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Gil Thorp, 3/8/24

Gil Thorp may be a somewhat manic strip at times, but never say it doesn’t play a long narrative game. Remember the comely bartendress Gil was awkwardly flirting with nearly two years ago? Well, big news: Gil’s divorced now, and it’s time to make out! Gil even went the extra mile and rented a room in this … bar? Hotel? It’s a hotel bar, I guess? The important thing is that he doesn’t want to go back to a girl’s house, because he might catch cooties.

Marvin, 3/8/24

Marvin’s been doing this “she said/he heard” bit all week, which I find irritating because it’s not clear if this just supposed to be wishful thinking on his part of actually indicating his inability to properly parse spoken language. The latter seems ridiculous based on what we’ve seen of his intellectual capacities over the years, but on the other hand he is literally a baby, so! Anyway, I like the touch in this strip where in Marvin’s mind, he’s full clothed for this interaction. Almost as if, against all odds, he does actually have some dignity.

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Gil Thorp, 2/27/24

Under new writer Henry Barajas, Gil Thorp has introduced a more diverse cast, kept old characters around, and even rescued Gil’s children from whatever “Phantom Zone”-style limbo-dimension prison they had been exiled to. But are we ready to meet [record scratch] Gil’s brother? He’s got the Thorp chin, a normal haircut, and a kicky scarf, and he can effortlessly carry three coffees at once. He seems awesome! Watch out, Gil, there’s a new Thorp in town!!!!

Blondie, 2/27/24

It’s never exactly clear where the Bumsteads live, but I assume that the community is dominated by Mr. Dithers and his business cronies, leading to a deeply labor-hostile local media. That’s the only explanation for what we see in the first panel, where the news broadcast has eschewed the usual B-roll of people walking the picket line for this strike story in favor of just a close up on a human foot.

Gasoline Alley, 2/27/24

There probably aren’t a ton of upsides to being a 145-year-old cartoon character whose pleas for death fall on the unhearing ears of your cruel Creator, but at least your unnaturally addled brain can’t retain anything for too long. Can’t stay mad about things you can’t change if you don’t know what they are!

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Gasoline Alley, 2/23/24

In 1918, when this strip began, most American cities, even small ones, had electric streetcar networks. These were only beginning to be displaced by the increasingly popular personal automobile, which hobbyists tinkered with in areas dubbed things like “Gasoline Alley.” I think it would be a fitting end to the strip if they put a light rail line down the middle of the town and it magically allowed Walt to finally, blessedly die, or maybe just non-magically ran him over.

Gil Thorp, 2/23/24

Say, how’s Gil’s divorce going? It’s going “the kids are eating as fast as humanly possible so they can leave when their mom picks them up,” you say? Interesting, interesting.

Family Circus, 2/23/24

Billy, I just want to say that it’s very sad that you consider school to be your “personal life.” You aren’t even very good at it!