Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for October 31, 2020

way to overly think things, Bernice

Way to lift Bernice’s spirits, Jack. Good timing.

AHA! And here it starts!!! (maybe?)

He’s compact but certainly has it going on, yes?

TRICK OR TREAT! BERNICE!!!

Apparently, she goes for the musclehead types.

Mind reset in 3… 2… 1…

A pleasant distraction.

Jack’s one of the good guys – one of our girls couldn’t do better than to hook up with him…

All over her body, hormones are starting to turn on like a string of Christmas lights.

On the upside, at least she was able to recognize that Jack is not Ben. That’s an improvement.

Oh my gaw. They actually wrote that. It’s Brad’s stained bedroom humor, again.

Perfect Solution take Jack to met Ben.

Bern stop over analyzing everything with Ben.

Well! I did not see this coming!

Now I’m interested. :-)

Maybe, Jack has an apartment.

Dog hit it on the head – this arc – now, apparently much longer than the last two weeks – is about Bernice and not Luann.

Kudos to whoever it was yesterday (and probably not the first person) using Bernice to address G&K’s own issues with a child put up for adoption.

And having seen that interview where Greg admits that Karen was the original inspiration for Luann, perhaps that explains a lot, now that Karen is easing into (but not necessarily totally in charge of) the artist’s chair.

In particular, I think it explains why we see relatively little of Luann. Intentionally or not, Luann must feel somewhat “autobiographical” to Karen.

Hence, this arc, moving some of G&K’s own personal experiences away from Luann herself.

And, in a way, I’m glad. To me, one of the worst strips is Cathy, where Cathy in the strip is Cathy the author of the strip.

So, if this is the direction G&K want to go, then more power to them!

Some had wondered an arc or so back if Jack would show up with Bernice soon and I wondered about that myself. The arcs have gone Jack, then her brother, with a bit Luann as part of the mix. Now in a Ben anxiety arc who shows up? Sort of like a hormone driven distraction. She likes Jack though; I think he likes her as well. So whither now?

Ok, Jack to the rescue. Is this the beginning of a new relationship for Bern? All Bernice has to do is let Jack know what is troubling her and see where it goes. Bern must have seen him out of the corner of her eye to have him pop into her head like that, the mind can do some amazing things! I agree with Counterpoint, Bern is not going to do much better than Jack.

There’s a lot to be said for distraction…

It’s time for Bernice to have a fling.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Just below the surface, Bernice is seething.

Ooo, like it! Jack is going to support Bern as she sees Ben and then get Ben into a fitness program

I am sure Jack can help Bernice clear her head and lower her stress level. Somehow.

And just like that, all her thoughts and anxieties about seeing her brother just disappear. And all it took was one look at Jack stretching and flexing his muscles….

Do people really say “Getting some fresh”?

Hey? Isn’t that Simon Cowell? Is he out jogging already? I thought he broke his back?

Welly, Well, Well. There’s the VAST Luanniverse #1 Hero, Jack. Almost right on schedule.

What are the odds, ladies and gentlemen? What are the odds that of all the highways, and byways located in that tormented middlesex village known as Pitts, that Jack would just happen to jogging down the SAME street that Bernice’s parents just happen to live on and that Bern just happened to be retreating(?) on?

Astronomical Powerball winning odds? Maybe not.4 days ago, I said I’d like to see Bernice get up enough gumption to confront her brother on her own. And if she confided in anyone, talk to either Phelps-Fogarty or Jack. And it looks like the “winner” is gonna be Jack by a glute.

So. Is Jack once again gonna be a “wingman” when Bern meets Ben? Not unlike the time he “flew wingman” on Luann’s blind date with the “faceless one?” Or will he whisper words of encouragement in Bernice’s ear which Bern will ignore because she too busy looking at Jack’s biceps?

But the more important question for Jack is: ”Fresh,” WHAT??

Deus ex Jackima.

This turn of events made me happy.

Happy morning! I really like the way that happened – now to see how it all progresses. They might just sit by the garbage can and talk though…for days.. and days.

Wow, swerve

at least another week in this continuing storyline …

And then, right out of left field, something marvelous happens. Life’s like that…

Jack gave her a goldfish, not very romantic. Is Jack interested or just being friendly. Maybe next week we will find out.If Jack makes a play I suspect he will be pleasantly surprised by Bernices reaction Poor Luann is she ever going to find a beau? Was her last one the married life guard?

Down, girl!

Bernice needs to hit the gym.

Whatever can she do to get Jack off her mind?

How did I know Jack would show up?

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween My Friends. Don’t forget to set your clocks back 1 hour before going to bed tonight.

Wha…? Who saw THAT coming?

An overanalytical braniac and a jock with a big heart… what will the kids be like? Coming soon… “Luann 2, The Next Generation”…

Since Greg, and, Co., like to keep to keep things around the equivalent of a movie PG, I presume Bernice is ogling Jack’s upper toros, and, not speculating about anything below the belt line, as others might like to see happen.

Will Jack be aware that Bernice is interested? They’d make a great couple.

RIP, Sean Connery, 007.

I think Bernice just found a shoulder to cry on.

She needs to get her some!

Jack, what perfect timing! It’s almost like Bernice has called him. Now, Bernice has something to distract her from her sadness. But Jack is also someone you can talk about serious stuffs. If Bernice isn’t too distracted by his athletic, muscular physique, she could talk to him about her problem with Ben and (maybe) get some good advices.

He was the first to say “Bond…James Bond” on the silver screen.

Sean Connery has passed away at the age of 90.

R. I. P.

So…is she EVER going to see Ben?

So… this is the end of the Ben Arc. Okay, moving on…

Bernice has been living with Luann too long if Jack can divert her like that.

I am wondering if Jack is gay? All these women that have an interest in him, he never makes a move.

The Big question for Bernice in this arc is; Will Jack be another Piro or a another Zane? Piro was an unrequited heartthrob that disappeared. Zane was a boyfriend that Bernice went overboard for and pretty much drove him off with thoughts of marriage when she was 16.

Kismet….

Men’s brain: “Sex” That is all.

What bulge she talking about?

I dunno about calling Jack a musclehead—he was taking some pretty advanced classes. But I do think Berenice likes him.

Does she have crush on him?

Ah… a distraction; just what B needs

Ben will come along, and Bern with start making out with Jack so Ben doesn’t see her. Then Jack will suggest a visit to his apartment, at which point Bern slaps Jack. Story line done!

Does jack live in the neighborhood? Pretty sus for him to be jogging around near the house.

I don’t see Jack being attracted to the ice princess, Bernice. He has too big of a heart and she seems to lack empathy for anyone but herself.

It’s those quite types that are smouldering underneath it all.

Jack and Bernice would make a Terrible couple! They have nothing in common, and Jack would quickly tire of her neurotics.

His character is undeveloped and 2 dimentional, and she’s judgmental, opinionated and neurotic? Maybey she can “chainge” him, but I see a future for Bernice of cleaning up jacks sweat drippings and justifying it as relationship compromise.

Once again Jack magically appears out of nowhere just when a damsel in distress needs help, then disappears just as quickly. Is he a guardian angel or a stalker? (Guardian angels are stalkers, in a good way.)

This is the fourth time recently (counting the fish). Five if you count Jack rescuing Luann from that horrible, horrible party.

Evolution speaks!

Jack must be sporting Bike Shorts

We just put our graveyard up and hung (hanged, actually) a skeleton from a tree. We’re having guests over to watch a scary movie!

Her next text to Luann was something weird about craving Jack’s eggplant.

Last week’s strip ended with Bernice doing a Charlie Brown thing — bangging her head against a wall. This week ends with another Charlie Brown thing — trying to kick that football. Bernice needs to talk to Ben the way Charlie needs to kick that football. But like Lucy whipping the ball away at the last moment, Jack shows up to distract Bernice from doing the thing that would most calm her mind. And it raises the question: will Bernice ever talk to Ben? My Magic 8 Ball says “no.”

Excuse me, class, but Professor Zebo might suggest that the pose in panel #3 might be better suited for Tiffany.

That’s just what she needs! Some sexual frustration to add to her anxiety. She needs a beer and a good old fashioned romp in the hay to clear her head!

I don’t know how much real time has passed in the strip since Bern was gifted Monstro, but if Jack was interested in her, wouldn’t he have asked her out already? And Greg used “bulge,” when “bicep” was more obvious. Naughty!

We can hear the estrogen percolating from here.

Sunday: Shannon surprises Brad

Well, wasn’t that a coincidence?

Bernie is Jack-smitten. Will this crush become anything more?

Sean Connery, RIP James Bond

Did she have a attraction for Ben, before internalizing he was her brother.

I’m late to the comment party…Bernice should take Jack along to dinner with her family. They can setup a code word to make an escape if/when things get weird.

Well there we have it. Let the ‘shipping begin. Will they or won’t they? Will it become a triangle? Inquiring minds want to…inquire.