It’s a humorously exaggerated fantasy version about what the superior child raised by Toni and Brad would be like — with the money and parental motivation to direct her energy into activities and growing up with the expectation of civilized behavior (helping to clean up rather than being destructive). Real Shannon’s just sort of a tumbleweed who goes where her whims and anxieties take her.
I like the change of pace. Not saying that I want Greg to stay away, but this alternate reality is fun. I want to see Fosgitt’s take on Luann, TJ, and Tiffany.
How would Shannon learn to crave structure with Toni and Brad as her parents if they don’t seem to provide her any now? Their daydreams don’t seem to have anything to do with reality.
Oboe? Oh Toni. Shannon’s true artistic expression is as the bestselling author of the Monstro and Puddles story. Shannon is no Evelyn Rothwell (Lady Barbirolli).
I’ll speculate again, could this be another (possibly even two) pieces in the final arc involving Jonah being in the strip?
Toni (and Brad?) fantasizing about what raising Shannon would be like, and very soon having to decide whether to put up or shut up with the exit of Jonah by means of his demise or, for that matter, with all this travel he’s talking about, his character doing a full on heel turn and simply choosing not to come back and abandoning Shannon (weaseling out under the cover of ‘It’s for her own good because I’m not cut out to be a good dad’)?
To go that extra yard, could this guest artist stint even be happening to give G&K a clear patch of time to really roll up their sleeves and go all in on what would be one of the biggest/most momentous arcs in awhile?
Okay, that’s more than enough sticking my neck out for now. ;)
Maybe instead of daydreaming, Toni and Brad should actually be talking about the situation with Shannon and Jonah and what they’re going to do about it?
Even fantasy characters get to have fantasies. Shannon is enthusiastic and could be developed into what is shown here. I remember a 6-year-old neighbor who liked to clean my place. I finally had to lock the door even though I appreciated her intentions. She would be pushing 50 by now.
I wonder if the script is different than usual to adapt to Jay Fosgitt’s beautiful way of drawing or if they wrote it as usual and then the artist interpreted it following his inspiration. Toni’s imagination is too positive. A little girl like this may be the dream of many parents, but it makes me appreciate more the fact that Shannon is a hurricane and not a perfect little robot. Now I’d like to see what Brad imagines, maybe the family fixing the car together, dirty but happy.
If this is the “Dark Mirror” alternate universe or Bizarro World of the actual Luannverse, then not only Shannon possesses a 180 degree opposite personality but probably Ann Eifel would be a kind and caring saint like Pru. Additionally, Gunther would be a lazy slacker like Knute while Knute would be valedictorian of the high school class and Luann would have been salutatorian. Luann would currently be going to med school on a full scholarship. OTOH Bern would be fun loving and risk taking like Tara and likely hanging out at the community college.
IMO, very Disney-esque in style. Toni kinda reminds me of Cinderella… Brad sporting that “skunk” look (I get that it’s supposed to be shiny black hair) with his hair makes me wonder if there is some hidden meaning in this…Hope Greg comes back soon, well rested, relaxed and rejuvenated, and can save us from all of this…
I’m sorry. But if Brad, and, Toni, actually think that this is how Shannon would’ve turned out, if they had raised her, then they aren’t ready for real parenthood. Because how they imagined Shannon is totally unrealistic.
Nice artwork. I enjoy Greg’s style too, and of course Greg’s creates the overall feel of the Luann comic. This art deviates from the Luann feel which surprised me at first because I didn’t expect a guest artist to change the feel of the comic. It is nice to have a talented artist rather than the standard joke of a small child with limited art skills taking over.
“What would Shannon be like if we had raised her” is a really stupid statement. If she is six, she is a long way from being “raised”. Brad and Toni have every right to expect discipline and good manners from a child who resides in their home as much as she does. They just don’t do it.
Not too sure how comics work but gonna ask anyway. Is there a reason they don’t grow up in “comic world”? I would like to see her start kindergarten, etc., at least. I mean, is LuAnn gonna be in college forever? Just saying. Thanks!
So where did all the dishes come from that are depicted in panel three? They certainly didn’t come off the table. Talk about exaggerating for effect! This goody goody, pie in the sky cartoon is really boring. How long is this guest cartooning going to last for?
Finding the fantasy segment amusing. Kind of reminds me of a style when a TV series will do an episode where all the characters become cartoons. Couldn’t quite put my finger on the style, but Disney has been mentioned in several comments. I suppose I could see that. Enjoying the artwork as much as I have enjoyed Greg’s all along. Better than anything I could produce, that’s for sure.
Having fun with this segment and would like to see more of the Luannverse crew in this arc.
Something between the “real” Shannon and this amped up version would be nice, but:1) It’s a fantasy sequence2) It’s just a comic strip
MAD Magazine did a similar theme back in 1959 (Biker and beatnik parents lamenting, “Where did we go wrong?”, as their impeccably dressed kids sit on the floor next to them, doing their homework and studying calculus, physics, etc.).
A friend of mine told me once that he would love to have kids… But he wants them to just be adults and not have to go through the growing up part… Too bad that couldn’t be the case!
Seriously…did no one notice that this is Brad and Toni imagining what Shannon would be like if they had raised her. Yes it’s a guest artist, but it works for the purposes of the arc. It’s an ideal sunny world in imagination.
It’s temporary. Greg and Karen made the acquaintance of an artist who is their fan. They liked his style and invited him to do this arc involving a fantasy Toni, Brad and Shannon storyline. I think he has a comic strip of his own as well. Just enjoy the fantasy and try not to be thrown too much by the different artwork. It’s always jarring to me to not see the characters I know and love looking like they are supposed to but these things happen from time to time. Fantasy Shannon creeps me out, too!
All I can think of when I see this artist’s style is that episode of “Family Guy” where Stewie and Brian, bouncing between alternate universes, ended up in one where everything was exaggeratedly drawn as a Disney cartoon, and Peter ends up bursting out into a long song “It’s a Wonderful Day For Pie”…………….. And to those of you that now have that awful earworm living in your skull now, I apologize.
Well, a lot of folks have contributed their feelings about the alternative artwork any story line, so I might as well offer mine. I find both to be cheap cardboard imitations compared to the feeling of the G&K version. I might be able to tolerate it for the two weeks it is presumed it will occupy, but no more than that. I don’t like it at all.
IMO this is another reason to get rid of the Shannon character. It doesn’t even work with a guest writer. Maybe he can take her with him when he leaves.
Linnorm 3 months ago
I think I see a female Dagwood Bumstead.
Mordock999 Premium Member 3 months ago
It just occurred to Me.
The New DeGroots “version” Shannon IS, for all intents and purposes, TODAY’S (SHUDDER) Bernice.
Somebody rouse them from their daydreaming!
QUICK!! ;-)
diazch408 3 months ago
Cool scene. Shannon is acting like Dagwood(who can build a big sandwich).
lvlax 3 months ago
Shannon looks like she’s 12 and Toni looks like she’s in her 30’s… It all feels a little off.
This is one Bizarro daydream Toni is having.
Joe1962 Premium Member 3 months ago
Cool scene.. Of Shannon and Brad and Toni.
Azul0858 3 months ago
It’s a humorously exaggerated fantasy version about what the superior child raised by Toni and Brad would be like — with the money and parental motivation to direct her energy into activities and growing up with the expectation of civilized behavior (helping to clean up rather than being destructive). Real Shannon’s just sort of a tumbleweed who goes where her whims and anxieties take her.
Miles VanDelay 3 months ago
I like the change of pace. Not saying that I want Greg to stay away, but this alternate reality is fun. I want to see Fosgitt’s take on Luann, TJ, and Tiffany.
Argythree 3 months ago
Who is the guest artist, and why is there a guest artist?
charlenelin1201 3 months ago
Delusional!
Rhetorical_Question 3 months ago
Wow! Daydreaming delight
Rhetorical_Question 3 months ago
An alternate realm for Toni Daytona?
Jason Allen 3 months ago
How would Shannon learn to crave structure with Toni and Brad as her parents if they don’t seem to provide her any now? Their daydreams don’t seem to have anything to do with reality.
howtheduck 3 months ago
Oboe? Oh Toni. Shannon’s true artistic expression is as the bestselling author of the Monstro and Puddles story. Shannon is no Evelyn Rothwell (Lady Barbirolli).
syzygy47 3 months ago
Dreaming in technicolor
NellyTheHorse 3 months ago
I’ll speculate again, could this be another (possibly even two) pieces in the final arc involving Jonah being in the strip?
Toni (and Brad?) fantasizing about what raising Shannon would be like, and very soon having to decide whether to put up or shut up with the exit of Jonah by means of his demise or, for that matter, with all this travel he’s talking about, his character doing a full on heel turn and simply choosing not to come back and abandoning Shannon (weaseling out under the cover of ‘It’s for her own good because I’m not cut out to be a good dad’)?
To go that extra yard, could this guest artist stint even be happening to give G&K a clear patch of time to really roll up their sleeves and go all in on what would be one of the biggest/most momentous arcs in awhile?
Okay, that’s more than enough sticking my neck out for now. ;)
Wilkins068 3 months ago
Lookin at the comic above’s makin me think of Ozzy Osborne’s ‘Crazy Train’
Not all the words in th song, just th ’I’m going off the rails on a crazy train’ part
red_tape 3 months ago
Dream Shannon is already getting to be a Stepfordish bore
snsurone76 3 months ago
Betcha this “new artist” is G&K’s apprentice, bucking for his own strip.
snsurone76 3 months ago
Tell me—is “structure” another term for micro-managing every waking moment of a kid’s life?
Robin Harwood 3 months ago
I like this Shannon. Pity she bears no resemblance to any real child, either human or non-human.
French Persons Premium Member 3 months ago
PppppfffffFFFFTTTT HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!! (the reality is quite different).
SeaSnork 3 months ago
Like a robot child. Thumbs down on the plot and the cringe worthy drawings. Gonna be a long 2 or 3 weeks.
preacherman Premium Member 3 months ago
The Toni/Brad fantasy world is about to get a rude awakening.
The Joke Explainer Premium Member 3 months ago
I’m liking this change. Any chance to extend their vacation? I’ll start a gofundme.
mgl179 3 months ago
1 step towards normal and interesting, now 10 steps back towards, well, whatever THIS is. Are they trying to drive readers away.
leighabc123 3 months ago
Structure and Shannon have never been used together in the Luann comic!
Carl Premium Member 3 months ago
Serious drugs fueling this fantasy.
Doubly Horque Premium Member 3 months ago
Great art again Jay!
sueb1863 3 months ago
Maybe instead of daydreaming, Toni and Brad should actually be talking about the situation with Shannon and Jonah and what they’re going to do about it?
pgath71 Premium Member 3 months ago
The only expectation you should have about having a child is that nothing will go as you expect it will…
David Huie Green AmericaIsGreatItHasUs 3 months ago
It’s a very pretty hairstyle.
Even fantasy characters get to have fantasies. Shannon is enthusiastic and could be developed into what is shown here. I remember a 6-year-old neighbor who liked to clean my place. I finally had to lock the door even though I appreciated her intentions. She would be pushing 50 by now.
ILK 3 months ago
Actually just a continuation of dragging out a two or three day arc over two weeks.
Mr. Organization 3 months ago
This is high comedy. I feel bad their fantasy will come to an abrupt end eventually.
ajh2i 3 months ago
This is terrible. I hope it doesn’t last longer than this week. :-/
papajim545 3 months ago
I hate this
Serial Pedant 3 months ago
I like Bwad’s new hair…!
Aladar30 Premium Member 3 months ago
I wonder if the script is different than usual to adapt to Jay Fosgitt’s beautiful way of drawing or if they wrote it as usual and then the artist interpreted it following his inspiration. Toni’s imagination is too positive. A little girl like this may be the dream of many parents, but it makes me appreciate more the fact that Shannon is a hurricane and not a perfect little robot. Now I’d like to see what Brad imagines, maybe the family fixing the car together, dirty but happy.
bjs327 3 months ago
If that’s Toni’s vision of the “ideal child”, then she (and by extension Brad) are not ready to be parents.
Ellis97 3 months ago
This is a pretty good art style.
Don Bagert Premium Member 3 months ago
POTENTIAL NEW READER: Okay, today is the day I finally check out what is this strip “Luann” that everybody has talked about over the years…hmm…
I'm Sad 3 months ago
I love this!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
pianist337 3 months ago
I’m enjoying this fantasy arc!
mrsdonaldson 3 months ago
Love the delusions of pre-parenting. :)
elbow macaroni 3 months ago
Is this Disney?
TampaFanatic1 3 months ago
If this is the “Dark Mirror” alternate universe or Bizarro World of the actual Luannverse, then not only Shannon possesses a 180 degree opposite personality but probably Ann Eifel would be a kind and caring saint like Pru. Additionally, Gunther would be a lazy slacker like Knute while Knute would be valedictorian of the high school class and Luann would have been salutatorian. Luann would currently be going to med school on a full scholarship. OTOH Bern would be fun loving and risk taking like Tara and likely hanging out at the community college.
RonMcCalip 3 months ago
IMO, very Disney-esque in style. Toni kinda reminds me of Cinderella… Brad sporting that “skunk” look (I get that it’s supposed to be shiny black hair) with his hair makes me wonder if there is some hidden meaning in this…Hope Greg comes back soon, well rested, relaxed and rejuvenated, and can save us from all of this…
ckvarick 3 months ago
Toni and Brad HAVE raised Shannon. The child is bright, sensitive, creative…and needs a consistent and caring home.
How about some FUN in this COMIC?
ctolson 3 months ago
Boy, Toni is really tripp’n. Most have inhaled some drug or something on her last ambulance run.
vickie.105 3 months ago
Don’t care for the artist’s work on this one.
dv1093 3 months ago
Put me down for a “No”.
A.Ficionada 3 months ago
Dream big, parents to be ; )
tremaine53 3 months ago
The Evans’ got into Paul Gilligan’s pharmaceutical supply.
ahnk_2000 3 months ago
Looks like Luann meets Disney
WilliamVollmer 3 months ago
I’m sorry. But if Brad, and, Toni, actually think that this is how Shannon would’ve turned out, if they had raised her, then they aren’t ready for real parenthood. Because how they imagined Shannon is totally unrealistic.
FanofComics7 Premium Member 3 months ago
Nice artwork. I enjoy Greg’s style too, and of course Greg’s creates the overall feel of the Luann comic. This art deviates from the Luann feel which surprised me at first because I didn’t expect a guest artist to change the feel of the comic. It is nice to have a talented artist rather than the standard joke of a small child with limited art skills taking over.
comic reader 22 3 months ago
“What would Shannon be like if we had raised her” is a really stupid statement. If she is six, she is a long way from being “raised”. Brad and Toni have every right to expect discipline and good manners from a child who resides in their home as much as she does. They just don’t do it.
leomags 3 months ago
We are in a alternate universe here so go with the flow….
kevin.m.rego 3 months ago
It’s the beginning to the spin off Shannon
lemonbaskt 3 months ago
guest artist are people who dont wanna draw stupid luann
The Quiet One 3 months ago
I got nothing.
Wichita1.0 3 months ago
(cue Twilight Zone theme)
Katecst 3 months ago
This kid is boring , bring back the real Shannon. I like her. She would be fun to teach.
Lord King Wazmo Premium Member 3 months ago
1,000% improvement.
CardinalJoesWife 3 months ago
Toni is day DREAMING this. Check out this comic the last few days.Good morning (evening) everyone; have a great day!
[Unnamed Reader - bddb15] 3 months ago
I’ll be back next week …
Guybrush Threepwood 3 months ago
I love the art style, is that a guest or it’s them experimenting?
lisfnord 3 months ago
I think the more important question is, what in the name of god is Brad eating???
Praisnmom 3 months ago
Not too sure how comics work but gonna ask anyway. Is there a reason they don’t grow up in “comic world”? I would like to see her start kindergarten, etc., at least. I mean, is LuAnn gonna be in college forever? Just saying. Thanks!
comic reader 22 3 months ago
So where did all the dishes come from that are depicted in panel three? They certainly didn’t come off the table. Talk about exaggerating for effect! This goody goody, pie in the sky cartoon is really boring. How long is this guest cartooning going to last for?
dsatvoinde Premium Member 3 months ago
Finding the fantasy segment amusing. Kind of reminds me of a style when a TV series will do an episode where all the characters become cartoons. Couldn’t quite put my finger on the style, but Disney has been mentioned in several comments. I suppose I could see that. Enjoying the artwork as much as I have enjoyed Greg’s all along. Better than anything I could produce, that’s for sure.
Having fun with this segment and would like to see more of the Luannverse crew in this arc.
Something between the “real” Shannon and this amped up version would be nice, but:1) It’s a fantasy sequence2) It’s just a comic strip
CharlesRiley 3 months ago
I enjoyed the change when the original Luann drawings changed to their current (previous to yesterday) style. Not sure I’m going to like this one.
GKBOWOOD Premium Member 3 months ago
Gag….
terry 3 months ago
Really like the art! Especially Toni. Where was Jay when Mark Trail needed a new artist?
Mr. Impatient 3 months ago
The artwork reminds me of the Baldo strip.
BlitzMcD 3 months ago
MAD Magazine did a similar theme back in 1959 (Biker and beatnik parents lamenting, “Where did we go wrong?”, as their impeccably dressed kids sit on the floor next to them, doing their homework and studying calculus, physics, etc.).
howtheduck 3 months ago
Even in Toni’s imagination, Brad is a slobby eater. At least that did not change.
French Persons Premium Member 3 months ago
A friend of mine told me once that he would love to have kids… But he wants them to just be adults and not have to go through the growing up part… Too bad that couldn’t be the case!
Metal maiden 3 months ago
what in the heck happened to the previous artist? this is terrible.
AwelCruiz 3 months ago
And this is why Shannon is such a brat. Because a well behaved Shannon isn’t funny!
mindjob 3 months ago
It’s already a bad dream
candomarty Premium Member 3 months ago
Not a fan of this artist
cabalonrye 3 months ago
Dream on.
smsrt 3 months ago
Now I KNOW we’re fanta-super-sizing
drewpamon 3 months ago
Anyone feel like they’re trolling all the Shannon is a monster comments?
eced52 3 months ago
Who loosed the spirit of goodness in Shannon?
Petemejia77 3 months ago
So she becomes Asian if they’ve always taken care of her?
maroon53 3 months ago
Seriously…did no one notice that this is Brad and Toni imagining what Shannon would be like if they had raised her. Yes it’s a guest artist, but it works for the purposes of the arc. It’s an ideal sunny world in imagination.
pearlyqim 3 months ago
I foresee another long and boring story line!
sjsczurek 3 months ago
Is this Toni’s dream? Or Brad’s?
lnrokr55 3 months ago
WOw, extra helping of sarcasm! Bet this drives the regulars in this chatroom crazy. Fun days !
andrew.scharnhorst 3 months ago
Which one of them is (day)dreaming?
eladee AKA Wally 3 months ago
It’s temporary. Greg and Karen made the acquaintance of an artist who is their fan. They liked his style and invited him to do this arc involving a fantasy Toni, Brad and Shannon storyline. I think he has a comic strip of his own as well. Just enjoy the fantasy and try not to be thrown too much by the different artwork. It’s always jarring to me to not see the characters I know and love looking like they are supposed to but these things happen from time to time. Fantasy Shannon creeps me out, too!
LNER4472 Premium Member 3 months ago
All I can think of when I see this artist’s style is that episode of “Family Guy” where Stewie and Brian, bouncing between alternate universes, ended up in one where everything was exaggeratedly drawn as a Disney cartoon, and Peter ends up bursting out into a long song “It’s a Wonderful Day For Pie”…………….. And to those of you that now have that awful earworm living in your skull now, I apologize.
ProclaimLiberty 3 months ago
Well, a lot of folks have contributed their feelings about the alternative artwork any story line, so I might as well offer mine. I find both to be cheap cardboard imitations compared to the feeling of the G&K version. I might be able to tolerate it for the two weeks it is presumed it will occupy, but no more than that. I don’t like it at all.
bookworm0812 3 months ago
Said no child ever.
AndrewSihler 3 months ago
This is starting to be alarming. Just make sure the Uzi is securely locked.
eddi-TBH 3 months ago
Toni and Brad’s dream sequence.
anonymooseandsquirrel Premium Member 3 months ago
Great job! Love having a guest artist and love the fun “imagine if” arc!
namelocdet 3 months ago
This animation reminds me of when Family Guy did an “Disney-esq” episode.
j.l.farmer 3 months ago
Boy, are they living in a fantasy world. They are in no way ready to have a family!
comic reader 22 3 months ago
IMO this is another reason to get rid of the Shannon character. It doesn’t even work with a guest writer. Maybe he can take her with him when he leaves.
sincavage05 3 months ago
This one sucks big time! Is evans retiring and turning it over to someone else? Not good!
kittysquared Premium Member 3 months ago
Very divisive! I am in the “this sucks” camp. I do not care for the illustration style – way too jarring. And Shannon as a Stepford daughter? Feh.
Dragoncat 3 months ago
It will be interesting to see how everyone else looks in this guest artist story arc.
rwiater 3 months ago
I like the new more attractive ones.
mludwick 3 months ago
Not a fan of the new look for the characters. Really, really not a fan. This may drive me away from reading this comic.