Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for October 14, 2017

The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.

My, aren’t they a loving parent and child Ann and Leslie are, aren’t they?

Guess we found out why Les owes her money…

You are what you eat. As a baby you were eating her. Her milk more specifically.

To anyone complaining that three panes isn’t enough to get up to speed on Les and Ann’s baggage, we just got schooled. Today’s comic was everything from our forum this week from manipulation to Les stealing a credit card, the 5000 USD, small claims court, and payback.

Do you ever miss seeing that 16 ton weight in Monty Python?

Him.

Her.

Both.

Why not.

I’d also like some details of that last visitation.

Wonder why Ann chose The Fuse for her little “venture”. Wondering if she plans some kind of mischief to hurt the DeGroots, as revenge for Brad.

“honor among thieves”

Manipulate.

Translation:

TJ will soon be doing so.

Zowee! Les is so “Sullen and Angry,” that He makes Gunther’s little “snits” PALE by comparison.

What are the Odds that Les is going to walk away from THIS “Party,” leaving Ann to Spearhead this Gig all by Her Lonesome??

About the only thing he owes her for is nine month’s carrying charge. Even at that, she probably dropped him on his head on the way out.

Mordock999: Bingo!

All this anger. It’s a good thing their hair is so distracting.

Hey, lady, he’s just following your example.

This is too easy. I get it: Greg wants us to like Les and hate (for lack of a better word) Ann. Probably a setup to supplant Gunther in Tiffany ‘s life. At any rate, something bad’s going down, and Greg doesn’t want us to blame Les for it, all the while, helping provide excuses for Les ’ past criminal behavior (got to pay off mom, I suppose).

His monthly check must be pretty small if he’s still paying off 5 grand. Methinks Ann is conning him, too.

“I figured you owed me” – did I call the mindset or what? Yes, Les, everyone who has anything you want “owes” you, you deserve it all. Wah wah poor me. At least Ann is up-front and just plain evil without being all whiny and self-justifying.

This is not a healthy happy family .

Tried to REPLY to one comment, but for some bizarre reason, it is not permitted?Whoever said “5000 USD, Small claims court..” SMALL CLAIMS? NO. That’s grand larceny.Since Les set this up, it’s not Ann’s idea for revenge. Les knows nothing about Brad’s stint, nor TJ’s – Nor the result.And Ann may not even know the connection between the family of Brad and the Fuse.

When Les has manipulated and scammed people, including his mother, he was only following in her footsteps.

But if he blows the whistle on her, out of allegiance to his new Fuse family, he probably will clean up his act.

Except maybe toward Ann. He’d probably gouge her good if he got the chance.

But none of this explains – or excuses – Les ’ abusive behavior toward Gunther. And I’m pretty sure regular readers of this strip are aware of even more egregious behavior on his part. Somehow, to me, this seems rather “slapped together” to get us to accept Les into this tight knit little group of friends. Frenemies, anyone?

Fascinating. Les is one of the few people (other than TJ and Toni) who not only see right through Ann, but who also aren’t afraid to stand up to her and who even know how to push her buttons to the max. I like it!

To quote The Wizard from Wicked “The most celebrated are the rehabilitated”. People always like to see someone who has fallen rise up to be good again. JMO, certainly not forgetting his past but saying people do sometimes change. Let’s see where this takes us.

I think I will like seeing Ann in orange, but even more so seeing Les with a shaved head.

The best thing a new adopted family could tell him might be some hard fact truth.

" If you can stand up to your mom, Les, you can take anything the Marines can dish out."

Nancy tells him to use her home for his home address when he enlists.

Brilliant way to bring up up to date on the history and background of the daughter son relationship here, including the money, manipulation (like mother, like son) how she got the entre for the job, more about Uncle Al, all of that. Now to tie it in to the party, and Fuse and the other characters who might be in play. One thing for sure, this is toward the end of the beginning, we are long way from the beginning of the end.

Who is more justified Les for stealing or Ann for prosecuting ?

On upward and downward social mobility. When I went back to a high school reunion, two guys I’d have betted would end up in jail were to all appearances solid citizens and much loved in the town. One even sought me out to apologize for some Les-like behavior toward me all those years ago. I came to regard him as a friend. But a guy who was Mr. Everywhere, popular, regarded as wonderfully funny and fun… was in the state penitentiary, having become the first known former Eagle Scout to be convicted of murder.

Seems like Ann expects to make a lot of money from this party – maybe enough that Les’s cut pays off the debt. Hopefully next week we find out what the hell the party is all about.

Lawd, this arc is taking forever

Gotta love Les in the last panel. TOUCHÉ.

I actually think a reconciliation between Ann and Les could be the biggest surprise ending. Warming up to his “family” at The Fuse has probably been a helpful path. Les has been a real jerk up to now.

That would explain the checks to his mother that Mr. Grey mentioned once. No love lost here between mom and son. Ann Eiffel might be attractive on the outside, but she is rotten to the core.

I think she may finally get what is coming to her. And hopefully, it involves an orange jumpsuit and some hard time. Wondering too, if this “lingere party” is something more sinister, and possibly even illegal? She’s rotten and deserves everything bad that comes to her. Me…I’m starting to feel a little sorry for Les. With a mother like her, he’s definitely had a hard life, but hopefully, he can turn it around.

I’m thinking this lingere party is more of a floating whorehouse…and Ann is about to go to jail!

If Les made fraudulent charges on her credit card, couldn’t she dispute them and not have to pay them?

Oh Les, you naive little fool, you actually think Ann will give you credit for any money she earns? We’re talking about the woman who heard TJ’s idea and flat-out told him to his face that she would take sole credit if it worked and put all the blame on him if it failed. She won’t give you the slightest bit of slack even if she makes a million dollars off of this lingerie party. This is why you don’t help people who are “users.” She’s like Jonah Daytona: she’ll accept favor after favor from you with nothing more than a quick “thanks” (if even that), and then the first time you try to refuse she’ll start complaining about how nobody’s ever helped her before. Help is wasted on people like that; they’ll bleed you dry without a moment’s hesitation.

Wow! Today’s strip, with this ‘brand’ of mother and son, uh, “relationship”, is ironic timing, as I’m celebrating 17 years of marriage, today…

They are too much alike, which is why they get along like two tomcats in a sack.

“Checks…And Balances”

“Better Manipulate, Than Never”

“Doing Card Time”

“Common Court Math”

“A Thief, Among Dis-honors”

“Ann Ei-ffel, An Eye”

“Give Me Some Credit!”  

“The Playing Of Five Baby Grands”

“The Winner Gets Control Of The String Section”

“Justce, Good As I Remembered”

“How Scorpions Embrace”

“Romulan Family Reunion”

“Life Is A Highway, And We’re Defensive Drivers”

“A Common, Among The House Of ‘Lord-It-Overs’ "

“The Family That Took A Part, Stayed Apart”

“The Travelling ‘Will Bury You’ s” (♩)

“I Won’t Back Down” (♬)

“Don’t Have To Live Like A Refugee!” (♪)

“Stop Draggin’ My Card Around!” (♪)

or

“Shootout At The 5K Corral”

Although I certainly don’t condone Les ripping off Ann’s credit card and running up charges, I think he does have a point in re: “manipulation.” I love how he doesn’t call her “Mom/Mother” at all.

I also like the idea of his busting “Mom” if the party is anything “less than legitimate.” He would earn major props if he does that. And he can justify it because he’s protecting not only the DeGroot’s interests but also Uncle Al’s.

Do the right thing, Les.

There’s an agent for Hallmark sitting at a table in the joint on his cell phone: “Boss? Hey, I’m getting a great idea for a new line of cards…”

Ann Eiffel. She’s not bad, she’s just written that way.

Oh noooo! This drama is so heart wrenching.

If Ann reported the theft to the cops and got charges filed against Les for which he is on probation, the logical thing is to report the theft and fraudulent use of the credit card to Visa, Am Ex, etc. – and get the fraudulent charges expunged so that you owe nothing to your credit provider and your credit score is restored. Could it be that Ann did all this, is not responsible for the $5,000 – and is scamming and ripping off Les (and/or the court system if restitution was ordered to be paid to her by Les)? Hummmm???

Is this the first time Greg has had two “villains” ( or antagonists or whatever) facing off against each other? ( Not sure that Tiffany /Dirk situation is the same caliber).

Ann Eiffel was so sure of herself….

She never had a daily spending limit on her card.

She did not have a fraud alert amount marked.

Les, surprised that the card was still good, started doing the Pink Bunny routine. He kept going and going….

Ann’s self cockiness will work against her.

Is this a classic “nature vs. nurture” dichotomy? Anne by nature a sociopath and manipulator, Les by upbringing and environment a bully and con man.

Funny, they dress alike1

What a female dog! Let’s get back to Gunther and Tiffany…

been a while since we touched base with Toni and Brad.

At least one of Ann’s parents likely had this issue as well.

Oooh… let’s see Shannon with Jonah! ;)

I like Ann’s tough gal lingo – reminds me of the old movies. I still think Ann can love and Ann can be hurt – but we may never see it.

I just KNEW that Ann would play the ‘You OWE Me’ card on Les! No – it’s no wonder now why Les is as he is – he’s finally gotten some good stuff at the Fuse!

Well, if nothing else, that explains why Knox owes money or something.

Eiffel isn’t “hot” or any such thing; she’s too sleazy to be attractive.

Something nasty brews…so reveal that Ann Eiffel is behind it or At least involved. Of course. Like when I wrote profiles and photo captions for my characters in The Sims: I made an evil character who was responsible for every bad thing that ever happened in the SimNeighborhood, no matter how small.

I disagree that Eiffel is wearing Fuze colors.

Oops… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree even if the tree didn’t do its job. Suddenly it is hard to decide who to like. Two mean looking characters feature today. Who Les is trying to help? himself, the Fuse or Ann? What did Les spend $5000 on?

I use to really enjoy this comic strip, but Les, Ann and Mr. Gray really don’t fit in, it has taken so much away from the “fun” Luann strip. Les and Ann are evil and Mr. Gray is creepy beyond words. Let’s get back to Luann, her family and friends and what the heck has gotten into Bernice, she’s turned into a psycho student

Tomorrow: Knute and Crystal get matching undies!

At least we get the Backstory of the debt here. But these two make me feel icky. I need to go and take a shower now!

Much is being laid bare in this story arc, and the lingerie show hasn’t even started yet.

Ok. Now we’re getting the back story.

Why does les have to pay ann?