Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for September 28, 2023

They’re still studying….

The moral of the day: Never invite a man you are interested to a study session

Well Luann, here’s what you do: wear some deodorant, and stop eating only the brown M&Ms; try some other colors for a change. As for everything else, just adjust your attitude.

Bitter dorks seem to have great imagination

We may be on the verge of something! But then again, I’m the eternal optimist! [ƃuıppıʞ ʇsnɾ]

Stop being the party dork? Be yourself?

The kitchen is Bernice’s Office? Must be working on Fuse spreadsheet ? Normally, Bernice study in Bradley Degroot old bedroom?

I actually feel bad for Luann’s self-esteem here. The fact that her bestie does nothing whatsoever to brighten her self-perception is also too bad given how long they’ve been friends. Not even to say, “Hey now, pal. We both know you’re OCD about the M&Ms, but at least your BO isn’t THAT noticeably off-putting.”

Also, hopefully Luann can see that she doesn’t need to try so hard to live up to what she thinks they’d like. The forced humor and forcing herself to like the activities they like won’t be stuff she’ll manage to keep up with forever.

Bets and Gun Update #3:

Gunther very uncomfortable with a change in plans. Still must stick to the itinerary. Upset that people have told him to “loosen up” (which he ought to do now and then).

Gunther talks about plans: degrees, work, taking a walk down the aisle, having offspring. . . But Gunther’s immediate plans, aside from wanting to come home, include being TA come fall.

Bets, OTOH, suggests, “Or this,” “this” meaning the road. Huge differences already.

Still, they are dedicated to being “100 percent.” Meanwhile, things get hot—and that’s meant literally. But, maybe metaphorically, too?

More later!

Frankly, Piro is the one I would have guessed would have B.O. issues. Luann looks like she bathes regularly.

Luann, write about how you imagine reuniting with Quill and be happily ever after. Ya know, he was the only guy you were genuinely happy and in love with. You the Aaron fans, hush. He was just a babyish crush. Ya know, when they did reunite after high school, Luann discovered she couldn’t see whatever it was that she crushed on him for. Quill was her guy.

Wallflower wilting under pressure.

Bern – Shut Up !

It’s long been said that authors should write about what they know. But what if they’re like Luann—who doesn’t know anything?!

So Luann do something exciting with em. Take em over to th Girl’s Tiddlywinks Championship games

Luann’s denial of romantic interest in Piro seems a bit reminiscent of Tiffany’s denial of romantic interest in Kip.

To be clear, I’m just mentioning one point of resemblance in the two situations, not saying that they are exactly similar. Among other things, by way of contrast with the case of Kip and Stef, I don’t believe for a moment that there is or ever will be any romantic connection between the Starr cousins.

Well, at least we got the definitive that Luann isn’t looking to woo Piro, just be that cool friend who heals him (I’ve had a few people in my life like that). Makes sense now that she’s jealous of Tara because she’s doing a better job of it. Supposedly.

I feel a little sorry for Luann right now… awkward ⁠(⁠ ⁠⁰͡⁠ ⁠Ĺ̯⁠ ⁠⁰͡⁠ ⁠)

I just finished the Bets and Gun Adventure Awaits novella. I found it touching and it explains a lot of things. Won’t give any spoilers but now the current Gunther strips make sense.

Having Luann be self-aware of her dull nature does not suddenly make her a compelling character.

how about going crazy, that works for me. ;)

It’s sad. Luann denies having romantic interests in Piro because she knows having a romantic relationship wouldn’t help him as much as a friendship. All her annoyance is due to feeling inadequate compared to the exciting life the two skilled cousins lead. We finally returns to the fundamental problem. Luann’s low self-esteem and how she feels like a loser who wastes her life doing nothing. As always, Bernice can’t give her advice. But at least she’s there to listen to her. The sadness she feels could be the basis for a great story. I’m hoping that eat together with Tara and Piro can get the conversation back to something involving Luann. Maybe about a skydiving lesson to do together.

Snack time: black beans and tortilla chips with carbonated drinks?

Maybe a visit from cousin Stella Starr?

Maybe Tara and Piro are being imaginative?

Second frame is loaded with ideas. Luann’s venting presents a couple lines of a character description (albeit her own). But how many can record those while they are saying all that? Or recall those thoughts for later? In Luann’s earlier tutoring session, she went into a spontaneous theatrical scene, while Vale was writing it down.

Finally, a little self-awareness from Luann.

At least she’s finally admitting how boring she is. That’s a first step.

Bernice asks why Luann is upset by Tara’s presence; and Luann deflects it with an inaccurate response that does nonetheless contain a kernal of truth. She wants to interact directly with Piro. She does not want him distracted by anything but their own conversation. She quite properly sees Tara as intruding on that interaction. Tara has deliberately ignored Luann’s specifically directed invitation to Piro, and included herself in an invitation that was not directed toward her. She has commandeered the conversation, and disdained the humorous quips that Luann has used as an attempt to participate in it. This social interaction is toxic; and Luann is fully justified to resent it. It has nothing to do with romantic aspirations. If Bernice were to wish to be helpful, she could intrude herself into the conversation a bit more forcefully than Luann can as “hostess”. She could direct her efforts at engaging Tara in conversation that leaves Piro free to converse separately with Luann. She has always shown herself to be a bit more “directive” than Luann or her other friends.

Hey Lu?

If Tara and Walt-Piro are still at your place why not invite “Candle-Snuffer” Bernice to join in?

If she doesn’t immediately suck the life out of the proceedings, the awkward reunion between her and Piro, not to mention Tara, the gal she once “helped” get expelled from Mooney years ago, should be most ENTERTAINING.

And thereby providing all kinds of Fodder for your writing class. ;-)

I told chatGPT to “write an imaginative essay”. It did, but it’s too long to copy here.

Luann is not boring.

I eat the brown M&M first too. We could be friends but for the BO.

The Young and the Listless ….

Boy, Luann is that insecure, isn’t she?

The Green ones make you horny…

Adventure sports plus amazingly specific description of dorky third-wheel type… oh yeah, some very interesting, very imaginative stories should come out of this.

I know people that sort the colors of M&Ms.

So Luann is angry because she’s the Bernice in this trio? Lol!

I once called myself- the unwanted side dish at the buffet of life

I used to avoid the tan M&Ms before they disappeared.

It’s good that Luann recognizes her limitations. Now she just needs to show Tara and Piro the door and start looking for people who share her interests and lifestyle. She can start with the M&M’s Club downtown.

tomorrow: Luann “accidentally” trips and the snacks end up all over ….. Tara? Piro?? stay tooned !!!! :-/

For Luann, Bernice, ideas aren’t the problem. Realizing just how cute she is…is.

She was not speaking of herself. D A M M I T.

That’s just crazy. Everyone knows the red ones are the best.

Re: novellas. Just follow Brooke McEldowney’s" Pibgorn". Good art, a lot of words.

Wow! I thought they left! Bernice is working in the kitchen and not interested in the group! Wonder how many actual writing ideas they’ll inspire. All their adventures have potential for imaginative stories, not to mention her visual of a dork at a party. ;-D

Where’s Puddles?

If I was at a party and heard someone talking like Tara & Piro, I would politely smile, excuse my self and walk away, because they clearly have no idea what they are talking about.

Poor Luann, feeling unwelcome in her own home. Not knowing what to write comes from low self esteem, she has a lot she could write about

We used to hate word problems in math. I was well into my engineering studies when I finally realized, “Hey all this is nothing but word problems.”

(The difference was that by that point they had become fun.)

Luann call Bern she love to crash the party that going on at your house.

I have one word for Luann — “desratizacion” (from Lio today)

That middle panel reveals a great ability to describe imaginary scenes both in physical terms and social/emotional ones on several levels; Luann has far better literary potential than she gives herself credit for. Why is she always so drawn to agree with her own doofuness, when underneath there is so much potential?

Getting ideas are not her problem…….

Luann IS boring. To Piro and Tara. She needs to find some one boring who thinks she is great. Isn’t that love?

I hear the striped M&M’s are useful for detecting perverts, as they are unable to discern the pattern. =:-O

You got this Luann.

Maybe try the green ones? lol

If Luann thinks she’s THAT boring,maybe she and Gunther ARE the perfect match!!

The thick ones with the nuts inside are much better than the regular.And they do SO melt in your hand.

The brown m&m’s and BO are just metaphors for Luann feeling inadequate and disconnected. Tara and Piro are two peas in a pod; they’re the kind who would drive off-terrain-vehicles, go cliff diving…. They’ve both had rough experiences growing up; they connect. If Luann were not so insecure it wouldn’t bother her; she would stop trying to be part of something she knows she’s not…. start the assignment by herself, remind T&P why they are there, go get the snacks etc., feel comfortable in her own skin and not feel like she has to be something that she is not. But Luann is basically insecure…. especially now.

Huh, valid point actually, lots of people commented on how she was becoming the odd one out. Which is especially frustrating when it happens in your own house, and when you were hoping to have a pleasant time. In this case, the body positioning other people noticed in the last couple of strips was a nice touch!

I would also like to draw attention to the fact that this strip shows some of the better parts of both Luann and Bernice. Luann, although usually daydreaming and being silly, does on occasion just land down firmly on reality, and when she does, she tends to have some good idea about what’s going on. Here, she knows that no matter how she may entertain ideas about Piro, in reality it would be a bad idea. And she also knows why she is feeling annoyed, which is not a level of self-awareness common in teenagers.Bernice on the other hand, has dropped the snark and holier-than-thou attitude for once, and is actually asking to understand her friend (I know, not much, but for Bernice, that’s a rare good side).For those saying Luann’s comment is out of nowhere, Bernice’s comments in the last page were translating in essentially “why are you annoyed if you are not interested in Piro?”

I’ve known people like Tara and Piro. All they ever talk about are their wild adventures (which always sound made-up) instead of participating in a well rounded conversation. Nobody likes a bragger.

Progress! Luann admits that she is a dork. Too bad she’s also too dull to realize that she is running through a host of imaginative story possibilities….

I like that the Luann comic as a whole has evolved, but sometimes I feel like the core cast really don’t interact as they could and should. It almost feels like they’re no longer friends. Instead of Gunther talking about Bets to Les I would like to see him lean on Luann and have her reassure him of what a great guy he is or maybe even Tiffany considering they have history. I’m still waiting for a delta appearance, she may be away at college but doesn’t she come home for the summer and holidays ? It’s like she disappeared. And it’s time for Aaron hill to come back and shake things up. I have been a fan since practically the beginning and still find myself running online to read the new days comic, but these new characters just don’t have that excitement, maybe because I’ve connected to the original since I’ve known them longer, I like that the cast has grown but I would like to see the original crew connect more than it feels they have been.