Wow, actual action! Retarded actual action, but hey you take what you can get around here…
So did Bill learn to punch like that on his own, or did Gil teach him that? I’m pretty sure that’s the worst punch I’ve ever seen a boxer ever attempt…starting from above his head and punching straight down? Maybe his strategy is to box so poorly as to make Ernie burst out laughing ’til he falls over.
Admittedly, I have no experience when it comes to boxing advice, but I really can’t imagine anything Gil has said over the last two days to be remotely useful. Today it sounds more like he’s giving advice on how to solve a Rubik’s Cube than how to fight. If Bill isn’t beaten to death (a distinct possibility), they should award him some extra points for his real handicap: advice from Gil.
I’d think that, at the very least, Gil ought to have spotted some patterns himself that he could pass on to Bill… seeing as how Bill is kinda preoccupied with getting his brains beat in, and probably isn’t at his most observant.
I’m hoping that this will lead to some kind of bookie/Mafioso plot with Bill throwing the big Munger bout after being threatened with another chainsaw (“Hey, kid, you’re a little lopsided there. We could even you off. No charge.”), but I’m expecting that it will fizzle out with some kind of halfassed life lesson (“Recent amputees shouldn’t take up boxing”).
Comment by johnw — August 28, 2007 @ 9:13 am
I love the time compression/expansion we’ve got going on in this strip: at this rate, Bill’s boxing match will take up more time than it took for Kaz to out Ben Franklin.
Comment by Anonymous Novelist — August 28, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Let’s see… be patient in both of them. The other one also has throw combinations and stalk and stick. This one has work the ring and watch for patterns. You don’t think that’s useful boxing advice?
Comment by James G — August 28, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Holy smokes! Action? In Gil Thorp? Is someone filling in for McGlaughlin? Oh wait–Bill’s head gear changes from panel one to two…nope, it’s Frank.
Comment by Tim Goral — August 28, 2007 @ 9:25 am
Shouldn’t punchy-ol’-Kaz be the one teaching punching, anyway? I mean, we’ve seen him hit a guy so hard that his fist goes down his opponent’s throat. He certainly wouldn’t teach Bill any sissy windmill punches.
Comment by Matt Ramone — August 28, 2007 @ 9:26 am
I like the way Gil has been giving the Clambake-like nonsensical words of wisdom. I agree with Matt. We need Kaz’ “fist o’ justice” here. My cat hits my other cat better than Bill is punching that guy!
Comment by Regina — August 28, 2007 @ 9:53 am
My dream is that, sometime next week when we get to round four, we get a panel of a grimacing Coach Thorp shouting “KAZ PUNCH! KAZ PUNCH!” And Bill lets him have it, right through the back of his head.
Comment by Anonymous Novelist — August 28, 2007 @ 11:57 am
What’s with Bill’s sunglasses in panel three? Are sunglasses even legal apparel in the boxing ring?
Comment by sourbelly — August 28, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
wow. actual action. this is almost, but not quite, as watching two retarded children play “Rock Em Sock Em Robots”
Comment by Mooch — August 28, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
Back in the 60′s, McLaughlin was a pretty decent “action hero” artist in the comic books, in fact *specializing* in martial arts-related stuff with his character Judo Master. He doesn’t quite have it in him, any more.
Comment by MWGallaher — August 28, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
I keep trying to come up with a way someone could actually work around having a prosthetic leg in boxing… and I just don’t think it could be done without the other guy actually agreeing to cooperate.
Also, that is some sad looking boxing right there. I miss Kaz, and his time and space distorting punches.
Comment by brashieel — August 28, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
GAC? Is that Dutch?
Comment by Ned Ryerson — August 29, 2007 @ 5:20 am
[...] need any skills besides ACTION-DUCKING, as our protagonist apparently took his boxing lessons from one-legged Bill, rather than attending the more prestigious Bob Kazinski’s Boxing Academy. Guess that’s [...]
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