Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 07, 2012

Gunth clearly has his work cut out for him.

To the people making the idiotic comments about the Marines. They are the highest branch of the military-the Army is where people go when they are rejected by the other branches. The Army is the lowest branch-not the Marines.

Nah, he’s not your typical caricatured sports jock. Not at all. Wonder which college will his sports scholarship get him into? Better than Gunther can do, I bet.

A friendship that can last…and Gunther can certainly learn some valuable things from Ox.

A little bit “Of Mice and Men”, but I’m liking Ox already!

It’s a lot like “Of Mice and Men.” I’d like Ox a lot better if he were in AP Chemistry, instead of the “gee, the number I’m wearing is my I.Q.”

This reminds me of the movie “The Bodyguard.” A new character who offers something to Gunther, and Gunther offers something in return. How will this affect his friend Knute? And will Rosa still have to contend with Leslie anyway? This arc can go on a lot longer folks

A win-win relationship in the making!

Went on site ask.com there are 5. and 2 uniformed Units

army, navy, marines, air-force, and coast-guard also reserves and national guard

You can get shot just as easily in the army as in the marines!!!Don’t knock it, if you haven’t tried it.RE Friends: There is strength in associations (already!)

Athletic ability is not always tied to intellectual capacity. I went to college with a famous athlete, who had a ceramics major. That’s right — ceramics. And, he had a tutor for every class!

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Public Health Service (USPHS), National Oceanographic and Aeronautic Administration (NOAA) – last two are UNIFORMED services, not actually military, although they use military structure and ranks in their organization.

And I thought the legislature was the lowest branch!

So what’s the status for Rosa? I wanna see more Rosa and Gunther before we start another story. And what about TJ and Ann? Is the Elwood diamond a fake?

“Tell me about the rabbits, Gunther!”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy…was declined by the Marines and the Army paratroopers as too short and underweight at 5 feet 5.5 inches (166.4 cm) and 110 pounds (50 kg). The Navy also turned him down for being underweight.

Mon-Gal jus pawn in game of life!!!

Uhhhhhhhh, Is the United Federation of Planets a Branch of the Gov?Ohhhhhh, My Head. What time IS it anyway? Need COFFEE.

Say, a Question, sorta OFF topic:

WHY would ANYONE pay Good Money to see a Movie about Jimmy Carter?And what the HELL is He doing on MARS?

The marines are not a branch of the military, they are under the navy branch.

I like this big kid. He reminds me of my son-in-law. 6’6" with a heart of gold.

Yes, Gunth may have his work cut out for him, but then, so does Oxford…. the evil-doers will be lining up to beat up this lil’ nerd (I know – I WAS Gunther in HS).

@Louannfan1212:Gunther could tell Ox to watch out for Knute and Rosa too. Next Time I see needlenose it will be too soon. Enjoy the day everyone.

The Brits use the word “minder.” A minder and a mentor.

For crying out loud, change the name of the strip to Gunther already…its been 2 months of this garbage.

This has the potential to become a great fellowship!

why does ox get more retarded with every boring new strip? Worst story ever.

The Marine Corps are not a separate Branch. They fall under the Department of the Navy. But nuff said….Today’s service members are all top shelf….period

Gunther doesn’t need a guardian. Just about everybody knows what Leslie tried to do. They all disapproved and Leslie left, angry and broken, knowing his bullying was no longer a viable option. It was like a demonstration in front of the whole school of what bullying is and how to stop it.

For the “Jarhead” that thinks that the Army is the lowest form of Military Service, last I checked, the Army has its own medical corps (yours are from the Navy) their own technical people (yours are from the Navy) and can read and write. And, we are all on the same team, we ALL serve in the capacity that we are sent to. ALL branches serve with distinction. And this is a comic strip, not a venue to show our ignorance.

I’m guessing that I was pretty on target when I guessed that 77 was not only his football number but his IQ as well.

I see the rabbits, I see the rabbits.

THANK YOU!!!!!.Thanks for leaving that hanging, Nab

I wonder if “Gum”, will get drunk with power and tries to take on more bullies. Only to have Ox pull his but out of the fire..But I’m liking this storyline. Whenever Tiffany is involved I lose interest fast any more.

I think I’ll find a circa 1965 Archie comic featuring Dilton Doily and Moose. Mebbe it seemed more believable then.

I am hearing Simon and Garfunkel, “You can call me AL” playing in the background..

Ox has his work cut out for himself, too…teaching Gunther to communicate in a clear, concise way so other people can readily understand him.

Reminds me in some ways of Master and Blaster in Thunderdome.

The scholarship thing to jocks versus academic whiz kids is sad. The only kid in the Top Ten in my daughter’s class of 435 to get a pre-graduation full ride scholarship was the football star. My daughter finished #1 and finally got a 50% full ride (to a very good private school, mind you) over the summer. So, I am mostly satisfied, but still think those academic scholarship should be more forthcoming.

If you’ll be my bodyguard I can be your long lost pal

“Let’s be friends, Gunth! Just stay away from my girl, Midge.”

Two ideas:1) Yesterday someone said “opposites attract”. I think the reverse is true here— it’s just we need to look deeper than appearances and intellect and instead look at basic beliefs.2) Has Mr. Evans dealt yet with learning disabilities? This is an important issue to many students. My guess is that the G-man will spot something “different” about his new friend’s learning style.

Actually, there are 12 according to TodaysMilitary. There are the 5 active-duty services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard) and their respective Reserve and Guard units (Army Reserves, Army National Guard, Marine Reserves, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Navy Reserves, and Coast Guard Reserve).

I think this would be much funnier if Ox were actually quite smart and he and Gunther struck up a friendship based on mutual interest rather than mutual need.

Gotta say I love where this is going. I hope Ox becomes a bigger part of the cast, it could really lead to some really fun times.

Dave 53—really observant. Clearly you are right.

I just love this new character. He is sweet and good-natured, and he doesn’t seem stupid at all. Just because he has trouble with words doesn’t mean he’s stupid, he may just have a learning disability, like dyslexia or something.

Good catch, I like many others, also thought he was mispronouncing Gunther’s nickname of Gunth.

@poochiewoochie – Look up “irony” – you ridicule other people making idiotic comments about the Marines yet no REAL Marine would stand behind your statement that “the Army is where people go when they are rejected by the other branches.” Each branch his it’s own special operations forces (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Special_Operations_Forces) Even the Marines have at least 2: Marine Special Operations Regiment (MSOR) and Force Reconnaissance Companies (abbreviated as either ‘Force Recon’ or FORECON). Personally, I don’t appreciate you putting down ANY member of our Armed Forces who has put his/her life on the line…EVER!

I will hug him and squeeze him and call him George—eeerrr Gunth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MCko92VABo

“His nicht”? Mean you his “niche”?

Who runs Bartertown? Say it!

He’s protecting Gunther from gum. How cute.

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Norad – one source also listed “US Reserve Forces” as a separate unit. So there are the 7 (plus one)

And if you will search, you will find that the Coasties have been engaged in Iraq, and I have one Coastie friend who was awarde the Purple Heart off the coast of Vietnam. They don’t just teach boating and water safety, and do durg interdiction. And haven’t for a long time.

BTW No disrespect intended (well…maybe a little bit), I’m Army, and the lowest form of life is a zebra (an Air Farce NCO), followed by a Squid (ANYBODY other than a SEAL) in a Nave uniform. Marines in many cases, go where the Army fears to tread…but they are still Gyrines and Jar-heads. And Coasties are…well.Coasties!

This makes me smile!!

excuse me…but what has military got to do with this comic?

How do we avoid condescending stuff here? I’m ready to move on to the other characters.

I am liking this guy Ox, I hope he sticks around.

@poochiewoochie, you obviously know nothing of the military service and the men and women who proudly serve this country. Whatever branch of service they are, they are the best. They have the courage to volunteer, to place their lives on the line for their country. There are no more draftees what we referred to as 05 BS (Bullet Stoppers). In those days recruiters would come out and select a certain number to go to each branch and as draftees, they had no choice. Now, the military is made up of heroes who volunteered for duty and who are of the highest caliber in intelligence and honor, both of which you seem to be lacking. The military is thebest in the world and should be respected and thanked for their service.

Coast Guard is under Homeland Security. They are a military branch at all times – just different duties. They are not tax collectors, but maritime law enforcement.

picture Ox with a knit cap and sunglasses. Might he be related to somebody we know?

Are we updating the Archies now with Guth playing Dilton Doiley and Ox as Moose? Shouldn’t we be past the notion that big strong guys have to be dumb and smart guys have to be defenseless? It would have been neat if Guther was a black belt but like all true masters kept that fact quiet. He could then handle his bully problems off panel.

Being an athlete, Ox probably has no problem with the ladies. Girls like to lock into jocks early just in case he has pro potential.

I can see the storyline already of Gunther helping Ox to qualify for a college scholarship. Luann’s character has been just about rendered irrelevant. Everyone else is just more interesteing.

This looks like the begining of a beautiful friendship.

It would appear that Ox is not slow or dim. I think it’s obivous that he has a hearing problem. .I’m not going to read the 145 posts before mine. I’m at lunch and haven’t had time to see if anyone else caught the balant mis-reads by Ox.

I am surprised no one has yelled “prejudging brawn and no brains.” I do think the cartoonist will have fun with different puns, like what happens in Crankshaft. What is Ox’s real name? Do we know yet? I will have to look back over the last days, been travelling and didn’t see them.

Sounds like a movie from the late 70’s titled “My Bodyguard” Same story line except for the girlfriend involved. Hope Gunther turns out well.

I thin we already saw the Bernice/Ox pairing played out in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Viktor Krum and Hermione lasted what, three or four days before Hermione basically dismissed him as a physical being without much going on upstairs?

The best types of friends are the ones who help each other out, and don’t bolt at the first sign of trouble.

I think that today’s installment would be a perfect time to leave Gunther, Rosa, and Ox for the time being. Everyone is happy, and the other characters are starving for attention.

Greg, this has got to stop. Gunther isn’t nearly interesting enough to be featured like this. None of these strips from the past few weeks have been good. Gunther is a side character. Back to Luann or her brother, please

I knew of some ahtletes that were Road Scholars!

Gawd…I wonder if these douchbags are still gonna be blathering on and hijacking the thread with their petty military arguments tomorrow? Sheesh! You guys are lamewads.

I very much like this turn in the story line. Had Leslie & Gunther made friends, Surprised I would not have been – but I like this so much better. And perhaps we have a new character for the long run.

During WWII and later, we typically heard of men being drafted into the Army. I suppose they were drafted into the other service branches as well. However, the Army must have required many more soldiers to meet the specific war needs, so that’s why we heard about the Army drafts. I’m sure that some people misinterpreted the draft and assumed that the Army was inferior, so that was why they needed the draft to get enough soldiers. Most often ignorance fuels bigotry and despicable behavior. Many high school students would have the same view of Ox, too. It’s interesting that Greg Evans may be trying to dispel the myth that big men are only good for their brawn – don’t bother with their minds, that’s a lost cause. Probably not Ha Ha funny, but it can be amusing if you’re willing to stick with it.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/07/10603296-ohio-school-district-hires-collection-agency-to-go-after-unpaid-lunch-money

This just in: if the bullies don’t get your lunch money, the school will.

Awwwwww……

I am going thru these oldies but goodies and I understand why people like Ox. And why they hate Leslie.