Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 27, 2021

It’s Ben! Or maybe the boogeyman?

Well, maybe we’re going to meet the cousin after all!

This arc is definitely going into overtime!

Judging by the well manicured hand and hair style, i’m guessing tiffany.

The cuz has to make an appearance! They have only been mentioned about a dozen times!

Boy, Ann Eiffel has been working out! She looks almost as muscular as Ox or Jack.

In panel 1 and 2 apparently all is forgiven. All palsy-walsy once more!

They’ll need it in dealing with this sinister figure approaching!

I foresee a blood curdling scream in their near future!

It’s not Jack, Ox,Ben,Brad, or any who we know. Oh no, it IS the cousin.

The return of Ann Eiffel and this time, it’s personal!

(My real guess is the cousin though)

Bracelet or watch on the right wrist. Who is left handed?

He has something in his left hand. A steel rod? A hammer? Seems he has been casing The Fuse and saw his way in.

In a twist surprise of plot, Tara has done some wrong to the cousin and s/he has come to right the slight. Tara was escaping from the wrath.

Hey! It could happen!

So no guesses as to what’s in his left hand?

Who wear a bracelet?

Some are going to argue that this person is actually Ben.

But if that was the case, “how” did Ben know that EVERYBODY was going to be at the Fuse at that hour? (Of course one could make the same argument about Bern, but I digress)

Could it be Jack wearing a hoodie? Nah. And if it was, that would just plan creepy.

So do we get to meet Tara’s “weird” cousin this coming Monday?

“Mmmmmm, COULD be.”

One thing seems apparent. If that is indeed Tara’s cousin, if her silhouette is any indication, the lady looks to be a bit of a bruiser.

And if that ISN’T Tara’s Cuz, well.

Miz Starr is going to wish she bought along her bow and arrows……..,

Cue the ominous music….

The figure isn’t right for it to be one of the male workers of the Fuse. My guess is that it’s Tara’s cousin.

“IT’S BERNIE SANDERS WITH A STEEL CHAIR!!!!”

Yes, Luann, you “shoulda” locked the door when you got there. Especially after fussing at Tara for not locking it.

Of course, if Lu had locked the door, Bernice wouldn’t have been able to just walk in either, so………..

Looks like Bernice didn’t even bother to close the door.

Policeman.

From the looks of it, I think it is problems that advance to the door!

Oh, Lord — continued next week. Maybe some one will die.

All your wild guesses are not wild enough.

The figure just arrived from France and she is here to protect her brand name.

I think it’s the cousin.

Yo pienso que la misteriosa silueta podría tratarse de una mujer policía que vió entrar sospechosamente a Luann y Bernice en The Fuse, y piensa que son unas ladronas.

I think it’s Ben worried and following his sister. How did he know? How did she know where Luann was going too when we last we saw she was in bed. Poetic license to push the narratives. However I doubt it’s a woman because of the body contours which to me look more like a male than a female. That probably takes out the cousin because her gender is female—or is it? I am not sure Tara ever said the gender. On the girls I hope some see my point—that projecting hate onto the characters, or doubt on what they can do diverts from seeing the real story. But now for the MAIN EVENT!

I suddenly have the old Patty Duke Show theme song going through my head.‘But they’re cousins, Identical cousins all the way. One pair of matching bookend, Different as night and day.’

This arc has 6 characters. Three are present. It is not Ben because he is not buff and the shadowed person is. It’s not Jack, although he is buff, because he does not wear a watch or anything else on his wrists. That leaves the buff female ex-con, Tara’s cousin.

Olivia. Resembles her self-portrait that has appeared in the “About” section of “Nancy.”

OOOOOOOOOOMG. whoever it is has a knife (or something) in the left hand.

So Tara says,”Bye girls, my ride is here.”

It’s Angie Dickinson! (Sorry, but you young ‘uns is gonna have to look up the reference yerself using the google machine.)

It is the creature from the black lagoon. It wants a cold beer and cannot read the “Closed” sign.

Ruh-roh!

It’s a police officer and since none of them have any proof they belong there, they’re going to have some ’splainin to do to the parents down at the station. At this point we discover Tara packed 47 rolls of premium toilet paper into her bag.

This is no bueno!

It’s just Puddles. And a trick of the light.

Am I the only one who is scared here. Suppose it is not a character we know. It could be a serial killer. Of course that would take the strip in a whole new direction. Plus we won’t find out until next week where this is going.

What is that thing sticking out of the silhouette’s left hand? Surely not a knife. Even in the Luanniverse the characters know when going in to a knife fight not to hold your knife with the blade pointing away from your opponent.

Butch Cassidy and Harvey Logan’s knife fight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9KBOhPXhds

It’s the Spanish Inquisition because nobody expects it!!

So…….cliff hanger!

The bracelet and long hair on the shadowy figure would indicate a woman. A rather tall and muscular one at that. And carrying a long thin implement in her left hand.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it’s Michonne.

Long hair, stick in left hand, bracelet on right. Who could it be? The night watchman?

Oh boy!!! Lets hope that’s Ben!!! Tune in next week for the conclusion of this exciting adventure. Called either a “Sweet Farwell” or “Cracked Skulls” in the night.

Great move, Luann. You put your friends in danger and if the cousin is as crazy as Tara mentioned, your parents are about to lose their business. At the VERY least she’ll just chase you all off and rob the place But she might burn it to the ground (and since it happened because you were allowing someone to live on the property in violation of zoning codes, the insurance company won’t pay any claims).

Hopefully we’re all wrong and it’s just Ben.

Luann better hope it’s a local patrolman, or she could be in a physically dangerous situation. A patrolman may need to write a short report about an unsecure door and then report it to Frank and Nancy.

Uh-oh! Things are about to get real y’all and Gregg’s making us wait until Monday. Oh the suspense!

!!!!!Yikes!!!!!!

Uh-oh!

or maybe Tara’s cousin

Looks like her cousin is coming. I wonder what happens next.

At the end. They are reasonable girls (yes, even Bernice The Snoop). Capable of apologize and forgive. I’m happy to see them all make peace ♡. But I have to admit, the dark figure, with something menacing in her left hand, in the last panel made me want to see “Friday the 13th” and other similar films after years! I’m afraid of what would happen, but I can’t wait!!!! i want too see Luann use that toilet brush and save everyone!!!!!

And now presented by “Here’s Johnny…”-pictures …

Oh no. Luann, you’d better lock the door right now.

What’s happening with Tiff in Des’s garden?

It’s a cop.

Saw lights on, open door, heard commotion, has come to investigate.

The cop’s not going to arrest them, but will take them in while the DeGroots are contacted to confirm Luann’s story that her parents own the place and it’s okay for them to be there.

Wrap up? Luann’s in plenty of hot water with the ‘rents. Bernice gets a taste of what it’s like being assumed to be a “thief” when people don’t know all the whys and wherefores. And finally, while at the station we WILL see Tara’s cousin, handcuffs, busted for doing something stupid on top of her parole violation (note that Tara now has the tightest of alibis for her whereabouts the last few hours).

Meaning, of course, cousin is guaranteed out of the picture for a loooooong time so there’s no longer a need for Tara to move.

This is why Greg has been able to make this strip last 35 years and keep it fresh. NONE of us saw this coming. Most of us expected a big fight between Luann and Bernice.

Crazy cousin??

Hmmm…definitely not long hair rather than a hood being worn up on a hoodie. Not seeing a bracelet, but the hoodie cuff. Besides, one of “those bracelets” would be on the ankle, not the wrist (not from experience mind you). And not seeing manicured fingernails, just shadowy hand position. Not sure what the item in the left hand is though.

Tune in next week for the exciting continuation of….

I’ve only been reading this strip since Quill and Luann broke up. I know most of the current characters, but there is one, named “Hilarity” that many of you refer to from time to time. Maybe Hilarity is finally ensuing them?

Maybe TJ just coming to work early? With a plunger in his left hand to fix a clogged toilet?

That’s not a bracelet or a watch on the right arm. It looks like the cuff from a jacket or a shirt. In the left hand it looks like a baton like cops or security guards would carry. Maybe they triggered a silent alarm by leaving the door open for so long. Or it is possibly the cousin. Hopefully this arc will continue next week.

If that is the cousin, ummmmm, just how crazy IS she?!

“HERE’S YOUR PAPER! HERE’S YOUR PAPER! HERE’S YOUR PAPER!” – High Anxiety

Cops are looking for someone and they can’t find them or it takes months. In fiction, the villain can find you no matter where you go in a day or two.

Tar monster from Star Trek?

Oh please, please, PLEASE let them all get killed…

It’s Dirk!

It’s Tiffany with a toilet plunger, to match Luann’s weapon.

But this is only the start.

Next will be Ox, and then Nancy.

Not having anything better up their sleeves, G&K are going to purposefully recreate the ship cabin scene from the Marx Brothers A Night at the Opera.

When the storeroom is full, only then will Tara’s cousin fill the keyholes with super glue.

Whoever it is, looks like they have a toilet brush of their own!

Hope LuAnn can go a staff-wrap-around to dis-arm whomever is coming up to the door with something in their hand.

I’m sensing a “Jack-to-the-rescue” moment coming on…

I don’t think that’s a “him”, as others pointed out… but the presence of the long object in (her?) left hand suggests either: someone with bad intent, such as Tara’s cousin or someone who is going to check out the open door on the closed restaurant… :-)

Cue the “ominous music”!

Uh oh, looks like the cousin has found Tara. I would hope it was Ben or Jack who followed Bernice, but that figure looks female.

It’s a female security officer. Maybe Toni is moonlighting.

Wouldn’t you love to see the dark, shadowy figure think, toilet brush?!? and turn and walk away?

Greg has been into dark scenes and shadows, lately. Biggest missed opportunity was Tiffany and Ox alone in the power failure.

Wow Luann…you are an idiot. Now somebody’s getting hacked with a crowbar (or is that a hammer)?

Three teenage girls after dark is a set up for a horror movie. Just pointing that out.

I believe it is Tara’s cousin. They never DID say if cousin was male or female! Judging from the shadow though, it definitely looks like a left-handed female! As a lefty myself, I know that whatever I am carrying is ALWAYS in my left hand. It could possibly be a wristwatch on the right…most southpaws wear theirs that way! Luann has once again screwed up by NOT closing that door when she came in. HELL, if Bernice can just walk in…and NOT shut the door either, here comes trouble! Just WHO is going to arrive to save the day? Any thoughts

Please let it be Dirk

Uh-Oh. No, Ben isn’t that tall, or in that (apparent) good shape….

Is that a character from “Halloween”, …..I guess not.

Again a second comment, second opinion. Looking closer and seeing, admittedly, some of the observations and rationales of my fellow Luannverse commenters I am now of the opinion that this is likely a left-handed muscular female, Tara’s cousin. Well-meaning but doofus Luann left the door open, allowing Bernice to get in, as Tara points out. This might be a DIrk type moment for Luann, but her bestie, and new maybe second bestie Bernice and Tara may also come together to neutralize the threat, or the cousin might be telling Tara she is leaving, and Tara should stay where she has real, decent friends. Keep in mind that this was about the time in Brad’s life where he found purpose in training to be a firefighter, and then met Toni, and the true man in the shlub started to make himself evident. Luann is doofus, but warm and caring, and somehow I think Bernice will turn out to be fearless if she feels her friends are being threatened. I hope so all these Bernie haters there are here.

Is this a ninja waiting outside?

It is the cousin coming to harm Tara. Bernice will feel so guilty that she will try to protect Tara and B will get the worst of it.

It’s the plumber (played by Tony Curtis). He’s carrying a plunger ! The brush doesn’t stand a chance !!!

OK – Who’s in charge of the “Who Is It” pool?

I guess this story line will continue on Monday.

The silhouette doesn’t look like any of the regulars in the strip. My guess is the crazy cousin followed Tara. Hoping someone else from the Fuse shows up, sooner than later. Great Saturday cliffhanger!

It seems that people are assuming that Tara’s cousin is female. But maybe the cousin is male.

The intruding is entering the back door and can see all 3 cars in the parking lot. He/she must be pretty brave or crazy to enter with so many people inside.

Great drawings today. That figure is really ominous!

To be ex-continued..

Tara’s cousin is a woman. Feb. 1, 2021.

Maybe it’s Tara’s cousin. This could get really bad . . .

Not the body build of Ben, Jack, Frank, Brad. Might be Toni.

Weapon is on strangers left side. Who is a lefty in the strip?

My God! It’s Dirk!

Assuming this is a big bad guy approaching, here is a chance for Jack to become a hero. Jack could have become concerned about Bernice somehow and followed her there.

I think it’s the cousin.

uh oh

I know! I know! It is Aaron Hill who is also the cousin. (Just kidding)

Maybe Jonah got a “real” job as a night watchman.

Dun Dun DUUUNNNNN…

The door is just barely ajar. Can we hope that one of these three will spot the figure outside and slam the door fully shut in the nick of time. my heart is pounding.

Time for an arc change!

Aha, they introduce a character with a much less cartoony silhouette. Very good!

I think we’re supposed to assume this is Tara’s parole breaking cousin. The obvious conclusion would be this is a fake out and it’s someone else we know (Ben might be the closest in terms of hair – there are no women in the strip who really fit that look unless Nancy is wearing a bulky outfit) but I suppose the first impression could turn out to be the right one and we’re going to meet a very scary cousin.

This may not bode well….

♫ And they’re cousins ! ♫

Looks like Tara’s psycho cousin has tracked her down.

Dirk? Maybe he is the cousin.

cue the dark ambient music with discordant overtones

Okay, time to cue the background tension music from “Jaws” or the violin shrieks from “Psycho”.

It’s TJ ….checking up on the place.

Definitely, something other than hilarity is ensuing here…!

Uh-oh…?

Hmm. Either that’s Ben, or this strip may be taking a sharp turn into the very heavy and serious….

And here comes the crazy cousin (cousin?). This does not bode well…

My guess is 1 Nancy 2 Toni Montana or3 Prude to give Luann a invitation to her wedding

Looking at past strips, Jack has wide hips and a narrow waist. Waist seems too wide in this panel, unless that’s just the hoodie. Tara’s cousin makes the most sense since she’s been mentioned so much. Armed with a bat, maybe? Then suddenly, Ben appears, remembers his military training, and subdues her.

And Bernice should have closed the door.

Finally, we get to meet the Real Moonie Uni thief.

Looks like we have a new set of COVID symptoms to document!!!

It appears to cause comic strip readers to have a very short term memory, and forget what happened weeks, months, or years before, depending on the severity of the reaction.

the mom…?

OR WHAT IF ITS TARAS COUSIN

50/50: It’s the cousin and Greg is actually going to write something more interesting to change things up… or it’s a random female police officer checking on the unlocked door.

A man in the dark with a gun? Let me guess, Greg is retiring. The man kills the girls, and their families all cry at the funeral?

If this was Tara’s cousin, how would she know where Tara was?

AAAAH! It’s a cop who knows Brad.

if thats the cousin, I hope Ox shows up early for work to open up. Maybe Jack shows up as well.

It looks like Ben!

Uh-oh…..