Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 16, 2016

I don’t know which would be sadder, if Jonah woke up one morning and realized he missed Shannon growing up, or if he just didn’t care.

But, Shannon, does Dad always show up for YOUR shows?

She may be doing a solo.

If Toni thought Jonah was at the Fuse and so could take Shannon home, then why is she here?

he lost a long time ago. shannon wont be 6 forever

And why do she and Brad always wear their dress uniforms? Won’t they have to change, to fight fires?

I do, Alien Hunter. And what do you get out of this trollery, discouraging people from enjoying themselves? And have you nothing better to do?

YOU don’t know this blog do you? Anyway its nice to see Toni again. The rest of the dialogue is self-explanatory. Lets see where it goes.

If this is rehearsal, where’s the other half of the acts, Bernice , Gunther, etc.?

Speak for yourself. Many of us read the comments and find them at least as entertaining as the comic. EXCEPT WHEN THEY ARE ALL IN CAPS. Go back to Mars

So does anyone else foresee a Shannon-Luann duo coming?

I am a “Luann” fan, I really am, but… I wish Greg would figure out how to draw his main character in a way that makes her look natural when she’s just standing around. Toni looks natural. Tiffany, when she’s in the strip, looks natural. Luann is well beyond “that awkward phase” – doesn’t she deserve to have a natural-looking stance too? (The same goes for Bernice, by the way.)

I know the feeling of an absentee father and I just want to give Shannon a hug.

So this could be another Evans surprise: Dad puts on a really good show with Shannon.

If he does show up to see Shannon perform, it’d be interesting to change the number to “Cat’s in the Cradle”, or “Turn Around” (aka ‘Where Are You Going, My Little One") or "The Men in My Little Girl’s Life" and see Jonah’s response.

Some of us get here even earlier. Where I am its 11:30 Friday. So there!

I wonder if Alien Hunter is familiar with the concept of time zones…

I also wonder why I should care.

I DO! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?

Now I’m wondering if Brad will show up. Then he could put on a show with Toni.

When people ask the question: "Where’s my… ", it’s in order to ‘confirm their suspicions’, not always an ‘interogative of recollection’ or of ‘filling in missing blanks’. It is in order to let someone else tell you for a change, instead of you always confirming your own suspicions… which I’m sure Toni always has to do, regarding her own brother, conatantly …since she is usually the one he sticks Shannon with….-In other words, she was entertaining even the slimmest hope that he’d actually show interest in his daughter, above and beyond his own interests (helping his own daughter get ready, and sacrificing his ‘one big chance’ to be in a show, since he apparently seems to be always having plenty of those)…

“As The Girl Turns”“A No Show Is Status Quo”“An Inconvenient Truth”“Anybody- But- Daddy Day Care”“A Stray Cat Audition”“Seltzer in His Ways”“‘Cats’ Got His Tongue…And Everything Else…”“Leaving A Major Role For A Bit Part”“…For A Lead Role In A Cage On A Stage” (♪)“Wish You Were Here” (♬)“Echoes” (♬)“On The Run" (♬)“No Time To ‘Breathe’ " (♬)“Remember A Day?” (♬)or “One Of These Days….” (♬)

Actually, Alien Hunter could’ve been using a bit of tricky ‘reverse commenting psychology (as is often used in trolling)’ ….in effect, making a statement that any of us who reads (or maybe even that the author of the comment) would know is preposterous or outrageous or ridiculous, yet in reading, one can’t help but feel the need to respond to….-Probably was also a convenient opportunity for them to make such a statement, as there must have only been 7 comments up, at the time he posted (2 a.m. EST, 11 p.m. Pacific). Typically, there are around 12-20 comments already up at that time.

Yes, Shannon, that’s how your father spins things.

He won’t show up. His daughter just isn’t important to him at all.

Since ALIEN HUNTER won’t see this, he is a “self made man”. Think about that one. That was a line in an old movie. The character said “I may be a ba$tard but you are a self made man”.

Bring on the understudy! (i.e. Brad)

Dude, stop yelling.

No surprises here. He is what he is.

Jonah knew Toni was planning to be there. Maybe she expected to get together with both him and Shannon and share a treat at the cafe, as per some previous plans they had. We know he actually shows for things here and there, but also that he drops plans and expects Toni to take on all responsibilities without warning very often.Toni and Brad have both for some time had the added responsibility of speaking for the fire department to public groups. The days they are in dress uniforms may be such days.While Shannon woukd thrive w Toni and Brad instead of Jonah she still for quite a time would, in that case, wonder if her dad’s leaving was her fault. It takes quite a bit of growing before offspring are able to see their parents as vulnerable humans, sometimes weaker than they themselves are. Until then much of the healing and resulting forgiveness (both for the parent(s) and for the self) can not yet happen. So, if she winds up w her father gone there is going to be sadness, feelings of abandonment, and some self-blame (including if he dies since she is so young) along with the feeling of security that Toni and Brad would provide, basically more of what Shannon already shoulders on both the good and the bad sides till she grows into understanding.

well put. in both posts.

Grommit, i can remember Shannon in the past being four, but not if she also was in the strip at a younger age, so she has had at least two of her “life’s” years in the strip since she is now six.

Has Shannon’s mother ever been mentioned?

Thank you, Dog.

Is it known for sure that teams evans doesnt read the comments? Or just speculated since they don’t comment. This is the tune with amongst the most comments on gocomics and I woukd be surprised if they didnt read. In my five months of regular reading of Luann I have gotten the sense that some of the comments influenced the plot trajectory but is perhaps just a coinky dink

How is the kid has coal black hair when dad is a blonde? Shouldn’t there be at least a few streaks of light hair on her head? Maybe it’s just to difficult to draw…

ENOUGH of this ‘Small World’ Crap!

Shannon! Let’s give ’Em some REAL Music, Shall We?

The “Get Up” song from that Beer Commercial. You know, that stuff your Dad drinks until He’s passed out on the floor? Yeah, THAT.

Okay, at the TOP of Your Lungs, HIT It!!

“Get UP! (Get on UP!)”“Get UP! (Get on UP!)”“STAY on the Scene, Like a COFFEE Machine!” (Get on UP!)"[Piano Solo]“HUAH! HIT Him!! CATCH Les, Money-Taker! CATCH Les, Money-Taker!”“Get UP! (Get on UP!)”“Get UP! (Get on UP!)”“GIT UUUUP!!!!!’

Theater folk! Many professionals, anyway.

This is a possible scenario to explain what’s happening here:(1) Jonah doesn’t actually intend to rehearse with Shannon, but he tells Toni that he does.(2) Brad asks Toni to babysit Shannon after the rehearsal, so that he can attend an audition. Toni agrees.(3) There’s no reason that Toni would come to the Fuse to pick Shannon up after the rehearsal, instead of just having Jonah drop her of at Toni’s house as he goes to his audition. So Jonah makes up some excuse such as Toni can watch Shannon dance at the end of the rehearsal, and then they can all have a snack together at the Kafe Kablooie, after which Jonah will go to his audition and Toni will take Shannon home with her.(4) This gives Toni a reason to show up at the Fuse, as Jonah had told Nancy and Pru she would (in Wednesday’s strip), and it also gives Toni a reason to expect Jonah to be there when she arrives, as happens in today’s strip.As I say, this (kind of) works. The problem is that we have to come up with it ourselves, or some other alternative, since the part of the story that Evans shows us makes no sense without some such explanation, and Evens doesn’t provide one. We should not have to write his strip for him. This is the point that I have been trying to make about all these things that make no sense (such as wearing costumes just to sign a list). There may be a logical explanation, but if so, it’s the writer’s job to provide it, not the readers’!

This is from experience here. One day Shannon will wake up and the blinders will be off. Jonah will promise anything to her to be his little girl again. But, by that time, Brad will have become her father figure, ( which he already is ) and he will be out in the cold.

Jonah said that Toni would pick up Shannon later, so of course Jonah contacted Toni. Why would she think Jonah is there if he said he would not be there?

Shannon summed up her dad in one sentence, “He always shows up for HIS shows”. It’s all about him. I can see that once Toni and Brad get married, they’ll adopt Shannon. Her dad is a waste of flesh.

Well said!JPuzzleWhiz said, 32 minutes ago@seismic-2If Toni thought Jonah was at the Fuse and so could take Shannon home, then why is she here?She probably sees very little of him as it is, so she seizes every opportunity to do so.

Are Toni and Jonah twins?

Puzz, i can certainly understand some of the off-Luann statements.For me, THIS gives the best statements i have heard on why ALL lives matter. It is by a woman who is both Black by ancestry and culture, AND Blue by choice. It was made before the Dallas shootings but after many needless deaths and beatings of people who happen to be of color (including a dear friend who has a doctorate, is a senior citizen, is Black, and who was beaten by police when he met them at the door of his own home to apologize for his malfunctioning alarm and say the repair people were on their way).A sad reality of life is that there are those who do not value those who differ from them. Recently, we saw that across economic classes when we shared info here on the land theft, harassment, and cutting of essential services and access (even loss of water for a very elderly woman for ten days) in Scotland when a wealthy person wanted to force people off their own land to enlarge two golf resorts. We saw it with innocents shot, an elderly man battered to the point of needing hospitalization after coming out of his mosque, a woman raped with the man almost entirely getting off because he was famous and wealthy, and more. Everything falls apart when people forget that everyone here on the planet matters and deserves respect and has value, no matter their genetic color, their color of service, their age, their gender, their religion, who they love, their identities, etc. it is just as great a sorrow that their are people fanning hatred as that there are those engaging in it. Both kill.

Opps, i forgot to include the link, Puzz.

http://tingilinde.typepad.com/starstuff/2016/07/a-powerful-reaction-to-the-shootings.html

Forgot to let you know i had left a word of thanks, yesterday….

For further insight into Jonah’s history, please check out the June 6-12, 2010 strips ( this one link is smack dab in the middle, and you can go to the beginning or end)….

I don’t read past the first page

Toni is correct, whether her view is popular or not. Shannon will be disappointed by that phony Jonah, who probably has no acting gigs, just some criminal activity.Allen Hunter may not be completely accurate, but he is closer to the truth than many of the regulars here can or will see….

Why is Luann wearing a blue vest? Is it part of some kind of uniform? Why didn’t she pick a green one? Why wear a vest at all? Why isn’t this explained, and left up to the poor reader to figure out?!

I think it’s a top with contrasting sleeves. They’re a fairly popular T-shirt variation here in California.

Dang! I missed that series.

I would like to think that if Jonah doesn’t make it…..Luann will dance with her….or (even better) BRAD WILL DANCE WITH HER!!!

Maybe they can put dad in their show. They might have to tell him some big shots will be watching.

Jonah always shows up for his work, she’s saying. So he can provide for her.-He might not show up for the talent show because no one knows when it is. Well, the readers sure don’t, because we still haven’t been informed

Toni and Brad without “dress” uniforms:

There is a game called flamebaiting that is usually played by 12 to 14 year olds, typically boys who have not yet figured out age appropriate socializing, in which they collect and count the direct responses they get and compare to see who got the most.

I have my own game to play in response, and the best part of my game is that all the regulars can play as well!

It is called “how many flags can we attach to the flamebaiter’s post so that GoComics can consider kicking his teenage posterior off of the site”. The rules are obvious. Feel free to play.

@gromit82She won’t be 6 forever? Shannon has been 6 for the last 20 years or so.

I don’t think she’s been in the strip that long.

Well, it depends on whether or not you believe the suppositions in the Wikipedia article and other places, in which Jonah never married Shannon’s mother, and Shannon was the older sister to Lindy Lewis (this allegedly explains why we don’t actually know Shannon’s last name). On that basis, Shannon was introduced on January 8, 1996:This is also allegedly supposed to explain why the unnamed Lindy’s sister looks exactly like Shannon does now. However, it stretches to the breaking point the time warping of the Luanniverse.

If it helps, I’ll go try to find the first appearance of the current Shannon.

Maybe Jonah will forget and not show up, and Luann will sing instead. and it will turn out to be a fine act.

I do. Don’t speak for everyone.

Greg has drawn them in pretty much the same “uniform” whether having a meeting at the Firehouse or washing down a firetruck. So the difference between their “dress” uniform and their everyday one appears to be minimal.

So is Jonah’s telling Nancy and Pru that Toni woul dpick Shannon up after the rehearsal, and then Toni’s arriving today and asking where Jonah is. As I pointed out earlier, it’s an apparent contradiction that can be explained, but it wasn’t. Sloppy.

@seismic-2I’m sorry if I come across to you as angry at you. I just don;t see the need to obsess over the every detail or to critique the writers. You really seem to have a frustration threshold that is very low.

I like Tiffany, and don’t care much for Shannon. Probably ironic because they both seem to have a parallel upbringing……rejected by daddy. One daddy recruited his sister, the other daddy gave his little girl a credit card. They both crave attention in their own age-appropriate way. Excuse me, Mr. Freud, if I’ve ventured out of my field.

It doesn’t matter at all how often we see her. If she wears her dress uniform to work on, say, 20% of her work days, then on 20% of the days that we do see her – whether that’s 5, 10, 20 or however many times a year – we should see her wearing her dress uniform, and on the other 80% of those days we should see her going to work in “civvies”. We don’t; instead we see her wearing her dress uniform probably 90% of the time or more. So either she does PR work over 90% of the time (and is on fire-fighting duty less than 10% of the time), or we have just been very unlucky by seeing her on just those particular days.

As several people have discussed, if Jonah had told Toni to come pick Shannon up for him after rehearsal, then she shouldn’t have been asking “Where’s Jonah?” when she arrived today. Apparently what he had told Toni that brought her to the Fuse was not what he was telling Nancy on Wednesday, but that apparent contradiction is just something we have to figure out for ourselves (e.g., he lied).

Sigh………………………..

Man such passion over story line, plot, story board details, character characteristics; must be a very superior comic strip that engages such interest and debate. Or…it makes a difference in people’s day, enough so they care enough to fight about it. Love is so weird (lol).

Great point about stories that are in series changing substantially over time as people find what works, and how that happens both in comic strips and tv series where the early episodes differ quite a bit from later ones, NG. A recent example is the Big Bang Theory, and a person does not have to go back to the demo which was substantially different, either. (Just said for those of us who have seen it.). The characters of both Sheldon and Leonard were rapidly altered considerably from how they were portrayed in early aired episodes.

For those interested in the unaired pilot show of BBT, there is info on it here. I have to get to some more work so can not chevk to see if this link links to that pilot itself, but maybe…http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/Unaired_pilot

You’re talking to yourself. No one even knows you’re playing a game. Were you a hall monitor when you were in school? Who appointed you monitor of this most public of web sites? The only free speech you like is your own. My rules are simple. You can play. Now go play in traffic.

I’ve noticed that more people engage in polite conversation from my posts than they do yours, so you were proven wrong before you even said the above.

Any games being played appear to be by you, not me. I’m just participating in a discussion amongst others who, like me, enjoy this comic.

If you weren’t so obsessed with “putting me in my place” (which would seem to be your mindset based on the tone of your posts) you might notice that I’m not the only one who calls out people for their behavior. You might also notice that my tongue-in-cheek “awards” draw positive responses from others here.

And your last sentence was nothing above what you accuse me of.

SPOILER

Shannon demonstrates skills with a drum…