
Luann
By Greg Evans and Karen Evans | 35.9K FollowersAbout Luann
"Luann" is about the trials of becoming a young adult: the hilarity and drama, triumphs and flops, friendships and rivalries. Rich in character and intriguing "what'll happen next?!" stories, "Luann" is a compelling saga of life's most volatile stage.
Explore the Luanniverse via the Evans's website, Luann Fan.


Meet Greg Evans and Karen Evans
Greg Evans grew up near Disney Studios in Burbank, California. As a kid, he rode his bike to the gate, hoping Walt might need a 7-year-old animator.
Evans ended up getting a teaching credential from Cal State Northridge and taught high school art in El Centro, California. Then he and wife Betty, he taught in Australia for two years. After a journey through Asia and the Middle East, they settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to begin a family. Evans worked as a cameraman and corporate promotions manager for KRDO TV/Radio.
Missing his native California, Evans bought a robot—no joke—and the Evans family moved to San Diego, where Maxwel the Robot was hired to entertain at parties, conventions, and fairs. Evans also began a mail-order comic business, selling school-themed strips to school newspapers. Since college, Evans had submitted comic strip ideas to syndicates, hoping to be as successful as his hero, Charles Schulz.
One day in 1984, inspiration struck as he watched his 6-year-old daughter, Karen, play dress-up. Evans began writing a strip about an adventuresome, funny teen girl and this was the one that clicked. "Luann" debuted in 74 newspapers in 1985. Since then, the cast of characters has evolved and grown, becoming adventuresome, funny young adults.
In 2003, Evans received the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year. Now Karen, the original Luann, is now helping her dad write the strip!
Cast of Characters

Luann DeGroot
Leading lady, but leading where? She has no idea. At 19, she’s more than a teen but not quite a grown-up. She lives at home and stumbles over her own self-doubts. But she’s a romantic dreamer, certain that a joyous, meaningful life awaits—somewhere. Maybe in her next class at the community college?

Frank and Nancy DeGroot
Middle-aged parents to Luann and Brad, Frank and Nancy are hardworking and supportive, though often vexed and perplexed by their kids. They own The Fuse, a local venue where several characters work at Kafe Kablooie.

Bernice Halper
Luann's lifelong best friend, Bernice has a room at the DeGroots' and studies psychology at Moony Uni. An uptight overthinker, she can be bitingly sarcastic and a bit predictable—except when she’s swept up by her bewilderingly carnal desires.

Puddles
Luann’s other bestie—a devoted companion, empathetic listener, and unsurpassed napper.

Tiffany Farrell
Once a high school social diva, she’s grown—a lot—in college. She aspires to be a business tycoon like her wealthy but distant father and finds college less glamorous than she’d hoped. She works as a server at Kafe Kablooie.

Dezdemona
Dez is deeply into deepness. She spends soulful hours meditating in the pristine mountains of Tibet—at least in her head. Living in the "allness of now," she often misses the now all around her—probably on purpose.

Bets
Ambitious, independent, and entrepreneurial, Bets loves cosplay and making money by monetizing everything—including her geek-chic social media following. Slow to trust, she’s fully won over by her boyfriend, Gunther.

Stefani Bird
A former Miss Yam Queen, Stef is into fitness, cheer, and her boyfriend, Kip. She believes she has a big heart, but it’s her mouth that’s big—often turning sour when she thinks she’s being sweet.

Gunther Berger
Super smart, super naive, and skilled at sewing and cosplay, “Gun” is a low-key guy drawn to high-key women—like Bets. He lives with Les Knox and studies very brainy stuff at Moony Uni.

Leslie Knox
Les had an unstable childhood and can be a shady bully—but he’s also a loyal friend and a caring guy, especially to his cat, Punk. He washes dishes at Kafe Kablooie and lives with Gunther.

Ox (Oxford)
Big, sweet, kind, and earnest, Ox secretly adores Tiffany. He works with her as a server at Kafe Kablooie.

Tara Starr
Freewheeling, fun-loving, and eager to take risks and bend rules, Tara is Luann's community college friend.

Jack and Nil
Students at the community college with Luann, Jack and Nil are unlikely buds. Jack is uninhibited, friendly, and loves animals, while Nil is withdrawn, artsy, and enjoys being unknowable.

Piro
Tara’s cousin, Piro, is troubled, complex, and distant. He’s a sometime student at the community college due to the drama at home: a missing dad, an ailing mom, and six younger siblings.

Mrs. Horner
Living at Sleepy Creek Senior Residence, Mrs. Horner, a former English teacher, is frail in body but strong in mind. She has been a long-time friend and advisor to Luann.

Phil
A Certified Nursing Assistant at Sleepy Creek, Phil's career-focused determination and straightforward demeanor can make him both appealing and off-putting. He doesn't always get Luann's jokes, but he's drawn to her upbeat energy and thinks they make a good couple.

Brad and Toni
Luann's older brother, Brad, was a slob until savvy, self-sufficient Toni inspired him to become a firefighter. Married with no kids (yet?!), they rent a house with Brad's best friend, TJ, and often babysit their niece, Shannon.

Jonah and Shannon
Toni's brother, Jonah, is a single dad who's constantly chasing an acting career. He often leaves his boisterous, bossy 6-year-old daughter, Shannon, with Aunt Toni and Uncle Brad.

TJ
Brad's longtime best friend, TJ, is basically family. He's both responsible (he runs Kafe Kablooie at The Fuse) and irreverent (often convincing Brad to make wildly foolish choices). He, Brad, and Toni all rent a house together.

Al Gray and Irma Berger
Leslie Knox’s uncle, Al, is quiet, elusive, and a perfect (?) match for Gunther's bubbly, homebody mom, Irma. After they married, Al and Irma built a guesthouse for Les and Gunther to live in.