Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill for May 18, 2023

Well, in baseball speak that certainly came in out of left field.

“Here! Smell my rings!”

“<Kiwan will get lost in the media-rich, highly competitive world of baseball in one of America’s largest cities, a place that produces a high percentage of major leaguers and can put him on the road to fame and fortune, but he will be the best in a podunk town the national media knows nothing about.>”“<You’re an idiot. Get out of my house.>”

<…at least, of course, until he goes up against one of the teams coached by the great one, Gil Thorp…>

Kim doesn’t find out until now that his boss speaks Korean? Are you kidding me…?!

Despite his protests, Luke is very much the kind of guy to brag. When he found out Kim’s cousin was a pitcher, the first words out of his mouth would’ve been: “Hey! I speak Korean! Let’s go to Korea and get the kid, cuz I speak Korean! Also, did I mention I speak Korean…?!”

And what’s with the rings? Are they supposed to championship rings, which really aren’t a thing outside the professional level? Why would Mr Lim even be impressed by them?

This is next-level bad writing: lame, unbelievable and flat-out annoying. I don’t know how much of this I can take.

Reminds me of Mel Gibson speaking Latin in “Braveheart”.

So… is Valley Tech /in/ Milford?

P2- suddenly, the Cracker Jack theme comes to me. Candy coated popcorn, peanuts and a prize, that’s what you get in Cracker Jack!

In all reality , Summer is almost here , this storyline will end . I can’t wait for the next storyline to start !

I think someone should look at Valley Tech’s books and budget!!

Didn’t the season already start? Who’s coaching the Valley Tech team?

P 1.5 (Luke): <…that’s right son, and yes, I’ve heard all the $hit that you guys have been talkin’ about me…>

P 2: Luke is a comedian too…“..I don’t like to brag…”….good one, Luke!

BHHL thinks he’s speaking perfect Korean, but it really comes out as “your son would benefit being under Mr. Kim” and “I can implant something into the young boy”

Ah, the old ‘big fish in a small pond’ recruitment trick.

He gets on a plane and plays the next day.I hope he has a passport and Hairy Luke has all the paperwork filled out or the season will be over.

Of course Big Hairy Lukey speaks Korean…and Mandarin…and Swahili…and Portugese…and…

What’s with the symbol in place of a number on the back of his shirt in Panel 3?

So all this time when Kim was insulting his boss in Korean, he knew what he was saying!

Luke is familiar with the term “get lost” in several languages.

Meanwhile , Gil is paddling a raft to Miami, from Cuba with 4 16 year olds wearing baseball caps and mustaches.

Let’s don’t forget about the movie Mr. Baseball. Tom Selleck doesn’t find out until halfway through the movie that his Japanese coach - who just happens to be his girlfriend father - speaks English. Or in Rush Hour Chris Tucker does not find out until later in the movie that Jackie Chan also speaks English . Point being—- not a very original plot twist here.

Rob, hang in there with the rest of us. I have stated before I only keep reading this trip because, much like a bad movie, I am captivated by seeing just how bad it can get. Like in P3 the assumption is that is Kwan Tak. So, why is it a picture of him holding a bat . HELLO ??!! I thought his claim to fame was being a pitcher a/k/a the “Korean Nightmare”.

So, BHHL is going to “impart some wisdom” on young Master Kwan with his brass knuckles. Good chance he was the shop steward and Keri and Jami’s former place of employment.

P2 – Is he making him smell his rings, kiss his rings, or feel them (right in the chops!)? Today’s Mopped Up Thorp has the answer.

https://moppedupthorp.wordpress.com/

“I got these rings from Iron Man’s old foe, the Mandarin.”

I made Keri give me the rings back. Want to smell them?

P-4: Kwan grows to 40 feet tall, breathes fire, steps on a Lionel Train, destroys Tokyo, and fouls one off.