Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for April 06, 2018

’tis lovely soil, Gunthy

The two button getting to the comments may have been put in to stop people from swamping the system at 10:03:30 PDT.

God forbid Gunthy! We can’t forget your virgin ears!Remember you didn’t come from a cabbage patch!!

This arc is getting too soap opera. As a guy, I think I am the wrong demographic.

Gunther is still totally frigid about any sexuality.

He is going to have to be led to the promised land. He will not take the initiative.

It might be Tiffany, if Gunther actually says that she now matters, retracting a previous statement made about the time Tiffany asked him if he could go out for football.

It might be Tara because it won’t matter at all to Tara.

It might be Dez because she knows how much it will matter to Gunther.

It might be Pru. She doesn’t hate men, she just doesn’t like it when ….XXXX and here we have to stop.

It CANNOT be Luann.

Too late.

~~~

If Doonesbury could show sunrise on the morning after, there is a way for Greg to do it.

Greg.

Not Karen.

Clearly a sign that Gunther has reservations about his mom’s relationship. And yet, Gunther is the one who spurred her into action. And, Gunther knows that he probably can’t change her mind. He knows that he has no business trying to change her mind. Since he can’t think of another way to change the subject, this is the only avenue open to him.

“We” are ready Gunther? Really?

Are You ready for:

1) Being a Step-Son to guy that has hardly said 10 words to you since he arrived on the scene?

2) Spending Your waking hours in what amounts to a backyard “doghouse” with a guy that once pushed you around, and all because your mom thinks its “cute?”

3) Being chief cook and bottle washer to Les Knox, a guy that will contribute nothing?

4) Being told to get lost whenever Les has Tiffany over to the guest house?

5) Never having any say-so about what goes on in your life because Al knows best and your “opinion” doesn’t count?

If your good with all that, then congratulations.

Oh and take a look at this:

http://www.gocomics.com/luann/2016/12/11

See that guy? Well the way your life is going, “You” will NEVER be THAT Guy. And THAT, is Sad……,

Nobody wants to hear about their parents’ activities in the bedroom. That’s really funny because that is how all of us arrive here on Earth (all of us conceived the natural way) …and yet we say TMI whenever the subject comes up. Well, in ancient civilizations, families slept in one room and parents had sex in front of their children. They were way more progressive that we are in that regard!

First of all I am a little surprised that Mr. Gray does not already have a king-sized bed.

Second of all, I am little surprised that Gunther is trying to distract his mother from a discussion of sleeping with Mr. Gray by pointing out the fertility of the soil.

@CAPRICORN9TH: It wasn’t that the ancients were progressive; they just were lucky if they HAD a house, so the idea of privacy was only for the very rich…

If the conversation is making Gunther uncomfortable, maybe he should just think of all the good times he will have rooming with Les!

Smooth move Gunther, I really wanted to hear about your dad.

Gunther doesn’t want the world to know that his mom last shared a bed three weeks ago, when Gunther came crawling into it. There was a scary thunderstorm, okay?!?

“… haven’t shared a bed since…” you left for Peru leaving Quilly and I alone in the house together…

.

To see what I mean, there is a strip just before Gunther left where Irma gets wildly excited when Quilly approaches the breakfast table with no shirt on and she just about wigs out. Also, the red heart on her apron grows by at least 4 to 5 sizes. Here is that strip:

.

http://www.gocomics.com/luann/2014/07/03

I think that Gunther does not want Irma to marry Al.

I wonder if there will be another wedding dress contest but for Gunther´s mom?

Great. Now go.comics.com is so crammed with ads they only show half a frame and you have to click another button to clear enough space to display the whole strip.

In the last frame – very unique cropping on Gunther – almost Picassoesque. That said – I’m ready for the next arc.

Sure, ride off the subject, Gunther.

Are you ready for a sibling, G? And I don’t mean Les…

Hmmm. Interesting Twist: It’s discovered that TJ is actually a cuz to Annie Evil. That would REALLY throw a wrench into this.

The boy is still so easily embarrassed with his mom making any kind of comment about personal passion, “oh the horror”! It’s cute in a way, but it is good to see his mom moving on to an adult life, with a relationship that can please her in other ways than being a mom, and in spite of his squeamishness about her talking about that, he is happy for her. That is considerable growth.

Oh for pete’s sakes, lighten up people! Some single mothers put their children first and don’t even think about dating until their children are either on their own or almost on their own; especially people of Gunther’s mom’s generation. And there are a lot of people just like Gunther who fade into the background and aren’t noticed by people with big and bold personalities. I also think we’ve been seeing more of Al and Les soft, human, good sides – and it’s nice. I’m enjoying this story line.

The soil, Gunther. Appropriate observation for someone we might consider “stuck in the mud.”

So the consensus here is that Gunther, started going steady with Rosa while they were in high school, went off to South America and stayed there for months with her, had a totally platonic relationship, and never fooled around and had sex? I know this comic strip is not graphic, but it does permit reading between the lines on occasion.

Wait! What? Al’s got a steam room??? That’s the first thing Irma mentions? Hope it has room for two! Irma’s got a self-proclaimed “wild” streak. (See 3 July 2014) Sounds like she’s ready for a flair up.

BTW – Lo these many moons ago, I saved a copy of the 6 July 2014 strip. Snort. Pant. Wheeze. This was at a time when Greg was shuffling Gunther off to Peru – never to be seen again. He brought him back a changed man at first. Then reinstated him as a nerdy character. What a wasted opportunity

It’s considerate of Al Grey to let her select the furniture for their new love nest. He’s made his only requirement known… one king sized parade ground. Nesting materials are very important to the hen. She’s probably been thinking of a makeover since she said yes. Of course, the “Guest Suite” will probably get the culls. This should make Gunther feel right at home.

more and more it seems like a setup that it isn’t going to happen.

I DO want to hear the end of her sentence. Whatever the last bed sharing happened, she has very fond memories of it.

5

Not the most interesting of paths thus far in the arc. While I am glad that Irma is excited about furniture shopping, and is also probably buying bed sheets and other accoutrements, and she is also waxing poetic about the intimacy she will be having with Al….. I do find that the conversation feels “awkward” to me on a few levels:

1) From what we know about Irma in the past, it does not seem particularly likely that she would be a person to openly and animatedly talk about her sexual experiences with other folks (other than whom she may being intimate with). So, to have her bring it up in the context of buying a bed with Al….. seems a little forced to me.

2) While Gunther’s response today is ALSO awkward…. it is NOT as bad as it has been previously in regards to the mention of intimacy. Do not get me wrong…. it is still, IMO a somewhat immature and deflecting response…. but it is not nearly as bad as the “covering his ears and singing response” he has displayed earlier to things he did not want to hear.

3) I also find it a “little” odd that Irma is excited about trying out Al’s “steam room”. I am not sure if that was added to indicate that the intimacy level between Irma and Al is currently minimal…. or what….. but even if Irma and Al are NOT currently intimate, it seems that she could and would have been able to try out the “steam room” whilst they were dating. It might have made them “steamy” (innuendo implied) with each other or it may not have, but…. it seems awkward to me that in their dating period, it apparently was not an option.

4) And, truth be told, to me it sounds awkward to me when Irma says that Al asked her to go furniture shopping. As an engaged couple, it would seem more natural to simply say that “Al and I are planning to go furniture shopping.” not that she was asked to go. I guess her stating that she was “asked” feels a little like she is overly passive and not a full-fledged partner in the couple.

This will not end well for Gunther or his mom.

I take it that the purpose of today’s strip was to assure any worried readers that the long-time courtship between Mr. Gray and Mrs. Berger has thus far been completely chaste, and it will remain that way until the marriage ceremony. Fear not, delicate readers, all is purity within the Luannverse. What a relief!

I thought “Gunther needs to grow up,” but then I remembered that that’s a prominent theme of his character anyway. But making a pathetic attempt at distraction when his mother remarks on “sharing a bed” is a particularly embarrassing example.

“since, your balls dropped Gunthie”

Let me be fair: this is one of the less irritating storylines in the Luann strip. I would rather see it than a Brad-Toni story (or “Broni,” as some pop-culture dorks call it). Or some storyline that serves to indoctrinate the so-called mindless masses in the Evanses’ sociopolitical beliefs. Or anything about Fay Garcia and her revolting boyfriend Axel—at least this storyline involves adults.

I am thrilled to see Irma so excited about having a husband and even talking about the physical part of it. Gunther probably resulted from a teenage relationship after which her guy just took off, on realizing that she was pregnant. She has paid her dues (raising Gunther alone) and she deserves this happiness. I even think this is good and educational for Gunther who is so tight about sexuality. He’s made progress on the maturity front but still has this to confront. Ha Ha I can see it now, once in the guest house Gunther will be lying wide awake (freaked out) at night wondering what is going on in that king bed 12 ft away.

The next sexual crisis arc:

Brad and Toni become flustered when Shannon talks about the rocket she found and has been playing with.

Tension builds all week until the Saturday discovery that TJ had a model rocket in his room.

Gunther reminds me of my then 18-year-old grandson upon entering our hotel room while on vacation. He asked why we had two beds in the room. I told him it was because neither his Grandpa or I wanted to sleep in wet spot. His face was hilarious and he learned not to ask Grandma personal questions because he would get the answer!

Follow that dream, Irma, until you get to the image of roly-poly Al all stripped down to his teddy bear pajamas.

I would like to see a story arc with a new romance.

maybe this house will get built in a month, on our watch, in time for June wedding.

You all have it wrong. Boys just do not like to think of their moms having sex. Their moms are just Moms- they don’t have sex. I raised my son alone and this is exactly the right response.

I guess there are still a few things Gunther is not ready for yet. Mom+Al, “the two-backed beast,” is one of them….

This week’s strips actually have Irma referring to her fiancé as “Al” rather than Mr. Gray! And they had Al actually touching Irma, on Gunther’s presence! And of course in today’s strip, Irma is anticipating intimate moments with Al. So to those predicting that this wedding won’t come off, I say… nah!

@VILHELM: It isn’t true that there are no comics showing gay characters interacting. If you want to see gay characters sharing relationships you can read Jane’s World . But these characters (like the people) aren’t ‘acting on their convictions’. Being gay or lesbian isn’t some kind of belief system. It’s a biological orientation.

tomorrow: Les stakes his claim?

“…since that traveling salesman came back by last week.”

Irma, Irma, Irma, listen to me. Get rid of Al, keep your own house, your own bed, and get a dog. He/she will jump in, shuffle the covers around, steal some of your space, and be great company.

TMI, TMI, TMI…!!