Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 24, 2018

May not motivating your own, Jack, but you’re motivating someone else’s dog.

Thus began the story of the dramatic dog swap, as Luann takes on Max, a dog after her own heart, while Puddles goes to an owner that actually wants to play fetch.

@FLASH GORDON: Compared to some of the guys Luann has spent time with, Jack is an ok dude…

Criteria #3:

I think Puddles is in love! Or is that “in wuv”?

I love Puddles’ eyes – adoring Jack. Perhaps he has the wrong human parent. With Luann, he’s a lazy dog, dozing away on Luann’s bed or on the sofa. Luann doesn’t play with him. He is a better fit for Jack….And Max is a better fit for Luann seeing that he’s a lazy dog, uninterested in playing.

The clockwork of attraction between Luann & Jack is slowly moving forward (did I say I love Luann’s legs?).

This is about the saddest Jack has been shown, other than the bowling ball… well, and less competent at changing tires than Luann.

He wants to be better than he sees himself.

In the last frame – Jack has a little more forehead and a little less jaw – edging him toward civilization.

Luann has now accepted Jack as more than an acquaintance. She’s willing to touch.

@KENHENSE: I think the attraction at this point is more Puddles being attracted to Jack. To me, Luann seems to see Jack as more of a pal than a love interest. And nothing wrong with that; Luann needs genuine friends…

Poor Jack!!!

What, are they gonna switch dogs?

Luann is just the one to bring Jack out of the doldrums.

When sitting or standing up, Jack’s shoulders are MUCH higher than Luann’s. But they are the same height overall.

Is Puddles holding all 3 toys in his mouth in the last panel? What a talented dog!

Jack seems to be an ok fella. Think I’m gonna keep up with this strip.

Welcome to my world. Won’t you come on in? Don’t stress Jack. It happens.

Don’t blame yourself for Max’s narcolepsy.

Now IMHO, this IS significant. We have a relatively new character FREELY revealing a little bit of his “backstory,” UNLIKE Piro, and Al Gray. Very Refreshing. And the week is still young. Jack could reveal even MORE before the week is out. And unlike Les, Jack is not blaming ALL of his woes on a parent or the rest of the World. Equally Refreshing.

So Jack played football in high school. Must have been a different school in town, than one Luann attended, else Tiffany would have recognized him being the Pitts High Cheerleader and all. But it’s likely their paths may have crossed on “game day” when Tiff was cheerleading for the other team.

Speaking of Tiff, I wonder if Her dad has finally divested himself of Ann Eiffel? Because if so, and “IF” Jack’s Dad just happens to be single, Jack’s “Pop” could be Ann’s next “victim.” Especially since “Pop” has his own business. That way, She can stay in the Strip! Hey! Maybe Ann is part owner of Jack’s Dad’s business and the reason WHY Jack diesn’t Like working there is on account of Ann, and…….,

Yeah, Yeah. I know ARGY.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

#FREEGB!!!

So Jack optimism hide a lot of sadness and dubs about himself? Wow! I can see Luann supporting him and help him with his dream or to find something new. By the way, Puddles is precious.

1/2 way there, Puddles likes him and now all we need is Luann to wake up to reality. They are a great couple.

What?? Jack was big high school football hero and now in college lots of other players are better than him?

Jack and Luann are – or were – in a Community College. I didn’t know CCs had powerhouse football teams.

With Luann staying there year after year and Jack the Jock being a sub-par football player, it sounds like the CC has morphed into a generic “college”, only different from the college that the rest of the gang go to.

Puddles is smitten!

In a Rom-Com, Puddles would push Luann into Jack’s arms. Go Puddles! Do your job!

People have such opinions about what a comic characters love life should be, as well they should, the strip is very much about her love life, and growth of it in her pretend Luannverse. My opinion is that Jack is a very interesting young man, and I think not only will they connect, but they should. No one is perfect, and in spite of his generally sunny personality, he does have some doubts about himself, and I think he is dealing with that, but Luann would be good for him to help him adjust to not being the captain of the football team, for example. They are perfect for each other.

The slow dance continues…

It’s risky to read too much into one strip, but are G&K signaling with a touch that Jack has “motivated” Luann? If so, to what degree? (I still don’t see this as a serious romance for L.) Jack is opening up and sharing his “existential angst”; exposing some of his vulnerability. Could something like the 13 May 2015 strip (has it been that long ago) is taking place? Right here? Under a tree? At the dog park? (Even if I still don’t see this as a serious romance for L.)

The main thrust of this Dog Park Arc seems to be the development of Jack from Neanderthal into an important male BFF for Luann.

Remember this arc. We may see references to it in the future from commenters. The “Dog Park Arc.”

This is getting very interesting. It’s good to see Jack willing to bear himself to Lu and take that risk. And Lu seem to be responding to it well. I do hope this plays out a whole lot further. It’s still early in the week (anything can still happen), bt this seems to be going on the right foot.

Not good enough for college football? Now, Jack is starting to get my attention.

Comments I have made up to this point are based upon the fact that I really do not like jocks or dogs. Dogs because of the numerous times I have been attacked by the beasts, and jocks for just about the same reason.

Perhaps Jack the jock has seen first hand what I have seen, that sports was not training anyone in sportsmanship or character building. That, while well paid (for a few years), sports is not an actual profession (except for the very, very few).

For the first time, GnK have given me something to like about Jack!

Clearly barking up the wrong dog.

I like Jack; he isn’t the brainless jock some people imagine him to be. However, I do not see a relationship in the future with Luann. They don’t seem to be all that interested in each other.

Max looks up in the first panel, say “nah” to himself, and then goes back to napping by panel 3.

Some may have not liked Puddles appearance / proportioning, etc. Frankly, I like it. Yes, it’s cartoony and such – but this is a comic strip.

Also, Puddles look now to me harkens back to Greg’s earlier drawing style (see Luann Againn). It expressed Luann’s earlier look as a younger teen, who’s now growing up into a young adult.

It seems to me that Jack would make a good football coach. He could start by interning at Pitts Junior-Senior High School, or wherever Fay and Axel go!

I think that a lot of the Jack hate is from folks who have prejudices against jocks and/or want Luann to end up with someone who reminds them of themselves.

As for these two as a couple, you don’t find love, love finds you. If he initially didn’t seem her type, it’s wrong to prejudge.

8

Interesting interplay today. Jack is revealing himself to Luann. And, it is interesting to note that we are finding out Jack has a deeper aspect to his personality than we have previously been shown. Initially, he was portrayed very superficially…. now we are seeing more about what makes him tick internally.

Puddles (as well as most dogs, I find) tend to be good judges of character. That Puddles is so adamantly attracted to interacting with Jack (to me) speaks volumes. Jack’s own dog, Max, showing lowered enthusiasm, suggests to me that Max is very well used to interacting with Jack daily, and sees no need to go out of his way at the moment….. he seems to have been pampered quite a bit.

I suspect that Luann (having noticed Puddle’s enthusiasm) will think a little bit more about her friendship with Jack. I suspect it will encourage her to begin a deeper, more frequent friendship with him….. which I think is a good thing.

I am still not of the mindset that Jack or Luann need to become romantic at this time…. I think that a true, deep friendship between the two of them could be very helpful for both…. and who knows…. gradually perhaps…. it could work into romance… but that could be quite a while down the road.

If anyone here followed the romance/marriage between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Harry commented that when he introduced her to the Queen, the Queen’s corgis absolutely loved her. Harry pointed out that they always just barked at him. Perhaps the Puddles dynamic does have significance on a larger scale…

I see Max has been moved over on the bench so there is nothing in between Luann and Jack.

It is very common at that age to have had dreams which can not be realized in the way one imagined. Sometimes the person finds a novel way to do so, but other times the individual needs to find a better fit in life. I think there are at least two individuals now in Luann who need to find their own better options in the world, and that is an essential part of life, sometimes not only in young adulthood. Life has many dreams, many goals, many approaches; the trick is to not get stuck. Sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is to change his or her mind, and try something new.

I like Jack a lot. He’s not as sharp as Quill or Gunther, but he’s NOT stupid and seems to have a good heart. He’s also seems to be the type that relates better to Luann: he’s had dreams that didn’t work out and is probably unsure about what’s next, he’s more inclined to put his puppy (and probably a girlfriend) first and not leave them behind, and he’s just a regular guy. Lots of people seem to think since he’s a well-built jock, he’s not for Luann but would be a Tiffany-type. Wouldn’t a handsome actor like Quill be the same? (Not all attractive guys are shallow you know!) However Quill put his career first, which as a young man IS the time to do it. However it’s not the right thing for Luann. It’s just a big difference that they had to recognize, and Luann did. I agree that Jack could be a future long-term romance for Luann, and I’d be happy with it. Luann is learning more about Jack, and Jack wants to learn more about Luann. First a good friendship, then who knows what or when. The dog issue is very important, as Puddles is a major, major part of her story. Jack has a beloved dog too, and obviously Jack and Puddles like each other. I hope this story is not rushed, as it has real potential.

I like Jack. I liked Quill, too: He deserved better than the “Delta treatment.” I think Jack and Luann could work because there is nothing forced between them. He likes her company, is not stupid about it, and is patient. Plus, he likes dogs. Jack is more dimensional than Quill…appreciates the arts, sports, dogs, Luann. I hope it works out between them.

Not everyone you meet has to be a romantic partner. People can have many friends of either gender and one of them may eventually turn into a romantic partner. Let Luann and Jack enjoy their friendship without any pressure.

I hope this arc is about Jack finding his interests and direction in life and college as opposed to a romantic relationship with Luann, which many here seem to want. There are a lot of college kids in this strip. But with a few exceptions, we mostly don’t know what they are studying or what they might want for a major.

I don’t think a pork chop would motivate that pooch….

Jack needs to visit “In Security”. Hubbs is giving one of the best football speeches in the history of the sport.

Too bad he doesn’t realize that he’s giving that speech to the woman of his dreams, who happens to be dressed more like a guy because of advice from a jealous friend.

I just noticed Jack’s Superman curl in the final panel. I wonder if this signifies a change in his status as a character? (Of course, for all I know the curl has always been there..)

If you want to motivate someone,

don’t ignore them and pay your undivided attention to someone else; it’s okay to split your attention, but let your “target” know you’re still interested in him/her; make sure your “target” is awake. Max has been asleep for a bit.

Looks like Puddles is in love.

⇧ @pipe tobacco

“still not of the mindset”

LOL. just keep mangling the poor english language – you really excel at it…

Ah, the sadness of a Jock waking up one morning and discovering that Football Isn’t the most important thing in the world.

Some never recover.

Even worse, some never wake up to that realization.

I believe Luann short are getting shorter

Fullback? Did not know position was still around.

“Let A Lying Dog Sleep”

“Don’t You Know, Jack?”

“Big, Er, Medium Man On Campus”

“Denigration X”

“I Coulda Been A Football Contender”

“Wanna See My Fetchings?”

I do like this arc. It shows a man and a woman really can just be friends. And Luann could use a male friend she’s not all hot for.

Wrong dog, Jack. But your honest self-evaluation seems to be keeping Luann interested….

Attn: Mordock999. Re: FREEGB. Puddles has had more activity and fun in the past week than Gunther has had in the last 10 years. Take a lesson from Puddles…….MCFA…………Make Comics Fun Again.

“GIT” ???!!!!!!!

what, is Jack from Texas or something?

Aw, Puddles IS having Fun !! Love his expression in last panel

I do not see any chemistry between Jack and Luann. However, the has-been football captain and the has-been cheerleader, Tiffany, might have a chance.

Wow Luann going out with the Captain of the Football team.