Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for November 11, 2011

Looks like things are going to work out after all! HOORAY for Brad for finally standing up to that witch himself!

At least Brad is talking with Toni and didn’t tell her to leave. That’s encouraging.

Now it’s off to face T.J….I hope…

Repost: Hey Guys!! Long time reader first time poster.And I’ll get right to my question. Why is so many people ragging on Brad for the situation with Toni? He’s what twenty years old? He’s acting like a twenty year old does. Most of the people here are talking about maturity come off it. How many here at age twenty acted so mature? I know I didn’t. I was laughing it up with my friends and making mistakes just like any other young adult. Also for the people comparing Brad to Zane that’s like comparing apples to oranges Brad was a sheltered kid(Which I’m sure Toni knows) and if memory serves me right Zane had to grow up a little faster than normal kids his age. So of course Brad is going to handle the situation different than Zane did. Brad’s going to grow up whether Toni’s there or not and If he loses her… well that’s something you have to chalk up to as a lesson of life and growing up.

I anticipate that Brad will thank Toni for standing up for him, and once she reveals that it was that bitch who touched her first, and that the whole idea was suggested by TJ, who clearly has not admitted to his involvement to this day, Brad is going to give him the biggest chastising of his life, and maybe even threaten to evict him should he butt into any business between him and Toni again.

Yay for Brad and Toni, the one true pairing of Luann. I can’t wait to see Toni’s reaction when she finds out that Brad quit. Or will he just not tell her about that, considering he probably wouldn’t want her to know how close he came to working for Eiffel again?

Now the best part – the make-up sex.

Did anyone else notice the “half-smirk” on Brad’s face in the last panel? At this point, I think he’s actually proud of her.P.S. Mea Culpa Mojita guy.

As much as I’ve disliked how Brad and Toni have been handling things I have to say I’m happy that they’re getting back together today, so we can put this whole WeenieWorld business behind us. The past two days were kind of pointless in hindsight just to have Brad get rehired just to quit, to prove to himself he’s not a wuss.

Not sure about that. A few years ago, Toni told Brad that since her rent went up, she might have to move, which prompted Brad to offer to kick TJ out (which I think he should have done long ago), and let Toni move in. She declined, since she needed her privacy.

Want Toni to demonstrate “an eyeful of fist”, Brad?

Okay, enough of Brad and Toni. Next week let’s get into another storyline.

An EYE FULL! (Ann Eiffel) I get it! (all that just to get a pun in the strip…)

Toni= “No, I did not say an eyeful of my fist, I said an eye full of my fist”

Brad is coming around. He first had to deal with Ann Eiffel in his own way. Now that he has taken control of his life the relationship can be repaired.

I see that smile on your face, Brad. You like her comment. You’ll like it even more when you hear the full sentence. How you gonna feel about Ann when you find out she was touching your girls face? I bet we get a Flintstone style “roof-raising” when Toni tell’s you TJ was the one who created this whole mess. or, better yet, will you tell him that because of what Toni did, you and her are through forever and let him suffer until he fesses up?

kiss and make up you two!

you belong together!

I’m glad to see Toni. I had a nagging fear as to her well-being. It seems that Brad will get the word of TJ’s involvement for tomorrow. We’ll have to wait till next week to see what happens. A traditional Greg cliff-hanger.

there is a smile coming up, as i can see in Bwad’s expression :D

Greg likes to keep his villians on the side in case he needs them. We haven’t seen Dirk in almost a year. But, just as he did his ride into the sunset, like Clint Eastwood, you know you’re gonna see him again.

Over the last few weeks we were selling Brad short. We assumed he didn’t have amy limits and he would do whatever was asked, short of using Anns back to polish her desktop, in order to keep his job. But in the second frame he says he had his limits. My guess is that he could have handled her all along. Still better to be out of there. Time to look for the right work. The world needs heros – not weenies. Hey – they are both sandwiches! LOL

While Toni didn’t openly disrespect Brad, perhaps this incident will increase her respect for him.

Women are even more attracted to men who aren’t so desperately in love. Good luck Brad on your relationship with Toni and whatever future endeavors that you may pursue.

Can you say “GRIN”?

I want to see some HOT makeout.

Looks like Brad is going to accept that Toni did a good thing in spite of his WeenieWorld job loss. Saturday may see this arc temporarily conclude and be put on the back burner for a while (leaving the dangerous Ann Eiffel still lurking about and likely to cause further mischief somewhere down the line).

Well, they’re “talking” and not yelling/getting yelled “AT” – AND… he didn’t go out and buy a dog to sic on Toni ….I’ll take these as “good” signs, BUT – DO be careful Brad. .ONE thing more brittle than a ‘mans ego’ is a womans heart!.If you let her twist in the wind TOO long, she’ll pull away from you!

Aw the cute.

Notice their artistically indicated rapid motion? Brad is making her follow him to a place they can have meaningful discourse. He has already made up his mind about her part in the scheme of things and if nothing else is utterly convinced that her best intentions are for his well-being.Right now, they are about as intense and passionate as they ever have been, and if Brad keeps the upper hand just a little bit longer, the payoff will be outside the guidelines for a comic strip. Now, it is somewhere along this line of action that an abuser would pervert the situation and indulge in self-gratification of power, and force recursive demands for proof of devotion and contrition – but I want to believe that Brad is not like that.Toni’s reward will commence the moment she answers the last question truthfully. Nice hook for us into the next episode.

I like that look on Brad’s face. I think he is meanly pleased Toni gave Ann what-for.

DROP TO A KNEE,BRAD!!!!!ASK THAT REAL WOMAN TO BE YOURS, NOW!!!!!!!!

Brad is going tio show Toni some appreciation for her standing up for him, especially when he hears the details. It will be hugs and kisses and maybe more????

kick her to the curb, Brad can do alot better than that.

GOOD Grief, Brad!

The woman comes to Your House, Apologising and BEGGING Your Forgiveness and YOU turn Your back to Her???

I Mean WHAT does Toni have to do: STRIP naked in the middle of the Living Room?!?

Saaaaaaaay…….,

@ MojitobabyA bit late in the day (next day or the one after), but I still haven’t responded to you at appropriate length re Brad’s alleged contemptibility.I may (maybe) allow that he had slipped and compromised himself and his relationship … OK, he did that.But he genuinely could not see alternate options, and I don’t think there were any that would have included retaining his employment.Now, he has indeed woken up and has commendably prioritised the organising of his scatalogical situation.And that is a very good thing. Remember, he is not yet 25, and his brain still hasn’t fully developed. He was a very slowly developing adolescent, but has suddenly grown up a notch. Many older folk never “get it” the way he has this week, or past two days in Luanniverse.

o.k people i missed out on how did brad lose his firefighter job? help the lost out, please…..thanks

Maybe Dirk and Eifel would make a nice couple, lol.

Hmmm. Toni show up to apologize looking especially hot!

@ MordockIf you notice his eyes are looking toward Toni. Looks like he would have loved it if she did. Now please make up.

Brad, consider this: Toni knows about cars, she’s a firefighter,she seems to be street savvy and willing stand up to anyone who steps on her toes. And to top it of, a stylish lady!

I would want someone like her to watch my back!

The only thing missing, so far, is some appropriate punishment for Eiffel. After the previous appearance, I hoped/assumed it would happen. Maybe the next time she shows up. As we speculate here, an image keeps coming to mind: Speculations on the direction of a story arc are like a bunch of helium balloons on strings held by the plot on a path Greg determined weeks before. The balloons can go a few feet this way and that, but they’re tethered to the plot, never straying far from it, their path to be corrected whenever the plot makes a new turn. I read ’em anyway.

@animalheck It was a simple economic layoff, and Brad was the last hired. I, for one, am hoping he can ht his job back now that the Eiffel arc is drawing to a close.

Brad’s response here is by no means inappropriate. He’s entitled to feel angry and have Toni acknowledge both his feelings and what her part in the matter was. He’s walking away from her, but it’s by way of invitation to come in, and talk about it further… And as someone mentioned, Greg deduct a fine job with the subtle look of admiration on his race in the last panel.

As for the rest, Brad has standards, and he’s more than a testosterone-filled troglodyte. If these two ever marry, however, their passion will know no bounds. Way, way offscreen.

Next up? The tanking(ed) economy wipes out TJ’s source of funds and he has to take a job…at Wienie World!

I’m betting Brad turns around and plants a big kiss on her!

Ooh! Give us the full details of what you told Ann, like Brad we all want to know!

Brad needs his own strip. How about a spin-off with Brad, Toni, and TJ!

ashburn stadium and the old wolf …i thank you…..

I agree with SeaFox10. That would be another month long storyline(or 9 month).

YAY!!! They’re back together! After all that they went though together, I’m surprised Brad hasn’t proposed yet.

Where is Mary Worth when you need her.

that was a old comic but don’t get the connection maybe to long ago.

Humor & Entertainment – As several have posted, Brad is somewhat amused and wants to hear WHAT Toni did and he wants to hear HER describe it. That’s part of the male excitement – to hear his gal describe activity that shows support and devotion to him. BUT, he doesn’t want her to know – just yet – that he forgives and loves now, more than ever. And that provocative situation was what Greg wanted to develop by the whole WW job with Ann & Toni’s conflict, AND Brad’s apparently clueless and gutless support of Toni. I agree that the arc is nearly over and a new arc will start/continue next week.

Brad didn’t mention that Ann tried to hire him back – with conditions. That too will come out. And now that Brad is all full of self-respect, I doubt he’ll be looking for a weenie job again. BTW – They have bypassed the living room and the kitchen. So where are they walking to? Hmm…

Not before Tj gets his well deserved deserts for his part in Brads troubles. Even though Brad came out of the whole situation, a winner, TJ still needs to learn that his friends life and business is not a playground for his petty little schemes.

I see a make-up, make-out coming up!

There are those saying Ann needs to get punished. For what? Hiring a fast food, min. wage employee and walking all over him? Nothing wrong there. What you call manipulative, she will call motivational. Trying to seduce him? Still all inuendo. Nothing concrete. After all, the opinion of the masses is that women don’t commit sexual harrasment – men do. The most she has done is a little too much touching. None of it sexual. A slap on the wrist at most.

ugh, enough with the soap opera.

Now turn around, grab her by the arms and plant a big, long KISS on her pretty face, you lunk!

Grab her and kiss her and then propose ya big idiot.

people many times see things differently about “ethics” when we talking not illegal……………… a couple have an open relationship? some say “no big deal”, others see it as “immoral” and others think “we have to make it illegal”………………………….. a guy cheats on his wife? if it Plumber Joe, most say “no big deal”, but if it is the senator of Colorado, than many wants him to resign

I really don’t want to see a sock on Brad’s knob, thank you so much. ;D

Kiss and make up, Brad. Wonderful ending to a nice story arc.

Just wait Brad until she tells you she was physically assaulted before she said that.

when will this soap opera start getting funny?

Wow. It’s a comic strip and you guys are being waaayyy too serious about it. LOL

As I recall, Sammy Safe Sex never said anything clearly – he was always very muffled.

He was man enough to say he did not want to talk right now. He has matured to know not to talk in anger.

I think the play on Eiffel was going on at inception: as in she is an eye full.

Sorry, all of you looking for Brad to tell TJ off, Brad knows what TJ is and what he does, and they have been friends for too many years. How many times has TJ set up a disaster and Brad always remains a loyal friend.

At least Brad and Toni are speaking to each other, so the healing begins.

BTW, since T.J. started the whole mess, he should be the one to fix it, not Brad and/or Toni.

My, but the demise of daytime soap operas has certainly affected many….

week of 10-1-2010 is fitting – check it out

I don’t know if anyone made a prediction about this yet…but I think I saw this in the works since Brad lost his job and the Dirk thing was still fresh. I predict that Dirk is going to swoop in, offer him a job, and they become friends. (Sounds super idealistic, I know, but I think he had honestly made some good personality changes when he was around last time).

@ashburnstadium: one thing you left out about firing people due to budget cuts: if it’s a firefighter, that’s one less person at the fire station. These people are not superfluous! Not having enough people to fight a fire could mean citizens die!

Brad left it on the desk, because it’s really a red herring, a dead issue, and not important in itself – it was just a device to help Brad get wise. And even if he had it, it wouldn’t help to make any harassment case.

Greg doesn’t do legal and he likes quick wrapups (heh, can you tell? It feels like there’s a week’s worth of strips has gone missing!)

In Ann’s past arc, she was just sent to the Tokyo office and new boss was brought in, the whole thing was wrapped up in 3 panels.

“Brad is aware of his limits. Not too many people would say that or even know it….That includes Brad’s firing which worked out for him to make a decision that originally was going to wait for when Eiffel crossed a line he had drawn in his mind.”

You gotta be kidding me.

He was just waiting to hit his limit, but she fired him before he was ready? I gotta admit, that’s the best spin I’ve seen so far.

Brad has been aware of absolutely zip – in spite of multiple warnings, he’s had no idea what’s been going on. From his delight that Ann was “treating” Toni (she likes you!) to playing drive-thru chief, he’s been clueless all along.

Brad’s elastic “limits” have included fetching Eiffels’ dry cleaning, having to tell his girl she wasn’t welcome in a restaurant she liked, asking “how high” when Ann snapped “jump”, and even after being fired by a “tyrant” boss who"picked on" him, who he claims “messed up” his relationship, HE STILL CAME BACK WHEN SHE ASKED HIM.

Wow, that’ll show her he had “limits”! WOOT!

But Ann asking him to sign a piece of paper is JUST TOO MUCH?

THAT’s what flipped the umbrage switch?

Puhleeeze. Brad’s firing didn’t give him any “decisions” to make at all. He had no idea Eiffel was gonna offer him his job back, so his self-righteous “line” or “limit” is pretty damn fictitious – not to mention convenient. If Ann hadn’t offered him his job back he and his vaunted “limits” would be absolutely nowhere, and he’d be home pouting at the injustice of his being fired.

I’m really disappointed in how Greg handled this arc (big surprise to you guys, huh?). It could have been great – it ran off the road somewhere.

Brad’s conducted himself like a posturing jerk and a puppet, his character’s taken a giant leap backwards in maturity. I’m all for conflict and drama, but honestly, something really should come from it – there should be progress or some sort of growth, not fallback.

Great bunch of comments from friends and others; good to see the Bird back again with the Cockatoo avatar.

I’m sure Brad and Toni will do fine in the long run. I’ve always had a good work ethic myself and did not require “motivation” from anyone, but took on every job in my workplace that would help me learn and employer have better productivity. That included everything from fast food, work in an optical lab, design/manufacture of greenhouse equipment and all the design/engineering work where I was self taught in AutoCAD and even took on the task of customizing the PC menu.

I always skipped the Brad/Toni storylines, because they were boring. This one seemed pretty interesting, and I was hoping for something more than the tired, trite, contrived, cliched “happily ever after” ending.

So Toni’s just supposed to forget about how Brad turned on her because Ann ordered him to, and Brad the egotistical twit struts around bragging about how he “handled” the situation with Ann. Yeah, right.

The only thing Toni should be sorry about is that she had to stand up for herself because her so-called boyfriend was too much of a wuss to take her part.

And I don’t want to hear about how “he had to take Ann’s abuse because he NEEDED THAT JOB!!!”He doesn’t seem to need it now, does he?

Can’t believe such in-depth analysis of a comic strip. They’re just kids learning about what goes into relationships. Neither Brad nor Toni have the maturity or financial stability for a more serious commitment. Ann is a hot woman looking to tempt Brad (Like Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate). Let’s get back to Tiffany, Gunther, and Rosa……their dreams and hopes are more fun.

I love Brad’s expression, and like BaldEagle, think the arc has nearly ended for now, and Greg will go on to other matters- unless something happens with TJ ;-)

This is turning into a ‘Brad & Toni’ comic strip, and I’m sure lots of people want to see Luann again.

The wordy people raise good issues. That generates response and free exchange of ideas. That raises the site profile and generates click dollars. There are several posters who’ve mentioned over the past few days that they just found the strip and are enjoying the kerfuffle. How do you think they found it? Want do you want to wager they may tell others and even buy a mug? I’ve seen the traffic noted on other sites, so what do you want to wager that attacts more people who want to see what’s going on? Heavy site traffic is good for Greg so don’t go playing Word Sheriff or tell people to chill and stop commenting unless you don’t care for the strip or for him. For all you know the people who visit here a lot are quadriplegics who don’t dare read Funky Cancerbean becausr they’ll lose all hope.

Small problem…now that Brad’s officially quit, he can’t draw unemployment, so how’s he going to make ends meet?!

Toni sure can rock the turtleneck, V neck combo :)