Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 02, 2022

Is this a dream sequence or? No way was that outfit worthy of an AH-HA!

If it is real, it’s an epic fail… you can tell Nil isn’t feeling it. In fact, it’s obvious now, that Bernice is just getting off on an ego trip, with this whole Muse thing.

I doubt she’ll be seeing Nil again, any time soon.

He liked her better as was. ✨

Seems to be nil a muse ment

Next week: Nil takes her to his favorite clothes shoppe.

Bernice became a gypsy muse

He is not pleased.

“There’s trouble in Paradise…”

Happy Holiday weekend everyone!

The hippie era granny dress looks cute, even on Bernice. I wouldn’t mind seeing it for a while. But it implies a liberated, carefree girl, which Bernice isn’t. And it appears that muses, like cats, aren’t supposed to change their spots.

Happy 4th. Of July, everyone !

Yup, Nil looks upset. Hope he will be truthful and tell Bernice he likes the old Bernice.

Nil is regretting telling Bernice that she’s his muse…

Nil looks embarrassed. He’s checking to see who’s watching Bernice.

we can only hope

Nil needs to just keep in walkin’

Called it yesterday, emo Bern, not what Nil wants in a muse.

Bernice, Nil like you as you were not as some 1960 hippie free loving chick.

She looks great, actually – nice change. Too bad Nil isn’t feeling it.

Muse no more. Nil is not A-muse-d.

Nil might tell Bern: Haight Ashbury called, it wants the wardrobe back. Either that or he is going to ask if she is in a production of one the Kerouac novels set into a play. She just needs to call Nil Daady-O to seal the deal.

Bern, you are a dipstick who has gone overboard. I’ll tell the skipper that it was just a fish jumping out in the water, not someone who went overboard, and to keep ‘full ahead’.

I actually to Sunday for a break from this story line.

Nil likes you for how you are, don’t try to be something you’re not just to impress his. Cause you’re not impressing him. Nil likes randomness, cause that’s where creativity comes from.

Makes no sense. Bern previously showed no interest in that sort of outfit.

Nil does not seem to be amused.

Welp, I guess it’s back to neurotic and boring. Thrift shop bohemian ain’t gonna cut it.

I like the crazy outfit and I think that Gunther and Bets would be inspired by it. And….I think that Bets’ followers would also make Bernice their new on line queen of quirky.

Nil’s one eye looks sad and distressed.

Bern -10 Nil nil!

Omfg, shes becoming less his musr wnd more his insecure needy girl who wants to be wanted so she can end it

Nil now has artist’s block.

Well I had an instant inspiration.

.

.

Have they done an undead nanny movie yet?

Free spirit look? Where is the old Bernice’s old look?

Nil is finding this a-musing.

Happy 4th and remember to keep off the “Greg 7-2”

Wait! This is the Saturday comic strip? Oh dear. That means another week of this.

Can’t say I’m surprised that Nil is uninterested in Bern’s new look. Perhaps we can get a satisfying resolution of this plot with Bern learning that she doesn’t actually know how people think, and that she needs to actually start LISTENING to what others have to say about their desires. She is after the one that hopes to be a counselor.

Bernice looks really happy and she’s right. That Olive Oil look suits her just fine ♡ (maybe the hat is excessive). But Nil looks so unhappy… does he want the “old” Bernice back? Does he regret telling her that he doesn’t want a physical relationship or does he have to tell her something that he knows will make her sad and he feels guilty? For one time that Bernice really tries to change, would be so sad to see her rejected.

She’s gone Stevie Nicks on him.

Geez – Bern would have done better to let Shannon pick out her stuff.

Yeah this is what I was worried about. Bernice changes the things about herself that is stimulating his creativity in a failed attempt to become a Hollywood stereotype of an artistic muse.

I knew it.

Bern choose an “aging hippy granny dress,” which so 60 years ago.

And Nil doesn’t seem to be all that “impressed” as several fans predicted.

Two things to remember moving forward as this tragedy seems destined to continue next week:

1) This ‘make-over mess was Luann’s bad idea. As usual.

2) Characters in this Strip, should NEVER listen to other characters “ideas,” because they just about always turn out to be BAD ones.

Hopefully, IF whatever Bernice and Nil had blows up like the Hindenburg because of this “make-over,” Bernice will be compelled to move out the DeGroot homestead and back to the dorms come Fall.

It’s high Time Mooney U got the funding to reinstate Bern and give her dorm room back.

And R.A. Halper is desperately needed to keep “Steffie” in check.

Looks like Bernice’s career as a “muse” is over before it even started!!

Nil doesn’t look too sure about that.

Tune in next week when he tells her that she no longer inspires him because it was her old look that he liked.

The dream would be if Bern was wearing the leather outfit.

I imagine Nil liked her dress code before when she was more…accessible.

Nil appears puzzled and unimpressed, wondering what happened to the Bernice in her unadorned state. Luann’s plan didn’t quite work out.

Who cares what he thinks if she likes it. Go for it, girl!

“… yeah, about that.”

Take your muse or be un-mused.

OK everyone, take a look down and see the shark. Nil’s expression in the final panel says it all about this relationship. It’s DONE.

Be yourself, Bern. You can’t be anybody else.

Well that outfit is a muse-take!

I think she looks cute. I approve of college age people playing with their personal styles. She’s acting like a nitwit, though, which might be what Nil is responding to

Nil doesn’t look too pleased at the change!

Mmmm, apparently not artistically inspiring now. The muse flame has flickered out.

Nil looks not a-mused

he looks unimpressed to me… but I’ve been wrong before.

I told you, you should have gone with the studded leather, Bernice.

She finally has lost it

Bernice now looks like some kind of hippie.

So, this being Saturday, I’m guessing that it’ll be at least another four weeks before we hear Nil’s “But I liked you the way you were …..” bit.

Was scrolling to see what the general consensus was before commenting. Despite many persons’ comments, I kind of like the new look, but then again, I live in the PNW. ;-)

Or not…

So Bernice has gone from being a female version of Gunther to being a female version of Nil.

Didn’t someone call this the other day?

And since Miss AH HA! found that outfit on her own, no one can blame Luann, although I know a lot of readers will do that anyway.

Called it. Nil’s no longer inspired by her.

No…just no

Matching hats: just a touch of romance from the Swiss Army surplus bag. Nice try, Bernice.

Muse… 1968 model.

Wow… I knew a girl in college who dressed just like that

That’s an ambiguous reaction. Like all his other reactions. He has no reason to make a big deal out of it, though.

The look in Nil’s face says it all.

Bernice is like a dog with a bone. She won’t let go once her little mind takes hold of an idea (especially if it gives her an excuse for a massive ego-trip). This might be a good trait in the right setting (with some intelligent supervision), but she has become so pompous and arrogant it’s pathetic. When is she going to realize that the whole muse thing was just the easy let-down that Nil used to break up with her? if the clothes make her happy she should keep them, but ditch the vest for a scarf and get a different shirt that matches either the hat or the skirt. Maybe next week we will see the truth finally slap her upside the head, but in the meantime, I’ll bet she looks just like her mom did at that age.

She looks like she dipped into Dez’s wardrobe.

Or course Nil liked her just the way she was. Will he have the guts to tell her to change back?

Not too late to hustle back and get the harness!

“It was the Plain-Jane Frump which inspired my muse, Bern.”

I think he liked her better the way she was.

Move on. Please

On Monday Nil says “I just made up that whole muse thing as a way to gently dump you. I figured you’d be smart enough to catch on to that in a few days. I guess I was wrong.” Bernice then spends the rest of the week aimlessly wandering the town until the authorities have her committed.

Bohemian much? Nil is unimpressed. Something will come out of this next week.

The new look sort of reminds me of the Annie Hall look. Sort of a late 70’s thing.

BoHo look!

I liked the outfits that Luann chose better, but I applaud Bernice for making what is a BIG change, not only to her wardrobe but to her attitude. I hope Nil doesn’t deflate her and hurt her.

I’m not detecting any movement in his trousers

He does not look ignited. Or impressed.

Didn’t Molly Ringwald go through the same inspired by Annie Hall phase 40 years ago?

Ain’t gonna happen any more!

Yeah, I don’t think that outfit is going to ignite anything.

Muses never change. THAT is their secret…..

I am not sure it’s the outfit that is the problem. This is a huge change in attitude and demeanor for Bernice.

uh oh

Bern, there’s a reason that outfit is in the thrift shop. Maybe somebody was decluttering, or deciding that a theater group could use it as a costume.

I like the new look…

Bern needs to dress like that muse character in the movie Xanadu.

Nil looks lost and sad and disappointed.

Somebody get that boy a haircut, he looks ridiculous…

Bernice ventures out from rows and columns, to nostalgia. At least it’s different. Hope she tires of this, and finds her inner sexy dish, that she started to wear when she was trying to hook Jack.

my guess is he liked her just the way she was.

Nil is musing over what became of his “muse”. Sad…

I’m afraid I have to agree with Iviax on that observation. The clothes don’t see to fit Bernice’s real personality. And that expression on Nil’s face says a lot.

Oh maaan…not the leather dominatrix outfit? Not that it’s public wear but still…

Nil could have any number of thought bubbles above his head – “I’m so confused” – I’ve created a monster" – “Why won’t she just go away” – “If I just turn around, she’ll be on my blind side” – “If she keeps flapping her arms will she fly away”?

Nil don’t look too happy. It’s as if he dosen’t like Bernice’s new look. Or maybe he’s just one of those people who’s never happy about anything…

What is Bernice’s idea, here? Rummage sale allure? Some sort of back to nature idea? And Nil’s lack of appreciation might have less to do with the apparel than with the whole rather goofball theatricality. Not exactly Nil’s style. (Not that I have any inkling as to what Nil’s “style” might be.)

I think Bern looks quite cute, and her outfit becomes her showing how long, and angular her lines are, Some say more frumpy, I say absolutely the opposite. How Nil reacts and the reactions to Bern remains to be seen. However to me these two are so suited for each other, although Bern is more the quantitative sort, while Nil is the artist, but in the end the two asymetttrical types they are will meet in the middle (take that any way you want to fellow commentors).

It’s kind of interesting, if we’re to comment on such things. Bern looks pretty dressed in these clothes, considering – as implied in the previous strip – that she chose the outfit combination herself. I like the hat with matching black accent, black choker, yarn-like dress and boots. The second panel is also a nice pose – fun and a bit charming.

While I get that the story has a predictable lesson in Nil “seeing her previous appearance as his true muse”, I appreciate that she/the author tried something different. I’d like to see her gradually evolve as a character with this style in mind. It could add a bit of dimension to her personality over time, where she learns to relax some. Maybe that’s Greg’s intent, maybe not, but I like it.

She reminds me of the cartoon Carol Burnett opening/closing sequences when she’s a cleaning lady on her TV show.

I think what Bernice was doing worked for this guy.

It’s like the “Annie Hall look”. When was that – 1980’s?

Who told her to dance around like that? Another of Luann’s ideas?

OOppps, that was a mistake

That was not the muse who inspired him!

What a fruit cake, she will fit right in, in Seattle or Portland.

And Bernice is going to turn around and Blame Luann for this. She always does.

I hate to say this Nil. But it’s time to make like a tree and leave.

I love Bern in a new outfit! For once maybe she’s choosing for herself! Every woman, muse or not, deserves to have fun with clothes. Plus she seems happy! If Nil only wants her to serve him as the same old Bern, then he’s a little too restrictive in his thinking. She’s allowed to be creative. I think Luann was just trying to encourage her to update her look, nothing to blame on her or anyone else.

Nil seems unimpressed. Me too….

Sunday: Brad is in pain. :-/

Uh oh, trying too hard. An artist has a very delicate relationship with his muse.

He likes her as she is not this fake version.

Bernice misread this whole thing. She wasn’t his muse because of her looks. It was because of her intelligence, and the way she questioned his art. That was her authentic self. This? This is dress-up. She never gave up on what to her was the “romantic” side of this.

I’m reminded of an old quote: “Women marry hoping their man will change, and he doesn’t. Men marry hoping their woman will not change, but she does.” I’ve seen this attributed to Einstein, but you know what they say about quotes on the Internet :-)

I like her outfit. But, she’s taken this muse thing as a way of life too far.

Bern looks like she could be Dez best friend.

she’s an idiot