Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for October 17, 2023

Interesting… Luann has sat down with 4 other guys but this is the first time she’s looking at the menu. And what do you know… Greg is on it! ;)

Judging by that recap, it’s likely Bets will eventually return back to the strip.

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Question is… Will Luann ever become more adventurous? She’s just playing it safe, at home, with no romantic relationship that could possibly hurt her.

Don’t Bets on it

In a response to a commenter a few days ago I put forward the proposal that this would be a perfect time for Luann and Gunther to rekindle those old feelings. Here are some events of the past these two share that may pull them back toward each other.

https://www.gocomics.Com/luann/2009/10/14 Luann defines what it would take to marry Gunther.

https://www.gocomics.Com/luann/2009/10/16 Gunther gives Luann a “ring” – 3rd finger left hand… and the next day.

https://www.gocomics.Com/luann/2010/01/19 Gunther thinks he and Luann exactly alike.

https://www.gocomics.Com/luann/2010/04/09 Luann tells Gunther he’s one of her “main men.”

https://www.gocomics.Com/luann/2010/05/25 Luann ADMITS she’s been a very shallow person re Gunther.

https://www.gocomics.Com/luann/2013/02/17 Luann tries to convince herself she’s not jealous of Rosa and Gunther.

https://www.gocomics.Com/luann/2015/03/29 Luann & Gunther bereft relationships together.

In other words, when Gunther becomes a travelin’ man . . . or Bets becomes a homebody.

Or Guenther stops living in denial…

Stay away Luann, he is not past Bets, way too early if ever.

A whine-free sort of even-handed summary of the story we never saw. There’s a but in there somewhere.

So Gunther has a teaching assistant position waiting? Here’s another area of commonality with Luann’s life right now. Hmmmm…

We have said this a thousands times Luann is not interested in Gunther.

“It just ended… oddly”

“Messy break-up?”

“No, Bets wanted freedom and adventure… so, naturally, I punished her by casting her into the Phantom Zone from the Superman movies. Lookie, there she is floating by in a shape in the dark void right behind me!”

“It ended…oddly. Something about a dream sequence, a plea for trust, and a cash grab.”

She’s an Outie and he’s an Innie.

What is a “T. A.”?

If Bets and Gunther do get back together, it won’t be soon. Even in the real world, at age 19, it wouldn’t be soon. Right now they have different priorities that keep them apart. It happens in real life, too.

Good additional info that Gunther is a TA. He has reasons to be dependable.

BTW, that summation does not seem novella worthy.

Let me translate: Bets is independently wealthy and does not need school. Gunther is not the same as Bets.

No mention of how Gunther might support himself if he wanted to stay on the road with Bets?

The question, who doe the panel 3 punchline apply to, Gunther? Bets? Lu, metaphorically? It’s obvious that there still a strong connection between them, even while Gunther goes for. need, Bets for needs.

Gee Lu.

A “disaster?” Where did you hear that from, Lu? Did you follow the trip online? Or did you just buy the book?

And don’t look now, but you and Gun have something in common: You WERE a T.A. and Gunther’s about to BECOME one. Unless you can talk him OUT of it.

Why? Because if Gunny’s experience is anything like YOURS most of his “clients” will be ungrateful JERKS. And I’m getting a bad feeling that at least ONE of them will be Stef.

OTOH, the Good News is the other could be Tiffany or some new (Grateful) female. ;-)

What a romantic image, “The wayward wind was born to wander”. The truth is he knocked her up.

Liar, Gunther. You came home furious. You are shoving all this mess with Bets deep inside you and ignoring it and lying to everyone, even Luann. Mostly to yourself. Bets did not want to come home with you. She chose the road trip and her fans over you. She chose adventure. Your comment to Bets says you’re still hoping one of you find way back to another. We’ll see…Considering how much I disliked Bets, I am hoping she found another guy on the road and finds her soulmate, someone just like herself with similar life outlook and values. Gunther was all wrong for Bets. He has yet to realize how she treated him – dismissive, dominant, bossy…he has to meet another girl to realize that Bets and he were not good together. Stay lost, Bets for Gunther’s sake.

Gunter’ll decide to hit th road an Bets’ll decide to come home. They’ll still end up bein in separate places

Now that’d be a hoot

Remember, Gunther: “It isn’t the ups and downs in life that matter – it’s the jerks”! :D

Good for Bets, maybe she’ll see that there better options out there than Gunther. I’m surprised she didn’t realize that sooner I mean come on its Gunther.

Great, so we’ll just get a few details about the clash between freedom and responsibility.

Or until Bets meets somebody else on the road, which is the most likely.

And isn’t Bets going to college, too? Did she drop out?

Oddly enough, the lead character, being Luann, also lacks the most depth of practically of any of the other characters by far. She’s not that far away from her original cartoon form as far as substance goes.

I get no romantic vibe here at all. Luann’s just curious about how things are going with one of her oldest friends. She’s at ease with Gunther, which is great for a long-term relationship, but when you’re just starting to fall for someone, it’s never how you feel. The best prospect for her in the line-up she’s dined with is Jack, but I don’t see that going anywhere.

In any event, he’s clearly still involved with Betts, in spite of all the question marks. Meaning he’s off-limits even if Luann did like him that way, which I tend to doubt she ever will.

so effectively betts dropped out of school to be a full time…?

When is the novella going to be made public? Anyone who bought it have a summary?

Welcome to the state of Denial! Population: THIS guy!

Bets and Gunther’s love just wasn’t meant to be.

i like Gun’s response; i think he leaves the door open for himself to consider adventure (outside of the home) and for Bets to consider returning.

So what is a Greg 1017 on the The Fuse menu? A super colossal burger with curly fries, onion rings, and a beverage? No price noted so don’t ask as you can’t afford it, $$$$.

It’s too bad that Bets had no compromise in her. That van is always going to be there for them to take adventures, but Gunther’s education requirements were immediate. They could have still used the van over school breaks and had lots of fun, maybe they still will, but the “I don’t have a home” was selfish and not even true. She has a dorm, like thousands of students, and she has a family somewhere who has been painted as evil, but with no proof, just like Mrs. Halpern. I don’t like the way G&K portray evil parents with no explanations.

So they broke up over different lifestyles Betts wanted freedom and adventure, Gunther felt the call of responsibility.

Luann is the first character to find out what really happened between Gunther and Bets!

Ah-HO, Count ❤️ers everywhere… Riddle The Count This, lowly unworthies… How is Delusional Dumpster like Troglodyte Kelce?? Both have been used and are the butt of a cruel joke and everyone is aware of it but them. The Difference? Our Beloved Kind ❤️ed Count feels reallyreally bad for Dumpster. Really. Knuckle Dragger Kelce is an arrogant swine and deserves not only to be kicked to the curb but run over by the bus he was thrown under when he bounces off. Omnipotently Wise Ann❤️Eiffel has a Plan (not a Plot this time) for Dumpster… He is going to kick Swine UseLes out of mommyanddaddy’s house and move in… Bernice! Bernice has not been observing Sexy❤️Luann but the boys all along and Dumpster is The One…. all orchestrated and manipulated by our Dearest Ann❤️Eiffel! See, lowly unworthies? The Count ❤️s It When a Plot Comes Together. BTW… the bumper sticker on Bets the Bae’s van reads “If You See This Van A’Rockin’ Don’t Come A’Knockin’”. ;) Adventurous Adventurer Bets the Bae is on a solo road trip Stalking the Reclusive Wild Shoog Daddies but will soon be hooking up with Sensuous Ann❤️Eiffel as they Laser Sharp Target the Wild Shoog Daddies wherever they may lurk. Busy morning for Yr Hero, The❤️Count, lowly unworthies. The Countmobile is being winterized prepping it for the Most Wonderful Seasons of the Year. Bye week so two whole weeks without Football. Don’t know if The Count’s ❤️ can take it. But one thing’s truly fer schure, boy howdy… we can always depend on Dearest Ann❤️Eiffel to come up with something stealthy and underhandedly fantastic… to say nothing of profitable. That said… TTFN and Be Safe Out There…. Count…OUT!

I KNEW IT!!! Gunther has gone MGTOW!!! He says so himself, right here.

His last line is an apt description of modern marriage, too.

Not gonna lie.. I’m kind of glad Bets is gone. She was too overbearing and took full advantage of Gunther’s easy-going, don’t rock the boat demeanor. I dare say, there were times when she darn near bullied him into doing things he was not comfortable with, and she just didn’t care. Good riddance.

So did any of you GET your book yet, on their adventure?

No more Bets and no more Quill…only in flashbacks or posting on Instagram etc.

Or she runs out of money!

A good discussion between two long-time friends. Luann shows interest, Gunther speaks, he’s very calm and she’s understanding. It’s normal among friends, but I don’t think a similar discussion is possible between Luann and Bernice. Unfortunately her BFF doesn’t have the same kindness as Gunther, it would end with sarcasm and an interrupted speech. So,, the story between Gunther and Bets is officially on pause and not over? I have to say I’m happy! Bets still has a lot to offer to the strip and I hope she returns from her journey at some point. Maybe for December or even before.

Gunther did what was right for him, continuing his education as planned. Years from now, I don’t think he will regret his decision.

Luann is trying to accent the down side of the trip using words “disaster”, “messy break up” based on what she has heard, instead of just asking Gunther for his explanation. Gossip sure does fly or maybe she wants it to be that way.

I’m going to miss Bets – NOT!

It’s over, Gunth. Whatever there was between you and Bets is history.

Break that chain Gunther, Bets was never any good for you.

In other words… yes, messy breakup.

Luann needs to be a woman………

Smart of Gunther to leave out the part where he insisted on checking in with his mommy every day (even insisting Bets do it for him when he couldn’t.) Overall the novella treated both of them evenhandedly (and the breakup itself was handled rather well), but ugh that part was creepy and weird. Cut the apron strings already, pal.

One thing Gunther is clearly missing here is when he says “Home” he’s speaking of HIS home. Bets essentially has no real “home” the way he does. She is estranged from her family so “Home” means something entirely different to her. To Bets, her true home is her freedom and her true family has been Gunther and all her fans. Her network looks very different from his own. She has found her home and so has he, so unless she evolves into a completely different person those two paths may never reconnect again. Even if she returns, she wouldn’t be able to live with him. At best, she’d be relegated to sleeping in Ruby in his driveway! After a while that would depress anyone. And I don’t see her returning to the dorm. Even if she did that’s only a temporary fix. She has no place to stay on holidays or seasonal breaks. I really feel for her. If not for the kindness of my dorm mates, I would have had nowhere to go during these times either. I hope she makes it as an Influencer and continues on the road of adventures.

Gunther and Luann are going to get married before Greg and Karen finish this strip.

Gunther needs someone who could do the romantic thing like being in the same room together some of the time.

Better to find out now than later. I’ve known far too many who decided they didn’t really want to be bothered by children, spouses, responsibilities. Responsibility doesn’t stop just because it bores you.

Why is Luann looking for a break up?

As a college dropout Bets now has to pay back her student loans AND find a way to fund her carefree lifestyle.

Why does she have to look at the menu?

What the hell is T.A.?

I hate this american trend of acronymize everything.

I never understood Gun-Bets. Never. She walked all over him. He was just in for the ??? idk. attention? Not even sure about that. Never saw any chemistry at all.

I’m thinking Gunther’s last comment refers to Bet’s feelings. Luann and Gunther always had a friendly connection.

Question is – who will be the 4th Quad roommate? Someone new or old? Next week’s arc.

Or until pigs fly.

Luann is a GOOD LISTENER.

Aside from “the Zen Queen girl”, I can’t think of anybody else in the cast who is.

Finally a meaningful conversation. How are you going to interpret that Bernice?

Hmmm! Luann is acting up

Gunther really spoke volumes with that final comment.

https://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=MTIkFwMuiTw

“Messy Beaucoup”

“Master Of Disaster”

“The Oddly Couple”

“Ta-Ra-Ra Boom! T. A.”

“Each Of Us Must Play, Apart”

“Howdy, Duty!”

Gun has been on this Bets journey for quite a while, like a couple of years. In the Toon-verse it probably is time for a new romance to roll into his life. New adventures of spills and thrills. Not that the Bets trip wasn’t fun to experience, because it was while it lasted.

Ivlax, You seem innocently oblivious to what adventure looks like to your average girl. Have you ever talked to a real girl?

So did they break up for real, or are they ‘on a break’?

Another difference, Bern:. She’s known the first four only a couple years and then as potential boyfriend’s. She’s known and friend-zoned G-Man for years.

BTW, has anyone gotten to be a TA while in their second year of college?

Gunther clearly regrets the odd ending of his road trip with Bets.

And yet here he is, gushing out his feelings to his longtime buddy/friend/companion, the ostensible Romanceless Luann DeGroot….

I liked the Bets at first. Now she seems kind of shallow.