Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 05, 2015

Ah, the “I don’t want to look like I’m here to make out with you, so I’ll do the damsel in distress thing” trick.

Tiff has a crush. That’s so sweet.

“So don’t point and stare, [Tiff’s] just technologically impaired.” ~Alfred Yankovic (“Amish Paradise”)

Well, at least I can look at that pic of Peru, and be reminded of Rosa… – Sometimes, people are like chemical combinations. Put one together with another (such as Tiffany with Luann), and you could potentially have an explosive situation, though sometimes, it’s just a faint “pop”. But put that one with another (say, perhaps, Tiffany with Gunther), and you get a totally different result, maybe even a very neutral and stable new substance. Here we see Tiffany not needing to resort to any “catty” behavior, and both she and Gunther seem comfortable with one another, and not all the “meow! hiss! swipe!” as at other times (with Luann). – That last pause, and an “uh…” would seem to indicate that it was just a “clever ploy” to visit Gunther. However, it is ever so possible that Tiffany just wants to not seem as though there’s some other reason- more so, it seems that the very thought of the answer to that question is enough to make her feel a bit “self conscious” at not showing that she’d enjoy her time there visiting. She probably came over there for the very reason she stated, but the thought of her enjoying her time there gives her reason to “not show her cards” right away. Yep, they like each other….

She looks so sweet and vulnerable.

“Uh- yes.” Translation: I miss you.

I hope y’all are right that Tiff wants to be with Gunther. Extremely sad if the stated reason IS the reason. Gunth – try to give her some rope. And sit NEXT to her to help!

Have a CARE, Gunther. And DON’T Let What Happens Next Go Beyond “Friendship.” This Is Tiffany Remember? The One that Used to Treat You like something STUCK to the Bottom of Her Shoe?She Hasn’t Changed. She’s STILL all about Looks.Don’t Believe Me?Well, Just REVERT Back to the Old “LL Bean Wearing, Horned Rimmed Glasses Brandishing, Pocket-Protector” Gunther.She’d be Outta of There Like a LIT Cat.

Well, now he’s being nice to her. Apparently he just had to be churlish in front of his mom in order to make a point.

You’re all missing the point. Tiff wants to find out what classes Gunther is taking. She wants someone to study with. Actually, she’s lonely and wants Gunther to study with her.

Obviously something happened during the time that Gunther spent in Tiffany’s dorm room that he feels upset about, and his hostile greeting of her shows that he has been trying to avoid her since then. Tiffany is trying to let him know that whatever it was, it’s OK. She’s had to take the initiative in patching things up, since she’s a lot more mature than he is.

“Boy Meets Girl”“Gin And Platonic”“What Am I Doing Here?”“What Am I Doing, Here?”“Love Wrapped In A Mystery, Folded Into An Enigma, And Sauteed Until A Light, Golden Brown”""Summer Breezy, Some Are Not"“Casual Monday”“Tech’d Off”“The Pros Of Convenience”“It Doesn’t Register”“A Virtual Left Turn At Albuquerque”or“Love, Greater Pitts Metropolitan Combined Statistical Area Style”

I honestly think your sensors need rebooting, this time. I’m thinking she’s being completely honest; she tried to register online and got it all messed up. And she doesn’t like to admit that she made a mistake, so she’s hesitating when Gunther asks (in a kind of astonished way) if that is really why she’s there….

That yes seemed a lot like a no.

you’re all wrong – her ulterior motive has surfaced – she’s made it to Quill’s bed!

seriously though – looks like something more substantial than that – will be interested to find out.

One of the many unanswered questions from the previous encounter – how did Gunther get home? He was originally going to call his mum. If he had to walk, would be one possible explanation for his late arrival…

Gunther is the most interesting story at this comic strip. I especially like his transformation from nerd to what he has become.

The last time Tif and Gunther were togethr after a day of lizard hunting for bilogy class. She told him he smelled like a lizard and needed a shower. While he was in the shower she joined him without her robe and said she needed a hug.Nothing happened?She needs another hug? Bilogy happened?

@BobCu, I agree.

This seemed the logical reason she might come, but is it the real one.??.Was she about to say she was “just lonely”?

That’s going to be a nice dinner! No way to lose with that ambiance!

Could it be that Tiffany is very pregnant ? If so, lots of heart wrenching decisions are going to take place. Life could get very interesting for Gunther and Tiff.

Actually, as I was typing, I started thinking to myself: “Hmm!…. ambiance is almost like ambulance…” – “600 feet is a rather long drop, guess I better behave.”^LOL, yeah, try waiting until you’re back on the ground, before you “misbehave”! – That, and don’t order the chicken parm… talk about ambulance…

Its weird that she misses him…

Ugh, his new look is just shabby. I hope Luann won’t be mad Tiff sat on Quill’s bed!

I think both characters grew up a LOT freshman year of college. Gunth now is not only physically different but he’s got a whole new angsty, energized approach, more rugged-like. And I think Tiffany may have realized she wasn’t hot stuff any more.

Considering all the speculation, I hope this ends super well, for both of them!Christmas is coming!

Gunth was expecting her to say she was expecting.

Luann has come a long way. My first thought was that Tiff is preggers. I know. Outrageous, right?

I’m looking for a friend (desperately), and you seemed to be…uh…possibly a friend. Maybe. Please, help me! I don’t want to take Advance Arabic! And, uh, I just want a safe friend, you know?

No doubt Tiff’s attracted to Gunther, but without knowing what happened before, who can say what will happen next. Just have to wait and see.

I still think she’s “late”.

UH-YES with wide open eyes says "anxiety"to me. Is she really uncertain about something? Doesn’t seem like our Tiffany. So she’s got an agenda… seems about right. But could be most anything: trouble with Dad – loneliness – curiosity about the “new” Gunther. But probably nothing to do with Luann, her job, school, or Quill

Aw, C’mon Tiff. Take the “Advanced Arabic!” Become a Govt. Translator and fight terrorism! ;-PPP

Advanced Arabic and Welding 101 would be one hell of a lot more interesting than what people in this comic are actually “studying”, like papier mache masks and upside down toilets.

Uh,no.

Oh rats.

She’s pregnant.

But Tiffany, are you sure I’m the father? I mean there so many others.

Gunther keeps asking questions……..probing. Now they’re in his bedroom and he’s still probing. Is this a metaphor for another kind of bedroom activity? Or, am I just hoping for a story line where two opposites have a nice little romance that is good for both of them?

“Uh – yes.” (“THAT’S the ticket…”)

Is she undressing him with her eyes?

Deer in headlights look.

“It’d be better for all parties if they became friends instead of trying to date.”-—————————————————————————————-

BINGO!

Doesn’t she have that ‘deer caught in headlights’ look in the last panel?

Did the bed’s switch sides? I really thought Gunther’s was on the door opening side?

“Gunther, I’ve fallen deeply in love with you and I’m just using any excuse I can think of to be near you. Will you hold me tightly, the way I’ve been dreaming ever since the night of the ants?”

“This is a nice view, my beloved.”.“Is it? I only have eyes for you.”

Maybe she wants to talk about whatever happened on that evening in her dorm room (and Gunther doesn’t want to), or maybe she wants to let Gunther know that it’s OK not to talk about it. She just wants him to know that whatever it was that happened, she’s OK with it, and he shouldn’t be upset about it (as he obviously is).

“Gunther… I’m.. late.” “No you’re not, you came here right on—” “No Gunther, I mean I’m .. LATE.”

“It sure was nice of your dad to fly us to Seattle for a meal on the Space Needle, Tiffany.”“Yeah, he REALLY likes us being together, Gunther. And look at that sweet older couple here for their 25th anniversary.”From the distance, “Allahu Akhbar!”A man with flowing beard, robe and turban comes up.“You must help us. We need someone who speaks Arabic well and who can weld.”“I’m not your girl. I can barely use a heliarc and I still stumble over the more esoteric verbs.”“Curses, how will we hold off the terrorists without you.”Luann pops up like some beautiful ninja."“I’m your man. I learned all that in art class.”...Not to be continued, praise his name

She can’t get enough of that hunk of burning love!

since the characters are beginning to age in this strip, albeit at a slower pace than Funky Winkerbean, I think Evans may be pairing up the unlikely combos, like Batiuk did with Cindy and Funky. But honestly, if Tiffany is starting to mature at all, she has to be thinking of Gunther as a much better, and stable, partner. A lot to learn from each other. She isn’t that stupid. What’s next? Bernice and TJ?

Well, whatever’s going on, hurry up before ole’ ma Berger comes barging in with the tea.

In agreement, but Gunther needs to set boundaries with his mom, so some petulance won’t hurt. I just wish his girl radar were better.

So Gunth finally got a girl into his bedroom!

oooh, Gunther’s “entertaining” a member of the opposite sex, in a bedroom, with the door closed and under his mother’s roof no less !! maybe there’s hope for that boy yet.

now then, back to mom and Mr. Grey…..l

Note that the Gunther / Quill bedroom didn’t used to even have a door:-

-One must have been added recently, after Mr. Gray started spending evenings chez Berger…

Tiff and Gunther will become an item and either;a) Luann will get majorly Jealous ORb) Rosa will reappear and give Tiff a peruvian necktie

Implausible…. I agree with you that it would probably be in both of their best interests if they developed a real strong friendship first…. but I could also see that develop into a dating relationship too. In my own mind’s eye, that is the way I am hoping the story arc goes.

Implausible…. you stated, “Today further supports that, Gunther is too at ease…had he done something embarrassing or they had kissed his demeanor would be drastically different.”However, I would suggest that Gunther’s reaction yesterday could be an indication of his embarassement. So, at least in my book… they may still ahve been more that happened on the evening in her dorm room. But, by more, I suspect at most it is only a little more. I am still not particularly keen on the new Gunther yet. He is still coarsely petulant with his mother, he is screamy (as you suggest) at other friends, and he seems to be purposefully keeping his facial hair at the scruffy, “Miami Vice” level. I still think he should let it grow out into an actual beard and moustache… or shave it off.

Tiffany didn’t go to Gunther to flirt or any romantic reason. She went there for help, but romance will brew.

Overall, my take (and if I were to make a wager) is that TIffany is a bit smitten with Gunther, and that she is here to try to get a bit more of the friendship/potential boyfriend thing going. I really like that wide-eyed expression shown by Tiffany. It gives her a gentleness, and definitely makes her seem nicer and more pleasant to me.

It’s amazing what a three-day beard can do for a guy’s image, isn’t it, Tiff?

Gunther got her pregnant!

It seems like Gunther is hoping for something more personal – maybe something did occur after Tiff took that dorm room shower! Tiff seems to be hesantly saying that is why she is there. Perhaps she wants more of that dorm room attention she got & gave!

She’s there for other reasons.

Boy, Greg you certainly know how to get the people in airports who happen to read the paper EVERY day to find out the latest in Luann, because we never know for sure, and these characters have so much damn character and circumstance, and you adroitly make us wonder, what the heck is going to happen next. That is one of the things that makes this toon so great, and why I have been one of those fanatics for maybe 15 (?) years. In this instance I apply the old opposites attract rule: I think the two are attracted to each other, TIffany because she is vulnerable and hot, and really needs some help to maturely confront the college world, and Gunther because he is maturing, recognizes a hot girl when he sees one and is attracted to her, and maybe they have a possible chance at growing together. Neither is perfect, but then who is as the Edward James Olmos character said in Bladerunner? I could be wrong but I do think there is more here in Tiff’s mind, and I am becoming to actually like her more because I can see the vulnerability, and why, and Gunther I always had far more faith in his development than some in this blog, who thought he was a hopeless forever nebbish.

And then there is Rosa. Watch that she comes back at just the moment we are all convinced that Gunther and Tiffany actually have a chance.

For Tiffany, step one is trust. Perhaps for Gunther it is being needed. I would like to see this develop into a nice relationship that continues to grow. Gunther and Tiffany, holding hands and surprising everyone else in their circle. Kinda’ cute.

Looking at Tiffany’s facial expression I wonder if something bad has happened, maybe with her dad, and she wants to talk about it. I mean who would she have to talk with? Gunther is the only character I remember her talking with much about her family situation.

Exit left, Mom, carrying a trayful of cookies and two glasses of milk.*Or perhaps Quill. “Tiffany, what are you doing here? Let go of my poor roommate NOW.”

I should not get into this, but maybe because I am procrastinating doing some hard stuff I will. I don’t think that Luann is jealous of Tiffany having an interest in Gunther, or vice-versa, in any way. I think she would more likely be happy for them. She is a friend of Gunther, and a rival of, not too, Tiffany, but she is good-hearted, and would see this as possibly a good development for both. She has Quill, and history shows that Luann has only room in her heart one guy at a time.

Who knew…?

…The “Positive” symbol came up really quickly this morning!!!….Hmmmm…….

It would be fascinating if it turned out that what Tiffany is looking for, at this point in her life, isn’t a boyfriend, but a mother-figure to confide in. I haven’t been reading all that long, but all I’ve ever seen is her talking about her father. No mention of a mother. Maybe she’ll end up being pals with Mrs. Berger and we’ll finally find out what Mrs. B’s first name is…

> Greg did mention at one time that he would let us know more about Tiffany’s home life. I figure a good time for that would be in place of the next warehouse installment, Karen.>Even another week of Fogarty Flashbacks would be preferable to revisiting the warehouse story arc.

I don’t think Tiff is even attracted to him. She keeps ending up in situations with him that are leaving him with the impression she likes him. But she’ll only talk to him when she needs something.

Poor Gunth. He’s being used and he’s confusing it with love…

I’m not saying this is necessarily the path Mr. Evans is taking, but recall that Toni Daytona started dropping by Brad’s place for no reason at all… several times… before finally admitting to him that she’s in love with him. Plus the fact that both of them were sharing vulnerabilities before the biology field outing, a major step toward genuine friendship. Also consider that in several past strips (while both were still in high school), Tiffany had some appreciation for Gunther even before his major changes. I like to think that some maturing is taking place here for both of them, and that the “mad match” is not so crazy after all.

It’s not clear that we have seen very much “maturing” on Gunther’s part at all. Surliness is not maturity.

@edwardcjrIs she undressing him with her eyes?

She’s in for some disappointment then, Luann saw the whole package and found it all very humorous. Everyone else felt sorry for Gunther.-—————————————-He’s grown some beard since then. .Besides, how would Luann have been all that knowledgeable of comparative facts??

Night-Gaunt49 said @Dennis DowneyYou’re all missing the point. Tiff wants to find out what classes Gunther is taking. She wants someone to study with. Actually, she’s lonely and wants Gunther to study with her.-Yes that was the primary reason. But there is just a hint, a whiff of something more….-——————————————————Agree, but also . . . .She may not want to have a lonely ‘suite’ next year. .Gunther could share.

Despite the heavy makeup and Victoria’s Secret wardrobe, Tiff is not a promiscuous girl, and is probably still a virgin. If Greg takes this relationship slowly and carefully, their first kiss will be tentative and nervous and well worth the wait. First we need Tom Brady to deflate some of the pressure that Gunther has built up inside of him.

pretty soon there will be a knock on the door with tea and cookies, but for now Tiff’s eyes in the last panel seem a bit large, making her look a somewhat bewildered.

Gunther has long been attracted to Tiff. Serious at times. .She was VERY mean to him, exceedingly disparaging and downright cruel many times. Treated him like dirt..Perhaps Gunther will now set things up to take revenge against Tiff. .Play for her heart, then gleefully smash it! .He has shown an unstable streak lately.

In the last panel Tiff’s answer lacks punctuation. But her attitude and posture indicates that it is a question mark, as in, “Uh, Yes? I guess so? and not the real reason I’m here?”

“You can never fully predict human action and behavior.”^No, but then again, I don’t have to. A lot of things sort of “do it for you”. For instance, when I came back to read, I could reasonably feel assured that I would be communicating with others here in English (or, at least a reasonable variation or two of it). I also felt comfortable “banking” on the fact that others would be communicating in English. – I also took it that if I kicked my neighbor on his shin today, it would be followed with a pleasant time on the patio with him, eating donuts and sipping iced tea.

Well, I now have since learned today. not to assume that that would ever be a “natural consequence” of kicking someone on their shin…. – I still am undecided about what to think about the words “Cubs”, “posteason” and “victory” in the same sentence…

Plus, I was just speaking of certain instances and conditions, as an example. Just as with many other analogies, similes, metaphors and “related junk”, things can be understood to mean “this or that” in a relative and “abstract” sense.

I have no idea where this is going to go.

“6 O’Clock And All Is Weld”^Nicely done! – “Something Is Not Registering…^A better way to say it than what I did….

Tiffany..Stiffany!.

AND, SPOILER ALERT.

Happy day! Tiff was real, Gunther was good enough to extend a helping hand and both looked like they were totally happy (for real) when Mrs. B showed up with cookies and tea…

In fact, Gunther was so pleased that he didn’t bark at his mother!

Oops.And then she made Ann lie down on it?

Busted!