Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 29, 2021

good questions there, Luann

Boring hair products?

So her big takeaway from this is “we should let our natural looks speak for themselves” rather than “we shouldn’t use stuff that doesn’t belong to us”? Wow, Luann is a real class act.

Not cute, not funny, not witty.

So, instead of considering how to change her life to bring both a date and a career into it, Luann is going to be shown discussing over-reliance on beauty products…

Shaving cream, so nice and clean.

“What do I do now?” — “Rub it into your eyes!”

Up to now this week has been dull but not nails-on-a-blackboard irritating. Now it’s irritating. Is Luann even in the house? Is she zoom-babysitting? Because why did she let Shannon spray goo on her head? At this point any reasonable person would have snatched the can out of her hand.

I would have a conniption if we came home from a date night out and the babysitter had taken the kids and gone rummaging through the bathroom using our stuff. Luann should know better.

Shannon’s ready for the runway. We’ve seen everything else there.

Reminds me of a trick a friend of mine used when he had guests over at his house. He would put marbles in the mirror medicine cabinet, so if anyone decided to get nosy they would get busted for it when they opened the cabinet and all the marbles would fall out. He said you would be surprised at how many did it.

OK. Now starts we are all too consumer oriented lecture. 8^ (

Kind of the “annoying kid” version of the Whipped Cream & Other Delights album cover.

Totally darling! I just love Shannon’s simplicity, and Luann’s deadpan response.

Hope it’s not Gorilla Glue.

Blame Don Draper…

Even Shannon isn’t that stupid. That’s what a 2 year old might do, although most 2 year olds are more mature than that.

Is this going somewhere?

I agree.

It is Nair wash her hair off immediately while she’s still has some

What does she do now? Whatever she wants. It’s not like Luann will try to stop her. Nor will anyone else. When TJ gets back, he’ll be alarmed to discover there’s no goo with which to slick down his mullet.

Shannon keep on digging that hole deeper and deeper for Luann, as TJ walks in on the Fri strip.

That is not her stuff

An innocent, independent child is what Shannon is. Luann can suggest they play beauty shop, but she had better say she will be the beautician before Shannon does or else Luann might end up with gorilla glue in her hair.

What now? Since you are all lathered up, time to grab the razor. You could become the next Skinhead O’Connor…

“What to do? “

Stick a cherry on top, and walk around pretending that you’re a sundae, Shannon.

All of a sudden, I’m missing Bets. ;)

Gasp! Now Shannon will have to totally shave her hair! But seriously, I wonder if this will lead to a permanent hairstyle change. It would be funny if Shannon get rid of her helmet hair before Tiffany. It’s nice to see Luann question that useless amount of products and clearly tell Shannon that “More stuff doesn’t mean more style”. Now she just has to put Shannon in front of a mirror and start combing her hair.

So far I like this storyline.

Well, Luann, each generation has said exactly the same what you just said. Based on the huge lump on Shannon’s head, she owes someone a new bottle. Well, Luann does because she failed to stop Shannon from being grabby. Luann, just wet her hair, put on some mousse and blow dry her hair so her hair will be pouffy. Or watch youtube on how to braid a fancy style. Or take Shannon to a drugstore for some spray-on hair color and have a little fun with it. Then toss her in the bathtub and wash her hair before she goes to bed.

Luann, you’re the “adult” you’re supposed to know better.

“Do now? There is nothing more TO do. You have already reached perfection!!”

Ever since tik-tok.

“What do we do now?”

Put down TJ’s stuff and leave the room, Shannon.

Give it a rest, Luann. People who’ve read the strip a long time remember all the times you played “dress up” with excessive make up, fake eye lashes and and styled your hair. It’s nothing new. Like the old ad said.. " Because I’m worth it!"

Funny isn’t it that Mad Ave pushes more beauty products on the ladies than on us men. I wonder if this is part of the so called “pink tax”. :/

And today’s feature is brought to you by .. Your Friendly Plastic Cosmetics Jar manufactures.

Luann you were brainwashed by the cosmetic industry a long time ago, Shannon is just following that road!

I wonder if they will find a pregnancy test soon? This has to be going somewhere.

Well, now somebody’s going to take a bath and wash her hair.

Shannon is unstoppable (sigh). I wonder how I would be around a child this mischievous, but I’m quite sure, not half as tolerant as Luann and her family!

Take a bath

Get out the razor

Time to get in the bathtub.

Greg Evans must want readers to hate kids.

My guess is the purpose of this arc is to show why TJ will move out. Implicitly move in with girl friend.

It starts far younger than Shannon, with small children ‘dressing up’ to look more adult… And continues forever with middle-aged folk slathering on the make-up or hair restorer to look younger.

JUST STOP this pointless “story” line! Unless the point is to prove that Luann is an immature, spineless ninny who cannot train a dog or use reasonable discipline to correct a run-amok child.

This is supposed to be the same Luann who was the star assistant teacher in a daycare center?

We’ve seen character growth in almost every character in this comic strip except forits eponymous lead.

I am almost excited for a random Sunday panel.

I was sitting at the breakfast table with my Aunt Flo and Uncle Morty and they were visibly angry that Shannon was allowed to run around like crazy.

My Uncle Morty, from being so upset had a bad case of gas and he let one go so hard that he burst a blood vessel. The surprise of that also caused him to jump up quickly from the table, toot once again and this time he fell and split his pants.

He knocked over the fridge in the process and cans of Yoo Hoo came tumbling down onto his gut which further caused him distress.

My Aunt Flo, of a sweet constitution of nature, could only jump and scream while twirling in circles.

This was very distressing as all I wanted to do was to eat my ham and waffles and watch Tom and Jerry on the AM.

Point here – please consider giving Shannon a personality – she’s currently a menace in the strip and real life format.

I guess there’s a small advantage of being prematurely bald, you don’t have to waste time fiddling with your hair. The comb-over crowd wouldn’t agree, though.

Poor Luann, a couple of her best friends are in relationships and she’s babysitting.

Luann, may I recall that you had some image issues back when you had freckles?

Can I POST?

Okay two posts I typed disappeared. Let me try a different machine. I need to weigh in on how much I disagree with the majority of the Shannon posts. Every time I spend 10 minutes or so typing it it disappears or does not post.

Sigh. We’re going to spend the rest of the week in the bathroom, aren’t we. I hope Luann turns this into a teaching moment the way Toni did with the hamster.

Shannon does push the envelope but as far as I know she hasn’t thrown a tantrum when told no.

The appearance of this kid signals a tedious arc. Prepare to be annoyed.

Well now we shave your head. That]s shaving cream you just covered your head in. Hopefully the bald look is in.

Get the razor and shave her head. Give her the Sinéad O’Connor look.

And here we are back with clueless, irresponsible Luann, and discussing hair products! I hope everyone who wanted to see her is happy because this story is so stupid and boring it hurts. WHY anyone would have her babysit is beyond me and WHY she has no respect for other peoples’ belongings is an even bigger puzzle. Every time she is featured I become more and more convinced she is impaired. Her thought processes are erratic and she has no sense of right and wrong. She acts impulsively without thinking things through and seems to be in a daze most of the time. The subjects she ponders are irrelevant and she seems to have no ability to stay focused. Some people may think her observances about hair products and consumerism are intriguing but I am amazed that it was even chosen as a theme by the writer. I don’t think they could have found any more inane subject matter, unless maybe they can have her ponder the many uses for a broom, or how letters get into your mailbox, or why do they put the potatoes all by themselves in the grocery store. This irresponsibility, lack of common sense and making something that is simple into something complicated is a glaring indicator that her train is off the tracks. I guess the even bigger question is why are they doing this to their lead character? If they think ditzy blonde is cute or funny they are mistaken. Maybe tomorrow they’ll show TJ with an out of control afro….that would make it all okay for me.

start by putting back what doesn’t belong to you

More fun when Bernice was concerned about her invasive tongue.

Drop your pants and put a fake tattoo on your butt.

It’s TJ’s stuff and neither Shannon nor Luann should touch it.

What is strange when you look at the how it came to be you find women pushing other women to do it and men largely being opposed to it but getting blamed for it. It is th3e women’s magazines and cosmetic companies that are currently pushing it.

And a couple centuries ago, men were also using all the product and pushing other men to use a lot of product. So we need to figure out how men got away from it.

As Shannon arcs go this one is pretty mild—so far. What kid hasn’t sneaked into mom or dads stuff from time to time?

Okay one more try at a comment. I’ve said this numerous times before, I don’t understand and don’t agree with the rampant child hatred displayed here with Shannon. She is meant to be part of the humor for one thing; people seem to forget that underlying the whole theme of Luann is humor, foibles, misadventures all in the framework of characters who are actually aging. Right now the main characters are going through young adulthood with Luann being a leifmotif for the emerging issues that occur with the early 20’s. Shannon is totally innocent, she does things because of curiosity, without guile, no intent to harm anyone, and I remind, humorously. I realize that projection is a major way to look at these stories (stories, remember) but I find this obsessive need to control or punish to be distressing, without an understanding that being patient and loving is itself an important part of helping children grow into healthy, responsible adults. Luann is not dumfounded, as one person noted, to me she is being patient and loving, and she has been shown doing that with other young children in the preschool volunteer work she does. She would make an excellent early childhood professional. Not that there is no need for corrective measures to be taken, but I, at least, see that as missing the point. Anyway that is my take. I know it won’t change any minds, but as with Bets I feel the need to state a minority view. Now lets see if this posts and stays.

Shannon again….ugh!

Does this mean the other “helmet” hairdo will get a makeover? ;-o

please no more shannon

Sorry, Shannon is the most annoying character ever! I always want her story arcs to end ASAP!

Meanwhile, over at Arlo and Janis :)

I figured TJ would use an electric razor instead of shaving foam.

Shannon is a very smart kid and she size up Luann and know her weakness and use to her advantage.

Hey Luann now that you’ve gone through everyone’s stuff in the bathroom, let Shannon get into their clothes drawers and computers! That sounds like fun!

Is it me or does Luann look like she’s breaking the fourth wall in that 2nd panel, and trying to host a Very Special Episode for the readers? Though considering all the strips that focus on her trying to doll herself up, she’s the last person to be getting on this particular soapbox (well, other than Tiffany).

Shannon is a hyperactive child with a mind of her own, and she probably doesn’t even know that is shaving cream that she quickly sprayed on her head. Adults don’t usually get dressed in front of children.

I blame all the adults in Shannon life.

The so young thing is and was a lack of parental discipline, and the scurrilous marketing teams.

That better not be shaving cream…

I just realized that shannons hair is the same as Tiffanys only black

I’d research an answer for you, Luann, but I get the feeling that doing internet searches for when little girls first started getting involved in adult fashion trends will end up putting me on a list with the likes of Matt Gaetz. (O.O)

Shannon is one of the most unlikable characters in the strip. Ann Eiffel is tied with her, and at least she got a comeuppance at some point. No one can say they didn’t try to make her work, but it’s time to take an eraser to Shannon.

Is that shaving cream?

I am never happy to see Shannon.

LuAnn and Shannon should NOT be messing around with Brad’s and Toni’s personal hygiene products! It’s a simply matter of respect for someone else’s personal property!

So is this a karen or greg thought?

The Young like it because it smells so much better than Mud.

I’d rather the arc focused on Toni and Brad’s date night. This is just painful to watch. But perhaps not as painful as some of the other arcs we’ve had lately. But then, I’m not particularly fond of undisciplined children either.

Because Luann isn’t in a relationship, she is available for Toni and Brad to dump Shannon on her. That really needs to end. Will someone discipline this child? Luann should know better than to allow the bwat to do whatever she wants. I don’t think Luann would like it if she came home to find Shannon has gone through her things and used some of it. Jonah, go get your daughter and leave the strip. Luann, remember that you were interesting once upon a time. Get out there.

I agree with Luann at the end.

Dunno, Luann, it’s your perception, your question, yours to answer. Meanwhile the Little Brat is allowed to lay waste to TJ’s stuff?!

I’m not convinced that she’s used shaving cream. I believe it’s one of TJ’s hair products. One piece of evidence that helps convince me is that the dispenser she is holding doesn’t have the top that a usual shaving cream can would have.

I’ll admit that the Shannon arcs have become my least favorite. They’re drawn with broad humor and caricature that’s largely (though not totally) out of step with the rest of the strip and characters. Other characters may not have matured or changed much more than Shannon, but Shannon’s strong personality and annoying characters make her seem like a maturity-deprived retrograde among the other, more mature normal characters. The fact that nothing has really happened with her character life – Jonah’s still around, sorta… Brad and Toni seem to have become used to being used by Jonah, but have made no moves to take control or move towards adoption – combined with her- er – rambunctiousness – make her lack of change that much more annoying.

So I tend to just say “meh” and move on when there’s a Shannon-centered arc. I figure GnK are entitled to their down time that they’ll get back to a more interesting and plausible arc soon. And who knows? One of these days Shannon, or some significant aspect of her world, might just change for the better!

So it’s okay to steal TJ’s stuff?