Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for May 01, 2021

how generous of you, Leslie, to offer Spunk in order to calm Gunther’s nerves

And thus the arc comes to an end.

Les (or more accurately) Punk to the rescue.

Well, Les did five the best advice.

Had to keep his mouth shut to do it.

A little kindness from Les and a purr and cuddle from Punk may just be what Gunther really needs.

Good call, Les. Nothing like a little kitty therapy to help one forget one’s problems.

Where’d the cat’s eyes go?

Unconditional love!

Acariciar a Punk tiene el mismo efecto que la mantita de seguridad de Linus.

Gunther needs a mustache for reals.

Male bonding as only males can bond over ….. let’s just sat ‘cat.’

Les knows that animal therapy works. That is much better than listening to Bernice’s advice.

Ah. Who’d thunk Les’d empathize with him and loan him Punks? Nothing better than a purring kitten to hug and release all the bad stuff from the body?

nice save Les!

Bro bonding at its best. Things have never been better between the Gulag Boys plus One.

Will next week’s arc provide the man to man discussion of events needed here? One can only hope!

Leslie Knox to the rescue!

Best thing Les has ever done…

I think that cat has brought out a side of Les that nobody imagined existed. Possibly including Les.

Awe, these two have really been through a lot together. I adore how even though Les started to tease, his first reaction of seeing how frustrated Gunther actually is is to offer him comfort even before another sarcastic jab.

Congrats to all those who picked Gunther going home and getting advice from Les! Even one post I saw that said “bring Punk!” So on, Punk the emotional support Kitty. I am as guilty of projection as anyone here, and a victim of a classic misdirection play. However this arc will go on, even if we have a interruption, long or short. Bets is still around, Gunther is still invested, for now, Luann and Bern are in forever arc permutations, all is well in Luannverse.

He acted pretty calm and subdued throughout the whole date and now he’s a frazzled and emotional wreck??

When we do go back to this arc, it will be by discovering all of Bets’s websites are down and she is off of all social media.

Playing the part of Gunther in Panel 2 is the late, great Rip Taylor.

It’s crazy how Les is becoming one of the most likable characters in the strip these days.

Are girls still at Weenie World, discuss their interests?

Well well, looks like Les is the only one doing something positive to help Gunther. Good for Les! And Punk! :D

I wonder if Bern and Luann have noticed Gunther is gone yet? :P

Gunther, your current aura is going to contaminate Punk.

Next week storyline, Bernice and Luann getting treated at the ER after their “Discussion”.

Nothing is more relaxing than the unconditional love of a pet. Good move by Les in handing Punk to Gunther. After the initial sarcastic “Cap’n Nerd” blast by Les he actually became the first person to treat Gunnie like a friend since Ox offered him some “oredoves” back at Casa Tiff.

Or maybe Bets transfer to a school in Utah to avoid any unpleasantries.

Next week, Bets enrolls in an emotional detox support group.

“Hi. My name is Bets and I’m an emotional wreck.”

“HI! Bets!”

Perfect cure, take one kitty and start petting it

AWWWW! That just progressed Les’s redemption arc 5 more notches! Especially since he kept his mouth shut and refrained from any “I told you so”s.

Next week, Les hugs Gunther. A few minutes later, Gunther notices that his wallet is missing.

Punk’s a better therapist than Bern will ever be.

This is the perfect short-term resolution! A little kitten love.

I could fit several adult-related jokes here, but let’s just go with his pirate adventure ran aground on the shoals of two strong-willed women.

Les, you are a wonderful guy, take off that tough guy guise.

Nothing gets your mind of your ex like some new….uh….cat……

What’s happened to Les? He just behaved like a decent human being!

So is this how it ends for Gunth and Bets? No further explanation? Bets just needed her space and will simply disappear like Quill did?

Gunther probably called Momther for a ride home, and has already regaled her with his tales of woe.

Sweet!

Kitteh therapy. Works every time.

Sometimes, even Les does just the right thing.

At last. Punk’s super-power revealed!

Does Punk recognize Gunther in the pirate outfit and the mustache? He might be thinking a stranger is finally taking him away from the Gulag.

And so we wait two days to see if the arc is going to continue. Coincidentally, I’m on a 48-hour blackout period with my daughter as she works on take-home test in Vector Calculus. Art really does imitate life sometimes.

One of those examples, when Les is finally a better guy.

Awwwwww…. Les has become a great cousin and friend ♡. He doesn’t want to know more and doesn’t say anything, he just smiles and pass to Gunther one of the best “medicine” against anger and depression ♡. Gunther is lucky to share the house with him.

Best advice offered this week! … Good job Punk! … (And Les!) … :)

Not as good as a dog, but a cat will do in a pinch.

Luann and Bern just added more confusion to an already sensitive and volatile situation. Gunther remained cool throughout the evening, but now he’s come undone and who can blame him. Therapy cat to the rescue. Les instinctively knows; he listens; he’s been there.

OK you imposter! Who are you and what have you done with the real Leslie Knox?

And…tune in next week to see the exciting conclusion of the “Great World ending Comet” which struct Gunther’s planet. Just how will his inhabitants survive? What state will they end up in? May the finger of fate have mercy on their souls.

That’s what kitties are for. Puppies too!

Is Leslie a Blofeld?

I knew it! Les is supportive with only a small comment about Gunther’s nerdy outfit. Les listens to Gunther and offers him exactly what he needs.

Les is pulling off the Bond Super Villain shtick pretty well. Doctor No-Nothing.

Whoa! After being used as an emotional punching bag by his friends Gunther is helped by his old nemesis.

Reminds me of the moral to a long, old joke. “It’s not always your enemies who get you into it. It’s not always your friends who get you out of it. And when you’re in it up to your eyeballs – keep your mouth shut.”

Perfect response.

Today’s is my all-time favorite Luann strip. Kitties are indeed the best medicine. And whenever a bully’s heart becomes softened an angel gets its wings.

I remember Snoopy giving Fuzz Therapy in the Peanuts strip.

Eternal truth: Warm fuzz from accepting pets soothes the wounded heart.

Very cool of Les…very cool indeed. But I can’t help thinking that Les is thinking to himself: “Here, ya p@$$#, hold this pussy”(cat)….I’ll just see myself out..good day!

For TWO WEEKS Gunther hasn’t had anyone listen to him. Tiff and Co had their vision, Bets was working her angle, and the Bickerson Twins cannot get out of their own way to support their friend.

Les Knox, secret man of action and heart!

Cat in lap. The best.

Every once in a long while, Wes gets it exactly right!

Awww. So cute.

Purr cure.

There’s nothing like a cat to help in times like this, and Punk is just the cat for the job.

\\//_

Best type of therapy.

It seems that Wes has been observing their messed up relationship for awhile, and not at all surprised at this turn of events.

That’ll work.

Gunther seems to be the type that will panic in any situation; in panel 2 he looks like he’s panicking at Whole Foods because they are out of produce.

Gunther is SO Californian in panel 2. Someone give him a dose of New Jersey post haste!

a cat’ll do it …

Happiness is a warm ….. nah, won’t say it.

Good response Leslie. A kitten will make almost everything better.

Kitties heal most things.

So the Luann weather vane on top of the barn turns one way or another, but never actually goes anywhere. Bets shows that she is a hot to trot adventuress with cold feet. Gunther once again proves that a nerd who looks too much like his mother, who looks like a Brillo pad, is doomed to fail.

Careful, Leslie…you are becoming likeable!

Purr therapy is the best!

Wow. Who knew Les had a heart?

Punk, the emotional support kitten.

In today’s strip Les accomplishes more with less.

There ya go! :-)

Given how Spunk seems to have calmed Les quite a bit, it’s a good move!

A purring cat can cure anything.

hold a purring kitten and that fixes every thing

Good move Leslie, very good move.

A cat, or dog, will always make you feel better.

A quick and temporary fix. But ultimately the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a bullet hole.

Oh Darn! I thought for sure today would show Gunther and Bets embracing in the parking lot with Luann and Bernice looking confused from the window of Weenie World. But I am ALWAYS happy to see Punk! There is something really endearing about how he is drawn.

Hi..Punk! :^D

Any guy who verbalizes the statement “I’m a fragile emotional wreck” should just go ahead and give up their man card altogether. It’s especially weird in Gunther’s case since he was holding it together pretty well up until now. But I suppose he just didn’t want to show any weakness to The Bitch And The Buffoon, for fear that they’d find a way to make that all about themselves as well.

And that last panel… surely Greg and Karen aren’t so sheltered as not not realize the MASSIVE double-entendre they just did? (Here’s a hint: there’s a word that starts with P, and it refers to a cat as well as a female body part, and Les just offered it to a distraught Gunther.)

It says a lot about Luann and female friends when Les is the only one who offers true comfort to Gunther.

Awww!

A “Friend” Indeed

Punk has been teaching Les how to human, and Les is paying attention.

It’s a medical fact. Petting a cat lowers your blood pressure.

Gunthie is well and truly pussified!

Interesting turn of events. Rather than offering comfort, Luann and Bernice were busy “mansplaining”, Gunther has an unmanly breakdown, the sometimes evil Les knows how to defuse the situation with the kitten. Greg has turned the universe upside down.

If Les does in fact give some advice it might turn out to be quite useful. While he presumably doesn’t have real relationship experience he certainly knows a lot about manipulators. He might be able to ascertain what comes from Bets just playing games to her own advantage and what may be a genuine surprised reaction to Gunther’s declaration.

Les and Punk to the rescue.

Monday strip Punk continues his therapy session with Gunther

That is so sweet and thoughtful! They really are like brothers.

I don’t think feline calming influence is “fungible”. The kitty has most appealingly bonded with Les (surprisingly), but you can’t just hand someone the “bonding”.

Good move, Les. Who knew you could be the sensitive one?

I agree, good move on Les. He already told Gunther everything he needed to say back on April 1, 2, and 3.

Next week should be interesting. Bets will not appear anytime soon. My thinking is GnK will let her rest before continuing with the Gun-Bets saga. But she will return, one way or another.

That leaves us with the possibility of Gunther and Les continuing the post date conversation, Luann and Bernice continuing the post date conversation OR alternating panels; girls and guys. IMHO these are equally likely because Les has been shown to be more empathetic than in the past.

All he needed was a little pu…er uh, kitty cat.

Joking aside, the purrs are relaxing.

Actually, Les handing a purring cat to Gunther isn’t just being sensitive. Pets are brought into hospitals where kids and adults are under treatment for serious diseases all the time now, because it has been recognized that, besides lowering blood pressure, ‘support pets’ can improve the overall medical outlook for the patients.

My sixteen-year-old cat is lying on my lap right now helping to soothe me after a rough morning.

And on a totally other topic: there are actually legislatures right now that are debating bills that order school districts and employers to stop penalizing students and employees who decide to let their hair ‘go natural’. At the same time that the natural state of hair of people of color is coming to the attention of legislatures (meanwhile, people of all backgrounds are still struggling with joblessness, lack of medical care and homelessness, but, first things first I guess), posters on ‘Luann’ still think it’s perfectly fine to snark about a pale skinned woman and her son who have ‘brillo pad’ hair. Can you say ‘reverse bee eye gee oh tee arrr why’, boys and girls? I know you can…

Please tell me how Gunther got home???

One of the best cartoons my father ever drew in his life shows him standing in front of Mom saying, “I’m tense, headachy, and tired.” Mom says, “I have just the thing.” The next panel has our striped cat Nomad on top of his head with his usual puzzled expression, and Dad says (through the fourth wall), “I know it looks crazy, but it works.”

Punk therapy.

Gunther might have to get used to living alone with a cat.

Forget about your problems nerd boy. I can make the rest of your evening purrfect

Awwwww!

Punk is so cute!

Today’s strip makes me sad that my household cat doesn’t like being around me very much. It’s kinda my own fault though, as I’m way too needy for a cat. I go all Elmyra (from Tiny Toons). It’s why I like visiting people with affectionate cats.

Well, look at that… Leslie Knox doing something nice for someone he tried to bully. And pet therapy can work wonders.

Nothing like a armful of purr to settle the nerves.

Les is smarter than he lets on.

A purring cat will help calm Gunther; nicely done Leslie ♥

Ah, now THAT is sweet, and the perfect response to Gunther’s angst. Whodathunk Les could be so insightful?

At that age romantic partners come and go. The love a pet is constant.

SUNDAY : Frank and Nancy team up to make a point.

Gunther looks very funny in frame 2. Something between a matador and one of the Marx brothers.

Best thing that Les has ever done for Gunther. From Les’s smile, I think my idea of “Les and Guth” as a couple may come true.

Les is now officially a better councilor than Bernice

Or a bunny. :) But be careful about those back legs.

Les did the right thing: without further comment, he handed over Punk for comfort. Meanwhile, Lu and Bern are in a battle of the witless.

Leslie has learned that one may take comfort in a loving pet. It will have to do as a palliative for Gunther, too….

Go, Punk!

Bravo, Les!

Les is a kind young man.

Yup.

You know what Les, when I saw you were an animal lover you started growing on me and I think this action turned a corner for me…nice going dude…stop-brother…but dont touch Gunther’s drumset!

Kitty therapy. ;-)

Cats are the best when stressed.

Les for the win.

Purrfect!

That little kitten has really brought out the best in Les.

BRING. BACK. ROSA.

The most intelligent (and perhaps empathetic) response the whole night comes from Les. Oh how he has changed.