Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 22, 2021

again, the girls’ talk is getting rocky already

Bets is still getting on my nerves…

What! No Gunther?

Gunther is hiding behind the curtains!!

You made me laugh real hard, Greg…

Whatever, Bets. You are pushing Tiff with the definition corrections and all Tiff wants to do is talk with you and re-do the botched dinner. Go pick on someone else.

Well, Well. Seems there isn’t a romantic bone in Bets’ body.

ANYWHERE.

She reminds Me of Diana Christensen, played by Faye Dunaway, from the movie “Network.” Diana has been described as a person with “very little interest in love or sexuality, preferring power thru ratings,” or in Bets’ case, social media followers. In the movie, Diana was portrayed as a relentless, ruthless professional, whose work and interests are her life. Kinda like Bets.

Yet according to the Evans crew, Bets is supposed to be the “perfect match for Gunther??” Well, a couple more young women like Bets’ in Gunther’s life and he’s going to turn into a raving Howard Beale.

Tiffany? Give Bets her money and a semi-heartfelt apology and quickly show her the door.

Bets is into accuracy

Bets is being a pain in the rear-end. Maybe after hearing this argument, Gunther will emerge from the curtains and say, “Forget it, Bets! I’ve had enough of you!” After all, he does have a temper.

El sitio es más sencillo que el original, pero es de buen gusto. Ya no tenemos a la Dama Arpista, pero no están mal las campanas de viento.

Please Greg and Karen dump Bets!

Pagoda of Peace? I’m calling Thunderdome!

“Please enter my ‘Gazebo of Gladness’ just didn’t have the same ring”.

Hair Pulling?

Okay. I’ve decided that Bets and Tiffany are actually fraternal twins…

Don’t, Bets. It’s a trap. Well, at least it’s outside, which will make it easier to run away.

Maybe Gunther left with the Harp Player.

I’ve been tired of Bets for a long time now. I hope this leads to a final exit. Done.

Gazebo of garrulous girls

Bets doesn’t want an apology, she wants a fight.

Bets is very tiring because of her extreme focus on her social media. I always felt she used Gunther for his sewing abilities. She just wants to post pictures of herself and always seems to have that ‘Hey, look at me’ attitude. Like so many nowadays their self worth seems to be determined by the number of likes and followers they have. Guess I’m just too old for all that balony. Her world would come to an end if her phone dies or the grid drops for any length of time.

Bets comes with an attitude that erases whatever cuteness she may have had. Tiffany gets my vote just for the attractive and distracting display of her chest.

I think Bets sarcasm is directed at traits that aggravate her about Tiff, namely her shallowness and not being very well educated given her presumptive wealth privilege, but Bets has faults herself, which gives Tiff good reason to be aggravated as well. But the punch line question in panel three hits home for both of them. How it fits into the Bets/Gunther arc is hazy, but I think these two might surprise with a resolution to their issue, then the haze may begin to clear.

Let’s get ready to Rum-m-m-m-ble !

Meanwhile, back in his beanbag chair, Gunther is searching for info on the next Comic Cons and Trekkie Cons. The San Diego Comic Con for July will still be virtual, but an in-person one is scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend. A Trekkie Con is set for summer in Florida…Gunther wonders if he can reach Rosa in time to get her to come and join him…

Run Gun, this thing is done, Bets is loaded and looking for a target!

Not a huge fan of Tiff right now.

Monday’s strip felt disjointed from Friday’s strip. Today’s strip time skips from Monday’s strip.

In a logical progression…

Tomorrow, Gunther could show up after the fighting is all over.

Oops, sorry. Can’t use the word logic in this strip.

Pa and da parrot stood here.

Polygon from here to da.

Pagoda.

The gazebo of gab.

Egads! This is painful. I think I’ll leave and come back after the dust settles. Maybe by Friday?

Enter Gunther. Exit Bets. Over and out. Please.

Bets could walk into a sex toy shop and complain that they don’t sell micrometers.

Liking Bets even less since she’s trying to make things difficult

Tom Farrell see Bets and says " Tiffany, I see you already meet your sister."

Odd jump in scenery there. Did Bets go through the front door or did they walk around the side?

Either way, it appears Tiffany has yet to apologize. If so then Bets has legitimate reasons to be testy. Indeed, Tiffany may not apologize at all, and may argue with Bets that she was right all along.

So here’s my best guess for what will happen the rest of the week. Tiffany is not going to apologize. But she is going to blurt out that Gunther told her to apologize. Bets, realizing that Gunther was on her side after all, rushes off to reconcile with Gunther. Tiffany exults in the fact that she never apologized nor gave Bets her money back.

I hope, as Ivlax mentioned above, that Gunther is hiding behind the curtains so he can hear all of this.

Better listen to this closely, Gunth – depending on what shakes out with Bets, the rest of your life could sound just like this. Bets likes to be in control of everything and be right all the time.

Take cover folks. The fireworks are about to begin! ;/

A fight between Tiffany and Bets seems more and more probable. They are both stubborn and Bets seems absolutely not interested in making peace with her former friend, who probably still hasn’t prostrated herself at her feet apologising. I’m sad for Gunther because he risks that Bets showering him with insults just for being there.

Careful Tif, your stupidity is showing.

Can they get away from the Pagoda of Peace and the Gazebo of Geniality and get to the Cone of Silence?

It would be a Smart thing to do!

The best way Tiffany could have helped was to let this relationship with Bets end. Gunther’s and hers.

Battle of two Alpha Females. Some would have this end into a clothes tearing brawl. Not here. Their claws are starting to come out, but there won’t be any PHYSICAL altercation.

Tiffany, Bets is not buying this and when she finds out you tricked her so she’d talk to Gunther she’s going to burn rubber to get out of there. And probably never talk to you or Gunther again.

The customer isn’t always right.

Tiffany is so annoying!

Tiffany doesn’t know what a rhyme is?? Seriously???

Aww, they’re just a step away from becoming Best Buds.

Ah come on. We know what happens. The girls make up and Bets talks about her insecurities with relationships…. Anyway, that’s my prediction.Will Bets reunite with Gun? I am betting “yes, but with conditions”

There is nothing serious about it. She meant alliteration, but used the wrong word. This morning I meant to make a cup of coffee with the Keurig set to 10 oz. Had to run it twice because it was set to 4. Stuff happens.

In other news Yes has a new album coming out in September or October. THIS is worthy of a party.

Tiff, is this worth it? I mean, I already know what the answer is, but I want to know what you think it is.

On one hand, I understand that Tiffany wants to help her friend. On the other hand, I’m starting to see that Tiffany probably should have said: “Oh well, sorry girl. Here’s your money. Now beat it”.

Hiding behind the curtains and wetting his pants.

This does not bode well.

Yes! and Yes!

I try to avoid like the plague smarmy know-it-alls that are always right.

Bets just loves to deflate everything..

Is Tiffany ever right?

And sooo the fight begins!,,

Wow, the misogynists and racists are on full display today!

It gets harder and harder to want Gunther with Bets. Ugh

I know Tiff has an ulterior motive here and Bets is suspicious by nature, but DAMN girl! Tiff is still trying to make peace nonetheless and you’re doing nothing to assist with that. It’s like she actively WANTS to start a fight at every turn!

Oh boy, today’s presentation seems custom made for all you amateur psychologists.

Bets just wants to pick a fight. Tiff should just give her the dough and point to the door.

Tiffany is so incredibly stupid and arrogant! I don’t see how Bets (who is smart and motivated) can even stand to be around her. Now she will be commanded to sit. Then she will be commanded to eat – with Gunther. Will she be commanded to discuss their relationship as well? What if she’s not hungry? I am willing to bet that Tiffany will never apologize or give her money back. If that happens I can only assume that the writer for this comic supports the entitlement attitudes of the wealthy elite, and that is really sad.

Bets is SUPPOSED to come across like a jerk here, right?

Get on with it, you two!

Getting boring, just write Betts out and get it over and move on

The end of a so-called “Friendship”….

this is going well %

Betts HAS to go, and as soon as possible. She is nothing but a trouble maker.

Is this going to end well or a disaster? Does Gunter need any of this?

I don’t know how I feel about this. What is the point. Is GnK trying to make everyone just hate Bets. Is Bets supposed to be Ann Jr?

bets is just a very rude person that really needs a therapist

Tiffany isn’t trying to kiss Bets’ butt. Gunther is! He needs to end it permanently this week!

“It’s showtime!” Beetlejuice

As far as being right – it’s safe to say Bets is always going to win with an airhead opponent like Tiffany. It’s infuriating when arrogant people make incorrect statements. They deserve to be corrected.

And to power struggle continues!

Tiff is from Venus. Bets is from Mars.

Gunther is from nowhere.

Tiffany has been quite creative lately. First the TTFT and now this.

Tiffany’s Pagoda of Peace (TPOP)! I think the wind chimes are a nice touch.

Somewhere, sometime one of these ideas will take off. But Luanniverse can’t handle two employment opportunities. Unless Tiffs industry employs the Hall A denizens.

I really don’t like Betts. She’s a self-centered, mean girl.

Tiffany is gasoline an Bets is fire and there is going to be a bif explosion coming to us soon.

I think if someone I had issues with in a business deal started pulling all of these things to apparently avoid giving a refund I’d be mighty suspicious. There is a way to try to mend a friendship, and there is a way to resolve a business issue, but putting aside any of Bets’s personal issues, if it were me I would be very wary that what was going on was different from what I was told on the phone. Clearly Tiffany is up to something.

Ah, we see the real issue at last. To invoke the Capitols, “Now the moment of truth has finally come”.

Some of the stalwarts here where conjecturing/hoping/expecting Bets to have been coming to grips with herself re relationships during her self imposed exile from the strip. Leading to a more simpatico relationship with Gunther on an emotional level.

Apparently no such luck. Seems she’s been off trampling on grapes of wrath!

Betts the Bi$$h also alliterates….

Bets was not portrayed this way most of the time she was in the strip. She had some annoying flaws but she was nice to Gunther and Tiffany. Same way with Quill. He was decent until the very end right before he was cut from the comic. I hope Bets leaves quickly and we don’t have to see much more of this nasty personality.

The Gun-Bets duo is too one-dimensional to consider as it stands. It has to change or end. IMHO.

more like "Rumble in the Retreat!

Oh, no! Disgusting limerick alert!! Sorry I can’t help it…

A young girl from Baroda;Built a special kind of pagoda;On its walls were hung the b@ll$;And the t00ls;Of the fools who bestrode her!

Too late if you’ve read this… :D

WOW -is this leading up to Bets and Tiffany becoming best friends in the future?

Bets is a bit like Bern with Luann. But, what is shown here is that G understands B and knew that she was more concerned about being “right” than about the money. Once B realizes that G made this clear to Tiff and put her up to the task of apologizing and admitting wrong, B might then see G as the close friend that she should not throw away. Tiff’s gazebo of peace will play no role in this process. Bets doesn’t care about the ceremonial (trimmings and trappings) of peace or romance but that does not mean she doesn’t care about peace and romance per se.

One of Tiffany’s character flaws is doubling down when she is wrong.

It’s not about being right or wrong. Know your facts. If you don’t you’re ignorant. Call a spade a spade.

If Gunther is seeing this, it should be one more hint to RUN not walk away… Alas most don’t learn the signs of “high emotional maintenance” until it’s too late.

Hell the fact that she’s made no effort to contact him or follow up since “asking for space” spells out that it’s over in my book (assuming it’s been a week or more since the dinner)

Girl fight at the O.K. Corral.

Geez, they fight more than DemocRats and Republicans. Holy Crap!

Might as well give it up, Tiff. And I think you can forget about returning Bets’ money, too, at this point.

Now we see the real problem: two women who always think they’re right. In this case, Bets is right on both counts but can’t look past what Tiff is saying to see the romantic situation she has set up. Will Gunther show up to be the peacemaker? Will Bets run again or face him with some answers. I’m betting she runs.

Oh this is getting off to a good start!

Some commenters criticized Tiffany for being too abrupt when Ox visited her. Now Tiff is getting criticized for being too friendly to Bets and inviting her in. Tiffany can’t win no matter what she does.

I try to be right. I don’t try to make everyone else right. I have been known to suggest how they could be right.

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

“How do I get to this address to catch the train.”

“Turn left and you’ll be right.”

“Don’t get smartalecky with me!”

“Okay, but if you turn right, you’ll be left.”

If they aren’t careful, that “Pagoda of Peace” could become a “Wigwam of War”!

i think the girls should be dating they have so much in common

Two deeply insecure people. Of course they both always have to be right; they’re terrified of the alternative.

I’m hoping Gunther is not part of Tiffany’s plan . If he’s smart he is home probably getting caught up in school.If this drama is in real time and Bets has ghosted Gunther for 2 months, the relationship is over. In that case it might be fitting for her Instagram followers to hear how Bets treated Gunther.If she has ghosted him more than a week, she’s lost any justification unless she gives a reason quick… beyond needing space.Tiffany has grown a lot to offer money back to Bets, but Bets seems to want a fight. Word of advice Bets, don’t start arguments with people wanting to give you money

It appear as though we are at a stand still.

Hmm. Moment of truth for each.

Send Bets out like you did with Ann Eiffel.

Somebody, please, keep the breakup permanent!

Tiffany has that Pitt amnesia condition again. She seems to have forgotten the times Bets helped her with schoolwork to avoid failing her classes, saved her from the dorm party bullet that would have gotten her expelled and then photographed, listed and sold items on line so Tiffany would have some much needed cash. Instead, she treated her friend like an uncivilized dweeb when she wanted a pirate themed dinner and acted like her own personal opinions were the only ones that mattered. By staging the Gazebo of Whatever, she is again demonstrating that she thinks her exceptionally refined tastes are superior to those of Bets. If Tiffany had been smart, and more receptive, she would have developed a business plan for theme dinners (including romantic) and delivered her customers’ request for a pirate night. Then she could have written an accurate paper describing the event and received an honest A.

This is the land of confusion…

3

I am really finding Bets purposeful antagonism of just about anything Tiffany says to be frustrating. All it is leading to is more rancor and argumentativeness between both of them. If Bets was feeling that much animosity, she really should have simply told Tiffany “no” in whatever media Tiffany had contacted her with. To go to Tiffany’s house, when invited specifically in this fashion….. and then to be antagonistic and seemingly unwilling to participate….. just seems a) to be a waste of everyone’s time, b) rather foolish for Bets, and c) truthfully does not help Bets accomplish a sense of “winning” in this situation for herself…. she makes Tiffany’s efforts seem kinder than Tiffany’s efforts actually are/were.

In a bigger-picture way, I wanted to ponder the future of Bets in this comic:

1. I really enjoyed Bets as a character…. even when she was shown to be excessive (at least to me) in her social media focus.

2. But, the way the issues here with Tiffany and with Gunther are currently playing out…. in some ways it seems that Bets may be “volcanoized” and written out of the comic. I base this on the idea that the two current arc trajectories of her character seem to leading to a “last hurrah” focus before she is banished.

3. And, I must also say…. that TO ME the way Bets responded a) to the fancy dinner as opposed to the pirate dinner, and b) the way that Bets vacated after Gunther said “I love you.” …… BOTH OF THESE ACTIONS did not seem to me to be the way Bets would respond to these situations given what we knew of her previously. So, the harsh/abruptness of how the dinner went and how she left Gunther both make me also think she is being written out.

Just do as she says, Bets, and maybe she’ll just shut up.

Tiffany – “This is a Kaiser blade, some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a Kaiser blade.”Bets – “Well I call it a sickle!”Tiffany – “Not going to matter in a few seconds.”

Oh, get a room, you two.

Tiffany went to a lot of trouble to create a calm, quiet space. It seems Bets isn’t interested in sitting, talking or being calmed; she just wants her apology, money and to get out. If Gunther is there, I hope he stays hidden. She’s liable to go off on another rant, or turn and walk out…again. She sure is critical.

No matter how this ends up, it won’t work out between Bets and Gunther in the long run :(

If Gunther is hiding somewhere, I hope he stays hidden. If Bets sees him while she is so combative, she will only hurt Gunther more. No way would Bets be nice to Gunther in her current mood.

Guenther, why do you put up with either (or is that ither) of them?

Gunther isn’t here….he is home and Tiff is trying to make amends with Bets! Why is everyone going way out on a limb here?

People seem to think Bets is being confrontational. Maybe a little seeing as how she is there to collect from a person who doesn’t appear to want to pay up. But as I see it all she’s doing is catching Tiffany’s mistakes and misspeaks. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel.

The heck with you naysayers….. I LOVE Bets!

No, Tiffany is never right. Wanting your own way does not equate to “right.”

* grabs popcorn *

All Bets are off. Well, this one is, at least.

450 comments to date. Can someone say something that hasn’t been said before? See y’all tomorrow!

Run Gunther, run!

maybe bets has a thing for tiffany

Just not a fan of “Bets”. Too self centered, and unaware of “Gun’s” feelings.

Maybe I’m a little slow, but I just noticed. Can we ALWAYS see Tiff’s eyebrows through her hair?

Bets is getting on my nerves.

If those two have a girl fight, I hope there is eye gouging and hair pulling.

Wasn’t tiffany trying to con Bets into the house yesterday? Why bother when the “set-up” was outside all along?

Tiff is what they meant when they said “A Little Knowledge is a dangerous thing”.

e

Bets could have appreciated Tiff’s creation – the Pagoda of Peace – but instead chose to find petty faults. Early on, I could see why Gunther liked Bets (smart, shared interests, attractive), but now? It’s a tough sell.

Gunther went home hoping that the ladies duke it out. He’ll take the winner.

The customer is always right, Tiff. You invited Bets over and refunded her presumably. Bets can walk any time she wants. Make a decision at this point Tiff- either write bets off as a problem customer, find someone else to deal with her, keep the business idea and go find other customers OR accept that Bets is your only customer, hold onto her, and if she says she’s right, she’s right.

Also, something that has bugged me for a while. How is Bets making money? Who are her customers? I know she’s on social media, but is she getting $ from affiliate links? Direct ads? I’ve never seen Bet’s exhibit any customer service skills, very much the opposite, so who are her customers? Also how has she been covering for gunthers mystery absence to her presumably numerous followers?

Geez, Louise! Calm down, girls! The bell for Round 1 has not yet been rung, ya know?

I like Tiff’s Pagoda of Peace. At least she’s trying.

Bets, on the other hand, seems to have a monkey (a.k.a. Gunther) on her back, as the saying goes….

OMG! Bets, enough!!

Ugh Bets is driving me crazy. At least Tiff is trying! Bets needs to at least give her a chance. Like Tiff has literally done NOTHING no Bets she has only tried to help.

Yeah, double checked. Like a smart buiness woman, bets asked for an apology and a refund before entering on Monday. Tiff is lucky Bets is choosing to play along given she has her refund $ already. Bets is a grown woman, it’s totally her right to manage her relationships & cut and run if she needs time to sort out her feelings. Tiff is major overstepping and I can’t blame Bets for not appreciating that as it is BETS relationship with Gunther that Tiff is butting into.

So suppose Tiffany offers Bets a pirate-themed dinner—maybe as an alternative to a refund, but maybe even in addition to a refund. What will Bets say? Note that there would be the little issue that if Bets wanted a date for this dinner, she’d have to decide whether to invite Gunther or whether to look for someone else.

Of course, we don’t know yet whether Tiffany will make such an offer. So the question of how Bets would respond may become moot.

The thing I have learned to like about Tiffany, she is willing to learn and concede. I see Betts not able to concede, even if it ruins a relationship.

For those of you who are wondering—or speculating, Ivlax!—whether Gunther is hiding behind something, well. . . Arcamax is holding the key to the answer right now, if you’ll come this way.