Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 04, 2022

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

Looks like the Muse thing is about to be officially over between Nil and Bernice.

Awkward. ✨

The last days of muse

Nil is a smart man.

well, they say, “silence is golden.”

Big muse-take Bern.

If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.

Hmm, that just may be one of the shortest muse tenures ever.

The fact that Bernice became aware that she could be a source of inspiration made Nil’s muse fade.

Bernice looks like a waitress from one of those culturally themed restaurants, one where the strolling violinist plays far too loudly and too close to your table.

here comes reality Bern!

Bern is dress like it 1950.

Smart move Nil

Happy 4th of July Luann readers.

He is no longer A-mused.

With the possible exception of the strip Endtown, Luannaverse readers are more likely to discuss arc topics. I just finished rereading an arc on 9chickweedlane that I believe to be extremely good and want to recommend it to others. It is adult in theme but not racey. If you are not familiar with the characters, there is a grandmother who is usually angry, a divorced and remarried mother, and a ballarena daughter who has a childhood sweetheart & platonicly lives w/a gay ballarena dancer. The arc begins Oct 28, 2009, and finishes Sept 25, 2010.

https://www.gocomics.com/9chickweedlane/2009/10/28

Bernice is looking good, happy with herself, and ready for people and more people. Nil is still spooky and needs to send that outfit to the cleaners.

More of this? I think I’ve had enough for this week.

He feels overwhelmed!!!

Bernice is really over the top with this.

Bernice actually looks good in the vintage black band around her neck and the cap. The rest, she can part with now that she is not Nil’s muse. That’s my prediction for this week’s arc – her losing the muse status.

You look like you want to play a char woman in the Renaissance Festival and he only wants to draw your eyebrows.

Actually, I think Bernice looks cute in her hippie outfit. And, she looks genuinely happier than we’ve seen her in ages. Unfortunately, Nil looks confused.

Omg Bernice needs to take it down a dozen notches or else Nil is gonna be gone

Darn and here I was hoping for Nil to say something that would lead to some character growth for Bernice. Well maintaining the status quo is a popular tactic in any long-running series.

Bernice? Bernice! In the second panel, you are touching him. You know that is verboten.

I think Nil is right in deciding not to say anything. Clearly he doesn’t like Bernice’s new look, but she seems to love it a lot. Telling her to get back to dressing like before would be really insensibile! I hope he can learn to like this new style instead of starting to avoid Bernice. This situation could strengthen their love♡.

Break up is coming?

Ooo.

Looks like Nil wants to declare his Indepence.

From Bernice. ;-)

Nil is more interested in the woman than the muse it seems.

OMG I’ve created a monster (he’s thinking)…now what.

In other words, “muse”: YOU’RE FIRED!!

Okay, looks like it will either be over between them soon, or they will get back to good ol’ necking!

Hmmm … he feels inspired to be silent. I’ll bet she doesn’t.

Proof in the final panel that the Four Seasons and the Tremeloes got it right.

Me, too, Nil.

Nil chose his silence wisely here. He was about to tell Bern there are no “uniforms” or styles for muses – until Bern bestowed compliments and gratitude. Did not want to demoralize Bern.

Would Nil just dress up like ‘usual’ Bernice, not say anything, and let her figure it out? He could swing by Gunther’s for a shirt.

“We are not a-mused.”

Being silent doesn’t stop the lips and tongue from being active!

Hawthorne Effect: individuals modify an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed. When Bernice was told she was Nils’ “muse”, she went into full Bohemian muse mode. Instead of having the desired effect of Nils fawning over her with grand gestures of inspiration, her new “muse” mode turned him off.

Come on Mail, just kiss her.

Bernice looks like a leftover Hippie or a model for Country Homes.

I take back what I said about that new image being an improvement.

Good writing.

Dump her.

Nil feels un-muse-ical? Un-muse-ish? 8^ )

sorry, think this has all dragged on too long. today is 4th of July, should have been a little more inspired.

I can’t wait to see what else Bernice picked up in that little shop. Stef has her cheerleader costumes and flashy makeup. Tiffany had everything to make her look sexy until Greg started taking it away. Crystal was totally hot with her Goth look. And, now, Bernice is looking quite interesting in her retro-clothes.

She’d have been better off to skip the clothing.

Nil’s a smart young man to recognize insanity this early on.

That’s right Nil – keep your stupid artsy fartsy mouth shut. You created this mess. You knew that Bernice is a complete wacko and that she would overreact to this whole bogus muse business, so you don’t need to pull the rug out from under her now. If I were you, I would intentionally go through a dry spell with your art and let her realize that she is 1 – not a muse and 2 – not your girlfriend anymore.

Perhaps this week we’ll see some resolution to the Ni and Bernice relationship?

Bernice has been enamored with her status as Muse. I’d hate to see this relationship deteriorate to purely platonic. Although GnK have one overtly sexual relationship (Stef), one covertly sexual relationship (Gunther), one relationship in waiting (Tiffany) and one romance (Nil and Bern). So what’s left. They also have one spinster in Luann, and a few dud guys drifting in and out.

Maybe Zane or Piro will reappear in some manifestation? Naw. I don’t think they are some of creator-Karen’s favorites.

Happy Independence Day everyone! Keep the flag flying and the weenies roasting and the s’mores toasting. Here’s to freedom and good old American know how, hard work and innovation. Social media and government may try to stamp it out but the heart of America and Americans will always beat strongly. May it be ever Thus.

Poor Nil.

He’s thinking what drug is she on? Maybe it will wear off.

Nil just wants Bern to be Bern.

This has dragged on long enough.

It occurs to me this is Luann’s fault – Bernice would never have felt the need to “dress as a Muse” if Luann hadn’t talked her into it. It appears to have backfired where Nil is concerned.

I hope so!

okay is this story line over yet

Only Dez can be Dez, Bernice.

Guess Nil was inspired by Bern’s previous dowdy taste in clothes.

Nil will gently get Bernice back to her normal way of dressing and acting by Saturday.

Cool boots though Bern. Let her down easy Nil.

Props to Nil for keeping a straight face at the sight of that get-up Bernice has on.

If this “Muse” gig doesn’t work out for Bern, she should get a crystal ball and a Tarot deck and be a gypsy fortune teller.

“Mind reading” has been the cause of so many relationships ending.

When the Mus-er talks, the Mus-ee should listen. But let’s face it, Bern has never been very good at that. She always wants to get in the first and the last word.

I am not amused by this unamusing story line about muse.

Looks like everyone who said if Bernice changed her look, Nil wouldn’t want her as his muse anymore was right.

Odd, really. Very Odd.

I mean, I’ve heard the expression: “Clothes make the man”——————but clothes make the muse????

That’s a new one.

@wantscomicsnow2: Remember that most of Nil’s artwork involves individual body parts. It’s possible that B’s new outfit distracts Nil too much to concentrate of his original source of inspiration(?)

And Nil learns that it would have been better not to say anything.

Smart man, Nil!

Bernice in what Nil’s wearing right now would be an upgrade!

It was A Musing, but glad its over

Sorry. Bernice’s muse is a cliche.

Hard to tell where the good intentions cross paths with outright sarcasm, on Bernice’s part.

Who woulda thunk that Nils’d be the best boyfriend of them all

So sad that it is the Fourth of July and they did nothing to celebrate it.

Bern still looks hopeful in the fourth frame. Sad.

This is pretty sad, actually.

It would be hard to not let that go to my head if I was someones muse.

So when do Jack and Max show up?

Or Luann and Puddles?

whose closet did Bernice “borrow” that outfit from? Doesn’t seem to fit her usual style.

TBD: I think Nil wants Bernice to be more than his Muse. We’ll see if I’m right or wrong.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

Nil is not amused by his muse.

People who call single women ‘spinsters’ are people who generally don’t like women…

Nil realizes that Bern wants only to please him and so he pulls back on whatever knee jerk response he was initially going to unload. He doesn’t want to hurt her; he needs to think about it a little more.

You are wise., Nil. A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Smart boy, Nil!

Now, get away from the frumpy Bernie as fast as you can, and never look back! Find new inspiration, a new muse….

So, his requirement for a freshman girl is that she never change and keep the same look, tastes and personality forever? Nice one, Nil. College is for figuring out who you are; if you come out of it exactly the same as you went in, you’re doing it wrong.

You know, that’s an excellent muse outfit Bern chose. It just doesn’t work to encourage Nil’s minimalism.

Love the curtsy in panel 1. Bern’s trying. Bless her heart.

Nil, as drawn, has no past and no future. Move on.

so Neil tried to break it off as gently as he could, but Benie ran with it.

When’s the cotillion?

An apolitical poll regarding today’s youth, a subject I know nothing about. What percentage of boys and/or girls would try to wear something that pleased their date? More than 50% or less than 50%?

He was about to Fire her as his Muse.