Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 26, 2016

How musically talented is Brad? (Who can’t resist those mascara-covered puppy eyes?)

OMG! Shannon looks like a mini Tiffany!

Now watch him rock!

and I don’t comment often, but DANG!! I was FIRST!!

(sorry, had to say it :) )

Can the guitarist please lean in and suggest, “Rather than just lend you my expensive guitar to use as a prop by fake-strumming it (and probably damaging it) while an orchestral recording is playing in the sound system, why don’t I just go onstage with the little girl and just play the tune?” These people are acting as dumb as hammers.

Rrshannon’s dad needs to be horse whipped. Thank goodness for Aunt Toni and Uncle Brad.

I’m sure Brad is versed in Air Guitar technique.I’m just not sure Shannon ’s song has any windmill chops in it.(Why IS there recorded music anyway if Jonah was going to play?)

Knew it. Set-up well. OF course there are all kinds of ripples, but clearly Toni loves this, Shannon loves it, Brad loves it, Pru helped with it, so again another nail in fatherhood for Jonah. In the real world that is when the green demon jealousy comes into play.

Wait a SECOND! Brad? Can PLAY the Guitar?!?

Hot DOG! Brad! Play the Jimi Hendrix version of the “Star Spangled Banner!” No? Well, How about Frank Zappa’s “Inca Roads?” Don’t know that one, huh? Okay how about Cream’s “Sweet Wine?”“I’m Free,” by the Who?“Rambling On,” Led Zeppelin?“Tiptoe through the Tulips,” Tiny Tim??“This Land is made of Mountains,” Firesign Theater???

The Fuse better have it’s performance licenses in order.

And just to mix things up a bit, Jonah ’s already on stage waiting for his daughter as a surprise.

“So this is a guitar! Which end do you hold, and which end do you hit with your hand?”“I think I’ll take my guitar back now…”

Finally!A nice thing out of all the “nasty stuff.”And, don’t be too hard on Tiff.She helped, and before this is all over, something nice may come her way. Like that jerk Gunther, giving her some deserved time.

Shannon’s a born actress. She got all the genes her dad was supposed to have.

I hope when Jonah shows up Brad gives him the El Kabong on top of his head

“The Sum Of All Tears”“The Mascara Strikes Black”“Greater Pitts Statistical Area Degroot And The Shirley Temple Of Gloom”“Savers Of The Lost Arc”“Care Force One”“Cheer, And Pleasant Re-arranger”“Star Implorers”“To Beseech Her Own”“Ladies And Urgents”“In Her Hour Of Plead”“How Much Are The Puppy Dog Eyes In The Window Worth?”or“The Importance Of Being As Earnest As Possible”

Yes, it’s prohibited to use most online music sources for commercial performances, such as this one where the audience paid admission. However, Mr. Gray has a way of taking care of such matters. We would be wise not ask what that involves.

If this is in fact the last act (of over 30!), then maybe a big segment of the audience has already left by now. That will make it easier to get away with just dogging it.

I predicted this about 2 weeks ago!!

Toni’s eyes say Brad will be getting his reward after the lights go down.

I believe I have seen Brad with an acoustic guitar before, so he may know the basics. The little lass is not gonna be singing anything complex.

Not to forget, Tiffany and Gunther appearing together, which means rehearsing together, which means being together…..not a bad thing. They may have their own “after glow” after the show.

I remember a time when I was pretty well the only reader who loved Shannon, I know what it’s like to have a Dad who keeps you at a distance. I always knew she was lonely, not a brat.

Brad used to think of Shannon as a brat, but, now, if anything, he loves her as much as, if not more than he does Toni (IMHO).

These moments are heartwarming, Brad and Shannon have helped each other to grow up!

SukieCrandall GoComics PRO Member said, about 16 hours ago

@Mikeyj

You wrote:

I thought her crying had to do with her Dad screwing her over again… but, the idea of going onstage seems to be enough, to placate her.

A kid who goes through having a no show dad either learns ways to get through it, or winds up in worse trouble. Shannon has developed techniques.^^I do not disagree

Nope, beat ya to it. Before you appeared on the board (even when you were here), I had said a number of times, that if she was real, we would have room in our hearts and our home for her. Given someone who loves her and pays attention to her, she’d be a great kid, if she wasn’t already…^^I can’t recall that, but, I sure remember a time when almost everyone on the board called her a brat and hoped that Greg would dump the character, while I tried to explain that she just needed someone who really cared about her. (I see so much of my own childhood in Shannon… don’t ask for details; it was much too painful)

To those of you who think Brad will make a fool of himself, seems to me that I remember Brad fooling with an electric guitar in a few strips from the 80s… Of course, plenty of teens did that, but never learned to play it!

Brad replaced Jonah — the symbolism is through the roof. Yes, this adoption is going to happen.

I think Brad is going to surprise us.

Bwad is my hero.

Brad mans up for puppy-dog eyed Shannon. (Who could resist?) But will he really deliver? Maybe like so many of his generation he has some amateur guitar skills that we don’t know about; but getting on stage with Shannon is what counts, even if he only air-guitars it while a recording plays the music (Pru would have the music recorded for rehearsal purposes as well as for emergency back-up; it’s a stage manager/producer’s thing)….

Who could resist a little clown-face like that?

Called it.

OMG she looked like Tiff in the second Panel

Glad to see Brad step up!just hope he doesn’t get knocked down.

This could seal the deal with the love Toni has for Brad.

It’s a world of laughter, a world of tearsAnd I guess I’m on ‘cause that jerk’s not here…

He’s going to make a great dad one day.

If the strip really wants to portray Brad as a hero, it would show him realizing that by going out on stage and playing air guitar (with an actual guitar) he will look foolish, and by association so will Shannon. Rather than allowing that to happen, he would explain to Shannon that she should go on alone, or he would ask the real guitarist to go onstage and play the tune. As it is, the strip is showing that Brad is in fact maybe nor perceptive or thoughtful enough to be an effective parent.

Congrats to everyone who called it!

But by Brad’s looking foolish himself, the whole act will appear foolish, and Shannon will too. Brad should know better than to risk that’s happening.

Time for Brad to save the day!

Panel 2… Shannon is a miniature Tiffany.

What part of “It’s A Small World” has the Pete Townsend windmill solo?

5As anticipated, Brad is stepping into a “fatherly” role to take care of Shannon’s needs. I am happy Greg is showing this role for Brad. It is not the first time Greg has shown us this interaction…. but this instance is perhaps the most powerful one so far. I still think it is very unfortunate for Shannon to have had that garish makeup applied by Tiffany. I know she meant well, but it just harkens up in me all the images about those horrific shows that show how some parents exploit their children through overtly “adult” portrayals in dance competitions, pageants, etc. I still also hope that when Jonah receives his “comeuppance” for his abandonment of Shannon at this time (or at least being overly late)…. that it is out of earshot and vision of Shannon. Jonah is a damn “flake” but he is Shannon’s father, and no one should denigrate him in front of Shannon…. even if the talking to is warranted (like here). It would be too emotionally conflicting for Shannon.

My wife and I are raising our 7 year-old grand daughter…Bwad you’re my hero!

One of the things I have especially enjoyed about Greg’s story-telling in regards to Shannon is:I have truly been touched by the better behavior (less bratty, more gentle) displayed by Shannon as Brad has evolved into having a “fatherly” persona for Shannon. It is a quite nice, well crafted aspect of Shannon’s story. If Greg keeps the characters true to the form he has been creating, it is very interesting to me that it appears that Brad will be the more successful parent in Brad & Toni’s marriage. It seems like Brad has a natural inclination towards knowing how to parent, how to be a father figure, and how to interact with young kids. Toni, on the other hand, tends to be less comfortable in those roles. Do not get me wrong, Toni can (and probably will) develop more parenting skills as time progresses. It is just a nice bit of story-telling by Greg to have Brad be the better of the two at an innate level. I like that a lot.

Shannon still has the Tiffany bangs in her hair— Tiff must have used a ton of spray and waterproof makeup.

He’s gonna air-guitar it like suggested in a previous episode…way to go, Bwad!!!!!

Who is growing more from this relationship— Bwad or Shannon?

Both.

startin to wear that daddy badge, BRAVO ZULU

Brad, you are such a big softie! You will make a great father!

Hmmm, does anyone else see Brad & Toni’s marriage, followed by them adopting Shannon?

Things to hope for in the future:

1. That we never get to see either Toni or Brad yelling at Jonah for missing either the talent show, or their wedding.

2. That if anyone does yell at Jonah about either of the above, that it isn’t in Shannon’s hearing.

3. That it is Nancy who sits Jonah down for a discussion about his responsibilities as a parent, rather than either Toni or Brad.

4. That Jonah actually decides to make better arrangements for Shannon, or finds a theater-related job that’s more stable (like doing TV ads), so he doesn’t have as much traveling.

That people stop calling ‘Brad’ ‘Bwad’….

Orville pulled through. We have heard of ferrets and dogs who have gone into such deep spirals after a family member or dear friend died, that those animals also died, but this is the first time we have personally encountered it. We really were not sure that he was going to be around today.Thank goodness for our very dedicated and perceptive vets and vet techs, for IV, for testing, and for medication alternatives which let Orville pull through and come home. Sorrow is terribly powerful.

One thing more:I do feel sorry for Shannon as a character. She is going to have a great deal of emotional conflict eventually:1. She will, of course greatly appreciate Brad and his “fatherly” help and guidance.2. She will, undoubtedly continue to see Brad as more and more of a “father” figure in her life. 3. She will, begin to see, more and more clearly how her biological father, Jonah is a damn “flake”.4. She will, still, even when recognizing her biological father is a damn “flake”, still love him and want his love and support.But, and this is the hard thing for Shannon, she will end up having conflict internally about both Jonah & Brad as father figures. This will be true even if Brad and Toni do end up adopting her. Even with this conflict…. I am glad Brad is in Shannon’s life.

Turning on the waterworks from those big eyes. “The feminine wiles are strong in this young padawan”.

Someone may have already said this today, but if not: late last night i posted on yesterday’s strip when i was wondering if a tv news camera might be there, and the contrast of Shannon’s tear streaked makeup w the song might lead to a report of that act being seen as a touchingly poignant commentary. So, daughter would get on tv, but dad would not, though his name woukd be in the program.

What could possibly go wrong?

That is what a “Dad” does.

who orchestrated this change of events?- Shannon thinks she did, so she is confident- Brad thinks he did, so his “dad” badge is polished.- Pru thinks she did, so it’s proof she’ll be great in production- Tiff thinks she did, so she’ll hug her when she gets her bangles back.- Jonah thinks he did, so he’ll get kicked in the * by everyone else.

the high point of the show…the end

what a silly solution when there were so many better options. Maybe Pru will at least pipe in the music and Brad just pretends.

A child wearing makeup smudged up by tears dances badly to “It’s a Small World” as a shlub mimes playing the guitar behind her. An act worthy of a David Lynch film

I mentioned that about 3 or 4 days ago…-Good to know. I don’t always make it to the end of the comments. lol

So this is the last act, and we never saw any of the other 35 performers? Thank goodness for that! I did not want to watch the Luann-and-Bernice comedy routine. It would have been kind of fun to watch Gunther the Great when that stupid glue-on mustache fell off, though.

Bwad saves the day.

Brad looks like he slimmed some and grew 3 inches in the 3rd panel. LOL

Why do they have to adopt Shannon? Why are you all pushing for that?

Why can’t they offer to have Shannon live with them to give her more stability? She can go to her old room when Jonah is in town. There are lots of men whose jobs take them away for long periods of time whose children love their dads. Then they can lose all the animosity and Shannon can grow up happy, surrounded by people who love her.

Adoption, in this situation, seems drastic and divisive. Ease up, folks! Aunt Toni and Uncle Brad would make great guardians.

Yea Brad!

As loud as Shannon has been belting out the words to It’s a Small World in practice all day, I can’t imagine her not singing along during her dance performance. With the others joining in backstage and maybe the audience, too.

My last comment. It’s just stage make-up so she’ll show up to the back row.

Something I noticed that no one else has commented on (unless I missed it) … Shannon said “Please!” loudly to Brad when he was unwilling.Remember a time, not so long ago, when Shannon apparently didn’t even know that word?The time spent with Toni and Brad has done wonders for her as she grows up.

It is also possible that Tiffany will try to explain to Jonah what type of wedge he is putting into the father-daughter relationship, since she can give an experienced viewpoint.

I love this! Brad has turned into quite the man. I used to call my brother Brad after this comic when he was a teenager. And my brother is an amazing father now.

News flash: Due to a make up malfunction, Miss Shannon will now be dancing to Send in the Clowns.

We’re finally getting a chance to see some of The Fuse ’s stage, although the wings seem oddly devoid of any stage equipment common to all such areas.

Luann or maybe Frank (both musically inclined) could come out to help. Or maybe Jonah will turn up at the final moment. It’s only Tuesday. Has there ever been any evidence that Brad knows how to play the guitar or sing?

What did I tell you?? What did I tell you???

My wish punchline: Brad shows amazing ability, plays It’s a Small World slowly, gently as Shannon, twirls about and for a moment the stage is her world.Yes, I am a marshmallow…

Thank you, Jay, Dog, and Argy2. Argy2, i hope the dog starts eatting again soon. Veterinarians are trained in how extreme mourning can be for some animals and may be able to help. Our Orville ferret certainly needed the folks at Bellemead AH in our state (There is at least one other nationally with that name…)

I see this as evidence that Brad will make a good father some day. He’s willing to go out of his comfort zone to help a kid.

Thank you, Brd, and i am very sorry about your fish. Some types can become quite attached with their people, and i suspect that such a long life facilitated a bond. When i was a child we had a pond with koi and there were ones who got to know certain people well.

Jonah is sure irresponsible. He must be a conservative.

Why are you all so hard on Siesmic? I get a kick out of his tongue in cheek comments. He is commenting in a comics forum, after all. With a comic face.

@argy.bargy2

That people stop calling ‘Brad’ ‘Bwad’….^^Greg had Shannon calling him Brad for several weeks, only to have many people here point out that it should be Bwad, the people have already spoken, BWAD, it is!

You are right, Kym, it IS a big deal that Shannon learned to say, “please”. It is also a big deal that she worked so hard to try to create a way that she and her father could do something together. This time it did not work, but she learned from Tiffany that she is not alone in having negligent parents, and she found that a number of adults did care enough to want to assist her, so it did turn out the way she wanted but never-the-less it worked out well for her in some important ways.When we all first met Shannon she often tried destructive and combative ways to get attention, or harped on things that bugged her which just made those things even worse for her, but from about age four to age six she has learned to be cooperative, friendly, helpful, and constructive. Not only has she learned that such approaches get her better acceptance and attention, but she has learned to value and respect others more.It is quite beautiful, isn’t it? Thanks for pointing out her growth!

Only Shannon wasn’t being a “brat” she was acting out her emotional problems of parental neglect. It took Brad and Luann to help in turning her around.^^Good post! :D

Thank you, NG!

We must have looked like a game of Twister, but it worked!

“Left hand, hair! Right hand, dress!”^^hehehehe

I teared up a little…such a sweet storyline.

Thanks! Yeah, you are bad, but that is fine. Orville is a name created first for a novel, and means “golden”. It became a fad for a while after the story, like the name, Wendy, did after the novel where it was introduced. Orville is butterscotch in coloration, hense his name.

Easy to support something I agree with and have said myself ;)… Besides, you generally make great posts, often with a very original POV.

I think that in seeing that others like her Shannon has learned to like herself.

Toni was willing to go on stage with Shannon, but for some reason Shannon wanted a male to perform with her. And given how (justifianly) sad Shannon was, I think it was reasonable for Toni to give in and ask Brad to be Shannon’s male collaborator.

For me, Jonah Daytona has become the worst villain in this strip,

Being irresponsible does not necessarily mean they’re evil.^^You don’t need to be evil, to be a villain, particularly where child neglect, is concerned!

Seismic-2 has every right to comment on this forum as anyone else. Those of you who don’t like Seismic’s point of view need not read his comments. Why are you bullying him? Seismic has been commenting for years here and is polite to everyone even when several of you are not nice. Everyone is free to comment here.

SPOILER ALERTWe have a duo :-)

Music downloaded on a phone…Brad doesn’t have to be talented, just to have a heart….unlike her Dad…..and looks like Brad is going to end up being her Dad anyway.

Sad really, it DID show up first after I posted it, that’s why I posted my second one mentioning I was first. THAT one was actually second. Now I see someone beat me to first place. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

It was more of a joke because I see so many comments about being first. Since I rarely comment on here, I thought it was funny.

Final act? What about “the world’s smallest brain”? Are we just gonna forget about that?