Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 20, 2021

This is gonna be good!

Uncle Al reads minds?

What’re you getting at, Al? Way to put thoughts into your step son’s mind.

You regretting it yet, Gunther? LOL

Well, he ‘sort’ of proposed …

Al cuts to the chase. Good.

I think doing the deed is a prerequisite to having a bun in the oven.

Looks like a magic coat that has buttons change from side to side.

Sheesh! Let the poor kid finish a sentence!

LOL Big Al this week will be fun.

awkward alert!

Al always knows what’s going on.

Al has all the good lines! 8^ )

I see that the sturdier of the two limbs I went out on last week has held up: We have continued with the same story arc.

It remains to seen how things will go for the bolder of my two predictions, namely that Irma will not quash the plan for Bets to move in with Gunther for winter break (or maybe longer). That’s still my prediction, and if it turns out to be wrong (which wouldn’t be the first time I went out on a limb and it broke), I’ll freely acknowledge it.

I have no prediction about whether or not any other circumstance (e.g., Al raising objections, or Bets getting called to help a friend with a crisis in Dubuque) will cause Bets and Gunther to change their plans.

Gunthie will get busy sewing Trekkie costumes for an online ceremony.

Unca Al seems kind of creepy here. I suppose Leslie spilled the beans about a proposal, but where did Al did the idea that it was because Bets was preggers. I’m surprised he didn’t preemptively off the name of a good abortionist,

Way to go, Al. No wasting time on chit-chat, just get to the point. This Al character should be hanging out with Crankshaft.

Old Luann1212 is in ecstasy right now. We actually have mega-hilarity happening before our very eyes! 8^ )

HaHa poor little Gunnie better man up quick before his whole life is planned out for him – by other people.

Nothing is so awkward, that Al can’t make it worse.

Cringe city ….

Every now and then, you wish a big hole would just open up and you would drop right in.

Irma didn’t make me cringe. She made me shudder with her “Little Gunnie. So grown up with his ‘Girlfriend.’”

She’s never gonna let him grow up. Never.

Al is starting to sound like the commenters in this group.

Another soap opera

I bet Mr Gray wouldn’t open his eyes no matter what they told him. I love how Momther thinks having a girlfriend means Gunther has finally grown up! I guess she never realized Rosa was a girlfriend!

Sounds like Gunther’s mom didn’t know about her son and Bet’s relationship.

However, Gunthie, you gotta spit out the moving in together plan in the next strip!

If I didn’t know better, I’d say that it appears that Irma and Al haven’t met Bets before, as some of Us have long maintained.

That aside, Al is actually acting civilly toward Gunth, and by golly he’s actually talking to him and not yelling at him! So far that is.

Now.What will happen when Gun finally gets a word in edgewise?

Honestly? I’d be stunned if Irma or Al “allow” Bets to shack up with Gunther over the holidays.

So I wouldn’t take Al’s “bun in the over” quip as him giving tacit pre-approval to B&G turning the Gulag into the “Love Shack.”

Perhaps We should stand by for Irma freaking out followed by a barge of “Oh HELL No’s.”

And the outcome after dust settles?

1) Gunther saying to hell with it and talking Bets into visiting her folks, instead, with him accompanying her.

2) Bets spending the holidays in the dorm.

3) Irma suggesting that Bets can stay, provided she stays not in the Gulag with Gunther, but the “guest room” at the main house.

4) Al declaring that Bets can stay only if she marrieds Gunthe, and pays rent.

5) None of the above.

Somehow I think it’s going to be #3.

And Bets is going to get a real “kick” out of Irma. ;-)

“My little Gunnie” says volumes about Irma’s clouded parental perspective… I think it’s safe to say that Gunther is probably getting more than most anyone else in the strip at the moment (well, Bets too, of course). He’s turning out to be way more mature than the rest of his contemporaries. A gentleman never kisses and tells…

Ma and Unc are stark raving mad. Bets may just cut her losses and run for her life.

At least we know that Al thinks they’ve done the horizontal bop.

Irma comment about little Gunnie and his “girlfriend” implies that Rosa has become part of the Before Times — things that we old timers remember but which never happened according to the current timeline. In the Before Time Irma encouraged Gunther to follow Rosa to Peru, she saw “true love” there, and that Gunther was mature enough to handle it. Iin the Now Time Gunnie is her little baby, his “girlfriend” is just an expression not s real relationship. While Al is jumping the gun in the wildest way. If Bets doesn’t run wildly away she’s crazier than Irma

Weirdest conversation ever. Irma trying to imply it was cute that Gunther has a “girlfriend” and then Al saying she’s got a bun to bake following Irma’s “You bake?” Gosh. Just say it straightforwardly such as “Yeah you got a girlfriend?” rather than throwing around idioms or metaphors or whatever these were.

None of this surprises me, I had a feeling this was the direction this is going. I think rooming together will happen with Al and Irma’s weird type approval, raising all sorts of arcs from Moony to Luann and Bernice, Tiffany and maybe Dez sharing the room where Bets and Dez have (poor Tiffany might be able to sleep and get passing grades even) who knows? But one thing is for sure. Hilarity will ensue.

I doubt Irma will ever see Gunther as an adult.

Al “gets down to brass tacks”, doesn’t he? He is already hearing wedding bells. Anyhow, now Gunther is going to have to mention that while he did not propose he has asked Bets to move into the Gulag and that Les is on board with the concept. It will be interesting to see if Irma is okay with the idea or will she suggest that Bets can stay in the nice guest bedroom in the main house. I like how Bets quickly and simply answered both Al’s pregnancy question as well as Irma’s cooking question. I am going to guess that Al is okay with the cohabitation idea but I am not too sure about Irma as she still thinks of Gunther as a little boy. This week should be interesting, does everything work out or does Bets go back to the dorm or does this story arc take another sharp right turn?

I love Irma and Al! They are such a great couple, so completely different from each other ♡. Al seems so happy for his stepson (especially after hearing that Bets is not pregnant). It’s always nice to see him show some emotion. Irma is sweet and naive, she seems unable to understand what is going on, yet. Let’s hope her reaction is happiness for Gunther and love for Bets.

Wellll …this arc IS lasting another week!!! Whoda thunk?? I sure called this one wrong last Friday! :-)

Covers most things……

“I did?” “I only proposed that Bets move into the Gulag.”

Al wears a suit around the house?

I didn’t think Irma was so naive. Really? Never heard the expression “a bun in the oven”? Can’t wait to see how this unfolds. Also, does Uncle Al wear a suit and tie in his own home? Come on!

Gunther’s mother. Shudder. It’s a wonder his name’s not “Norman”.

Wow, what a range here – Irma’s treating Gunther like a five year old bringing home his first little girl playmate, and Mr. Gray is asking out loud if he got Bets pregnant.

Shut up, Mr. Gray!

Didn’t he already marry once and Chuck Cunningham his way out of the strip for a while?

Do we just pretend that didn’t happen the same as forgetting Chuck was a thing?

Nahhhh. We just wanna shack up.

My kid was like that too, I ruined his “Surprise we’re pregnant” news.

The perfect gift for Al and Irma is a “jump to conclusions mat”.

Bets is gonna plan everything for the wedding.

“You Bake?” Best joke of the year.

this whole strip makes me want to throw up a little in my mouth, what century was this even written in.

Boy, Uncle Al has no filter between his brain and his mouth at all, doesn’t he?

would you two let the boy answer.

O-boy, but if he did take a mate, she is the one.

\\//_

This may take some time.

LOL! Gunther’s face in panel 3 is great. It just hit him what he’s done and all of the implications. Al might as well be carrying a shotgun!

The “girlfriend” in quotes seems ominous. Are we about to see Gunther’s mom at her worst?

I guess there’s not too much of a leap from “move in with me” to “marry me” afterall.

Bets seems to be taking this with good humor.

Sounds like Uncle Al is shaping Gun’s choices…

another week sans Tiffany. Thank you Santa.

Gunther is circling the bowl. Man-up, or run, anything to get out of this pending doom!

Archie Bunker would have just said Is she knocked up?! For those not knowing Archie Bunker….Too long of a story and would probably cause too much of a debate today…

Gunther is the image of his mother. I wonder who his father is.

A few days with the parents will cure Bets of her “love” of Gunther!!

Al gave him the right way to play this. “Actually, Al’s right; were having a baby.” Let the shock settle in for a second. “I was kidding! Of course we’re not pregnant; we’re very careful. By the way, Bets is going to spend winter break in the shed with me.”

Someone tell me. What is the name of this strip again?

Gunther DID propose Al, just not quite what you’re thinking.

Kind of blunt there, Al.

Al is trying to prove that if you make enough guesses, you eventually get it right.

“The boy proposed!”, Mr. G says. More like “The boy propositined…….!”

My guess for how this will turn out. Irma and Al may have some objections to their plans, but Bets will charm them the same way she charmed Les. OR Bets will observe how Irma and Al treat Gunnie and find it to be a huge turn off and make other plans for the winter break.

Not yet…

How has Bet been his gf so long but his mother has no idea she exists?

Good old Uncle Al

Biggest mistake Gun could EVER make.

We owe this whole story arc to Tiffany’s naked strut in front of Gunther. She’s such a team player.

That’s one way to ease into getting Mom to accept Bets moving in: list scarier scenarios to parents than just moving in and suddenly it sounds perfectly acceptable.

This worked for me when I told my conservative religious aunt that I had met someone. She asked, “Where did y’all meet?” I answered, “The porn store.” Suddenly “online” was so much better of an answer than it used to be. :D

This has to be a dream

Gunth just replaced his mother with Bets, another woman to tell him what to do in life haha

Opposite ends of the dating spectrum in 1 panel!

Al knows what’s up…and it ain’t Gun, in the last panel, IYKWIM.

She’s got a cousin. In fact, she’s got ‘bout a dozen. She’s got one in the oven, but it’s nothing to do with me.

Panel 4, deer in the headlights!

Mr. Gray cuts to the chase.

Personally, I never trust a guy that roams around the house in a three piece suit and tie. Too Ward Cleverish.

Guns’ mom reminds me of an old Bennie Hill bit where he changed the inflection of pop hits…“What is this thing called, Love?”

I’m waiting for Gunther’s mother to shock him with something like you had been with Rosa. You did run off tro Peru"For added entertainment, Bets may have known the name Rosa, but didn’t know Gunther had run off to Peru,

Second panel. That’s why “Little Gunnie” sometimes acts like a 6-year-old. Second panel.

“Close enough.”

I love it when a cartoon character breaks the “fourth wall” (Gunter in 3rd panel). It’s like he is looking at us for help with the situation.

Why do people think they know what people are going to say, instead of just hearing them out? (drives me crazy)

None of you find Uncle Al’s one in the oven to be totally offensive and worse than anything his nephew ever said?

Four people, four different mindsets.

One in the oven>? Hoo boy, Al! Sorry if I have typos; I got a shoulder replacement December 14th, and typing is rough.

Al is managing to escalate this story arc out of control in just one appearance!

Next, Gunther unbuttons his top button!

…and ‘no.’

How did this go from Bets moving in for winter break to walking down the aisle? I’m not against Gunther and Bets as a couple but neither one is ready for THIS!!!!! Please don’t let this happen. Marriage is a BIG step and should not be taken lightly.

No. We skipped that and went right to the shacking up part!

Keep Letting Betts answer Gunther.

Close. In the parking lot of the ballpark but not quite in the stadium……

Wonder what Les told Uncle Al or if he’s just assuming…..By the look on Gunther’s face, the reality of living together just hit. This should be an interesting week. Another argument or capitulation to come?

No, he wants to try it out first!

Ugh

LOL! Irma is so naïve and un-worldly. Her first response to “one in the oven” was that Bets was baking something. That’s cute.

I’m dyin!!!!! LOL

For the newbies and those who forgot….https://www.gocomics.com/mycomics/2122343July 7, 2014

Al, on the other hand, is really rude and inappropriate. I’ll bet Irma doesn’t understand half of what he says.

I now have respect for Uncle Al. Irma, not so much.

From her comment in Panel 1, I’ve a feeling that Irma might be reluctant to let Gunther prepare the holiday mea (at first). But, if they are to work that out, Irma can finish compiling her holiday meal “shopping list” and let Gunther buy the items and help Irma prepare it. Bets can join in, and she and Irma get to know each other better. Al and Gunther can take the opportunity to form a better bond.

I’m surprised that NO ONE — until yours truly right now — has mentioned the various shots of Gunther at various ages of his life on the counter behind Irma in Panel 1!

Cripes! If she ends up pregnant we’ll never get rid of her.

Mr. Al is presumptuous and Gunther’s Mom is very naive…

Hysterical!

Uncle Al just became my favorite character!

Anyone got an 80 inch monitor and a micrometer?

Did Bets arch her back ever so slightly and unconsciously spread her legs just a wee bit in response to the bun in the oven question?

Could she really be that stupid? Of course, he is 19, and right in front of his girlfriend she calls him “My little Gunnie”!

I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat; this living together arrangement and subsequent consequences is driven by one of two things. 1) More unlikely, GNK are responding to fan clamoring for more “mature” behavoir in his/her characters. Or, more likely (2) GnK are seeking a repeat for Greg’s Cartoonist of the Year award for his edge treatment of Luann’s first menstrual cycle.

Bets actually seems more relaxed because of Al’s comments, instead of more tensed up. Somebody in the room won’t think less of her for not meeting Irma’s expectations.

I know exactly what uncle Al is doing. He is creating scenarios that are absolutely ridiculous, so that when Gunther explains the simple idea of her staying there, Irma won’t think it’s all that bad because he already softened it for her. I have a feeling he already talked to Les so he is saying outrageous things so that the real scenario doesn’t seem so bad. If that makes sense?

Very awkward!

Gunther might slide into this one… without even knowing he was in the race.

I tried to post this earlier, but GoComics seem to choose that time to “break down”:

“♪♪ Nothin’ Says Lovin’ Like ’She’s Got One In The Oven?’ And Al Gray Says It Best!”

“Just Say No. And No”

“I Bake Your Pardon?”

“And Now, The News. Okay, Now The News. Er…Uh…”

Gunth, just go ahead and deck him now.

This is basically why I kept my social life away from family.

Irma and Al seem to be a little presumptuous about Gunther and Bets. Or maybe Irma is just hopeful for her boy.

Back off, Mr. Grey!

This is tough enough for poor “Gunnie” (as Irma spells it) without gross commentary interrupting him. Bets is looking mighty fine today and is standing by her man, even in the face of possible maternal inquisition….

Love knows no bounds .