This is getting ridiculous. Gunther needs to grow up and accept reality, he is the only one ignoring facts and it’s making him a total party pooper that needs to shave. Everyone is going to eventually move on with there lives while Gunther is having his little pity party. GROW UP GUNTH!
Well, it seems that Tiff has touched so strongly on Gunther’s deep complexes that he’s just lost it and become hysterical. This pretty well confirms my speculations of a day or two ago that he has very deep psychological problems. But I didn’t know he’d have a psychotic episode this dramatic.
Cheers to Tiffany for cutting to the chase! Those two really need each other to achieve some kind of balance. If she can get Gunther to cross this barrier, he’ll finally be ready for a functional relationship.
He tried to be bold and daring by running off with Rosa, but he instinctively chose a saint much too preoccupied with work and good deeds to share a human side with him. Then he fell for a fantasy about Bernice as some kind of Vulcan goddess until he confronted the reality. Only Tiffany is earthy enough to pry him out of his intimacy-dodging idealization of women. And only Gunther is idealistic enough to see past Tiffany’s sexy facade.
This is why, at this point, Gunther will never have a satisfying relationship with anybody—or a satisfying life, period. He isn’t growing up and moving on. He’s still stuck in the little-boy, mommy-is-mine mindset. I understand resistance to change; we all, at one time or another, refuse to accept change. But that’s what we must do in order to have better lives. And that’s what Gunther needs to do if he ever wants to be happy.
I did my psychobabble in a reply to Carrots. One thing that Tiffany’s comment makes clear is that Gunther has clear mom problems, and she has clear control problems, probably overprotective because of what happened to the father. OOPs sorry, can’t help it. He desparately needs to uncouple and live on his on, and she needs to just as Tiffany is trying to explain to Gunther. She is wiser than her relations with Luann would indicate. Hopefully he will at some point.
It is sad that Gunther won’t learn and listen from Tiffany. He could get a primer on how to give attention to women—to be charming and open to relationships. I wish Gunther would be allowed to mature.
Some posters have been implying that Ma Berger is just about as complicit in her and Gunther’s co-dependency as Gunther is.
But I clearly remember that when Gunther was struggling with himself over leaving for Peru with Rosa, his mother actually encouraged him to go. She said something to the effect that it could help him expand his horizons.
Gunther’s the one most badly stuck in that Oedipal co-dependency. But his mother has some attachment to him, as well, and has been something of an enabler to him.
Not having a father figure while growing up is likely the main thing that prompted Gunther to fall into this pit – although not everyone growing up without a father would become so maladjusted.
In any event, this example with Gunther is a good counter to those who don’t think that a traditional two-parent home especially has important developmental value to the children.
Seems most of the commentators in here are older folks. Gunther is acting very normally for his age and for a son of a single mother – that type is usually possessive and/or protective of his mother, the same is true vice versa. Gunther doesn’t want to share his mother or see her as an individual. He only wants her to stay in Gunther’s mom role. Eventually he will have to accept his mother is her own person and she likes Mr. Gray. It is just a question of when he finally comes to terms with it.
In his high school past, Les could occasionally be violent. But as he’s matured, he’s started realizing that diplomacy is much more likely to get him what he wants, and he’s not very likely to get himself in trouble by being violent again.
In contrast, while Gunther has historically been passive, I feel that he is displaying a psychosis that is coming to the surface, and that might prompt him to become violent if he feels too pinned-down or challenged.
If Tiff is not careful, Gunther might be more threatening to her during his hysteria than anything that she’d need to expect from Les.
She’s also a woman, Gunther. Women need – Gunther things Tiffany is talking sex, but she is probably talking about the things women really do need and Gunther has stopped Tiffany just before she gives away the secrets of being with a woman. Women need:
1.Understanding – so that she doesn’t feel the need to have to explain Gunther’s whining all the time to her boyfriend.
2.Caring – she needs to know she matters to her son more than her son matters to her son
3.Strength – both mental and physical, so that Mr. Gray and Leslie do not have to do the heavy lifting by themselves.
4.Compassion – shows her Mr. Gray is capable of loving instead of singing obnoxious nursery songs
5.Security – financial and literal, which obviously Mr. Gray can provide given his money and his mob connections
6.Blind loyalty – she wants to be the only woman he has eyes for, even when a hot 19-year-old blonde like Tiffany comes for dinner.
Greg Evans: Congratulations! 300 comments yesterday! (298 when I last looked) Your comic is generating quite a stir! // AnyFace: Love that new “avatar”!
Re Gunther: Whether it’s “sex,” “romance,” or just a dinner companion (the only feature of this relationship shown), there’s still something that doesn’t really add up, and it has to do with Gunther’s relationship with Les. Assuming that Gunther’s mother really loves him (Gunther), I find it really, Really, REALLY difficult to see her (his mother) constantly rubbing his (Gunther’s) nose in his relationship with Les, someone whom his mother ought to know is Gunther’s “sworn enemy.” Even if Gunther’s mom really loved Les’ father, even if (God forbid) they wanted to get married, the relationship between Gunther and Les needs to be addressed – and these forced meetings between them is clearly not working.
I am the child of a single mother. After a bitter divorce, I happened to marry another single mother. One thing I have noticed about both of them is this: Their children always have, and always will, come first. Cross their children, and you have crossed them! My apologies to all whom I am sure that I have just offended, but frankly, that is what has made this whole storyline absolutely, positively, unbelievable.
Last thought: Luann used to be a “gag a day” strip. Thankfully, Sundays still are. But dailies seem to have become a kind of “gag a month” strip. I returned to this strip in the middle of the missing TV arc – all of which was to set up Bernie’s kiss. We suffered through the misbehavior in the bowling alley only to realize it was a set up for “Tiff, pick up the puke!” My guess is that this excruciating story line thus far is a set up for some other weird ending, quite possibly tomorrow, but more likely next week. Heaven knows what that ending will be, but a glutton for punishment, I guess I’ll stick around and see what it is.
Pennst8drr: Have to disagree. Bernice and Gunther are, in their own way, very understandable. But what Gunther’s mother is doing to him just does not jive with my experience, having known many single mothers in my life.
As a documented bully, likely Les has caused physical harm to Gunther. This is what makes his mother’s involvement with the father of the bully anything but believable.Sorry, folks, I side with Gunther on this one!
Okay, first of all, i think i can stop the extra work for the prediction game. The game itself has been great fun, but i just do not have the time to track all the predictions.
The results from the game were not what i had hypothesized. I had expected that the people who track Luann very closely like the group historians and some others with long recollections and collections of dates would do better with their predictions. Instead, it turned out that a wide range of people guess right on a rare basis, but no one guesses right often. I think that might be one of the reasons that Luann has such a large fan base; even though it flows believably through its arcs, it regularly surprises the readership. Surprises are fun.
PIPE: fascinating paper:
Cell Metab. 2017 Jun 6;25(6):1243-1253.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.05.002.
Bread Affects Clinical Parameters and Induces Gut Microbiome-Associated Personal Glycemic Responses.
The glycemic indices of the different types of bread turned out to not be the predictors; the representations within the microbiome were.
@MisterDantes “Gunther and Bernice, supposedly the smartests kids from the bunch are the two characters who are unable to mature.” – Yup, that’s pretty realistic.
Gunther may not like the idea of anyone’s being intimate, not just his Mom. The whole concept makes him panic. But certainly he is way possessive of his Mom, whom he sees as being required by natural law to conform to his “life plan” whereby she would move into Gunther’s “Granny flat” and care for his 2.5 children (all adopted, I presume).
< Cackle! >! I love the way you speak volumes (universal truths) with such little space. Calling good comic strip installments (like today’s) akin to haiku may be a stretch - but it’s on that wonderful spectrum. Thanks, Greg! Got my ‘thoughtful chuckle fix’ for this morning! Tally Ho!
Okay, THAT Does it! This Madness has Gone On Long enough!
Gunther, You DOLT, the Minute You drop Tiff off, go Home and (Now Listen Carefully)TALK-TO-YOUR-MOM!!!! About Your Dad, About Les and ESPECIALLY Mr. Gray/Gray!
Then, after mustering what little ‘Manhood’ Your Pitiless ‘Creators’ have left You, Go have a “Man to Man,” with this Mr Gray/Grey CREEP, Uh I mean, “Person.” Do it NOW!
Gunther, I’ve always been a fan of Yours. But if You Don’t Do This, You WON’T have to Worry about Les any More. Because I will Personally WADE Thru the Oceans of Team Evans’ Lawyers, Draw Myself into This Strip, Hunt You Down and Vigorously STOMP the Friggin’ Pixels Outta Ya!!!
To sorta quote: “And now [we] know, the rest of the story!” I’m sticking to my assertion that Gunther did need a father figure – and it’s showing all too clear now. Maybe, let’s hope that of all of the Luann characters – TIFFANY – can talk some sense into him!
@CAPRICORN9TH: My late mother was widowed back in 1959, when I was only 9 and baby bro was 5. She raised us (with input from her own brother and some uncles) alone, while working part time and trying to get a teaching degree, until she met our (now also deceased) Step Dad and then remarrying when I was 14. It was more of an adjustment for me than for baby bro, because I was the older kid and used to being more of a co-parent with her, but I was never as messed up about things as Gunther is shown. In fact, when Mom sat me and bro down to ask what we thought of her remarrying, I told her she needed to do what was best for her, because bro and I would be growing up and going out on our own and she would be alone. And I was no genius, just a kid who understood reality better than Gunther is shown to understand it…
Thanks – and apologies – to those who noted to me that what’s-his-name is Les’ uncle, not father as I had incorrectly supposed. Sorry, I missed the episodes in which that relationship was enumerated. But I stand by my original comments: I think all of you are being totally unfair to Gunther. From your own comments, Les was a bully, and Gunther was one of his victims. As such, Gunther’s mother’s behavior is totally unbelievable – and without excuse!
For once I have to agree with “Gunthie”. Creepy, shifty and weird are exactly what I think of “Mr Gray”. AND WHO’S NOT ON FIRST-NAME TERMS WITH THIS CREEP YET??
In regard to people’s comments about Gunther not wanting to think of his mom as a person in her own right, I’ve got a story to share. When I was little, I did, like all other kids, think of my mom as only a person who was there to meet my needs. That was what I needed at that point in my life. But after I became a young adult, I came to view my mom as something other than a parent, with a history all her own. That history included tales of her high-school years—and she would tell me about the high school she attended in Illinois. In the spring of 2000, we went to Chicago for my spring break vacation. One of the things I did was see my mom’s old high school in West Chicago; it was something I wanted to do because I wanted to see what my mom’s life was like before my brother, my dad, and I entered her world. Before we came along, it was just her. And as an adult, I’ve seen now what she truly is.
The thing is, parents aren’t automatons. They’re humans and they have selves. In fact, they must have a sense of self if they’re going to raise their kids to be the best they can be. My mom needed a sense of self in order to pass her wisdom along to me—so that I could become a person in my own right.
This is going on a tangent, but have we ever seen the parents of any of the characters (besides Luann of course) other than Gunther? I find myself wondering whether, say, Delta had parents pressuring her towards success (or, more positively, teaching her the importance of helping those around her). Is Knute the son of a real surfer, or perhaps punk rockers? I’d guess Crystal might have fairly straight laced parents that she was rebelling against a bit. We’ve heard about Tiffany’s dad but never seen him. How about her mom? Only Gunther has a parent who is visible in the strip.
Argy.Bargy2: You have a very valid point, about Gunther’s mother quite possibly not knowing about Les and the bullying. And, in that case, you are absolutely right; how can she be held accountable for something she has no knowledge of. Agreed. Nevertheless, his behavior around Les ought to be at least a clue that something’s going on.
Okay, so Gunther’s a grouch. I do not know the whole back story. But from your (collectively) comments, it is clear that Gunther has been traumatized by Les, and these forced meetings are just continuing the trauma. At this point, I’m going to agree with whoever it was a couple days ago who noted that nobody was listening to anybody and everybody was in their own little world at this dinner party. Gunther appears totally abandoned and without support, and this even with hints of Les continuing to bully him (verbally, if not physically) at the dinner. And, of course, the majority of readers have abandoned him, as well. Perhaps Tiffany will ask a deeper question tomorrow and maybe at least discover the mystery behind Gunther’s behavior, but today’s episode doesn’t suggest that happening.
Big, big disappointment in Gunther at the moment…. even more so than during the rest of the dinner earlier. But, perhaps not for the reasons most folks are stating (his issues with Mr. Gray & his mom):
With the idea that Gunther has been very upset about the Mr. Gray & Mrs. Berger relationship for a VERY LONG TIME, I am not so aggravated by his continuing to be upset…. that would be EXPECTED because he has really done nothing thus far to address his issues about the relationship. So, his still being upset about the relationship is not new, nor surprising, nor unrealistic.
What does especially disappoint me in today’s action is that Gunther is responding to the mere mention of the relationship with such an infantile, and obtuse reaction. Come on…. belting out a Broadwayesque rendition of “Old McDonald had a Farm…” is completely and utterly obnoxious, rude, and very, very off-putting.
Now, if Gunther would have used this opportunity (remember, this is in the privacy of his vehicle with his friend, Tiffany) to TALK about his feelings and to attempt to WORK on his feelings with the help and support of Tiffany…. then I would have cheered! That is what folks are supposed to do to try to deal with problems and worries. And, that is true for folks whether they are 8, 19, 40, or 99.
So, for me it was a given that Gunther has “problems” with his mother’s relationship with Mr. Gray. The REAL disappointment was in how foolish he is being in his actions now instead of trying to deal with them in some more reasonable fashion.
Even though I doubt it will happen…. I would really like to see Tiffany get aggravated at Gunther at this point and tell him a) he is being infantile, and b) what he needs to do is to talk through his feelings so he can better come to terms with what is REALITY.
Fans of Tiffany are hanging onto every scrap of non-airhead behavior. The last couple weeks she’s been talking about personal & family issues like a level-headed 16-year-old might. Back in the old days she pushed her modeling/acting career will beyond the confines of Pitts High School. It seems to this old grouch that she was acting more like an adult (albeit a less than admirable one) when she was Sheraton St. Louis and Miss Eyez of Zeye. Now it’s considered mature that she has a study buddy and talks about a woman’s urges.
Gunther, you spent over half a year living on a different continent from your Mom, so you know it’s possible to live your own life separate from hers. Now that you’re back in her house, though, you’re acting totally dependent on her. You are legally an adult but emotionally a grade-school kid. You very much need to move out. Let’s hope Mom B. and Mr. Gray get married soon and move into his place so that Gunther will be forced to be on his own.
Gunther badly needs to be in therapy, move out of that house and start living in the dorm on his own. He has become an embarrassment to his friends and has been sabotaged by his artist. He could actually sue the pants off Greg for mental and emotional cruelty, take the money, and move to another comic strip like Tina’s Groove……she might like a new boyfriend. But, stay away from Paris Island and Camp Swampy. The Army would break him in the first night.
One thing I like about this arc is how Tiffany has warmed up to Mrs. Berger. While Gunther never had a father, the flipside is that Tiffany never had a mother (it seems). I can see some beneficial bonding between those two. By getting to know Mrs. Berger, Tiffany may get a better understanding of Gunther and his phobias.
Tiffany offers some womanly words of wisdom, and Gunther refuses to hear it! That boy has problems. We’ve all known this for some time now, but it’s coming to a crux with Mr. Gray.
When Tiffany is the wisest, most centered person in the arc, you know there are Big Time Problems!
For all the discussion about Gunther being overpossessive of mommy, it’s interesting to recall that he was OK with Quill getting some of that attention. Gunth wanted less babying from her then (healthy, I guess) but Quill didn’t seem to mind. Maybe Quill never got that kind of motherly doting at home.While Quill was ultimately not the best match for Luann, he was a positive, dose-of-reality influence on Gunther. For the time he roomed there, he was like an older, more worldy brother who had been out in the wide world. It is too bad he didn’t stay in Pittsville longer and mentor Gunther toward a more confident outlook.
Namrepus almost 7 years ago
Women your mom’s age can be especially— “E-I-E-I-O!”
Templo S.U.D. almost 7 years ago
Gunther ain’t listening, Gunther ain’t listening! La-la-la-la!
Carrots almost 7 years ago
This is getting ridiculous. Gunther needs to grow up and accept reality, he is the only one ignoring facts and it’s making him a total party pooper that needs to shave. Everyone is going to eventually move on with there lives while Gunther is having his little pity party. GROW UP GUNTH!
Wizardgoat almost 7 years ago
Well, it seems that Tiff has touched so strongly on Gunther’s deep complexes that he’s just lost it and become hysterical. This pretty well confirms my speculations of a day or two ago that he has very deep psychological problems. But I didn’t know he’d have a psychotic episode this dramatic.
AnyFace almost 7 years ago
Does anyone ‘really’ want to think about a parent having sex?
DaJellyBelly almost 7 years ago
Gunther is heading towards a nervous breakdown. He needs some help STAT!
JayBluE almost 7 years ago
(♪) "Try, tryyyy, tryyy to separate them-
It’s an illusion!
Try, try, try, and you will only come-
To this conclusion!……" (♪)
Brdshtt Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Well, Gunther, you wouldn’t be here if your mom and dad didn’t
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr almost 7 years ago
It may be unsafe for Gunther to be operating a motor vehicle.
Argythree almost 7 years ago
I am finding it more and more difficult to sympathize with Gunther at all…
Badeyes almost 7 years ago
Wow, that’s about the most mature, aware conversation we’ve heard from Tiffany. Girl is growing up a bit.
Dreamdeer almost 7 years ago
Cheers to Tiffany for cutting to the chase! Those two really need each other to achieve some kind of balance. If she can get Gunther to cross this barrier, he’ll finally be ready for a functional relationship.
He tried to be bold and daring by running off with Rosa, but he instinctively chose a saint much too preoccupied with work and good deeds to share a human side with him. Then he fell for a fantasy about Bernice as some kind of Vulcan goddess until he confronted the reality. Only Tiffany is earthy enough to pry him out of his intimacy-dodging idealization of women. And only Gunther is idealistic enough to see past Tiffany’s sexy facade.
JayBluE almost 7 years ago
“Love And Marriage”
“Parents’ Kids Just Don’t Understand” (♫)
“My Mother Was A Woman”
“The Blob That Ate Cincinatti….And All The Meatloaf At Dinner”
“Romance Wasn’t Built In A Day”
“A Story Of Human Interest”
“One Giant Stepfather, For Math Kind”
“Full Nest Syndrome”
“It’s A Parent, To Everyone”
“Mater, Denied”
“Don’t Pater-nize Me!”
“A Bitter Pill To Swallow, To Treat A Sore Subject”
“Am I My Mother’s Keeper?”
or
“Plenty Of Son Block”
cdgar almost 7 years ago
It keeps getting stupider.
live2read almost 7 years ago
This is why, at this point, Gunther will never have a satisfying relationship with anybody—or a satisfying life, period. He isn’t growing up and moving on. He’s still stuck in the little-boy, mommy-is-mine mindset. I understand resistance to change; we all, at one time or another, refuse to accept change. But that’s what we must do in order to have better lives. And that’s what Gunther needs to do if he ever wants to be happy.
kenhense almost 7 years ago
Tiff should tell Gunther to pull over and park – snuggle up a little – and say, “Gunther, you know you need help with this. Would you let me help?”
luann1212 almost 7 years ago
I did my psychobabble in a reply to Carrots. One thing that Tiffany’s comment makes clear is that Gunther has clear mom problems, and she has clear control problems, probably overprotective because of what happened to the father. OOPs sorry, can’t help it. He desparately needs to uncouple and live on his on, and she needs to just as Tiffany is trying to explain to Gunther. She is wiser than her relations with Luann would indicate. Hopefully he will at some point.
Ruth Brown almost 7 years ago
It is sad that Gunther won’t learn and listen from Tiffany. He could get a primer on how to give attention to women—to be charming and open to relationships. I wish Gunther would be allowed to mature.
Wizardgoat almost 7 years ago
Some posters have been implying that Ma Berger is just about as complicit in her and Gunther’s co-dependency as Gunther is.
But I clearly remember that when Gunther was struggling with himself over leaving for Peru with Rosa, his mother actually encouraged him to go. She said something to the effect that it could help him expand his horizons.
Gunther’s the one most badly stuck in that Oedipal co-dependency. But his mother has some attachment to him, as well, and has been something of an enabler to him.
Not having a father figure while growing up is likely the main thing that prompted Gunther to fall into this pit – although not everyone growing up without a father would become so maladjusted.
In any event, this example with Gunther is a good counter to those who don’t think that a traditional two-parent home especially has important developmental value to the children.
capricorn9th almost 7 years ago
Seems most of the commentators in here are older folks. Gunther is acting very normally for his age and for a son of a single mother – that type is usually possessive and/or protective of his mother, the same is true vice versa. Gunther doesn’t want to share his mother or see her as an individual. He only wants her to stay in Gunther’s mom role. Eventually he will have to accept his mother is her own person and she likes Mr. Gray. It is just a question of when he finally comes to terms with it.
Wizardgoat almost 7 years ago
An intriguing thought:
In his high school past, Les could occasionally be violent. But as he’s matured, he’s started realizing that diplomacy is much more likely to get him what he wants, and he’s not very likely to get himself in trouble by being violent again.
In contrast, while Gunther has historically been passive, I feel that he is displaying a psychosis that is coming to the surface, and that might prompt him to become violent if he feels too pinned-down or challenged.
If Tiff is not careful, Gunther might be more threatening to her during his hysteria than anything that she’d need to expect from Les.
howtheduck almost 7 years ago
She’s also a woman, Gunther. Women need – Gunther things Tiffany is talking sex, but she is probably talking about the things women really do need and Gunther has stopped Tiffany just before she gives away the secrets of being with a woman. Women need:
1.Understanding – so that she doesn’t feel the need to have to explain Gunther’s whining all the time to her boyfriend.
2.Caring – she needs to know she matters to her son more than her son matters to her son
3.Strength – both mental and physical, so that Mr. Gray and Leslie do not have to do the heavy lifting by themselves.
4.Compassion – shows her Mr. Gray is capable of loving instead of singing obnoxious nursery songs
5.Security – financial and literal, which obviously Mr. Gray can provide given his money and his mob connections
6.Blind loyalty – she wants to be the only woman he has eyes for, even when a hot 19-year-old blonde like Tiffany comes for dinner.
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
Greg Evans: Congratulations! 300 comments yesterday! (298 when I last looked) Your comic is generating quite a stir! // AnyFace: Love that new “avatar”!
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
Re Gunther: Whether it’s “sex,” “romance,” or just a dinner companion (the only feature of this relationship shown), there’s still something that doesn’t really add up, and it has to do with Gunther’s relationship with Les. Assuming that Gunther’s mother really loves him (Gunther), I find it really, Really, REALLY difficult to see her (his mother) constantly rubbing his (Gunther’s) nose in his relationship with Les, someone whom his mother ought to know is Gunther’s “sworn enemy.” Even if Gunther’s mom really loved Les’ father, even if (God forbid) they wanted to get married, the relationship between Gunther and Les needs to be addressed – and these forced meetings between them is clearly not working.
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
I am the child of a single mother. After a bitter divorce, I happened to marry another single mother. One thing I have noticed about both of them is this: Their children always have, and always will, come first. Cross their children, and you have crossed them! My apologies to all whom I am sure that I have just offended, but frankly, that is what has made this whole storyline absolutely, positively, unbelievable.
chris_weaver almost 7 years ago
Omigod, not my saintly asexual mom!
sueb1863 almost 7 years ago
SOMEbody has some serious issues.
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
Last thought: Luann used to be a “gag a day” strip. Thankfully, Sundays still are. But dailies seem to have become a kind of “gag a month” strip. I returned to this strip in the middle of the missing TV arc – all of which was to set up Bernie’s kiss. We suffered through the misbehavior in the bowling alley only to realize it was a set up for “Tiff, pick up the puke!” My guess is that this excruciating story line thus far is a set up for some other weird ending, quite possibly tomorrow, but more likely next week. Heaven knows what that ending will be, but a glutton for punishment, I guess I’ll stick around and see what it is.
pennst8drr almost 7 years ago
Gunther has replaced Bernice as the character which annoys me the most
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
Pennst8drr: Have to disagree. Bernice and Gunther are, in their own way, very understandable. But what Gunther’s mother is doing to him just does not jive with my experience, having known many single mothers in my life.
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
As a documented bully, likely Les has caused physical harm to Gunther. This is what makes his mother’s involvement with the father of the bully anything but believable. Sorry, folks, I side with Gunther on this one!
rrsltx almost 7 years ago
C’mon now Gunthie, isn’t about time mommie stopped wiping your poopie bottom?
GirlGeek Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Gunther if you don’t like it then move out honestly.
LadyJ4444 almost 7 years ago
This is great! Go Tiffany. Help Gunther learn to grow up. I’m liking you more and more.
SukieCrandall Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Two notes: the first for ALL, the second for PIPE
Okay, first of all, i think i can stop the extra work for the prediction game. The game itself has been great fun, but i just do not have the time to track all the predictions.
The results from the game were not what i had hypothesized. I had expected that the people who track Luann very closely like the group historians and some others with long recollections and collections of dates would do better with their predictions. Instead, it turned out that a wide range of people guess right on a rare basis, but no one guesses right often. I think that might be one of the reasons that Luann has such a large fan base; even though it flows believably through its arcs, it regularly surprises the readership. Surprises are fun.
PIPE: fascinating paper:
Cell Metab. 2017 Jun 6;25(6):1243-1253.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.05.002.Bread Affects Clinical Parameters and Induces Gut Microbiome-Associated Personal Glycemic Responses.
The glycemic indices of the different types of bread turned out to not be the predictors; the representations within the microbiome were.
Chuck374 almost 7 years ago
It’s times like these that Gunther bears a striking resemblance to the character Radar O’Riley from MASH.
jeffiekins almost 7 years ago
@MisterDantes “Gunther and Bernice, supposedly the smartests kids from the bunch are the two characters who are unable to mature.” – Yup, that’s pretty realistic.
hk Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Wow, Tiffany making sense; I’m impressed.
SukieCrandall Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Have we ever known if Gunther’s father died as Leslie’s did, or split long term like Shannon’s mother?
SukieCrandall Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Same question reTiffany’s mother, as the one about Gunther’s father.
seismic-2 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Gunther may not like the idea of anyone’s being intimate, not just his Mom. The whole concept makes him panic. But certainly he is way possessive of his Mom, whom he sees as being required by natural law to conform to his “life plan” whereby she would move into Gunther’s “Granny flat” and care for his 2.5 children (all adopted, I presume).
Chrystos B Minot Premium Member almost 7 years ago
< Cackle! >! I love the way you speak volumes (universal truths) with such little space. Calling good comic strip installments (like today’s) akin to haiku may be a stretch - but it’s on that wonderful spectrum. Thanks, Greg! Got my ‘thoughtful chuckle fix’ for this morning! Tally Ho!
paullp Premium Member almost 7 years ago
I recall Radar having to deal with this problem on an episode of M*A*S*H. Hawkeye had to talk him down.
seismic-2 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Even Gunther’s song choices are infantile.
Mordock999 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Okay, THAT Does it! This Madness has Gone On Long enough!
Gunther, You DOLT, the Minute You drop Tiff off, go Home and (Now Listen Carefully)TALK-TO-YOUR-MOM!!!! About Your Dad, About Les and ESPECIALLY Mr. Gray/Gray!
Then, after mustering what little ‘Manhood’ Your Pitiless ‘Creators’ have left You, Go have a “Man to Man,” with this Mr Gray/Grey CREEP, Uh I mean, “Person.” Do it NOW!
Gunther, I’ve always been a fan of Yours. But if You Don’t Do This, You WON’T have to Worry about Les any More. Because I will Personally WADE Thru the Oceans of Team Evans’ Lawyers, Draw Myself into This Strip, Hunt You Down and Vigorously STOMP the Friggin’ Pixels Outta Ya!!!
GO!!!!
And Get RID of that %$#@ "Sewing Machine!!!
Kenmazing almost 7 years ago
OMG Seeing Gunther’s sclera twice in one week. I may not be unable to see it now.
Code the Enforcer almost 7 years ago
To sorta quote: “And now [we] know, the rest of the story!” I’m sticking to my assertion that Gunther did need a father figure – and it’s showing all too clear now. Maybe, let’s hope that of all of the Luann characters – TIFFANY – can talk some sense into him!
Airman almost 7 years ago
Greg has not been kind to Gunther in the past. Now, he has him cracking like Humpty Dumpty. At least Tiffany is emerging as the sensible one.
Argy.Bargy2 almost 7 years ago
@CAPRICORN9TH: My late mother was widowed back in 1959, when I was only 9 and baby bro was 5. She raised us (with input from her own brother and some uncles) alone, while working part time and trying to get a teaching degree, until she met our (now also deceased) Step Dad and then remarrying when I was 14. It was more of an adjustment for me than for baby bro, because I was the older kid and used to being more of a co-parent with her, but I was never as messed up about things as Gunther is shown. In fact, when Mom sat me and bro down to ask what we thought of her remarrying, I told her she needed to do what was best for her, because bro and I would be growing up and going out on our own and she would be alone. And I was no genius, just a kid who understood reality better than Gunther is shown to understand it…
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
Thanks – and apologies – to those who noted to me that what’s-his-name is Les’ uncle, not father as I had incorrectly supposed. Sorry, I missed the episodes in which that relationship was enumerated. But I stand by my original comments: I think all of you are being totally unfair to Gunther. From your own comments, Les was a bully, and Gunther was one of his victims. As such, Gunther’s mother’s behavior is totally unbelievable – and without excuse!
Luanaphile almost 7 years ago
Women need … less childish sons?
Luanaphile almost 7 years ago
Hmmm. Unresolved oedipal issues, as he strokes his beard, slightly frowning.
spiritshadow almost 7 years ago
Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are all in harmony.
Mimi Premium Member almost 7 years ago
1. Grow up Gunthie2. Keep your eyes on the road.3. Gunthie is a disaster waiting to happen.
Germanshepherds4ever almost 7 years ago
For once I have to agree with “Gunthie”. Creepy, shifty and weird are exactly what I think of “Mr Gray”. AND WHO’S NOT ON FIRST-NAME TERMS WITH THIS CREEP YET??
live2read almost 7 years ago
In regard to people’s comments about Gunther not wanting to think of his mom as a person in her own right, I’ve got a story to share. When I was little, I did, like all other kids, think of my mom as only a person who was there to meet my needs. That was what I needed at that point in my life. But after I became a young adult, I came to view my mom as something other than a parent, with a history all her own. That history included tales of her high-school years—and she would tell me about the high school she attended in Illinois. In the spring of 2000, we went to Chicago for my spring break vacation. One of the things I did was see my mom’s old high school in West Chicago; it was something I wanted to do because I wanted to see what my mom’s life was like before my brother, my dad, and I entered her world. Before we came along, it was just her. And as an adult, I’ve seen now what she truly is.
The thing is, parents aren’t automatons. They’re humans and they have selves. In fact, they must have a sense of self if they’re going to raise their kids to be the best they can be. My mom needed a sense of self in order to pass her wisdom along to me—so that I could become a person in my own right.
kauri44 almost 7 years ago
This is going on a tangent, but have we ever seen the parents of any of the characters (besides Luann of course) other than Gunther? I find myself wondering whether, say, Delta had parents pressuring her towards success (or, more positively, teaching her the importance of helping those around her). Is Knute the son of a real surfer, or perhaps punk rockers? I’d guess Crystal might have fairly straight laced parents that she was rebelling against a bit. We’ve heard about Tiffany’s dad but never seen him. How about her mom? Only Gunther has a parent who is visible in the strip.
sjsczurek almost 7 years ago
Come on, Greg! For God’s sake, don’t do this to Gunther! Don’t keep portraying him this way!
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
Argy.Bargy2: You have a very valid point, about Gunther’s mother quite possibly not knowing about Les and the bullying. And, in that case, you are absolutely right; how can she be held accountable for something she has no knowledge of. Agreed. Nevertheless, his behavior around Les ought to be at least a clue that something’s going on.
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
Okay, so Gunther’s a grouch. I do not know the whole back story. But from your (collectively) comments, it is clear that Gunther has been traumatized by Les, and these forced meetings are just continuing the trauma. At this point, I’m going to agree with whoever it was a couple days ago who noted that nobody was listening to anybody and everybody was in their own little world at this dinner party. Gunther appears totally abandoned and without support, and this even with hints of Les continuing to bully him (verbally, if not physically) at the dinner. And, of course, the majority of readers have abandoned him, as well. Perhaps Tiffany will ask a deeper question tomorrow and maybe at least discover the mystery behind Gunther’s behavior, but today’s episode doesn’t suggest that happening.
Cheapskate0 almost 7 years ago
A victim of bullying in high school, I feel Gunther’s pain. And I am appalled that, apparently, no one else can or does.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member almost 7 years ago
3
Big, big disappointment in Gunther at the moment…. even more so than during the rest of the dinner earlier. But, perhaps not for the reasons most folks are stating (his issues with Mr. Gray & his mom):
With the idea that Gunther has been very upset about the Mr. Gray & Mrs. Berger relationship for a VERY LONG TIME, I am not so aggravated by his continuing to be upset…. that would be EXPECTED because he has really done nothing thus far to address his issues about the relationship. So, his still being upset about the relationship is not new, nor surprising, nor unrealistic.
What does especially disappoint me in today’s action is that Gunther is responding to the mere mention of the relationship with such an infantile, and obtuse reaction. Come on…. belting out a Broadwayesque rendition of “Old McDonald had a Farm…” is completely and utterly obnoxious, rude, and very, very off-putting.
Now, if Gunther would have used this opportunity (remember, this is in the privacy of his vehicle with his friend, Tiffany) to TALK about his feelings and to attempt to WORK on his feelings with the help and support of Tiffany…. then I would have cheered! That is what folks are supposed to do to try to deal with problems and worries. And, that is true for folks whether they are 8, 19, 40, or 99.
So, for me it was a given that Gunther has “problems” with his mother’s relationship with Mr. Gray. The REAL disappointment was in how foolish he is being in his actions now instead of trying to deal with them in some more reasonable fashion.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Even though I doubt it will happen…. I would really like to see Tiffany get aggravated at Gunther at this point and tell him a) he is being infantile, and b) what he needs to do is to talk through his feelings so he can better come to terms with what is REALITY.
RolloTheGrouch almost 7 years ago
On paper, Gunther’s mommy issues might seem like a compelling theme when the Evanses are writing a plot line. The execution is dismal.
RolloTheGrouch almost 7 years ago
Fans of Tiffany are hanging onto every scrap of non-airhead behavior. The last couple weeks she’s been talking about personal & family issues like a level-headed 16-year-old might. Back in the old days she pushed her modeling/acting career will beyond the confines of Pitts High School. It seems to this old grouch that she was acting more like an adult (albeit a less than admirable one) when she was Sheraton St. Louis and Miss Eyez of Zeye. Now it’s considered mature that she has a study buddy and talks about a woman’s urges.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 7 years ago
Sing this to our beloved Tiffany, Gunther:
I’ll hold you in my heart till I can hold you in my arms
Like you’d never been held before
I’ll think of you each day and then I’ll dream the night away
Till you are in my arms once more
ironman01 almost 7 years ago
Once Gunther hits puberty he’ll understand. Gunther really needs to grow up.
seismic-2 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Gunther, you spent over half a year living on a different continent from your Mom, so you know it’s possible to live your own life separate from hers. Now that you’re back in her house, though, you’re acting totally dependent on her. You are legally an adult but emotionally a grade-school kid. You very much need to move out. Let’s hope Mom B. and Mr. Gray get married soon and move into his place so that Gunther will be forced to be on his own.
Airman almost 7 years ago
Gunther badly needs to be in therapy, move out of that house and start living in the dorm on his own. He has become an embarrassment to his friends and has been sabotaged by his artist. He could actually sue the pants off Greg for mental and emotional cruelty, take the money, and move to another comic strip like Tina’s Groove……she might like a new boyfriend. But, stay away from Paris Island and Camp Swampy. The Army would break him in the first night.
RSH almost 7 years ago
One thing I like about this arc is how Tiffany has warmed up to Mrs. Berger. While Gunther never had a father, the flipside is that Tiffany never had a mother (it seems). I can see some beneficial bonding between those two. By getting to know Mrs. Berger, Tiffany may get a better understanding of Gunther and his phobias.
Sisyphos almost 7 years ago
Tiffany offers some womanly words of wisdom, and Gunther refuses to hear it! That boy has problems. We’ve all known this for some time now, but it’s coming to a crux with Mr. Gray.
When Tiffany is the wisest, most centered person in the arc, you know there are Big Time Problems!
R.J.C. almost 7 years ago
When it comes to Tiffany, something is wrong when she’s right.
spikelovesmusic almost 7 years ago
For all the discussion about Gunther being overpossessive of mommy, it’s interesting to recall that he was OK with Quill getting some of that attention. Gunth wanted less babying from her then (healthy, I guess) but Quill didn’t seem to mind. Maybe Quill never got that kind of motherly doting at home.While Quill was ultimately not the best match for Luann, he was a positive, dose-of-reality influence on Gunther. For the time he roomed there, he was like an older, more worldy brother who had been out in the wide world. It is too bad he didn’t stay in Pittsville longer and mentor Gunther toward a more confident outlook.
oldcomicsfan almost 7 years ago
GETTING REAL TIRED OF GUNTHER’S KINDERGARTEN ATTITUDE. GROW UP!
live2read almost 7 years ago
Preview over on Arcamax: a conversation and backstory ensue.
Argythree almost 7 years ago
SPOILER TWO:
.
Tiffany becomes a magician…
RonBerg13 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
As Yoda once said, “That is your problem.”