Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for April 05, 2013

Full on face from Toni – first time?

Now for the trials and tribulations yet to come!

…..so is there still a chance Brad’s alarm clock could ring, and he’ll wake up and join the world the rest of us live in?

So. The right thing for the right reasons.

Cant wait for brad’s family reaction to this news.

No disaster to be seen. I hope the pessimists are not too disappointed.

Just finished reading the 232 comments from yesterday. So much unwarranted negativity. This is pretty much what I expected to happen today. They both deserve to be happy together, and I think they will be. After this conversation, they should be able to talk about anything, and that alone will mean a great deal for their future together.

It’s Friday afternoon in Japan and I will be toasted the happy couple in approximately 8 and a half hours! Yay!!!!

Some people DO grow up. Don’t forget Luann and Toni get along together as well. A sibling can often be a litmus test when it comes to picking a spouse.

Cue the waiter with the spaghetti and meatballs.-Tramp and Lady slurp up the same strand of spaghetti. Their noses, then their lips meet.-Lady blushes. Tramp belches. The waiter sings “Bella Note”.-Oh, wait! That’s Disney. There will be more twists in this yet, and Brad and Toni haven’t even gotten to their entree’ yet.

Phew………….

Bomb Defused.

Take your gutter talk elsewhere!

PS: You’ve been flagged.

I love it when a plan comes together. (sniff…sniff) ;-)

Someone called this, almost to the word, last night!

Brad should have answered “Finally, future Mrs. Degroot!”

Just a thoroughly delightful development, with lots of potential for contributing to the storyline in the future.

A thoughtful explanation from Toni. I think now it can be seen how level-headed she is and that her past issues from the relationship with Dirk doesn’t mean she’s forever unstable. Let the celebration begin!

MikeyjThank you. I am glad you flagged. This is a family strip.

the spaghetti hasn’t arrived yet…

lower the shields lieutenant. it seems the crisis has been averted. RELEASE……THE ROCK LOBSTER!

Be ready for a looooooonnng engagement.

(clearing throat:AHEM) (puts down needle on 45, Robin Zander of C.T. playing in background)…..“Remember after the fire, after all the rain, I will be the Flame…. I will be the Flaaaaaaaame….” (cough, cough, ack) sorry… (resumes singing)….

Nice save Mr. Evans. Thank you bob

My take too .. Eeeep!

Today’s resolution seemed too easy. On the other hand, if Brad responded with any baggage – it might have been downhill from there. So I’m happy. NOW – I really miss AE. TJ is gonna have to move – so can we reinstate AE as TJ’s new landlord, roommate…something…

No ring?

And they’ll have to adopt Toni’s brother’s brat.

Congrats to Toni & Brad! it’s about time……

I married the first woman I made love with. We have a wonderful marriage and just celebrated our 12th anniversary. We have two wonderful kids and respect each other. Sometimes it does work out. Sometimes one gets lucky on the first try.

Can’t wait to see what Nancy says. Whooohoo, are we goingto have a wedding? (as opposed to eloping to Vegas) Puhleeasse Mr. Evans do not deprive us of a wedding?. Thank you~:-)

This is looking good. One may be happy for Toni and Brad and still expect that there will be plenty of twists, turns, and mishaps ahead before they finally get to the altar….

@krelboyne ..,Your use of profanity is unappreciated. Perhaps if you broadened your vocabulary, you would find that you can articulate a sentence without it. This is a family strip and so keeping your comments family friendly is encouraged and appreciated. Thank you,

Nice save.

Good answer, toni

Brad’s one lucky guy. this is why i keep reading…it’s nice to see some happiness in the world.

Just can’t stand the naysayers. .She’s going to dump him or treat him like trash..Just let the story unfold. ’K?

If this strip were to end right here and now, this would have to be the best way to end it

Nice Save Toni…. Nice Save!!!

And a “score on the rebound” that would make Esposito proud!!! ;-)

good answer. Had me worried for a day there.

The first picture of Brad reminded me of Gunther.

Now Brad and Toni can have kikds, they can grow up and graduate with Luann, who will be a senior about the same time they are, lol. Anyone else think Toni’s little niece will end up living with them?

Ok, everyone called it. Mature and healthy. In love. Very nice and tidy. So Brad and Toni just go off and get married, see if I care. I’m sure I’ll find a storyline somewhere…

I say good for them and especially good for her to be brave enough to take the name DeGroot. Sometimes you go from a name that is simple and easy to say to one that NO ONE can spell much less pronounce.

Following my prev comment, After all, Karen is what, 23? I’m sure SHE won’t be content to stay stuck in high school Luanneville forever. I look forward to the many diabolical plots, however heavy, however light. But I know it will be slow, very slow. So savor the wine…

Hooray!

Okay, good. That had the potential to ruin the whole thing, so I’m glad that it kinda went over Brad’s head.

Well the boys finally gonna get some.

That was sweet.

OK, Donny, I’ll stoop and take your bait, just in case you are REALLY this misinformed. Greg creates black and white art. And some greys. I color white space and some of the greys get replaced by hues. Gradients, if any, are re-applied over the color as the last step. Capice?

Its a comic. Get a life.

Can’t wait to see how this turns out, so happy for them, I do wonder what the Fire Dept regulations say about husband and wives?

What will happen with Shannon?

I could not agree with you more.

Yay!! Mom and Luann get to help plan a wedding! Shannon will be the flower girl.

you are a jerk

Yay! Dun duh dah dun. Dun dah duh dun

Phew, no fight…

Bravo…as perfect as Brad’s acceptance. Not since Elizabeth Patterson married her childhood sweetheart have I been so happy for two comic strip characters.

That is the first time I remember Toni Daytona facing the reader in a panel. Usually, she’s symbolically turned to one side. Today her hooded eyes are wide open. The wall between her and Brad—and us—is down.

I told you guys yesterday that some of you were waaaayyy over thinking, over analyzing this and letting your imaginations run irrationally. The answer is usually the simplest, less complicated one.

Yeah,The answer is simple, but sometimes we tend to overlook the beauty of simplicity.

Yes, I know… but I say to them, time proves all…. and at some point, we have to give credit where it’s due…. it’s the age old problem that we can’t run around trying to prove everything to everybody. Plus, people are like chemicals. by themselves, we only see them one way. But combine sodium with a choride, and, voila! A salt…. the right combinations bring out the right possibilities… problem is, learning to see that people can grow… Like I said yesterday…. we all have our issues… but SOMEBODY still loves us, SOMEBODY brings out the best in us.

oh yeah, also time is like a freight train… ride, or get outa the way……

Finally!

finally!

Enter Ann Eiffel….“Brad, I’m pregnant, and the baby is yours!”

I’d be all for spinning Brad and Toni off into a second strip!

One more comparison: Tapioca. By itself: ack, ack, choke. Not so good in the view of some. But with the right process and right ingredients get added, and: Voila! Tasty pudding! Same way with people. By themselves, not necessarily bad, maybe could use some work in certain areas (who doesn’t?). We may only see one thing. But the right person comes along, with the right mix of qualities, to balance the other out… and watch out!

It’s been interesting the past several months to watch the changes in the drawing of Brad as his romance grew. He’s been getting more handsom and less ‘nerdy’- if you know what I mean. < G >

I love how Toni’s eyebrows are outside of her bangs…

Want to see weddings? Four Weddings is a cute show where 4 brides try to win a lux honeymoon. I knew it could work out fine if he gave her time to explain just what she meant.

Is this the first time we’ve seen Toni full-on facing the “camera”?

Great,

I was one that thought her little bombshell yesterday was the right thing to do. It places the subject out on the table so they could discuss it.

It was dealt with. They both reacted like two mature adults. It’s now in the past.

With Toni’s last comment, I am predicting a short engagement.

There’s still hope yet… Ain’t it still April 1..?

Finally. And “Whew”.

Yes.

One comment about yesterday’s strip. Brad said, “Toni, I’ve been ready to marry you since the day we met!”

No, Brad, you weren’t. When you first met Toni, you were a irresponsible couch potato whose chief joy in life was tormenting your younger sister. You had difficulty holding down a real job. You were clueless around the fairer sex.

No Brad. You had a lot of maturing to do before you were ready to marry Toni. And to your credit, you did. And now you get to reap the reward.

Congratulations to you and to Toni.

This is what I expected she would say.

Hey, let’s talk about Dirk some more.

Yaaay!!!

Alright Brad!!!!

The Bwad thing is in response to Shannon sometimes reverting to baby talk when she says it. It isn’t really saying anything about him.

I thought so too, so I chose to read that first panel expression as Alarmed. There is nothing clearly peaceful about it.

This kind of feminizes Brad here, the whole scenario. He’s elated that he can marry her but.. his dreams of that were crushed repeatedly by her. Granted, she wasn’t ready and he wasn’t wise enough to notice that, but her “control freak” attitude is going to whitle him down. Still, it’s nice they’re getting married and the plot can progress.

Nice save.

On Wednesday we saw Brad all choked up over his relationship with Toni. 11 years ago we saw Brad all choked up over his relationship with Toni..

http://www.gocomics.com/luann/2002/02/27

Likewise for me!

And of course thumbs up, to you and yours.

Well, by that time there may be a whole bunch more characters that have come and gone.

Special “Encore Presentation”:

(clearing throat:AHEM) (puts down needle on 45, Robin Zander of C.T. playing in background)…..“Remember after the fire, after all the rain, I will be the Flame…. I will be the Flaaaaaaaame….” (cough, cough, ack) sorry… (resumes singing)….

Wow! How sweet is that? Good on both of them!

Y’know? Once we get to the wedding, there can be station vehicles and EMT escorts for the bridal and groom’s parties, and such….

And if he or she’s late? (engine and medic unit alarms blaring)

Wonder how old these guys are? Bet she is a bit older……

RE: Hank1938’s comment about sibling litmus test … if so, Brad should watch out. Toni’s sibling would flunk just about anyone’s tests. Or she is the exception that proves the rule?--Anyway, do we see a wedding and a Shannon adoption in the next year or two? Seems to me that Brad is the father she always needed.

Holy Moley Batman . . . . What now!

Dirk got all the thrills, and Brad gets to provide stability.

Well, heck. I guess that sweater is not going to slip off the shoulders after all.^^There are a couple of large things holding it up

she is not a brat. Have you ever had kids? She is a kid. and HER NAME IS SHANNON.^^Yes, and she has a huge smile and behaves very nicely when someone pays her a little love and attention

Pirard << French Canadian name?

it would be consistent with his character to show at least a flash of anger at her mentioning Dirk’s name. Read the past strips … it’s that way in the Luanniverse, not just “Dave world^^Agreed…actually, most of us men would feel rather upset in that case, credit to Brad for doing the right thing, and listening to her, instead of going nuts

boring^^Yes, you certainly are, rickmac

It’s good she has big shoulders. She’s had to carry a lot.

>If regulations allow Toni to have hair that long,> I do not see any of the regs keeping them >from being firefighters.>

I would think that the regs would require her to keep her hair “tied/bunned” up such that it wouldn’t become a “safety hazard,” similar to a female LEO (i.e. don’t give a perp anything to “pull on” when you’re struggling – a reason why LEOs wear “clip on” ties – so they break away).

> It would not be realistic however for them to>work at the same station.>

Perhaps, the same station is OK, but definitely not the same “shift” or under the same reporting structure. They can’t ever be in a “supervisory/subordinate” relationship together at work, nor would I want them to be on the same shift, where one or both could be killed/injured at the same incident. Same reason why an athletic team should never all travel on the same flight! ;-)

LlittleContessaThank you, I am glad someone is addressing this.This is a family strip, not a bar; people.

Keep your profanities to yourselves.

A little off topic but, for those of you who think that TJ is gay….proof that he isn’t:

I am happy things worked out for the couple. I guess this means that there is no need for Diane to pop up out of nowhere anymore.^^It would have made a great arc though

so is there still a chance Brad’s alarm clock could ring, and he’ll wake up and join the world the rest of us live in?

No. Even if this is a dream, when Brad woke up, he would still be in Luannverse.^^That alarm clock thing wasn’t my post…I commented on it though, said that Brad was living on Cloud Nine

There are a couple of large things holding it upHey! don’t talk about Toni’s shoulders like that.^^LOL

…Well, as the biggest theoretical issue between them was so swiftly dispatched, I think Brad and Toni will live a long happy life.

Hey, Donny – you will be the butt end of many jokes at the Reuben Awards weekend this year. Keep ‘em coming old pal. You’re almost as obnoxious as Clyde.

Brad’s alarm clock could ring, and he’ll wake up

yes, it is another good selection! melody seems to fit them, as to me it paints the picture of a private moment…. I kept “playing” “The Flame”, because it dawned on me that it would have a “fire theme” to it, given their shared occupation, and the way they seem to interact in such a “couples” sort of way. Also, the lyrics seem to fit them, throughout their relationship, good times and bad….

“Another good selection for them, even if it is old, is “Nights in White Satin” by The Moody Blues”

It does have a good feel to it, and seems to fit them as well….. I also thought of the Herb Alpert/TJB version of "This Guy’s In Love With You, but “The Flame” just seemed to “pop out” a little more when I was thinking it all over yesterday, given all the other context. “Knights in White Satin”, though…. I like the atmosphere, good call!

BTW, which Rick Nielsen axes did he bring out @ the Coliseum?

I think Shannon will be living with them, and I think Brad is going to be an awesome Dad…

It would save you a lot of time if you got a free website where you updated a selection of strips that answer the major debates posters have with Luann instead of having to do it each time it comes up. Simply refer people to the your site. Like did Dirk hit Toni? It would also save a lot of space on the board with stupid arguments and bring you some good karma from cause and effect. .^^In theory, not a bad idea, but, in practical terms, it’s unlikely that posters here (other than a possible small sampling) would be likely to go to the trouble of going to another website, just to hear MY opinions

Did you just drop out of a Hoppalong Cassidy movie? That black hat thing was ancient before Luann was born, even the way time moves in her world.

“The last one, which he did not bust, I believe had multiple necks, but I don’t remember if it was his 5 – neck.”

I understand…. I really just wanted to know if he ever did use a multi-neck or one of his other “crazy” ones….. I remember in one video, there was the double neck one custom shaped in his likeness, with the 2 necks for legs, headstock were the feet. So I wondered,if he did bring any of them on the road….. thought it’d be kinda hard, but if you said he did use one, wow! Ha ha. That’s the only reason I asked. They always seem to get good reviews. There are plenty of groups out there that I would like to see, but I’d have to wait for a bit smaller venue, smaller coins these days, lol!

Brad: “Finally!” LOL

It is the Luannaverse on the grounds that that is the title of the strip. If Evans was to do another comic about Jet Pilot Squirrels it would have its own rules and be called the Squirrelverse. Buffy and Angel take place in the Buffyverse, not the Whedonverse.

Doesn’t matter to me…. an axe is the same as a guitar, and whatever else….. to each his own, I guess… whatever the "kids are calling music or instruments or whatever….. their perspective is “new”, and them calling it “nostalgia” sounds condescending to me, no, scratch that… I hear some who may not use certain words that I would, but I have heard some who do show some respect for the old school. I’m just knocking on the door of the “40 Club”, but as I grew up, the kids that I went to school with, we all were raised on music from 50s to 70s, were fed with reruns of Ed Sullivan, watched Hee Haw, watched the Gong Show, Star Search, Sha Na Na, Mash, Hogan’s Heroes, Get Smart, and Heard Wolman Jack still coming on strong on the radio…. 80s came and went, 90s, well, there was some good stuff there somewhere…. point is, to me, certain things are timeless, and there was a better “mixture” of stuff out there…. it’s a sad world, if they consider certain things “oldies”, now… cuz what’s out there now (and there ARE SOME things out there nowadays that I find to be good, don’t get me wrong) but what they have now, would be sadly considered oldies to the next set… (Britney? on an Oldies Collection? Wowww…) so, they’ll have people saying THEIR stuff and THEIR sayings are old… but it’s sad if these days, the newest thing starts getting old in five days…… so, I will prefer to call it “timeless”, instead of nostalgia… classic… Well, like I say, time proves all…. just wait till their turn, heh heh….

Forgot to add: My vinyl collection encompasses 20s to nearly now… it doesn’t get “old”… just gets added to my “timeless collection”….

I have not had time to read all of the comments today, but I’m sure that some readers have observed the “full-frontal” second panel of Toni. If Brad wants to get married, he will have to get accustomed to her face!

An astute chemical observation…

But now, will Brad & Toni (assuming that they will get married) want to take custody of Shannon? What will Jonah Daytona think about them possibly adopting his daughter?Of course, I don’t know— I’ll leave it up to the Comic Creator…

“*Evans is spending too much time creating messages at us and other things including*…”.How to make a tinfoil hat:.http://www.stopabductions.com/.That should solve part of your problem.

love panel 2…gorgeous

My single thought is what happens when Dirk is exposed as a wife beater?

I am glad that they have agrred to get married. Now for the Captain to find a match

Well, he questioned her and got a reasoned answer. It’s not uncommon for life to give you a wake up call from time to time. I’d still recommend a long engagement, though. Very long. Oh, and Satan is in the White House. Or is it Stan? Can’t remember. Enjoy.

Whew!

like I said yesterday can’t wait for the wedding plans to begin now that’s it’s official wow she called him Mr. DeGroot!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh one other thing wonder what Luann thinks of this?!!!!

I do hope she takes his last name…

these 2 are so boring ! more gunther please

If it took seeing Dirk for Toni to get her head out of her ass, so be it

Brad saved 3 lives… Zane’s, in the bookstore fire when Brad was still an EMT (Brad got a suspension for that, because he violated safety protocols— though he was still recognized for his noble act, and even his super felt bad having to enforce the rule); Dirk’s, after Dirk wrecked out his car while chasing Brad and Toni; and Toni’s, when she had that fall. Brad broke Toni’s fall and sustained injuries which landed him in the hospital. The fall was symbolic, as you all probably know. Yes, at first blush, she slipped on a wet ladder and it fit the storyline of them responding to a fire. Slips like that can happen even to R/L firefighters. But Greg was hinting through that episode, that Toni was ‘falling for Brad’. I saw that one right off. :)

“Sherrif:that still doesn’t explain why you color Brad and others with black like they are the villian.”

Maybe you should reread his response, Donny. He said he colors the white space, and greys. The black you see is done by Greg, not the Sheriff. He has mentioned that in comments before.

WHEW! I was wondering where you were going with that – and you have to have Dirk and family at the wedding, you know that?

For the naysayers out there, Toni’s comment is called ‘perspective’. Almost all of us have to use it.

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y463/ertepix/rickguitar_zps3f4e4e2d.jpg

yes!!! that’s it!! I think next to his checkerboard Gibson Explorer, this one is my favorite of his. He and Bo Diddley have unique guitars…. Trick is not my all time fav, but they are up there when it comes to performing and songcraft……

Well played, Miss Daytona. Well played.