Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 25, 2023

So he’s been with her how long?.. and he’s just figuring this out?

Don’t worry, Gunther… eventually you’ll find someone running on the same operating system as you.

.

I remember those PC/Mac commercials. They did a great job of making the viewer hate the Mac.

Free of responsibility

he hit the nail on the head Bets just wants to be out and free to stream and cosplay and have fun while gunther is in the real world. Frankly dude you dodged a bullet with her gone.

You read him well Les. Punk is obviously helping you to focus.

He was the seamstress in the relationship.

“Freedom’s just another word for nuthin left to lose.” — Bobby McGee

Who has the most to lose here? And at what cost?

Like the broken down van, such has happened in the relationship! But unlike the van, can it be “repaired”?

better you know now Gunther, sorry!

So being a “responsible” adult means never having fun? Why can’t people be both? Why does Gunther have to be so extreme?

BTW, I bought the novella. So sue me, novella haters!

He’s apparently fun and irresponsible only in his dreams.

What’s this? Gun and Les conversing like friends?

Seeing as how this is the second time Gunther has gone through this exact scenario, this is more on him than her, IMHO.

You’re all wrong, because none of you is an adult yet.

Gunther, Bilbo Baggins had more guts than you!

Dont worry Gunter. Its allright. Even I gave up on beautiful cars and fast women.

Or was that beautiful women an fast cars.

Oh well I dont even remember now. Its just me my TV my remote control my chair my lamp an my new Evans & Evans novella is on its way. Life is great

What should happen next (IMHO):Gunther accepts the situation, and resolves to move on. He starts the new school year. Then shockingly spots Bets on campus.

Gunther: Bets?! What are you doing here?

Bets: what do you mean? I’m going to class.

Gunther: But you were gonna travel in Ruby.

Bets: I still had to come back for school. What, did you think I was just going to drop everything and go nomad?

Gunther: Well……..

I know it’s just me. But the more he talks about he’s “a real, responsible adult”, the more he looks like a kid afraid to cross the street.

Gunther I’m 33 but I still play Persona 5 Royal on my PS5. I’m still in love with Cloud Strife and if I could, I can watch DBZ all day long

Don’t worry Gunther, Bets will get slap in the face with a cold hard facts of life.

Did I miss a few panels here? When Gunther and Bets got back they looked happy, almost ecstatic. There was no sign they were having an issue until dinner.

Now I’m reading through all this comments like Bets is being written out of the comic.

No big surprises that last week I was led to expect. A book? What’s that? Did Greg run out of drawing ink? It only proves `that like mailmen, sometimes cartoonists don’t deliver, either.

Behold Les Knox trying out his skills as a therapist. Who’d’a thunk it? I wonder how well he’ll do, let’s say on a scale of Bernice to 10 …

“Real” Gunther.

Living with his mother and step father, in their backyard in a rent free bungalow, with his step brother.

His interests? School and sewing.

Bets.

She’s been able to keep up with her education. She has a business venture of her own making. Generates a nice bit of income. Travels around the country (and internationally as well, if memory serves). Meeting (real) new people, having (real) new experiences, seeing the (real) world. Living her (real) life as she continues to build on it.

Before he met Bets, Gunther left Pittsville a grand total of once, and even then, chose to stay safely sitting at a desk, looking at a screen instead of the new world around him.

Even with those halting steps, he ended up returning home in short order with his tail between his legs, back to mom.

Gunther sees being out in the world as living a “fantasy”. Being ‘responsible’. That’s Gunther.

For what, beyond when the next paper is due, I’m not sure. No job. No relationship. No social life. Lamenting his failed relationship in puerile, computer nerd imagery.

Way to keep it “real”, Gunther.

Les is trying to set himself up as the male equivalent of Bernice, but he’s not doing a very good job of it.

I think Les is channeling the cat.

Sheesh, I guess Gunny’s tired of having fun.

So the essential issue is centered around “being responsible”.. Gunther thinks rolling around doing vlogs in a van while the new semester is approaching is not responsible. Depending on Bets’ finances he could be right or wrong. Gun obviously takes his education seriously so he had to return home. Bets decided not to “right away”. Maybe she comes back a few days late for class or perhaps she takes a semester or year off, we do not know but anyway you cut it, Gunther could not stay out there so he came home. Unlike when Rosa cut him loose, this looks like it might be a situation where Gunnie grew up a bit and called the shot to go home. Bets may not have taken it too well or Gunther might be having some regret considering how he is acting with Les. Gunther needs structure and organization while Bets can function in a more chaotic environment. Basically 2 people with some similar interests but polar opposites as far as adhering to what is deemed as a “proper” mind set, mentality and setting priorities in one’s life. Gun chose his organized life and returning to Mooney over extending his road trip with Bets. I hope he made the right choice, maybe he gets back together with Bets but somehow I have a feeling that Bets may now have doubts about any future she could have with Gun, now that she knows more of how the kid is wired.

Les is genius: He can cite from the future. Or read minds.

Les is nailing it.

So Gunther, you want to marry a girl just like you? Let me know how that works out. I suspect she’s probably spending more time in your world than you do in hers. It’s just that it’s not enough for you.

They got the computer comparisons wrong. Since Bets is free, she should be Linux.

Gunther is an over-the-hill drudge as a college sophomore.

It looks like he’s just had all the fun he’s ever going to have.

Nah, Gunther. She’s a normal 20-something year old who wants to live life to the fullest and make her stupid mistakes now. It’s like a rite of passage, almost. You’re certainly guilty of that. Some adults tend to age quickly and skip this decade of mess-ups and skip to the thirties where we try to fix our mistakes and actually grow. Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnot quite there, my nerdy friend, but you’re close.

Depending on how much summer is left for the characters this could be a bit more understandable for either side.

If Bets decided on a whim to drop out for a semester to ride Ruby across the country and Gunther wouldn’t jeopardize his plan? Honestly, it’s fair to not want to do that, especially since Gunther is already a year behind his peers due to his time in Peru.

If Gunther bailed on the road trip early just because he started going homesick… It’s a road trip, Gunther, see it through to the end but make sure you get home in time. Don’t cut it short early just cause you’re homesick.

This is why it’d be nice to know these details a bit more.

Uh yeah, can we get back to the girls poolside ? That’s a scenario that has possibilities.

The big reset for Gunther! Will Gunther continue to chose MACs over PCs?Will Gunther start choosing PCs? Need to decide whether Linux or Windows?

Oxford has a wealth family, maybe Kip Lee can swim at Oxford’s Mansion?

Reminds me of a punch line I saw on the “Get Fuzzy” comic strip:

“I’m not closed-minded, you’re just WRONG!”

Two totally valid concepts of being an adult. I’m glad to see that Gunther finally understood how different he and Bets are and I love Les’ comments. He knows his cousin Gunther so well to be able to play the role of his inner voice. Adorable Punk who always wants to be cuddle.

Not ‘right’, or ‘wrong’. Just different. Shannon, on the other hand, is just WRONG,

Will one of our (until now star struck characters) realize that they have been living in a “dream relationship” and come to the reality that each wants something else? Which will come to that reality? Or will they both?

Until now Gunther has needed a dominant person. He has reconciled when he was abandoned after the Tiffany Two For Tea fiasco. He has proposed marriage. He has tolerated Bets’ web fan intrusions into their relationship. On the other hand, he abandoned Rosa when his idea of their relationship went South (no pun intended).

So far Bets has been the wild card in the relationship. She’s the most volatile character of the two. I just don’t see that her character would change.

So probably Bets will return, have changed her mind, declare that she will settle down and then accept Gun’s marriage proposal. Which Gunther, having come to his senses, will then retract and declare that they need to do much more serious work for their relationship to continue.

In the 3rd frame, seems like Les is defending Gunth for how Bets kept on going and not returning with Gunth.

They say that opposites attract, but I’d say that these opposites are the kind that repel.

Instead of following Gunther, this comic would be more fun it it followed Bets.

So many abuse “freedom” and use it to justify their bad behavior. They then link themselves to self-idolizing behaviors that are harmful to themselves and others. They find themselves as slaves to their new “free” lifestyle.

When did Les become the voice of wisdom?

In Panel 3, did Les just admit Gunther is a good catch or that Bets needs to mature or something.

I thought they did college wrong. Luann should have been accepted to a college out of state and you followed Luann’s new adventures in a new setting surrounded by new people. But instead, Delta gets shipped off and we’re left with the same characters in the exact same high school situations, now they’re just calling it college. They’re still doing messy room stories for Luann for goodness sake. All of the characters are now stuck in their patterns. Your 20s are supposed to be messy. Where’s the mess?

OMG, the o/s wars are over. Macs are good for some and Windows for others. Linux is still popular, too. Some are using Windows on Chromebooks. It’s a crazy world.

Poor Gunther is struggling with WHO he is as a person. On a random note, it’s GREAT to see Punk kitty again!

Wonder if the dorm girls know about Bets not coming back? Will Steph fight for the single room??

I was right.

Two very different people.

Sooner or later one realizes they are not compatible.

Bets may be back, but it won’t be the same.

For you being an adult means responsible, for her it means zero responsibilities, she is irresponsible and your friend is right she is wrong and she will never see it!

Les; since when are you a relationship expert? The only relationship you have is with Punk.

And as the Sun sets on this (SIGH) “arc,” and the usual “folks” and Les, predictably pile on old Gunther, consider a couple of things:

A) Gunther? Despite what some yokels “think,” maybe an aggressive, pushy, domineering, self-centered, flighty, selfish, take-charge type of young woman with her OWN agenda is NOT what you need in your life right now. If EVER. And you certainly don’t need one that’s CRAZY. Those guys “lied” and “cheated” on Bets for a reason. NOW You know why.

B) Remember, You, unlike your “friends,” have actually had two relationships. Bernice and Luann have only had one, each. Tiffany has had zero. And your loudmouth “roommate?” PLEASE.

C) By the way Gunth. Your Creators continue to profit off YOUR misery. Did you know they wrote a book about you? Are you getting your share of royalties? If not, time to get a lawyer. And don’t fall for the “Well I’m not buying the book!” crap you hearing from some quarters. “Folks” are camped out by their mailboxes just a-waiting for it like they’re waiting for next Social Security Check. And be sure to tell your lawyer that you have back sprain and whiplash from trying to follow some the stories lately.

Okay, gotta run. Gotta make room on my SSD for the upcoming “Starflighf” game and then go back to enjoying Baldurs Gate 3, which I can ENJOY playing on My PC!. ;-)

[DUCKS]

You are not a real adult Gunther because you can’t grow a pair to tell your Mom how you really feel and you are still tied to your Mom’s cord.

So, Gunt and Bets had a falling out. I hope they get back together. They are an interesting couple.

Bravo! (And if Bets is a Mac, we all know how obscenely expensive those are…)

Cat spotted.

So is Bets still roaming solo in the van? ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ ͡⁠°⁠ ͜⁠ʖ⁠ ͡⁠°⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

It’s PUNK! So glad to see cute Punk today. So tired of seeing Gunther.

Truth is opposites attract, it’s what completes the relationship. My wife and I are opposite in many ways, not all but a lot, not a perfect marriage by any means but we have been together 46 years. So I think there is something to it.

I remember those “PC VS MAC” commercials. They made total sense.

I can’t blame the guy for taking his academic pursuits seriously. Especially if his degree will lead to meaningful employment and quality of life. You can still have fun on weekends, during the summer, on holidays, and spring break. The Bohemian lifestyle is for the select few, but not for “Gun”.

Everybody has a life to live as they will/can, being different is not right or wrong, it’s just different.

I’ve commented several times that Gunther and Bets are a poor match. Glad Gunther finally figured that out. He would be much happier with someone who has a similar operating system.

Glad to see Punk is still around.

There is nothing wrong with the way Bets is living her life, as long as she can afford it without sponging off others. She is smart and earns money from her internet activities. In real life, people like her are sometimes very successful, but much more often they end up poor, no savings, working in bad jobs. People like Gunther usually end up financially secure with a retirement account. Maybe Bets doesn’t care about that, but Gunther surely does.

How many years have we known Gunther? Yet Greg n Karen won’t let him grow from his life experiences? And wasn’t there a Bets n Gun arc some time back where they decided to commit to each other? Way to forget your own character development, G&K!

It’s both, actually. Be young and free, but that must be tempered with discipline and responsibility.

“The grasshopper and the ant”

Bets had been good for Gunther, as was Rosa. Both young women have made him stretch his boundaries and recognize there’s more to life than security.

In turn, his dependability has anchored both young women.

Puuunk! <3 …I’m sorry, there’s something else going on in this strip?

Les is dead wrong and so are Gunther’s detractors here. If he had “no sense of adventure” he would never have even gone on this trip. He did go, even though he had real reservations about the safety of the van and their need for a plan before just diving in—-he took a chance in the unknown. He stuck it out until school started and then returned home. Nothing bad in that at all! He’s also being magnanimous by saying no one is to blame, yet it is Les who is trying to escalate the situation.

This discussion could go on forever……

Gunther discovered they’re not compatible; they have different goals in life, and now is the time to find that out, painful as it may be. This is much too late in the summer to be deciding to take a gap year; most schools do not allow you to withdraw within a week of school starting. Bets will be taking a large financial hit if she just ditches on classes. I could buy that she’s actually both fun loving and able to finance that lifestyle if she had some escape plan for the tuition, but ditching on a semester’s tuition sounds foolhardy in the extreme. I mean, things work differently in cartoonland, but in the real world this could have dire consequences. She has to pay for gas and upkeep on the Vanagon, her own food and entertainment and incidentals, bandwidth for her influencer accounts that are her apparent sole source of income, and now that she is bailing on school she will need to begin making payments on her student loans as well. Including on the upcoming school year, which she is choosing to not attend; the school is unlikely to refund her the tuition at this late stage.

Les seems to be speaking sarcastically, with the quote marks, but Bets really is doing something foolish here, and Gunther’s instinct in not going along with it was right. It would have betrayed his own spirit to do so, and betraying yourself in service to a relationship is wrong. People do that to avoid heartbreak, but it only delays the inevitable, and makes the heartbreak worse in the end.

I see a “Rosa” in our future.

The problem with Gunther is that he only sees that being an adult is a binary choice; it’s not. Speaking as an adult who’s just celebrated a milestone birthday, being an adult is a mix of both. If he can’t see this, then he’ll be disappointed repeatedly in his relationships.

is this the same class bully, sitting on the couch petting a cat and making sense, that we use to know?

If tuition is already paid for and he couldn’t get a refund, he did the right thing. But it’s a shame. He’s too young to settle down.

Considering that when you first met, she was dressed as Nyota Uhura…

The way I see it, being adult is being free…and taking responsibility for the consequences.

Yeah, now it’s becoming clear, but not exactly surprising. Gunther’s always been a wet blanket.

I wouldn’t mind if she breaks down in the desert and we never see her again

This was never a really solid relationship. Bets pushed Gun around. Time for him to meet someone who is on his level, ditto Bets. Breakups happen, especially when you’re a teenager. Emotions run high and self identity can be all over the place. This breakup needed to happen. Better now than some time later.

I bought it also. Can’t wait.

The girls moved into the quad Sept. 5, 2022 & Sept. 16, 2021. Guess that gives Gunther time to tell his story.

Indeed! Les, the devil’s advocate. Compromise and striking a balance might be good, but it seems Bets has ruled that out, for now.

Oh gee now i have to buy a book to see how a comic strip come out ? NO THANKS i will Wait for the movie on free TV

Let’s clear out a few misconceptions.1) The arrival in a broken van was a dream – the van is fine, and there is no indication it ever had an issue. Which would agree with the fact Toni checked it, and recommended some fixes, fixes Bets would have the money to make, since Toni and Brad got her 3k off the van’s asking price.2) Les is not saying the last sentence as his opinion, he is suggesting this is what Gunther will say next (or is implying even if he doessn’t say it) – hence the sentence is in quotes and starts as “…but why”.3) There was never any pool party. Only Tiffany inviting Luann and Bernice to her house, as an excuse to go have a swim with Kip. (And it’s very likely she invited the two girls she is used to look down on, btw).4) Bets did NOT quit her studies. She chose to go on with her trip. This could mean: a) Go on with the trip for a couple more weeks, while Gunther is home early enough to sew another half a dozen of the same shirts. b) She registered in her classes online, which she could pull off just fine, since she has all her nights free while travelling and she is a very good student. c) She took a semester off, because she is making way too much money and having too much fun travelling to just ignore it.5) The media, and being a vlogger, is Bet’s JOB. And this job would have taken off for sure with this trip. If she was making 2k per month just attending the local geek events, what would she be making during this trip, keeping in mind that she has an ESTABLISHED audience meaning her adventures are going to be immediately noticed? Plus, travelling around would mean she can expand to a new audience as well, as travelling appeals to most people while cosplaying is more of a niche. And she is getting the new audience WITHOUT losing her old one. Even if she hated travelling, if her income doubled or something, she’d be a fool to say “nah, don’t want that extra 4k, I want to be home for the first day of classes”.

Yup. Leslie certainly grows on you.

Team Bets here.

Gunther had it almost right, there is no right just wrong for him. He’s hopeless.

Different priorities at different times in each of our lives. That’s why we have the emotion of regret…..

Love all the comments from the “I’ll never buy it” folks asking for tidbits from those who do.

I love the surprise twist, Les’s comment take time apart.

Gunther and Bets agreed that they needed time apart.

Bets had been calling the shots from day one and Gun has decided he wasn’t going to be her compliant BF anymore. When he said no, she decided it was time to take time apart from one another.

People who insist their way is the only way need to 1) grow up, 2) stop insisting on their own way and or, 3) learn to take no for an answer without the need to trick, manipulate or sneak. Her insistence on doing these had been a red flag from day one.

Whatever happened to “opposites attract”?Gunther has always needed a jump start(or a kick in the rear),but he enjoys himself once they’re underway.,

Bets may find out the trip isn’t much fun without him.And that Crackel Barrel food doesn’t taste nearly as good solo

A boy and his cat. An old story but always new.

Here’s my 2 cents. Bets is pushy, yes. But Gunther is a wuss. And between them, Bets is the one making money, and she knows exactly what she’s doing, it’s not just beginner’s luck. And for a vlogger, this trip must be a goldmine, so business-wise it’s a good idea to extend it a bit (there has been absolutely no indication she is quitting school, come on people)!

I’d have a completely different opinion if Bets was shown to be bad at school, but that’s not the case; we saw her getting a 90+ in a hard course, and she’s been mentioned to help Tiffany. So she is NOT compromising her future with her present activities; she is just making money, while having fun – plus, her activities would also look good on her CV, btw, and make her stand out when she goes out looking for a job.

Is she annoying? Yes. But is she less of an “adult” than Gunther? To me “adult” is someone who can earn their living, juggle the multiple facets of life and take care of themselves – and Gunther is as far away from that as possible. Which is ok for his age, I do not agree with the idea that once the kid hits the legal age of “adult” they are on their own. Studying at the university is a full-time job (or should be, depends on the degree). But claiming he is an “adult”? Come on!

Lastly, Bets and Rosa are not the same. Rosa was being naive (selfless, yes, but naive). What kind of help does she think she can be to the sick people as a HS graduate in the long run? At most, she’d be an unpaid volunteer; at worst, she’d be paid and depriving a local of the monthly salary. I checked if Medecins sans frontieres could use me in the past; and I was basically useless to them, despite my degrees in a related field, because they needed DOCTORS. What Rosa was trying to do WAS compromising her future, what Bets is doing now is not.

I have a quote on my desk that seems applicable here. “Perfectionism makes for a thin life, lived for what it isn’t rather than what it is. If you’re forever trying to make your life what you want it to be, you’re not really living the life you have.” This feels to me like what is happening with Gunther. His perfect 50-year life plan doesn’t really work with the messiness of a partner who doesn’t share his exact same vision of the future. So he is giving up the partner rather than considering variations on the plan.

Being a fun adult is nice, but being a responsible adult is necessary to navigate life. My opinion of course.

Is this cartoon written by AI?

Contrary to popular belief there’s almost nothing in the universe that is binary. (not even a coin flip)

just wanted to say that I love that the tough guy has a slumbering kitten on him

I REALLY like Les here and I like he’s back to being the voice of reason for Gunther’s plots instead of creeping around tiffany or other wastes of a character. Frankly after two weeks of that incredibly creepy “Let’s leer at kip” plot, we’re back to something intresting, which is usually how this strip gets me: it gets insufferable for a while then does something good.

In this case… pointing out one of Gunther’s prime character flaws. Now granted, I do think bets is more at fault in their relationship for her jealously, manipulative tendencys and selfishness, but Les.. isn’t wrong that Gunther HIMSELF can be selfish and has a tendency to be judgmental. Which.. isnt wrong. During the brief period they teased him and bern he lectured her out of jealousy and with tiff and Les he gave her a big s*** shamey lecture when she could take care of herself and reject him on her own. Gunther has a bad habit of assuming people should be what HE wants them to be and not who they are.. or in this case accept he and bets just don’t work. They never really have. He just went with it because he’s a very passive, complain behind someone’s back type of guy, and she was the second girl to give him the time of day. This relationship NEVER really worked and like Gunther’s dream earlier, was more of a fantasy for both.

freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose

Opposites attract. +/-

Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose… Janice Joplin

I paid extra for the book. Greg promises to draw a pic on the inner page of Bets stuffed in a trunk.

Irreconcilable differences. I suppose we should have realized this would happen. Betts pulled Gunther out of his funk, but she wasn’t the sort to be a permanent fixture in anyone’s life.

Part of an email just recieved from G&K …

“Clearly, Bets and Gunther’s road trip didn’t go quite as planned! Their story will continue to unfold in the strip … But we wanted to give you a chance to explore their summer adventure in more detail than could fit in a comic strip storyline. That is how we came to write a book. Karen has shared some of the behind-the-scenes work that went into this project below. We write and draw LUANN 8 weeks ahead of when you see it in your paper or read it online. So, what do you do when your characters present you with an unexpected story that would work really well as a legit BOOK? Scramble for 8 weeks to figure out how to write, illustrate, sell, print, and ship it. While also producing 8 weeks of regular LUANN comics. And going to San Diego Comic Con :D BrainSTORMING Outlines, notes, and many many conversations as a family to figure out HOW to tell this story. (also: lots of naps. seriously helpful.) I used all the tricks to capture and organize ideas, including a nerdtastic, color-coded spreadsheet I built to track scenes/beats and wordcount. Meanwhile, dad took lead on weekly comic strip production. Deadlines, people, deadlines! Cut-paste-un/redo. Balancing this story was a unique challenge: it falls after Bets and Gunther leave in July but will be read now that he’s back in August. Blending in illustrations, rather than full comic panels, was a new way for us to storytell too! Sometimes you just have to lay it all out to see how it is taking shape. (And, yes, sometimes your horse steps on your foot and leaves you with black and blue toes too.) wait for it…Writing and drawing we can handle. Online store and printing logistics? Uh… Of course there were tech glitches, my cat got a bladder infection (she’s ok), and San Diego got drenched by Hurricane Hilary (we’re ok). At 9:56pm, with 4 minutes to spare, I launched the updated LuannFan site. And then, with mom and dad on speaker phone…OUR FIRST ORDER…”

Time to sow your wild oats, Gunth. May as well do it now, ‘cause you’re going to be in college forever.

The next MAC, Tara Starr?

Are they even having the same conversation?

Piffle-tosh.

Little boys, arguing about nothing,

It’s over. It’s done, We’ve been betrayed. After the “trip was great” week, we are now tricked into the “trip was terrible” dragged-out Reveal and buy our book pitch….

Who’s going to get that she a Mac I’m a pC references ?

Aw, Les sticking up for Gunther :-) ❤️