Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 24, 2022

Good job, Puddles! He finally gave her a little whack on the leg. Maybe Luann will throw the ball, now.

Inhibitory Euphoria? Sounds like she’s into weird submissive S & M stuff. lol

Oof! ✨

I was going to say Bernice is developing a poetic tongue but thinking back to Zane, I suppose it’s always been there. Could it be that, lurking behind her sarcastic and practical front lies the restrained heart of a romantic waiting for a passionate man to release it? Or will this have no effect on her? I know which one it probably is but I do hope I’m wrong.

Inhibiting, containing abstinence. Sounds grim.

WOW! We’re full-on Zen mantra-ish now! “What is the feeling of inhibitory euphoria?” OHMMMmmmm…

Puhleeze! Put us out of out misery! 8^ )

Verily Puddles is not amused.

Is that what we call it now Bern, we used to call that a "dry spell…

Gee Bernice. You don’t look very enthused about the ‘abstinence’ part.

Regarding brdsht’s Hegelian Plane, we’re still on it, and have no idea how to get off.

Sounds like Bernice is seeking the female manifestation of epididymal hypertension. Verily!

Should last until she gets another surge of hormones.

There are times — and this week has been one of them when it seems the only goal Greg Evans has is to fill 8 days -ages with nothing and hope that ho one notices.

The ball; Puddles; the discussion w/Bernice… Evidently Luann cannot multi-task. Usually, woman do rather well at that.

Annoyance!, not common sense abstinence.

Release the ball? Or Puddles experiencing abstinence?

And lots and lots of cold showers.

Bernice: “If I have Nil give me another hickey, that will inspire him and he can focus on drawing that part. Wherever it may be…”

Expression of frustration. She wants to inspire more than just art.

Sounds like Luann doesn’t speak of “Abstinence” all that favorably. Hopefully we’ll soon see an arc where Lu finds somebody and goes for it.

Inhibitory is Acting to restrain, hinder, check or prohibit an action or impulse.

Inhibitory euphoria? Sounds almost like, can I say ir? “Coitus Interruptus” although maybe the base is still not at first yet, if I can terribly mix these metaphors. Bern is hot as the Earth’s core in her core, but she needs to have a serious relationship to satiate those flames, while at the same time growing as a person, dealing with her deep insecurities, and be happy in a normal, albeit weird bf/gf relationship. I know hilarity ensues along the way, but I have hope here. In Luannverse one must also have patience too.

I think the word she is looking for is “celibacy”.

Wow, such big words.

I get the impression that, as much as Bernice says she likes this kind of “perfect” relationship, she actually miss cuddling and physical contact a lot. Luann obviously understood this and she would like to see her friend happy and with no regrets. But since what she bernice wants is also what scares her I fear the situation is stuck, at least until Bernice can clarify what she really wants. Basically, if Bernice will start going to a therapist, maybe everything would slowly resolve itself. I hope Luann will suggest her again to do this.

Perhaps another narrative? This one is exhausting…

Verily. A new variation in Bernice’s lexicon?

Panel 2: “Dreeeeeeam weaver…. I believe you can get me through the nii-iiiiiiight…!”

Poor Puddles is experiencing inhibitory dysphoria.

Welp. There it is, folks.

Feels like I just wandered into a “Frazz” strip.

Sounds like friends without benefits to me.

Puddle on her leg to get LuAnn’s attention puddles!

Puddles will bite your face off if you don’t throw that ball.

Is this the first time in this comic that they speak so openly about sex?

Not gonna lie, it’s kinda refreshing and makes them more believable.

Boring – next story, please!

She’s lucky to have Luann for a friend, the one that truly gets her and accepts her as is.

(sigh) another week gone not too soon…

Throw the dang ball Luann

One more day of this boring arc! Where is Tara?

Another chapter in Stupid Psychology for Dummies.

This entire week’s worth of strip with Bernice so ecstatic about being Nil’s muse makes me think that, eventually, she will want something more with him. But, what do I know? I still think Oz will make a return and Gunther & Tiff will eventually end up together.

I hope Greg isn’t going to decide that Bernice is LGBT or Q

IOW, she’s fine with being “just friends”. Pretty hard to spin an entire week out of this…

“Exotic but not erotic.” What does this mean, in light of the fact that the word “exotic” is often used where the word “erotic” would make more sense (as in “exotic dancer”)?

The whole “muse” thing is complete B.S., which Nil engineered because he knew Bernice would buy it, never realizing she’s been dumped. Nil is very intelligent, and a bit Machiavellian to boot. I like him more now.

I know this sounds kinda creepy because this is a simple 3-pane daily strip, but has ANY Luann character lost their virginity yet? (Aside from a reformed Dirk, last shown with a baby in tow?)

Will Bernice still feel so special if Nil gets an actually girlfriend? I doubt it.

Bernice should just join a convent. They’ll give her all the inhibiting, containing abstinence she wants.

Well.

After this week, I guess I can safely but reluctantly declare, that of the Strip’s two designated “nerds,” Gunther is in the the much better “relationship.”

Warts, and all.

I wouldn’t say that being someone’s artistic muse is ‘sweet and charming’. It’s more than that.

I like this comic ‘cause it’s got big words.

Why is Bernice wearing Jeremy Duncan’s shirt?

When you’re in love,you have what Laurel&Hardy called “that silly,sloppy look on your face”.

Bernice is definitely in love.

Only Bernice could take a simple 4-letter word like “Love” and reduce it to 200 pages of a thesaurus.

Inhibitory Euphoria. What does that even mean?

https://therake.com/stories/icons/picasso-muses/

Not sure whether Bernice’s expression is that of frustration or sarcasm or disappointment because she has unreleased hormones…

Pontificating of Bernice Halper’s hallucinatory fantasies?

verily

How did it become night time in the second panel?

Berniece is REALLY into this arrangement. Luann finds it strange and in a way so do I. I wonder how B. will react to Jack next time she sees him. She’s awfully attracted to him! But she may prefer to keep all her guy friends platonic at this time. I think she finds comfort and security in this. She can admire and even lust from afar but not get really involved.

When Luann finally throws the ball again, will it lead to an unexpected encounter? And if so, with whom?

1) A handsome stranger who sets Luann’s heart a-flutter?

2) A handsome stranger who sets Bernice’s heart a-flutter?

3) A handsome stranger who sets both Luann’s and Bernice’s hearts a-flutter?

4) Nil and Fred having a make-out session?

5) The Ladybirders?

6) The Ladybirders watching Nil and Fred’s make-out session?

7) Jack and Caylee?

8) Zane and Crystal?

9) A disembodied voice from off panel?

10) …?

Luann will need a towel after Puddles is done with her shin.

Go ahead and bite, Puddles! Bite!!

Somewhat tantric,even…?

Bernice, you’re not in middle school anymore, you don’t have to restrain yourself because you have parents who will punish you. You’re an adult, it’s obvious to everyone that you are smitten with Nil. That being said, you’re both adults so if a platonic relationship works for y’all, more power to ya.

Bern needs to find Mr Buzzy.

Stop the inane drivel and throw the durn ball, Luann!

Abstinence? That’s when you don’t drink any alcohol, right?;)

The Puddles and his Raging Rabies storyline starts next week.