Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 05, 2023

WOW! I think I can see my house from there! ;)

Well, I’m pretty sure this is all a creative writing fantasy and we’ll find out Frank is the one who really jumped.

For those who think Luann is actually going through with it.. How do you explain the different helmets and colors etc.?

Seems like Greg has been up in the air once or twice. Nice art. Karen is doing a good job with Luann’s essay.

Pretty good prose, Luann.

The lower half of that view is about what my neck of woods has looked like since August, what with this drought we’re having. Again. Third major drought we’ve had since 2007. And cruelly, around the anniversary of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge going up in flames, partly due to a pair of deliquent teenagers who were playing with matches up in the Smoky Mountains, and literally got away with murder (yes, even though lives were lost because of those fires, they were found not guilty).

She is proving to be a good writer.

A question for anyone who actually knows: In real life, would it be standard operating procedure for the newbie tandem jumpers to get hooked up to their instructors before the door opens?

Note: If today’s strip departs from strict realism on this point, I don’t mean to tear Greg a new one over it. I’m just curious. I also don’t mean to imply that such an inconsistency is reason to believe that what we’re seeing is Luann’s fantasy and that (as some are predicting) it’s really Frank who’s doing the jump.

Luann fantasy dream, she passes out before getting into the plane?

Page 2 !

Lu looks like she’s enjoying this. I couldn’t look out there and then go for it.

it really is worth doing…good job Luann

Lu this your time to prove so many people wrong pull that ripcord girl.

I think I would rather try ziplining first, but I’m cheering for you, Luann. I was told today that skydiving is 15,000 feet and above and that few do it, so is this called something else?

Luann:1. Go for it.2. Drop all your so-called “friends.”3. Take the course for solo jumping.4. Take flying classes.5. Make new friends at the airfield.6. Scratch all this. Don’t do what others tell you to do (including yours truly). Do what you feel like doing. 7. Be awesome.

Her world is opening up – she understands she has so many more choices in life than she thought she had…

Colors are consistent here online; looks like Luann is really doing this… Good gal!!

STAND UP! … HOOK UP… EQUIPMENT CHECK! (gimme another "OK"sign…) STAND IN THE DOOR! …. GO!

Stand up…hook up…stand in the door!

She is a lot calmer than I would be… assuming she is actually doing it.

I will not believe she actually did this until I see her land. This is just the essay she is writing. Her Dad is up in that plane.

This is actually interesting.

Interesting that a first time ‘jumper’ is going completely solo and not tandem.

This reminds me of a joke. A paratrooper was about to jump and his sergeant gave him a tip. “If your parachute doesn’t open, ask Buddha to save you!”

He jumped and the parachute wouldn’t open, so he yelled “SAVE ME, BUDDHA!” A giant hand came out of nowhere and caught him. Then he said “Thank god!” and it dropped him!

Cliche city

Well this is much better than Bets and her travel blog.

I like the change of perspective in the drawing. It puts you aboard as the observer. Luann is the main character, the arc is her experience and there’s no wimpy Gunther or annoying Tara creeping in to distract and detract from Luann’s adventure.

If Nancy was writing this, she’d express guilt that her plane ride is contributing to climate change.

Luanne is letting us see a glimpse of her creative writing story. This is totally fiction

Luann is about to conquer the world—that is, before it conquers her!!

BTW, very good rendering of the landscape.

At first I thought that this is where the strip ends (her chute doesn’t open, etc.). However, first-time jumps are done in tandem.

Nice knowin’ ya, Luann! :D

Frank comes over by th open door to look out an trips on Luann’s foot causin him to fall out. Frank’s tandem partner jumps out to try to catch him

Tomorrow’s episode:

Willy Makeit or Betty Wont

I like the “Straight Line” punctuation on Luann’s face. It is a faint smile? It is confident. Can she see through her “Blank Zero” punctuation glasses. Obviously she is Blue Skying it, but focused, not airheaded. She could have on Google Glasses. Greg is really very subtle when he is not being un-subtle. Minimalist monologue. Really gettting into her thoughts. They’re not deep thoughts, just Stream of Consciousness. A “serious” installment but light, bereft of drama, she is still sailing smoothly. There are other details I have not pored over. Like, Clouds. Are the clouds saying anything? Did I see any? I don’t remember. She is Looking at Clouds from Both Sides Now. Am I just interpreting Dylan? The Joker? Am I a Choking Smoker? Is it Dylan interpreting the Beatles interpreting Dylan. Am I a butterfly dreaming I am Confusion dreaming I am a Butterfly. Is this just Confusion? Am I manic. It is Four Fifty “F” Three in the I Yam what I Yam. Tell me why I cry? One thing I am fairly sure of. This will continue this rich vein of Not Everything Is A Joke. There are many here among us who feel that Life is But A Joke. Then, I predict some light moments. You don’t have to do a lot of slapstick when you are falling through the air at terminal velocity like a safe falling to the sidewalk or a concert grand piano falling a mile to the floor of the Grand Canyon. She isn’t Wiley Coyote on top of the piano, oblivious as he plummets silently to the infinity of cartoon non-death due to indestructibility. Like all teens into young adulthood, Luann is immortal Can’t lose her parachute and not be saved by a Deus Ex Machina. This is real physics, more or less. Clouds float. People don’t I wouldn’t be surprised to see a strip about someone dying, but Spoiler Alert: Greg is not going to kill some main character at random Knute will not recieve Narcan and turn blue and fade away. It would be a side character. An old teacher. It is okay to kill teach.

Terminal velocity. The velocity which the drag of the air around you creates a force equal to the force created by gravity on your mess. Doesn’t really mean velocity what you terminate or die — not normally, anyway.

It is a shame what Luann has to do to satisfy the readers who thinks she’s gotten boring.

Live2Read: I think she’s done things. If this is a dream, it is a dream of a dream, but one you wake up from before you hit the ground. I’ve come pretty durn close and my heart was in my mouth when I woke up. I’m afraid of the old skydreamer diver’s tale that if you hit the ground You Die.

Argy3: Ooh, Tish. I love it when you use French words like Colorist. I think that was intentional. Wowzers. This isn’t just pink Bubblegum music. Not that there’s anything wrong with “Yummy Yummy.” That was a deep meaning song. In an Airhead way.

dmclark: So you are saying it is Postmodernist. Very cool. Me 3.

Dorothy Glenn: Why isn’t my Reply feature working write? Do I need a new MacAir after only 6 or 7 years? Or should I just keep closing Safari and/or rebooting. Hmm, New Mac or New Transmission. So many choices, so few inheritances.

Anyway where were we? “Maybe the doors will open.” Yes, and I hope they aren’t slapstick opening doors like for Slim Pickens in the last scene from Dr. Strangelove, riding an A-bomb to glorious, ecstatic oblivion. Kind of like what is going on in the Non-Comic world. “Yeeeee-hah! Yip yip yip ki-yay!” Thanks, Kubrick, the Stanley Downer of the World.

And then, because she got so excited: and had zero training, she leaped out the door without hooking up with her instructor…

Argy3 Yes. Literally. It is called a “Close Reading.” Like pointing out continuity errors in a classic movie, “Oh, there is someone in a Roman Soldier costume sipping a cup of coffee in frame million-and-three.” Or, in “Truman”, he is ambivalent. Not only that, there is a character arc in “Catcher.” Or, perhaps, Argy3 they are just enjoying the strip and the many details hidden and obvious, and the details not there and not obvious, or the backstory seems prismatic. That/those/them kind of person(s). At least they live for reading.

WHERE IS HER HELMET? OMG.

You can do it, Luann!

“And I forget everything the instructor told me and break both of my legs.”

I like how epic Luann’s text sound, it fits the panel si well and she looks so cool! Everything is put as something that will change Luann forever and it’s amazing. Maybe I’m exaggerating because for years I’ve wanted to see her with greater self-esteem, try new things that make her happy and be more determined in taking risks. But I really love this. Writing seems like something Luann is really good at. I wonder if she’ll read this report in Mrs Horner’s class and if Tara and Piro will be there to listen. They didn’t go with her. But without them, she never would have tried it.

Anyone getting Snoopy’s “Red Barron” type vibes from this?

In a bit of irony, my late FIL loved Luann. I was thrilled when I found out we both followed the strip. Now, with the exception of my Husband, all the Men in his family are pilots. I was going to share yesterday’s strip in his memory. Then I remembered, that I’m also FB friends with Dad’s nephew. (also a pilot) However, nephew’s Father, (Dad’s brother) was killed when skydiving. He jumped and his shoot didn’t open. True story! Today’s strip is beautiful. The countryside below and the look on Luann’s face. She seems a little “too” calm for the Luann we know and love.

So it may be that the color of the jump suits designate instructors vs customers. Helmet may be optional if a personal item.

Is this the “jump the shark” moment for Luann?

I believe it’s Luann. She seems to be speaking and describing from FIRST-HAND experience, not recounting something someone told her.

How to become a writer: EXPERIENCE LIFE!!!!

Is she ever going to jump? lol

I am surprised at the comments here, because I don’t find this Luann series to be entertaining AT ALL. I simply don’t care that Luann is skydiving, and can’t figure out why I’m supposed to. Wake me when it’s over.

When I was a Bluebird one of the girl’s dad had a plane and he took us up in it and we flew over Eugene, could see my house and backyard! We all thought it was so cool!

I enlisted for the Paratroops and made my first jump June ’67. You never forget your first jump. Exhilarating.

Easy now LuAnn, don’t get too excited and jump before your harness is hooked to the master jumper’s.

The creative tension is clearly “in the air.” Is it Frank or Lu? I think them both but at different times. I think that because the drawing includes her prose, which is good, descriptive, exciting, expectation clearly expressed. Plus the two-panel set-up itself, showing Lu with a determined looking demeanor, her view, out the plane, and that blonde hair very prominent. No, to me all indications are she is jumping.

I wonder if Greg and(or) Karen went skydiving like this? And you won’t fall at 120 mph, on average, because you’ll start (not counting the horizontal speed vector from traveling in the plane) at 0 and have to accelerate at a rate of roughly 32 feet per second squared (minus some due to atmospheric drag). Given that the two of you are wearing loose flight suits and will be falling with your arms and legs spread out, and several other considerations, you might not even hit that high of a speed.

I see farmland down there. Beautiful : )

It would appear that the whole week is likely to be in this platitudinous style. It takes one who has really lived through something to write about it poetically. The real jumper was Greg.

OK, a nitpick: Luann should be helmeted, at this stage of the adventure. It’s only Tuesday. The wind in the hair thing is admirably attempted today, but limited by goggles and hairstyle. Tomorrow sees the brain bucket emerge.

When I made my first jump at Airborne school, I was heard to exclaim OOOoooEEeee. Which was quite tame compared to some of the exclamations I heard. One poor guy simply screamed the whole way down. He got washed after he landed.

Having jumped once 50 years ago the story line is correct. Next one is “my last thought is let me back on this plane!!!”.

this is a tandem jump , instructor hooks on the back of the student .

I love freefall, it feels like you are flying and have an almost magical ability to do anything a hummingbird can do plus much more. I wish the jumps were longer.

I, for one, hopes it really IS her, and that this will be a major turning point in her life!

Nice.

LOVE THESE! The narratives and colors are wonderful! The landscape in today’s strip is beautifully drawn! I like that Luann’s expression is confident because they could have easily gone a different direction and drawn her as comically distressed. This is fantastic!

She jumps, but the instructor’s chute doesn’t open. Fortunately, they fall into the recycle pile behind a mattress factory.

Let her jump! Let her jump!

Hmmm this is pretty exciting! I like how poetic it has been. You go Luann!

Will she need a push?

When I did this, it was before the days of tandem jumps. I did static line, where it opens the chute for you. Our plane had no seats, and no door. We sat in the order we would jump against the from bulkhead, between each others legs. I was first, so I was the closest to the door. I remember thinking as we took off, “If I fall out here, the cute isn’t going to help!”

There’s nothing like that first step…

Is this possibly a tribute to another comic strip, like Steve Canyon or something? It’s definitely in a different style.

To those “folks” that complained bitterly about having to BUY a “novella” from Greg and Karen this past Summer?

Well, the Evans Crew are giving You guys a mini novella for FREE this week.

So, Merry Christmas to ya’ll.

As for Me, I have My SIGNED copy of the road trip Novella in a prominent place on My bookshelf next to My cherished collections of Liberty Meadows books and Budd Root’s __Cavewoman._ ;-)

“Two things fall from the sky, bird stuff and idiots.”

If she can remember her thoughts, she’ll ace her writing class for sure.

I did this once, it’s about right, nicely done…

So she got warnings, rules, and tips. This implies that she really did get the necessary course before a jump would even be allowed. So when did it happen?

Dig the landscape art

I think there is a reason we saw a big sign on Friday that said Transfer Credits Allowed.

“Might as well, JUMP” Great artwork today guys! I see this as a great chance for Lu to break out of this high school drama novella.

Very lyrical today. Thanks!

The landscape is reminiscent of Stupendous Man’s adventures or when Spaceman Spiff is making a landing. Nice.

You put your hands OUTSIDE the open door. If you put them INSIDE the door, you won’t go out. I think I read that in S.L.A. Marshall’s “Dropzone Normandy.” Great book.

And then the door opens to the strains of I Am Woman hear me roar

I hope it’s not a dream and she actually goes through with it.

Go, go, go Luann. Fly free!!!!!!!!!!!! But remember to put on your helmet.

Go for it Luann. IT WILL MAKE YOU A RICHER CHARACTER.

Please, Greg, don’t do anything cute with this arc. Let Luann enjoy her moment of triumph and joy.

If I ever jump out of a plane it’ll only be because the pilot jumped first

Go Luann, GO!

THEY CAN FLY UPSIDE DOWN WITH THEIR FEET IN THE AIR

THEY DON’T THINK OF DANGER, THEY REALLY DON’T CARE

NEWTON WOULD THINK HE HAD MADE A MISTAKE

IF HE COULD SEE THOSE YOUNG M EN AND THE CHANCES THEY TAKE

Luann may have a career as an author.

BOMBS AWAY

… then I wondered, why am I jumping out of a fully functioning plane?

I think she will make the jump and her parents and her friends will be waiting for her.

How are Frank and Nancy not there to watch?

If the fall don’t kill me the purple prose will!

No way is she doing a solo jump without training. Took a week worth of training just to know how to land right. Even then. Good luck……

Looking at an art that is drawn different from Greg’s normal illustrations led me to be suspicious. Is this Luann’s creative writing exercise imaging what it’d be like to skydive? Guess we’ll find out.

I’m looking at her mouth. She will jump. She never takes chances on things that don’t matter. Time has come to do it. Besides – it’s a tandem jump. You have an expert attached to your back.

I just had a horrible thought. What if this is one of those dream sequences and on Saturday we see Luann waking up and Frank jumping out of the plane? I would be really disappointed.

Okay, now I’m reminded of Where Eagles Dare (1968):

Pilot: “We’re approaching the drop zone…”Jump officer: “Green on GO!!!”"

For everyone who still thinks this is Frank doing the jump, here are a few points to keep in mind:

1. Just because Frank showed enthusiasm for skydiving doesn’t mean he will do it. How many times have we shown enthusiasm for something, only to not actually do it? Exactly.

2. Constantly asserting that Frank is doing the skydiving completely takes away from Luann’s own experience.

3. Luann has never really done anything daring before (save for the camping trip she took with Bernice and Dez that turned out to be a total disaster), and this skydiving is an important moment for her. Because it is, Greg and Karen chose to present her dialogue in the way they did. She is not writing an essay—at least not yet. If she was writing the essay right now, she’d be writing it in the past tense. If you look closely, you’ll see that her internal dialogue is written in the present tense.

While I’m at it, I might as well present a final point: if any of you making this ridiculous claim think you can do a better job on this strip than either Greg or Karen, then apply.

Otherwise, just. stop. it.

One thing I will not do. Never broken a bone and I want to keep it that way…lol!

I think we are getting to watch the jump and read the esaay at the same time. The essay was written later, but in present tense. It’s more powerful that way. Why do we get to watch two things that happened at different times (jumping and writing) at the same time? Comic strip magic, and very well done. A+ on this one so far.

You go Luann,! You got this!

I think this is the most beautiful Luann strip I’ve ever seen. ❤ 50% chance she’ll jump. :)

It’s so great that Luann is doing this on her own (inciteful move on G&K’s part to have Tara & Piro pull out) where it allows her to ponder and think about the magnitude of what she is doing which she would later put into writing, instead of having to listen to Frank’s chatter, Tara’s comments.

Next week Luann will start attending jump school. Not.

Nice narrative & beautifully drawn G&K and superbly colored @Sheriff Mordecai

Proud of you! Just remember ‘Geronimo’!

Now that we know it’s Luann and not Frank, they’re going to, like, put helmets on, right?

Question! Can people who need glasses skydive?

Try jumping into a firefight.

At th end of the week will Bobby be dead or alive?

No intention of hurting any cartoon characters here. Mainly a metaphor. Before anything gets started bout some one bein dead

Falling at 180 mph? That plane only does about 120. But it can’t dive like that.

It’s like seeing so many infinite possibilities, and all it takes is one leap of faith to see where you’ll end up.

In any event, she should submit these entries to her creative writing class.

Heads up, crew. Bogey at 12 o’clock high. Looks like a little white beagle flying a red dog house. Be ready to take evasive action.

The one thing I learned in my brief Air Force career is that one should never leave a perfectly good aircraft, under any circumstances. They are designed to fly; you are not.

Nice! A tandem jump!

Where did Luann get the money to pay for this on a part time childcare worker salary?

Karen’s doing some of her best writing here.

Yoiks and away!

I guess her life just needed to be in jeopardy to unlock her writing chops?

This is probably the best piece of utter fiction Luann has ever written for her class….

Is anyone really skydiving?

If you are doing a HALO jump you fall at about 225 mph until you stabilize at 120 on lower, denser air, usually starting at about 12k feet. Scary the first time when done over the ocean at night.