Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 08, 2023

Well, well, well… What do we have here??? ;)

It feels good to be vindicated but I am sad that Luann didn’t go through with it. It would have been good for her.

It does look like Tara and Piro believe that she really jumped, no matter what she says to the contrary.

.

So when will G+K actually have Luann do something exciting??

Oh, I am so mad. Curses to those LIARS Greg and Karen

Yay, Frank!

Double Yay, Frank Degroot, Rock Star

Kudos to those who guessed Frank made the jump (will we see/hear what he thought of it?) and that Luann’s essay was fiction. I was hoping she really took the plunge.

Luann watch the video tape????

Oh, I am so glad! A WONDERFUL outcome!

Seems Tara doesn’t believe that her dad took her spot. She couldn’t imagine anyone not wanting to experience adrenaline rush. Raising my hand here… I could and prefer to be firmly on terra firma. I’m not one for thrills. I rode some 6 flags rides and that those were thrilling enough for me.

CALLED IT!!! December 2nd strip.

It was obvious this was the case and so many were vehemently denying that this is how it was going to turn out.

So… disappointing.

Okay . . . well, at least Frank got some enjoyment out of it. But man, talk about a buzzkill.

Aaaand…once again, everything crashes down into a lame, wimp-out, hugely unsatisfying anti-climax. Luann isn’t allowed to have an experience that takes her out of her insular little box, and the storyline just peters out. I’ve had enough. I’m out.

Bummer.

Weird conclusion. Also I don’t think Nancy would have allowed that.

I am totally disgusted. I may never read Luann again. Why do the creators of this comic strip hate Luann so much?

Developing as a writer is exciting. She approaching a real career.

Lessee here. I gotta start planning for th barbecue an need to know how many crows I gotta get lined up. Just sign up below with your preference of Rare, Medium, or Well Done

Well, I did my best to sit firmly on the fence and keep the options open regarding what actually happened versus what was imagined creatively. Nonetheless, I am disappointed and feel cheated — not so much for myself but for the character Luann who lost her opportunity to really experience a “changed me”. On the other hand, maybe now her erstwhile friends Tara and Piro, who know the truth she has just admitted, might be able to shame her into trying the jump for herself and testing the quality of those words she just imagined. She might even get some encouragement and support from her father.

Play the Wah-Wah-WAAAAH trumpet sound. We all predicted it, but I think we all kind of hoped Luann would actually do something interesting for a change given she’s been Bump-on-a-log Luann for far too long.

Also, I feel like this is the most boring route Karen could’ve written the story to go. We don’t SEE Frank actually do it or LEARN from him what he thought or how much of his words went into Luann’s essay (we don’t even know if the whole “thumbs can lie” thing was him or just Luann waxing poetically cause it wasn’t even her thumb). I think we can say that Frank’s officially more interesting than Luann. I’m sure what he was thinking about while doing it was better than Luann’s rather generic writing with it being her a second hand account.

Also they teased us with Luann becoming a new, changed woman. I think tomorrow’s strip should have the class crumpling up paper and throwing it at her and saying, “Boo.”

“Cheated” is the perfect word. We’ve all been “cheated.”

Totally disappointed and disgusted at Greg and Karen for pulling this stunt. And Luann, too. What a liar!

Should we all petition schools not to teach “The Red Badge of Courage,” since writer Stephen Crane was never actually in the Civil War?

I’m thinkin this might be a bigger change for Luann thn most think. One way she would could say she jumped in tandem with someone, which is a beginner thing. End of story. This way Luann gains confidence an proves to herself an others she can be a good writer. That’s for th long run..

But 2 strips back we see her jumping. I think she is lying about giving it to her dad.

Greg and Karen the better payoff would been letting Luann skydive. Y’all had us thinking that it was Luann that did the Skydive then when gives a report back to class she admits that was her dad and not her that did the skydiving jump. We feel ripoff.

I bet Frank will give Luann back the money she paid for that jump in an ultra nice Christmas present.

Many of you are reeling from disappointment and accuse the Evans of not allowing Luann to grow. Hey adrenaline rush does not equal to growth. Some people just lives for the thrill. It’s been established that Luann is not the type so get over it. I am one of few who did not expect her to follow through. That’s who she is. Falling from a plane is frightening no matter if you’re hooked to a professional or solo. Roller coaster ride suffices as a thrill ride for me. Personal growth comes from maturity and experience. Luann learned she is not a follower. She chose not to follow the Starr cousins’s examples and realizes that’s not who she is which is why she gave her spot to her dad. That’s perfectly fine. She gets her thrill writing a good imagine essay. She found the just right words to give her readers a taste of skydiving. Most writers do research and interview people for their experiences and knowledge before writing their books. Clearly she interviewed her dad and did some skydiving research for her essay and she did a great job. I am proud of her!

HA, CALLED IT!

I think about my great grandfather (who I never met, unfortunately) who was the owner and editor of several newspapers in the “old west”. He was interesting enough to be written up in a Life Magazine article in the 1950s. It took great courage to be a newspaper editor in those days. My great grandfather was known as a “fighting newspaperman” and as a forceful and powerful editorial writer. He called a spade a spade and spent his time in uncovering frauds and dishonest dealings. This brought about much enmity among those involved in the dishonest dealings. My grandfather used to tell me this story about his father. One morning, about 9 o’clock, my great grandfather and his son (my grandfather) were walking down the street. Enemies had gathered on the sidewalk, with the intention of forcing my great grandfather to get out in the street to go around them. He said to his son, “That bunch thinks I’m going to get out in the street, but we’re going through. Get behind me.” Out came two six shooters as he kept approaching. The ranks blocking the sidewalk opened up, and my great grandfather and my grandfather marched through without a word. I have much more respect for that kind of writer than for one like Luann who lies and cheats.

It cost Luann $200 for her father to live out his fantasy. If he doesn’t pay her back, I suggest she takes him before Judge Judy!!

Disappointed! I expected a new Luann to emerge. Same old same old.

I follow this strip more for comments.

Yay Frank and boo Luann you liar and cheater, taking someone else’s experience for your own and then writing about it as if it was yours.

I’m somewhat reminded of the time when Nancy came home late from work tired, tried to stay up for Luann who had an essay to write but fell asleep at the kitchen table whereupon Luann wrote a story about Nancy’s snoring, taped the sound of her snore and submitted that too.

Yeah, what a bummer. I’d have liked seeing the changed Luann. Of course, “well-adjusted” doesn’t necessarily make for great stories.

Looks like the guy who said it was Frank was right.

So, another dud.

Why Luann isn’t confronting Tara and Piro for bailing on her?

I admit I’m pretty disappointed that Luann didn’t jump. Thinking that Frank came to the airport leaving what he had to do to jump didn’t seem really possible to me. But from another point of view, for the first time Luann was able to write something not based on a personal experience but on someone else’s, showing how much she’s growing as a writer. The essay was really beautiful and the images that accompanied it were wonderful and cinematic. If she had jumped it would have been better, but I still enjoyed this arc a lot.

We all knew that was the outcome when we saw the transferable nature of the ticket on the sign. No reason to put that in if Luann was actually jumping.

When I wrote the more enthusiast Frank should take her place, I was joking. Yikes.

As expected.

disappointed, so very disappointed’. luann deserves a break. her own writers hate her.

Disappointing …. very disappointing.

I called it on saying that those who called it will say that “they” called it rather than saying that they were one of many who called it.

Another promising arc turned to dust by the end

Boo! Too late to show bravery by jumping but here’s another way… follow advice of instructor and bravely get different friends. People who fill their commitments and who aren’t impressed by cheating.

I have to say I am disappointed. I liked that Luann was stepping out of her comfort zone and experiencing life.

Next, she’ll write about the steamy tryst with the jump instructor (which didn’t happen either).

Do we believe Luann? that she really didn’t jump? Or do we follow the Tara and Piro camp and believe she did. If she didn’t actually jump, It’s a shame. It would have been an amazing learning experience for her. Jumping out of a plane, is such a major learning event. you find out so much about yourself. I am glad Frank did it. Make me wonder how long that’s been on his bucket list.

One wonders if anything actually happens to Luann and Company now…

WELL! Maybe that FINALLY explains the helmet worn by the figure in the first strip of this arc juxtaposed against the ones of Luann with her hair flying in the wind! LOL

Please go back to writing this comic in the old style cartoony way. You are clearly out of your element in this format.

Why? Why does this strip ALWAYS yank the football away?

Some of you called it

There’s a certain resemblance between Mrs. Horner, and Miss Wormwood fromn the Calvin & Hobbes strip. You don’t suppose…?!?

Tara should grill Luann’s dad to see if its true…

Here’s how they can save this arc — Luann, and the other two can be inspired by Frank and actually go through with it for themselves.

We are going to need a lot of CROWS for everyone who swore it was not Frank walking to the plane last Saturday!! You were all wrong and quite adamant about it. I thought it could be Frank from all the clues, but I was open to either possibility. So the clues DID mean something!

If you are really upset about this, you need to reevaluate your life.

Next!

The only thing I’m disappointed about is all the people who were insulting and condescending to the smart readers who noticed all the clues that pointed to Frank jumping. Many of you were so sure you were right and you were awful to the smart people who were right. Next time don’t be so smug unless you have all the facts!

So Tara and Piro are OK with the way they were portrayed in the story??? The characters are taking it waaay better than many of the commenters are treating them.

Why aren’t all of you upset and let down that Piro and Tara didn’t jump either. They did the same thing Luann did. Why not have equal outrage about them changing their minds too? Luann changed her mind about jumping. That does not make her a loser or boring.

All of you who are outraged and disappointed that Luann did not skydive can go do it for yourself. See how brave you are before you criticize Luann for changing her mind about jumping.

Wow… Luann not only wussed out, she also left her own dad to take the fall, literally!? WHAT THE PUKE, GIRL?!

We called it. G&K will be emailing “told you so” prizes to all who observed it last Saturday.

So no “changed me,” “fused before and after” for Miss Eponymous.

Deeply, deeply disappointing.

I called it.

I blame myself for this stupid plot twist. For ages I’ve been lobbying for Luann to do something exciting and life changing and I actually suggested skydiving. Instead we get THIS. Glad she at least got a good grade on her essay but man what a letdown!

Disappointing.

Why can’t Luann bask in the glory of the jump? She’s got Piro’s admiration, just as she hoped.

well people say L can’t write about anything except what she’s done, but here she’s actually done that and showing growth, not as much as if she’d jumped but still her imagination has been able to reach out.

I can’t imagine Nancy letting Frank do it. And Luann remains the girl who never does anything. Lots of opportunities and the no ambition.

Yes, there were clues. Yes, one could argue that taking the more “sensible” approach and ignoring peer pressure shows growth. Yes, Luann clearly aced the assignment and that’s growth too.

BUT

Overcoming her fears and jumping anyway would have shown growth too. She could have met the assignment criteria by writing about her experience from a different point of view – try think of the emotions that would have been going through Nancy’s mind, for example, had Luann jumped. Actually going through with the jump would have made Luann a more interesting character, IMHO. Rightly or wrongly, it would have given her some stature among her friends. It would have given her something to look back on later – a photo to hang on her wall, as it were.

MOSTLY

I’m getting really tired of the old “misdirection” play by GnK. Recycling the same formula over and over again is how good book series and TV shows lose interest and followers, and eventually fade away.

OK, we still have tomorrow for fallout and redirect. What we have is a newly expressive Luann, who not too long ago had something to say to Gunther.

The deep dive into the feelings is still lurking out there. We must check back in on the recovery of Bets & Gun as a couple. It’s Christmas tree season, but we may find Luann pining.

I take back what I said the other day. I’m not proud of Luann at all.

STOP MESSING WITH MY MIND!!!!!!

Well I stand corrected, she didn’t jump, dad did, but the idea stimulated hwr inner muse abd her writer’s block was overcome. Also, contrary to so many nasty remarks, the cousins are happy for her. Dad got an experince to.. His reaction will be fun to see.

:-(

Luann got out of bed this morning; the most exciting thing she does.

Luann, give up on Piro. He is really not that “into you”. (that did not come out right, did it? lol)

Extremely disappointed. Luann will never amount to anything nor even get out of her own head.

Huh. So G&K went through with the double fake out. While giving the jump to her dad and then writing the assignment as if she did it is totally in keeping with what we expect from Luann, the way it was presented to the readers feels like bad writing. G&K gave Luann character development in which she overcame her fear/cold feet, something to be really proud of. Then they snatched it all away from her and shout “Sike!” It’s a real let down and makes it feel like the character is getting stale. I’d suggest G&K have Luann jump a shark, but I’m starting to wonder if the strip already has.

Hey Luann that’s imaginative? It’s a trap for what the two did to you. If the two talk that you didn’t jump it’s imaginative writing. If you did what’s it to them.

Well, looks like I was right after all. Any word from those who insisted I was being too negative and cynical, and that there was no way that Luann skipped out on jumping?

Ugh. I’m so very disappointed. I almost had hope Luann was starting to get interesting again. Guess I’ll have to keep reading for the growth Gunth and Tiff show.

I liked this .

If Dad really did make the jump, good for him. In addition, Luann not making the jump makes her essay truly “imaginative” as opposed to an imaginative description of an autobiographical event.

So, even though this may not have been my preferred outcome, it appears to be a very good outcome for this arc.

But wait! It’s only Friday, there may be some additional twist tomorrow!

In any event, GREAT work G & K!!

Well, that clears it up.

Let’s put it on Luanns headstone: I Didn’t

We’re officially entering a storyline writing contest between Luann and 9 Chickweed Lane. Who will milk an idea the longest? Who will provide the lamest twist that every reader saw days before (and hoped they were wrong)? Who will make their main character the most unpleasant, either by stepping on her or by putting her on a pedestal?

Aw, I like that she gave it to her dad. What a treat for both of them!

Wait a minute…. But the “Thumb” lies! If the Thumb lies, then so to does the hand, the arm and the mind… The mind is Luann’s… so could this also be a little white lie??? Good story arc! Great work Mr. Evans.

Bummer.

Guess I was duped as well. Too bad she didn’t, quite a thrill. Frank deserves the A+

What a bummer

Ha! I knew it!

So Luann is fine with Piro and Tara ditching parachuting without telling her?

This totally disappoints me.

Booooo

So who do we see tomorrow? I’ll guess Frank and Nancy talking about his jump, and Nancy being impressed with him.

C’mon Greg, Karen. That’s disappointing!

Dumb.

It wasn’t cheating, it was imaginative

If you have too many, “I should have” regrets in you life when you get older, it will not be a good thing. You need to feed your soul as well as your body. Plus, it seems to me that a writer should experience SOME things themself and not vicariously through others. Makes for better writing.

Nothing wrong with letting Luann use this as a way to grow her writing and make her father happy. But what I think is missing is the realization that she really needs to be done with both Tara and Piro. They have shown her nothing but disrespect throughout their whole association. Real growth would be curving both of them in favor of finding some better friends.

What does Piro think Luann cheated at? I guess he did not understand the writing assignment. Luann could have written an story about meeting aliens and that would not be cheating.

Awww, Now I’m Bummed. I thought Luann had done something to change her life, Be Adventurous. Still she could walk up to Jack, put her arms around him and tell him she wasn’t interested in JUST being freinds ..and give him a Snog.

Disappointed in her but not surprised.

Disappointed in the story change.

I am disappointed in LuAnn and this arc, I wanted her to actually have jumped, oh well. About the only good thing I can say is that the creators gave us a week or so of suspense; two vocal sides arguing their points. I wonder in today’s last panel if reformed bad girl Tara is actually giving LuAnn some street cred for being such a good liar.

Disappointed, but not surprised…

I knew it!!!!!!!

A successful parent lives their child’s life for them. That then readies their child to be successful as a parent later.

Really, Luann?!? If it were not for my head injury, I would just kill a man for a chance to jump! Too bad I would likely pass out then . . . SPLAT!!!

Uh…the name of the theme s “Imaginative Essay.” Why do Piro and Tara think Luann really did it?

I’m glad fer Dad, the fun he had.

Luann never wanted to go skydiving. She only signed up because of pressure from Tara and Piro. I’m glad she decided what she actually wanted to do (not skydive) and did that. There are plenty of things Luann can do that she actually wants to do. Frank did want to go skydiving, good for him for doing it!

If she did in fact, stay home, then WHO wrote the essay? Do we, in fact, have two crimes perpetrated in the name of plagiarism? Hmm. The matters of the heart are indeed the heart of the matter. We’ll just have to wait till tomorrow, I suppose.

A twist ending worthy of “The Sixth Sense” award.

My longtime impression of Luann’s dad is “couch potato”, so the idea of HIM jumping is even better than if Luann had jumped.

And why is she still speaking to the two people who almost cost her $200.00?

Frank lost his glasses halfway down.

He’s still standing on the tarmac, waiting for them

Props to LuAnn for giving her dad a gift that he would likely never have bought himself but obviously dearly wanted. Perhaps that part of the story line was a bit too subtle for all the complainers.

The last line of her essay. A huge grin,a vast swelling of I did it! when you didn’t? It doesn’t seem possible to write that down when you know that you wimped out again.

Jump refusal? Court-martial offense.

Did she or didn’t she? It was drawn like she did…….

This was a frustrating arc. Why do G+K have to be vague about whether or not Luann jumped from the plane?! There is no reason why they have to confuse the readers.

She did not cheat. The assignment was imaginative writing which is exactly what she did. I expected she would have given her slot to her Dad as the sign said no refunds, but assignment was OK. What Luann did is really in character for her, in my opinion. I admit to being astonished at her very competent writing ability, though. I didn’t think she had that in her.

As I was reading Luann’s narrative this week, I thought it would make a great story for Mrs. Horner’s class and it read like a story. At the get-go I thought her Dad was doing the jump. If not her imagination, Frank probably described the feelings to her. Nice!

Ok, that it. I’m done. Until tomorrow. :-D

Some readers called it.

Disappointing!

I am actually disappointed in Frank a bit. To me when he got to Jumpin’ Jacks he should have encouraged LuAnn to jump. You don’t want to threaten or coerce your adult children—or younger ones for that matter—but just ‘Sweetie, you can do this.’; ‘Kiddo, think of the great memories.’; ‘Hey, let’s do it together.‘. If she adamantly refuses, don’t jump yourself, just go home. $200.00 lost? Sure, that’s a chunk of change but the Fuse probably spends that much a month on parsley for garnish.

I just started reading this again and this ending blows. I’m outta here.

Hmmm…Saturday, December 2nd, the jump instructor addresses character # 2 as simply “Degroot.” And character # 2 wears a helmet, so you can’t tell who it is. After, that, it’s all Luann – in storytelling mode…

I think this is the first occurrence in history of a child living vicariously through their parents…

All I can say is….Bummer.

I have been sitting on this time bomb for a few weeks. When a topic generates this much engagement, it is a big win for Gnk. They are always looking down the road at their business model. The future of syndicates and newspapers is unknown.

The Luanniverse Prime Directive: absolutely nothing must ever really happen.

Corollary: all education is 8th grade, forever.

We could have a had a great arc featuring Frank instead of this.

Quite disappointing. Luann has done many things out of her comfort zone – this would have been great.

Said above: “I’m getting really tired of the old “misdirection” play by GnK. Recycling the same formula over and over again is how good book series and TV shows lose interest and followers, and eventually fade away.” - Hmmm, but this is a write-as-you-go comic strip and interest and reader engagement is at an all time high. Perhaps critics need to overhear conversations that I do at the Reuben Awards. It’s thinly cloaked envy as in “How do you guys do it!?!” When most people announce they are fed up and hate the writing and vehemently announce their departure, they keep coming back. The numbers don’t lie. I’m just a studio musician supporting the GnK duet, but if I had a headliner product, I would take a million haters any day over the sound of crickets. Everyone is free to criticize, but this strip is a winner whether you are disappointed or not.

Maybe Frank will give Luann the gift of the both of them jumping. Luann looked forward to jumping with her friends,but they flaked out. She didn’t want to do it alone. She didn’t want $200 to go to waste, either. Maybe Luann would like to try again when she is in the mood. Probably not, but maybe.

I’d love to hear what Tara and Piro wrote about.

I’m with you.

Luann can do the same thing in writing that she can do in drawings, but drawing requires talent.

Oh Luann, I think your mother wants to have a word, or, ten with you. Something about encouraging your father to do something dangerous.

I made a reference to bricks hitting people in the head and them still denying it. It WAS, at the time, in reference to seeing her actually portrayed as tandem diving. I was commenting on evidence before your eyes, and not speculating.

I was not 100% convinced she had jumped but was more optimistic than a lot of people.

I thought I was going to be really disappointed if it turned out that Luann didn’t do the jump. But when I read the strip this morning, I thought what a sweet gesture it was, to give that to her dad. She saw how badly he wanted to do it, while she just wanted to do something fun with her friends. And she proved her writing skills. How does that make her a liar, when that was the assignment?

Well, it explains why Luann jumped without a helmet

I feel plunked a little. But I also forgot about the class project. Call it a draw.

I was hoping that Luann jumped. Her life is predictable and boring, and G&K severely underwrite her. I am disappointed in this bait and switch. The ploy grows old. I wonder if it’s just out of habit that I read this strip.

I’m proud of Luann for not doing the “you jump I jump” to impress friends. Very mature of her.

big let down.

Shut up, Piro!

Taking a victory lap!

Mrs. Horner is right; the essay was well written.

But, yeah, Lulu is still a fraud. Don’t worry about politeness, Piro. I’ll say it for the whole Luanniverse to hear: Luann cheated!

Very saddening to see this resolution of the arc… the way it was playing out in the strip art, it seemed that Luann was making some definite progress in a character-building experience. I still think the JJ instructor had the best advice for Luann last week: “Find better friends.”

Gosh Darn It Greg and Karen! You really had us going for awhile there!