Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for October 20, 2020

that’s (somehow) a relief

New boyfriend? ✨

He looks like Bernice with a beard.

To those who were certain that a love interest had entered the picture: not.

I thought of a new game today. When will Ben remember why he came over to Luann’s house? He said why yesterday but Luann never answered him. So how long is it going to take for him to ask again?

When he says she has not changed at all, it could be taken several ways.

Hmm, Ben has come to the same conclusion that many readers have

She still has Porky Pig Speech Syndrome.

Prescott_Philosopher beat me to it.

Well, OK…Ben is not offended at all… he even volunteered the description of himself as “pudgy, shaggy and sloppy” with no defensiveness or anger. He knows what he looks like to people, and, with a smile, owns it.

But, this is not a real advancement in the story. Still waiting to hear more backstory, and whether he will own the other “elephant in the room”.

Yep, Ben, you said it. You can count on her not changing. She’s quite dependable in that area.

Just how long has it been, Ben? Can we reconcile real time here, with Luann time? Two kids, acquired the normal way, or maybe rescued or adopted to justify a shortened time required to obtain a family?

Pudgy, shaggy, sloppy, and condescending.

We know, Ben. We know.

Luann is very condescending.

Ben nails it. “yeah.. I mean no.. I didn’t mean what I meant…” the constant confusion and inability to be focused (the unchanged part of Luann); the response of a thirteen year old who blurts out thoughts as they come, only to take them back and re-think them…. out loud.

God the Luann haters! She is just flustered and embarrassed an entirely normal human emotion; she hasn’t seen this young man for years. I have critiqued that anytime any man is shown in a set of panels with Luann some muse romance, silly I think. I have also speculated that Ben could be a romance interest, mutually, with Luann, also silly. But for some odd reason I think it is more likely now that not. We shall see as the panels march on.

Ben has a “dad body”! ;-)

How does that foot taste, Luann?

I’m reminded of Bern’s casual “Tiff got fat” remark. How many people are gonna gain weight over a break in this strip, lol?

Luann means well…

Here is Luann and Bernice ( 16 yrs old in High School) when Sergeant Ben York is introduced to the strip.

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2007/01/22

Romantic Fantasy https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2007/02/13

It has been 4 years since high school.

Ben’s right. Luann hasn’t changed much. But, this isn’t the first time Luann “has inserted foot in mouth.” I can recall Lu making a rather careless unflattering reference “about heavy set” folks around Dez. Several times as I recall. And it was to point where Luann wished someone would tell her shoosh.

But to be fair, Luann isn’t the only young adult that has made thoughtless remarks. Tiffany once “fat shamed” a cafeteria worker to her face back in HS. And she once remarked to Crystal about how some “folks let themselves go” after spotting an overweight couple. But of course, Karma eventually caught up with Tiff, and she found herself in the SAME “boat.”

Still you gotta hand it to Ben. After all he’s been through, he’s smiling and taking Luann’s unfortunate “comments” in stride. However, if Bernice continues to live at Casa DeGroot, he may want to seriously consider calling or texting his sis instead of just “dropping over,” to avoid any future “unpleasantness.” ;)

Ben apparently thinks cluster is flattering. At least on Luann

In the first panel, Puddles is pulling the leash hard. He’s basically saying, “No, don’t get involved with him! Stay away! You’ll be sorry! And anyway, I need to pee! Let’s go!”

PTSD? There’s a lotta bad stuff to see in-country. Maybe we should get the heck out of those places and give our youngsters a better future.

Ban looks so happy to see Luann after years♡. He’s really a nice man. I hope more and more to know what happened to him to have to ask his biological parents for help.

I am reading through the comments. Ben has spent a few terms in the military. He has opportunities. He can look for a GS job. He can look into his educational benefits. He can look into VA benefits. Ben has the ability to land on his feet.

Not a good first impression for me.

I love it when Luann trips over her own tongue.

“I was trying to say you looked happy.”

For years I was wondering if Aaron Hill was to receive this treatment if ever they were to bring him back.

Ben of course expresses in the last panel what lots of commenters have said here about Luann for months now.

Except for being pudgy, he looks like my husband when I met him. He was back from Vietnam, and had just gone thru a heartbreaking divorce. He cleaned himself up after meety me. I didn’t ask him to. He just did it. By giving him a chance, I gave him something to live for.

I see no romance. I do see a lot of asinine comments about his appearance, even after the character mentioned it himself, almost to disarm and defuse the awkwardness, and then is slightly amused, (not condescending) with Luann’s awkwardness nevertheless. He also seems comfortable in his own skin. But that will still inspire comments about him, and her, mostly negative. Of course

Ugh. Why talk about boyfriends? Why does that matter?

Ben’s actually looking pretty good and I’m meaning mentally/emotionally. The physical look is his to do as he picks or to fit the environment he’s in comfortably. The reason I comment on the mental/emotional appearance is for some who’ve served (while focused for military/former military first responders also qualify) it’s easy to get “lost in the fog”/1000 yard stare/PTSD because of the experience they go through. To help understand some of it for those who haven’t met people who’ve “been there” I’ll suggest the movie Restrepo. It’s a documentary that’s done very well and is very open.

Luann would be so much more interesting if she quit being an idiot. Or is there a medical reason for this decline in her behavior? Does she have Tourette’s? ADD? Did she fall and hit her head? I’m serious. They write her character like someone with a disability.

He looks a bit like John Lennon.

Did you wash those feet this morning, Luann?

That’s the point, isn’t it! Luann hasn’t changed at all!

AND WE HAVE A WINNER! Good Gawdamighty, Ben, that was PERFECT!

Jebus, Luann, put your mouth in neutral instead of revving it like that!

Luann does not have a filter on her mouth, this has been a running “gag” since the strip started.

Yep, still either overthinking things or engaging mouth before brain. But, lovable in her own way. When do we get Ben’s story? And will Bernice show up in time to interrupt?

People who aren’t afraid of the truth are good unless they aren’t afraid because they distance themselves from it.

WAY too close. Keep your six foot distance! Yes, comic strip characters have died in the past too.

I think Ben needs to be introduced to Jack. Ben is close enough in age, Jack is active. Maybe an active friend would be able to help Ben with some of his weight issues.

the interesting thing is that Ben’s comments about Luann may very well have to do with her having NOT changed physically, just as her comments (hemming and hawing) refer to his physical changes. While Ben is a perceptive guy, he’s still a guy. But i think he’s referring to the whole package i.e. she looks the same… she acts the same.

Boy, at this point, I assumed the writers kinda forgot that Bernice had a brother.

Actually, Ben might ground her a bit. He’s older and wiser. Appearances aren’t everything.

I dunno… It looks like he’s wearing a wig to me..

Ben there, done that?

Brutal bluntness must be a family trait. Sheesh. Bern and Ben both need a LuAnn filter.

I don’t remember this Jerry Garcia wannabe.

Time for Luann to look a little more slutty (just a little).

He will not get a free meal on Veteran’s Day looking like that!

Bernice’s brother has not had a haircut or shave in 13 years, which is about 4 Luann years!

Touche! in the final panel. He nailed it.

Ben says it all!

He’s grown, aged.

Luann hasn’t changed at all, and that’s sad….

legend of a mind – moody blues. have most of their albums ( yes vinyl)

He has done a lot – but now not only is he married, but how shall we say this – not a healthy choice.

Pretty judgy comment from a fat slob