Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 09, 2016

No, no, no, no. Please, no.

Quill, tell her what you really think.

Quill’s “uh-oh” doesn’t sound good.

“I’m doing nothing!” Oh gee, Luann, if you’re really all that bored and have some much idle time, maybe you could possibly… study??? or even read a book that’s not actually required, just to learn something interesting? OK, silly notion. Never mind.

I vaguely recall a conversation between these two on the subject—something about not getting out there Christmas/New Years and instead going for Spring Break.

So unless there are new developments, this is not going to be pleasant.

Of course, the trip to New York (which has already been postponed) must be put further out of reach. After all, if they go to New York together, some readers may infer that they are in fact sleeping together, and that must never be allowed to happen.

by the look on quill’s face, sounds like he may have other plans…ones that do not include luann.

He’s not too bright, or he would not be this passive aggressive. He’s boring. He barely has emotions. He only reacts when mightily pressed. If he was written out, it wouldn’t matter. So he should be. At least Luann has an excuse: She’s a drama queen and an airhead.

Tell her the end is near.Absolutely, nothing in common.

Luann is doing nothing? She’s going to community college, works with kids in an after-school job (one that she’s good at, according to her supervisor)—and she thinks that’s “doing nothing”? For God’s sake, Luann, you’re contributing to education and to the students’ futures. That’s SOMETHING. Think about that!

Why not? Everyone seems to want to tell this comic character what not to do, why not let her character do what it wants to do?

Uh Lu? This Bernice/Creepy Piro “Pair-Up” is a bit of a STRETCH.

Also, Maybe, just MAYBE, the reason WHY you’re “so y’know” is because YOU have a Habit of making plans for Somebody Else, without Their Prior Input.

But I’ve said too much. I’m gonna pop some popcorn and wait for Q-Ball’s announcement that Not only is He NOT going with You to New York on Spring Break, but He’ll be attending Julliard in the Fall.’’

ALONE.

Luann is not into chemistry I know, but she should be smart enough to see that she and Quill have none.

The More Things Change Department.Hit the way-back button and look at the oldest strip posted on this space. Interesting, no?

Uh-Oh? Sounds like Quill has already made plans with Pru for New York?

They have postponed the New York trip twice. First, Luann was supposed to accompany Quill on his trip to the internship program last summer, but Luann was offered the job at the day camp for schoolkids. She stayed home while Quill went to NYC alone (and met Pru there). The agreement was that they would instead take a vacation trip to NYC during Christmas break. That didn’t happend either, because Luann and Quill both had to stay in Pitt to assist with the opening of the Fuse (and be joined by Pru). Luann and Quill agreed to put the trip off until spring break, but now… (As I mentioned earlier, this one again removes the scenario in which it might be assumed that Luann and Quill were being intimate, so the strip’s purity has once again been saved by events!)

This can’t be good…

Someone play Boz Scaggs’ “It’s Over” for them.

True, Brd.

No…not another argument

Brooke McEldowney won’t allow people to criticize his strips, so he prohibits GoComics from letting anyone post comments.

See, Quill when you don’t communicate first- THIS HAPPENS! She’s gone off a tangent all on her own . . . . sigh.

Has this story “jumped the shark” for Luann? Will she turn to Gunther? Piro?

That guy was too weird!

The hand of Prudence must save the day(for Quill.)

Luann perfectly ecapsulated the relationship. I have been neglected and losing you to Pru, tell me Im wrong. Quill knows the jig is up and can no longer make it look like she is wrong.

Quill has plans with Pru. Maybe they’re going to Australia to meet Dad. He may have wanted it to look like he was visiting Australia and Pru was returning to NY. Boy could Gunther catch a rebounder. But I hope it doesn’t go there.

When Pru said, “I’ll let you two chat,” maybe Quill was supposed to get it done (breaking up with Luann).

First, Quills character is being changed to be less likable. We are being manipulated. Second, he is about to break Luann’s heart.

Well, yesterday, with all the “answer and question”, it seemed like a round of “Jeopardy!”. Now, it seems that Quill has “got the daily double, now” (♪)…but don’t think it would be a good time if his mind “went blank” (♪), right about now… – Good thing Quill is majoring in Drama….

Third, why are Luann’s eyes so small and round? And why is she spewing complete nonsense in panel 2? Boo!

oh just break up already, you two are going in different directions, (well Quill is going in a direction and who knows what luann is going for.)

“You’re Right, Miranda!”“The Incrimination Proclamation”“That Deer In Headlights Look”“Sooner Or Later, Love That Trip Is Gonna Getcha…” (♪)“One Way Or Another” (♫)“Double Jeopardy”“Anywhere But Here”“That Sinking Feeling”“The Nervous Wreck Of The S.S. Quill”“Move On Over, Edmund Fitzgerald!t” (♫)“Gimme Three Steps” (♫)“Yellow Alert”“Anywhere, But Here”“Start Spreadin’ The News….” (♪)“The Heat Is On” (♫)“You Don’t Belong To The City” (♪)or“New York City!!!!????”

That “Uh-oh” is for a reason. Obviously he has made other plans. Perhaps those plans include Pru. And Lu seems to only seems to be giving half of the reason. Pru has invaded her relationship with Quill and invaded her home. Why is this girl paying rent to live at a location where she could work for free? Come to think of it, what is Quill’s pay for all of his efforts?

I just realized it’s February. I see an arc coming over the horizon where Mr. Gray puts the squeeze on the Degroots.

Oh I hate this guy! Luann is opening herself up to him and he just keeps ignoring her. ASS!

Not sure why the creators of this strip seem determined to turn their viewpoint character into a punching bag, or someone who feels lost in her own life. Sad.

Quill’s already got something planned with Pru,mark my words.

CAUTION: Other shoe about to drop… and it’s a steel-toe Red Wing work boot.

WOW! hes NOT so looking forward to NYC with Lu anymore. I think was is over before it started. TOO many opportunities, TOO young to think of commitment,and looks like Quill is already TOO over Lu. And not exactly because of Pru herself. Quill is not into Pru at all. it’s not a case of women troubles, but of great opportunities troubles. End it an become useful college educated people. make money now and make love later.

@Caldonia – Luann is not an airhead. TIFFANY is an airhead. I think Luann is portrayed with all the feelings and fears most of us girls had growing up….and she has come a LONG way to becoming a smart, empathetic and likable person. I didn’t like her that much in the early Luann strips. She was portrayed more as a loser…a “sad sack”. Not anymore. And Quill needs to go.

She thinks Brad and Toni’s wedding planning is exciting…?

Uh oh. Surely he didn’t make plans with Pru for spring break. This is getting worse and worse.

I don’t understand why the creators of the strip have Luann absentee from her parents’ venture. She cancelled her trip to NY with Quill to help her parents out and now she is ‘doing nothing’ to help….this from a young woman who has been previously portrayed as theatrically inclined and gifted at stage design. This is ridiculous. It’s as though this has been invented just to put tension in the Quill – Luann relationship.

More wheel-spinnin’ like it’s been on this strip for a decade.

Quill loves Pru, no sugar coating that.

Come spring break, Quill will be making an exit, a la Aaron Hill, to NYC. Without Luann.

Interesting reaction there Q-ball. You were acting so coolly superior up to that point. Were you expecting an emotional break-up scene? A lot of pathetic groveling? Instead, you’re getting a maturing young lady. Who wants to talk about how to make your relationship work.

I’d love to know what the “Uh oh” is about. I’m not sure if he has actually made plans to be with Pru. Like everyone seems to be eagerly speculating. He did tell her yesterday she could talk to him anytime. Unless he was just being facetious. Anyways, I would find the whole thing poetically ironic. Or is it ironically poetic? (whatever) Her problem was feeling like Quill wasn’t talking to her. And moving on without her. And if, as so many seem to hope, he is dumpling her for Pru, then he just looks like a big jerk. One, because he would have made plans with one girl. Without first breaking up with his first girl. Which would seem to prove the point about why she was upset in the first place. Plus she is putting forth an effort to fix their relationship. While he is presumably getting ready just dump the whole thing.

Remind me again; Just who is the immature one here?

That’s why ur not happy Luan, self pity, when it’s what about me, how about me, me, me, me, it be misery.

I think someone is about to get dumped.

For AnnDeeQ “ComfyCouchO’Confusion v3.0”

-Where’s that poster who keeps running polls? I have one for the poster: What should be the new name of this ’toon?

Choices include: (1) Lu Who? (2) New Adventures of Old Bernice, Gunther, Brad, Nancy and Frank (3) The Born Loser Version 2.0

Most “telling” aspect of this series: she’s pouring her heart out and he’s continuing to “work” and has his back to her. This relationship is over or should be.

Now Quill, try to restrain your enthusiasm.

@husky51

For what it’s worth, I agree with you. I wish they’d work on their relationship. I’ve always liked them as a couple although it does look like Quill’s been given a personality change recently that I don’t like and which looks like a setup for a breakup. Not for the first time, I wonder what female readers who are Luann’s age would want to see happen with her relationship with Quill. If they’re out there it would be interesting to read what they have to say

Yup…. I can see it now….. He’s already going to New York…. with “Pru”. Oh Luann, meet someone else already….. you shouldn’t have to beg for attention. smh….

Yes.

Repeat after me, Luann, “Quill, these are my needs in this relationship, and they are not being met. I need to feel important and cherished.” And Quill: “My primary focus is going to be theater arts. I like the friends with minor benefits status of relationship. I am not ready, if ever, for more.” Prudence is not the problem, so much as an inability to be direct and emotionally honest. But one has to have gone around the block a few times to get that, I guess.

Brdshtt GoComics PRO Member said, about 8 hours ago@The AirmanI just hope she doesn’t have to turn to that mini – Elvis dude. . . . . -—————————-He seems in the volcano with Aaron.Not much loss there.

Exactly, but we need a fox. Prudence won’t do.

Two things you never want to hear when your relationship is on the rocks; “Uh-Oh” and “We need to have a talk.”

It’s interesting that so many commentators used to love their “Quilly” because he was “Mr. Perfect” and they could ‘ship the Lu/Q duo. Now that he’s apparently losing interest in Luann, though, they regard him as despicable. This shows that Quill really has no value as a character on his own since he’s so vapid; his only contribution to the strip is to tell Luann how wonderful she is. Once he stops doing that, he is of no further interest. It’s time for him to get his big job offer working on Broadway in some capacity, so that the strip can replace him with someone who is actually interesting and can offer more to the stories than just being there.

I do not give a damn who ends it, but this lose of a romance needs to end.Quill needs to be just a friend.Luann needs to realize that much of her life IS a rut, but that is to a decent extent because she just sticks to same-old-same-old. Habits are powerful with her; exploration perhaps scary for her. I like Luann, but for gosh sakes, get involved with some new people and try on some new experiences! Learn!The too often nasty cheering in the comments section for one or the other to end it rather than either doing so has so much this week left me wondering how many people are far more reflecting personal experiences that other readers can not even know about, but without explanations those stall. Some people explain their “whys” and that offers learning experiences into new ways of thinking, but arguing without supportive information just gets people going in unpleasant circles. People who coukd find friendships instead close themselves up. Hey! Reality sometimes DOES echo the “funny papers”. It sure has been happening here.

7Still very interesting!However, I am hoping that the “Uh-Oh” is not the start of Quill being painted as the “bad guy” in this. I think that would be unfortunate. I would much rather this story arc proceed where Luann realizes that she a) was not effectively communicating with Quill for quite a spell, b) she was not nice in her yelling at Quill recently, and c) the “spring break” NY trip was not something she and Quill had discussed… the second rendition of the trip was set for Christmas, but the needs of The Fuse put the kibosh on that. No specific plans were made for this spring break.I am really hoping that how Greg approaches this is by showing that the lack of communication (IMO mostly in this case on Luann’s part, but Quill could do better as well) is the true death knell for any relationship. I am sure Quill has something already planned that is NOT New York for spring break. I hope it is something important but innocuous so he does not get painted as the bad guy.

Don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m really getting tired of Luanne. She’s such a baby, and clueless as far as Quill is concerned. HE’S NOT INTERESTED ANY MORE! Figure it out and get another life!

INEWS FLASH: Luann you have been preempted

Good points!

Luann needs to find someone just like her, dull, boring, no apparent meaningful goals, and afraid to move out her comfort zone, better described as a “rut”;

Quill appears to have already moved on; sorry about that, but really Luann, you have no one to blame but yourself

Or Prudence.

“New York? Sure, if you don’t mind a threesome.”

That could happen ;-)

Ohhhhh, my favorite post so far today!

-To someone who doesn’t care if you’re the same room or not? Hope not.

I have a feeling that Quilly is going to break up with luann. Cause I feel like he is thinking about just what gunther said he has nothing in common with luann but he has more in common with pura and he likes being with pura

This will not go well

Thank you so very, very much for finding that, Implausible! It is much better than my response was.

Good lord, your idea is so awesome. My biggest gripe with the character of Luann is that her defining attribute is “boy-crazy.” She is always completely obsessed over some guy or another (and given the fact that the strip clearly won’t let her actually hook up with any guy, it all feels like spinning wheels in the end). To see her completely independent and out on her own would be a breath of fresh air, especially without people like Bernice cutting her down all the time.

Years ago a sweet soul on Lost Side of Suburbia taught me to paragraph. On ONE LINE you TWICE, WITHOUT BREAKS use<br>

Uh-oh. “Uh-oh” sounds as if Quill has already made Spring Break plans that don’t include Luann. Maybe he’s going to be with Pru?

Uh-oh, indeed.

“I know I’ve been a beech from H E double hockey sticks for letting my imagination run wild after consulting a made-up Tarot deck, but I know you’ll forgive me and allow me to plan your future for you, because, I’m so good at that.”

I’ve always loved Quill right from the start but he is really beginning to tee me off. We all know what that “uh oh” means – He’s already planned to spend Spring Break with Prudence doing a revival of Carnal Knowledge at an All Nudist Camp.

People have been bashing Luann for being clueless and stuck in her own little head but maybe that’s more a symptom of our feckless little Aussie. He goes on and on about how Pru is “just a friend” when clearly she is more than that since she takes prescient over everything else in his life.

Quill’s problems is and has been is he makes plans without consulting his girlfriend. He just let’s everyone talk him in to do something and then gets mad when Luann doesn’t nod her head in agreement like a Stepford Girldfriend.

Luann, yank that boomrang off your neck and throw it in the j@ck@$$’s face.

-Pssst. Hey, Luann! Over here!

I’m one of your readers. Never mind what that means. Just listen up.

You need to stop what you’re doing right now, and go on over to the library for a book called “Saving Ophelia”. It’s about helping teen girls to understand that they don’t have to live around and through a guy.

After you read that, you might want to take a good look at what you’ve been thinking lately. You’ve been thinking that everyone has something great going except you, so you want to get back to where you used to be with Quill.

Except, first of all, no one else in your life is in any greater shape than you are. Bernice doesn’t really ‘have’ Piro; probably nobody does, including Piro. And Bernice is not doing so well with her RA stuff and her plans to be a counselor.

Toni and Brad are still trying to figure out how to have a wedding, so they haven’t got it all sorted, either. Neither have your parents with ‘The Fuse’, since they probably spent their retirement money on it, and still have to figure out how to pay Mr. Gray back…

And Gunther? Gunther is still annoyed that the women in his life refuse to play the roles he has for them in his head.

And second point? Now that you know you don’t have to hang onto Quill or you have no life, just let him go. All he wants right now is a career. He has no time for you, anyway.

Now that you’ve cleared your mind of the junk your creator put in there, about how you had to be boy crazy and what, find a real counselor at your community college and try to figure out what your best course choices are for next year. You know you like working with kids, so maybe that’s one option.

And if you really need to take a trip over Spring Break, you might want to visit the friendly folks over at ‘Rose is Rose’. Even though Rose gets depressed occasionally (like you do), most of the time, she and her husband really love each other, and their son, Pasquale, is pretty terrific even when bullied. It’s a friendlier place than Pitts, where you seem to be regarded as shallow or expendable by not only your so-called fans, but seemingly also your creator.

You know how creators can be when they don’t like how their creations are acting. You might end up in a whale’s belly. Oh, wait, that was over at ‘Non Sequitor’ or however it’s spelled. Don’t visit there. You’ll get et by a bear.

Just leave that boomerang necklace behind, and get on with things. I’m sure you’ll be much less depressed.

And be careful of cavemen who drink coffee. They don’t like you.

Brooke McEldowney has run commentary in “Pibgorn” from time to time, when he is reprinting a previous story. In that commentary he tells about letters he received on the strip that is being reprinted today and why the letter writers completely missed the point, etc., etc. It is clear he has a very disparaging view of anyone who fails to recognize his comics as literary and artistic creations of the very highest merit. (He uses his “troll” character to “Pibgorn” to ridicule his Internet critics.) But enough about him, let’s focus on “Luann” instead…

After their latest argument Quill probably thought that was the end of the relationship. It is too badly damaged to be talking about taking any trip together. Why would he want to spend Spring Break with someone he doesn’t like being around? Luann should spend some time alone and learn to enjoy her own company. Then she wouldn’t be so needy.

Luann feels left out and uninvolved. No one has offered to have her assist. She tried once and was told to go home by Pru.

Agreed. Quill is doing his best Spock impression. Luann is Bones.

I’m hoping Aaron Hill will reappear…

Why are there no gay characters in this strip? Maybe this rejection will be enough to push LuAnn in that direction.

Why is he being a jerk to her? Can’t he stop and look at her while she’s talking to him?

Luann is the new “Cathy”

Well said, and a constructive way to think about Quill’s journey as a focal point.

The other shoe is due to drop.

Quill, if you break my girl’s heart I will find you!

lol

ArcaMax allows for comments

you’re right! I hadn’t seen that they carry 9CWL. I wonder how Brooke missed that one? ( I guess they can get away with it like any newspaper site can too if they carried it). Still, Arcamax is a Den of Iniquity, so I’m not likely to go there to post anyway. Good to know tho.

“Zebu and Friends”!Hey, it will attract nearly as many enthusiastic fans as another round of “Fogarty Flashbacks”!

The difference is that Charlie Brown gets dumped on by life despite his best efforts. He works really hard, fails, but then picks himself up and tries again. He gets very few victories, but the ones he does get are hard-fought.Luann tends to just drift around with no firm goals or plans, and once in a while life just rewards her with a victory dropped in her lap. For example, she scribbles together her submission for art class literally at the last possible second…. and wins the competition. Even she was surprised at that one.Charlie Brown’s obsession over the Little Red-Haired Girl was more pathetic than Luann’s over Aaron Hill, but to be fair, the kid’s only like 8 years old. Plus he had plenty of other interests and didn’t talk his friends’ ears off about her…

Something I wonder. Where do Quill and PRU get there money? PRU isn’t getting a salary and is paying rent. I can’t see either one having enough to not need a steady job.

Wrong approach LuAnn! It’s not just about you, it’s about the two of you. This is not going to end well.

I believe that all the streets in Pitts say “Dead End – No Outlet”.

“Sorry, Babe. Prudence and I have an adult movie to make over spring break. It’s a documentary about nursing homes.”

-But Charlie Brown was supposed to be the kid who always lost. (Suspect that Schultz felt that way a lot as a kid…)

I thought Luann was supposed to be about an ‘average’ teen. Not someone from an old silent movie called ‘The Perils of Pauline’, where the female lead keeps being kidnapped by bad guys and tied to railroad tracks…

For all of Luann’s supposed sensitivity towards people she seems totally oblivious to her lack of ability to connect with Quill. Her wide eyed naivete is almost too much to bear. Quill is avoiding the problem he knows he has. I believe he still feels some affection for Luann despite the fact that they are on different wavelengths. He doesn’t know how to deal with it.

Did she think about saying that or did it just pop out? It looks like Quill has other plans or his man parts just kicked in when he realized what that implied.

I definitely liked Luann-Quill when they did things together. I’m with others in that I find them boring now. Unlike others, I don’t see them breaking up. The theater is too much a part of The Fuse and he is the theater connection.

Re: rotaries. I believe we call them round-abouts in this area.

Uh oh sounds like someone has moved on.

I wonder if we’re going to need a sequel to the January 31 strip.

SPOILER

If ‘uh-oh’ was a bit painful, the next step twists the knife.

Turn around and walk away, Luann. Don’t beg. Don’t yell. Leave and don’t look back.

Didn’t the railroad track scenario from The Perils of Pauline (filmed in New Hope, PA, where the old train rides can be fun) serve as the inspiration for Snidely Whiplash tying Nell to the tracks in the Dudley Doright stories?

So…Quill has turned into a creep too.

Very cool, Argy! I only knew about the New Hope ones.

LOL!!!!!