Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

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May 5, 2026

Blood

by David M Willis on August 19, 2013 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - Just Hangin' Out With My Family
└ Tags: amber, blaine, falyn, reno, ruth, sierra

Discussion (471) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Squall
    Squall
    August 19, 2013 at 12:01 am | #

    YEAH RUTH I LOVE YOU

    • Iceman
      Iceman
      August 19, 2013 at 1:35 am | #

      My sentiments exactly

    • Resne
      Resne
      August 19, 2013 at 2:11 am | #

      Kick his ass, baby, I got your flower.

    • Ocbrad1
      Ocbrad1
      August 19, 2013 at 9:24 am | #

      Awww yeah! This is what we’ve been waiting for! The end of Blaine’s femurs! Go Ruthless!!

    • Far
      Far
      August 19, 2013 at 10:13 am | #

      Re: Current Sitch:
      Is there a tvtrope about using evil to stop evil?

      • arjay2813
        arjay2813
        August 19, 2013 at 10:52 am | #

        as a matter of fact, yes http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EvilVersusEvil

        there is also the inverse http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GoodVersusGood

        but i think Ruth here is good vs eviling

      • hegas117
        hegas117
        August 19, 2013 at 10:58 am | #

        http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EvilVersusEvil

      • B.D
        B.D
        March 21, 2015 at 5:16 pm | #

        http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/SpaceRunawayIdeon

        I basically think of “Overwhelming Power” as Ruth’s theme when she’s Ruthless.

  2. thecanvashat
    thecanvashat
    August 19, 2013 at 12:01 am | #

    Yay everyone’s mad at Blaine

    • jiynx
      jiynx
      August 19, 2013 at 1:03 am | #

      he *is* a pain.

      • Raibean
        Raibean
        August 19, 2013 at 1:30 am | #

        He came from Spain.

        • NightmareWarden
          NightmareWarden
          August 19, 2013 at 1:36 am | #

          Gonna go to jail with a ball and chain.

          • saltchocolate
            saltchocolate
            August 19, 2013 at 2:07 am | #

            He’s just like rain, but won’t stay mainly in the plain.

            • Chronos
              Chronos
              August 19, 2013 at 2:12 am | #

              He’s insane in the membrane.

              • Tachyon
                Tachyon
                August 19, 2013 at 2:36 am | #

                Toasted like a busted mainframe.

                • Viredae
                  Viredae
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:56 am | #

                  Really, I don’t think he’s all that sane…

                • Nameless
                  Nameless
                  August 19, 2013 at 3:35 am | #

                  I’ve had it with these snakes on this motherfucking plane.

                • Jenny Creed
                  Jenny Creed
                  August 19, 2013 at 3:49 am | #

                  And presently his powers wane.

                  As previously in another brane.

                • Makkabee
                  Makkabee
                  August 19, 2013 at 5:18 am | #

                  Douchebaggery is the mindkiller… I will let the douchebaggery pass over me and through me, and Blaine will be gone and only I will remain.

                • Crumplepunch
                  Crumplepunch
                  August 19, 2013 at 6:57 am | #

                  All these rhymes are getting inane.

                • Jenny Creed
                  Jenny Creed
                  August 19, 2013 at 7:23 am | #

                  Don’t worry, they don’t stain.

                • Squall
                  Squall
                  August 19, 2013 at 7:57 am | #

                  But they might break the water main

                • PureFedora
                  PureFedora
                  August 19, 2013 at 8:19 am | #

                  After reading these comments, I have a migraine.

                • VizardJeffhog
                  VizardJeffhog
                  August 19, 2013 at 8:25 am | #

                  As if there was something to gain…

                • Andrusi
                  Andrusi
                  August 19, 2013 at 8:40 am | #

                  If this rhyming causes you a headache, you need more practice with comment sections. You need to train.

                • VizardJeffhog
                  VizardJeffhog
                  August 19, 2013 at 9:07 am | #

                  For if you’re not prepared, you shall be slain.

                • carl320
                  carl320
                  August 19, 2013 at 9:23 am | #

                  He can’t go to jail, I’m sure he has something to maintain.

                  That’s it, I’m moving to Maine.

                • WiredWolf
                  WiredWolf
                  August 19, 2013 at 9:30 am | #

                  This really isn’t against the grain,
                  but Amber’s backbone may be his bane
                  and I hope he goes down in a flame…
                  -ing mess of pain…

                • Felix Kütt
                  Felix Kütt
                  August 19, 2013 at 10:10 am | #

                  …for without pain, there is no gain..?

                • begbert2
                  begbert2
                  August 19, 2013 at 10:44 am | #

                  I was going to join in in the punning, but I decided to refrain.

                • Tomb
                  Tomb
                  August 19, 2013 at 11:24 am | #

                  It is Blaine not these jokes that are lame, but soon he will be slain.

                • MIB4u
                  MIB4u
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:59 pm | #

                  C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!! XD

                • Yotomoe
                  Yotomoe
                  August 19, 2013 at 3:49 pm | #

                  Why did you have to break the chain?

                • Doom Shepherd
                  Doom Shepherd
                  August 19, 2013 at 4:00 pm | #

                  By security he will be detained…
                  Unless Ruth decides to open his veins
                  He’ll have only losses, there will be no gains
                  And he’s gonna have to replace his Hanes.

                • Squall
                  Squall
                  August 19, 2013 at 4:57 pm | #

                  Even though it brings great pain
                  In our eyes you hold naught but shame
                  By breaking the rhyming combo chain
                  You are the reason the rhyme police came
                  Though soon you needs must walk with a cane
                  For now you must run, run from this game.

                  Why oh why did he break the chain?
                  Why did the heavens cry when he came?
                  The answer is simple, for he is insane
                  He and the evil are one in the same
                  MIB4u is the one known as Blaine
                  He is the one, the one that’s to blame.

                • Totz the Plaid
                  Totz the Plaid
                  August 19, 2013 at 6:44 pm | #

                  Hey, guys, let there not be a stain
                  On MIB4u’s record for breaking the chain.
                  For we all know that these rhymes are a game
                  So let us not cast our negativity or blame
                  At any of our own, for we all know the main
                  Reason for his joy is our shared hatred of Blaine.

                • otusasio451
                  otusasio451
                  August 20, 2013 at 12:01 am | #

                  Does anyone else want some champagne?

                • Zebalien
                  Zebalien
                  August 20, 2013 at 1:30 am | #

                  Eeh, it might go against the grain.

      • Gabe
        Gabe
        August 19, 2013 at 1:41 am | #

        And that’s the truth.

    • Cespinare
      Cespinare
      August 19, 2013 at 8:44 am | #

      Amber acted without hesitation, she’s nothing like the Dane.

    • Too Old To Be Cool
      Too Old To Be Cool
      August 20, 2013 at 10:47 pm | #

      Ruth is for real – no need to feign.

  3. SUGauthor
    SUGauthor
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    I’ve never been more proud of Ruth.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      Ruth will show him why she’s known as RUTHLESS!

      • Platypus
        Platypus
        August 19, 2013 at 12:11 am | #

        Femurs! Femurs!

        • Darth
          Darth
          August 19, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

          MORE BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

          MORE FEMURS FOR THE FEMUR THRONE!

          • RevenantBacon
            RevenantBacon
            August 19, 2013 at 12:32 am | #

            He may need his femurs to live, but I’m pretty sure no one wants him to live.

            • AsimovSideburns
              AsimovSideburns
              August 19, 2013 at 1:10 am | #

              I would give Blaine my femurs.

              But only if Ruth promises to rip them right back out again.

            • CoachMcGuirk
              CoachMcGuirk
              August 19, 2013 at 5:52 am | #

              Pretty sure you don’t need your femurs to live. In fact I’m relatively certain that with adequate medical care, he could live sans tonsils, gallbladder, genitals, appendix, ears, eyes, nose, teeth, tongue, coccyx, all four limbs, and also without one each of his lungs and kidneys. It wouldn’t be a FUN existence, but who would argue he deserves that?

              • Squall
                Squall
                August 19, 2013 at 2:51 pm | #

                He doesn’t need to live. He never needs to live. He can be evil just fine as a ghost.

              • Rex Hondo
                Rex Hondo
                August 19, 2013 at 9:10 pm | #

                “To the death!”

                “WRONG! To the pain.”

          • Potatamoto
            Potatamoto
            August 19, 2013 at 7:34 am | #

            I will offer up the femurs to Satan, that he may add them to his crown and be even more resplendent in his necktie.

            (If you get that reference, you win.)

          • Arkadi
            Arkadi
            August 20, 2013 at 3:45 am | #

            Omg, THIS. I’m so totally drawing this. If there’s ever only one crossover between DoA and WH40K, it’s going to be Ruth Lesnick: Champion of Khorne!

  4. Geminia999
    Geminia999
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    well that’s not the first thing I would have said if I was trying to get the crowd to stop him.

    • Bronze Knight
      Bronze Knight
      August 19, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

      I don’t think Ruth needs a crowd.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

        If an army just had one Ruth they’d win every war immediately.

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

          And if Ruth gets injured send in a Billie

          • OkamiKing
            OkamiKing
            August 19, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

            And if a Billie gets injured

            Send out Sal

            • Jetstream
              Jetstream
              August 19, 2013 at 12:51 am | #

              And should Sal fall… send in… the Cheese!

              • necrobeets
                necrobeets
                August 19, 2013 at 1:10 am | #

                Pffffffft send in mike

                • Mr. Random
                  Mr. Random
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:24 am | #

                  I think that would go against the Geneva convention. And all morals. Everywhere.

                • JaneDoe
                  JaneDoe
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:30 am | #

                  Probably, but it’d be really entertaining, I think we can all agree.

                • Kyrros
                  Kyrros
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:41 am | #

                  Don’t forget to send him with a bag of nickels… there’s a lot of mothers he’ll be ‘consoling’ after he massacres their sons and daughters.

                • RevenantBacon
                  RevenantBacon
                  August 19, 2013 at 5:11 pm | #

                  He won’t massacre the sons and DAUGHTERS, he’ll massacre the sons and HUSBANDS.(plus, that way, the husbands won’t be around to get jellous) The daughters will be saved until THEY become mothers, and then he will give them a nickle.

                • Mr. Random
                  Mr. Random
                  August 19, 2013 at 8:51 pm | #

                  If you think Mike would kill someone to save them from jealousy, you don’t know Mike.

        • Wonder Wig
          Wonder Wig
          August 19, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

          I have an army-

          We have a Ruth.

          • Wolfe
            Wolfe
            August 19, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

            genetically modified super-soldiers are a thing of the past, Ruth is the USA’s real super weapon

            • james
              james
              August 19, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

              To bad she’s from Canada.

              • Shade
                Shade
                August 19, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

                So is Wolverine… I’m noticing a pattern.

                • Rowen Morland
                  Rowen Morland
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:08 am | #

                  Did anyone draw Ruth as Wolverine yet?

                • OkamiKing
                  OkamiKing
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:44 am | #

                  Alcoholic, angry, violent, and suppresses all her emotions? Give her some claws and she’s good to go.

                • PrincessCarlos
                  PrincessCarlos
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:53 am | #

                  and Deadpool….and Scott Pilgrim

                • Rex Hondo
                  Rex Hondo
                  August 19, 2013 at 6:56 am | #

                  The Canadian government originally wanted Ruth for Alpha Flight, but decided she was too violent, so they went with Wolverine instead.

              • Wolfe
                Wolfe
                August 19, 2013 at 9:40 pm | #

                True she may be from Canada…but she’s in the USA

                • Descolada
                  Descolada
                  August 22, 2013 at 11:54 pm | #

                  if we didn’t import folks like her we’d be a bunch of unmanly boys.

          • Wack'd
            Wack'd
            August 19, 2013 at 12:29 am | #

            Yes. Yes we do.

            • showler
              showler
              August 19, 2013 at 9:12 am | #

              He missed the “Science Bros.” tag on that one.

        • spaceinvader42
          spaceinvader42
          August 19, 2013 at 1:30 am | #

          But what if both armies have a Ruth?

          • Shade
            Shade
            August 19, 2013 at 3:57 am | #

            They both go home because the war is cancelled.

            • Makkabee
              Makkabee
              August 19, 2013 at 5:21 am | #

              Then instead of a war they have a beerpong competition. Without the pong.

          • RevenantBacon
            RevenantBacon
            August 19, 2013 at 5:12 pm | #

            IMPOSSIBRU! There can only be ONE!

        • Darth
          Darth
          August 19, 2013 at 11:01 am | #

          Loki: “I have an army.”

          Tony: “We have a Ruth.”

      • Squall
        Squall
        August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

        Did someone get confused about who said what?

    • Geminia999
      Geminia999
      August 19, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

      Why is everyone talking about Ruth? I was talking about Amber just yelling out he is an abusive man as a way to get people to intervene. It really isn’t the best thing she could have said. (and don’t say it was on the spot, that kiss my ass line would have to be on the spot too)

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 12:33 am | #

        Actually, it _would_ be a good move. Dragging it out into the open where people can see his rage is already a good idea, calling out his abusive nature is doubly smart since it adds to the implication that her assault of him was in self-defense, and immediately gets everyone within earshot on her side.

        • Chrissy
          Chrissy
          August 19, 2013 at 1:10 am | #

          True. It’s the same reasoning where little kids are supposed to yell “you’re not my mother/father” if they’re being kidnapped. It immediately a) explains the conflict and b) encourages intervention

          • Totz the Plaid
            Totz the Plaid
            August 19, 2013 at 1:38 am | #

            Exactly!

      • David Willis
        David M Willis
        August 19, 2013 at 12:40 am | #

        It is absolutely the best thing she could have said.

        • Robert
          Robert
          August 19, 2013 at 12:44 am | #

          Yup because now everyone on the girls floor of the dorm is just as angry as Amber. Mob violence is the only kind of violence I wholly support.

          • Totz the Plaid
            Totz the Plaid
            August 19, 2013 at 1:08 am | #

            Actually, it’s probably more because Blaine’s already chasing and threatening her, add the fact that he’s an abuser, and her having punched him in the face looks very much like self defense.

            If she’d said anything else, even that he was attacking her, it could be read as him trying to get back at her for hitting him, which is still wrong, but some might see it as being justified.

            This way, it sets up Blaine as the violent asshole that he is, and Amber as the survivor of his abuse, which she is.

          • Don
            Don
            August 19, 2013 at 8:35 am | #

            “. Mob violence is the only kind of violence I wholly support.”

            Well, ya know, lynching has probably gotten plenty of innocents killed through the ages. Ochlocracy/Mob rule is pretty much one of the worst state of affairs to be in.

        • Ridureyu
          Ridureyu
          August 19, 2013 at 1:22 am | #

          It really is the best thing she could have said. Any variation of “WAUUUGH MY DAD IS MEAN TO ME” would end up with people misinterpreting and asusming she is the bad guy. But, “HE BEAT MY MOM AND NOW HE’S CHASING ME HELP!” is going to put sympathy on her side. Amber is smart.

          • Totz the Plaid
            Totz the Plaid
            August 19, 2013 at 1:38 am | #

            Indeed!

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          August 19, 2013 at 9:16 am | #

          Crap. Now it’s going to turn out to be the worst thing she could have said.

        • Ocbrad1
          Ocbrad1
          August 19, 2013 at 9:28 am | #

          Exactly! Obvious social implications aside, her words cast the spell “Summon Ruthless.” Therefore, best possible thing to say!

        • David
          David
          August 19, 2013 at 11:29 am | #

          Is that like in “An optimist believes we are living in the best of all conceivable worlds. A pessimist knows it.”?

          At any rate, of course it is the best thing Amber could have said since it matches what David wrote, and so he does not need to think of another storyline in order to catch up with her diverging from the script.

      • Chrissy
        Chrissy
        August 19, 2013 at 1:05 am | #

        What would you have said? And what do you think would be the best thing to say?

        • Robert
          Robert
          August 19, 2013 at 1:07 am | #

          How about “When you meet your maker, kindly give him my regards.”

          • Totz the Plaid
            Totz the Plaid
            August 19, 2013 at 1:09 am | #

            Nope. Dumb choice. Sets _you_ up as the bad guy in the situation, even as you’re the one being chased.

            • Robert
              Robert
              August 19, 2013 at 1:14 am | #

              eh I figure this the only kind of situation where a line from a Quinton Tarantino film would really work without sounding like a trope.

            • Ridureyu
              Ridureyu
              August 19, 2013 at 1:24 am | #

              What weird world are you in where “He abused and beat my mom” is the sign of a good guy? Are you from happy abuse-o land? Would a “realistic” crowd in your world sing his praises, and hold Amber down so he can knock her teeth out?

              Because what you said does not make sense.

              • Ridureyu
                Ridureyu
                August 19, 2013 at 1:25 am | #

                Oh, wait. You were commenting about the “meet your maker” line. Never mind. Carry on! I thought you were complaining about what Amber actually said.

                • Totz the Plaid
                  Totz the Plaid
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:37 am | #

                  Yeah, I can understand how you’d have trouble telling what I was responding to due to the weird nesting of comments on here.

                  But yeah, you got it right the second time.

                • Random832
                  Random832
                  August 19, 2013 at 11:58 am | #

                  I’ve got a User CSS thing I do to make it easier to track comment nesting – need to package it up as a script for firefox and chrome.

  5. Wonder Wig
    Wonder Wig
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    Captain Canada for the interception!

    • EvergreenFir
      EvergreenFir
      August 19, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

      I actually laughed out loud at this

    • Squall
      Squall
      August 19, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

      Jesus Saves! And Gretzky puts in the rebound!

    • NerdHerder
      NerdHerder
      August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

      The Maple Leafs are about to have some penalties come their way.

      • Andy
        Andy
        August 19, 2013 at 1:40 am | #

        She’ll get the major for fighting, but I wonder if she’ll get the minor for instigating.

    • NightmareWarden
      NightmareWarden
      August 19, 2013 at 1:39 am | #

      Captain Canada? Pffffffffffffffft. Captain Planet is the best captain.

  6. JebJeb
    JebJeb
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    And Ruth proceeds to do to him what she did to Billie at the beginning of the comic.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

      That’s much too good for him.

      • Jon P
        Jon P
        August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

        I think it’s time for the femurs treatment.

        • Badeyes
          Badeyes
          August 19, 2013 at 1:49 am | #

          How much of Ruth’s closet is taken up by femurs?

    • Cholma
      Cholma
      August 19, 2013 at 12:38 am | #

      She’s going to steal Blaine’s cheerleader uniform?

      • Squall
        Squall
        August 19, 2013 at 12:53 am | #

        No, because she doesn’t have Blaine’s Secret Lesbian Baby.

    • Makkabee
      Makkabee
      August 19, 2013 at 5:23 am | #

      She’s going to steal his cheerleader uniform?

      • Makkabee
        Makkabee
        August 19, 2013 at 5:24 am | #

        Damn it, Cholma beat me to it. 🙁

  7. HK-A6A7
    HK-A6A7
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    He is dead, isn’t he?

    • Squall
      Squall
      August 19, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

      He will be in a few seconds

      • Luzahn
        Luzahn
        August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

        This will actually become a very tragic arc where Ruth deals with the emotional and legal consequences of her accidental murder of Blaine.

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 19, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

          Law & Order: Campus Crusaders

        • gangler
          gangler
          August 19, 2013 at 12:11 am | #

          “He told me he needed his femurs to live. I thought he was just being dramatic. Didn’t know he had a condition.”

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            August 19, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

            Blaine was in fact, 100% femur. His entire body was just a giant feumur which is why he was incapable of love. His heart, too, was a femur.

            • Squall
              Squall
              August 19, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

              That makes his heart nigh-unbreakable, yet impenetrable as well.

            • NightmareWarden
              NightmareWarden
              August 19, 2013 at 1:41 am | #

              In the old days bones were used as weapons… Could Ruth use femur-Blaine as a weapon for the rest of his life? It would encourage Ruth to hit more often and it would hurt Blaine more often. Everybody wins!

            • DSL
              DSL
              August 19, 2013 at 2:40 pm | #

              Ruth will toss him into the air and he will turn into a spacecraft that may or may not be a weapons platform?

        • Toad
          Toad
          August 19, 2013 at 1:12 am | #

          You misspelled “entirely intentional”

          • begbert2
            begbert2
            August 19, 2013 at 10:53 am | #

            Luzahn was giving the “told in court” version.

            “This guy was chasing some girl and she said he was a violent abuser, so I stepped in to stop him as indicated by self-defense laws. I only used reasonable force to push him aside – I have no idea how he ended up stuck down that garbage chute with his femurs shoved up his ass. He must have tripped.”

      • JustDucky
        JustDucky
        August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

        We can hope.

      • NerdHerder
        NerdHerder
        August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

        Spoiler alert: He has been the whole time.

        Blaine, now played by Bruce Willis.

        • JBO
          JBO
          August 19, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

          I can see drunk people.

      • Aulayan
        Aulayan
        August 19, 2013 at 2:13 am | #

        His death will happen in a few seconds. However, given how long it takes for a day to pass in the comic, the next few seconds will finally be resolved on October 12th.

        • John
          John
          August 19, 2013 at 8:49 am | #

          Yay, birthday present for me!

    • JBO
      JBO
      August 19, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

      Und Ankh Morpokian law what it would be considered suicide.

    • Broken Products
      Broken Products
      August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      In a word? Cadaverific

  8. JustDucky
    JustDucky
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    <3 Ruth so damned much.

  9. EvergreenFir
    EvergreenFir
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    Ruthless make you toothless

    • JBO
      JBO
      August 19, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

      Amazi-Girl made your stomach swirl.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        August 19, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

        Billie will knock you silly

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 19, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

          Joyce won’t give you a choice

          • EvergreenFir
            EvergreenFir
            August 19, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

            Abortion joke? If so, I approve.

          • JBO
            JBO
            August 19, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

            Dina will break your spleen-a.

            • Totz the Plaid
              Totz the Plaid
              August 19, 2013 at 12:30 am | #

              Sal will kill you, pal.

              • RevenantBacon
                RevenantBacon
                August 19, 2013 at 12:35 am | #

                I would rhyme to, but I don’t have a clue.

              • Yotomoe
                Yotomoe
                August 19, 2013 at 12:43 am | #

                Raidah will Fight ya.

                • ninja_jesus
                  ninja_jesus
                  August 19, 2013 at 12:58 am | #

                  Joe will make the blood flow.

                • NightmareWarden
                  NightmareWarden
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:44 am | #

                  Danny will- Oh who am I kidding, Danny won’t do crap.

                • JBO
                  JBO
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:48 am | #

                  Faz will beat you with class.

                • JBO
                  JBO
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:48 am | #

                  Damn as soon as I post that one I have a better one:

                  Faz will leave you in a mess.

                • Totz the Plaid
                  Totz the Plaid
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:00 am | #

                  Walky will knock ye… out.

                • Totz the Plaid
                  Totz the Plaid
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:04 am | #

                  Nah, JBO, Faz will still just be a self-absorbed ass. (I nearly said ‘spaz’ because that would actually rhyme, but that would be rude to anyone with a mental disability who might read this.)

                  And NightmareWarden, I was going to say “Danny will kick your fanny,” but you’re right, and I laughed pretty damn hard at your comment.

                • PrincessCarlos
                  PrincessCarlos
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:56 am | #

                  Faz will violate your ass

                • Alyssa
                  Alyssa
                  August 19, 2013 at 8:55 am | #

                  I think spaz would actually be an insult for folks with various kinds of palsy- they’re the ones reclaiming it sometimes, not the folks with intellectual disabilities or developmental ones other than palsys.
                  But yes, good move on choosing ass instead.

          • Bronze Knight
            Bronze Knight
            August 19, 2013 at 12:37 am | #

            Dorothy will sort ye.

            • Totz the Plaid
              Totz the Plaid
              August 19, 2013 at 12:47 am | #

              Sierra will impair ya.

              • Yotomoe
                Yotomoe
                August 19, 2013 at 1:15 am | #

                Mike will drive you through a spike.

                • Squall
                  Squall
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:18 am | #

                  See Robin and you’ll be throbbin’

                • lilith
                  lilith
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:30 am | #

                  Dot will kill you on the spot.

                • lilith
                  lilith
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:34 am | #

                  When he is angry Ethan is lethal.

                • Totz the Plaid
                  Totz the Plaid
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:35 am | #

                  Jason will get his mace on.

                  (I’m not going to clarify whether I mean the spray or the melee weapon.)

                • Bronze Knight
                  Bronze Knight
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:55 am | #

                  Sierra the Serrated suggests you stand clear.

                • Fay
                  Fay
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:05 am | #

                  The audience’s anger will fill you with fear.

                • Totz the Plaid
                  Totz the Plaid
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:05 am | #

                  Roz will break your schnoz.

            • lilith
              lilith
              August 19, 2013 at 7:24 am | #

              Leslie rips of your flesh-y.

      • saltchocolate
        saltchocolate
        August 19, 2013 at 2:14 am | #

        Sarah will scare ya.

        • AsimovSideburns
          AsimovSideburns
          August 19, 2013 at 2:31 am | #

          Oh god! Not the bat! Not the bat! Nooooooo!

          • saltchocolate
            saltchocolate
            August 19, 2013 at 2:55 am | #

            Oh yes indeed!

            • Totz the Plaid
              Totz the Plaid
              August 19, 2013 at 3:21 am | #

              Becky will break your necky.

  10. Madness2.4
    Madness2.4
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    YES.

  11. Brian Lynch
    Brian Lynch
    August 19, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    YES. YES. Do it, Ruthless! Sublimate and displace your issues all OVER his FACE.

    • JebJeb
      JebJeb
      August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

      You probably could of worded that better. Because my mind went somewhere horrible when I read that.

      • The Candyman
        The Candyman
        August 19, 2013 at 12:37 am | #

        Yeah.

      • Brian Lynch
        Brian Lynch
        August 19, 2013 at 1:31 am | #

        Horrible? Or WONDERFUL?

        • NightmareWarden
          NightmareWarden
          August 19, 2013 at 1:46 am | #

          Horr-er-ful? Sounds like a holiday for Joe’s family.

    • rachel
      rachel
      August 19, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

      p-p-p-p-perfect

  12. Luzahn
    Luzahn
    August 19, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    Woo Ruth to the rescue!

  13. Mkvenner
    Mkvenner
    August 19, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    That last panel made me think of Pee-Jee & Aubrey.

    • jeffepp
      jeffepp
      August 19, 2013 at 12:46 am | #

      Billy has the drunken half-asian part down…

  14. John
    John
    August 19, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    Amazi-Girl/Ruthless team-up!

    • Jack Finch
      Jack Finch
      August 19, 2013 at 8:13 am | #

      <3

  15. xain
    xain
    August 19, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    Ruth the tactical nuke of diplomacy

    • JBO
      JBO
      August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      No that would imply that she is never used.

      • begbert2
        begbert2
        August 19, 2013 at 10:56 am | #

        Pheh, you mean used twice, and dozens of times on defenseless islands as a form of posturing. Never underestimate the utility of a good nuke.

  16. AgentKeen
    AgentKeen
    August 19, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    Go ahead, Blaine. Tell Ruth that she’s weak, too. She isn’t as likely to hold back…

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

      Ruth? HOLD BACK ahahahahahaha, you’re a comedian, AgentKeen.

      • Squall
        Squall
        August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

        That’s why we love her. We’re masochists.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          August 19, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

          I’m a sadist…my favorate victim is myself.

          • Squall
            Squall
            August 19, 2013 at 12:23 am | #

            Everyone is a masochist for Ruth!!! She is the exception to the binary system!

            • N0083rP00F
              N0083rP00F
              August 19, 2013 at 10:02 am | #

              She is where 01 and 01 make 11.

              • Squall
                Squall
                August 19, 2013 at 2:24 pm | #

                SHE IS THE 2

  17. JBO
    JBO
    August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

    “Yay, now is fighty time, fighty time, blood blood blood!”

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 12:11 am | #

      Love that reference.

    • Pyr05
      Pyr05
      August 19, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

      You made my day by quoting a game I’ve been playing on and off.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 12:30 am | #

        The quote came from the comics first, after Deadpool shoryuken’d Kitty Pryde to get Wolverine to fight him.

  18. Ragnal
    Ragnal
    August 19, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

    Say goodbye to your femurs, Blaine.

  19. Gram91
    Gram91
    August 19, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

    Okay, Willis is STARTING to earn forgiveness with this (See previous page for reference).

  20. TheStranger
    TheStranger
    August 19, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

    Blaine’s line in panel 2 is so ambiguous that I can’t figure out what he’s trying to convey. I mean, I’m guessing he’s seriously flustered right now, so it makes sense that he wouldn’t make sense (if you follow me) but I’m not entirely clear on what he’s threatening.

    • JustDucky
      JustDucky
      August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      He pays Amber’s college expenses by court order. If he stops paying, he could go to prison. He is threatening to stop paying despite that.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 1:34 am | #

        Yeah, not really ambiguous at all.

  21. Jon P
    Jon P
    August 19, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

    “No beer and no Maple Leafs playoffs make Ruth go something something.”
    Go crazy?
    “DON’T MIND IF I DO!”

    • Andy
      Andy
      August 19, 2013 at 1:49 am | #

      So, Ruth goes crazy every time she runs out of beer?

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 3:22 am | #

        Only if there’s no Leafs hockey and Marge is there to remind her.

  22. Z3tto
    Z3tto
    August 19, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

    And then everyone in the dorm teams up and kicks Blaine’s ass in an oh-so-satisfying orgy of violence.

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 3:22 am | #

      Well, there are several people standing on the same carpet, and there has been violence, so the original definition is already covered!

  23. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

    Sierra’s adoptive parents are the best parents because they raised Sierra.

    • JBO
      JBO
      August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      This is perfectly logical and very true.

    • Ancestral Hamster
      Ancestral Hamster
      August 19, 2013 at 1:20 am | #

      That’s usually true of adoptive parents generally, as they WANT the child, and so have to go through all the bureaucratic morass. It’s more of an effort than the organic way, and requires some conscious decision making instead of simply having unprotected sex at the wrong time.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 1:33 am | #

        Not always true of foster parents, though. Some are good and loving, but some just want the govt. money.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        August 19, 2013 at 1:49 am | #

        But they don’t all raise SIERRA. key word.

  24. Emoroffle
    Emoroffle
    August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

    Femur removal time!

    • Blackout
      Blackout
      August 19, 2013 at 1:09 am | #

      Your avatar makes that all the more perfect.

  25. Pizzathehutt
    Pizzathehutt
    August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

    Who’s the old guy?

    • rachel
      rachel
      August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

      see alt-text my friend!

    • Squall
      Squall
      August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      His name is Reno but he looks more like Rude

      • ArkhamTexan
        ArkhamTexan
        August 19, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

        So he likes both Aerith AND Tifa then?

        • timemonkey
          timemonkey
          August 19, 2013 at 12:27 am | #

          I always liked Yuffie more myself.

          • Hoboturtle
            Hoboturtle
            August 19, 2013 at 5:35 pm | #

            Same, could never figure out why Yuffie got so much hate.

        • Totz the Plaid
          Totz the Plaid
          August 19, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

          Rude likes Tifa.
          Tseng’s the one who likes Aeris.*
          Elena likes Tseng.
          Reno’s never shown to like anyone specifically.

          *(Yes, I know Aerith is the correct spelling, but I still prefer the original mistranslation.)

      • Keroshino
        Keroshino
        August 19, 2013 at 12:37 am | #

        I get that reference! 🙂

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 19, 2013 at 12:45 am | #

          http://squallloir.tumblr.com/post/58671159701/sierras-dad

    • Prickly
      Prickly
      August 19, 2013 at 2:19 am | #

      Miyagi sensei. “Whacks on, whacks…. Oh, never mind.”

  26. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

    “He may try to take my life, but he’ll never take… MY COLLEGE TUITION!”

    • Valdrax
      Valdrax
      August 19, 2013 at 12:26 am | #

      You know, you can always get student loans. As much as I hate my mountain of debt, I’d take it for a chance to see Blaine sent to prison.

      Oh, yes. That’d be worth it.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        August 19, 2013 at 12:43 am | #

        It might be worth it IF you get a well-paying job as a result, otherwise it just plain sucks.

  27. rachel
    rachel
    August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

    YESSSSSSS I just knew she would/could enlist the support of, yknow, THE ENTIRETY of the dorm. so happy that she did so!!

  28. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    August 19, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

    Blaine, how many teenage/20-year old girls have to beat you up before you learn?

    • rachel
      rachel
      August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      can we watch them all beat him up?

      ok that’s probably getting into a sadistic level.

      AH WELL BOMBS AWAY

    • JebJeb
      JebJeb
      August 19, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      All of them.

    • JBO
      JBO
      August 19, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

      I hope it’s a high number. That way we can see him getting his ass kicked by many people.

    • RobHagen
      RobHagen
      August 19, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

      ..I want like 10+ panels of punches from everyone in the DoA cast to Blaine’s face.

      • Ocbrad1
        Ocbrad1
        August 19, 2013 at 9:34 am | #

        Cue the scene from Airplane!

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      August 19, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

      Depends on how many get to him before Sarah and her bat get to him.

    • Mason Kramer
      Mason Kramer
      August 19, 2013 at 12:39 am | #

      Hopefully, a lot more get to beat him up…

  29. LiamAldam
    LiamAldam
    August 19, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

    Anyone else think Ruth’s behavior matches that of a particular campus vigilante?

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

      Ruth is Sal!
      …wait…
      Sal is Amber.
      Amber is Ruth!~
      …I’m getting closer!!!

      • Squall
        Squall
        August 19, 2013 at 12:47 am | #

        Ruth is Sal, Sal is Amazi-Girl, Amazi-Girl is Amber, Amber is Spidercar, Spidercar is Batman. Ruth is Batman. QED

        • Ray Radlein
          Ray Radlein
          August 19, 2013 at 1:06 am | #

          And we are all together. Goo goo goo joob

  30. CPP
    CPP
    August 19, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

    Blaine might stop paying for Amber’s college even if he goes to prison, but will he even if he goes to HELL?

    P.S. I genuinely seriously hope he goes to hell…

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:21 am | #

      I don’t think the devil wants to deal with him anymore than we do.

      • Crimson Doom
        Crimson Doom
        August 19, 2013 at 9:59 am | #

        No, see, the Devil hires him because he’s good at his job, then sends him on very long extended trips on the parts of Earth that Satan isn’t planning on visiting for the next century or so.

        • The Candyman
          The Candyman
          August 19, 2013 at 2:26 pm | #

          Nah, Blaine has way too little charisma. Plus he can’t play the fiddle.

  31. Bemmie
    Bemmie
    August 19, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

    I couldn’t seem to get why Amber would back down here, considering how stubborn we’ve seen her be, then maybe I figured Amazi-Girl is off to find Danny to healthily work out some of that aggression?

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 12:26 am | #

      Amber assaulted Blaine. Dragging the situation out into the public where they can see his rage and abusive nature would likely legally protect her from any potential repercussions.

      • Bemmie
        Bemmie
        August 19, 2013 at 2:50 am | #

        I can still imagine her off to don her amazi girl outfit and “working out” with Danny?

        • Totz the Plaid
          Totz the Plaid
          August 19, 2013 at 3:23 am | #

          Probably later. This sort of stress stays in your system for HOURS.

    • David
      David
      August 19, 2013 at 11:51 am | #

      Amber is not interested in letting the situation spiral out of control. Giving both of them room after making her point is helping: it means he has to initiate another attack instead of being able to escalate in self-defense. That means he also has time to take the cost of the last attack into account and contemplate the cost for another one.

      Amber may have scored a hit, but it’s in her best interest to maximize its impact so that she does not need more of the same. Her knuckles (or what is left of them) will thank her for it.

  32. jaredstar1
    jaredstar1
    August 19, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

    on another note this is the angriest i think i have ever seen sierra (in this universe anyways)

  33. Joe Stando
    Joe Stando
    August 19, 2013 at 12:11 am | #

    That’s Sierra’s dad, then? Wanna meet that dad.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:22 am | #

      I love everything about Sierra, including her dad who wants to talk this through.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        August 19, 2013 at 9:40 am | #

        It’s also very cool that Sierra’s dad immediately gets between Amber and Blaine. He acts to deescalate the situation, but is also ready to take a punch for Amber if needed.

        • wynne
          wynne
          December 17, 2014 at 2:25 pm | #

          Sierra’s dad is the best dad. Dorothy’s dad seems cool and all, but Reno for #1 DoA Dad all the way.

    • Rex Hondo
      Rex Hondo
      August 19, 2013 at 12:58 am | #

      I want to have a cookout and a few beers with them.

      Of course, in the next couple of comics, he’s probably going to just randomly take out his dick or something, because what are the chances that anybody in this comic has normal and emotionally healthy parents?

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 3:36 am | #

        Dotty seems to.

        • Rex Hondo
          Rex Hondo
          August 19, 2013 at 3:47 am | #

          “Seems” is the right word. They’ve only been in two or three strips, so the jury’s still out.

  34. The Candyman
    The Candyman
    August 19, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

    Now everyone dogpile on Blaine.

  35. March
    March
    August 19, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

    Just watching him flinch when he realizes the Canadian ginger can and will knock out enough of his teeth to make any hockey player proud will be immensely satisfying. He’s the kind of person who needs to have the fear of a good curb-stomping put in him.

  36. MightionNY
    MightionNY
    August 19, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

    Ruthless vs. Blaine.

    Round one.

    Fight! 😀

    Seriously, Ruth knew all about Billie’s exploits; it makes sense to assume she’d have been equally informed about Amber’s father.

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 12:25 am | #

      Not necessarily. The divorce and court-ordered payments would certainly be in the file, but the reason for the divorce might not be.

      Billie’s stuff was in there, because those were actions taken by Billie herself. Blaine’s actions might not be in Amber’s file because the file is about Amber, not Blaine.

      • David
        David
        August 19, 2013 at 11:53 am | #

        Well, it doesn’t matter whether the reasons are on file or not. Amber conveniently supplemented the available information just now.

  37. AHR
    AHR
    August 19, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

    FUCK YES RUTH

  38. TrueVCU
    TrueVCU
    August 19, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

    oh my god yes yes yes

    I am having a revenge orgasm. I am having a vengeancegasm

  39. John
    John
    August 19, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

    (These are the parents I voted for.)

    • Squall
      Squall
      August 19, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

      I voted for Ruth’s parents.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 12:22 am | #

        I voted for Dina’s.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 2:28 am | #

        …and instead you got Howard.

      • Kelvandil
        Kelvandil
        August 19, 2013 at 11:40 pm | #

        “Slice-of-life is boring, I wish this was a zombie comic.”

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:22 am | #

      I vote for Sierra for every poll.

      • The Candyman
        The Candyman
        August 19, 2013 at 12:40 am | #

        “Who’s your favorite blonde creationist?”
        “Sierra!”

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 19, 2013 at 12:49 am | #

          “Who wears the best shoes?” “Sierra!”

          • Totz the Plaid
            Totz the Plaid
            August 19, 2013 at 12:54 am | #

            Yotomoe even manages to vote for Sierra when that’s not a poll option.

            “Which of the guys do you want to see more of?” “Sierra!”

            “Do you think the U.S. should raise taxes?” “Sierra!”

            Or, heck, he probably answers EVERY question with it:

            “What’s the weather like outside?” “Sierra! …it’s cloudy out.”

            …at least I hope that’s what happens.

            (And his responses to questions on here don’t disprove that. He probably types “Sierra”, then deletes it and types in an actual response, unless “Sierra” is an appropriate answer, in which case he leaves it there.)

            • JBO
              JBO
              August 19, 2013 at 1:47 am | #

              Which political party do you support?
              SIERRA!
              Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi?
              SIERRA!
              Taco Bell or Pizza Hut?
              SIERRA!

              • Yotomoe
                Yotomoe
                August 19, 2013 at 1:51 am | #

                You don’t know how much Sierra Mist I end up getting cuz of that second question…

                • Totz the Plaid
                  Totz the Plaid
                  August 19, 2013 at 1:54 am | #

                  I wish I could like that comment, Yotomoe.

                • JBO
                  JBO
                  August 19, 2013 at 2:08 am | #

                  Well maybe Willis will soon introduce the new format here two. Then you could up vote it.

                • Plasma Mongoose
                  Plasma Mongoose
                  August 19, 2013 at 3:04 am | #

                  Totz the Plaid, if Willis changes the comment to Disqus like he did in SP!, you will be able to like or dislike comments.

                • John
                  John
                  August 19, 2013 at 8:57 am | #

                  Oh gods I hope not. I hate Disqus. Half the time it doesn’t even work on my browser, and it never works well.

            • Random832
              Random832
              August 19, 2013 at 12:02 pm | #

              I just tried to change one of the option values to “Sierra” using chrome inspector and it said “please pick a valid poll option”.

  40. Pyr05
    Pyr05
    August 19, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

    I called it! Ruth in the hallway with a fist.

  41. ArkhamTexan
    ArkhamTexan
    August 19, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

    A bully vs. an abuser? Well, at least there’s a canyon of a gap between what Ruth’s done and what Blaine’s done so I still call this black & white morality.

    Ruth can make more what? Faces? Blood? She can make an infinite pool of blood?

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

      She can make more blood pour out of him and onto his face.

      • Ocbrad1
        Ocbrad1
        August 19, 2013 at 9:37 am | #

        And add to her femur collection.

  42. Ray Barrington
    Ray Barrington
    August 19, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

    If this had a soundtrack it would be played by Five for Fighting.

    • Crimson Doom
      Crimson Doom
      August 19, 2013 at 10:01 am | #

      I dunno, last panel put the Mortal Kombat theme into my head.

  43. RobHagen
    RobHagen
    August 19, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

    Yay Ruthless! CANADIAN RAGE! CANADIAN RAGE! CANADIAN RAGE! CANADIAN RAGE!

    Death to his femurs!

  44. Fuzzydaemon
    Fuzzydaemon
    August 19, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

    Nobody is going to let Blaine touch Amber. I hope Ruth tears him up.

    Sierra has cool parents. You can see a side shot of her mom who looks outraged and incredulous.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

      …I think she looks more surprised but we cannot see ANY of her face…sooooo…it’s up to speculation i guess

  45. Rich
    Rich
    August 19, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

    Big Damn Hero moment!

  46. Totz the Plaid
    Totz the Plaid
    August 19, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

    I’m 100% certain that I’m not the only one hoping to see Ruth, Billie, Amber, and Sarah team up to literally kick Blaine out of the building. Maybe, if we’re lucky, Sal will get to join in on it as well by using him to demonstrate why you DON’T want to go out via a window without years of practice (and with the window closed).

    I seriously want to see an already beaten and bloodied Blaine get defenestrated.

    I doubt if Willis drew that, and he’s already 8 1/2 weeks ahead on the comic, so there’s no way he’s going to go back and add it, but I still want to see that.

    • Doom Shepherd
      Doom Shepherd
      August 19, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

      Empirical proof below.

  47. Doom Shepherd
    Doom Shepherd
    August 19, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

    If this turns into a gang-beatdown, I will… explode in messy delight, or something.

  48. james
    james
    August 19, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

    YAY!! The Old testament God has sent his Canadian Angel of death to smite the wicked!

    • MLEst1
      MLEst1
      August 19, 2013 at 4:39 am | #

      Your gravatar is oddly fitting… I have an image in my head, now, of Joyce being just offscreen, having escaped her parents, and telling this to Ethan…

  49. mechaqua
    mechaqua
    August 19, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

    Ruth grab his shirt lock him in and punch him till he falls down and don’t worry worst case scenario you’ll get a five minute penalty!

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:25 am | #

      Five minute penalty is a new slang term for 5 years in prison, right?

      • mechaqua
        mechaqua
        August 19, 2013 at 12:36 am | #

        Well there is the possibility she could end up in the penalty box. But she could get her penalty reduced to roughing which is a two minute penalty.

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 19, 2013 at 2:28 pm | #

          I hope Blaine doesn’t get a penalty shot.

  50. Bob
    Bob
    August 19, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

    Did Blaine hit Amber’s mom in the Shortpacked continuity? I can’t remember. I felt like he was only psychologically abusive and maybe also a philanderer in that one.

    • RobJustRob
      RobJustRob
      August 19, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

      He did and he punched Amber in the face once.

    • Kitschensyngk
      Kitschensyngk
      August 19, 2013 at 12:31 am | #

      http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/comic/book-14/01-deady-dearest/great/

  51. Kitschensyngk
    Kitschensyngk
    August 19, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

    He just keeps stepping in it, doesn’t he?

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:25 am | #

      It’s everywhere.

  52. newllend
    newllend
    August 19, 2013 at 12:22 am | #

    Ha,what know bongo your in the lions den

  53. Chaucer59
    Chaucer59
    August 19, 2013 at 12:23 am | #

    Ooh, and now Ruth gets to cold-cock him? Whoo-hoo!

  54. vsophi
    vsophi
    August 19, 2013 at 12:26 am | #

    Sierra was adopted?!

    …why am I just now finding out about this

    • Jack Finch
      Jack Finch
      August 19, 2013 at 12:44 am | #

      News to me too.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 1:02 am | #

        I read the blog post that mentioned it, but it had slipped my mind until I saw the alt text.

    • David Willis
      David M Willis
      August 19, 2013 at 1:19 am | #

      Everyone’s finding out about it! It’s new information.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 1:32 am | #

        Really? I’ve got an odd sense of deja vu about it, like you’d mentioned it somewhere before, and I’d just forgotten…

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 19, 2013 at 9:41 am | #

      Hooray diverse types of families!

      • The Candyman
        The Candyman
        August 19, 2013 at 2:29 pm | #

        All we need now is a mixed family and we’re set.

  55. Jesse
    Jesse
    August 19, 2013 at 12:33 am | #

    I thought she could take him on her own, since she’s been fighting people left and right.

  56. Rex Hondo
    Rex Hondo
    August 19, 2013 at 12:34 am | #

    YOU WANTED HER!
    YOU ASKED FOR HER!
    WELL, TONIGHT, YOU’VE GOT HER!!

    NOW STEPPING INTO THE RING, THREE DAYS SOBER AND READY TO INDULGE IN HER OTHER ADDICTION, VIOLENCE:

    RUTH “RUTHLESS” LESSICK!!!!

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 19, 2013 at 12:45 am | #

      Now, Billie’s and Everyone else.
      LET’S GET READY TO RUUUUUUUUUUUMBLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • JBO
        JBO
        August 19, 2013 at 2:09 am | #

        I SO want to see Ruth and Billie tack team that ass.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          August 19, 2013 at 7:28 am | #

          This is not the context I imagined I’d first hear that statement used in.

    • rustygreenscales
      rustygreenscales
      August 19, 2013 at 3:11 am | #

      Loving your gravatar for this post

  57. Nena
    Nena
    August 19, 2013 at 12:38 am | #

    Get ‘im Ruthie!

  58. jaimehlers
    jaimehlers
    August 19, 2013 at 12:41 am | #

    Ordinarily, I’m not much for violence. But it sounds like this guy is begging for more of it.

    Never mind that he’s required to pay for Amber’s college expenses by court order (which means his statement about owning the room is false), but he actually tried to intimidate his daughter into backing down, and then got himself further into it by chasing her around and making wild threats.

    He’s not just a bully, he’s a stupid bully. And like many bullies, he doesn’t know how to react when someone isn’t afraid of him.

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 12:45 am | #

      His statement about owning the room was false anyway. It’s being rented TO Amber AND Dina by the college, who own it entirely. It’s Amber and Dina who are legally rooming there, and it is, again, the college’s property.

      Also, I’m almost 100% pacifist, but people who actively abuse others (whether it be physically, psychologically, emotionally, or sexually) are one of my exceptions to the rule.

  59. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    August 19, 2013 at 12:44 am | #

    The only thing we need now is to add Joyce’s parents to the mix and the shit will really be stirred then.

    • Squall
      Squall
      August 19, 2013 at 12:51 am | #

      The Shitnado has already begun. This is the end of days

    • Rex Hondo
      Rex Hondo
      August 19, 2013 at 12:52 am | #

      Much as violence against Blaine is amusing, his misogyny and threatening posture triggering a flashback for Joyce and reducing her to screaming, flailing violence would be one of the more disturbing turns this story could take.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 12:58 am | #

        …which, in turn, could trigger the Browns trying to pull her out of IU, and Sarah symbolically redeeming herself for getting her previous roommate pulled out of school by arguing in favor of Joyce staying.

        I just kinda hope we get to see Sarah stand up for her “little sister” again during this arc.

        • Totz the Plaid
          Totz the Plaid
          August 19, 2013 at 2:27 am | #

          I mean, that would not be fun for anyone, and would be a VERY dark turn for the story, but if Willis did decide to go there, it could still turn out more positively (which would actually equal “bittersweet” at best overall, but, yeah).

          • Rex Hondo
            Rex Hondo
            August 19, 2013 at 3:15 am | #

            Oh, it would have the potential to be fascinating to read, agreed, just disturbing and depressing as all hell.

  60. Pat
    Pat
    August 19, 2013 at 12:57 am | #

    You’re the one with blood on your face…
    But she’s the one fleeing. And you’re the one chasing her. And making threats.
    Maybe the witnesses noticed some of those things, too?

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 1:00 am | #

      Bingo.

      I’ve made that exact point in a couple other comments (though with different wording).

      Amber’s assault of Blaine will get written off as self-defense because of what the others are witnessing.

  61. Somebody
    Somebody
    August 19, 2013 at 12:59 am | #

    I thought he would be the type who backs down if someone really stands up to him.

  62. A-A-A-Albi
    A-A-A-Albi
    August 19, 2013 at 12:59 am | #

    IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER

  63. Somebody
    Somebody
    August 19, 2013 at 1:00 am | #

    Again I’m sorry, Willis. I’m not being sarcastic; I really mean that.

  64. Anonymous
    Anonymous
    August 19, 2013 at 1:01 am | #

    “Yes. Yes, you’re the one with blood on your face, and /chasing threateningly after the smaller person involved who is running away/.” So very dickish.

    It’s curious; with Joyce I often want to wring her neck and/or hammer sense through her skull with some sort of Matrix information-downloader, but with this character I can just peacefully despise him without any of the same gnawingness. Perhaps it’s ‘hope’, in that Joyce is well-meaning and has horribly flawed ways of acting on that, whereas this character is pretty thoroughly just a lost cause.

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 1:02 am | #

      Makes sense.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 1:03 am | #

        Also, Blaine’s continued patterns of abuse are worse than Joyce’s ignorance by a long shot.

    • Ancestral Hamster
      Ancestral Hamster
      August 19, 2013 at 1:09 am | #

      Also, Joyce is ignorant, but she is trying to work through her preconceptions as events demonstrate what she’s been taught is not necessarily true. She’s growing. Blaine is too set in his ways to change. In his view, he’s perfect and everyone else needs to do things his way for the world to run right. He is incapable of growth.

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 1:31 am | #

        …just like my dad.

        He only hit me once (that I can remember, and that was a repressed memory, so…), and he wasn’t so openly emotionally abusive, more manipulative in his psychological and emotional abuse, but just as egotistical.

        He did likely hit, or at least threaten my mom, though. She divorced him when I was less than a year old, and he won custody only because she had nobody to stay with in Michigan, so she had to stay with friends of hers in Indiana and that made it incredibly difficult for her to make it to court on time consistently.

        She wasn’t able to take me with her, because he wouldn’t let her. This has been stated by both parents, but in a less threatening manner by my dad, trying to paint himself in a positive light.

        He’s always seen himself as being infallible. He even quit college and ran off to Yellowstone because he didn’t study for one of his tests, and the professor wouldn’t move it to a different day for him.

        He’s also openly admitted to (somehow) lying about having a roommate while working at Yellowstone to keep his room to himself, secretly breaking, then openly repairing a toaster in the kitchen while at college to manipulate his way into getting free food, and other manipulative, scheming things.

        He’s also misogynistic, racist, homo/transphobic, and a general misanthrope as well.

        He also effectively sexually abused me by making me sleep in the same bed with him for years, despite there being another bed in that very same room (there were only two of us in the house) and other rooms I could have slept in as well.

        He’d always build up my ego, then undercut it by ranting and “lecturing” me on the smallest things. Even from a young age he’d start one of those “lectures” with some small thing I did (like leaving my shoes just a bit too far out from the wall after taking them off. Literally.) and move onto other problems in his life, tying it into a whole big ball of blame thrown at me for things I had nothing to do with. He’d also keep dredging up stuff from years past as time went on.

        Nothing was _ever_ his fault. He ended up “quitting” an awful lot of jobs as he raised me. Eventually it became obvious that he was getting fired, but I never mentioned that to him, because I didn’t want him turning things on me.

        He also alienated all of his former friends. He’d always bongo about people behind their backs, even when I knew he was in the wrong. He’d openly antagonize people (still does, last I heard) then bongo when it got him in trouble, claiming he was the victim.

        He’d make everything about himself as well.

        Sorry for venting so much about him. I avoid dealing with him as much as possible, but today there was a family lunch at a restaurant and he sat across from me, I couldn’t move from my spot, otherwise it might have caused a scene, because he’s like that. So, anyway, the point is, discussion of Blaine after dealing with that asshole has brought up a lot of stuff I need to vent. Especially since there are a lot of similarities between them.

        • Ancestral Hamster
          Ancestral Hamster
          August 19, 2013 at 1:59 am | #

          That’s okay. This must be a tough storyline for you and similar victims of abuse. I hope you have a support system to ease the burden.

          • Totz the Plaid
            Totz the Plaid
            August 19, 2013 at 2:07 am | #

            I do. I’ve been in therapy, and friends (as well as the family members who know about what he’s like) are all supportive as well.

            As for the other family members, bringing it up when he’s not actively doing anything would just create drama and wouldn’t help anything, so I just do my best to avoid him around them.

            • kelticat
              kelticat
              August 27, 2013 at 11:46 pm | #

              My sister is going to group therapy after her divorce. Her therapist told her that it takes five days to recover every time someone explodes at you. And for every three years of marriage, you need one year to recover. I would say the same for any bad relationship.

          • Totz the Plaid
            Totz the Plaid
            August 19, 2013 at 2:08 am | #

            Also, thank you.

            And this storyline’s been a little triggering, but more cathartic since Amber’s been badass about cutting him down to size.

        • Nat
          Nat
          August 19, 2013 at 4:42 pm | #

          This comment made me cry. Thanks for making me realize that I should leave my family as soon as possible.

      • Somebody
        Somebody
        August 19, 2013 at 2:12 pm | #

        It’s one thing to believe something and admit it could be wrong. She essentially said “nuh uh, evolution doesn’t happen” without real question. I know some are taught that it’s incompatible, but lack of knowledge only goes so far.

  65. Ryan
    Ryan
    August 19, 2013 at 1:05 am | #

    YES. YES YES YES. FUCK HIM UP, RUTH. FUCK HIM UP.

  66. Ancestral Hamster
    Ancestral Hamster
    August 19, 2013 at 1:06 am | #

    While Blaine is digging himself deeper, what I want to know is how Amber and her mom can get him permanently out of their lives. In a previous comic I wrote I wanted him fed feet-first into a wood chipper, but realistically that’s not an option. Legally, what can be done that will actually stick? (A restraining order isn’t going to cut it. As a large number of dead women prove, restraining orders don’t work when the man is either too stupid, too crazy, or too effing violent to give a damn about the consequences.)

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 1:13 am | #

      That’s a tough one.

      He’s likely to be banned from the IU campus, which will help Amber somewhat for now, but her mom might still be at risk.

      Then again, he’s been content to stay out of their lives for three years now, aside from the court-ordered payments, and the opportunity to lord it over Amber here, now that she’s an adult, so… *shrugs*

      I guess we can just hope that Willis ends up killing him off again in this universe.

      • Ancestral Hamster
        Ancestral Hamster
        August 19, 2013 at 2:04 am | #

        Thanks for the answer. Suspected this wasn’t an easy problem to resolve.

        As for Blaine and the plot, perhaps he’ll have a rage-induced stroke. A friend from college told me that happened to a notorious bully from his HS a few years after graduation.

        • Somebody
          Somebody
          August 19, 2013 at 2:25 pm | #

          Did he or she die from it or just suffer brain/nerve damage.

      • Ridureyu
        Ridureyu
        August 19, 2013 at 2:46 am | #

        he goes berserk, attacks the police, and either goes to prison for a long time, or is shot in self-defense.

        • Totz the Plaid
          Totz the Plaid
          August 19, 2013 at 3:26 am | #

          …I can see that. It’ll more likely be a tazer, unless Willis decided to have the death just off-panel, but I can see Blaine totally attacking the cops and getting f’ed up for it.

    • Quatoria
      Quatoria
      August 19, 2013 at 11:43 am | #

      Death or prison, I suspect. My life seems to bear that out, at least.

  67. Potato-The-Faaace
    Potato-The-Faaace
    August 19, 2013 at 1:08 am | #

    RIP OUT HIS FEMURS AND.HIT HIM IN THE FACE WITH THEM, RUTH!!

  68. Ridureyu
    Ridureyu
    August 19, 2013 at 1:27 am | #

    I can just see him going berserk and attacking everyone in the hall, and then assaulting campus security, and then the police…

    …And not showing up in the comic ever again 🙂

    • Kiggy
      Kiggy
      August 19, 2013 at 2:11 am | #

      ^^^this^^^

      • Ridureyu
        Ridureyu
        August 19, 2013 at 2:47 am | #

        I’d be very happy if he attacked the cops, they were forced to shoot him, and we spent at least three cokmics watching him helplessly gurgle out his last moments.

        Yeah, he’s so hateful that it wouldn’t seem excessive.

    • Andrew_C
      Andrew_C
      August 19, 2013 at 6:47 am | #

      Great, I’ve now got an image of Blaine going “Don’t Taze me, Bro!” stuck in my head. I hope you’re happy.

      • Squall
        Squall
        August 19, 2013 at 5:58 pm | #

        Inspiration!
        http://squallloir.tumblr.com/post/58729825952/look-at-me-im-the-one-thats-bleeding

  69. Potatamoto
    Potatamoto
    August 19, 2013 at 1:28 am | #

    Heh…Amber’s doing just what Ethan only threatened to do the first time Blaine showed up in Shortpacked!

    Go ahead Blaine…give Ruth an excuse. Let’s just nail your coffin shut right now.

  70. Kiggy
    Kiggy
    August 19, 2013 at 1:44 am | #

    Woohoo! Go RuthLESS!!!!!

  71. Thor
    Thor
    August 19, 2013 at 1:51 am | #

    So this is a little meta, but I hope it doesn’t violate one of the rules too much…but are we going to get a Disqus make-over here like you have over in the Shortpacked! comments?

    • David Willis
      David M Willis
      August 19, 2013 at 3:11 am | #

      I don’t currently plan on it, but it’s not impossible.

      • Squall
        Squall
        August 19, 2013 at 8:08 am | #

        Don’t do it! We’ll end up like YouTube commenters!

    • Andrew_C
      Andrew_C
      August 19, 2013 at 12:36 pm | #

      I hope to God not. Lets see how long it takes for Disqus to dissolve into a clusterfuck over at Shortpacked. Upvotes are nice but downvotes and editing will just end in tears.

      • David Willis
        David M Willis
        August 19, 2013 at 1:25 pm | #

        Pffft. I will rule it with an iron fist.

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 19, 2013 at 2:31 pm | #

          You will kill us all!

          • Crimson Magic
            Crimson Magic
            August 19, 2013 at 4:09 pm | #

            Or worse! Let us live

        • The Candyman
          The Candyman
          August 19, 2013 at 2:33 pm | #

          Rule it like a Caesar, Willis, like a Caesar.

      • Somebody
        Somebody
        August 19, 2013 at 2:31 pm | #

        Yeah one of Spoony’s videos erupted into a flame war about feminism and the MRA thing.

      • Crimson Magic
        Crimson Magic
        August 19, 2013 at 4:09 pm | #

        But tears are delicious!

  72. Gottawonder
    Gottawonder
    August 19, 2013 at 1:51 am | #

    Totally loving Ruth. Kick his ass over his shoulders. I got a feeling Sierra’s parents will be glad to help.
    Smooth move Amber, get it all out in public where he won’t have a leg to stand on legally.
    Unfortunately the only way to get rid of Blaine(s) is to move, leaving no forwarding address. Or kill him.

    • Heavensrun
      Heavensrun
      August 19, 2013 at 5:45 pm | #

      Actually, from the way he interceded, Sierra’s dad strikes me as a peacemaker, not an ass kicker.

  73. NightmareWarden
    NightmareWarden
    August 19, 2013 at 1:52 am | #

    Reno, you are a brave braaaave man for touching that disgusting thing. You’d better go wash the filth off your hands before it stains.

  74. Fay
    Fay
    August 19, 2013 at 2:02 am | #

    All in favor of Ruth beating him up, say “AYE!”.

  75. Totz the Plaid
    Totz the Plaid
    August 19, 2013 at 2:22 am | #

    I think Amber might now be my favorite girl in DoA.

    Billie had it locked in merely for body type + outfits that accentuate said curves.

    Dorothy was second for freckles and having a personality that’s MUCH more my type than Billie’s personality is.

    Amber’s got better curves than Dotty (though not quite as good as Billie), she’s also geeky, like Dotty, and now she’s taking down an abuser, which happens to also give me some cathartic relief? Even her attraction to Danny doesn’t lessen her appeal anymore!

    (The fact that all three wear glasses is a plus for all of ’em.)

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 2:23 am | #

      Actually, thinking about it, Billie and Amber are kinda tied in the curves dept… Billie’s got a softer midsection, which I dig, but Amber’s got the hips and butt…

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        August 19, 2013 at 9:48 am | #

        And a lower center of gravity.

    • David
      David
      August 19, 2013 at 11:20 am | #

      Huh. Ok, we are talking comic strip characters here, but still a favorites sorting order largely based on midriff shaping seems weird to me. Feels like picking one’s favorite beer based on bottle shape. Well, bad example since there is not much else to go by regarding comic strip beer, but you get my drift.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        August 19, 2013 at 8:19 pm | #

        Totz did mention Dorothy’s and Amber’s personality types, interests and recent behaviours, too, not just their relative shapeliness. (Me, I just wanted to make a reference to the previous comic.)

        But now you’re causing me to think: Is it OK to objectify a character design? Art *is* an object; a character design doesn’t have humanity to take away. But it does kinda annoy me when superheroines are always super-boobalicious, and I’d feel weird to have this conversation about actual people.

        Where’s Leslie? I need to take a Gender Studies class!

  76. fishamaphone
    fishamaphone
    August 19, 2013 at 2:23 am | #

    Okay, yes, this is exactly what I was hoping for a few days back. An enraged punch doesn’t feel like an Amber reaction, but an enraged punch followed by this exchange is exactly right. Go Willis.

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 2:25 am | #

      Amber’s too smart to just punch him. That would get her in trouble for assault, potentially.

      This makes it look like self defense (which it might have been… preemptively…).

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        August 19, 2013 at 8:34 pm | #

        Even if Blaine was a litigating type of guy, I hope this would be considered self-defense, even though Amber punched first. Dude was clearly threatening her, verbally and physically, and he was between her and the door. Amber did exactly enough damage to get away, and none further.

        (Although we can always hope for Ruth to bust out her hockey stick. She’d be just like Sarah, only more Canadian!)

  77. Karen
    Karen
    August 19, 2013 at 3:12 am | #

    I haven’t been able to support Ruth’s “redemption” through the last few months. It shifted too suddenly and she was too awful for me to really buy it. However, it’s nice to see her directing her rage at someone who probably reminds her of her own father.

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 3:28 am | #

      Ruth just has a lot of aggression, which wasn’t helped by her drinking. She’s still been incredibly imposing, we’ve just gotten a bit more of a three-dimensional view of her.

      It’s not “redemption” so much as “character depth being shown by Willis.”

      • Heavensrun
        Heavensrun
        August 19, 2013 at 5:43 pm | #

        Also, she -wasn’t- awful to anybody but Billie. That’s the point. She -tormented Billie, and now we know why. To anybody else, she was regarded as a hardass, which she didn’t discourage, but even that was mostly because of her treatment of Billie.

        • Karen
          Karen
          August 20, 2013 at 2:17 pm | #

          Tormenting is something that takes a fair bit of personality development for me to get over. Having been bullied, a few “sorries” and an explanation of the reasoning won’t flip the switch from asshole to okay person. The last bunch of comics showing Ruth have been a lot more sympathetic than I think is appropriate under the circumstances. Most of the commenters are totally okay with her now that her Tragic Past is explained. I can’t let her off the hook that easily.

          Also, the kiss and the ensuing romance-ish thing with Billie is still too squicky for me. It’s such a brutal emotional shift that I can hear the transmission complaining and grinding.

    • Rokk
      Rokk
      August 19, 2013 at 3:59 am | #

      I think it’s her grandfather, actually. Early on we see her getting wasted after a conversation with someone she calls ‘sir’. Her parents are presumably dead, hence the move from Canada to the US, but that doesn’t mean her grandfather is nice. Just a thought.

      • Regalli
        Regalli
        August 19, 2013 at 7:46 pm | #

        What do you mean, “presumably”? I’m pretty sure it said they were killed outright.

        • Totz the Plaid
          Totz the Plaid
          August 19, 2013 at 10:08 pm | #

          Yeah, she told Billie how a drunk driver killed them, and has referred to being orphaned more than once since.

          Yep, found it. Panel 4: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/03-answers-in-hennessy/not-directly/

          Billie calls her an orphan here. Panel 2: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/expecting/

          Ruth again mentions her parents deaths in panel 2 here: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/cookie/

          I love the character tags for helping me find this stuff.

  78. PedanticJerkass
    PedanticJerkass
    August 19, 2013 at 3:41 am | #

    There’s a Louis CK set where he’s talking about a guy telling him to suck a bag of dicks and part of it is him trying to figure out what a bag of dicks would even look like. Well, just take a look at panel two there, Mr. CK. That’s your answer.

  79. Gizen
    Gizen
    August 19, 2013 at 4:10 am | #

    While I whole-heartedly side with Amber in this confontation, I do have to worry a little bit about getting a crowd involved. Judging by the fact that Blaine’s not already in jail, I can only assume Amber and her mother never went to the police about the domestic abuse they suffered (or they did but had no evidence), and that either way, while the abuse clearly did occur, she has no evidence to back up the claim she just made, while Blaine now has a busted lip with which he could make a claim of assault. Not that he looks smart enough/willing to further damage his pride in order to do so. Nor do I imagine Willis would be willing to write any story in which Blaine receives anything but his ass handed to him.

    Still… I don’t even know what I’m saying I guess. Just that if I launched the first strike, even if I was provoked into doing so by someone who’d done much worse, I’d still probably be a bit wary personally of gathering a crowd who had not seen what the jackass had done first hand. But then, I guess that’s actually one of the issues that victims often have to deal with?

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 5:59 am | #

      A number of the witnesses know Amber and trust her. Meanwhile, Blaine, who is much taller than her and chasing her while yelling threats.

      Even though she did launch the first strike, they’re already assuming it was in self-defense. And honestly? While it was preemptive, it probably would’ve ended up being self-defense had she chosen to continue talking rather than decking him.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 19, 2013 at 9:37 pm | #

      I’ve worked with domestic violence crises on occasion. Most DV victims decide not to press charges, for many reasons, including the fear that other people won’t believe them, as you mentioned.

      There are many reasons that a DV victim might choose not to go to court yet, even if they have tons of evidence. (for example, they might feel too traumatized, and testifying might feel like re-living the violence. They might want to protect the perpetrator, or fear violent retaliation. They might have false hope that things will get better.)

      It’s always the victim’s choice whether to press charges (which is right), but going to court is difficult (which sucks), and not everyone does it, or does it immediately.

      Anyway. The fear about not being believed, which you mentioned: you can actually preemptively address that one for people in your life. Please let your friends know that if they ever get in a terrible situation, you’ll believe them and support them. Find a way to bring it up. You never know whom it might help.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        August 19, 2013 at 9:43 pm | #

        Oof! That was long. Sorry to go on a rant, there. Upshot is: Let your friends know that you’ll believe them.

        • Totz the Plaid
          Totz the Plaid
          August 19, 2013 at 10:00 pm | #

          Not as long as my other rant…

          But yeah, a friend of mine was raped a few years back while ill, and in some sort of abusive relationship to the point that she was afraid to tell anyone or even get her stuff from his place.

          I tried to do what I could to help her, but for the same reasons you said, she was too reluctant to talk to the police about it.

      • Somebody
        Somebody
        August 20, 2013 at 9:45 pm | #

        I don’t think it’s right…violent crime should be investigated, victim pressing charges or not. Things like rape are also a crime against the community.

  80. Hybrid2
    Hybrid2
    August 19, 2013 at 4:27 am | #

    Being confronted to a woman.
    Oh yeah,he will react well.
    *grab pop corn*

  81. Nohar
    Nohar
    August 19, 2013 at 4:33 am | #

    I’ve never been so happy to see one fictional character stand up for herself.

  82. CianM1301
    CianM1301
    August 19, 2013 at 4:39 am | #

    Go on Ruth, get him! Kick his ass!

    • VizardJeffhog
      VizardJeffhog
      August 19, 2013 at 9:02 am | #

      Nice avy, broheim!

      • CianM1301
        CianM1301
        August 20, 2013 at 6:02 am | #

        Thanks!

  83. Jackalpants
    Jackalpants
    August 19, 2013 at 5:08 am | #

    I cannot stres enough how much I love Reno here. He’s offering a way to talk out a situation that has clearly already become violent, and his hand does not leave Blaine’s chest.

    That right there is how you do this. Blaine’s got six inches and about two stone on the man and Reno is still in between Blaine and anyone else he can hurt. Willis, Reno is now my favourite character, spinoff please

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 5:57 am | #

      Yeah. That is pretty badass.

    • Andrew_C
      Andrew_C
      August 19, 2013 at 7:18 am | #

      Yeah, Sierra’s parents definitely seem impressive. I wouldn’t be surprised if her mom is calling campus security off panel. I hope I could react like that in a similar situation. I’m afraid I’d probably end up gaping in horror like the Saruyama’s.

  84. CiaranLovejoy
    CiaranLovejoy
    August 19, 2013 at 5:11 am | #

    I really want Sierra & Mike to get together, that would be great… 🙂

  85. fangseeker
    fangseeker
    August 19, 2013 at 5:15 am | #

    How do you read the alt text and where do you find it?

    • Geegles
      Geegles
      August 19, 2013 at 5:17 am | #

      Just hover over the comic with your mouse and it should show up!

      • Kamino Neko
        Kamino Neko
        August 19, 2013 at 10:48 am | #

        If you’re reading on a phone or tablet, you’re out of luck.

        • The Candyman
          The Candyman
          August 19, 2013 at 2:37 pm | #

          Stop discriminating against tablet users, Willis! Use comic descriptions like a decent person!

        • fangseeker
          fangseeker
          August 19, 2013 at 5:16 pm | #

          I am using a phone. Curses!

          • Totz the Plaid
            Totz the Plaid
            August 19, 2013 at 6:52 pm | #

            Just look at the page source info.

  86. Chill
    Chill
    August 19, 2013 at 5:28 am | #

    And, as a bonus, if bLaine somehow manages to defeat Ruth, Billie and Howard will probably also show up to kick his ass.

    …Though the latter will get beaten in less than a second.

    • Rex Hondo
      Rex Hondo
      August 19, 2013 at 5:52 am | #

      Won’t everybody be surprised when Howard just walks right up behind Blaine and slits his throat while giggling and muttering “Game of Thrones…”

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 6:52 pm | #

        Howard would stumble on the way and slit his own throat accidentally and gurgle “Game of Thrones…” as his last words.

  87. David Burnward
    David Burnward
    August 19, 2013 at 6:17 am | #

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH
    NOW YOU FUCKED UP

  88. Jake
    Jake
    August 19, 2013 at 8:06 am | #

    And here I was hoping for an actual brawl. But no~o~o~o.

    No one every writes for the unending fury archetype. Nope, it’s just bullies, jerks and racists.

  89. Jack Finch
    Jack Finch
    August 19, 2013 at 8:08 am | #

    Even if they send you to prison? Now there’s an idea!

  90. Notebooked
    Notebooked
    August 19, 2013 at 8:10 am | #

    Sierra is transforming into zombie mode with sheer fury.
    Also oh HECK, did Ruth’s dad cheat on her mom in this universe as well? No wonder Ruth is the first one here.

  91. Jack Finch
    Jack Finch
    August 19, 2013 at 8:34 am | #

    And…as repulsive as Blaine is, I’m not cutting Stacy any slack for standing Amber up the way she did. Priorities man.

    • Quatoria
      Quatoria
      August 19, 2013 at 10:59 am | #

      Shit, Stacy had absolutely no reason to expect that her piece of shit ex-husband would suddenly show up in their lives again after being gone for three years. Let the lady enjoy some Joe-Sr-ing.

      • ShadowMaskPrime
        ShadowMaskPrime
        August 19, 2013 at 3:14 pm | #

        I’m surprised they don’t have some form of restraining order…

      • Sir Robin
        Sir Robin
        August 19, 2013 at 3:31 pm | #

        If a chance for a Joe-ing comes up, you don’t turn it down

        Even with Joe’s Dad, it still count as getting Joe’d

      • SHAZAM
        SHAZAM
        August 19, 2013 at 4:33 pm | #

        Honestly I’m just hoping she’s getting the most fulfilling sex of her life like she did with Jacob in the walkyverse. That’s the only excuse she can have for not seeing Blaine suffer.

    • wynne
      wynne
      August 19, 2013 at 12:28 pm | #

      She didn’t stand her up. She texted.

      • Rex Hondo
        Rex Hondo
        August 19, 2013 at 10:03 pm | #

        She texted her well after she was supposed to meet her. That still counts as standing someone up. It doesn’t make it any better that she stood her up so she could have a hook-up with some guy she had known for literally about 30 seconds.

        Nope, not a lot of slack being given from this quarter.

  92. Arkadi
    Arkadi
    August 19, 2013 at 8:35 am | #

    Sierra’s dad! I like him already ^^

  93. Kobold
    Kobold
    August 19, 2013 at 8:39 am | #

    I’m now shipping Blaine with Ryan. They’re going to bond over common interests – that is, evil, and being punched in the face.

    • Rokk
      Rokk
      August 19, 2013 at 7:46 pm | #

      Now if only Sarah could show up with her baseball bat there’d be the trifecta…

  94. Nym
    Nym
    August 19, 2013 at 8:53 am | #

    I approve of Reno so, so much.

  95. VizardJeffhog
    VizardJeffhog
    August 19, 2013 at 9:04 am | #

    SOMEONE CALL MIKE FOR DOUBLE THE PUNCHING

  96. Henry
    Henry
    August 19, 2013 at 9:09 am | #

    Oh, this gon’ be good!

  97. Sir Robin
    Sir Robin
    August 19, 2013 at 9:34 am | #

    I want to see Ruth destroy him so much

  98. El Tebbaro De Bertopia
    El Tebbaro De Bertopia
    August 19, 2013 at 9:39 am | #

    YES! Ruth clearly has perfect timing and continues to be one of my favorite characters!

  99. Dan Shive
    Dan Shive
    August 19, 2013 at 9:39 am | #

    Super impressed with Sierra’s dad right now. I’m impressed with Ruth, too, but Ruth is an established tough person, and this is what I expected from her. Sierra’s dad is someone we’ve never seen before who’s a full head shorter than this jerk, and he just stepped right up and calmly confronted him.

    • wynne
      wynne
      August 19, 2013 at 12:27 pm | #

      Indeed! Kudos to everyone except Blaine on this page, really.

  100. Andy
    Andy
    August 19, 2013 at 9:47 am | #

    Alright, here’s something I don’t get. Blaine is required to pay for college, right? And he’s threatening to not pay. Can his wages not be garnished? I know debt collectors can garnish wages, so it would be odd (to say the least) if that wasn’t an option for child support and similar payments.

    • bhtooefr
      bhtooefr
      August 19, 2013 at 10:48 am | #

      In some states, I believe child support can cause garnished wages.

      However, there’s ways to avoid that (one of which is simply refusing to work above the table), but you’re still liable for it. Failure to pay it is a crime, and you can end up in jail for it.

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 6:57 pm | #

      I just looked it up, and this: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/employee-rights-book/chapter2-9.html implies that his wages would be garnished for child support if he refused to pay.

  101. Michael
    Michael
    August 19, 2013 at 9:58 am | #

    PREPEARE, FOR MORTAL KOMBAT! *Turns on Mortal kombat movie theme*

    • Charles RB
      Charles RB
      August 19, 2013 at 11:02 am | #

      FINISH HIM!

      • Michael
        Michael
        August 19, 2013 at 12:26 pm | #

        Flawless victory! Ruthless wins. Fatality!

  102. Charles RB
    Charles RB
    August 19, 2013 at 11:00 am | #

    I hereby rename Epic Win to Ruth Win.

  103. Tufto
    Tufto
    August 19, 2013 at 11:08 am | #

    I have a sudden, unexpected and mildly disturbing urge to see some violence. Namely, Ruth-destroying-Blaine violence.

    Woo! 😀

    • LookingIn
      LookingIn
      August 19, 2013 at 12:52 pm | #

      That would ease her rough image over a little, hopefully get her to come out of her shell a little.

  104. Toes14
    Toes14
    August 19, 2013 at 11:15 am | #

    I would have loved to see Dina’s parents use some Kung Fu on his butt. Being so quiet and polite, but then unleashing a flurry of spin kicks as needed.

    • David Willis
      David M Willis
      August 19, 2013 at 12:26 pm | #

      Dina’s family does not know martial arts.

      • Josh
        Josh
        August 19, 2013 at 1:01 pm | #

        THEY DO IN MY HEADCANON! DON’T TRY TO RUIN THIS FOR ME!

        • The Candyman
          The Candyman
          August 19, 2013 at 2:39 pm | #

          Dina’s parents are actually masters of pankration.

          Not all martial arts are from Asia.

      • Heavensrun
        Heavensrun
        August 19, 2013 at 5:40 pm | #

        Pffft. Asians who don’t know martial arts. Surely, Willis, you are a master of comedy.

      • xKiv
        xKiv
        August 19, 2013 at 9:43 pm | #

        That reminds me of a story one of our teachers told us once …

        Gang of hoodlums: we know kung-fu!
        She: I know kung-pao!
        Gang: O_O (runs away)

      • Totz the Plaid
        Totz the Plaid
        August 19, 2013 at 9:57 pm | #

        They know _of_ martial arts, though… which still doesn’t help them help against Blaine.

        I bet they know arts and crafts, though!!!

    • turbanous
      turbanous
      August 19, 2013 at 7:12 pm | #

      I bet they are expexert snipers/marksmen and have been training Dina wife she could hold a weapon. That’s why they are so quiet and appear when they are least expected.

  105. Gargamel
    Gargamel
    August 19, 2013 at 11:37 am | #

    Why didn’t Amber finish hi- ah clever.

    • Totz the Plaid
      Totz the Plaid
      August 19, 2013 at 9:55 pm | #

      Amber’s no fool.

  106. XMinusOne
    XMinusOne
    August 19, 2013 at 12:41 pm | #

    “Beat on the brat with a baseball bat, oh yeah, uh-huh!” *channeling the Ramones*

  107. RTH2
    RTH2
    August 19, 2013 at 1:35 pm | #

    Adding Ruth, who is my favorite character in DOA, to this, which was already awesome, has made it my new favorite moment in the comic so far.

  108. ShadowMaskPrime
    ShadowMaskPrime
    August 19, 2013 at 3:07 pm | #

    Next time on Dumbing of Age…
    Ruth: I’m going to rip out your femurs and beat you four fifths to death with them!
    Blaine: What the Hell is a femur?
    *Joe’s Dad bursts from a door, half naked, pants around his ankles*
    Dr R: It’s the thigh bones, the most proximal (closest to the center of the body) bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. I know about these things, I’m a Bone Doctor!
    Stacy: Blaine?!
    Blaine: Stacy!?

    • Crimson Magic
      Crimson Magic
      August 19, 2013 at 4:07 pm | #

      I hope this becomes canon

  109. Heavensrun
    Heavensrun
    August 19, 2013 at 5:39 pm | #

    I’m calling it. Blaine takes a swing at Ruth and Billie kicks him in the balls for it.

    • silvestercrow
      silvestercrow
      August 19, 2013 at 8:23 pm | #

      While Ruth beats him with his own blody femurs in the faaaace!

  110. Memyself
    Memyself
    August 19, 2013 at 8:54 pm | #

    Personally, if I were Amber I wouldn’t touch his money.

    • Eggplant
      Eggplant
      August 19, 2013 at 11:42 pm | #

      Cool, I didn’t know college was free of charge in Indiana.

      • Memyself
        Memyself
        August 20, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

        There are other paths.

        • ShadowMaskPrime
          ShadowMaskPrime
          August 20, 2013 at 8:11 am | #

          Cool, I didn’t know prostitution was legal in Indiana.

          • Memyself
            Memyself
            August 20, 2013 at 11:49 am | #

            Yeah, financial aid is prostitution. Same with working your way through college or attending a JC first so as to minimize costs. Or trade school, or simply not going to college.

            • ShadowMaskPrime
              ShadowMaskPrime
              August 20, 2013 at 10:49 pm | #

              You should have mentioned those in the first place instead of leaving yourself open to the same joke twice in a row.

              • Memyself
                Memyself
                August 22, 2013 at 10:57 am | #

                Why? Point is if I were in Amber’s shoes I wouldn’t want the guys money. The rest should be obvious enough as to not require explanation.

  111. Jezi Belle
    Jezi Belle
    August 19, 2013 at 9:22 pm | #

    I’ve been reading DoA and Shortpacked! for a while and never commented on either.

    Tonight, I am compelled to, for the first time, to say this.

    OOOOOOOHHHHHHHH, SHIT, HERE IT GO

  112. Cheryl
    Cheryl
    August 19, 2013 at 10:32 pm | #

    I HOPE RUTH FARTS ON EVERYTHING HE LOVES!!!

  113. JustcallmeSoul
    JustcallmeSoul
    August 19, 2013 at 10:38 pm | #

    and i regretted wanting to mean JOYCE’S parents…

  114. AliaPie
    AliaPie
    August 19, 2013 at 10:42 pm | #

    I love this. He’s getting what he deserves.

  115. motorfirebox
    motorfirebox
    August 19, 2013 at 11:31 pm | #

    aw dang. its about to be violents up in.

  116. Maycroft
    Maycroft
    August 20, 2013 at 11:38 pm | #

    She’ll do it!!

  117. Rheios
    Rheios
    May 18, 2015 at 1:38 pm | #

    I love how Blaine is the great uniter. It doesn’t matter your creed, color, or even your opinions on any one character in the comic. Everyone who’s anyone can be joined together in hating this guy. It makes the whole concept of the Code:Geass final Zero plan seem like something to give everyone hope. That someday there will be something that everyone considers so abhorrently an enemy that we join together just to spit in its eye. (Granted I imagine there will still be some argument on how much violence is acceptable. My stance on Blaine being ALL OF IT.)

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