Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for May 04, 2021

leap tall buildings in a single bound It’s Jack. He is back again

Time for Jack to test his veterinary skills

Anything to get Jack to come over. I bet one of them poisoned the poor fishie…… :-(

Another romantic plot that will end up going nowhere.

This is not a Jack situation. This is a “goldfish will die” situation

I remember my mom telling me about their goldfish at work years ago that got pouty and started spitting water because he wanted a girlfriend which sounds like a PRET-TY convenient fish ailment for this comic.

Oh boy. We just finished crushing Gunther last week. Is it Jacks turn in the girl grinder?

One torrid affair with Jack, coming right up! - Who am I kidding, with these two?

Monstro is dying.

https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2021/05/04

I hope Jack can save Monstro. I feel sorry for Monstro.

Congratulations, Mordie! You called it!

Well Jack is back. Who can tell where this is going to go but hilarity should ensue.

Monstro pines for an an Ariel methinks.

Unless! Monstro is an Ariel and Bern will need a bigger tank!

Yeah, yeah. I know. But anything is possible since Dez dropped that LOVE crystal in there!

It’s like Bernice wants to end up an old maid?!? She’s not a shy H.S. girl anymore. She should welcome the opportunity to talk to Jack if she likes him.

So Luann remains in junior high mode, where you need to find excuses to talk to guys you like instead of just, y’know, talking to them. Bernice was slightly more mature about the situation, but naturally ended up going along.

Not that it matters, since nothing will come of all this anyway. I might be wrong here, but I doubt it. The whole Piro arc proved that getting emotionally invested in Bernice’s romantic life is a waste of time.

Bernice no debería molestarse con Luann, de no haber sido por ella no se habría dado cuenta de que algo no está bien con Monstro.

Does that thing in the aquarium look ANYTHING like a Goldfish?? It looks closer to a miniature version of “The Creature From The Black Lagoon”! LOL

Cute pony tail Bern. Soon, Jack will feel the Bern!

And Bernice was so upset when she thought Luann was sneaking Jack into her room…ball of confusion!

“Be there in ten??”

Gee.

Was Jack waiting at the mailbox? ;)

Jack can give Monstro mouth to mouth resuscitation then immediately give Bernice the kiss of her life.

“Jack – I just stole your gum, haha”

“Joke’s on you, Bern – that wasn’t my gum, that was Monstro…”

Can fish get COVID-19?

Um…what can Jack do? With fish, you usually can look up on internet to figure out what is wrong with your fish. And most fish have short life spans so it is normal for them to die while living in your tanks and not necessarily ailing from something. Depends on the breeds. I had goldfish which species can live up to 30 years so if it looked like Monstro, it is almost certain that it was ailing. Monstro is a fantail goldfish which is a subspecies of the original goldfish and likely to have different life span. I looked up – the original goldfish is called comet. Monstro is a fantail and its lifespan is around 10 years so it depends how old it was when Jack bought it and how long Bernice has had him – maybe a year or two so Monstro is likely ailing,

Okay, day 2 of this arc and Bernice is still the stupid, stupid girl who shouldn’t be entrusted with anything but her computer. She probably kills house plants, too…….and Chia pets……..and she’s still terminally unattractive. End of rant, thank you.

I’m baffled by Bernice’s panicky reaction to Luann’s suggestion that they call Jack for a consultation. What could be a more controlled and limited situation that having Jack look to Monstro? The way GnK are writing her I expect to find Bernice on a clocktower some time soon.

Jack is back! Bern’s heart attack.

It’s been too long, he’s glad to be back.

He’s outta sight. She’s uptight.

That’s keepin’ her up all night.

Hey, he’s a good-lookin’ guy, and it’s makin’ her sigh.

Forget the fish don’t care if it die.

She wants to live. Take what he give.

Put up a front but resistance a sieve.

’Cause he’s back…

Yes, he’s back…

Well, he’s back…

Yes, he’s back…

Well, he’s back, back…

Well, yes Jack is back.

Yes, girl, Jack is back!

Smooth move, Luann…

Things are moving along quickly. This will be a one week mini-arc, methinks.

There are few possible problems: 1.Jack may not be an icthyologist (?). He knows fish are quiet, though. 2.None of Dez’s rocks are in there. 3.The fish may be bored. 4.Maybe the tank is dirty. 5.Too much food, or too little, or bad temperature, or fish rash…. hahaha Monstro will be fine, Jack has the informed attribute of Mr. Wonderful.

Man, these guys like to interfere in each other’s love lives.

Jack may be good but he can never compare to:

“Bicycle Repair Man”

It’s nice to see that Bernice cares about Monstro and is really worried that he’s sick♡. She’s still a human being! A little less nice is seeing that she’s still afraid of having Jack around because she likes him but doesn’t want to face her feels. Luann is the best friend Bernice could ever ask to have ♡. Calling Jack is also the best thing to do for Monstro’s sake.

Luann earns her “wingman” stripes.

Remember, it is only a comic strip. Enjoy it! Don’t get your knickers in a twist!

Ten minutes? Enough time for Bernice to change out of her study clothes, and, put on something a little more alluring.

What’s Jack going to do? He’s not a vet. I’m not sure there’s much you can do for a sick fish. Maybe change the water temperature or put in clean water or something.

Happy Star Wars Day everyone! May the Fourth be with you (and Monstro)!

How about putting fresh water in the tank?

Jack and Bernice are not getting together anytime soon. The plot twist will come in a few months when Jack asks Tiffany the question he’s been wanting to ask, if she’ll introduce him to her co-worker, Les…….DUN Dun dunnn.

When Jack comes over, he will deliver the great news that he and Tiffany are going out to dinner on Saturday night..

I hate that the other story line has not been completed!!

I’m really wondering how these two girls have managed to stay friends the way they constantly bicker with each other?

Cue Bernice running to the bathroom to do something with her hair!

Time for another episode of “Awkward Moments…” Starring: Bernice and Jack". These two ships keep passing each other in the night only to realize that….But wait, they forgot to pack one vital piece of equipment on their ships, a signal flare. Oh well, I suppose fog can obscure a lot at night between two passing ships.

As nice as that might be, on some level, wasting time IRL could bring a sick pet closer to death, and there’s no going back from that. Bad Luann. Bad.

Swats

Jack will just blame Bernice for not taking care of the fish and hilarity will ensue. Or cranky face will just get more so…..

Luann, you’re no help at all.

Searching for “sick goldfish” is a bad idea. Three quarters of the results will be unrelated or outright inaccurate “medical advice” and the rest will be weird pórn.

One of my friends did this and try to hook me up. It was sweet of her. Sometimes people with two different views make a great balance. Beside Luann just trying to help her friend be a little more out going. Personally, I think the goth artist would been perfect partner. He more into deep thinking.

To the Jackmobile! Wait, he’s just gonna run there? Bor~ing.

Just make the goldfish better. Please. I can’t stand tv shows or movies that sacrifice an animal to milk emotional effect and it just doesn’t belong in the comics. There is no reason for it – just my opinion.

I want monstro to livveee

Jack will tell you that the Fish is stressed! Follow the strip people! Why do you feel you have to control the plot line?

Maybe Monstro is lonely and depressed; perhaps he would like a fish friend as well as a nicer environment e.g a castle and some plants. The tank needs an overhaul. BTW I like Bern’s hair and her flowered jammies.

Calling over someone who knows about fish is definitely better than just Googling. Good call, Luann, even if it will embarrass Bernice. ;-)

A dead goldfish to bring a guy over. Low for you, Luann.

How long has Bernice had the goldfish? Maybe Monstro is preggers.

I really don’t understand why it’s so important for Luann to play matchmaker. If Jack and Bernice are going to date they’ll decide that for themselves. It’s funny – I’ve said before that readers tended to look at Jack as someone that a particular character “should” date, rather than just letting chemistry, lack of chemistry or simple initiative take its course. Now even Luann has fallen into that yenta role. It’s not like Bernice asked her for help in this area.

Getting Jack on the cell was quicker that going on the internet.

Jack’s coming back and Bern’s gonna be in trouble(Hey-la-day-la Jack is coming back)You see him comin’ better cut out on the double(Hey-la-day-Jack is coming back)You been dreaming dreams and you know that it’s true.(Hey-la-day-la Jack is coming back)So look out now ‘cause he’s comin’ after you

With apologies to the Chiffons, et al.

When did Bernice get long, thick, hair?

Looks to me like Monstro is just practicing the breast stroke.

Thanks…..

My best guess: Monstro will need and receive a girlfriend, further escalating the smouldering Bernice infatuation with Jack. The timing is right for GnK to take that up again.

Tara may appear in the mix, if she’s not gone to Utah. There is some risk that Tara may pull a Piro and exit the strip. Having exited with a bang as it were.

Hey, Luann! Why bother being direct and genuine, when you can be conniving and scheming? If you’re looking to stay single forever, you’re on the right road!

Totally agree. Jack is the strip’s happiest, healthiest character. Why would you possibly saddle him with the strip’s most suspicious, judgmental, least attractive character?

I thought Bernice liked Jack? If I liked a man I would have jumped at a good excuse to have him come over.

Luann is a pretty good wingwoman.

Monstro is Monstrilla and she is having babies. There. I fixed it.

Not just a goldfish. She needs to get a silverfish too.

Look at Bernice in the second panel. Look at her face and body language. Would anyone wish that on their son or brother or male friend for 40 years. I sure wouldn’t.

Hey, kids! If you believe in Monstro, clap your hands!

Well… it worked for Tinker Bell!

Jack will probably examine the fish and make several comments about what the fish needs, which will all sound like double entendres to Bernice. She will be hot for Jack and he will be oblivious to her attraction. Just like when they were walking with Ben.

7

Nice progression today…….

1) Luann ensures that there will be interaction between Bernice and Jack. Luann’s actions as a friend to Bernice are a very classic sort of romantic comedy plot segue.

2) Bernice is initially upset/flummoxed by Luann’s actions… but then accepts them…. again classic romantic comedy plot actions.

I do not recall seeing Greg show Bernice with her hair pulled back before (at least, I mean, since she cut it relatively shorter near high school graduation). It looks cute on her pulled back.

My prognostication for the arc…. or at least as far as I think I can thus far envision…. a) Monstro will ultimately be “ok” in the end, b) Jack and Bernice will come to a meeting of the minds over Monstro’s condition and both will grow more intrigued with each other. c) not sure if they will go out on a date anytime soon, yet…. could be… but Greg may want to have the arc lengthen a bit with some story of Bernice going through several panels of pre-date infactuation first.

But…. overall…. a very pleasing arc for me thus far…. and I am enjoying the way both Luann and Bernice are being featured…. and since Jack has always been presented as kind…. I suspect that pleasantries (and potential hilarity) will continue.

Jack, get back! C’mon before we crack…lose your blues…everybody cut loose!

Is there an ichthyologist in the house?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/313633561535387637/

Good. I personally like Jack. Wish we could see more of him than some of the other characters in the strip.

Bernice has to solve everything by herself. Time to break out of that syndrome.

This would have been funnier to me (since I get a lot of junk when I google things), if Luann’s answer in the last frame had been “I googled ‘sick goldfish’ and the answer was ‘text Jack’, so I did. He’ll be here in 10…”

They say opposites attract. My wife and I are that way. She is outgoing and has held jobs where she appeared on television, met with the mayor and actually got to meet with George H.W. Bush. As for me I am socially friendly but much more reserved in job and life, yet we’ve been married almost 33 years.

Now we know why the fish looks so bad.

Is it me, or is Bernice being shown mildly attractive in the last panel?

How about letting Greg go wherever he wants to with this? Wherever, I’m fine with it.

Happy Star Wars Day!! May the Fourth be with you!

Sometimes opposites attract other times it repels.

Not loving Bernice’s hair.

Bernice comes in heat even when dreaming of Jack, and she can’t stand it.

I like Bernice, I think she is very repressed, and a college level proto-intellectual who thinks she is smarter than most people. That is entirely understandable and not unusual for college level students who come from kind of a isolated, non experienced background. All the things that make her very interesting. Oh and she has a cauldron underneath her persona. I’m projecting and my projection runs contrary to most I see here. What I see is hate though, and that is very disturbing on a serious tip.

Jack, to the rescue! —Or, if not, at least Monstro will have given his life in a good if futile cause. Bernie is still not ready for affairs of the heart (does she have one?)….

A hero arises.