Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 02, 2013

Ahh good. Back to this story.

some guys are just in it for the laughs and TJ’s one.

Back to Eiffel and tj

Let’s sew up this story line

This move by TJ is more hardball than I expected. Time for AE to land a punch.

Well, yeah, Brad, TJ only took the job to f Ann over, because she f’ed with you. Isn’t that right?

Alas, I think she’ll get TJ somehow…she probably has something on him that we don’t know about yet, or she’ll countersue for blackmail, or something. She won’t just slink off never to be seen again. TJ better watch his back. He’s tipped his hand now, by letting her know he’s got goods on her. He should have just sent the recording to Corporate and let =them= deal with her. You know she’s got to be scheming her head off.

For such a devious guy, TJ is extraordinarily simple-minded if he thinks Annie Awful will go away that easily!

sometimes the most lasting relationships are the love/hate ones.

You’re replying to GEE1A’s comment:What does TJ exactly do for a living?!^^Well, at the moment, he’s working at Weenie World, but, in reality, he was left a trust fund by his wealthy Father, and never needs to work again

TJ’s a ‘Trust Fund Baby,’ apparently his Dad was ‘connected’ and set aside a well loaded drawing account for his Son. Not sure if He was a now-out-of-power foreign government official or a Mob-related something-or-other, but he’s “working for the fun of it.”

You’re replying to 9ChickLuannbean’s comment:

They need to bring in the character of Les Moore into this strip. Then it would really rock^^Why? He’s a very minor character, at best

Uh, huh. Thought SO.

Don’t wanna be a “Manager” eh, Smiley?

Got no ambitions at ALL beyond Blackmail, Petty Larceny, and Torment, right JACKASS?

Too bad. You’d have had a GREAT Career in Government…,

Nothing. That was established long ago. But he has money from a mysterious source.

why do people worry so much about a cartoon character?? And we dont care about your opinion to actually go back and read your past comments. “Good Grief.” Calm down already. Have a nice day!

This strip has it’s charm and a rich treasure of quirky characters. However, it fails logically at times with some issues. I cannot possibly believe that a manager caught on tape saying “Sure I con a bit, but I con smart” would get in trouble for that. It could easily be explained as taken out of context. Besides, what malfeasance could this be tied to? The restaurant seems to have been doing quite well with TJ at the register. Now if Ann was guilty of embezzlement it would be another matter.

I would have thought TJ would take Ann’s job so he could be her boss.

TJ- Why do you think they hired Ann?

I suspect that TJ just enjoys the game… not Ann so much… but the game.

Maybe so, but that assumes that Ann calls his bluff, and since she hasn’t fired him yet, I don’t think she will.

I look forward to tomorrow – I think AE’s skirt will be an inch shorter when she goes to battle…

why not just keep her around then and have more fun.

Lev, we know you hate TJ. You make it abundantly clear at every opportunity. Give it a rest! The character is nowhere near as bad as you make him out to be, and the rest of the time you just sling insults at him. God, take a chill pill, dude.

Can I spoil this one for the Donny?

Wow, despite the small but significant number of commentators that want Ann and TJ to get together, this is the first time the strip alluded to the possibility of their relationship being quasi-romantic. Even if it was just Brad making a joke.

…

I like to think that TJ was playing the recording over and over for the sole purpose of hearing Ann’s sharp, commanding tone in the privacy of his own home. Brad enters and asks hopefully if TJ “has a plan for that,” hoping desperately that there was a reason (beyond TJ’s strange fetishes) that Ann’s awful voice rang throughout their house for hours on end (ruining the long-awaited, but entirely off-panel, threesome between himself, Toni, and Diane). TJ explains his rather simple plan, confident that (despite the failure inherent in almost every other brilliant idea he’s ever had) THIS one will be foolproof. The plan seems to please Brad, who assumes (correctly) that everything he’s put up with from TJ over the years entitles him to a free weenie now and then. TJ may soon possess the power to give it to him anytime!

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But, alas! It is not to be. TJ has no desire to attain the prestigious title of Manager of WeenieWorld. No coworker, supervisor or subordinate, can ever replace Ann. TJ admits that after he finishes punishing Ann, he plans to quit. But he’ll always have the fond memories. His suspicions confirmed, Brad pastes a fake smile on his face as he drinks away his pain and longing, speaking in a would-be-casual voice about the love-hate relationship that the two roommates, always best friends, could never have. Brad will continue to drown the pain and sorrow of unrequited love, while TJ will drink for the courage to do what needs to be done. They’ll wind up naked in one another’s embrace for the fourth time that week.

You said that TJ “casts confusion and disarray.” Isn’t that just another way of saying he creates conflict? No conflict, no plot. So, I guess TJ’s pretty important. Knew there was a reason I liked him.

You’re replying to Leviticus’s comment:

They need to bring in the character of Les Moore into this strip. Then it would really rock..Les Moore is a nobody. If you really want a blast from the past to get the joint rocking, bring back Diane. It is possible that if Diane and Brad met again, Toni might decide to quit stringing Brad along and do the deed.^^I’ve been thinking the same thing for a few weeks now… No doubt that if Diane (Who apparently has been at a boarding school somewhere) was to come back into Brad’s life, she might be more than a little impressed with his new slimmer stronger, better looking self, and, as we all know, women just love Firemen; so, we could have a little triangle thing going for a bit, but in the end, Brad & Toni choose each other and Shannon joins them to make up Brad’s new instant family!

TJ does not intend to harm people, except Ann, and even she may fit his modus operandi which seems to be – provide mischief – and see what happens. His manipulative plans have little to recommend their success, so he must either misunderstand cause & effect – or not care a whit.

“His life’s work is to harm others.”

…

This perfectly describes some managers I’ve had. Sometimes “her” instead of “his,” but the main point is still the same.

“…Otherwise Anne will retaliate by calling them and telling them that TJ is trying to smear her with a made up recording…”

…

Ann might have already done this. TJ had played the recording back for her right after he captured it.

“TJ and Anne???? Now that could become a story in itself.”

…

I know right? I wasn’t sold on the idea until I read today’s strip, where Brad seems to break the fourth wall by bringing up the love-hate relationship.

If there were not better complements to each other it would be Ann and TJ. Greg seems to be featuring this basic story arc, distant, or not necessarily complementary romantic interests, unless you look at them more closely. Witness, Rosa & Gunther, or and Crystal & Knure or even Luann & Quill. The biggest thing though, from a practical point-as if that makes any difference in a comic-is the age difference. I think Ann might be a few years older than TJ? On the other hand that makes it more interesting. Man my risque side would love an R rated version (at least) of this comic, but calm down Luann fan (lol).

Dun-dun-dun-dunnnnnnnnn…

Don’t think so – TJ don’t swing with the ladies…

i wonder about TJ as well, apparantly he has a trust fund or somethingwe know he doesnt need the money from wienie world

I hope TJ doesn’t wind up in a box.

… apparently you know a lot more about TJ’s background than I do. Why does Brad like him?

The fact most comic readers (Notable exception of Levi) are on TJ’s side is actually proof of his charm. Everyone wants to see him defeat Eiffel, who lacks the charisma TJ has, and therefore nobody likes her.

It’s all about charisma.

Before we invoke Godwin’s Law, try to remember TJ isn’t responsible for mass murder, and not even Levi says he’s gone there.

He had best be careful. AE isn’t just hot, she is cunning and vindictive. Instead for risking getting tagged for blackmail, I’d probably just send it to corporate and wash my hands for it. Of course, that would be dull and its not at all like TJ…

Of course, that was Diane a few years ago… Diane now

You’re replying to Leviticus’s comment:

Wow! Diane is hotter than I remembered. Toni had best pray to the Luannverse god, Mr. Evans, that she does not come back, and if she does, she had best mind her treatment of Brad. Diane may be willing to do things with him Toni is not ready for.^^Well, I compensated for the fact that Greg used to draw characters with heads 4 times larger than they should be, in proportion to their bodies, I tried to make her look more natural….And if you think Toni would be intimidated by her at 17, look at the updated version I just posted ;)

Diane was never really Brad’s girlfriend..He just dreamed about her being that..They had one date that he fumbled with a condom.

I don’t remember Diane. Do you have a timeframe I can go back to? Tks.

Now we can see if TJ WILL end up taking the manager job

Ooh! Intriguing. Thank you.

Okay, now it looks familiar. I think my raging case of CRS is kicking in. One of these days I’m going to start at the very beginning and read them all again.

“TJ covered in feathers and rode out of town on a rail would be the single best strip of all comics of all time.”

…

Despite the fact that I actually like TJ, I agree that this would make for an awesome “Luann” comic. I’m also surprised that you would advocate anything less than the death penalty for old “Toad Juice.”

…

Your unexpected compassion may prove to be your undoing as I quickly jot down a scenario in which Jonah, for the first time in his life willing to work for something, risks death by facing down the angry mob out to attack his secret lover. A short figure breaks away from the crowd to stand next to Jonah- his daughter Shannon. United for possibly the first time in their lives, the two hold hands as they stare down the now silent crowd.

…

“Well, what are you waiting for?” a familiar voice screams. “Get them!” Ann Eiffel pushes and shoves her way to the front of the mob. The fact that she is holding a flaming torch means that several people’s clothing catches on fire. Ignoring the panic this causes, Ann brandishes her flaming torch threateningly at Jonah and Shannon. Wait a minute… “Jonah?” Ann asks, confused, seeing her ex for the first time in years. She took a closer look at Shannon, the girl that resembled her, both in looks and personality. Shannon blew a raspberry, causing her father to snigger immaturely, but Ann didn’t even register this.

…

In fact, she’s too busy contemplating her newfound maternity that she doesn’t even notice TJ (still covered in tar and feathers but having managed yet again to escape whatever fate karma stored up for him) grabbing both Shannon and Jonah by the hand and hustling them into his car. TJ and his dysfunctional “instant family” drive through the night, no particular destination in mind, but knowing that TJ’s mob connections can set them up in a nice place in any town they liked.

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Your move, Leviticus. I have this idea where you write what happens next (probably making TJ suffer), then I build on your thing and we see how far we can keep it going. So continue it if you want to.

You’re replying to Leviticus’s comment:

Wow! Diane is hotter than I remembered. Toni had best pray to the Luannverse god, Mr. Evans, that she does not come back, and if she does, she had best mind her treatment of Brad. Diane may be willing to do things with him Toni is not ready for.^^ohhh and I guess I inadvertently gave Diane a nose job too, but, I was trying to draw her more the way Greg would, if he was introducing her now, for the first time, rather than as one of his 80’s “giant head” characters

Egad, T.J. do NOT accidentally delete that recording!