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Luann is an exciting comic strip created by Greg Evans that chronicles the joyful discoveries and torturous experiences of adolescence. Syndicated by King Features from 1987 until March 1996 when Evans moved the strip to United Feature Syndicate, Luann has developed a loyal following of readers of all ages in more than 300 newspapers. Readers across the country are loyal to Luann and the realistic cast of characters that people the strip. Evans has been praised for his amusing, insightful portrayals of the issues that teens face -- everything from reaching puberty, to dealing with peer pressure, drugs and alcohol. In all storylines, Evans has held Luann up as a fine example of the positive power cartoons can have. "Families are an essential ingredient of our society," says Evans, a father of three. "What I'm trying to do with this strip is to enlighten and inform a little about what life in a family should be without being preachy. I've always felt that adolescence is a very funny time -- except when you're in it. My aim is to touch readers' hearts as well as their funny bones, to enlighten as well as entertain." Evans combines down-to-earth reality, everyday humor and keen insight to produce a comic strip that is funny, touching and real. Born, raised and educated in the Los Angeles area, Evans discovered at an early age that he wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist. In 1972, he and his wife, Betty, moved to Australia where they lived and taught for two years. After a year of traveling, they settled in Colorado where Evans worked as a graphic artist and promotion manager for a television station. During that time, he worked as a magazine cartoonist while he developed ideas for a comic strip.
Q. When did you first start drawing cartoons?
A. I guess I was born with the Cartooning Disease because I've drawn cartoons for as long as I can remember.
Q. Who were the cartoonists who most influenced you?
A. Charles Schulz, Mort Drucker, Mort Walker, Roy Crane.
Q. How did you get your professional start?
A. I began developing comic strip ideas when I was in college. Over the years, I submitted a dozen or so strips, all rejected (for good reason: they were lousy). Finally, I came up with Luann and it was accepted.
Q. How would you describe your style?
A. Semi-cartooney-sorta-realistic. Somewhere between "For Better Or For Worse" and "Dilbert."
Q. Where do you get your story ideas?
A. My characters suggest them. This sounds impossible, but it's true. When interesting characters are put together, they interact and storylines emerge.
Q. How did you come up with your characters?
A. When I created the strip in 1985, the character of Luann was inspired by my pre-teen daughter. Luann's brother Brad was based on my son (his attitude, not his looks). Over the years, as storylines evolved, I've introduced about a dozen additional characters. I don't create a character then think of something for them to do. I let the story suggest new characters, then I create them.
Q. Which are your favorite characters in your strip and why?
A. Characters with strong personalities are best, especially if that personality isn't very nice. So Tiffany and Brad are fun to write for. Luann's dog, Puddles, is fun to draw.
Q. Do you create on a daily basis?
A. Do you prefer to work in the morning or at night? I have a fairly standard work week: M-F, 9 to 5. I usually draw in the morning and write in the afternoon.
Q. What materials do you use to draw your comics?
A. Do you use a computer? I use a Mac to lay out the boxes and do the lettering (it's my hand lettering) then print out on standard legal size paper. I do the drawing, using a variety of pens, then scan the strip back into Photoshop to add the shading (and the coloring on Sunday strips). When I've done a week's worth, I modem them off to United Media.
Q. Do you have any suggestions on how to become a professional cartoonist?
A. Yes: be yourself. No one wants another "Far Side" clone or "Bloom County" rip-off. Think about what makes you unique, then do a strip that only you could do. The greatest strips (Peanuts, For Better Or For Worse, Calvin and Hobbes) are individual creations that no one else could have done. Find your own voice, your own special talent, and develop that.
Q. Are there Luann collection books?
A. Yes. Any online book source carries several recent collections as well as many older books (although some of the really old ones are out of print).
Q. Will Luann and Aaron Hill EVER get together?
A. If I answered that, I'd be out of a job.
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