think I should be going out there! I’m not equipped for the emotional complexity of this whole scene!”

So, yesterday’s first down was a TD?

#Day877ofGilThorpFansHeldHostagebyBadWriting

P4- That actually looks like Gil. What happened?

After crying a little bit celebrating the 10-year state championship win, Wildcat Morris is putting together a group to storm the school board and demand TRU STANDISH as the new football coach. It’s time for a coach who can drive(!) the team to victory.

I like Henry’s effort to pull GT into the 21st century. The transitions can be a little abrupt, and there are a lot of plot lines to keep track of, but overall, I think it’s been pretty good. It’s entertaining. I think Henry is doing a good job of keeping the spirit of Gil Thorp going (high school athletes, dealing with current high school issues), while adding in some modern angst for the adults.

Respectfully, just a comment from a reader who wants Gil Thorp the strip to succeed (whether Gil Thorp the character ever wins another coach of the year), the new artist has talent (see panels 3 and 4 from today).

I believe the strip would be well-served if she used that talent consistently.

There have been a lot of examples of this inconsistency recently, but, for instance, see panel 4 from yesterday. In p4 today, Gil looks like Gil. In p4 yesterday, he doesn’t. We know it’s Gil from context (this is what I meant a few days ago when I said I personally can’t draw characters consistently; one wouldn’t want to hire me to draw a comic strip).

Or, take panels 1 and especially 2 from today.

Panel 2 today: All three players, especially the one facing the reader, look like they’re wearing 1960s hockey goalie facemasks. That may be a coloring error, but, overall, the panel looks like a preliminary draft. The player facing the reader is wearing track shorts at a football game. Gerads seems to have lost weight and gained hair.

I do believe in the power of positive reinforcement. More P4 today; good work. Less P2.

TIA. Sorry for the TLDR essay. Returning to snarking as normal.

im reporting henry to aarp for his mistreatment of meemaw cartoon old goats need dignity too