Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for May 20, 2021

I like Nil’s positive spin.

Um… that still doesn’t explain why Nil used Jack and Luann to ask Bernice to his art show.

Sometimes “The Point” ’IS’ The Point …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Qnd5vnpN0

I’m just not up to this for another night. I going over to Chickweed.

Maybe the real date will start now? See y’all in the morning.

Nil does have a point art does get you thinking.

The reason Nil used Jack & Luann to get Bernice to his art show he would got turn down.

Outside, with no Zebo, no Elwood, and no sales.

Therefore the plethora of wildly improbable speculations on Friday and Saturday strips may now commence.

My contribution:

“So, Bernice, how do you like your eggs?”

Too funny! There was a big sign outside the building saying it was Nil’s art show …and yet she didn’t know who the artist was?!? Maybe time for some new glasses Bernice! LOL

At least Nil is having fun. Bernice is, in her own way, being honest with what she thinks. I like his quick replies.

I think Bernice IS enjoying this verbal sparring. Nil is not offended by her snarks or oppositive comebacks which is rare for Bernice because most people, like many in here, take offense by those kinds of remarks. She is blunt and honest. Seems Nil is the same.

Back in the 1990s, I remember driving from Sacramento to San Francisco, listening to one of the strangest radio programs I have ever heard.

It was called the „Pointless Radio Hour“ and, from what I could tell, it was an hour of jokes just like we see above.

I’m sure the station was glad this program didn’t air during pledge drive!

Look at this.

We’re at the halfway point in this “date,” but so far there’s been,

No arguments.

No demands to take a side.

No whipping out the smartphone to chronicle every silly second for the “fans.”

No griping.

And today, We get a stab at one person trying to understand the other.

Plus a dash of honesty.

And this is between two people as different as night and day.

Someone Wanna tell Me again why it’s so darn “important” for a couple to “have something in common?” ;)

Kind of a cerebral hamster wheel.

Their conversation banter reminds me of Crystal and Knute. I think he’ll be good for her.

Does it seem odd that there wouldn’t be more friends or family members there to support Nil with his first art show? And where the hell is Mr. Zebo at? LOL

Call it “nopointillism”!

I remember a CALVIN & HOBBES episode where he built a conventional snowman and declared it a daring, subversive work of modern art: “It’s secretly ironic!”

A useless, pointless, cartoon!

Nil is right…Bernice is being rude IMO…

Or, he’s just a bad artist.

Here’s my take on Nil’s outlook; if art has a ‘point’ for people to see, it becomes formulaic. With little effort to understand. By giving us an art style with no central point, he challenges Bernie (and us) to find our own point of interest in his work. Art is subjective. It is meant to stimulate the emotional left side of the brain. Rather than the analytical right (or is it the other way around?)

As for what I think the point is; ever notice when you look at someone, you find yourself drawn to one particular feature on their face? It happens with everybody. And we keep quiet about why it catches our attention, to avoid seeming insensitive (the Unsaid). So Nil has in effect removed all other facial features, to force the viewer to acknowledge what it was that drew them to it.

(Well that’s what I got out of it)

Bernice is a jerk

Art that is fun? Very subversive.

Bernice is rude even when she doesn’t mean to be. I can’t imagine telling the artist that his art show is a waste of her time. That’s just mean.

Either the kid’s a really deep thinker or they’re just going around in circles.

In all these years I never thought I’d agree with Bernice

Gotta love Nil! So Bohemian, so true to himself. Bernie should be totally interested!

Nil sure has low standards when it comes to fun.

Back in the sixties and seventies when I was a hippie, I had a friend who had an abstract painting in her living room. I like it and asked about it, and she told me it had been painted by a mutual friend.

So, I contacted him and asked if he had any more like it,and he said he had a few from that period stored in his mother’s garage. We went and looked at them. I did not see any I liked as much as that first one, but there was one that was OK, so I bought i for $40, on layaway, $10 a month for four months.

I took it home and hung it above my bed.

A few years later, I got married, and my wife hated the painting. She refused to sleep in the same room with it, so I took it down and put it in a basement closet, where it languished for about five years.

At that point, I gave up hope of ever being able to hang it again, so I donated it to a rummage sale that the Youth at my church were having. It sold to one of the Youth for fifty cents.

Years later, I ran into the artist again. He now was running an antique shop. He’d forgotten me, but I remembered him and we talked of old times. I said that I had once owned one of his paintings and described it.

He became excited and asked if I could find it. (I discreetly just said it was sold to raise money for the Youth and did not mention the 50¢ price.) He said that other paintings in that series were now selling for thousands of dollars, and one just last week had sold for $4,000.

So I tried to track it down. The Youth was now an adult and no longer a member, but his parents were, so I asked him to see what they could find out.

It seems that he had hung it over his bed, but when he got married, his wife hated it, so he gave it away. He had checked with the friend to whom it had been given, and he could not remember what had happened to it.

Back to Nil. He’s not getting much recognition now (Did you notice that there were no others at the hanging?), but that $400 painting might someday go for $40,000.

Still waiting for the fun part to come.

Speaking of pointless, whose idea of comedy gold is the-girl-with-no-joie-de-vivre? At some point, they rewired Bernice, making her, not Luann’s straight girl anymore, but more pathetic than Luann herself. But where’s the humor in a character with no sense of humor?

While I’m gripping, Bill Watterson was funnier when he complained, from the comics page, about the absurdities of fine art. There are plenty of worthy targets, but jimmy-rigging straw-man bad art to facilitate the take down just seems lazy. And a bit philistine. That said, it is remarkable how both Bernice and Nil come off as the butt of the joke in this sequence.

Now that Nil and Bern have left the gallery, …

1) Will they next stop for a bite at Weenie World?

2) … at Kafe Kablooie?

3) … at Taco the Town?

4) … at that pizza place where Luann had lunch with Ryder?

5) … at Tiffany’s Table for Two, where Nil has arranged a surprise romantic dinner (which he can afford thanks to the proceeds from last week’s sale of a painting of the lock of hair over his left eye)?

6) … at some weird little hole-in-the-wall restaurant Nil knows about, where all the foods have unpronounceable names and look like nothing Bernice ever saw?

7) Or will they not stop for a bite anywhere because Bernice will say, “’night, Nil,” hop into her car, and vamoose with all deliberate speed?

8) Or will they get abducted by space aliens whose heads, spacecraft, or both bear an uncanny resemblance to the painting “Who Nose” by Nil?

9) Or …

Jackson Pollack’s art probably took a while to catch on, also. And poor Vincent Van Gogh as well. Hang in there Nil. Art is whatever people will pay for when the one who produces it puts it up for sale.

A Nil in time saves 42!

Nil’s paintings will sell at 42 the expected price!

Western society’s privilege!

Middle Eastern society’s not so much!

I like Nil. He looks like a guy who only wears black and is disinterested in everything. But he’s a creative nihilist who doesn’t take anything too seriously. He sees the weird side of life and is able to talk to others! Bernice now seems to feel really comfortable around him. She’s even able to joke with him about his Art, that she don’t understand but respect. Really good, G&K, really sweet ♡.

He’s just making a really roundabout way of playing Operation.

Give up Nil, Bernice does not understand “fun”

I think Bernice is having fun. She seems at ease with Nil and there are no awkward conversation gaps. Wonder where they will go for dinner? If that was included in the date.

Having fun would be the opposite of pointless. Having fun would be the point.

Give it up, Nil, she didn’t like it and isn’t enjoying herself. She probably can’t wait for this to be over.

Look at her face. She likes him, even if she doesn’t quite get him, and I think that’s obvious. She’s comfortable enough to say what she thinks without being nasty, and he knows his art is something that some people don’t get, and he’s fine with that, and fine with talking about it.

Lots of pointlessness going on here.

Nil summed up this week’s strip.

Bernice looks at Nil in the second panel, and she is smiling in the third panel. Nil FTW.

Art is supposed to be whatever you want. It doesn’t have to be anything specific.

I’d rather stare at squirrels in the park.

Now that’s kinda fun.

Gee, that’s some nice encouragement you’re giving out there, Bernice… She doesn’t seem to understand the courage it takes for an artist to put their work out for public viewing… such a complete lack of empathy…

Been there, often regretted it.

Funny or Entertaining isn’t in this arc. Pity. I do like the character of Bernice. Nil? Not so much.

This is one strip – in a long while – that actually makes sense.

Lots of points, but what is the score?

At this point Bernice is being just plain rude and insulting. She has a mean streak and enjoys putting people down. She will make a great counselor.

It’s got this reader to the point of reading Candorville now.

Has Bernice finally found someone in Nil who actually challenges her intellectually?

Speaking of points, get the vaccine. That’s all I got.

IMHO, this arc is pointless…..we’ve had waaaaaaayyyy too much Butnice lately

a propos of nothing….I wonder how Delta’s doing.

Art is Art enjoy it

More like why am I wasting time reading this boring a@@ comic strip . Get on with it Evans , nobody wants to see any more Borenice . I want to see what happens to Gunther and that control freak Bets.

Ok HOW did Bernice The Overly Analytical miss the sign on the building?

This whole arc seems pointless to me.

The one thing people seem to be missing is that Nil HAS an art showing. That means that there are people, not just Zebo that think he has real potential. I couldn’t have an art show unless I rented the building myself. Maybe these paintings miss the mark, maybe not. But obviously there are people who think just the opposite of Bernice and see something in Nil.

Nil is a one-eyed Jack! But that’s just how eye see it.

Goodbye Bernice. Have a nice life.

The writer here is dooming this relationship, and if not it’s going to be stupid. What artist would want to date someone who has no regard for their work? What psychology student would want to date an artist whose work attitude they consider pointless? Nil is one of those people who are just taking up space on the planet and engaging in useless endeavors. Plus he’s a smarta$$ about it. One of those pompous arrogant artsy types who don’t really put any effort into their work. He’s just doodling body parts and hoping someone falls for it. Oh how I wish Zebo would come and buy his collection! I thought Bernice was much better matched with Jack, but if he and Luann were conspirers in this matchmaking then bad on them. Give the girl a break – let her date Gunther and be done with it already. For now, the comments are far more interesting than the actual comic.

more and more, I start to suspect that Bernice is a MAGA hat wearing trumplican

Bernice is comfortable conversing with him the same way she was with her brother Ben. I think that’s all there is there. With no common interests, there is nothing to hold a relationship together after the passion dims. I think it is absolutely essential to have certain things that are shared. Here’s an example of a basic need – putting a person who loves head banger shouting music together with someone who loves quiet folk. What are they going to do – wait for the other one to leave so they can listen to some tunes?

Bernice is blunt, but I think she enjoyed herself more than she thought she would. As for Nil, well, a smile goes a long way.

What do you expect from a guy who calls himself Nil?

Nil’s spin…Holy Crap!

Point taken….I think.

Me and my arrow.

Nil has got to realize at this point that she’s not for him.

“I have no respect for your art, Nil. But let’s date.”

Time for a spirited game of Triangle Toss with Obleo.

What happened to Bernice’s new clothes and different hairdo, and the scarf? I liked those.

It’s amazing how Bernice seems to have so little grasp of the concept of fun even as a teenager. Truly an accomplishment. Poor Nil

I’m gonna be “that” guy but what the heck was the point of this weeks strip so far? Seriously, there was NO chemistry with these two!!

The curveball in all this is, it was LUANN that took Zebo’s Art class with Jack and Nil! SHE would have gotten Nil’s art immediately.

No, it’s the first one…

Hey Bernice, get the stick out your butt and try to have a good time.

She has a point.

He’s gonna score.

Ah, finally someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously, but can have fun. At least I think he enjoyed this “non-date”. Bernice may have, too, but will she admit it? ;-) I think this is the most interaction and dialogue they ever have had, or, ever will have? Nice, though.

I do wish they’d get to the point, whatever that is.

I would get a kick out of it if they decide to explore this relationship further, and when Nil pulls up in front of the DeGroot estate to pick Bernie up, he is driving a hearse. His very own hearse.

Once upon a time, I might have wondered why it’s okay for comicboyz to make a very open political point here, while I suggest that history (which I studied along with archaeology) is giving us another Nero and I get fangs and claws. Once. But now I realize that button-pushing is the reason so many visit this site, so nothing surprises me, even ‘conspiracy theory’ about Luann. What ‘conspiracy’ was Luann supporting when she saved B’s life? Oh, well…

He’s working his way to “My next show will focus on the human form – would you care to model for me?” I know one guy that got women he knew to slather themselves with paint and make body prints on large canvasses. There’s always an angle…

She still has the hots for Jack so nill is wasteing his time, until Jack points out he’s not interested and breaks her heart then Jill can step up.

Nil makes interesting observations.

I used to like Bernice; her practicality and common sense was a good complement to Luann’s flightiness and impulsive nature. Now, Bern just seems to be always sarcastic, suspicious, too quick to jump to conclusions on little evidence (ironic, considering her penchant for the scientific point of view). Even her approach to Jack was annoying, turning into a giggling simp, and now she can barely force herself to be civil to Nil. If he’s looking to have fun with someone, he probably should look elsewhere; Bernice is too busy honing her superior attitude.

Why is Bernice so pompous? I don’t remember her being this unlikable.

At least the Point isn’t on top of his head.

I think.

She’s kinda rude, isn’t she.

Borenice has been featured in too many arcs, recently. For this arc, it does look like these 2 are having a decent time. But if all Bern can do is find fault in everything and everyone, she just isn’t girlfriend material.

If it is fun then it isn’t pointless.

And she wants to be a high school guidance counselor? Definitely the wrong choice for her.

So much art these days

What “kinda fun,” Nil? Are you obliquely implying that you actually enjoy Bernie’s company?!

He has a point.

First Law of Art, Carmack’s Law: ‘If I can do it, it’s not art.’

How many years of art school did you have to go to to learn to splash paint on a canvas like that? If someone studies music for four years, they walk away with an ability to play an instrument and can do something I could never do or imitate. But you walk away with an art degree, and the best you can do is this? Something any fool can imitate? This is the best ya got? ‘If I can do it, it ain’t art!’ And the price tag! Ten thousand dollars for that? Oh, so you know so much about art, eh? Then you buy the freaking thing!

Second Law of Art, Elantu’s Law: ‘If the artist has to explain what it means, then it’s not art.’

“It’s not art, it’s a failure. Instead of universal symbolism or universal language, it’s gibberish. Or a con job!”

Nil’s lone eye just creeps me out…

You self styled Freudian comic strip readers didn’t see that coming.

Now kiss…