Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 22, 2019

now how is Luann going to sneak back home without turning on the ignition of her “dead” car without Leslie noticing the jig is up?

Now I am P.O.’d. What a cop out.

Let’s give ’em something to talk about.

Let’s see now:

Gunther RUINED Les’ “chances” with Tiffany as dessert," during that “two dates in one night fiasco” last year. And Today, Les’ very presence, has RUINED any chances Gunther would have had with Luann (if any). So, in THAT regard, they are now both EVEN.

But it points out two things:

1) Gunther? When You do have a young woman over at the Gulag, You need to make EVERY SECOND COUNT and don’t waste time looking at towels or dating app profiles.

2) Gunther needs, get a Job, Rob a Bank, demand his Inheritance NOW, whatever it takes to get the funding and MOVE into a place of his own. He is going to get NO peace as long as Les is alive and living under the SAME roof with him. That is the hard fact of life.

Luann, leaving with nothing happening should make a lot of “folks” happy, this week. I’m just glad that Gunny and Lu are close pals once again. I STILL say that they’re going to NEED each other in the days to come. And I also say that a “seed” has been planted this arc. It’s be interesting to see what, if anything, grows from it.

But in the meantime Gunny? I’d would make it my business to SABOTAGE every single “date” Les brings over to Gulag, the SAME way you did with Tiffany last year. If Les is going to be Jerk with YOUR guests, then you NEED be a Nerd with HIS. It’s past time this thing escalated to the point where Al needs to come over and “mediate.”

“browsed profiles on date-pic” I would whisper about that too.

Ever been in a situation with a platonic friend where — maybe just for a second — there was a momentary sense that there could be some unacknowleged subtext bubbling just beneath the surface? ✨❤️✨

If Luann is about to leave, she should at least give Gunther a good-bye kiss.

LuAnn makes a good point. Which is actually similar to the point Les made a couple days ago. Little to nothing happens in Gunther’s social life, because he gets too panicky about how a situation will look.

One last chance for “Splendor in the Grass.”

You’re whispering solely to avoid being ragged by Les. You know he will rag you to no end so you figure sneaking outside the window and whispering keeps all that at bay. I don’t blame you – Les is a really annoying personality.

Soo, what were all those sounds for?

Gunther loses again. Les will see Luann ‘s car gone and know who was where when. As for what (they did or didn’t), to Les, will that matter?

Back on the night of the “double date” with Tiffany, Gunther mentions that Les is a creep and wants to “pounce” her. In response, Tiffany tells Gunther that she’s heard enough and is leaving.

.

Now, Gunther tells Luann that Les is “such a jerk”. In response, Luann tells Gunther “You know what? I should just go.”

.

Hmmm. Gunther digs at Les both times. Both Luann and Tiff suddenly decide they have to leave. Just what is this weird spell Les has over these women?

Gunther had the opportunity to lift Luann’s wonderful little body back into his room and continue the fun. Instead, Gunther strives to whisper as he willingly runs to grab Luann’s coat – almost relieved to see her go. Note in the second frame, Luann’s eyes appear to show she is not happy with her hero. Where on earth did Gunther get his devastating notion that anything sexual makes him a bad person? And he warned 20 year old Tiffany that some guy might want to (pounce). I recall after Gunther’s very interesting nature hike with Tiffany, he suddenly decided that Bernice’s scholarly style would make Bernice a better girlfriend. In retrospect – I think Gunther simply gets afraid when there is any real possibility he should do something sexual – especially if anybody else might know about it. Tara could do wonders for Gunther – by simply giving him no options. However I’m afraid Tara would not find Gunther interesting (shooting fish in a barrel). What’s really hopeless, is tonight Gunther blames Les for everything and seems totally unaware that Gunther has a problem.

One more try tomorrow.

Gunther, Gunther, Gunther, Gunther ….. oh well, no harm, no foul …at least you still have your Captain Picard pj’s to keep you company tonight ……..

If they weren’t going to do anything, why did Gunther close the door to his bedroom when they went in there? They were alone so there was no need for privacy.

Luann is really athletic is she could get her leg up that high to get it in that window from the ground. Even with Gunther helping her, that is a real feat.

They actually intrigued me enough to read the comics early today…for the whole extended arc to totally collapse with the Great Escape just setting up Les to think something really is afoot, and only the most minor plot movement.

Oh well. At least the great comic soap opera apparently hasn’t decided to put the leads together and wrap things up abruptly.

Back to the infinite storylines. Not unlike…

https://youtu.be/OSaNWYHmUvI

Ok, the universe is back in balance and quake turned into a minor barely noticeable trimmer. Gunther will be Gunter. Would any girl actually break through all those mental blocks? But at least he’ll always be a good and true friend to those in need. Sometimes that all that girls need, one good listening ear. Sometimes, no ending is a good ending and actually that’s a good thing. What if some determination happened as in real life? Then where would future thrills and spills come from? I’d rather there be a disconnection and mystery continues so the roller coaster ride called Lunann continues. Keep your shoulder bars down and lap belt secured until the ride comes to a complete stop. Get back in line and ride again!

I should have known better. G & K would never tarnish Luann’s squeaky clean image, especially with an uberdork like Gunther.

Wouldn’t it be a hoot if either Erma or Al saw the window antics and call him on it tomorrow?

No, Gunther, it isn’t weird that Luann “has” to sneak off, especially since you didn’t actually do anything together. It’s stupid that she “has” to sneak off, because in fact she doesn’t. There is absolutely no reason why the two of you couldn’t just have said “hello” to Les when he came in, and then continued doing the “nothing” that you were (weren’t?) doing. Another self-manufactured “crisis”, that isn’t.

Luann can move.

Feeling a bit “dirty”,are we?

“Bets” is Gunther’s best-suited dating opportunity – a girlfriend with whom he won’t ever have to be in the same state, much less in the same room.

People of virtuehave a duty to maintain their reputation for virtue. Setting a good a example is good. Protecting the reputation of a friend, especially in the face of a lech, is a supreme act of virtue.

Gunth and Luann, maintain your virtue AND maintain your virginity until marriage. The rewards are worth the effort.

Thank you Mr. Evans. Fathers appreciate the good example in this strip with this story. Keep them coming.

Another Nothing Burger week.

Tomorrow: Pru debrief?

Now, when Luann’s car is gone in the morning, Les will know that Gunther was lying, so he will quite naturally conclude that Gunther and Luann were in fact doing something that they felt they needed to hide. Les will spread rumors precisely because Gunther and Luann went to such extremes to be deceitful, when in fact there was nothing to be deceitful of. Maybe Gunther and Luann do in fact deserve each other, since right now they are both registering off-scale on the stupidity meter.

This whole plotline has been a downer.

Gunner wake up and smell the coffee

(From Greg’s sketchbook 2/23/2019.)Tomorrow (Take 2):

Panel 1 – Scene: Same as panel 3 yesterday. L: “I had fun tonight.” G: “Me too. Wish we could have had more time together.”

Panel 2 – Same scene. L & G; pregnant stares.

Panel 3 – Same scene. L & G kissing.

Panel 4 – Same scene. G helping L back in through the window. Sig line TBD.

Panel 4 (alternate) – Scene: Street view showing Luann’s auto backlit by moon. Windows are steamed up with hints of two shadowy figures embracing inside. “2-23 greg” sig line on license plate.

Note to self: Check with Karen and Betty re panel 4. If alternate check what impact would be if one of the shadows resembled Gunther? Les? Jack?

Do people in the Luann universe reproduce asexually?

Tomorrow will show Lu going to her car, only to find Les leaning against the hood with a smirk on his face.

If nothing else, the near-kiss may give them some lingering “what if?” thoughts.

Yes, but you KNOW that Les would spread rumors about what HE thinks you may have done. Better to protect the reputation.

I am shocked – SHOCKED!! – this mini-arc ends like it has, with a tease, a ‘tantalizing’ scene, innuendo and a dissatisfying finish. Well, not that shocked.

Two words: Hilarity Ensues."

2

So confusing.

This week has been REALLY odd in so many ways. There was no real point to have Luann jump out the window and for Gunther to lie about the automobile:

1. I can somewhat understand Gunther taking this approach because he gets very, very uptight about such things…. so I can see him thinking about doing this and proposing it to Luann.

2. But, I cannot see how Luann would have thought this “jumping out the window” was warranted, needed, or a reasonable idea. To me, it seems (especially given what we now know transpired) Luann would have likely said something to the effect of…. “Out the window?!?! Because Les came home?!?! Why?” if Gunther had suggested it. To me, this would have been Luann’s response because there is no logical reason I can think of for her to think it was necessary or a useful idea.

How anti-climatic! Pun intended.

Well, I’m glad you left Mrs. Peel alone, Gunthy. You both have other prospects to look into. Hers is becoming a famous actor, yours dreams about actually being one.

WHAT THE ??!!!!!!!!!! Come on Gunny…here is a pretty girl who CLEARLY likes you and you managed to ruin it for yourself. I know you’re nervous and all, but come ON!!!

To arouse suspicion, act suspicious.

or

To arouse suspicion, act as if you have something to hide.

Tomorrow: Al Gray shines a flashlight on the scene and says, “What’s all this, then?”

“We didn’t even do anything.” Okay, so DO something!

I’m so relieved that Luann and Gunther didn’t “do anything”. That would have ruined my long standing enjoyment off this comic strip.

That last panel could have romantic implications. Will Gunther and Luann kiss?

I would so much like this scene to be discovered, so that Gunther will have to explain it: “This is not what it appears to be, Mr. Gray! Luann and I really weren’t doing anything, then when Les came in we had to make Luann hide outside the window as if we had been doing something, to convince Les that we hadn’t been!” I would like that to appear in print, on the record for the ages, to prove once and for all that these people act like total idiots.

Let’s hope that Irma will not see them from her window and draws the same conclusions of Les. Although, this could finally lead to a serious discussion between mother and son.

Don’t worry.

By the time Les finishes telling everyone the story tomorrow, it will be the Wildest Orgy since the Fall of Rome.

@kenhense: I don’t see Gunther as ‘prim’ and ‘proper’; I see him as the type of guy who wants to be the one to initiate any physical intimacy, to the point that if the woman comes onto him, it turns him off…

This was my point exactly. Their acting as if they did something

This story isn’t over yet…

Way to clarify that, Mr. Evans.

Have you stopped to consider that a Cartoon strip ISNʻT REAL HUMAN BEINGS? Have you stopped to consider that you might need to get out of the house and see if you can meet a nice female and put all your theories to the test in REAL LIFE?

What a letdown! (Let Luann down, outside the window. Also let down her down coat.)

We’ve been suckered, again. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along….

I wonder, as someone else suggested, if this storyline will sort of continue next week, with Luann recounting these exploits to Prudence or Bernice?

True they didn’t do anything, but it’s the thought that counts…