Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 21, 2023

Looks like the van trip was a total bust and it’s likely Gunther and Bets are broken up.

I guess Irma and Al got what they wanted. I’ll be curious to hear the particulars.

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Okay, so the past week was a dream.. but why was Luis, from Peru, involved in all this? Coincidence?

Unvoiced comments

This certainly is starting off in a dire mood! Gun doesn’t even want to talk about it? Y I K E S!

I still want to know why Gunther is back to the “no-5 o’clock-shadow” look.

A debriefing dinner. Gunther better hold on to his briefs or Al and Irma will see the naked truth.

Gunnie appears to have spent some time in a motel. He looks too fresh to have come straight from the van milieu.

[The answer to Les’ question in panel 2 is: All of the Above.

Now.

Gunther needs to remember, or needs to be told, that this whole “Van Trip” was Meddling Mother Irma’s “idea.”

And what business is it of Irma’s what happened to Bets and Gun anyway? She never cared for Bets from the outset and practically IGNORED her at the last dinner. So it’s no wonder she’s not showing up for the Inquisition.

And besides. Irma never ask what went on at the Gulag the whole time Tiffany stayed there.

But, hey.

We all know that there’ll be a predictable deluge of “Grumpy Gunther” cracks this week.

But cheer up and stand tall, Gunny.

You and Bets may be Splitsville.

And if you are now free, you put yourself in a position to prevent Tiffany from making a mistake with Kip.

And your (GAG) “folks” actually like Tiffany.

Break-up’s looking like the most likely scenario now. Much, much more likely than any new steps in any good relationship progression (Bets being preggers or the two getting engaged/wed). I don’t know why Les is so … amused (?) by this like he’s cocky about seeing it coming or like he’s reveling in the schadenfreude. Not very nice for a brother and that’s putting it mildly.

Gunthie’s super-P-offed though, look at that shadowy, sulky, furious expression in panel 2. He ain’t at all happy with ol’ Bets. My guess right now: Gunther got fed up with her viewing him as her ever-dutiful helper to her vlogging career and that’s the reason for the break-up. She was giving off that egotistic vibe whenever she vlogged to her fans while ignoring his presence (for example when she was vlogging about going to Tiffany’s pool or vlogging herself while he was driving and ignoring his nervousness). My guess is Bets showed her bad side one too many times and Gunther had to be mature enough to be the one to break up.

At least I hope so, him being the one to get broken up with would be more of the expected thing. I kinda want Gunther to be the one to grow a backbone for a change. He’d been just letting Bets and Irma tell him what to do for… ever really. He’d benefit from putting his foot down.

I liked the dream sequence better. Poor Gunther.

Where’s Bets? She came back with him and Irma is expecting her. This arc at least makes me want to know what happened, unlike the Tiffany/Kip yawner

1. The van got left on the side of the road, and Bets and Gun went their separate ways. 2. The van kept running, Bets figured out how to drive it, and she left Gun in the dust to find his own way home. 3. The van blew up, Bets’ family found them on the side of the road, they blew up, and drug Bets home. Luis was driving by, saw Gun alone, and he offered him a ride. 4. I have no idea how this story is going to go.

“No comment” to all three of Les’s questions means, “Yes.”

Okay, Gunther, your mom will deduct that this is another Peru and Rosa blunder. Know what? That was exactly what your mom wanted. She figured this would happen when she suggested to Bets to take a road trip. She remembered Rosa and Peru and figured out how to break up you and Bets.

No, laryngitis I don’t think it works, better calm down and tell him what happened, talk about what’s bad, it’s usually the first step to feel better and fix the problem (whatever it may be)

Gunther could always try the classic “I’m not ready to talk about it and I hope you can respect that.” It’s a good tactic, since if/when the other person keeps pushing, you can rightly point out how disrespectful it is to blow off a person’s wishes, and then the subject becomes that instead of the thing you don’t want to discuss.

Suck it up buttercup, you’re an adult now, face the music.

We should have known this would happen, when G&K invited readers to follow Gun and Bets’ Vanagon adventures on their “Luann e-mail postings”. And only gave us one "Gun and Bets’ at ComicCon " picture. (And even that looked photoshopped). Instead we had to read about the family trips in their Vanagon. And Greg’s ventures into ComicCon. Did Karen actually*hate* the family camping trip? Did nobody stop at Greg’s booth at ComicCon?

In any case, if this is a break-up, it’s the most cowardly break-up rendered on the comics page.

Perhaps Gunther is surly because he finally wised up about Bets and is mad because it took him so long to figure out that he was just a prop in her social media campaign. Living 24/7 with a self-absorbed Bets finally opened his eyes.

Sometimes when you spend enough time with someone under stressful conditions it gives you enough experience to pull the plug.

Part of Gunther’s dream was that he and Bets handled difficulties. Well, that might have been wishful dreaming, too.

Gunther, said “I am an adult and I need time to process my situation”

Or this is another dream sequence?

No Comment want fly with Irma dude you better come up some much better.

I knew she would skip on Gunther whenever the opportunity arose. she was never about HIM, it was always about HER and her followers. Frankly he is better off without her and deserves a whole lot better.

Dang! Wait two days to find out the scoop and all we find out is that Gunther is upset and doesn’t want to talk about it, which we knew Saturday! GRRRRRRRRR@

Pssst.. Gunter.. Luann’s still unattached..

Last Friday. 2 panels. Somewhere between panel # 1 and panel # 2, a foul tempered Uncle Al enters and Gunther snaps. No more reality. How far out did he go? What did he leave behind? Are we going to enter the psychotic break world of Gunther’s mind?

How did Irma know so precisely when they’d get back? The Gunter we see here wouldn’t have called to let people know when he was returning. Did it happen in the last couple hours?

Large backpack? Books?

Debriefing? More like interrogation in that dark room with the single lamp hanging right over Gunther. Irma: “so nice to see you back safe and sound”; Al: “what the h377 happened?”

Les has a point, Gunther will have to tell what happened. Whatever it was, probably didn’t happen during a live stream. Or maybe yes and this increases Gunther’s desire to not to talk about it? Let’s hope Gunther will tell everything, even just for get the weight off his back, or maybe for remember to Al and Irma about their mean behavior towards Bets in the past. I wonder if Les is invited to the debriefing.

To hell what, mom wants…us readers deserve an answer.

Now that Gunther’s cleared all that up, what’s next?

Gunther seems angry, so it appears that maybe Bets said or did something that made him realize she’s a shallow egomaniac who is more interested in getting views than having an honest relationship.

Once again Greg and Karen dump on their readers. Thanks (not) for once again making Gunther look like he can’t accomplish anything. Thanks (again not) for making Bets look one-dimensional and shallow. Thanks (not) for investing weeks in a story just to drop it once you want to try being ‘clever’ again.

This is how you lose readers, Greg and Karen. This is how you kill off your best-known work.

Greg and Karen, from the website: “Do you trust us?” ….. NO. Not by a longshot. I stopped trusting the Evanses when Aaron Hill won the readers’ poll on who Luann should take to the prom, they had Gunther go instead, then they moved Aaron Hill to Hawaii.

Bets is all chopped up and is in Gunther’s backpack. The Pitts serial killer strikes again.

Les seems like he cares enough to warn Gun. Could he become the hero of the day?

I’ve never cared for Bets. While she share’s Gunther’s love of all things NERD, she’s too narcissistic and I felt like her whole relationship with Gunther was on display in order for her to get views. Gunter’s feeling always seemed secondary to her.

Oh and the table is only set for 4. They weren’t expecting Bets at all.

Yrs Trly, The Count, hates to say “I told you so” but… OK… The Count never hates to say “I told you so” but…. Seeeee, lowly unworthies? Betts Dumped Dumpy Dumpster like a bankrupt Shoog Daddy after bleeding Daddy Al for every shekel he had. Classic WWA❤️ED, bot howdy. The Count ❤️s it when a plan comes together. There was never any doubt that Betts the Bae could do LOTS better than Dumpster and his Dumpy Parents. Time to move along. Nothing to see here. Dumpy and his “roommate” ;) ;) are donning the Speedos and are off to join Kippy Skinny Dipping with Pedro et al. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. As for Betts the Bae… Child, please… off to join Wise Ann❤️Eiffel and the other ❤️Eiffelettes stalking the Wild Shoog Daddies. No wonder we all ❤️ Ann❤️Eiffel! As for Dumpster… SUCKER! You’re, indeed, not worthy. Like many on here. Wait that… The Count will leave you for today. No, no, no… quit pleading. Gotta go, Schmo. Places to go, people to bilk just like Our Darling Ann❤️Eiffel does. Stop The Count if you’ve heard this before but we all ❤️ Ann❤️Eiffel. TTFN… Count…OUT!

I guess this is going to be a week of Gunther pouting like a 6 year old.

I’m assuming the whole trip was a total disaster?

Gunther, Les is the voice of reason. That’s not good.

Oh my looks like the gossip mongers will have another busy week.

I thought it was great

I’m still lost…

Spoiler alert… Gunther was the real target for the assassin in Judge Parker

Oh dear, I don’t like the looks of this. Ah well, that’s life.

Did Gunter somehow disappoint Betts? After all that whole trip was her idea-with encouragement from Irma.

:-(

Three thoughts: - The table looks set for 4, but Irma is saying Gunnie and Bets are due any minute so I guess there is a 5th placemat on the off frame side of the table.

- Irma has cooked a dinner and, once again because of what she says, it confirms she has been expecting Gunther and Bets at a very precise time. So, was the dinner date set when Gunther and Bets left (we will be back in precisely 24 days or whatever?) If yes, then Gunther didn’t bother telling his mothers the plans had changed. Or did Gunther call his mother more recently (I’ll be back tomorrow evening), without telling her that Bets wouldn’t be along? I’s possible and likely.

- No one here follows Bets on social media. Not Irma, not Al (who might not care to use social media but could find it useful to find out what Bets is up to… After all, if they did, they would have known she was posting videos from inside Gunther’s bedroom!) Nor Les. If anyone did, considering she is documenting every moment of her life, they would know what has happened.

- I think that Luis is a not so clever idea from G&K to be a recurring character who always drives Gunther back to his mother after he broke up with his girlfriend during a trip. Same situation repeats, so same character to symbolize it.

- I don’t trust G&K because they have shown they can ignore continuity and logic when it serves their interests. If Bets and Gunther hadn’t broken up and she was just delayed for some reason, like taking care of the van, or even being hoospitalized, Gunther would react differently to Les questions and wouldn’t fear the grilling because he would have satisfactory answers prepared. So I do believe they split. At least for now.

… And that was 5, not 3.

My guess Irma knew this would happen. Smart lady.

Umm… Just log on to Betts’ VLOG.

Never quite understood the Bets hate. She is, perhaps, one of the most real characters in the strip right now. It seems like every college kid I meet these days would like to be an influencer or is “building their brand”. The problem with Bets and Gunther is that Gunther is a mama’s boy and the character shows no growth other than a few cosmetic changes.

So now we have parallel universes with different outcomes?

I’m going out on a limb and saying that they ran across Rosa somewhere, Gunther showed he was still attracted to her, and everything went to hell after that point.

No guarantees Bets and Gunn broke uup. That is just your opinion.

I’m still sticking with: Bets may have been offered a business/job offer and is leaving Mooney Univ for a while.

Looks like Gunther is going into the guest house. I wonder if he will even make it to Al and Irma’s by the end of the week? It may be like the pool party when we never did see Kip.

With the backpack I guess school started. It was time to come back anyway

Not good.

It is all so confusing…..

I have no idea what happened with the van or with Bets. I think it will be something different than most people are guessing, but I have no clue how it will turn out.

I don’t get it. Was Gunt and Bets coloring the results of their trip just a tad to cover up what really happened? ‘Cause this isn’t the follow up of the Sunday scrip.

So….I’m guessing that Gunther and Bets did not handle their share of issues, challenges and conflicts in a mature or responsible way, or prove they can take care of themselves? LOL!

This comic needs a new villain – like Stephanie two timing Kip and being found out by Tiffany, or Bets dumping Gunther for a comic con executive, or TJ embezzling at the Fuse, or Bernice stealing Luann’s nail polish. So many characters, so many possibilities!

In, Peru, Luis told Gunther saying ‘No’ can be brave. Gunther finally said no to Bets constant social media demands. Gunther/Bets are splitzville.

Bummer, was rooting for the couple.

Ok, maybe I’m a bit dense, but right now I need a “here is what REALLY happened.” Misdirection and dream sequences are fine in comics but only at one level and only a very short while. To me, the whole thing is convoluted, not mysterious. “Who broke the window at the mansion” is mysterious. This is still a confusing mess. Maybe the dinner will be the flashback, what really happened opportunity.

I hope Gunther takes this as a learning experience and moves on.

Irma will shine lights in their eyes until they spill the beans

Was there not even social media available to Les? Well, that’s a little amusing!

Poor Gun has gone along with everything Bets and everyone else wanted of him. He’s a good man. Some mutual respect of boundaries would be very helpful. Let him open up when he’s ready

Gunther is so stupid! Irma and Al can make him write down what happened!

I’m hope they broke up. I never like the Bets character.

Has the bloom come off the roses? Maybe we can get back to Luann and Gunther?

Okay, I can live with this so far. I was seriously concerned that last week would lead to the worst possible outcome, where Gunther is still in the cab in Peru, set to return home. That would have meant that EVERYTHING that happened in the strip since then (since 2015?) was just his dream, i.e., there is no Bets, no shared guest house, no Mooney U, no field trip with Tiffany, etc. etc., and they were all back to being just out of high school. I really dislike stories where that sort of thing is revealed at the end!

I’m guessing Rosa contacted Guenther on the trip, and Bets was none too pleased. A big fight ensued, and they decided to call it quits, on the condition that they save face in front of Bet’s followers. Or not..

I wonder what’s for dinner?

Here are some thought questions I have….. answers appreciated:

1. Was Luis just a random driver in Peru…. or did he have some sort of connection to Gunther & Rosa such as being a person who worked for the company Gunther was working at or somehow with Rosa?

2. Gunther arriving “alone” without Bets may be a misdirection SUGGESTING they broke up (especially with Gunther’s distaste about talking…. but there are many other scenarios where Gunther and Bets did not break up but Gunther could initially arrive alone too. I wonder how much potential there is that this IS a misdirection and Gunther is upset about something else?

3. If Luis is more than just a RANDOM taxi driver in Peru it could more easily explain his presence now…. and suggests to me that Rosa may also again be part of the picture too. Could this be a move to where Gunther is anxious about the two potential love interests….. Bets and/or Rosa?

Obviously the camper van was totaled (Or cost too much to repair). Kind of thought Gunner and Bets would end up breaking up. Wouldn’t it be nice if Rosa came back into the picture?

This is getting FUBAR.

Don’t see where people think Bet and Gunth broke up. She’s just decided to move back to the dorm. nothing wrong there. Even though the van broke down, sounded like everything worked out okay.

Poor Gunther :(

Hey maybe this was just a big dream like the “Wizard Of Oz”. From Gun back to just plan Gunth.

Gun is in the middle of switching girls? Then again maybe nots.

Is Rosa making a reappearance? Maybe. You can be charitable right here in the USA. Plenty of people in need.

Note the deft exposition in Les’ questions in the first two panels. If they can be taken at face value, they both set the scene and rule out lots of possibilities.

I give Les credit for trying here. At least to help Gunther avoid a meltdown with his mother and Mr. Gray. Especially Mr. Gray.

Multi-verse Luann universe? About Luann living in Australia?

Since Joel seems to have disappeared…is he by any chance Terminal Frost?

I liked “Gunther’s Dream” week better than this bait-and-switch back to break-up swill.

No Comment.

I’m just wondering why everyone doesn’t already know what happened, given Bets’ penchant for sharing all with her online fans