Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for November 28, 2011

And you don’t know the half of it!

I’m waiting with bated breath to see the end of this suspenseful storyline.No, actually, I am not.

Pure sitcom. Last panel made me laugh out loud.

Wasn’t TJ the one who suggested the idea, even though he did try to take it back? Convenient how he left that part out while telling Brad!

Brads comment leaves me wondering if he already knows everything because they set TJ up and he is lying again, or if he is explaining that he has no powers of persuasion over Toni.

This is stoopid. Did Greg die or something? I think Jeffy from Family Circus is writing this.

I can’t blame TJ. The girl has a mind, and it’s up to her to use it.

Well TJ is a little late to deliver that news, we all already know Toni’s already compromised her job like total dummy. But as much as it frustrates me to think this, I’m betting that her plan will result in Brad getting his job back.

TJ is looking not just dumb but also silly. Brad is right, for once. Rather Pythonesque today, overall.

Brad has great powers of persuation?

That means Brad would have Grape Nuts!

What ya expect? Toni went to see Ann without thinking things through, without thinking of possible scenarios and results….it would make sense she would be doing it yet again. Now Brad is seeing this side of Toni. Impulsive. Reactive. Irrational. Illogical. Something for him to chew on…if he wants her as his future wife.

Brad knows what Toni will do. He will get his job back.

Didn’t this used to be about teenagers? What’s with the dramacidal plots?

They did work at different houses, but since with Toni’s threat it’s clear Greg will not only throw any semblance of how unions work out the window to tie this mess up in a pretty bow, I think it’ll be irrelevant who’s in charge of which house. The entire department will wuv twu wuv, because it’s “noble”.

TJ is trying to do the right thing this time. in his mind at least.

It’s simple.Daytona is going to get her ass fired. Good riddance, especially if it ends with her leaving this strip.

Years ago, Gary Trudeau had Doonesbury’s Uncle Duke facing an Iranian firing squad, trying to bribe his way out of being executed. At that point, in real life, the Iranians stormed the embassy and began the so-called hostage crisis— which ended the day that Ronald Reagan took the oath of office.

But during the entire hostage crisis, we never saw or heard from Uncle Duke. Trudeau didn’t dare make light of the situation, nor could he have a character getting out of a tight spot, as long as the lives of actual people hung in the balance.

I relate that story because Greg is in a similar situation with Brad being laid off. As long as the economy is down, and real-life firefighters find their jobs in jeopardy, Greg can’t send Brad back to the fire station. I suspect one of two alternatives: Either Brad will stop Toni from falling on the sword, and that will cement their relationship; or Toni will leave the fire station, and she and Brad will embark on something together.

Just my two cents.

What’s Toni going to do with her tattoo, which blazons her firefighting company? I was really disappointed in her when she did that. Now, my reaction is confirmed.

Correct. It would not be a good idea for a dating couple to work on the same FD/EMS shift, perhaps even the same station. If one of the two gets injured while on a call, the other will be distracted and not be able to do their job effectively. It’s why, for example, when there are multiple injuries, the FD/EMS people who are injured are always evacuated first – to keep the remaining personnel focused on their duties.

Family working together is not always bad. My folks were volenteer ambulance attendants and EMTs. They along with my sister were one of the best crews they had.

Brad’s last comment is his translation of their relationship: “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

Too late to talk to Toni, Brad.

She’s probably ALREADY Lost Her Job, THANKS to THAT Grining Jackass in FRONT of You.

But Fear Not, I’ve got a BETTER idea:

1) You Toni take a Million dollar Accidental Death and Dismemberment Policy on ’Ole Smiley.

2) Then “accidently” PUSH him out in FRONT of a SPEEDING Truck.

Heck, I’ll SWEAR I Didn’t SEE Him….,

Hey! No insulting, Brad, he knows what Toni is doing for him, it’s his friend who’s being a bit thick at the moment.

Better to get in something else soon. Firefighter pensions are toast.

Yeah, Brad. Go to her. On your way though, stop by Jared’s.

@tgilmorex Why confuse the issue with facts.. Every one can point fingers later.. But he is right Brad needs to have a word with Toni before she really screws both of them out of their careers.

@Richard Russell, Loved your comparison to the Marine Corps. It’s just like TJ to call it weird chick stuff and leave out his part in the plan. I’m disappointed that Toni went along with it as well as going to see Ann. I thought she was more level-headed. Last panel – Brad may mean that he and Toni have a relationship of equals with neither trying to persuade the other.

One wonders if Brad would be so against what Toni’s doing if he were aware of the last thing she said to the captain, in Saturday’s strip

OMG lighten up, he was so obviously making a joke – and a funny one! Try to enjoy your life more, you’ll live a lot longer.

Considering Toni was on her way to talk to the captain when T.J. was at the fire station, he would have only seconds to contact Brad, tell him about the situation, and ask Brad to stop Toni. So, why didn’t he call Brad instead of taking time to get back to the house to tell him?

Toni = firedBrad = re-hiredToni = hired at Weenie World, working for Ann Eifflel

Brad is far too calm. I still believe that they are setting up TJ for a fall. For TJ to have caused so much angst and then to just pretend that it didn’t happen? And then proving that was the wrong idea by presenting him with an opportunity to strike again? He’s got a rude awakening coming real soon.

Toni go work at Weenie World? If this was a plan to get back at TJ, Why would they involved the Captain? so payback at TJ is out of the mix. Get these two married, working and a room. Then go back to Rosa and Gunther.

From the start I saw this as a moment for the Captain to show leadership and help his team member to make the right choices.

It’s just a fiction story. Thanks to the writer because I like to see how his imagination goes.

This is a good point, I meant to say so the other day. I wonder what kind of mail Evans is getting over this!

On second thought, this is more like that hideous “Love is” strip. “Love is…committing career suicide.”

excuse me…..when does this comic get funny???

Brad knows when to say, “Yes, Dear.” Saturday it looked like Toni was going to pop the question instead of Brad.

Both Toni and Brad could easily end up in the Marines…

heh Greg what’s happen,, interesting networking in the world these days,,

I have this vision of tonnes of mail waiting for him. Never go on vacation, it’s hazardous!

Yeah, so our characters may not be performing as stellar enlightened forty-year-olds. Come on: anybody remember the endemic drama queens of our teens to thirties?

Brad’s going to figure out a new business or get on with a nerd who’s got one, work very hard, and become Mister Steady with sometime flashes of heroism.

Toni’s going to become the total girl-to-die for except once she will betray Brad and after mucho fanfare they will re-unite.

TJ will be mayor for years, after Phoenix law school, for which he will hire middle school kids to do the assignments for his degree. S.O.P.

Remember Toni’s bro? He’s “Working” as an actor… How can he possibly afford to do that? It’s because when his parents died, Toni and he became beneficiaries of their parents estate(s), Often trusts are set up for minor children and the money isn’t distributed until a certain age is attained. I expect Toni’s bro had reached that age, hence his abililty to do what he wishes. Now Toni’s has been contacted by attorneys and knows that she’s LOADED. Brad has found his “Sugar Momma”.

Mojito, cools your jets. Brad saved Dirk’s life when Dirk chased Brad and Toni. Toni is partially to blame for Brad losing his job at WW. It’s been mu contention that Brad knew that his losing his job and not being able to pay rent t6o his parents would create a real hardship on them. Thats the reason he took the WW job, and that’s the reason he was angry with Toni. He needed to protect his family and the WW job was his answer, at least in the short term to his problems. He stated that he knew what he was doing, but it seems that Toni and TJ thought they knew better.

I was really glad to see Brad end up with Toni, as unreal as it seemed but this dog ‘n pony show has run the course. I’d rather see Luann’s messy bedroom as a gag than this everyday.

And so what if Brads boss sucked. We’ve all had bosses we hated. Bosses that were manipulative, cranky whiners. Bosses that make you hate life the second you walk through the doors. You deal with it or you leave. Your choice.

Toni has already played her hand, so we know that this is not some sort of trick for TJ’s benefit. I hope Brad is smart enough to go to the captain, point out Toni’s conflict of loyalties, buy some time, and then talk to her. Toni does not have to be Joan of Arc for Brad, and Brad has to grow up, show some character and love for Toni, and convince her not to throw away her career. If he doesn’t, their future together will be doomed because Toni will always resent him for her mistake.

Did somebody in this forum really ask Greg Evans on the side what religion the characters practiced? I have my sources. One answer could be the Christian Militant Yak Klan — or CMYK for short. Let’s drop that idea under the bridge and see if it floats.

Oh, and my kind need to be centrist. You’d be amazed at our loss of control if we’re unbalanced – right or left wing.

I can’t believe you don’t get it! Toni is doing a selfless act for a person she cares about. We all know (well at least the people that have read back before to when TJ was in Firefighter school) that Toni really loves this job! She is a pro firefighter and the only woman in her station. That required dedication and hard work, she wouldn’t date Brad in the beginning because of that. Toni is taking a mature (in a way stupid but it’s good) act, willing to put her dream job down for a person she cares about. That’s what is means to be a real hero. SO STOP TALKING CRAP ABOUT TONI!

“If you don’t [fill in the blanks], I’ll quit” is blackmail of a sort. Sorry Toni, dumb move. You’d go and I wouldn’t take you back. I’d also have to think twice about taking Brad back. Better move is asking the boss what it would take to get Brad back.

I think Brad will get his job back and the Chief will somehow spill the beans about Toni mentioning the H word. She has stopped Brad each time he has brought up marriage and now she brings it up. I doubt there is a breakup in their future since Bad/Toni is so popular with the readers. Personally, I think that they are so popular Greg could spin them off as a separate strip. The Brad/Toni storyline is more interesting to me than any of the other ones.

This one actually WAS funny!!!!!

You’re quite right – Brad didn’t ask Toni for anything. And he’s not asking for her to do this now – she’s doing this truly stupid “noble” gesture to pay him back ofr “saving her life”, and also because she feels guilty for being the cause of his WW firing, so she’ll make amends by threatening to quit unless he gets rehired. Love is stupid, fer damn sure. .Buit it’s not the “love is stoopid” premise that bugs here. Greg developed Toni from someone who made excuses for an abusive boyfriend, to someone who developed the strength to leave him to someone who, because she recognized her codependency issues, wouldn’t commit to another relationship until she was sure of her feelings. Now after all that, he’s shown Toni to be someone who has no identity outside of her boyfriend. Pretty sad, Greg. The only thing that’s really changed is that Brad’s a nice, low key guy and not a thug, but other than that, Toni’s right back where she started all those years ago. Hopefully Brad won’t let her tank her career should the captain call her bluff and accept her resignation, but it doesn’t make the situation palatable by any means..As you suggested, Greg needs to get out and see how the “real” world functions. I just think he needs to take a few people with him who think that she “owes” Brad for rescuing her from Dirk, or for anything else for that matter, on that field trip.

I think you’re onto something. I haven’t finished reading the comments, but so far it looks like you’re the only one who thinks like I do.

@mojitobabyI think that maybe you need to give Toni a pass for now. Part of the point here is that she getting ready to love and commit, but (perhaps due to her past with her brother and with Dirk) is still very young romantically. It’s not so much that she “has no identity outside of her boyfriend” but that she’s still thinking of love in a sugary romantic sense. “be ex-firefighters together..” Perhaps Greg wants to advance the relationship at the same time he signals she’s still too young and immature.

Mojito, some times I think you are dense on purpose. Who gets hurt if Brad can’t pay rent? His parents. Who gets hurt Toni lets Brad handle his life his way? No one. Do you require Brad to cede all of his choices to Toni? Can Brad make any decisions without her approval? Toni and Brad are in a relationship, but they are nor married or living together, therefore there is separation in thier lives. If toni want to have a say in every facet of Brads lif, she’d better marry the dolt. You do not improve a relationship by overstepping, you harm it.

Brad was better when he was a slug don’t try and make him anything else

Good point about the promotion/move problem, and if both Toni and Brad had different careers and one couldn’t get employment and had to move to find it and the other had to decide whether to relocate, do a job search or whatever, I could see it. I coulds even see if they weren’t married but were a solid couple. It happens all the time. .But to say, if you can’t work, neither will I because I can’t be happy unless you’re doing the same job I worked so hard to get, and had to prove myself capable of doing more than once, is positively moronic. And I can’t imagine a SO who truly loves the other letting their SO do such a thing out of “love”. .As I said before, there’s love. And then there’s martyrdom. Guess which one this is.

I still see the strategic pregnancy on the horizon. The way Toni is being developed as a character, that move on her part is easily predictable at this point. And… a ton of hindsight, woulda/could/shoulda, and regret afterwards. Tony’s just like her brother, Shannon gets a “sibling”, etc. That story line will write itself. Brad and Toni will definitely get married over it, and their life will go on. Story wraps up quite neatly, in actuality.

The captain should fire her sorry butt and hire that nice trashman Dirk instead.

Right, Chick stuff like quitting your job for a man.