Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for September 26, 2023

Poor Luann.. her jokes are bombing.

With the way Tara is touching Piro and gazing at him… I think it’s obvious she’s into him. CREEPY!

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So.. Would Luann really risk her life, skydiving, to get close to a guy??

And now it’s come full circle.

Tricycles are very unstable.

Watch it, Luann. Tara might just talk you into following through on that quip.

really Luann, Tryhard oh this just hurts to read.

The long walk off a short pier

Painful. The “third wheel” has passed the mantle on to Luann…

Even though this is a Luann episode and I love Luann episodes, nothing is happening here. This is the Pool Party all over again.

Go away Luann.

Luann say you have to go bathroom and just don’t come back.

The Improv comedy routine has worn a bit thin Luann, time to change conversational tactics. Okay, so we have Tara deciding that sky-diving is next on Piro’s docket and Luann is eager to go with the flow for now. So, about now would be the perfect time for Bernice to roll into the casa and overhear Luann mention sky diving. Bern is likely to say something like: “Sky diving?? Luann, you sky diving?????” (in a condescending, mocking voice to boot). Bern might also mention something sarcastic about Luann probably not even liking to climb up a ladder to change a light bulb but this will probably just embolden Luann to go ahead and “take the plunge”, literally and Tara might invite Bernice along! Anyhow, the first time anyone sky dives it is in tandem with an instructor, so perhaps Luann could meet a cool hunk who is giving the lessons that day and she might even forget that she is competing for Walt’s attention.

So what exactly is going on?

I already finished reading the Bets and Gun novella, so here’s another update:

Gunther has an itinerary and he must stick to it. Bets tries to understand, but gets irritated (can’t really blame her). Gunther is actually enjoying the trip, but again, that constant need for rules. And Bets’s constant posting to SnapGram.

Plus, they do look at the stars; Gunther actually enjoys it, as much as he enjoys sleeping (not having sex, actually) with Bets. Which is, really good.

More later!

They’re supposed to be figuring out what an “imaginative essay” is. Luann, the tutor, needs to steer the conversation back to something they can all actually share in…coming up with topics. She’s the third wheel in this conversation because Tara and Piro shared an exciting experience, and that’s not what Luann enjoys. She and Gunther really are meant for each other.

So, Tara has a death wish. Piro is more listening than sharing life-threatening experiences. No, Luann, that is so not you. You don’t need to do these life-threatening ploys to get Piro’s attention. If you pay attention, you’d notice he was more listening than anything and that Tara is just being Tara- gotta be the top at everything, the best at everything, etc, which is not you. You figure out how to capture Piro’s attention another way – the Luann way.

I thought they were doing homework for writing an imaginative essay. Aren’t these pretend scenarios?

Classic Luanneptitude when it comes to romance. In some ways, this strip is regressing.

Luann is not paying attention. She’s just trying to be a part of things. Wait until she realizes what she is trying to get into.

I would like to see Luann skydive, but not at that place by Lodi, California!

Hey – Lu needs to get a life – not lose one.

Looks like Luann is the third-party-out in this trio! 8^ (

And Tara will see to it that Luann’s chute can’t open, right??

Not much studying going on here (studying? What time?)

Poor Luann is being made to feel she doesn’t belong- in her own home- again

Luann Degroot finds her life boring and needs to risk it with extreme adventurous behavior?

Way to horn in Luann. Musta learned it frm Tara

The Starr family are a contrast to the Degroots household?

Like Calvins’ mom said, if you want to toy with death, just stand on the railroad tracks. It’s cheaper.

One thing I liked about “the good old days” is that people didn’t conflate “three’s a crowd” with “a fifth wheel,” which means a superfluous person or thing.

I feel sorry for Luann. Impulsiveness combined with desperation is a powerfully off-putting mixture. She’s not likely to attract the attention of a healthy partner that way.

They suddenly realize that Luann is a “special” friend.

How nice to see Luann wanting to try new activity with her friends. I remember when Jack invited her to go climbing and she wanted to go, but Bernice was absolutely against it. I can understand Tara and Piro’s skepticism at Luann’s request, but this may not just be a desire not to feel excluded from their conversations, it could be something she, deep down, wanted to do for a long time and Bernice has repressed for years. The opportunity for her to break the routine and go back to doing something that gives her emotions. Let’s hope they actually go skydiving together. I like how this reflects the way Tara invited herself into the study group.

Luann, you are losing your cool… chill out girl… splash some cold water on the face!

Tara butted in first. Now it’s Luann’s turn!

Piro is more talkative this week with variable facial expressions.

Yup Aaron Hill all over again.

Janet and Chrissy (momentarily) vying for Jack..

Unlike wishy-washy Luann, Tara will tell Luann that she was talking to Piro. And Luann would never jump out of a plane.

Trying too hard Luann.

It seems to me that the conversation is now loaded for Tara and Piro to exclude Luann — at which point Luann should raise the question of whether they intend to do the work they purportedly came to do, which was to brainstorm imaginative storytelling rather than to review risky experiences that they have shared. Where are their imaginations? Luann has done enough social icebreaking with her stand-up-comedy-styled quips. Now is the time to inject a serious note of responsibility.

Luann, you’re simping.

I don’t know…. If your harness breaks while skydiving, it’s most likely your last dive.

How blind and insensitive are you, Lulu? Tara and Piro do not want a “third wheel” (by which I do mean you, Luann!)….

“Skydiving.”

That sounds like “Fearless” Tara.

It also sounds little expensive.

But it’s hard to believe that this is the same “Tara” that was once so strapped for cash that she was reduced to selling parts of her Jeep.

Or that this is the same “Tara” that was so “terrified” of her cousin Stella, that she was about to flee to Utah or some place.

I feel like there already has been some cousin lovin’ in their past. LoL

Uh, that was Sky-diving LuAnn, you know jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Not skinny-diving. Either way she’s be petrified.

We’ll let you know, Luann, buh-bye!

Luann, leave these two alone. They’re both sketchy and there’s something creepy going on between them. You really don’t want to be a part of that.

Luann. Stop. Think. Is risking your neck really the way to attract a guy? (Well, she should stop, and, think, but this is Luann we’re talking about here. So, at least for the moment, she won’t.)

WWA❤️ED? Tell Luann to tell Pedro to be sure to wear his light Fall suit.

A friend of mine did the skydiving thing. There’s a course you have to take first, and the whole endeavor is expensive.

The fact that her attempt at wordplay didn’t even elicit a laugh from the Starrs made me laugh. I guess they’re getting a little tired of Luann cracking great-granddad jokes.

I will say though that Luann doing skydiving might be an entertaining storyline. To everyone saying she’d be doing it for a guy… I dunno, I think she might genuinely want to try something different and unusual for her without that being the motivator. Having her mentally prep herself and get over a phobia, in the daily strip for a few weeks could be potential for funny hijinks. (Just as long as we don’t have to pay to read the exciting parts in novella format ;P )

Tara is starting to be more creepy every time I see her.

Seems Luann’s puns are getting tiresome. She’s trying to hard to fit in. This reminds me of Gunther’s trying to get out of his comfort zone with Bets dragging or pushing him. Even his adventure in Peru was nerve wracking to him. The adage, “To thine own self be true” is true. Luann needs to recognize her talents and appreciate herself without comparing to others or trying to be what she’s not- a daredevil. ;-)

No comment!

If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving may not be for you.

Luann should be a GoComics commenter on her own strip. Silly girl!

Since Karen Evans obviously supports the idea of first cousins in relationships and she continues to create this creepy triangle, the only thing I can say about this weeks story is that not one bit of schoolwork is being done. All Luann can do (during this supposed study group) is compete with Tara for Piro and deliver lame puns (which get really old). Piro doesn’t need her or her corny jokes and you’d think she would realize how humiliating this is and disengage, but no, she’s in it for the Foolish Girl prize. Tara, on the other hand, is actively seeking the Mother of Deformed Children award. When Tara asked Luann if she was competing with her for Piro’s attention she should have been honest and said “yes”, instead of making up some lie about “helping” Tara with her cousin’s social issues. It doesn’t look to me like Piro needs any help at all, he’s doing just fine LOL!

“Sounds like a sport I could fall,” for was funny.

As a longtime skydiver, I’d LOVE to see them go for a tandem adventure ! Just do it right.

I got my novella! G&K were right in that the story definitely wouldn’t have worked in the daily strip format. They really should have handled the rollout better, (and a thing as big as Gunther’s breakup shouldn’t be hidden from the daily readers the way it was) but as far as the content of the story, it was worth what I paid. (I actually got two of them; someone messed up somewhere in Processing, I guess.) Enjoyable though frustrating as you’re watching a relationship fall apart, but they didn’t make one person the bad guy in the affair. The two are just too different (though honestly, Gunther checking in with his mommy every day did get annoying, especially when he made Bets do it for him.)

I’ll answer questions but I’m not reposting the whole thing or even pages. For all my disagreement with the Evanses, I’m a big believer in IP rights, and I’m not gonna steal their work to repost.

Not so fast Luann, you have to take a class first

Yup. Over did it.

Looks like we get small talk on sofa this week – until Bernice’s entrance on Saturday – to stir things up.

Luann culd suggest something relly exciting. They could go cow tipping

I went skydiving in 1983. It cost about $100 and there was 6 hours of training before the jump. 4 people jumped, I was the only female. Back then we did not have a tandem jump, but the cord was attached to the plane and the chute automatically opened after 6 seconds. And I didn’t jump. I got out of the plane and was positioned on something under the wing. The jump master told everyone when to let go of the plane and I just let go. Very exciting and very peaceful on the 4 minute descent from 3000 feet. Definitely something I wanted to do once in my life and I loved it.

Luann, no ……. just no!

Well there is a plot twist. Will Bern come in and sarcastically talk herself into skydiving too, if it happens, or some version of that scenario? Walt/Piro has quite an adventuresome side.

How are these two college students that have both been homeless managing to do all of these extreme sports?

Tara reminds me of the chick who, after conducting a conversation at my table where I was enjoying lunch with friends, when I pitch in smugly says, “We were finished that topic” looking at me as though I were a bug

For those who want one of the Gun&Bets novellas, but missed the purchase window, G&K have a few still available (I imagine only until their stock is sold out) the store link is:

https://www.jotform.Com/232338709163054

He’s just not that into you, Luann, please don’t be desperate.

Mebbe they’ll use Maxwell parachutes. They’re good to th last drop

Piro’s “manspread” however, is interesting…

All those who are suggesting Tara is scheming on Piro romantically, I think are on the wrong track. She already said back in February that she would’ve, but there’s a snag, because he’s her cousin. So she isn’t going there.

Boy crazy?

What in the world is wrong with LuAnn?

If Luann wants attention,try playing the tuba

Luann, honey they aren’t even listening :-(

Tara reminds me of a sister of one of my old boyfriends. Jealous as hell when we started to date and I always thought she had a thing for him) she and her sister were adopted). Tara needs to disappear. She is as annoying as Betsy was.

If your chute doesn’t open, you get your money back

I can totally see Tara setting this up and Piro not showing up.

This is incredibly awkward to read: Tara being too interested in her cousin, and Luann’s cringe-y puns. So unattractive when one tries too hard for a laugh.

So, my question is: Where do they the $$$ to pay for these things? I don’t know how much it costs to sky-dive, but imagine it’d be minimum of $700-900. Maybe a few hundred $$$ less for rock climbing.