Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for November 03, 2016

Jack….and Nil….. Well, at least I got the “going up a tough hill” part right, yesterday….

Wow, never thought I’d see a Queen being able to Castle! ….And certainly without letting the other pieces clear out, first…. She’s not waiting for pawns to become En Passant- she’s defensive, for her offensive!

Oh, c’mon, Bernice, get acquainted with these weirdo classmates of Luann. Sure one’s obnoxious and the other creepy, but seriously.

Nil is no creepier than Piro. Give him a chance Bernice

Jock, Luann and Bernice are way above you. Don’t even think of being within a light year of them.

♦

I woke up at 11:50PM to the sound of explosions and fireworks in the neighborhood. I figure that the cubs must have won the world series. (I’m 20 miles {32km} NW of downtown Chicago)

And for the first time since the Model T rolled off the assembly line, the Chicago Cubs are the World Series champions. Congrats to them and their long-suffering fans.

They have names? Who knew?

I will comment on the strip in morning. Meanwhile YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA CUBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

Jack and Nil

Went up a hill

To pick up a pair of ladies

Jack was shot down

And Nil did frown

When Bern told him to go to Hades

At least he didn’t say, “What’s your sign, baby?”

108 years – fried goat, anyone?

“Baby, It’s Cold, Inside” (♫)

“Should I Stay, Or Should I Go?” (♫)

“Nil And Void”

“Hit The Road, Jack” (♪)

“Let My Love Show You The Door” (♪)

“Green Eggs And Spam”

“Sam, I Am Not In The Mood”

“Win, Lose Or Drawbridge”

“A Moat Point”

“Simply Complex”

“An Open And Shut Case…Mostly Shut…”

“Miss Halper, Tear Down This Wall!”

“Checkpoint Charlie’s Got The Blues”

“Remember The A La Mode”

“Unjust Deserts”

“You Sank My Courship!”

“Some Like It Cold” (♫)

“Gonna Have To Face It, You’re A Stick In The Mud” (♪)

or

“Simply Resistable” (♫)

The Jock—or Jack—is reaching levels I’m not comfortable with. I don’t like it when guys show up to places unexpectedly.

Bernice, your not excatly a great catch. Guys either don’t notice you or are not interested. You were dumped by a guy in a wheel chair and your only interest is in some apparent homeless guy. Nil is out of your league. it is about time you take a good look around you and notice something good for a change.

“Nil” is just his nick-name. His full name is “Nihilist”.

Hey. Somebody should introduce these Guys to Gunther.

Then together They can form the “We’re not Quite Good Enough for these Power-Girls,” Club.

PS: One-Eye’s Full Name is Actually “Willy Nilly.”

Congrats, Cubs and Chicago

Jack/Jock whatever, but Nil? Short for Nilsen? be nice, Bernice.

(♫) “Glutton Free” (by “The Lonesome Club”)

(♪)

Well, there goes your friend runnin’ for the girl who stole his (heart, and a) pail of water

But he leaves you with the other one, known as the Yeti’s daughter

And, before you can say “Hey, what’s it look like?”, she points to the door

She tries to give you a cold hint, who knew it had a long, long way to go?

That’s okay, you just go back, Jack…you’ll do it, again-

Nil’s getting the runaround

But you know that Jack, he’ll still do it, again

Well, fancy seeing you around , you know it’s all circumstance

And you order a veggie salad, ask her to give peas a chance

So, one girl is an Entertainer, the other wants to Psych you out

And you find your veggie salad had extra sauerkraut

But, you know, that’s Jack, he’ll do it, again

A million to one means he’s got one chance!

You take Nil, Jack…and do it, again….

♦

Now, you tried to play it all off, go fishing with a new line

But Bernie isn’t biting, she trumps your best ace with just a nine

Two girls to keep company, you’re so glad Nil’s around

The one seems to be game, the other wants to shoot you both down

But tomorrow, you know Jack will backtrack, he’ll try it, again

Poor Nil’s getting clowned

You know that Jack, he’ll still do it, again(♪)

Hopefully, Luann doesn’t go all ‘musical mode’ and sing this to him:

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♪ Hit the road, Jack;

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Don’tcha come back no more

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No more, no more, no more … ♫

Sorta knew the scarf compliment was on-deck.

Nil offered Bernice a compliment on her scarf and then (unlike Jack) politely asked if he might join the girls. What’s creepy about that?

You guys are all so mean… these two have developed well over the past year or so. I think they’re neat.

I do understand the girls being put off by the guys horning in on their conversation, but… that “convo” wasn’t really going anywhere anyhow… so maybe they should just roll with it and let the guys join them instead of giving them the collective cold shoulder. Unfortunately Bernice is in her default mode – which is to say “no” to pretty much anything.

So much for the social graces Luann. Leave it up to the guests to introduce themselves.

Bernice is a pill.

Nil has issues with positive emotions, but at least he’s considerate. Piro is just a mooch.

Jack on the other hand is being stalkerish and overbearing.

Nil and Bernice have the same scarf!

Jack’s right.

Once Bernie has a one-eyed man she’ll never go back!

I like the guys.Polite and to the point.

Bernice needs some serious attitude intervention.

Bernice couldn’t at least say thanks to the scarf compliment?

Bernice is her own worse enemy.

Jay, left you one in the Wayback Machine.

Nil is quite polite, offers compliment, and asks if he can sit instead of just plopping himself down.

And yeah, congrats to the Cubs! Man, that series and that 7th game were for the ages. Best World Series I’ve ever seen.

Give Bernie a cap, and they could be brother and sister,

Emo’s a gentleman! Who would have thought!

Matching scarves. Bern, it was meant to be. (giggle)

Bernice: Why can’t I meet anyone?New Person: May I sit down?Bernice: Dissmissive, leaving.

Just no sympathy at all.

Hey, REPLY is sluggish right now. Then it spewed out multiple copies so i deleted two. They will probably repair it, but if it happens to anyone else that is what is going on.

Jack’s take on relationships is refreshing amidst all the angst.

Slapping my head at the absurdity of this.

I suspect that Bernice and Nil might find it easy to talk together. The risk is in them bringing each other down, but each has strengths the other might enjoy discussing. Right now i imagine them walking and talking

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Meanwhile, i am not surprised that the four could wind up at the same time in what has been indicated to be a somewhat popular spot for college students.

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In the past Jack has accepted, “No.” I guess the questions on that regard are if his persistence is beginning to bother Luann, or if in discussing things they find themselves more comfy together. She is in no danger. The setting is one where, even with two friends gone, she has plenty of support available from friends who work there.

Nil and Bernice are wearing the same patterned scarf in different colors. I guess Nil isn’t mysterious enough for Bernice.

Cubs win!

And another opportunity flies right by Bernice without her noticing….

Holy crap, “Ms. Guidance Counselor”, why must you crush a polite gentleman for no reason?

Bernice sure jumped to a conclusion. She might not want to stay, but maybe Luann does. To be polite if nothing else.

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I don’t find it creepy at all the guys showed up. The cafe may have become a popular spot by now among the young crowd. Meanwhile, Bern appears to be driving a wedge between herself and anyone who tries to strike up a friendship or even a conversation, other than those she has ‘chosen’, like Piro.

I wonder at times if Bernice is a gentle reminder to people who close others out by closing themselves in on how that might appear to an outsider, even though it feels very different on the inside.

Oh this is good, this needs to happen on both accounts! Bernice and Nil, Luann and Jack.

to some of you complainers:AGAIN. this is about 20 seconds after yesterday’s installment. HORRORS! She didn’t jump up and immediately acknowledge them and introduce them…

Maybe Bernice will become a fan of The Fixx ?

Finally their names are revealed! What, Bernice? Nil is as weird, if not weirder, than your Piro. Piro crashes the couches of the residents in your dorm. He is a homeless student. Nil is just Emo and is quietly intelligent, compassionate and articulate. You are judging him by his appearance…hey, Piro has a hairless patch on his head and wears scarves, a fashion piece usually worn by females. Bernice, you are failing terribly as a psych major. Hint: Drop the idea of becoming a counselor. You stink at it.

Okay, back. Had to fight off abuse from some spammers.

Nil, in addition to being Scandinavian, is Gaelic and means “cloud”. Appropriate, don’t you think?

Nil short for Nilson? He is hiding his eyes, we only get to see one clearly.

What a freakin’ snob. Nobody is asking to sleep with you. Just a little conversation. If a guy pulled that crap, look out jack here comes the condemnation.

Hahaha! Well Bernice and Nil have similar taste in fashion.

There are TWO ways to take, “I think we are leaving.” The first is that Luann and Bernice may be leaving. (In that case Bernice’s primary concern will be for Luann.). The other is that Bernice figures that Jack is closing out her and Nil, in which case she thinks that she and Nil are leaving. Either is actually possible.

Now for my comment fellow commentators. Looking at the last panel more closely I think one-eyed Nil has an “eye” for Bernice. Clearly Jack likes Luann, although he is a bit much for her, and maybe she is not ready to consider anyone at this point anyway. Bernice should lighten up, by being so judgmental she avoids so much life she could enjoy, and should. She might end up like the counselor in high school she models, an old maid, who likes the nerdy educator, but neither of them can bring themselves to open the door of themselves to let the other walk around a little. Become an old maid. I don’t think Luann would, but Bernice is in serious danger of that bitter path. I think they both should be open-minded about these two young men. The fact that two totally opposite persons like each other and hang together is very interesting and is the Luannverse tradition of Crystal and Knute, two opposites who obviously are attracted to each other. I want to see more of those two by the way, go to the next level. They deserve each other for life. But then I miss Delta, and I wish Rosa would bring her beautiful black-haired rear end back from Peru so she can further confuse poor Gunther, and make more of a man out of him. Anyway that is me for today, I need to bounce.

Ahhhhhhh, i know it was not at all what you meant but had to laugh that your wording wound up w Rosa needing to shave her bottom line…

Bernice deserves the miserable life she has since she is so unpleasant to everyone. I hope she learns how to relate to other people before she tries to get a job after college.

Speaking of powerhouse, who remembers the tune “Powerhouse”, made famous in Looney Tunes cartoons? The good part starts at 1:15..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaC0vNLdLvY

Not up to date on all the format limitations here – can we still make live links?

Just because you’re not interested, doesn’t mean you can’t be cordial. Who knows? You might make some new friends.

Bernice and Nil are perfect for each other! In fact, it’s like they’re siblings!

8

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This is quite fun! We learn their two names, and we get to see each of their respective “game” (meant in the "strategies for getting to know a person they may potentially be interested in dating):

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Jack (aka Jock) is very open and upfront about how he goes about introducing himself and trying to get to know the person of interest. He also seems to have a proclivity to cut right to the heart of the matter in every situation I have seen him in. Today’s “…ya stay or ya leave.” is a perfect example. He does not seem to get overtly emotionally distraught about things that do not go his way.

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Overall: I think these qualities displayed by Jack are pretty admirable. To be the way he has been takes a lot of energy, IMO

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Nil (Nihilist?) (aka Emo) by contrast seems far more introverted (even though he was naked for his art). His approach to getting to know Bernice is almost excruciatingly polite. As I tend to be more akin to Nil in this regard (not the naked art aspect), I have come to realize how this type of strategy is usually very ineffective. With Bernice already feeling rather bristly herself…. it comes as no surprise to me that Nil’s attempt to get to know her only discourages Bernice further.

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Overall: I think Nil is being developed into a nicer and nicer guy. IMO, he seems almost shy and reticent today. I think he is very interestingly complex. I think his approach to getting to know Bernice, however, shows his insecurities to a degree. I feel sympathy for him, because I behaved similarly in my younger days.

LUANN: Oh, poor Bernice! Why, oh why is she alone?!

1) When friends, for instance, Tiffany, do favors for her, such as restyle her hair, Bernice is aggressive, abusive, nasty, and ungrateful.

2) Every time Bernice is alone with Luann, her “friend”, Bernice rags on her, disses her, puts her down, and is in general a critical, front-stabbing, rotten, snarky, buzz-kill jerk.

3) When a man she’s hot for sleeps over on her couch. Bernice dresses herself up in three layers of clothing, covering herself from neck to feet, places a baseball bat by her bed and locks her bedroom door.

4) While Bernice is crying about being lonely, a young, single, man of her age, race, and level of education politely asks to sit down with her in a public place while she is being chaperoned by a friend. How much safer can you get? Bernice basically tells him to drop dead.

5) Bernice diligently patrols the halls of her dorm morning and night, barking, threatening, and leaving notes to full adults that they can’t have friends over, that they cannot have fun, and that they cannot, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, have intimate relations (as if it is any of her business).

6) The only man Bernice has ever felt a compelling, deep attraction for is her own adopted-out, long-lost . . . . brother!

Bernice has been portrayed by the Evansii as a conflicted, angry, emotionally-abusive incestuous bisexual harridan.

That’s why she is alone.

Maybe Piro gave Nil his scarf too. It does match the one Bernice is wearing.

Re: Names. Luann has spent a year in art class, often sitting at the same table with these guys, and she doesn’t know their names? She should learn that calling someone by name is a very pleasurable thing for them to hear. “What’s his name” is unacceptable and hurtful, and shows lack of regard.

In the black and white version, the scarfs look the same.

‘Nil’ as in ‘nothing’? I don’t think Jock (Jack) makes rhetorical remarks. He’s too straight forward. Jack and Nil are the male version of Luann and Bernice except I never thought of them as life long friends. They just happened to sit together in art class. Greg is trying to draw parallels between Bernice and Nil. Interestingly, Gunther tried to do the same (with Bern) but that didn’t work because Bern and Gunther really aren’t all that similar (on an emotional level). I am anticipating some upcoming panels in which Nil starts creeping into Bernice’s mental fantasies of Piro, i.e. she tries to dream about Piro but somehow (slowly but surely) Nil’s image starts invading those dreams.

It is interesting how Jack just sits down at the table while Nil politely asks permission.

Okay, back to the grind. Steve and i decided to do the annual defrost and clean of fridge and freezer today. We split the aspects of the chore according to personal strengths.

Jack and Nil went up the hill to fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown and Nil came tumbling after

Nil is right.

I almost forgot what I was going to mention, earlier, on other ‘related’ Nils:

Nils Lofgren and Harry Nilsson…

When will the general population stop talking about “races of people” which has been long ago proven to be wrong. Race of humans is all of us. The idea of races of humans came to the white empires in the 1600’s, the general population hangs on to old outmoded wrong things for a long time. We need to stop thinking in 17the century terms.

Jay, just back from the Tardis. I did not realize it was a “great minds” situation. :-)

Jack and Nil??? Did they go up a hill?

Not cool, Bern. Give the dudes a chance, ladies. I want to know more about Jack and Nil!

Jack and Nil?

I kinda got used to “Jocko and Emo.”

At least it’s not Jack and Jill. Bernie has a hard time as it is. Nil and Bernice, Bernice and Nil. Hmmm. Coming up nil….

I think Nil is intelligent, sensitive and nice. He uses his dark and EMO side to avoid too much persona interaction because he’s an introvert and possibly shy (despite the nudity the other day) he would make a good match for Bernice.

How can the cubs be the world champions when only the united states plays baseball? I know, nothing about the strip but others have brought it up.

SPOILER

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The creator of this ’toon proves that he has come to hate his creation, and wants her to disappear. Otherwise, he would cleanse his universe of knaves and jacks who push themselves into her life like stalkers.

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All bullies are sickening, even ’toon bullies.

Truncated Spoiler Alert: Two become closer and share.

“Null” and void ladies

Agree w/ Katherine W. @ this point there is no evidence of stalking. The Fuse & Kafe Kablooie is a public place, similar to Luann & friends meeting @ the mall and weenie world in the past. It’s good to see that K2 has other customers besides Luann , her family and a few of her closest friends. Good for her parents business. Maybe Nil is pronounced like " Neil"… or it could be a play on words…. Nil ….like nothing, or nihilist, which is in common with Bernice’s attitude these days. Anyway, in yesterdays arc, Nil at least asked if he could sit with them. I think this should be interesting to see what develops . Maybe Bernice with have more in common with Nil than we think or maybe it will get her to appreciate Gunther.

Jack and Nil went up the hill and Bernice beat the )(&)( out of them.