In case it isn't clear, the idea behind the last two panels is that Emily and Rain are still talking while the camera keeps its focus on Todd (and Debbie, who in this instance, is just passing by minding her business). I don't even imagine Emily and Rain are looking at Todd; they're just rolling their eyes and keeping going to their next class while talking about this freaking guy. I mean, there was another topic before Todd suddenly popped in, but that's been derailed for now. I guess we'll get back to that later, whatever it was. ;P
As for Todd, I'm not gonna ask again what his deal could be. I don't think the conversation is going to change much at this point (unless you have a new theory; then I'd love to hear it). We just have to see where it's going now. But I do want to stress that this IS all going somewhere. Todd's not just popping in periodically to offer random interludes of discomfort. It's all building to something (for better or worse).
I'm really worried about how Todd and Debbie cross paths. Just the previous week, they both made disparaging comments clocking Rain. I have a bad feeling they're going to out her...
I think Todd is gay but is super repressed from maybe a abusive homophobic parent. But I think he won't come out in high school. Maybe he will talk about abuse. Like his dad calling him slurs.
This is my guess too. He also probably has a couple of homophobic older brothers about to clock him so he thinks he needs to tell them he asked every girl on school.
He doesn't need outside/family influences. He's not into women, thinks it's not OK to be different (basically the school's take on sex ed) and is trying to force himself into a mold but his unconscious is making sure he never gets a yes through careful reputation management.
Possibly, but I honestly hope not. The cliche of homophobes just being closeted is rather old, not to mention problematic, since it suggests that Queer folks' most pressing danger is other Queer folk. Similarly, the cliche of the super misogynistic skirt-chaser actually compensating for being gay is kinda starting to let Straight men off the hook, while not addressing the actual problems of misogyny among many Gay men.
Not to say these things don't happen, but it's about the over-abundance of their usage in representation as stereotypes.
I guess I'm just trying to figure out a way Todd can become a semi-protagonist/ally, since everyone else who's had this much spotlight time has become one.
I am suprised that noone has made a complaint to one of the teachers over Todd yet. It is one thing to ask someone to the prom but he is taking it too far and everyone knows about it.
I go to a Catholic high school and I can confirm that this is definitely something that goes on. Rich families tend to buy their kids out of trouble and no one talks about, to the point that it's rare anyone even knows of specific instances.
My comment is based on the theory that Todd is not stupid. Thus we need a reason for seemingly irrational acts such as asking another junior to the prom. Thus: Todd is under intense pressure to succeed in sports. He is abusing anabolic steroids. The side effects lead to aggressive and irrational behaviour. (Todd having a bet with a friend that he can get some girl to say yes to going to the prom would also work, but is boring)
Todd being gay is a good theory, or he could just be the prick he presents himself to be. My theory is that Debbie will tell him about Rain, he'll believe her, and they'll go to prom together with the intention of exposing her to everyone.
Maybe...
Maybe Todd told some girl that he would only go to prom if they were the last available girl in school, and then realized how much he hurt their feelings, so to make it right he is now going around asking every girl in school in the most horrible, atrocious way possible so they will be sure to say no, to assure that if he goes to return to this person, he can say "Oops!" or something, and therefore he's really just mad at himself for being mean...
... or something. ^^;
That's the best and most high school movie-esque rationalization I can think of, anyway. It seems, in all greater likelihood, that he's just a desperate jerk.
and
you should respect them
Not to say these things don't happen, but it's about the over-abundance of their usage in representation as stereotypes.
http://rain.thecomicseries.com/comics/124/
Foreshadowing several years in advance, I'm amazed at how far this story must be planned out
Maybe Todd told some girl that he would only go to prom if they were the last available girl in school, and then realized how much he hurt their feelings, so to make it right he is now going around asking every girl in school in the most horrible, atrocious way possible so they will be sure to say no, to assure that if he goes to return to this person, he can say "Oops!" or something, and therefore he's really just mad at himself for being mean...
... or something. ^^;
That's the best and most high school movie-esque rationalization I can think of, anyway. It seems, in all greater likelihood, that he's just a desperate jerk.