Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

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June 24, 2026

Stare

by David M Willis on May 16, 2011 at 12:01 am
  • 05 - Media Rumble
└ Tags: danny, roz, sarah

Discussion (99) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. arjay2813
    arjay2813
    May 16, 2011 at 12:02 am | #

    aww, Joe, Roz, and Danny gave Sarah a gift, now she’s got friends (and not just people mad at her for her druggy roomie)

    • Rognik
      Rognik
      May 16, 2011 at 12:29 am | #

      That also looks like Sarah’s first genuine smile. So she CAN smile without sarcasm!

      • David Herbert
        David Herbert
        May 16, 2011 at 2:20 am | #

        No, it still seems a little sarcastic. Something similar was when she smiled during the first Billie vs Ruth fight.

      • Abjuron
        Abjuron
        May 16, 2011 at 4:58 pm | #

        Is smiling from schadenfreude any better than sarcasm?

  2. Wackd
    Wackd
    May 16, 2011 at 12:03 am | #

    Wow. Considering what happened last time they met, Sarah’s being pretty buddy-buddy.

    • Undrave
      Undrave
      May 16, 2011 at 1:21 am | #

      I like that, they could be good friends. Sarah migth not have time to waste on parties and stuff but she should have people she can talk to once in a while.

  3. Digidestined of Trust (Tim)
    Digidestined of Trust (Tim)
    May 16, 2011 at 12:04 am | #

    Jerk of a Roz

    • Engelfire
      Engelfire
      May 20, 2011 at 12:11 pm | #

      If I remember, Roz was a jerk in Shortpacked, too. Except there she wasn’t jailbaiting (technically).

      • David
        David M Willis
        May 20, 2011 at 12:23 pm | #

        ….i don’t think it’s jailbaiting when an 18-year-old sleeps with an 18-year-old…

  4. Lee
    Lee
    May 16, 2011 at 12:04 am | #

    Gah. Panel 3 Sarah is not someone I want sneaking up behind me.

    • Katana
      Katana
      May 16, 2011 at 12:16 am | #

      Time to change the dialog for that panel to…
      “You ever been RAPED before, boy?”

      • Bekah
        Bekah
        May 16, 2011 at 4:45 am | #

        Welp, that`s what it says in my head now. Every time I see Sarah in this comic, I`m going to think those words.

        Thanks a bunch.

        Jerk.

        • Ethan
          Ethan
          May 16, 2011 at 4:19 pm | #

          http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/34/youever.jpg/

          There ya go. Make the image complete.
          *All Characters and drawings in this picture are property of David Willis. I just added words… that’s not copyright infringement, is it? ……. Is it?

          • Bekah
            Bekah
            May 16, 2011 at 7:55 pm | #

            Heeeeeyyyyyy…. you’re not Ethan. You’re Billie.

            • Lesharo
              Lesharo
              May 16, 2011 at 10:54 pm | #

              Ethan’s going through a crossdressing phase. He’s actually the one who has Billie’s cheerleading uniform.

            • Ethan
              Ethan
              May 17, 2011 at 7:19 pm | #

              When I started reading Shortpacked! I was all like “Oh cool! A nerd guy that is named Ethan in a comic!” Then it turned out he was gay and I was all like “Oh! He’s nothing like me anymore! Cool!”

      • QueenThomas
        QueenThomas
        May 16, 2011 at 10:07 am | #

        Anyone else hear banjos…?

    • A. Colunga
      A. Colunga
      May 16, 2011 at 1:02 am | #

      The third dimension does not flatter Sarah at ALL.

  5. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    May 16, 2011 at 12:05 am | #

    Danny’s death stare needs work. Looks like stomach discomfort. Mike should give him lessons.

    • lord of dance
      lord of dance
      May 16, 2011 at 12:10 am | #

      he looks like hes about to cry

    • Shift
      Shift
      May 16, 2011 at 3:18 am | #

      He should talk to Amber about Mario Toys being delayed. That should help his training.

  6. cappadocius
    cappadocius
    May 16, 2011 at 12:07 am | #

    What a bunch of horrible people.

  7. kagato23
    kagato23
    May 16, 2011 at 12:09 am | #

    Annndddd now I ship Roz/Danny. Great.

    • NF
      NF
      May 16, 2011 at 12:51 am | #

      So do I. Darn you Willis!

      • kagato23
        kagato23
        May 16, 2011 at 1:15 am | #

        Anime is also at fault. Death stares are now synonymous with true love waiting to blossom.

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          May 16, 2011 at 4:25 am | #

          So Danny is tsundere for Roz then?

          • gangler
            gangler
            May 16, 2011 at 5:03 am | #

            Not as much as he’s tsundere for Joe. Really he’s just being protective right now.

            • Bekah
              Bekah
              May 16, 2011 at 6:24 am | #

              Are you suggesting that Danny’s secretly gay, just like everyone else in Willis’s comics? Because if that’s what you’re suggesting then I’m afraid that… well… yeah you’re probably right.

              • Lesharo
                Lesharo
                May 16, 2011 at 10:56 pm | #

                with that avatar, no matter what else you say, you need to end your comment with “so nyah”

                • Plasma Mongoose
                  Plasma Mongoose
                  May 16, 2011 at 11:52 pm | #

                  IIRC Bekah’s ava is of Robin after she stuffed Singlakitty in her mouth.

    • Undrave
      Undrave
      May 16, 2011 at 1:22 am | #

      Meh you can pretty much ship the whole gang with one another. This whole strip is one big orgy waiting to happen!

      • Lesharo
        Lesharo
        May 16, 2011 at 10:58 pm | #

        just need a weekend where Willis is alone and reeeally drunk.

  8. lord of dance
    lord of dance
    May 16, 2011 at 12:13 am | #

    i don’t think dannys seeing the big picture here. joe should use his new found sex tape fame to start a reality tv show and make millions. they could call it “With My Penis” and air it on spike tv

    • NF
      NF
      May 16, 2011 at 12:53 am | #

      +1 for super-effective use of a DoA meme.

      • Rikushadow5
        Rikushadow5
        May 16, 2011 at 9:24 am | #

        And for subsequent seasons, they could use “For a nickel” and/or “With your Mother” as subtitles for the show.

  9. Tristan J
    Tristan J
    May 16, 2011 at 12:14 am | #

    Strips like this are why people who don’t like Sarah are factually wrong about everything. And also have stupid faces.

    • Ridureyu
      Ridureyu
      May 16, 2011 at 12:19 am | #

      FAAAAAAAAAAAACE

      • Tristan J
        Tristan J
        May 16, 2011 at 12:25 am | #

        If you could see me, I’d staring at you disapprovingly over half-moon spectacles, Ridureyu.

        😀

        • Undrave
          Undrave
          May 16, 2011 at 1:23 am | #

          Staring with your

          FAAAAAAAAAACE

  10. Cratacon
    Cratacon
    May 16, 2011 at 12:23 am | #

    In panel one, the dude on the far right, isn’t he that Blanka guy from Shortpacked?

    • kagato23
      kagato23
      May 16, 2011 at 1:19 am | #

      Hard to tell, but it might be Fei-Long

    • wnderjif
      wnderjif
      May 16, 2011 at 2:39 am | #

      lolz.

    • Bekah
      Bekah
      May 16, 2011 at 4:48 am | #

      I thought his name was M Bison.

      • ryan
        ryan
        May 16, 2011 at 8:52 am | #

        only in the american version. in the japanese shortpacked! (which true fans know is the only worth a damn) his name is vega.

        • ryan
          ryan
          May 16, 2011 at 8:53 am | #

          “only one worth a damn”

          • Bekah
            Bekah
            May 16, 2011 at 2:48 pm | #

            I hate how Willis screwed up all the names in the English version.
            Original Japanese with English subtitles or death!

    • Horerczy
      Horerczy
      May 16, 2011 at 5:43 am | #

      No I don’t think that’s Guile.

      • Dhund
        Dhund
        May 16, 2011 at 12:14 pm | #

        I’m pretty sure thats Johnny Cage. Guile works at a toystore in another dimension.

  11. Dahlia
    Dahlia
    May 16, 2011 at 12:24 am | #

    THATS Danny’s death stare?!

    Oh, he has so much work to do…

    • beeftony
      beeftony
      May 16, 2011 at 8:52 pm | #

      He could take lessons from your avatar.

      • Dahlia
        Dahlia
        May 17, 2011 at 12:43 am | #

        B ) s’wut I’m sayin’

  12. Rognik
    Rognik
    May 16, 2011 at 12:32 am | #

    No one’s pointing out Shaggy’s return in panel one? Shame on you, people. SHAAAAME.

    • NF
      NF
      May 16, 2011 at 12:55 am | #

      But he’s missing the green t-shirt.

      • Undrave
        Undrave
        May 16, 2011 at 1:24 am | #

        Didn’t Shaggy have a red shirt period? A bad one at that, it had Scrappy Doo in it. I think he had a red shirt in those HORRIBLE DTV like the stupid Ghoul School one >< augh.

        Where's the Shaggy tag?!

        • Horerczy
          Horerczy
          May 16, 2011 at 5:43 am | #

          yes he did have a red shirt period.

          • Chester Sellars
            Chester Sellars
            May 16, 2011 at 11:36 am | #

            Red… period.

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            May 16, 2011 at 6:39 pm | #

            Gid he ever die during his Red Shirt period?

    • Cha
      Cha
      May 16, 2011 at 1:32 am | #

      He’s undercover.

  13. You
    You
    May 16, 2011 at 2:19 am | #

    DEATH STARE.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      May 16, 2011 at 7:15 am | #

      More like FROWNY FACE on the verge of crying.

      • Henry
        Henry
        May 16, 2011 at 5:32 pm | #

        Frowny FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE?

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          May 16, 2011 at 7:56 pm | #

          And if that don’t work, he can always attack her textually on FAAAAACEBOOK!

  14. Joe
    Joe
    May 16, 2011 at 3:00 am | #

    IS THAT NINJA RICK?

    • Shift
      Shift
      May 16, 2011 at 3:17 am | #

      I don’t think so. He looks heavier than Ninja Rick.

      • ryan
        ryan
        May 16, 2011 at 8:54 am | #

        too much onigiri will do that to a man.

    • Doom Shepherd
      Doom Shepherd
      May 16, 2011 at 9:04 am | #

      For some reason, he looks like L4D’s Francis, to me.

      “I HATE college.”

  15. Shift
    Shift
    May 16, 2011 at 3:16 am | #

    Sarah seems oddly happy today, even before hearing about the Joe news. Kinda odd.

  16. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    May 16, 2011 at 4:27 am | #

    Why is Roz dressed like it’s still the 80s?

    • Bekah
      Bekah
      May 16, 2011 at 4:49 am | #

      Ugg boots were around in the 80s?

      • gangler
        gangler
        May 16, 2011 at 5:06 am | #

        Someone succesfully branded Ugg? God, I’ll never understand how these things work. That’s literally an onomatopoeia associated with distaste. No metaphors involved or nothin.

        • Bekah
          Bekah
          May 16, 2011 at 6:27 am | #

          They may be ugly, but they’re the single most comfortable pair of boots you’ll ever put on. They’re like slippers for outside.

          • Kiwii
            Kiwii
            May 16, 2011 at 2:28 pm | #

            I agree, and there are much prettier versions available now. Its like giving your feet a hug!

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        May 16, 2011 at 7:13 am | #

        Long before the 80s in fact. Ugg boots are an Aussie invention from at least the 1930s.

  17. curiouzkatt
    curiouzkatt
    May 16, 2011 at 5:25 am | #

    Roz suddenly sounds like such an evil younger sister. o_o

  18. Jackson
    Jackson
    May 16, 2011 at 7:07 am | #

    Death Stare’s workin’ real well there, Danno.

  19. Zem
    Zem
    May 16, 2011 at 8:48 am | #

    Funny, it made me ship Danny/sarah instead.

    Danny would so be the “bottom”. I should make one of those classic “ruined for marriage” fanarts of the two.

    Of course she wants a piece of that nerdy white ass. Sarah is pretty normal actually, she just doesn’t ease up around most people in case in case they try to pull a fast one. Someone as white bread as Danny is perfect to show her more relaxed side.

    Which, by the way, is a total beast.

  20. Seraph
    Seraph
    May 16, 2011 at 9:18 am | #

    I don’t particularly see Sarah hooking up with any of the incoming frosh, but I’d like to. Quite frankly, I’d like to see something – anything – shake her off her cynical, above-it-all equilibrium. Wonderful, horrible, I don’t care.

    As for Roz, it really wasn’t cool of her to post that video on the internet without letting Joe know that was why she wanted it. It may even have been illegal. Don’t you have to sign a release for that sort of thing? I liked her a lot when she was the sex-lovin’ girl who tried to make sure everybody played safe, but now she’s almost down to Roz Prime’s level in my estimation.

    All of that said, it seems that Danny is the one most upset by all this. “Our” lives are going to be Hell, Danny? Do you expect reporters to stake out your dorm room? Secret service agents to rappel in the window? What, exactly, does this have to do with you?

    This seems connected to whatever fused circuit in his head made him follow his high school girlfriend to college and plan their entire future together (including the hope that she would change her mind about going to Yale so they could stay closer to each other), but I can’t put my finger on how.

    • Rikushadow5
      Rikushadow5
      May 16, 2011 at 9:27 am | #

      While it was fortunately not a sex scandal, I know from experience that it makes it harder on those that you’re around a lot when you fuck up, ESPECIALLY if it’s about something controversial that a lot of people know about.

      On a lighter note…heh, Joe Fucked up….literally.

      • Henry
        Henry
        May 16, 2011 at 5:34 pm | #

        With his penis.

    • gangler
      gangler
      May 16, 2011 at 10:43 am | #

      Reporters staking out the dorm room? No way! If there’s one thing the paparazzi are known for it’s respecting privacy. Surely they won’t harrass Joes friends and family.

      I also can’t imagine the general student body will be at all curious about any of this. Why, if they were to turn into ravenous beasts hounding him and everyone else involved for information they could sell to the press that would be the height of absurdity. Money doesn’t do that to people, and students are never hard for cash anyway.

      It’s certainly not like there’s any way this could come down on his head for him being complicit in the breaking of dorm regulations. No Siree bob. Everyone will totally understand that they were having loud and likely cinematic sex two feet from him without his waking or noticing the camera on his foot.

      Nope. The way I see it this is gonna effect Joe and no one but Joe. Dan is just paranoid and narcissistic for thinking he even has a part in the events that will play out.

      • Seraph
        Seraph
        May 16, 2011 at 11:03 am | #

        Dan is definitely paranoid and narcissistic. Whether he is also right is yet to be seen.

        • gangler
          gangler
          May 16, 2011 at 11:30 am | #

          Fair enough. I can get behind that.

          I don’t actually think he’s shown any real signs of paranoia, I mean he certainly didn’t suspect anything from Dorothy. He also wasn’t able to predict Joe pulling him into his sexual trouble like this. As a whole, I think a paranoid man would have been more wary of signs of trouble than Dan has been thus far in the comic.

          Still, the general principle. He certainly is narcissistic. He certainly seems to see bad things coming right now. One can easily question whether being correct is in any way a redeeming feature, and either way we don’t actually know that he is yet.

          • Seraph
            Seraph
            May 16, 2011 at 11:52 am | #

            It’d be easier to tell how this was going to play out if the Rule of Funny was more evenly applied in this comic. In real life, a U.S. Representative’s college-age sister putting a sex video on the internet would be news, but not really big news (if it was Robin herself, or if Roz was Robin’s daughter, it would be a bigger deal, but even then Robin is a Representative, not the President – honestly, I’m not sure if any paparazzi would show up). In the prime Shortpacked reality, Robin got her way in the House by flashing her boobs and no one ever made a connection with Robin DeSanto, Representative and Roz DeSanto, camwhore. Which way is this strip going to fall this time? And will it change its mind in the middle? After all, Mike punching Joe repeatedly in the face was played for slapstick until it left bruises.

            • gangler
              gangler
              May 16, 2011 at 12:18 pm | #

              I think that a U.S. Representative’s college age sister putting a sex video online could actually be huge news depending on the timing. During election season it’s not really worth shit. If there’s big news with the war right now, of there’s an epidemic, or anything like that it pretty much becomes background noise. A minor point to address during the news hour.

              If it catches them between stories though, you better believe they’d blow this shit right up and turn it into the scandal of the century. They’d be talking about the message it sends to the young, what it says about the young. Some batshit insane preacher would somehow crawl out of the woodwork and have a whole lot to say about it. There’d be alleged experts analyzing the video and/or analyzing Roz and what drove her towards this manner of behavior. Some women’s rights organization would decide this is an opening to make a statement about cultural attitudes towards women enjoying sex. It’d be a regular media circus, providing the timing was right.

              You’re right though. This comic’s nature makes it kind of hard to predict. At the very least I don’t think this is going to escalate into a crazy story shortpacked style. If there’s a media circus, they’ll be incredibly aggravating, intrusive, etc, and will cause anger for Danny, trouble for Joe, and character revelations for Roz, and then they’ll leave of their own accord when the next big thing hits. The comic is at least that much more realistic than shortpacked.

  21. Vivvav
    Vivvav
    May 16, 2011 at 9:39 am | #

    Hey, is that Ken in the background of the first panel?

    • Jackson
      Jackson
      May 16, 2011 at 10:52 am | #

      His name is Ken? I thought his name was Deejay.

      • Anon
        Anon
        May 16, 2011 at 8:58 pm | #

        Hurr hurr hurr.

        Whatever his name is, he’s just a Guy who likes seeing Birdie-s flying over Rose-s, is into Sodom-y and loves driving his Honda, E.

        (i was gonna say something about how his favorite food is M-eat of Bison, but thats taking it too far)

    • Janette
      Janette
      May 16, 2011 at 2:33 pm | #

      KEN!!!!

  22. Daibhid C
    Daibhid C
    May 16, 2011 at 10:54 am | #

    That happened to me once in high school. I was glaring at a girl in my class who’d picked on my sister, and the teacher said to me afterwards that if I liked her I should say something…

  23. NerdAtComputer
    NerdAtComputer
    May 16, 2011 at 11:22 am | #

    I just noticed (and feel kind of stupid for taking this long), that Sarah only said “did you think it was my birthday” because Danny gave her “a present”.

    Since all he did was telling her that “Joe did the porn video”, then she is thankfull for the knowledge of that. But what could she use it for?

    She is clearly thinking (and caring) for Joyce. She will show Joyce the video in order to halp her being away from Joe. Of course, this won’t work out her way, and the knowledge of the video will end up destroying Joyce.

    …

    On an unrelated note, I just noticed how many characters’ name start with “J”. =P

    • gangler
      gangler
      May 16, 2011 at 11:25 am | #

      Come to think of it, hasn’t Joyce Prime been shown a dirty video once, to disastrous consequence?

      • Seraph
        Seraph
        May 16, 2011 at 11:59 am | #

        Yes, but Joyce Prime also thought babies were gifts from magical fairies. God help us, this Joyce is far less extreme.

        • gangler
          gangler
          May 16, 2011 at 12:59 pm | #

          Also, let’s be honest. If she hadn’t made an incredibly rash and irreversible decision directly afterward she would have gotten over it.

    • curiouzkatt
      curiouzkatt
      May 16, 2011 at 12:52 pm | #

      Sometimes the mere fact that someone you abhor is facing some pretty serious shit can make you feel happy, thus, in a sense, a weird kind of present. xD In a way, Sarah doesn’t have to do anything for Joyce (or anyone else) to see how Joe is an ass.

  24. Myxa
    Myxa
    May 16, 2011 at 3:03 pm | #

    hmm if i had a nickel for every time i used that ‘death stare’ id be rich…but to be fair i sometimes use it when i need to go to the bathroom, so i give my teacher the death stare…its works 95% of the time…5% cops can get involoved.

  25. nothri
    nothri
    May 16, 2011 at 5:06 pm | #

    Wow. I think Sarah is the only character in this universe I like better than her incarnation in the ‘original’ walkyverse. Some folks I like as much, some I like worse, but Sarah just has the right brand of ‘good heart hidden underneath layers and layers of cynicism’.

  26. benenator
    benenator
    May 18, 2011 at 9:23 pm | #

    Hmm. A Death Stare from Danny’s FAAAAACE might just joe you in the femurs.

  27. Kelsey
    Kelsey
    July 8, 2011 at 11:25 am | #

    He should start a death stare club. I’m sure it’d catch on.

  28. Jacques Cornelius Parrot III
    Jacques Cornelius Parrot III
    January 14, 2016 at 8:00 pm | #

    The Death Stare is now fully armed and operational!

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