It’s a humorously exaggerated fantasy version about what the superior child raised by Toni and Brad would be like — with the money and parental motivation to direct her energy into activities and growing up with the expectation of civilized behavior (helping to clean up rather than being destructive). Real Shannon’s just sort of a tumbleweed who goes where her whims and anxieties take her.
I like the change of pace. Not saying that I want Greg to stay away, but this alternate reality is fun. I want to see Fosgitt’s take on Luann, TJ, and Tiffany.
How would Shannon learn to crave structure with Toni and Brad as her parents if they don’t seem to provide her any now? Their daydreams don’t seem to have anything to do with reality.
Oboe? Oh Toni. Shannon’s true artistic expression is as the bestselling author of the Monstro and Puddles story. Shannon is no Evelyn Rothwell (Lady Barbirolli).
I’ll speculate again, could this be another (possibly even two) pieces in the final arc involving Jonah being in the strip?
Toni (and Brad?) fantasizing about what raising Shannon would be like, and very soon having to decide whether to put up or shut up with the exit of Jonah by means of his demise or, for that matter, with all this travel he’s talking about, his character doing a full on heel turn and simply choosing not to come back and abandoning Shannon (weaseling out under the cover of ‘It’s for her own good because I’m not cut out to be a good dad’)?
To go that extra yard, could this guest artist stint even be happening to give G&K a clear patch of time to really roll up their sleeves and go all in on what would be one of the biggest/most momentous arcs in awhile?
Okay, that’s more than enough sticking my neck out for now. ;)
Maybe instead of daydreaming, Toni and Brad should actually be talking about the situation with Shannon and Jonah and what they’re going to do about it?
Even fantasy characters get to have fantasies. Shannon is enthusiastic and could be developed into what is shown here. I remember a 6-year-old neighbor who liked to clean my place. I finally had to lock the door even though I appreciated her intentions. She would be pushing 50 by now.
I wonder if the script is different than usual to adapt to Jay Fosgitt’s beautiful way of drawing or if they wrote it as usual and then the artist interpreted it following his inspiration. Toni’s imagination is too positive. A little girl like this may be the dream of many parents, but it makes me appreciate more the fact that Shannon is a hurricane and not a perfect little robot. Now I’d like to see what Brad imagines, maybe the family fixing the car together, dirty but happy.
If this is the “Dark Mirror” alternate universe or Bizarro World of the actual Luannverse, then not only Shannon possesses a 180 degree opposite personality but probably Ann Eifel would be a kind and caring saint like Pru. Additionally, Gunther would be a lazy slacker like Knute while Knute would be valedictorian of the high school class and Luann would have been salutatorian. Luann would currently be going to med school on a full scholarship. OTOH Bern would be fun loving and risk taking like Tara and likely hanging out at the community college.
IMO, very Disney-esque in style. Toni kinda reminds me of Cinderella… Brad sporting that “skunk” look (I get that it’s supposed to be shiny black hair) with his hair makes me wonder if there is some hidden meaning in this…Hope Greg comes back soon, well rested, relaxed and rejuvenated, and can save us from all of this…
I’m sorry. But if Brad, and, Toni, actually think that this is how Shannon would’ve turned out, if they had raised her, then they aren’t ready for real parenthood. Because how they imagined Shannon is totally unrealistic.
Nice artwork. I enjoy Greg’s style too, and of course Greg’s creates the overall feel of the Luann comic. This art deviates from the Luann feel which surprised me at first because I didn’t expect a guest artist to change the feel of the comic. It is nice to have a talented artist rather than the standard joke of a small child with limited art skills taking over.
“What would Shannon be like if we had raised her” is a really stupid statement. If she is six, she is a long way from being “raised”. Brad and Toni have every right to expect discipline and good manners from a child who resides in their home as much as she does. They just don’t do it.
Not too sure how comics work but gonna ask anyway. Is there a reason they don’t grow up in “comic world”? I would like to see her start kindergarten, etc., at least. I mean, is LuAnn gonna be in college forever? Just saying. Thanks!
So where did all the dishes come from that are depicted in panel three? They certainly didn’t come off the table. Talk about exaggerating for effect! This goody goody, pie in the sky cartoon is really boring. How long is this guest cartooning going to last for?
Finding the fantasy segment amusing. Kind of reminds me of a style when a TV series will do an episode where all the characters become cartoons. Couldn’t quite put my finger on the style, but Disney has been mentioned in several comments. I suppose I could see that. Enjoying the artwork as much as I have enjoyed Greg’s all along. Better than anything I could produce, that’s for sure.
Having fun with this segment and would like to see more of the Luannverse crew in this arc.
Something between the “real” Shannon and this amped up version would be nice, but:1) It’s a fantasy sequence2) It’s just a comic strip
MAD Magazine did a similar theme back in 1959 (Biker and beatnik parents lamenting, “Where did we go wrong?”, as their impeccably dressed kids sit on the floor next to them, doing their homework and studying calculus, physics, etc.).
A friend of mine told me once that he would love to have kids… But he wants them to just be adults and not have to go through the growing up part… Too bad that couldn’t be the case!
Seriously…did no one notice that this is Brad and Toni imagining what Shannon would be like if they had raised her. Yes it’s a guest artist, but it works for the purposes of the arc. It’s an ideal sunny world in imagination.
It’s temporary. Greg and Karen made the acquaintance of an artist who is their fan. They liked his style and invited him to do this arc involving a fantasy Toni, Brad and Shannon storyline. I think he has a comic strip of his own as well. Just enjoy the fantasy and try not to be thrown too much by the different artwork. It’s always jarring to me to not see the characters I know and love looking like they are supposed to but these things happen from time to time. Fantasy Shannon creeps me out, too!
All I can think of when I see this artist’s style is that episode of “Family Guy” where Stewie and Brian, bouncing between alternate universes, ended up in one where everything was exaggeratedly drawn as a Disney cartoon, and Peter ends up bursting out into a long song “It’s a Wonderful Day For Pie”…………….. And to those of you that now have that awful earworm living in your skull now, I apologize.
Well, a lot of folks have contributed their feelings about the alternative artwork any story line, so I might as well offer mine. I find both to be cheap cardboard imitations compared to the feeling of the G&K version. I might be able to tolerate it for the two weeks it is presumed it will occupy, but no more than that. I don’t like it at all.
IMO this is another reason to get rid of the Shannon character. It doesn’t even work with a guest writer. Maybe he can take her with him when he leaves.
Linnorm 11 days ago
I think I see a female Dagwood Bumstead.
Mordock999 Premium Member 11 days ago
It just occurred to Me.
The New DeGroots “version” Shannon IS, for all intents and purposes, TODAY’S (SHUDDER) Bernice.
Somebody rouse them from their daydreaming!
QUICK!! ;-)
diazch408 11 days ago
Cool scene. Shannon is acting like Dagwood(who can build a big sandwich).
lvlax 11 days ago
Shannon looks like she’s 12 and Toni looks like she’s in her 30’s… It all feels a little off.
This is one Bizarro daydream Toni is having.
Joe1962 Premium Member 11 days ago
Cool scene.. Of Shannon and Brad and Toni.
Azul0858 11 days ago
It’s a humorously exaggerated fantasy version about what the superior child raised by Toni and Brad would be like — with the money and parental motivation to direct her energy into activities and growing up with the expectation of civilized behavior (helping to clean up rather than being destructive). Real Shannon’s just sort of a tumbleweed who goes where her whims and anxieties take her.
Miles VanDelay 11 days ago
I like the change of pace. Not saying that I want Greg to stay away, but this alternate reality is fun. I want to see Fosgitt’s take on Luann, TJ, and Tiffany.
Argythree 11 days ago
Who is the guest artist, and why is there a guest artist?
charlenelin1201 11 days ago
Delusional!
Rhetorical_Question 11 days ago
Wow! Daydreaming delight
Rhetorical_Question 11 days ago
An alternate realm for Toni Daytona?
Jason Allen 11 days ago
How would Shannon learn to crave structure with Toni and Brad as her parents if they don’t seem to provide her any now? Their daydreams don’t seem to have anything to do with reality.
howtheduck 11 days ago
Oboe? Oh Toni. Shannon’s true artistic expression is as the bestselling author of the Monstro and Puddles story. Shannon is no Evelyn Rothwell (Lady Barbirolli).
syzygy47 11 days ago
Dreaming in technicolor
NellyTheHorse 11 days ago
I’ll speculate again, could this be another (possibly even two) pieces in the final arc involving Jonah being in the strip?
Toni (and Brad?) fantasizing about what raising Shannon would be like, and very soon having to decide whether to put up or shut up with the exit of Jonah by means of his demise or, for that matter, with all this travel he’s talking about, his character doing a full on heel turn and simply choosing not to come back and abandoning Shannon (weaseling out under the cover of ‘It’s for her own good because I’m not cut out to be a good dad’)?
To go that extra yard, could this guest artist stint even be happening to give G&K a clear patch of time to really roll up their sleeves and go all in on what would be one of the biggest/most momentous arcs in awhile?
Okay, that’s more than enough sticking my neck out for now. ;)
Wilkins068 11 days ago
Lookin at the comic above’s makin me think of Ozzy Osborne’s ‘Crazy Train’
Not all the words in th song, just th ’I’m going off the rails on a crazy train’ part
red_tape 11 days ago
Dream Shannon is already getting to be a Stepfordish bore
snsurone76 11 days ago
Betcha this “new artist” is G&K’s apprentice, bucking for his own strip.
snsurone76 11 days ago
Tell me—is “structure” another term for micro-managing every waking moment of a kid’s life?
Robin Harwood 11 days ago
I like this Shannon. Pity she bears no resemblance to any real child, either human or non-human.
French Persons Premium Member 11 days ago
PppppfffffFFFFTTTT HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!! (the reality is quite different).
SeaSnork 11 days ago
Like a robot child. Thumbs down on the plot and the cringe worthy drawings. Gonna be a long 2 or 3 weeks.
preacherman Premium Member 11 days ago
The Toni/Brad fantasy world is about to get a rude awakening.
The Joke Explainer Premium Member 11 days ago
I’m liking this change. Any chance to extend their vacation? I’ll start a gofundme.
mgl179 11 days ago
1 step towards normal and interesting, now 10 steps back towards, well, whatever THIS is. Are they trying to drive readers away.
leighabc123 11 days ago
Structure and Shannon have never been used together in the Luann comic!
Carl Premium Member 11 days ago
Serious drugs fueling this fantasy.
Doubly Horque Premium Member 11 days ago
Great art again Jay!
sueb1863 11 days ago
Maybe instead of daydreaming, Toni and Brad should actually be talking about the situation with Shannon and Jonah and what they’re going to do about it?
pgath71 Premium Member 11 days ago
The only expectation you should have about having a child is that nothing will go as you expect it will…
David Huie Green ForceIsAUsefulFiction 11 days ago
It’s a very pretty hairstyle.
Even fantasy characters get to have fantasies. Shannon is enthusiastic and could be developed into what is shown here. I remember a 6-year-old neighbor who liked to clean my place. I finally had to lock the door even though I appreciated her intentions. She would be pushing 50 by now.
ILK 11 days ago
Actually just a continuation of dragging out a two or three day arc over two weeks.
Mr. Organization 11 days ago
This is high comedy. I feel bad their fantasy will come to an abrupt end eventually.
ajh2i 11 days ago
This is terrible. I hope it doesn’t last longer than this week. :-/
papajim545 11 days ago
I hate this
Serial Pedant 11 days ago
I like Bwad’s new hair…!
Aladar30 Premium Member 11 days ago
I wonder if the script is different than usual to adapt to Jay Fosgitt’s beautiful way of drawing or if they wrote it as usual and then the artist interpreted it following his inspiration. Toni’s imagination is too positive. A little girl like this may be the dream of many parents, but it makes me appreciate more the fact that Shannon is a hurricane and not a perfect little robot. Now I’d like to see what Brad imagines, maybe the family fixing the car together, dirty but happy.
bjs327 11 days ago
If that’s Toni’s vision of the “ideal child”, then she (and by extension Brad) are not ready to be parents.
Ellis97 11 days ago
This is a pretty good art style.
Don Bagert Premium Member 11 days ago
POTENTIAL NEW READER: Okay, today is the day I finally check out what is this strip “Luann” that everybody has talked about over the years…hmm…
I'm Sad 11 days ago
I love this!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
pianist337 11 days ago
I’m enjoying this fantasy arc!
mrsdonaldson 11 days ago
Love the delusions of pre-parenting. :)
elbow macaroni 11 days ago
Is this Disney?
TampaFanatic1 11 days ago
If this is the “Dark Mirror” alternate universe or Bizarro World of the actual Luannverse, then not only Shannon possesses a 180 degree opposite personality but probably Ann Eifel would be a kind and caring saint like Pru. Additionally, Gunther would be a lazy slacker like Knute while Knute would be valedictorian of the high school class and Luann would have been salutatorian. Luann would currently be going to med school on a full scholarship. OTOH Bern would be fun loving and risk taking like Tara and likely hanging out at the community college.
RonMcCalip 11 days ago
IMO, very Disney-esque in style. Toni kinda reminds me of Cinderella… Brad sporting that “skunk” look (I get that it’s supposed to be shiny black hair) with his hair makes me wonder if there is some hidden meaning in this…Hope Greg comes back soon, well rested, relaxed and rejuvenated, and can save us from all of this…
ckvarick 10 days ago
Toni and Brad HAVE raised Shannon. The child is bright, sensitive, creative…and needs a consistent and caring home.
How about some FUN in this COMIC?
ctolson 10 days ago
Boy, Toni is really tripp’n. Most have inhaled some drug or something on her last ambulance run.
vickie.105 10 days ago
Don’t care for the artist’s work on this one.
dv1093 10 days ago
Put me down for a “No”.
A.Ficionada 10 days ago
Dream big, parents to be ; )
tremaine53 10 days ago
The Evans’ got into Paul Gilligan’s pharmaceutical supply.
ahnk_2000 10 days ago
Looks like Luann meets Disney
WilliamVollmer 10 days ago
I’m sorry. But if Brad, and, Toni, actually think that this is how Shannon would’ve turned out, if they had raised her, then they aren’t ready for real parenthood. Because how they imagined Shannon is totally unrealistic.
FanofComics7 Premium Member 10 days ago
Nice artwork. I enjoy Greg’s style too, and of course Greg’s creates the overall feel of the Luann comic. This art deviates from the Luann feel which surprised me at first because I didn’t expect a guest artist to change the feel of the comic. It is nice to have a talented artist rather than the standard joke of a small child with limited art skills taking over.
comic reader 22 10 days ago
“What would Shannon be like if we had raised her” is a really stupid statement. If she is six, she is a long way from being “raised”. Brad and Toni have every right to expect discipline and good manners from a child who resides in their home as much as she does. They just don’t do it.
leomags 10 days ago
We are in a alternate universe here so go with the flow….
kevin.m.rego 10 days ago
It’s the beginning to the spin off Shannon
lemonbaskt 10 days ago
guest artist are people who dont wanna draw stupid luann
The Quiet One 10 days ago
I got nothing.
Wichita1.0 10 days ago
(cue Twilight Zone theme)
Katecst 10 days ago
This kid is boring , bring back the real Shannon. I like her. She would be fun to teach.
Lord King Wazmo Premium Member 10 days ago
1,000% improvement.
CardinalJoesWife 10 days ago
Toni is day DREAMING this. Check out this comic the last few days.Good morning (evening) everyone; have a great day!
[Unnamed Reader - bddb15] 10 days ago
I’ll be back next week …
Guybrush Threepwood 10 days ago
I love the art style, is that a guest or it’s them experimenting?
lisfnord 10 days ago
I think the more important question is, what in the name of god is Brad eating???
Praisnmom 10 days ago
Not too sure how comics work but gonna ask anyway. Is there a reason they don’t grow up in “comic world”? I would like to see her start kindergarten, etc., at least. I mean, is LuAnn gonna be in college forever? Just saying. Thanks!
comic reader 22 10 days ago
So where did all the dishes come from that are depicted in panel three? They certainly didn’t come off the table. Talk about exaggerating for effect! This goody goody, pie in the sky cartoon is really boring. How long is this guest cartooning going to last for?
dsatvoinde Premium Member 10 days ago
Finding the fantasy segment amusing. Kind of reminds me of a style when a TV series will do an episode where all the characters become cartoons. Couldn’t quite put my finger on the style, but Disney has been mentioned in several comments. I suppose I could see that. Enjoying the artwork as much as I have enjoyed Greg’s all along. Better than anything I could produce, that’s for sure.
Having fun with this segment and would like to see more of the Luannverse crew in this arc.
Something between the “real” Shannon and this amped up version would be nice, but:1) It’s a fantasy sequence2) It’s just a comic strip
CharlesRiley 10 days ago
I enjoyed the change when the original Luann drawings changed to their current (previous to yesterday) style. Not sure I’m going to like this one.
GKBOWOOD Premium Member 10 days ago
Gag….
terry 10 days ago
Really like the art! Especially Toni. Where was Jay when Mark Trail needed a new artist?
Mr. Impatient 10 days ago
The artwork reminds me of the Baldo strip.
BlitzMcD 10 days ago
MAD Magazine did a similar theme back in 1959 (Biker and beatnik parents lamenting, “Where did we go wrong?”, as their impeccably dressed kids sit on the floor next to them, doing their homework and studying calculus, physics, etc.).
howtheduck 10 days ago
Even in Toni’s imagination, Brad is a slobby eater. At least that did not change.
French Persons Premium Member 10 days ago
A friend of mine told me once that he would love to have kids… But he wants them to just be adults and not have to go through the growing up part… Too bad that couldn’t be the case!
Metal maiden 10 days ago
what in the heck happened to the previous artist? this is terrible.
AwelCruiz 10 days ago
And this is why Shannon is such a brat. Because a well behaved Shannon isn’t funny!
mindjob 10 days ago
It’s already a bad dream
candomarty Premium Member 10 days ago
Not a fan of this artist
cabalonrye 10 days ago
Dream on.
smsrt 10 days ago
Now I KNOW we’re fanta-super-sizing
drewpamon 10 days ago
Anyone feel like they’re trolling all the Shannon is a monster comments?
eced52 10 days ago
Who loosed the spirit of goodness in Shannon?
Petemejia77 10 days ago
So she becomes Asian if they’ve always taken care of her?
maroon53 10 days ago
Seriously…did no one notice that this is Brad and Toni imagining what Shannon would be like if they had raised her. Yes it’s a guest artist, but it works for the purposes of the arc. It’s an ideal sunny world in imagination.
pearlyqim 10 days ago
I foresee another long and boring story line!
sjsczurek 10 days ago
Is this Toni’s dream? Or Brad’s?
lnrokr55 10 days ago
WOw, extra helping of sarcasm! Bet this drives the regulars in this chatroom crazy. Fun days !
andrew.scharnhorst 10 days ago
Which one of them is (day)dreaming?
eladee AKA Wally 10 days ago
It’s temporary. Greg and Karen made the acquaintance of an artist who is their fan. They liked his style and invited him to do this arc involving a fantasy Toni, Brad and Shannon storyline. I think he has a comic strip of his own as well. Just enjoy the fantasy and try not to be thrown too much by the different artwork. It’s always jarring to me to not see the characters I know and love looking like they are supposed to but these things happen from time to time. Fantasy Shannon creeps me out, too!
LNER4472 Premium Member 10 days ago
All I can think of when I see this artist’s style is that episode of “Family Guy” where Stewie and Brian, bouncing between alternate universes, ended up in one where everything was exaggeratedly drawn as a Disney cartoon, and Peter ends up bursting out into a long song “It’s a Wonderful Day For Pie”…………….. And to those of you that now have that awful earworm living in your skull now, I apologize.
ProclaimLiberty 10 days ago
Well, a lot of folks have contributed their feelings about the alternative artwork any story line, so I might as well offer mine. I find both to be cheap cardboard imitations compared to the feeling of the G&K version. I might be able to tolerate it for the two weeks it is presumed it will occupy, but no more than that. I don’t like it at all.
bookworm0812 10 days ago
Said no child ever.
AndrewSihler 10 days ago
This is starting to be alarming. Just make sure the Uzi is securely locked.
eddi-TBH 10 days ago
Toni and Brad’s dream sequence.
anonymooseandsquirrel Premium Member 10 days ago
Great job! Love having a guest artist and love the fun “imagine if” arc!
namelocdet 10 days ago
This animation reminds me of when Family Guy did an “Disney-esq” episode.
j.l.farmer 10 days ago
Boy, are they living in a fantasy world. They are in no way ready to have a family!
comic reader 22 10 days ago
IMO this is another reason to get rid of the Shannon character. It doesn’t even work with a guest writer. Maybe he can take her with him when he leaves.
sincavage05 10 days ago
This one sucks big time! Is evans retiring and turning it over to someone else? Not good!
kittysquared Premium Member 10 days ago
Very divisive! I am in the “this sucks” camp. I do not care for the illustration style – way too jarring. And Shannon as a Stepford daughter? Feh.
Dragoncat 10 days ago
It will be interesting to see how everyone else looks in this guest artist story arc.
rwiater 10 days ago
I like the new more attractive ones.
mludwick 9 days ago
Not a fan of the new look for the characters. Really, really not a fan. This may drive me away from reading this comic.