Damn, I see the point about the punch was made in the Milford comments section.
Also, note that it really does look like Kaz is wearing pearl earrings.
Katz is Barbara Bush? (That would explain the earrings. The hairy forearms remain a mystery)
Why do you read this? It looks like a PG-13 version of Mark Trail.
I read it because it's fucking awesome, Mike. If you don't get it, get the hell out of Milford.
1.2: So, a pearl necklace joke would be too obvious, right?
2: Actually, that would explain the hairy arms as well.
2: I've never read Mark Trail, but are you implying it's R-rated?
What the hell is this comic strip? One good thing about the NYT is that it doesn't inflict any of this crap funnies on its readership. Unless that's what "Modern Love" is about.
6: I think the implication was 'G' vs PG-13
I've only ever come across Gil Thorp in Comics Curmudgeon and it does seem to be the world's worst drawn comic strip (with the possible exception of Dick Tracy). It's also mindnumbingly boring. Is it widely syndicated?
the way Kaz is holding his hands up to his face with his forearms horizontal
I think he's cracking his knuckles?
8: Drat, I was hoping for the comic strip version of 'This isn't about hunting.'
The original name was Mark Happy Trail.
(c)(iii) the fact that he is wearing an earing.
In the second panel, clearly he's giving the guy an elbow to the face, as those of us who like to beat people without bloodying our knuckles prefer.
Maybe Kaz wears a pearl-shaped hearing aid?
clearly he's giving the guy an elbow to the face
... and clearly, when you do this, you must move your forearm at right angles to the third dimension, so it becomes invisible.
It's hidden by the victim's flailing right arm.
Ah, so this guy is like Uther Doul, with a Possible Arm. The earring should have been a giveaway of his naval background.
On a related note, WHAT IS THE DEAL with websites like the one linked by this post, where you go to it but you can't get back to where you came from by pushing the Back button, because it somehow took you through six identical websites all of which are listed in your History. That really annoys me.
I like to think he's reaching down the guy's throat; the white flash at the guy's head isn't an indicator of impact, but of sheer surprise.
Funny, Ogged, I considered the flying elbow hypothesis but I didn't think anyone would be insane enough to advocate it. Try this experiment, preferably with your coworkers watching. Position your arm as Kaz's would have to be-- elbow out. The natural, comfortable position of the forearm is angled across the chest, not up across the forehead, as it would have to be in your scenario. Moving the forearm up feels funny in the deltoids. You'll have to take this on faith, since you don't work your shoulders, but it's true.
I imagined Uther Doul being much more handsome.
Reading through the past few posts there, I am terrified of finding myself saying things like "Ease up, friend!" to annoying strangers in public.
If the punching guy had his head shaved he would resemble my idea of Uther Doul.
clearly he's giving the guy an elbow to the face
Not unless he has some crazy elbow hyperextension that would allow the forearm to remain hidden. Clearly, his arm compresses like an accordion, which is the way it works in cartoons, and all that's missing is the half-frame with the sound effect of it regaining its shape -- SPROING!
The natural, comfortable position of the forearm is angled across the chest
... which ogged would know, if he were a street fightin' man like Frank Merriwell.
Slol, you scoff at all things that are right and true about America.
If there's one thing that's not right and true about America, it's Yale.
The guy in the comic is just too germanic for my idea of Doul. I think I pictured him as more of a Finn or a Slav.
I have no idea what you're saying, Labs, though I'm confident that you don't either. Here's an actual elbow to the face move.
What about my concern in 19, dammit. Is there a reason websites do these things? Does it fraudulently drive up their hit stats?
Ogged, it's kind of you to supply further evidence that supports my position. Note the still at the end of the video, particularly the position of the forearm.
I vote for sticking his arm down the guy's throat. Also, judging from the perspective, Kaz is beating up a 12 year old. As far as the third panel, I don't know why anybody would think those are his arms. Clearly the two chimps that were hanging out in the cafe are exchanging a high-spirited fist bump an inch and a half from Kaz's enormous head.
Owen Johnson is rolling in his grave.
Owen Johnson did not live to see Yale's finest run the free world. Say, can we just call you "Dink" from now on?
You guys are on the bogus sell-out tip, this is the real underground full-force weapons-grade Owen Johnson shit. Too cold.
30: either he has tiny little T. Rex forearms, or his elbow is dislocated and hanging limply straight down. Or, most logically, his arm is down the guy's throat.
Stover at Yale is a mere gateway drug. Ned is right, Laurenceville is where it's at. Three cheers for the Tennessee Shad.
You WASPs have such a fascinating culture.
Hi, purveyor of the ridiculous Gil Thorp Blog here...
Cryptic Ned (re: #s 19/31), not quite sure what you are referring to...Is it the fact that links in my posts open to a new browser window? If so, I've never heard complaints about that before. A lot of sites do this. Since it's a free blog I'm maintaining through a Wordpress template, and I'm just writing it for amusement, it's certainly not to drive up hit stats (I'm not even sure how that would change the stats anyhow) Or are you referring to something else that I'm unaware of?
To all, WARNING: Reading Gil Thorp is like witnessing a daily train wreck...You can't help but look, even though you know it's gonna be bad. If you know what's good for you, you'll flee while there's still hope.
-Jason
41: hey, swell blog, coach!
Ned doesn't understand tabbed browsing, it's not your fault.
I only wish the entire Gil Thorp archives were online. Watching the sixty year decline in the quality of the art would be an aesthetic experience on par with sitting through Andy Warhol's Empire.
Yeah, This Week in Milford is great.
I wish the whole archive were online too, since I've read every comic posted on the site. The Social Conservative Years were pretty weird, but it was nice to see someone make a play for the coach, IYKWIM.
For some reason I've got cognitive dissonace from the Uther Doul as a fratboy thing. Probably because the guy in the panels has about as much gravitas as a peep.
I had no idea that Gil Thorp used to be written by one of the authors of the Left Behind series!
Sifu, that's what I meant by the social conservative thing. Hard hitting themes: abortion (don't do it, says Coach Thorp) and Jewish player observing the Sabbath (admire his convictions, says Coach).
I bet you didn't know that from 1986 to 2006 Prince Valiant was written by the editor of the Atlantic Monthly, either.
19, 31: I get the same problem when I go to AWB's blog, which is also Wordpress. There might be a connection.
It's a form of kung fu where you disable your attacker by grabbing and squeezing his uvula.
I don't think this panel is as awesome as Walter Cronkite putting his open palm on the same guy's face a couple of Gil Thorp strips before this one.
Time to go to the Bucket.
48: Crazy. I don't know why it would do that!
One of the things I like about Unfogged is that people make jokes about things so geeky that I would have expected to go through my whole life without ever hearing one. Case in point: Uther Doul.
groups with a social agenda targeting comics isn't a new idea.