Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 21, 2017

nice man talk those three are having

Sometimes, there are no words.

One out of two. Good ’nough.

Not really very realistic Greg. There would be a scene for sure.

Looks like the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse lost one of their gang. Gunther buttoned up his top button for the 3rd. panel and his left sleeve started to unravel.

Les Knox, pretending to excuse Himelf to use the bathroom, but actually sneaking into Ma Berger’s bedroom to clean out Her Jewelbox in 3…,2…,1

Instead of Three Wise men, we have, what? Two angry guys and one Mystery Man?

Leslie and Gunthie have so much in common. They are both in the same house. They both are about to have dinner. They both are generally kind of surly. They both have their shirts buttoned to the top. They both are wearing black pants. They both cannot stand each other. Neither of them have their fists clenched. ,

Yet.

Three amigos? Not!

“Leslie’s Song” (stolen from the Beatles)

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♪ He’s a real nowhere man

Sitting in his nowhere land

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

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He’s as blind as he can be

Just sees what he wants to see

Nowhere Man can you see anything at all?

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He’s a real Nowhere Man

Sitting in his nowhere land

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody… ♫

I take Mrs Berger’s comment to indicate she has serious intentions with Mr. Grey, and everybody better get on board. She probably thought that talking it out with Gunther first would go nowhere and Gunther would have made other plans. It’s more like throw the kid in the pool and he learns to swim. Maybe,,,just maybe,,,if Gunther breaks the news to Les about Pru…the two might have a useful conversation.

Awkward social moment, but clearly there is a goal here; predicting it is perilous, so I am just going to counsel waiting and seeing.

Gun and Mr. Gray have similar pose, and les different, not saying nothing, just an observation.

Gunther could bring out his backpack for security.

In this corner, weighing…

It’d be a lot easier to think of yourself as a grownup if you weren’t being called “Gunthie”.

Even though Leslie is slouching insolently, it looks like Gunther is almost the same size as Les. Maybe he had a growth spurt recently.

This is gonna be good in that it will not end well. At least I hope it won’t. We already have too many loose ends with Bea and Tiff and Piro. Then Les and Pru. It would be nice to see a resolution on one arc.

Shouldn’t Gunther be over his jealousy of Mr. Gray by now? He’s not ten years old.

“A Fumbled Reception”

“Home Field Disadvantage”

“A Berger In A Pickle”

“The Sounds Of Silence, Music To My Ears” (♬)

“No Chance In Downsizing Your Company”

“Sunny Gray And The Drips” (♬♪)

“Twelve Angry Men… Minus Ten…”

“Three Men And A Baby Grudge”

“The ‘Just Us’ League”

“Game Of Groans”

“Let’s Take The Stares”

or…

“The Winner Of Our Discontent”

Gunther has gone through some changes. He is not going to let Leslie push him around these days, will he?

Chat system is down, or has been upgraded to work telepathically.

Mom should have given notice about having Mr. Gray and Les over for dinner so Gunther could prepare for it mentally and emotionally. Mom wants her son to grow up, but still treats him as a child. Let’s see what develops.

Another case of “Where’s all this going?” Are the DeGroots (including the eponymous Luann) now relegated to appearances once a month and/or on Sundays?

Let the chat begin. Or not. An intervention by Mr Gray seems to be forthcoming. Gunther seems to have regressed to his 16-year-old self with the buttoned-up shirt. Maybe his maturity will come out in other ways. We’ll see. Les appears to be the same old surly Les that his uncle dragged to this dinner.

Sit down and relax guys… or at least sit down?

Looks like a remake of an old movie… All Quiet on the Western Front

boy, I can hear the whistling cowboy tune now. “the Good(Gunth) the Bad(Les) and the Ugly(uncle Hitch).” or the “gleesome threesome”

To be honest, all four of them are creepy, including “Gunthie’s” mommy who is out of touch with reality!

Meant to say this yesterday, but…

Does anyone else notice what Gunther ISN’T wearing above his waist?

If I were Gunther I would be more annoyed at my Mother right now than Les.Dismissing another person’s feelings like that is very passive aggressive and manipulative…not an indicator of a healthy relationship.

Gunthie: “OK, gents! Let’s break the ice by starting with a “Mr. Gray Impression” contest! First one to actually break into a smile, loses! Annnnnnnd – BEGIN!!!”

You can really see the family resemblance in today’s comic.

Looks like a “Fistful of Dollars” moment. Someone cue in the Ennio Morricone music.

6

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All of them are a bunch of Grumps, it appears. I am not sure why Mrs. Berger is seemingly forcing the issue, with how grouchy all three appear. Well, perhaps Mr. Gray is not so grouchy… it may just be his typical countenance. But Les appears like his angry, hooligan self (as opposed to his somewhat “hopeful” look a few times last week). And, of course, the stubbly Gunther scowl of resentment is back in full force.

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Speaking of “stubbly”… I read an article on how for millenials full beards are the current, trendy thing on guys. I knew they were popular from seeing so many on the males in my classes, but it is apparently very “trendy” too…. with all sorts of “products” the kids buy for the beards and mustaches to groom them into some fashion.

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Who would have thought after all these years and decades, I would end up accidentally falling into a “trendy” sort of fashion statement?!? I have even had a few students comment lately on my beard and mustache, saying it looks really good, or one even said that I am “rockin’ it” out.

I forgot to add… I guess Gunther needs to change it up and move away from his “Miami Vice” stubbly look and let his beard grow to be trendy.

I’ve had dinners like that with inlaws.

I can understand the 2 young men being quiet, But why doesn’t Mr. Gray have any social skills? He must have something to say to Gunther. “Hi Gunther, how is school going?” How hard is that?

Les does not want to be there any more than Gunther does. I wonder how Mr. Gray persuaded him to attend?

Les unintentionally motivated Gunther to finally hook up with Rosa a while back. Ancient history that some of us may remember

Mrs. Burger’s comment in the first frame is reasonable, given that everybody is going to be there. However any further suggestions – like “Gunthie – go show Les your butterfly collection” would be inane.

Hmm, looks like the Ma Berger and Mr. Gray decided to give the youngsters a lesson in mature interaction.

And to be sure, Gunther and Leslie never had more in common than right now… both look thoroughly reluctant, frustrated, and miserable. And no, they are not going to do anything in front of the adults. :p

Also no, I don’t believe any of those present know that Pru is a lesbian… but the subject of the youth program’s finances may come up.

Gunther doesn’t know that Les has any interest in Pru. He wouldn’t talk to Les about Pru.

I bet this won’t end well…

“So… how ’bout them (insert your favorite team here)?”

So, what happened to the TV??

It’s going to be a long evening….

I would have gone elsewhere for dinner. Let the chips fall afterwards…

Two thoughts. First, Gunther is old enough to pitch in with the cooking, of his own accord, instead of standing idly by. Second, I believe we e seen that last panel before, albeit without Leslie.

And on a totally different topic, Samuli, creator of Dark Side of the Horse , has something interesting to say about a topic we often discuss here…

Feels chilly in here today.

Having a nice icy silence with the guests.

Mr. Gray could be a casket model.

@AIRMAN: He probably drives a Buick. The reason I say that is, a few years ago Car Craft Magazine said Buick might have better sales and appeal to a younger crowd if their cars did not look like caskets on wheels. They further said that if you bought a Buick, you would turn into someone with blue – gray hair and a cane.

It’s like the three little monkeys… Say-no-evil, see-no-evil, and evil!

Mr Grey suit, how fitting

Possible dinner conversation:

Gunther: ‘so I hear you are working at the Fuse How’s that going?’ Les: ‘grrrrr… s’OK’ Gunther: ‘Luann says you are starting a kid’s theatre program’ Les: ‘yeah..’Mrs. B: "Oh isn’t that lovely… my Gunthie can sew costumes’ Gunther: ‘I never said anything about that…………’….anger Les: "grrrrrrrrr’ Mr. Gray: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

All Mrs. B needs to do is call her son “Gunthie” in front of Les and WWIII will break out in the dining room. Is she really THAT oblivious???

Les looks like he would prefer lying on a nail bed while having oral surgery.

Mr. Gray is the point man for the Living Dead Apocalypse or maybe a prototype for The Stepford Husbands. Whatever, that panel should be forever deleted.

Judging from size alone, I don’t think Les will ever be bothering Gunther again… ever.

Panel Three speaks volumes. Loudest silence I’ve ever heard.

Gunther’s mom has a lot to learn. I had to deal with a lot of bullying during my school years. A few years into my last full-time job, one of the girls who loved to make fun of me started work there. She didn’t change. She didn’t change one bit.

This could be a tough social engagement for old Ma Berger!

What a gang of silent stiffs!

Mr. Grey must really give her the tingles if she’s willing to throw Gunther under the bus.