Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 04, 2020

Sp Toni wants to get another car to go along with her little dipstick

Ooh… something on the iPad. What could it possibly be? (Toni’s dream car I presume.)

“Cause I can check your dipstick?”

Me: ded

This arc is now rated PG! LOL

My guess is dog adoption/puppy acquisition.

I’ll go with … It’s Shannon.

Uh-oh. I’m thinking it’s Shannon, which is OK on one level, as Bwad gets along with her and will give her the love she needs BUT- it’s still not the same as your own.

“Oh please Toni! Please show us what’s on the screen!” He said with droll sarcasm.

Either Toni wants to build a Street Rod, or she wants to adopt.

“Check your dipstick” isn’t a euphemism. Nope; not at all.

Dog. Or cat.

Blehhhgh!

Wow – it appears that Brad’s Chevy Nova is aging faster than the cast is. His original Nova (visible just above the comments under the “Explore Luann” is a gold ‘76 to ’79 Nova commonly known in the car community as a “Disco Nova”. The one in today’s strip is an older Nova – a ’67 to a ’72. I know it is not a ’73 or ’74, my wife had one of those when we first started going out. My ’68 Firebird could take her Nova any day. Of course, I had dropped a heated up 455 in it instead of the sickly 350, and her Nova had a stock 350. No replacement for displacement back then, LOL. Except maybe a blower, a nasty cam, and a few other things…

.

Oh, yeah, I did notice the dipstick innuendo. Noticed it last time, too. Always fun to see Greg show an interest in cars, especially when there are parts that are analogous between people and cars.

GnK are stretching this “Baby? Not yet!” mighty thin!

Anyone know if it is a trope or just clichéd? 8^ (

So it could be a puppy, kitten, new car, they are adopting shannon——or possibly—-Toni is pregnant.

OMG, is that an ultrasound picture?? Or just a car she wants? Knowing Toni, it is likely a car.

The “kid” is, of course, is a goat because Toni wants to make her own Feta cheese.

OK – A little suspense is much needed.

Dog

Foster child?

Toni wants a puppy??

Toni: " Yup, here she is….. I call her “Ferrari”.

“Yup, here she is. I call her “Ferrari”.

Dog, cat or car?

Oh, dear. She found a cheap Mercedes…

Looks like they own a late ’60s Chevy II Nova.

Hmm a two legged or four legged kid.

She’s his Junkyard Mook like on YouTube

Smart segue into a surprise. I will hold off guessing but the repartee is really sexy. Wonder if Luann will ever get that far with a romantic character. Or Bernice. Bets and Gunther are closer though.

Toni is thinking about when they can go on vacation. It is a 1974 Winnebago Chieftain motorhome. You know, those with the green windows. Powered by a Chrysler/Dodge 440. And whatever does not leak, seeps. One of the first hybrids. Burns gas and burns oil…

A sonogram ?

She wants to adopt a baby goat.

I don’t know where this is going, but I don’t think I’m going very far out on a limb with one prediction about where it isn’t going: Toni is not about to suggest that they adopt Shannon.

Flaky as Jonah may be in some respects, his daughter adores him, and I don’t think Greg and Karen would would put her through the trauma of having him definitively abandon the role of Dad.

Of course I expect that Shannon will continue to have frequent visits with Aunt Toni and Uncle Brad/Bwad, and I can even imagine a lengthy stay with them if Jonah gets a touring gig, but I don’t see it becoming an official permanent arrangement.

Okay, I’m hittin’ to right field here (cuz I’m left-handed): Maybe Toni wants to adopt first.

A new car project!

Wait…“check your dipstick?” Did Greggie just throw in an overtly sexual double entendre?

Adopting your brother’s kid is not smart. It confuses the child and adults involved.

Cat or dog? Or Shannon??

It’s either going to be adopting Shannon or it’s a picture of an ultrasound showing Toni is pregnant. I’m voting for the latter. OR, (going out on a limb here), it’s a picture of a puppy.

We already had a plot arc involving an ultrasound this year. Think of something else.

I think a child for adoption myself.

She wants to buy a bigger house. One that’ll have room for a family

Sounds like a dog. Or cat.

I hope it’s a 72 Ford Maverick Grabber, Grabber Blue with Black side stripes and black hood and a nice stock 302 V8.

Would be a nice complement to the Chevy Nova.

Yea, I geeked out a bit, but the car is worth it.

“Come to me for service every hundred miles

Baby, let me check your points,

Fix your overdrive

Talkin’ ’bout love"

There. See?

The innuendos continue.

You know Toni? If you REALLY wanted to “Check Brad’s Dipstick you’d….., Ah. Too Easy. ;)

Looks to Me like Brad and Toni may be about to go either car or pet “shopping.” Of course, buying a car new or used and paying for it over the next 5 years or more is going to put them that much further behind in eventually buying a larger house.

The irony is, NOW is the perfect time to buy a new house because there are great deals all over the place.

If it IS a car Toni’s talking about, and not a “kid” or a pet or a house, it’s odd choice, coming at an odd time. Two years ago, Toni was Gung-Ho about buying a house. Now zilch. Or is it? Maybe Toni’s “ploy” to buy a car on time, buys her more time to put the “baby-talk” (and house-talk) on hold. And if Toni is talking about a “pet” then she might be implying a “kid substitute.”

By the way. Toni once had a very nice, relatively new high performance car that her ex-B/F Dirk, promptly WRECKED. Seems to Me, she should be MORE reluctant about buying a new car than having a kid.

Brad? A piece of advice here. The SAME advice certain “folks” around here have been giving Toni all week. If you’re not ready to buy a new car, or a pet, then by all means give Toni a “Not yet.” Or better still, a good old fashioned “No.” See people? It works BOTH ways. But it’s always different when the “other party” is on the receiving end of a negative.

Don’t worry. Brad will predictably CAVE to whatever Toni wants. And if it’s a pet, Toni will use “A playmate for Shannon!” as a “selling point.” ;)

Ignoring the double entendre in Panel 1… since she’s not ready to start a family “yet,” my guess it’s adopting an animal of some kind.

Fur Baby!

I’m guessing a puppy.

’57 Nomad.

Check your dipstick…oh BEHAVE, G&K!!

Shannon. Or some baby for adoption. It’s possible that Toni doesn’t mind the idea of a kid, but pregnancy freaks her out.

Amazing how many dirty-minded people we have here, given the rather innocuous dialog today. tsk tsk.

Maybe it’s a 1969 SS 396!

They’re getting a pet.

What kind of passion?

A baby goat?

Another puppy!

Hope Toni’s just kidding, I mean, not kidding, I mean… :D

Is it a puppy?

I kind of hope it is a puppy. :-))

Uh oh, puppy time!

Ahhh, I forgot about their classic car. I now understand why they have no money. They also want to start another one. Even more money into the void. (I’m a Reformed car guy)

Check your dipstick! Is that what its called these days?

next she’ll refer to tightening his “lug nuts”.

=:-O

Adoption I think

A new Carburetor….oh boy!!!!

Shannon?

As usual Greg is playing with your head. It will be another week before you even see what is on the screen.

Another Shared passion – she? Another high performance car, a pet, …?

OOoohh! A ’68 “Bullitt” Mustang!

Oh I bet she checks his dip stick.

They’re going to adopt Bernice!!!

Sigh! Back in 2002 Greg was able to juggle three (yes 3) dynamic and interesting arcs at once: 1) Brad and TJ in fireman training and meet Toni Daytona (though she hadn’t been named yet); 2) Tiffany decides Gunther needs a makeover; and, 3) Bernice is embroiled with Zane and Ann Eiffel.

At least we still have Bernice, Ben and Jack rattling around.

it’s not a car because she’s been thinking about it since the episode with Les and Punk (they’re just now doing car maintenance). I think Toni was taken by Punk and Les and maybe thought she’d like to adopt a kitten herself. I think it is definitely a pet (not a child). Adopting a child is a huge legal affair; one would have to think about that over a much longer period… I would assume. But it is “she”; people/guys often refer to vehicles as “she”.

A number of people are saying that what Toni is talking about is Shannon.

And if she IS, well.

To Me at least, it be the ULTIMATE Disappointment in a year filled far too many disappointments as it was. (And one or two of those right in this Strip)

The reasons against, are too many to list. But the two main reason would be:

1) Instead of surrendering to the desires of her loving husband to have a child of their own, Toni instead totally, completely, surrenders to the whims of her WORTHLESS brother by agreeing to take Shannon off his hands. For good.

2) Toni will have done so WITHOUT getting Brad’s input FIRST. THAT is the other pet peeve that I have among the young couples in this Strip. One partner (Usually the female) making all the decisions while the other (Usually the male) gives in. We’ve seen it with Bets and Gun. And We’re seeing it with Brad and Toni. The one exception was Quill and Luann. And the minute Quill gained the upper hand, Luann quickly DUMPED him.

All due respect, but I HOPE all you “Shann Fans” are wrong. Not all of Us are crazy about the kid. The ONLY Good thing would come out of the New DeGroots taking Shannon on a permanent basis, would that Greg and Karen would have to write out the two-bit “father” Jonah out of the Strip, once and for all. Unfortunately, unless they kill him off, he could still make appearances to see his daughter. Frankly I really don’t think he should “get off the hook” so easily by signing over custody of his daughter to his sister. It would be rewarding his sorriness.

Besides, what would Shannon think about it? If G&K let’s it happen, in effect, they are creating another Les. THAT, we don’t need. Kitten or no kitten. ;)

It must be a car. They already have a “pet” and a “kid.” It’s name’s Shannon.

Can’t be an ultrasound, because you don’t find out gender until about 20 weeks in… unless things have greatly changed in 8 years!

Yes as to her first question…..

…its the official adoption papers for Shannon. Jonah was in a bus crash.

Maybe a needy child to help out?

We need a ‘jaw on floor’ emoji.

Toni is channeling her unnamed Aunt from the wedding reception. The one that supposedly raised her.

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2016/12/13

But, if that’s true, then who are the two seated next to Nancy in the wedding group shot? I thought they were Toni’s parents? Confusion abounds in Luanniverse.

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

It has been pointed out that for the image to be Toni’s ultrasound result, that she’d be pretty far into the pregnancy. She uses the term “she” to reference the picture. It is a minimum of twelve weeks from conception before gender can be determined, and it’s still somewhat uncertain then. Thirteen and a half weeks is more likely for certainty. So I think it’s pretty unlikely that she’d be three months in before talking to Brad about it.

If she is in fact pregnant, a picture of the color indicating “stick” test is likelier… and has a peculiar resonance with the term “dipstick” from the slightly less than tasteful joke in panel one. But that still doesn’t account for the pronoun “she.”

I think it must be either Shannon or one of the other-than-human possibilities cited above.

As for Shannon’s dad not willingly giving her up? I can imagine a dozen eventualities that could change his mind… and he might even have told Toni in the last day or two.

“She?”

Does she mean to adopt??

Puppy

Bettin’ its a 67 Chevy Camaro or 69 Ford Mustang Mach I… possible a Love Bug?

How did they get panel one past the censors

It is definitely not Shannon. Toni would not be that happy.

Well, I’m thinking it’s either sponsoring a child in need or adopting.

Toni and Brad are adorables♡.Let’s hope it’s not a dog photo.

They’re going to adopt Shannon

Phrasing.

Okay, that’s some “True Blood”-level cliffhanger BS right there. Needless to say I will be checking in tomorrow for the payoff.

Its either a dog or its Shannon.

they’re going to adopt Shannon?

Standard double entendre? but cute. Thinking since we are fresh off a pet arc, this will be a puppy. My husband and I got a pup first. Following year we had a baby. The dog and baby were best buddies. ;-) Of course, we never know with Brad and Toni!

Or a puppy

I have a feeling Brad’s “dip stick” may be left out of the plans!

SSSShannon !!!

Ten to one, this is NOT a photo of a human child.

This strip is getting a little risqué, what with Bern and Jack a few weeks ago.Now, check his dipstick? Hope she’s the only one checking his dipstick.

To all you dog lovers out there:

This is a family that already has a de-facto kid and cannot afford the roof over their own heads (the TJ angle).

The absolutely positively last thing they need is another mouth to feed.

And last I checked, dogs come with mouths. (Still prying them off of my legs)

Adoption – pet or kid – just doesn’t make any sense.

But a resolution to the Jonah-Shannon situation would make a whole lot more sense.

Above, I speculated that perhaps Jonah has granted a “non-temporary” guardianship or custody of Shannon, thus allowing him to disappear from the strip – or more correctly, allow him to remain disappeared from the strip – he hasn’t been seen in years. Not even a hand waving goodbye, not even a car driving off. Often, Shannon not even strolling through the door. Let’s face it, Jonah’s like that old Eagles song, already gone!

But a “non-temporary” guardianship would allow G&K flexibility in the future, either bringing Jonah back at some future date and, if he does return, the possibility of returning Shannon to her father and writing Shannon out of the strip. Something that might be desirable should G&K actually let Toni get pregnant.

But I know what you are all saying right now, and you’re probably right:

This makes too much sense, so G&K would never run with it!

Something new to play with. Motorcycle that needs to be restored.

Shannon or pet dog.

I never noticed it before but Toni seems to like to mess with Brad’s head. She starts this conversation knowing where hid mind is going to leap to and then she’s going to show him a picture of a car… or Shannon… either way he’s going to be let down.

I’ve always considered Toni smart, but who on the heck works on a car wearing white… white! gloves?

Another Nova, maybe? The one in today’s strip is a 68-72; the one he had in the Dirk chase sequence was a ‘79

A Kid friendly Car?

Adoption: too much money. And Toni not close to wanting to be a mom. Car: too much money. And no need to be working on another car. Rescue kitty or puppy: after the Punk incident, this seems the most likely.

Car? Or Pet?

a hamster!

I am assuming it’s a dog.

Is Greg Evans showing everyone his dirty mind? Cuz Toni can check Brad’s dipstick.

A goldfish…

Ruh roh.

What’s on that iPad? A picture of Shannon? Gag! A picture of a Classic Car? (How about a Studebaker Silver Hawk for me?) A picture of nursery furnishings? Something else?

The suspense is…suspenseful….

They are getting a pet, probably a dog for Shannon to play with and harass and dress up in baby clothes.

Goat ?

Goats and puppies and cars, oh my! Two kids, young and newly married, making themselves the designated fools responsible for everyone’s needs. Get rid of Shannon. Make Jonah step up. She’s his problem. Ease TJ out of the picture. He’s your security blanket. Take your lives off hold and either knock her up or don’t. Stop being wishy washy and grow up.

A LOT of “folks” are going to be disappointed in about 40 minutes.

But Not ME! ;)

I knew it, they’re adopting Les!