Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 01, 2019

And what’s wrong with being prude, Gunther?

You’re enough of a prude to pass muster with the Church Lady, Gunth.

Oh no, women always go for the safe guys, trust me.

Oh boy, here We go. The only good news here is Luann was not turned on by Les.

But…., Well.

Here’s what I see coming. I see Luann dating Gunther because she’ll feel sorry for him. The absolute WORST possible reason. Sure I think Luann May have some feelings for Gunther. And yeah I think it will reawaken feelings Gunther has had for Luann.

The problem is Jack. Fans are already screaming “What about Jack, We want Jack!” And They are going to go absolutely friggin’ BALLISTIC when and if Luann starts dating Gunther! H3ll, it already started! If you think “folks” HATE Gunther Now, just wait ‘til he starting dating Lu.

Which is why I’m BEGGING, No I’m PLEADING with Greg And Karen to come up with somebody Brand spanking NEW for Gunther. No Bernice, No Rosa. Someone new, desirable, patient. And let her show up soon.

Me? I like the idea of Gunther dating Luann. But a number of “folks” won’t. This is going to end up being a painful bittersweet short lived “victory” for Gunther. And that’s SAD.

Now. Let the “Gunther Bashing” Begin.

Sigh……,

Luann once you say it’s out there and you can’t take back!!!!

I’m not sure if Gunther is a “prude,” but he most certainly is lacking any sort of a sense of humor.

Being a non-repugnant slime jerk does not automatically make you a prude. There is middle ground (although sometimes Gunther can come across really prudish – for instance any time anyone mentions his mother and Al in the same sentence). But I don’t think Luann is comparing Gunther negatively to Les – not after calling Les a jerk.

“… and well endowed.”

It would be a huge breakthrough for Gunther if he could suddenly understand that his notion of “gentlemanly” has been warped due to willful blindness to his own motives. When Gunther was alone with Tiffany playing Dr. Phil, I think it could have been a great moment for Gunther and maybe Tiffany if he has fessed up that his overblown warnings about Les were largely personal jealousy. Gunther could have admitted to Tiffany that he too was lonely and needed her companionship. Later on, Gunther was anything but gentlemanly when he had his two hour dinner with Tiffany and demanded that she not see Les afterward. Granted that Tiffany was inconsiderate with her plan for the evening – but a gentleman would have taken the punch and subsequently decide if he wanted to try again under different circumstances.

Well, at least Luann did not shove off in a huff like Tiff did.

Gunther, it had to be said, you are a prude. You get unbelievably uncomfortable at the slightest mention of anything even remotely sexual. Want to be viewed as a gentleman and not a prude? Get over yourself.

I feel your pain, Gunth. Society teaches us to be gentlemen, but women seem to prefer guys who flaunt society.

Okay, this Woody Allen wanna be, is playing the pity sex card.

Unfortunately, nice guys like Gunther usually get friend-zoned. Women love jerks.

All those things Luann mentioned do not make Gunther a prude, it just makes him a good, kind, being concerned about others gentleman. What makes him a prude is his inability to really get beyond his own insecurities, and really connect with a female, without being overly judgmental of his motives, or hers. Les does not possess any of those attributes, although I argue he is slowly, glacially, changing, but being a “bad” boy might attract the ladies, but Gunther can be far more successful in a real relationship if he opens himself up completely to another woman. Rose was the closest, and Tiffany was close in a way too because he was so emphatic, to a point with her, when she needed it, but again it’s all about him, and not a relationship. Maybe it’s the only child raised by an overly protective, smothering, but loving mom syndrome. He needs to get over that.

Messed up over a rhyme scheme.

Gunth, you’re no prude, dude, but that’s no way for a girl to be wooed! (I’m having a bad rhyme day)

Not sure if it’s the prude thing that limits his dating or if it’s his unresolved anger and control issues

It seems girls and women are attracted to what is bad for them.

Gunther, Be prude & proud.

Gunther can be a pretty big jerk, too. He’s paranoid, insecure, and has a lot of anger management issues. Just being a “prude” isn’t the reason he’s unattached.

I’m still not convinced that Les and Gunther don’t have an unacknowledged thing for each other.

“Would you date me?”

“Uh, no.”

Think before you speak, Luann.

Bring it in! Full hug! The boy needs it!

1st during their early day some like those living on the edge guys, but when they’re ready to settle long term some go for the “keeper” type to show to mom.

No Gunth, actually I think you’re a dork.

Oh boy, just what Gunther needs … “mentoring” from Luann …

Yes Gunther, welcome to the “friend zone”.

Yes, Gunther, you’re a prude, but remember… you’re also a dweeb. Now show Luann your new kitchen towels that you sent her a picture of, and then you can go back to your sewing room and discuss fabrics. By then it will be almost 7:00 PM, so serve her some milk and cookies and send her home before bedtime!

I prefer the 5 o’clock shadow Gunther.

(Personally I thought Gunther’s reaction in the last panel was hilarious…)

Well. Now it’s out. Time to deal, Gunther.

Luann let it slip.

He can be a rude prude.

It’s not about being a gentleman, or about being a prude, or about being a dude. It’s about knowing what you want. Gunther doesn’t.

Gunther will make an excellent Beta Bucks. Eventually, he’ll meet his first ex wife.

Men marry women with the hope they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invariably they are both disappointed. Attributed to Einstein.

Kind of…?

Stupid women want danger, smart women want stability

What makes Gunthie think Les has all these dates with various different women? Because Les told him so? And of course, Les would NEVER lie…..:D :D :P

Not since the Jack and Luann episodes have we been anticipating todays strip! How will Greg play the Luann-Gunther-Les dynamic. Will Luann be attracted to Gunther or Les or something else. Right now looks like something else is in the lead. It appears Luann is in mentor mode and Gunther is Fay. And THAT is exactly what Gunther DOES NOT want!

What he wants is Luann to say “Thanks for trying to spare me from that creep!”

Gunther shouldn’t think it is Luann’s opinion of him. If anything, it is his opinion, he lobbed the conversational ball to Luann and crude and prude rhyme. He practically put the word in her mouth.

Has any unmarried person in this comic ever had sex? But Gunther is the lone prude.

Not to worry Gunther. When you’re in your 50s, the women will be all over you.

At least Luann recognizes Les for the jerk he is, unlike Tiffany who is flattered by ANY kind of male attention. Poor Tiff has never in her life been valued for HERSELF, so she sees any attention, even crude remarks, as positive. And with her Dad shifting her out of his life in favor of Ann she is more vulnerable than ever. I truly hope she does not succumb to Les’s “charms”!

5

Gunther is not a prude, he is just young, sheltered, naive, and unfortunately of late being drawn in situations where he is ALWAYS having to confront aggravation and annoying actions. We are never really shown Gunther anymore where we see him working on any of his goals, having any sort of fun or enjoyment, having any sorts of hopes or dreams. The only time we get to see his character is when he is experiencing some sort of strife (sometimes of his own making, but often a result of the inconsiderate nature of others in the comic).

I am of the camp that I hope that Gunther and Luann do not “date” at this point. The story development that has transpired since Gunther returned from Peru has been sad, by-and-large for Gunther. He does not deserve the crap that continually befalls him here, and I am a bit more than aggravated that Greg has chosen to make his character impotently grumpy and irate at nearly every turn. For an original character, it has been sad to see.

What I would like to have Greg do is to have Gunther’s character accept and deal with whatever the living situation may be (I do not care really if he lives in the Gulag or in the dorm or in some apartment or somewhere else.)… and that the story given to him involves him having fun and funny adventures where he grows into his adult self through his college efforts. I would really like to see him date someone completely OUTSIDE of his circle of known friends and acquaintances so that the relationship is not always encumbered by all the previous baggage.

For continuity’s sake, he could “check in” by phone or accidentally bumping into another original character every once in a while to let them know what is going on… but it would be nice to see him in some happy arcs for a while… and it really seems at this point in order to do that, his story arcs need to be independent of the others.

It’s past time to move out, Gunth. Get your own place, or move into the dorm.

It only took him 20 years to figure this out. Wow, self-realization and intelligence do not go hand in hand.

Yes he’s a prude and childish and immature to boot.

One observation:

I like Jack. And I think Luann likes Jack. “Likes.” But for all of their interactions over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed a considerable amount of hesitancy and reluctance on Luann’s part to get “cozy” with Jack despite the number of times they’ve been together. And yet during all that time it seems that Luann has been in communication with and thinking about, Gunther. Luann was texting Gunther, not Jack Monday. Yeah I know what you’re gonna say: “Oh prissy Gunther was just showing off his towels and his new place to his friends, that’s all!” Really? What “friends?” Tiffany’s seen the place. Knute wouldn’t care. And Bernice would over analyze it. That leaves Luann. She was awfully distracted during movie night. And I can’t believe Lu was that excited about seeing towels. Oh, and Remember this: Jack has stubble. Gunther is now clean shaven. And Luann likes the new clean shaven Gunther.

Valentine’s is 14 days away. Somebody in this Strip may be alone on that day and with their feelings hurt. Chances are, it’ll be my Favorite Nerd. But, I’m getting the feeling that when and Jack DO finally share that romantic embrace? Luann is going to feel absolutely nothing. And Gunther May wind up getting a long overdue BREAK.

Something’s afoot here, that may wind up being MORE than “friend helping helping a friend,” when the dust finally settles…..,

Crude over decent and honorable? Well that explains Election 2016.

Gunther, and many people posting comments today, seem to be confusing “gentleman” with “prude”. These are completely separate concepts, and it is certainly possible to be one without being the other. Many prudes are quite rude and selfish rather than gentlemanly, and many gentlemen enjoy an active amorous life without feelings of guilt. Gunther, however, is both. In his case, the “prude” aspect is actually stronger, as we saw in his chastising Tiffany (a very ungentlemanly thing to do) for her wanting to hang out with Les, whom Gunther considers immoral. That’s prudish. (Incidentally, as we saw in Les’ misguided attempt to court Pru, he can in fact act very much like a gentleman in his actions towards a lady.)

Gunther definitely exhibits mom issues. Yes. I know they’re characters in a strip. But they’re as “real” as Romeo and Juliet, Messala and Judah Ben Hur…. They spring from Greg’s mind. Since puberty, Gunther is sexually conflicted around women. Witness his interactions with Tiffany and the late-night episode, Luann in the library naked flash episode, Irma’s behavior with Al on the honeymoon. In an effort to cull him from the strip, Greg gave him Rosa (Saint Rosa?) which eventually wound up as some chivalric, ideal romance fantasy. When Guinevere didn’t live up to “the ideal,” Lancelot vanished and Gunther came home (to mama?). He still comes across as the self-proclaimed protector of the feminine ideal and winds up getting kicked for it (LuAnn’s “Prude?” comment the latest). He is miserable because “the ideal” keeps crumbling all around him.

Will Luann work her magic with Gunther, as she did with Fay and Jack? (She’s certainly is dressed in her counselor suit.) Will Gunther get some self confidence and a more realistic image of women? Or will Lancelot encounter an Elaine, as Mordy desires.

But until Greg gets it sorted out in his own mind, we’ll keep seeing this poor tortured soul who, like Sisyphus, encounters never-ending episodes of frustration.

My experience was just the other way around. When I was in high school, I believed the BS my evangelical teachers preached. When I got to college, I started acting like someone out of a James Dean movie and had girls chasing after me. The worse I was, the more I attracted. Go figger!

Luann didn’t get to finish her sentence. The next word might have been “boring.” I first noticed how boring Gunther could be when I saw the frumpy bridesmaid dress he designed for Luann to wear at Brad and Toni’s wedding. Would have been suitable for a distant relative four times as old as Luann. The only times Gunther isn’t boring is when he’s angry and then he’s just obnoxious.

The World could use more “prudes”. Lots more “prudes”.

Nice guys really do finish last.

A breakthrough!

1) This strip has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with Tiff. If Tiff wants to date Les, let her. This strip has everything to do with Gunther, who is NOT a gentleman – he has treated Tiff like property, and has no idea who he truly is or what he wants in life (other than to get dates/laid, apparently). No female wants to be treated like a trophy of idealized femininity that her date is entitled to. That’s called treating someone like a object, a sex object in this case. IF Gunther is going expect women to live up to that ideal of femininity, then he had better return the favor by living up to an ideal of masculinity (hit the gym, get a job and some ambition) rather then what he is now. So yes, Gunther may be decent, respectful, kind, and honorable (in Luann’s subjective opinion) but he’s still kind of a prick. 2) There is a lot of rather sexist generalized talking about what women want to date in these comments. Women date whom they want to date. Personally, I like a guy with ambition, who values adventure, risk, and who can hustle. That doesn’t make the guy “bad”. That is because I am ambitious, value adventure, risk, and can hustle. In short, I’m more likely to respect the business owner who has taken on the risk, liability & responsibility to start a business rather then the employee. That is one reason why women end up with perceived “bad boys”.

Who has Les dated besides Pru? Those weren’t even dates since she didn’t seem aware of his intentions. He has not dated Tiffany at all.

truth hurts

Sometimes Gunther reminds me of the interviewer played by Chris Farley. Especially the time he awkwardly asked Kim Basinger about a potential relationship with him.

Locake says Gunther should get rid of his “anger.” That’s not a bad idea.

Gunther should take his “anger” to the Gym, and lift weights. Channel every bit of his pent up rage at Les, his rejection by Tiffany, his abandonment by Rosa, his being friend zoned by EVERY female he knows, and take out on the barbells.

“Get Mad, Gunther! Look at some comments here! The World is laughing at you! LAUGHING at You and your prissy towels and sewing machine! What are you gonna do about it, girly man? Are you gonna Cry, “Momma’s Boy? PICK UP THOSE WEIGHTS! I SWEAR, Shannon can pick up heavier weights than You! Pick ‘em up, CHUMP! Here! Let’s add another 100 pounds! Now get Mad, Wimp! Get MAD at those weights! They’re laughing at You the way Les and Tiffany are laughing at you in Tiffany’s bedroom! Oh this is too easy! Let’s add ANOTHER 100 pounds! Now lift, Sissy-Boy ! LIFT!!! See that Beautiful girl over on the stairmaster? Well YOU are never gonna have her! Never! She’s laughing at you “Gunthie!” Momma’s precious little baby! That girl is laughing at you BECAUSE YOU CAN’T PICK UP THOSE WEIGHTS!! Let’s put on another hundred pounds! Lift Prudy-Boy, Lift!”

And after about six months of that, Gunther will have packed on quite a bit of muscle and he’ll see a stranger looking back at him in the mirror. And he’ll start to attract attention of the opposite sex. Sure, he’ll still be a bit of a prude, but I’m sure his new lady friends will help him with THAT…..,

The age old question: good or bad. One is for show, one is for go (the distance).

OMG! I dread Gunther suddenly trying very hard to NOT be a prude. That could be even more pathetic. Social interactions have to be developed. I remember Gunther trying to dance in a casting meet to be in Westside Story. Gunther needs to modify his attitude but not go ape on changing his innate behavior.

The truth hit Gunther like a piano from the 5th floor.

Chill, G-man. Settle back in your beanbag chair and swig a Peruvian beer.

You know, sometimes we want to have adventure, fun, take some risks, just like the boys. We want to try new things, scary things, to stretch our wings, to see just how strong we are, and what we’re capable of. Nice boys/men represent safety, and the end of youth, because when you find the right, nice, dependable man; there goes the fun. Men, nice ones, don’t want their women to be risk-takers, or to outsmart or “show them up” and so, strong, independent women are considered “wild” and to be tamed. Bad boys represent the risks and the challenge, nice boys represent domestication. The trick is to find the balance, and timing, timing is everything. Have fun, goof off, flirt with danger, then, and only then, find the “safe” harbor. (Just, be careful, health risks are permanent, that goes for both sexes!) “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” MARK TWAIN

and they’re both wearing colors you never see in real life on young people.

In high school the boys tried to date the wild girls and not the nice ones. It bothered me until the cute boy I liked got his wild girlfriend pregnant at 17 and his rich parents made him marry her. He is divorced now and I’m happily married for 30 years. I laugh about that now.

I think we’ll get around 400 comments today. Good show!

Gunth is gay.

Gunther got rid of his stubble to be more stylish and to have more sex appeal. Luann thinks Gunther’s lack of stubble makes him more stylish and gives him more sex appeal. Luann wants to kiss Gunther, but isn’t expecting Gunther to want to be kissed by her. Gunther wants to kiss Luann, but isn’t expecting Luann to want to be kissed by him. However, now Luann is starting to learn that Gunther wants sex appeal, so she might give herself the green light to kiss him.

let’s have some definitions.“Prude”: 1. a person who is or claims to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity (web def. Oxford). 2. one who is overly modest and proper in behavior and speech (Webster’s New World dictionary). Gunther could be a prude.

Nothing wrong with that at all.

Has anyone actually seen Les with a girl? If all Gunther has to go on is Les’s word, shouldn’t he be suspicious?

tomorrow: what about those new towels?

He gains wisdom.

Years ago, when I was in the Navy, one of the guys in out department was noted for walking up to women he’d never seen before and saying: “Hi There, Wanna F#$%?”

He got slapped over and over again but considered that OK because about one in 20 would say “Yes”.

But remember GuntherbLes is also single. Going on dates or not

“Respectful, decent, kind, honorable” – no, Gunther, that doesn’t make you a prude. It makes you a Cocker Spaniel.

It’s 2019 and Greg still can’t get over it?

They do not go for the weird guys. Even bullies stear clear of those that respond incorrectly.

Bingo! Yes, you’re a prude, Gunther, despite Luann’s attempt to re-direct.

Whatcha Gonna When Prudery Runs Over You?

will Luann ever remove that darn ugly jacket???!!!!!

I wish they’d finish one story arc before going onto the next.

She just wanted it to rhyme, man