Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 21, 2019

oh, this is going to go… what’s a good word?… swell

I guess this really does mean that Tiffany doesn’t know how to order a replacement credit card and she really believes Ann Eiffel has the power to revoke her credit card.

Well. That went well!?!?!?!?!?Maybe Bernice could “interview” her again. As far as dealing with A.E., good luck with that! Bernice was as inept as Tiff seems to be when it was her turn in the bookstore barrel.

Just when you thought the Tiffany arc couldn’t get any worse…

Hey Bernice? Tell Tiffany about how Ann REALLY feels about men:

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2002/06/18

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2002/06/19

It’s too bad you couldn’t have taped that little “session” from 17 years ago, to give to Tiffany to show her Dad. I’m SURE Tom would like to Know that his current Gold digging Girlfriend considers him to be crude and messy. And men will cheat, lie and sweet talk to get what they want. Then "leave.

Golly Gee. I think Ann just described herself!

If Tiffany’s dad is really trying to save money, why doesn’t he just make her get a regular-sized dorm room with roommate instead of the luxury suite she currently has all to herself? I’d say that an even better option would be for her to just live at home, but in Fictionland that never EVER seems to happen when university students attend school in their hometown. For some weird reason they always live in the dorms even when they were established as not having a lot of money. See: 90210, Saved By The Bell, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Boy Meets World, and countless other examples. I believe TV Tropes refers to this concept as “California University.”

If you really wanna see Ann getting some of what she’s been giving Tiffany, you gotta check this one out:

www.gocomics.com/Luann/2002/06/22

I just read Mordrock’s comment and it looks like we were looking in about the same place in Luannverse history.

Who else is experiencing a bit of Schadenfreude seeing someone who had everything paid for by another person (her dad) being cut off and having to actually live like the rest of us? This strip is showing us the Fyre Festival of today.

Perspective.

Tiff you always could call the credit card company and see what really going on.

Tiffany – I am not sure if Bernice can relate…after all, SHE is on a budget herself and doing just fine. Unless she offers to help you how to live on a budget.

Congratulations to G & K ! Yes Ann is a grifter. Yes Tiff is an immature brat. As Fox News would say – Fair & Balanced. Hopefully this will all sort out in ways not foreseeable by myself.

Boy Bernice really has that empathy down that counselors need.

The only good thing about it all is exactly that. Not Anne Awful but the end of Paris Farrell. Time to grow up: That may be the way you defeat Anne, because she’s still in the middle.

I hardly think you will find a sympathetic ear, Tiff. Being a spoiled brat is what has set everybody else against you (among other things) all these years. They will all agree on Anne, she’s been awful to everyone. But nobody will boohoo with you on your loosing your monthly makeup budget. Nobody else is spoiled rotten like you are, Paris (Tiff).Time for you to leave the child behind.

Supermarket makeup!

Domestic wine!

THE APOCALYPSE IS NIGH!

So Tiff can only spend $150 a month on makeup instead of $300. As long as she does not have to interact with Ann, Tiffany’s life is still pretty good.

For Bernice, that was exceptionally gentle. Maybe she’s redeemable, after all!

So the story is going to turn into the trivia of “spoiled Tiffany can’t live without makeup” instead of the actual problem of Tiffany being under the control of a genuinely evil person who hates her?

The drama queen is back. Long live the queen.

Who is going to explain to Tiffany that her “catastrophe” is everyone else’s reality? And that there are a lot of people who would kill to have your budget.

poor poor tiffany!!

Wah!

Characters have come and gone—just like life. Crystal and Knute are still around—just not in the Inner Circle. Delta has moved on with her life, as has Rosa, while newer characters like Dez and Piro have been added. I get the feeling Tiffany and Crystal have drifted apart after high school and are not close friends anymore. It happens.

Learning how to budget should have happened when she first got a credit card from Dad.What is unusual is that her father does not appear to be monitoring how she spends money and just handed it off to a girlfriend to do it for him.In a lot of ways Tom and Ann are both neglectful parents.They just have different approaches of how they neglect their respective kids.

Tiffany. Crowdfunding is popular now. Try that.

You what would Fun? Well, to Me at least. Is the next time Tiffany meets Ann for lunch, she takes Bernice with her and Bernie greets Ann with a: “Oh Hi, Ann! How was Japan?”

And although Ann would NEVER be caught dead eating with the ‘peasants,’ it would be really great if that dinner date could happen at the Fuse.

Then Old Smiley could wander over and exclaim, “Ann, you’re back? I thought I gotten RID of you once and for all!

And then maybe Les could walk over to take their order a greet Ann with a: “HI MOM!! When Am Gonna Meet My New Dad??” To Which Tiffany says: “Hey that’s right! Dad hasn’t met you yet! Let’s go over RIGHT NOW, and I’LL introduce You!” Where upon Al Gray steps up and says: “Mind if I tag along? Me and My soon to be brother-in-Law,” have MUCH to talk about!”

Yeah, I know. Fat Chance. But it would be worth to see the look on the Old Witch’s face……,

In the immortal words of Cher in Moonstruck – “Snap out of it” -

Isn’t Bernice planning to be a counselor? You think she would’ve developed a tiny bit of empathy by this point. Or at least know how to act empathetic.

@mjowens1985 – This is her friend bursting in and acting over dramatic over a change in her credit card limit – Tiff isn’t there for a consultation or counseling, she is venting to a best friend and Bernice is quipping back at what she sees as much ado about nothing…

This set of panels has so many levels on it, the obvious one where Bernice totally does not understand what Tiffany means by “catastrophe” (which by the way is where the hilarity ensues part comes in), but of course there is the more serious issue with who has control over Tiffany’s spending and how that control has been compelled on her. Often Bernice and TIffany are shown as totally being on different pages of the same book, which is funny, but how the underlying issue that Tiffany is dealing with, as a character, is kind of swept under the rug. Except that it is high time for the “sweep” of the Luannverse friends to rescue Tiff, which would mean what? Would they be defending the old Tiffany who was treated as, and considered herself as little Ms. Rich Girl Princess, or would they be helping a newer, more mature and independent Tiffany? The jury is still out, but the anticipation is normal for our little addiction to Luannverse.

One family dinner with Al, Les, Irma and Gunther would take care of Tiffany’s problems with Ann. Too bad she never talks to the people who could help her.

Wow! I can’t believe Greg is making this storyline last more than one week!

Sigh! I know it’s just a comic strip, but it’s getting too frustrating to see these story lines going on and on and on and getting dumber and dumber. AND I LOVE THE LUANN COMICS – I wish they still had hardcopy books for sale on the new stuff. That said – Bernice, Brad, and a bunch of the others got taken advantage of by Ann. Even her own son and brother knows she’s a con artist. And Tiffany’s dad must be a moron if he hasn’t taken the time to do a BACKGROUND CHECK and CRIMINAL CHECK on Ann. For the love of god, just get everyone together with “dad” and show the proof.

Hey, this may be a good thing. Ann thinks she can control Tiffany with money. Time for tiffany to grow as a person and experience real freedom.

2

Hmm. My thoughts are rather chaotically all over the map with the start of this today. So, a simple list of different ideas:

1. I think it was UTTERLY WRONG for Ann Eiffel to have been the “go-between” between Tiffany and Tom “Cat” in this matter. She should have had no presence, say, or input regarding TIffany and Tom “Cat” ’s discussion of this matter.

2. I find it VERY WRONG and annoying that Tom “Cat” Ferrell apparently had given no guidance on finances, spending, etc. up and until this point. That is horrendous parenting and has me realizing he has been even worse than I already thought.

3. I find Tiffany’s oh-so-dramatic response here to be WRONG, especially in the context that it is being given. I mean, seriously, no matter how pampered and spoiled Tiffany has typically been treated through her life, she has shown previously that she has the capability of empathy. So, her complaining in this over-the-top fashion is just a bit grating. Sure, she has a right to be a bit upset, especially since the news was delivered by Eiffel….. but her drama is, to me “off-putting” here.

4. Bernice here is acting in a way that seems pretty APPROPRIATE and is actually somewhat kind-hearted, IMO. Her joke in the last panel is a rather gentle joke about Tiffany’s unrealistic definition of a “catastrophe”. I mean, hell…. Tiffany sure should recognize how much more financially challenged the other folks she hangs around with are….. Gunther, Les, Bernice, Luann, etc. Bernice will let Tiffany express herself, but will, I believe, help her to see a more real reality.

This story arc is odd to me, and cause me to grumble under my breath a lot.

~~u_______

Interesting – Maybe Ann is trying to show Tom that she can be a parent. We don’t know for sure if Tom is aware that Ann has a son Les and failed as a parent in the past. And also interesting Ann has had to support herself in the past – a concept unknown to Tiffany. What a surprise if we find out that Ann and Tom’s relationship is genuine – and Ann winds up guiding Tiffany into the real world. Ann & Tiffany grudgingly warming up to each other could be great theater!

I hope Dez is in the room, because Bernice’s advices … I’m not so sure she can help Tiffany. I love Bernice, but she still has a lot to learn and ,apparently, so little ability to understand Others.

I can’t be the only one who wishes the Ann Eiffel character would just go away permanently. She’s insufferably obnoxious and story lines detract from the enjoyment of the comic.

“Nothin’ For Money, Card Chips With Fees” (♩)

“Look What The Catastrophe Brought In!”

“I’ll Miss The Strolls At Park Place, The Most!”

“Can I Get Cash For This Ladle, And This Silver Spoon?” (♩)

“…And Without A Legacy To Stand On”

“Pride And incredulous”

“Cents And Senselessability”

“Cos Every Guy’s Crazy For A Cash-Strapped Woman!” (♩)

“The Quoted Exclamation Of [Falling Into] Lower Brackets!”

“I Think I Got A Case Of The Liquidation Vapors!”

“Well, I Do Declare! Bankruptcy!”

“High Plains Thrifter”

“Let Them Eat Cheesecake!”

“Well, The Spas Are Out, Tonight!….” (♩)

or

“Shave And A Haircut….Too Much!”

I think the $ part of her relationship w/ dad was / is as important (or more) than the issue of lost attention. Tiff won’t hide in her room and eat (she won’t be able to afford so many pizzas and donuts this time) but this change will be equally hard for her, another growing up experience… I hope. i like the fact that Tiff sees Bernice and Dez as her go-to friends to talk to when needed.

Wow – no guts, no glory Tiffany – you caved.

I’ve always believed Bernice is one of the hottest girls in this comic strip. Take a closer look at her and see if you don’t agree with me.

Bernice has all the empathy of a frozen tundra boulder. I pity any future therapy clients she may have….

While it was done in a truly rotten way (and Tiffany’s dad is either a coward or naive and easily manipulated), this needed to happen long ago. Tiffany needs to start learning how to stand independently on her own two feet. This really was a blessing in disguise.

As I’ve said before, I think Tom inherited billions and is now a millionaire. Also, I think G&K are channeling the creators of Rex Morgan and Mary Worth.

What happens to “Tiffany” as a character, without her trademark money, beauty, and haughtiness?

What’s the endgame here …. ? If she were to do all the things people have been suggesting here the past week ( or more), becoming a more focused, real, self-sufficient person, then what’s her purpose in the strip???

I’m getting sick of this timeline. She’s a spoiled brat, her Father seems to never actually talk to her and he’s marrying a grasping bozo. Can we move on or get some sort of resolution?