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| {{Short description|American comic strip}}
| | '''Gil Thorp''' is a long-running sports-oriented [[comic strip]] created by [[Jack Berrill]], which debuted on September 8, 1958. The comic focuses on the life of Gil Thorp, the athletic director at Milford High School, who also coaches the football, basketball, and baseball teams. While the comic revolves around sports, it also explores important social issues, such as teen pregnancy, drug abuse, and steroids, reflecting the challenges faced by teenagers. |
| {{distinguish|Gil Thorpe}}
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| {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}}
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| {{Infobox comic strip
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| | title = Gil Thorp
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| | image = [[File:Gil Thorp 2011-10-17.gif|240px]]
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| | caption = Gil Thorp coaching a Milford football player
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| | author = Jack Berrill (creator) <br />[[Jerry Jenkins]] (1996–2004)<br />[[Neal Rubin]] (2004–2022)<br />Henry Barajas (2022–present)
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| | illustrator = Jack Berrill (creator) <br />[[Warren Sattler]] <br />[[Frank Bolle]] <br />Ray Burns<ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Burns - Lambiek Comiclopedia |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/burns_ray.htm |website=Lambiek Comiclopedia |access-date=30 July 2022}}</ref> <br />[[Frank McLaughlin (artist)|Frank McLaughlin]] <br />Rod Whigham<ref>{{cite web |title=Rod Whigham - Lambiek Comiclopedia |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/whigham_rod.htm |website=Lambiek Comiclopedia |access-date=30 July 2022}}</ref> <br/>Rachel Merrill
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| | url = [http://www.gocomics.com/gilthorp gocomics.com/gilthorp]
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| | status = Running
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| | first = September 8, 1958<ref name="ct080907"/>
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| | last =
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| | altnames =
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| | syndicate = [[Tribune Content Agency]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Gil Thorp comics by Neal Rubin and Rod Whigham |url=https://tribunecontentagency.com/premium-content/comics/gil-thorp/ |website=Tribune Content Agency |accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
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| | genre = Sports
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| }}
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| '''''Gil Thorp''''' is a sports-oriented [[comic strip]] which has been published since September 8, 1958. The main character, Gil Thorp, is the athletic director of Milford High School and coaches the [[American football|football]], [[basketball]], and [[baseball]] teams. In addition to the sports storylines, the strip also deals with issues facing teenagers such as teen pregnancy, [[anabolic steroid|steroids]], and drug abuse. | | == '''History''' == |
| | The strip was inspired by baseball player Gil Hodges and Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe. The setting of Milford, where the strip takes place, was named after New Milford, Connecticut, where Berrill began writing the strip. Over the course of Berrill’s 38 years of writing the strip (until his death in 1996), he tackled sensitive social issues of the day, including divorce, drug abuse, and sexual harassment. As editorial standards loosened, the strip was able to address more controversial topics, sometimes drawing strong reactions, such as when the Denver Post received 30,000 calls after a week’s worth of strips was delayed. |
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| ==History== | | == '''Writers''' == |
| The strip was created by Jack Berrill, who modeled and named Thorp after baseball player [[Gil Hodges]] and Olympic athlete [[Jim Thorpe]].{{cn|date=April 2020}} The setting of Milford is named for [[New Milford, Connecticut]] when he began writing the strip.<ref name=Courant/> Berrill continued the strip until he died of cancer on March 14, 1996.{{cn|date=April 2020}} Over the course of his 38 years, Berrill broke ground with many of his stories, often dealing with sensitive social issues of the day. As editorial standards relaxed, he was able to move from stories about jalopies and after-school jobs to topics like teen pregnancy, divorce, steroids,<ref name="ct080907"/> and [[sexual harassment]].<ref name=Courant/>
| | After Berrill’s death, Jerry Jenkins, co-author of the ''Left Behind'' series, took over writing duties. Jenkins introduced more religious themes into the strip, with stories about an Orthodox Jewish football player and a teen pregnancy storyline. Following Jenkins, Neal Rubin of the ''Detroit News'' became the writer in 2004. In 2022, Henry Barajas, a graphic novel writer, was announced as the new writer for the strip, starting in July 2022. |
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| When the ''[[Denver Post]]'' had a problem getting a week's worth of strips, the newspaper received over 30,000 calls.<ref name=Courant>{{cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1993-09-08-0000005039-story.html|title=True Fans Follow Every Pitch from 'Gil Thorp'|last=Jacobson|first=David|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=September 8, 1993|accessdate=April 24, 2020}}</ref>
| | == '''Artists''' == |
| | [[Berrill himself]] drew the strip from 1958 to 1993, after which [[Warren Sattler]], a colleague of Berrill’s, took over the artwork due to Berrill’s glaucoma. [[Frank Bolle]], [[Ray Burns]], and [[Frank McLaughlin (artist)|Frank McLaughlin]] followed as artists. After McLaughlin’s death in 2000, Frank Bolle returned as the interim artist, later succeeded by Rod Whigham. In September 2024, Rachel Merrill will take over the art duties for ''Gil Thorp''. |
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| ===Writers=== | | == '''The Bucket''' == |
| Upon Berrill's death, Tribune Media Services chose author [[Jerry Jenkins]] (co-author of the ''[[Left Behind (series)|Left Behind]]'' novels) to take over writing the strip.<ref name="cr980205"/> Jenkins had been in discussions with TMS about expanding previous ''Gil Thorp'' stories into a series of youth novels and was a logical replacement. Many of Jenkins' stories were written uncredited by his son Chad Jenkins, a baseball coach at [[Bethel College (Indiana)|Bethel College]]. The Jenkins stories discussed overtly religious topics which had not appeared in the strip before, including an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] football player<ref name="jwr010821"/> and a 15-year-old pregnant girl whom Thorp talks out of getting an abortion.<ref name="cr030417"/>
| | ''The Bucket'' was an online forum hosted by the ''Chicago Tribune'' named after the teen hangout featured in the strip. It was a popular space for fans (referred to as “Bucketeers”) to discuss the strip and other topics, operating for 15 years before being shut down. |
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| In 2004, Jenkins was followed as writer by ''[[Detroit News]]'' columnist [[Neal Rubin]].<ref name="sr040417"/><ref name="ct080907"/>
| | The comic continues to resonate with readers, maintaining its blend of sports and social commentary, evolving with the times while still focusing on the lives of high school athletes and the challenges they face. |
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| In 2022, the Tribune Content Agency announced that graphic novel writer [[Henry Barajas]] would take over authorship of the strip beginning in July of that year.<ref name="barajas"/>
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| ===Artists===
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| The strip was drawn by Berrill from 1958–1993 until [[glaucoma]] forced him to turn the reins over to his Connecticut Cartoonist Associate colleague [[Warren Sattler]]. Later, [[Frank Bolle]] took over. followed by Ray Burns. [[Frank McLaughlin (artist)|Frank McLaughlin]] took over following Burns' death in 2000. On February 18, 2008, ''[[Apartment 3G]]'' artist Frank Bolle again took over art chores for ''Gil Thorp'' on an interim basis. Rod Whigham became the permanent artist two months later.<ref name="ct080303"/> Starting September 30, 2024 Rachel Merrill will become the artist for ''Gil Thorp''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gil Thorp comic strip welcomes Rachel Merrill as new artist |url=https://tribunecontentagency.com/news/gil-thorp-rachel-merrill/ |website=Tribune Content Agency |date=September 12, 2024 |access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref> | |
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| ==The Bucket==
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| The Bucket was an online forum hosted by the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', named after the teen burger hangout in the strip, The Bucket. It was a lively site for 15 years and featured discussions about the strip and other topics. Members of the community were known as "Bucketeers".{{cn|date=June 2013}}
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist|refs=
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| <ref name="cr980205">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Miner |work=[[Chicago Reader]] |title=Good Sports, Bad Sports |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/good-sports-bad-sports-tribs-buddy-system/Content?oid=895476 |date=February 5, 1998 |accessdate=January 23, 2012}}</ref>
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| <ref name="cr030417">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Miner |work=[[Chicago Reader]] |title=Gil Thorp Gets Benched |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/gil-thorp-gets-benchedfor-a-moment-we-were-scaredsafety-secondwhile-they-were-sleeping/Content?oid=911807 |date=April 17, 2003 |accessdate=January 23, 2012}}</ref>
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| <ref name="jwr010821">{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Fleishman |title=Who Was That Yarmulke-topped Man? 'Gil Thorp' Strip Gets Sabbath-observant Character |work=[[Jewish World Review]] |date=August 28, 2001}}</ref>
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| <ref name="sr040417">{{cite news |work=The Comics Reporter |title=Rubin Debut Ends "Passion of Gil Thorp" |url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/resources/longbox/2089/ |date=April 17, 2004 |accessdate=January 23, 2012}}</ref>
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| <ref name="ct080303">{{cite news |title=New Artist Set to Take Over ''Gil Thorp'' Strip |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=March 3, 2008}}</ref>
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| <ref name="ct080907">{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Downey |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |title=Timeless classic Gil Thorp looks at life on and off the fields of play |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-09-07/sports/0809060122_1_gil-thorp-neal-rubin-comic-strip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414064946/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-09-07/sports/0809060122_1_gil-thorp-neal-rubin-comic-strip |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |date=September 7, 2008 |accessdate=January 23, 2012}}</ref>
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| <ref name="barajas">{{cite web |title=Welcome to the team! Gil Thorp comic strip welcomes new author Henry Barajas |url=https://tribunecontentagency.com/henry-barajas/ |website=Tribune Content Agency |date=June 29, 2022 |accessdate=June 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629164046/https://tribunecontentagency.com/henry-barajas/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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| ==External links== | | ==External links== |
| *[http://www.gocomics.com/gilthorp/ Gil Thorp on GoComics.com] | | *[http://www.gocomics.com/gilthorp/ Gil Thorp on GoComics.com] |
| *[http://toonopedia.com/gilthorp.htm ''Gil Thorp''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240527223805/https://www.webcitation.org/6k6xATUWg?url=http://toonopedia.com/gilthorp.htm Archived] from the original on August 28, 2016. | | *[http://toonopedia.com/gilthorp.htm ''Gil Thorp''] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. [https://archive.today/20240527223805/https://www.webcitation.org/6k6xATUWg?url=http://toonopedia.com/gilthorp.htm Archived] from the original on August 28, 2016. |
| *[https://web.archive.org/web/20030513203504/http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype/2003/030418_1.html "Gil Thorp Gets Benched"] by Michael Miner, ''[[Chicago Reader]]'', April 18, 2003 (Archived May 13, 2003). | | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20030513203504/http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype/2003/030418_1.html "Gil Thorp Gets Benched"] by Michael Miner, ''Chicago Reader'', April 18, 2003 (Archived May 13, 2003). |
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Gil Thorp}} | | {{DEFAULTSORT:Gil Thorp}} |
Gil Thorp is a long-running sports-oriented comic strip created by Jack Berrill, which debuted on September 8, 1958. The comic focuses on the life of Gil Thorp, the athletic director at Milford High School, who also coaches the football, basketball, and baseball teams. While the comic revolves around sports, it also explores important social issues, such as teen pregnancy, drug abuse, and steroids, reflecting the challenges faced by teenagers.
History
The strip was inspired by baseball player Gil Hodges and Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe. The setting of Milford, where the strip takes place, was named after New Milford, Connecticut, where Berrill began writing the strip. Over the course of Berrill’s 38 years of writing the strip (until his death in 1996), he tackled sensitive social issues of the day, including divorce, drug abuse, and sexual harassment. As editorial standards loosened, the strip was able to address more controversial topics, sometimes drawing strong reactions, such as when the Denver Post received 30,000 calls after a week’s worth of strips was delayed.
Writers
After Berrill’s death, Jerry Jenkins, co-author of the Left Behind series, took over writing duties. Jenkins introduced more religious themes into the strip, with stories about an Orthodox Jewish football player and a teen pregnancy storyline. Following Jenkins, Neal Rubin of the Detroit News became the writer in 2004. In 2022, Henry Barajas, a graphic novel writer, was announced as the new writer for the strip, starting in July 2022.
Artists
Berrill himself drew the strip from 1958 to 1993, after which Warren Sattler, a colleague of Berrill’s, took over the artwork due to Berrill’s glaucoma. Frank Bolle, Ray Burns, and Frank McLaughlin followed as artists. After McLaughlin’s death in 2000, Frank Bolle returned as the interim artist, later succeeded by Rod Whigham. In September 2024, Rachel Merrill will take over the art duties for Gil Thorp.
The Bucket
The Bucket was an online forum hosted by the Chicago Tribune named after the teen hangout featured in the strip. It was a popular space for fans (referred to as “Bucketeers”) to discuss the strip and other topics, operating for 15 years before being shut down.
The comic continues to resonate with readers, maintaining its blend of sports and social commentary, evolving with the times while still focusing on the lives of high school athletes and the challenges they face.
External links
