I'm not familiar with Bets in the Luann comic being described as 'black'. It's possible it depends on specific storylines or character traits within the comic. Do you have more details to share?
It's hard to say for sure. Could be that it lost popularity or there were legal/contractual problems. Maybe the creator decided to take a break or pursue other projects.
I'm not entirely sure who Luann McLane specifically is within the context of Fantastic Fiction. It could be an author who has works in the Fantastic Fiction genre. Maybe she writes novels or short stories with elements like magic, otherworldly settings, or extraordinary characters.
Overall, the Luann cartoon has a decent connection to the comic. It retains the main characters and key storylines, but there could be some tweaks for entertainment value and visual appeal.