Not really, but Gil, a newspaper comic strip that made its debut Monday, goes where few family strips have gone before, exploring the trials and exasperations of an 8-year-old boy raised by a single mom.

"Yay, alternate weekends," Gil deadpans in one panel after his deadbeat dad admits he has no plan for the day other than buying a lottery ticket.

"I don't think the situation will be all that alien to readers,'' says writer and artist Norm Feuti, who was raised with his sister in a broken home. "It's a very personal strip to me, but not 100% autobiographical. The overall message is that sense of wonder and optimism of being a kid, no matter the circumstances.''

"Gil is more optimistic than Charlie Brown," says Brendan Burford, comics editor for King Features. "There are dozens of classic family strips, but there's always room for new voices.''

King Features is syndicating the strip in Chicago, St. Paul, Portland, Ore., and other newspapers for starters. Gil also will be available online at more than 100 newspaper websites connected to King Features' Comics Kingdom, along with mobile and tablet apps through DailyINK.com.

"This is well-done," Burford says. "It's funny, well-drawn, and it reflects what is reality for a high percentage of American households.''

The government estimates that almost half of marriages end in divorce, and one out of four American children are being raised by a single parent.

In one Sunday strip, Gil's friend Shandra offers little sympathy when Gil complains about his father. "At least he's part of your life," Shandra says. "My mom took off when I was a baby. … She's never called or written."

"Alright! You win!" Gil says in the final panel. "Sheesh!"