Dumbing of Age Book Eleven

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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September 20, 2023

Chattin

by David M Willis on October 13, 2013 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - Just Hangin' Out With My Family

└ Tags: ethan, jocelyne, joyce

Discussion (255) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. vsophi
    vsophi
    October 13, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    this may just be the cutest thing ever

    • Skull025
      Skull025
      October 13, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

      I dunno. Episode 14 of Season 3 was pretty damn cute with Monkey Master cuddling that excitable uni-duck. Shame Dexter blew up the living room, but what can you do?

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

        Well, if we’re gonna dip into the Monkeyverse, then it’s gotta be the one where D&MM were hit with that reverse-aging beam! I think it was episode… 2, season 4?

        • Rani
          Rani
          October 13, 2013 at 12:23 am | #

          I forgot D&MM had cute things after that 2 hour finale. Staple guns, Justice Department Stationery and stuffed animals were never the same for me after that

          • Rani
            Rani
            October 13, 2013 at 12:25 am | #

            *season finale.

          • Kerry
            Kerry
            October 13, 2013 at 1:11 am | #

            You and many, many others, my friend.

            • ryu
              ryu
              October 14, 2013 at 6:18 pm | #

              I still for the life of me can’t figure out if It was an actual show, or if you guys are just doing another meme that I don’t get because I don’t comment, I just read.

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 4:59 pm | #

        Oh yeah, Totz made a big ol’ list of all the episodes we’ve got so far, didn’t they? I found it again, but I’m not sure if they ever followed through on the whole “synopsis for every episode” thing.

        Anything happen with that, Totz?

    • Kerry
      Kerry
      October 13, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

      lolwut, my comment disappeared.

      Anyway, second time in a row I’ve been first + name change! :B

      • saltchocolate
        saltchocolate
        October 13, 2013 at 12:25 am | #

        It’s still you, vsophi?

        • Kerry
          Kerry
          October 13, 2013 at 12:29 am | #

          yep

          • saltchocolate
            saltchocolate
            October 13, 2013 at 12:51 am | #

            I should have realized — that’s your own fab Joshua avatar, not one of Willis’s (fab) gravs.

            • Kerry
              Kerry
              October 13, 2013 at 1:09 am | #

              You flatter me. /bows

    • Milae
      Milae
      October 13, 2013 at 5:30 am | #

      Actually the cutest thing ever was one of the scenes where Joyce did something silly because of her religious beliefs and Dorothy looks at her fondly and tells Joyce that she was cute/adorable.

      No, wait, it was the time when Dorothy was trying to talk Joyce out of going to the big scary party where bad things would happen and Dorothy admitted that she was scared of them too and then Joyce said that was why she had to go because she needed to do it for Dorothy. <3

    • Gemma Weasley
      Gemma Weasley
      June 19, 2014 at 3:02 pm | #

      Lilo and Stitch! Awww

  2. Tunaro
    Tunaro
    October 13, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    Dude’s an AWESOME brother

    • Pier
      Pier
      October 13, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

      Pretty awesome borther indeed.

      • Pier
        Pier
        October 13, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

        *brother

        • Sam
          Sam
          October 13, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

          borther borther borther

          • dragonbrain
            dragonbrain
            October 13, 2013 at 12:23 am | #

            Bother bother bother bother

            • Pier
              Pier
              October 13, 2013 at 12:30 am | #

              other other other other other

              …is this how it goes? 😀

              • PureFedora
                PureFedora
                October 13, 2013 at 12:46 am | #

                Ther Ther Ther…. This doesn’t roll off the tongue anymore…

                • saltchocolate
                  saltchocolate
                  October 13, 2013 at 12:53 am | #

                  Her her her her her her her

                • Mr. Random
                  Mr. Random
                  October 13, 2013 at 1:14 am | #

                  Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…

                • Stereo
                  Stereo
                  October 13, 2013 at 2:47 am | #

                  RRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

                • Historyman68
                  Historyman68
                  October 14, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

                  Saltchocolate inadvertently called it

          • Buckybone
            Buckybone
            October 13, 2013 at 4:16 am | #

            bork bork bork

            • Allcool-dontcare
              Allcool-dontcare
              October 13, 2013 at 11:28 am | #

              C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER^^^

          • borther
            borther
            December 2, 2013 at 3:27 pm | #

            sorry i’m late the ghost train was late

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      October 13, 2013 at 12:13 am | #

      Yeah, and unlike some so called “awesome brother”, he didn’t kill the entire family and then proceed to mind rape his younger sibling.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        October 13, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

        Sasuke? is that you?

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          October 13, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

          And don’t get me started on Sasuke.

      • norj
        norj
        October 13, 2013 at 12:27 am | #

        Who hasn’t wanted to destroy the mind of an annoying sibling?

        • Spliced
          Spliced
          October 13, 2013 at 12:30 am | #

          You’re being too nice. You should really be asking, who hasn’t harbored an intense hatred and fuel for the utter annihilation of that petulance upon the world that shares your home and uses your bathroom…

          • Aizat
            Aizat
            October 13, 2013 at 12:36 am | #

            Wow, that is dark….and strangely, attracting.

            • Spliced
              Spliced
              October 13, 2013 at 2:31 am | #

              thanks, I write stuff

          • norj
            norj
            October 13, 2013 at 6:46 pm | #

            After the crap my brother pulled on work today, I agree I am being too nice the little jerk needs to roasted alive and then buried on a ton of rocks.

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          October 13, 2013 at 12:32 am | #

          Is it before or after you kill your entire family?

      • Tsakta
        Tsakta
        October 13, 2013 at 10:10 am | #

        Thanksgiving was super awkward that year.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 13, 2013 at 12:46 am | #

      Your other brother’s can’t deny!

  3. Galatine
    Galatine
    October 13, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    Rereading the last strip, I noticed that Josh’s expression actually got kind of scary. Ethan’s lucky Joyce turned up. Joyce? Not so much.

    • Spliced
      Spliced
      October 13, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

      I agree. Josh looked very intimidating. If Ethan’s serious about “giving straight a try” like he seemed to think a few strips ago, I’d say that look is scary enough for him to never look at a guy again without getting a little nervous…

      The above paragraph could also be read as: Your Joe Eyebrow avatar continues to impart wisdom.

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 12:31 am | #

        Oh god, that is an awful possibility. Ugh, Ethan, why… ; – ;

        • Kerry
          Kerry
          October 13, 2013 at 12:32 am | #

          I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO BILL ABOUT THE EMOTES

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            October 13, 2013 at 12:46 am | #

            YOU NEVER LISTEN!!! WE KEEP TRYING TO HELP YOU!

            • Kerry
              Kerry
              October 13, 2013 at 1:03 am | #

              OH GOD I’M DANNY

              • Heavensrun
                Heavensrun
                October 13, 2013 at 11:10 am | #

                Hey now, there’s no reason to be that hard on yourself.

                • Kaci
                  Kaci
                  October 13, 2013 at 5:15 pm | #

                  If it was a matter of being ” hard on myself”, they’d be Faz

              • Anime fan
                Anime fan
                October 13, 2013 at 7:21 pm | #

                Oh God. You ARE DANNY!

                • Anime fan
                  Anime fan
                  October 13, 2013 at 7:22 pm | #

                  OH GOD! I’M DANNY TOO!!!1111!!!1!!1!1!1!!!

                • Kerry
                  Kerry
                  October 13, 2013 at 7:55 pm | #

                  You’re MORE Danny though. You’re like, a full Danny. I’m only a were-Danny.

      • E.R.
        E.R.
        October 13, 2013 at 1:32 am | #

        Am I the only one who thinks he doesn’t look angry? It looked more confused/concerned to me.

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          October 13, 2013 at 3:01 pm | #

          It was a “What-is-going-on; must-protect-sister” face. I have seen it many a time.

          • saltchocolate
            saltchocolate
            October 13, 2013 at 4:21 pm | #

            I’ll bet this horsing around was a ploy to put some distance between them and Ethan, so he can talk to Joyce privately.

            “So . . . has your boyfriend tried to get past first base?”
            (Is this realistic? Would he just come right out and warn her? I don’t have brothers, so I’m not sure!)

            • Logician
              Logician
              October 13, 2013 at 5:17 pm | #

              as a brother with two sisters I can assure you: ANY queries about what boyfriends have got up to are stomped on hard.

              • Bob
                Bob
                October 13, 2013 at 8:24 pm | #

                On the flipside, I’ve have had to invoke the TMI card a few times when my sister talked about her boyfriends.

  4. Jen Aside
    Jen Aside
    October 13, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    that was convenient timing

  5. Hoboturtle
    Hoboturtle
    October 13, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    I like this guy, he is very funny. Very funny guy.

  6. brionl
    brionl
    October 13, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    My brother and I only act like that when we’re around my sister’s kids. Mostly to embarrass them.

  7. Dragonwheel
    Dragonwheel
    October 13, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    A sibling is never too old to exploit gravity.

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      October 13, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

      +1

    • Pier
      Pier
      October 13, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

      Hmm.. Another Joshua “Gravity” fanart ensues. 😀

    • EvergreenFir
      EvergreenFir
      October 13, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      Gravity Falls?

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 13, 2013 at 12:47 am | #

      I mean, if they didn’t, they’d float into space.

  8. norj
    norj
    October 13, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    Willis! we demand to know Joshua’s secret.

    • EvergreenFir
      EvergreenFir
      October 13, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      He’s a furry. Otter fursona. Got $4 riding on it.

      • Aizat
        Aizat
        October 13, 2013 at 12:13 am | #

        Or he’s a freaking cyborg….ninja.

        • Keroshino
          Keroshino
          October 13, 2013 at 2:55 am | #

          A ninja? Cowabunga! Go ninja, go ninja go!

      • norj
        norj
        October 13, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

        You people and Google have led to some truly disturbing corners of the Internet.

        • EvergreenFir
          EvergreenFir
          October 13, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

          What do you mean by “you people”?

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            October 13, 2013 at 12:48 am | #

            Racist against the internet!

          • Glynvel
            Glynvel
            October 13, 2013 at 1:38 am | #

            Wait, what do YOU mean by “What do you mean by ‘You People?'”

        • Rheinman
          Rheinman
          October 13, 2013 at 12:52 am | #

          You don’t know the half of it. It’s Rule 34 all the way down.

          • Cybersnark
            Cybersnark
            October 13, 2013 at 8:31 am | #

            War is good for business?

            Wait, wrong rule 34.

            • The Candyman
              The Candyman
              October 13, 2013 at 10:29 am | #

              The two should never be mixed up. For the mental safety of us all.

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

        The person with the Joshua grav supports this.

    • Jack Finch
      Jack Finch
      October 13, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

      I’m tellin y’all he’s become a Mormon. Look at his eye’s man!

      • EvergreenFir
        EvergreenFir
        October 13, 2013 at 12:21 am | #

        Hm… they do seem soulless… but that might be from living in Indiana

        • Spliced
          Spliced
          October 13, 2013 at 12:26 am | #

          Indiana O_O

        • ninja_jesus
          ninja_jesus
          October 13, 2013 at 2:05 am | #

          We are Indiana.

          • Jack Finch
            Jack Finch
            October 13, 2013 at 9:58 am | #

            Death to Magic, all hail the Bird
            Death to Magic, all hail the Bird

            • Bill
              Bill
              October 13, 2013 at 2:54 pm | #

              Everybody’s heard that the Bird is the word.

              • Mr. Random
                Mr. Random
                October 13, 2013 at 3:24 pm | #

                You sir, are a ninja bird.

      • NightmareWarden
        NightmareWarden
        October 13, 2013 at 12:42 am | #

        I’m tellin’ you that this “freestyle writer” actually writes naughty stories! The erotica rises from the graves. All hail the pornomancer!
        He embraces the heresy of “gettin’ freaky deeky” and “gettin’ down with ya bad selves”. Yo.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        October 13, 2013 at 12:50 am | #

        His eyes hired a man.

  9. sekritly
    sekritly
    October 13, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    Damn, that’s adorable.

    • Tom T.
      Tom T.
      October 13, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

      That’s just the word I was thinking of!

    • Tom T.
      Tom T.
      October 13, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

      Adorable, I mean; not damn.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        October 13, 2013 at 10:53 am | #

        “that’s”

  10. Trolldrool
    Trolldrool
    October 13, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    I don’t think I’ve ever loved Joshua as much as I do right now.

  11. Ray Radlein
    Ray Radlein
    October 13, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

    See? Ethan does make Joshua go weak in the knees!

    • Pier
      Pier
      October 13, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

      from one of the positions in the fanart, it seems. 😛

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      October 13, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

      Seems to be getting stiff as well.

      • saltchocolate
        saltchocolate
        October 13, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

        wah-waaahhh.

  12. Darth
    Darth
    October 13, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

    Being the older brother rocks.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      October 13, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

      Oldest of five here. Can confirm.

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      October 13, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

      Not for me. I got a brat of a younger brother.

      • Spliced
        Spliced
        October 13, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

        I’m a middle child!

      • norj
        norj
        October 13, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

        I share your pain Aizat.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 13, 2013 at 12:53 am | #

      I’m the older brother, the younger brother and the middle brother.

      • Rutee
        Rutee
        October 13, 2013 at 1:17 am | #

        The omnibrother?

        • The Candyman
          The Candyman
          October 13, 2013 at 10:37 am | #

          The All-Brother.

          • Kernanator
            Kernanator
            October 13, 2013 at 12:44 pm | #

            Brother of every single Norse god and goddess. Don’t ask how that works, it just does.

            • Bill
              Bill
              October 13, 2013 at 2:56 pm | #

              But how about the married gods, like Thor and Sif?

            • Mr. Random
              Mr. Random
              October 13, 2013 at 3:27 pm | #

              Once upon a time, all the gods had an orgy.
              The details are in on a single fanfiction site.
              At the bottom is a number that when given to the right bank. Will grant you all my wealth.
              I left everything in One Piece.

    • Kiggy
      Kiggy
      October 13, 2013 at 10:17 am | #

      Hear hear

  13. saltchocolate
    saltchocolate
    October 13, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

    When Joyce has a boyfriend who is really into her, he’ll act just like her brother at times. Some of the best parts of dating are finding someone you can be goofy with. (And then there are the *other* best parts, which do not involve sibling-like behavior at all!)

    • Kerry
      Kerry
      October 13, 2013 at 12:11 am | #

      Whenever I think of how heart-warmingly awesome Joyce is going to turn out, I think of all the cast members who are pretty much hopeless from where we’re standing.

      Sal, Ethan, Amber, Danny… it’s really depressing.

      • saltchocolate
        saltchocolate
        October 13, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

        Maybe I’m gender-biased, but I don’t think Sal and Amber are hopeless. Both of them are pretty amazi-ing, but in ways that aren’t immediately apparent to those around them. They just have to find the right channels for their strengths. Ethan and Danny . . . they need spines. I’ve heard you can grow them, but only time will tell.

        • Kerry
          Kerry
          October 13, 2013 at 12:26 am | #

          I’m not saying that they won’t be able to work things out eventually. All of the cast will. But for now, there’s no real resolution in sight, y’know? Everything’s so uncertain for them, and they’re all so alone…

          So many feels.

          • saltchocolate
            saltchocolate
            October 13, 2013 at 12:45 am | #

            I wonder. The only other webcomic I’ve read through to a conclusion did tie everything up with a nice bow. But I suspect Willis may not end things so neatly. (Veiled SP! reference…)

            • Kerry
              Kerry
              October 13, 2013 at 1:17 am | #

              He’ll probably leave a lot of things open-ended, and not everything will be perfect, but I doubt he’ll leave them complete shells. They won’t be totally fixed, but they’ll at least be patched up, y’know?

              • saltchocolate
                saltchocolate
                October 13, 2013 at 8:43 am | #

                That sounds right, yeah.

      • Spliced
        Spliced
        October 13, 2013 at 12:23 am | #

        I’m a little nervous that Dorothy will meet Joshua and decide to go with him instead of Walky :/

        • Kerry
          Kerry
          October 13, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

          Woah, where’d you get that idea from? It sounds intriguing, devastating, and eerie (both blondes with glasses) all at once.

          • Spliced
            Spliced
            October 13, 2013 at 12:36 am | #

            Well, it actually came from this strip. The playful way Josh isn’t quite letting Joyce push him to meet her friend, the way he just told Ethan he’s not gay… it all suddenly seems to me to be adding up to this dramatic, cliched but still possible occurrence:

            Joshua walks up, still laughing from his and Dorothy’s playful sibling spat. Dorothy has been talking to her parents, her cheeks still flush from the relief and adrenaline of her best friend standing up for her. She’s turning from talking to Joyce’s mom, he’s looking up from his sister’s latest remark, and it happens. Their eyes meet. In that moment, everything else is forgotten, as, helpless… hapless… Both families, Joyce, and Walky look on in amazement, confusion, and in some cases, horror.

            But the lovers notice naught. For time has stopped to them. Everything about the other calls: the glasses, the blonde hair, the somehow instinctual knowledge of hidden depths, a yearning to do better, do MORE, and never quite knowing how… They walk toward each other, look deeply into each others’ eyes, each others’ very soul…

            And then break away awkwardly and deny everything.

            • Kerry
              Kerry
              October 13, 2013 at 12:40 am | #

              Oh… oh god.

              That would be distressing.

              • Spliced
                Spliced
                October 13, 2013 at 12:42 am | #

                you can see it all now, too, can’t you? D:

                • Kerry
                  Kerry
                  October 13, 2013 at 1:12 am | #

                  It’d be like a repeat of Ethan’s room… only this time, Joshua would be Ethan.

                • Spliced
                  Spliced
                  October 13, 2013 at 2:31 am | #

                  NO!!

                • The Candyman
                  The Candyman
                  October 13, 2013 at 10:43 am | #

                  I’ve actually thought about Joshua/Dorothy, but up until now considered it the crackiest ship Willis could throw at us.

                • Kerry
                  Kerry
                  October 13, 2013 at 5:02 pm | #

                  Silly Candyman, clearly Joshua/Naomi is the crackiest ship.

                  “J-Joshua?! What are you doing with my mom?!”
                  “Now you know how I feel!”

                • Kaci
                  Kaci
                  October 13, 2013 at 5:18 pm | #

                  With Mike watching holding a nicole

                • Kerry
                  Kerry
                  October 13, 2013 at 5:26 pm | #

                  Is Nicole someone else’s mom? Billie’s, maybe?

    • ProfessorZoot
      ProfessorZoot
      October 13, 2013 at 7:23 pm | #

      Umm, we hope . . . (ero manga scars throbbing).

  14. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    October 13, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

    Sorry for going off topic but I really want to ask. What does the previous chapter’s title “Answers to Hennessy” mean exactly?

    • so279
      so279
      October 13, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

      “Hennessy” is a brand of cognac. My guess is that it is a reference to Ruth’s hidden alcoholism; hidden, expensive, alcoholism if she drinks Hennessy.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        October 13, 2013 at 12:44 am | #

        Ahh, alright. Thanks for enlightening me, so279.

        • JessWitt
          JessWitt
          October 13, 2013 at 12:50 am | #

          Also, I’m not much of an alcohol drinker so the word Hennessy doesn’t ring a bell with me. Heineken on the other hand gets me as chipper as ol’ Mikey here.

      • Arkadi
        Arkadi
        October 13, 2013 at 6:15 pm | #

        I doubt she actually drinks Henessy XD Willis probably chose that brand just for the pun.

    • C.
      C.
      October 13, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

      It’s a joke on “Answers in Genesis” and Ruth’s drunken stupor.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        October 13, 2013 at 12:46 am | #

        Thanks c. I thought the title was a pun on something but wasn’t familiar with AiG at all. Tnx again.

        • Whittier
          Whittier
          October 13, 2013 at 8:59 am | #

          Getting familiar with AiG will eat away at your IQ.

          • Kerry
            Kerry
            October 13, 2013 at 1:20 pm | #

            That’s a rude thing to say about Amazi-Girl.

            …You were talking about Amazi-Girl, right?

            • Thasvaddef
              Thasvaddef
              October 15, 2013 at 3:42 am | #

              Just look at Danny

      • Rheinman
        Rheinman
        October 13, 2013 at 12:54 am | #

        I first read that as Guinness. Brilliant!

      • David Willis
        David M Willis
        October 13, 2013 at 2:38 pm | #

        This is correct!

    • Jason
      Jason
      October 13, 2013 at 2:19 pm | #

      I was under the impression that Hennessey is the name of one of the dorms at IU…maybe the one the characters live in?

  15. Ragnal
    Ragnal
    October 13, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

    WELP, looks like I was right, it’s another “we’re never gonna know his dealie” situation.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      October 13, 2013 at 12:12 am | #

      He’ll reveal it eventually. Gotta wait for the slingshot to pull back for maximum effect.

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

        Yep, pretty much.

    • Luzahn
      Luzahn
      October 13, 2013 at 10:47 am | #

      We need to wait until as many people as possible are around to hear it, though.

  16. Thanks, I'll Have Another!
    Thanks, I'll Have Another!
    October 13, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

    Yup, this is exactly how a lot of the close siblings I know act with each other. Your knack with handling incidental interactions like this is uncanny, Mr. Willis.

  17. Leorale
    Leorale
    October 13, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

    When my brothers and I were little, we invented a game called “crush me”, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like.

  18. dailybrad
    dailybrad
    October 13, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

    I love this guy.

  19. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    October 13, 2013 at 12:12 am | #

    Every time I see siblings interact in fiction, it’s like looking at an alien species.

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      October 13, 2013 at 12:13 am | #

      Only child?

      • Spliced
        Spliced
        October 13, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

        Actually I kind of get it, and I have more siblings than you could shake a stick at.

        Well, at the very least the average person’s arm would get pretty tired about half way through. Especially if you had to go to where each of them were at. Matt’s off deep sea fishing in Alaska, for example.

      • Kernanator
        Kernanator
        October 13, 2013 at 12:23 am | #

        Yep yep.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          October 13, 2013 at 12:55 am | #

          Me too!

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      October 13, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

      I feel the same way too. What I wouldn’t give for a perfect family…

      • Spliced
        Spliced
        October 13, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

        get married and make one! 😀

        • saltchocolate
          saltchocolate
          October 13, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

          Or don’t get married and make one!

          • Spliced
            Spliced
            October 13, 2013 at 12:40 am | #

            huh, I didn’t think of that

            • NightmareWarden
              NightmareWarden
              October 13, 2013 at 12:45 am | #

              Buy a science lab-kit and make one!

              • saltchocolate
                saltchocolate
                October 13, 2013 at 12:49 am | #

                Get out your pens and paper (laptop & graphics program) and make one!

                • Yotomoe
                  Yotomoe
                  October 13, 2013 at 12:56 am | #

                  Dig up some dead guys and stitch them together and send rapid voltage through the neck using lightning and make one!

                • NightmareWarden
                  NightmareWarden
                  October 13, 2013 at 12:56 am | #

                  Get out your legos and make one!

                • Kerry
                  Kerry
                  October 13, 2013 at 1:02 am | #

                  Have kinky mage sex with a witch in order to channel the essence of a giant dragon somewhere less destructive and make one!

                • Aizat
                  Aizat
                  October 13, 2013 at 1:31 am | #

                  Use a DNA of the world’s greatest soldier, fertilized an egg with that DNA and transfer the egg to a surrogate mother(preferably related to that soldier) and then abort 6 out of 8 embryos.

                • Yotomoe
                  Yotomoe
                  October 13, 2013 at 2:42 am | #

                  You forgot to say, “AND MAKE ONE”

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          October 13, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

          That’s going to be a bit tough….but thanks for the advice.

      • saltchocolate
        saltchocolate
        October 13, 2013 at 12:23 am | #

        “Perfect family”? Those are *only* in fiction. (But not in the good fiction. “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”)

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      October 13, 2013 at 12:39 am | #

      I know, right? Every time I see things like this I’m all ‘this never happens’ but then everyone else is all ‘oh yeah, that’s the best’.

  20. Leorale
    Leorale
    October 13, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

    Oh man, this one time, I was on the couch with this only-child who is like twice my size, and I kicked him off the couch and he fell down. And he was like, “Why did you kick me off the couch?” and I was all “Why did kicking make you fall??”

    • Spliced
      Spliced
      October 13, 2013 at 12:25 am | #

      You lead an interesting life

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 13, 2013 at 12:57 am | #

      You’re lucky the only child wasn’t me or that story would end with “and then he punched me in the face repeatedly.”

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        October 13, 2013 at 2:52 pm | #

        It probably helped that I was a cute girl who was into him.

    • FatLilPancake
      FatLilPancake
      October 13, 2013 at 2:17 am | #

      My spouse & I once hosted a game meetup where one of our guests was an extrodinary, but sheltered, only child. Educating him on all the goofs siblings pull on one another was fun!

  21. Regalli
    Regalli
    October 13, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

    Ah, siblings. Sometimes you fight the same Gym Leader five goddamn times in a row for them, sometimes you pretend you can’t walk just to get on their nerves.

  22. Jack Finch
    Jack Finch
    October 13, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

    This is like my two kids. Elder brother, little sister. They adore each other.

  23. Joebo
    Joebo
    October 13, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

    Yeah, seems about right. 😀

  24. Kell
    Kell
    October 13, 2013 at 12:33 am | #

    Perfect display of sibling shenanigans! 🙂

  25. Aizat
    Aizat
    October 13, 2013 at 12:39 am | #

    So adorable…and I don’t use that word a lot.

  26. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    October 13, 2013 at 12:45 am | #

    Joshua is the best brother.

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      October 13, 2013 at 12:53 am | #

      Best bro ever…next to Kyoji.

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      October 13, 2013 at 1:09 am | #

      He is a wonderful brother — which definitely sinks the Joshuthan ship. No way is this dude cheating with his little sister’s boyfriend, whether he’s bi, pan, trans, or poly. Not happening.

      Also not happening: Joyce and Ethan. Wow. Could they have any less chemistry in this strip??

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 1:14 am | #

        Joyce and Joshua have more chemistry than Joyce and Ethan.

        …Brain bleach, $20/gallon.

        • Leonou
          Leonou
          October 13, 2013 at 5:40 am | #

          Did you find it ? Oh thank God you found it ! Quick give it to me, I still need it to forget Yotomoe’s sin against nature (aka DinaxFaz ship …eurgh.)

          • fintikisniko
            fintikisniko
            October 13, 2013 at 9:52 am | #

            Any ship with faz shall be sunk at once

        • saltchocolate
          saltchocolate
          October 13, 2013 at 8:40 am | #

          That’s a funny comment from someone who’s so aware of all the variations of desire as you. Chemistry need not be sexual — or it need not be about having sex, anyway. That said, the reason we *have* an incest taboo is because there are many excellent reasons why close family members should not be acting on attraction to one another. You don’t have to prohibit things that aren’t within the realm of possibility.

          *That* said, I didn’t mean to imply that Joshua and Joyce have sexual chemistry. They just have fun being with each other — which should be true of an SO too!

          • Kerry
            Kerry
            October 13, 2013 at 1:22 pm | #

            Just, uh, just making a joke. :B

            Though I gotta say, my suspicions are confirmed further down the page.

            • saltchocolate
              saltchocolate
              October 13, 2013 at 4:25 pm | #

              Sorry!!

  27. Beachfox
    Beachfox
    October 13, 2013 at 12:46 am | #

    Dammit, Joshua, you are too gosh darn -adorable- to be straight! Stop that! Stop being so adorable this instant!

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      October 13, 2013 at 12:54 am | #

      Maybe adorableness runs in the family.

      • Arkadi
        Arkadi
        October 13, 2013 at 6:17 pm | #

        Must have skipped a generation, then *looks at Joyce’s parents*

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 13, 2013 at 12:58 am | #

      Damn, I guess I can’t be adorable. *gains 30 pounds and farts*.

    • andiemus
      andiemus
      October 13, 2013 at 5:31 am | #

      Um…. ouch.

  28. anonreader1
    anonreader1
    October 13, 2013 at 12:46 am | #

    awww so cute! I just want to cuddlewuddle them both! 😀

  29. RandomReader
    RandomReader
    October 13, 2013 at 1:10 am | #

    Is this the creation of a new ship I spot?

    • Kerry
      Kerry
      October 13, 2013 at 1:14 am | #

      …w what

    • Rutee
      Rutee
      October 13, 2013 at 1:20 am | #

      I like the cut of your gib.

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 1:27 am | #

        guys you’re scaring me

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 13, 2013 at 1:27 am | #

      I’m revoking your boating liscense.

      • Rutee
        Rutee
        October 13, 2013 at 5:02 am | #

        That’s a serious problem. You can get it reinstated listening to Jazz Boatman though.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxxnq5YAVHw
        Everything I learned about boats, I learned from the internet.

    • EvergreenFir
      EvergreenFir
      October 13, 2013 at 2:16 am | #

      maybe that’s his secret…

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 2:29 am | #

        I forgot to put sister-lover on the list from yesterday… /withers to the finest of dust

    • Brando
      Brando
      October 13, 2013 at 2:18 am | #

      Why in the hell… EWWWWWWWWWWW!

  30. Tahkuya
    Tahkuya
    October 13, 2013 at 1:15 am | #

    HA! I do that to my little sister too, and trust me Joyce’s calm hides a storm.

    • Axel bander
      Axel bander
      October 13, 2013 at 11:05 am | #

      Okay, I’m sorry, but I read this comment AFTER reading a comment chain about a shipping between Joyce and her brother, so I made connections that didn’t need to be made. I apologize.

      • Tahkuya
        Tahkuya
        October 13, 2013 at 9:35 pm | #

        HAHAHAHAHAHA AWW HELL NAW

  31. fang
    fang
    October 13, 2013 at 3:22 am | #

    This cute sort of roughhousing never happens between me and my sister. She did chase me with a huge pair of scissors once though. She was always terrorizing me, and we fought a lot lol. We live together now though, so we’re more or less ok pfft.

  32. Darth Cariss
    Darth Cariss
    October 13, 2013 at 3:39 am | #

    JoyceXethan 5ever

    • Milae
      Milae
      October 13, 2013 at 5:04 am | #

      Nuuuuu!!!!! JoycexDorothy!

      I keep telling you people… do a search of all the strips both Joy-Joy and Dotty have been seen together and then tell me they haven’t been coming together…

      I look at those two and how they have interracted together such as calling each other cute and adorable and saying how they’d brave scary things just for each other and I just go… squeeee!

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 1:23 pm | #

        I’ve been drawing a lot of Joyce/Dorothy lately. Once I get it all scanned in and inked, I do hope you will enjoy it. ;B

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          October 13, 2013 at 2:54 pm | #

          Yay more arts

  33. caesaria82
    caesaria82
    October 13, 2013 at 3:54 am | #

    What an adorably cute moment in the midst of all these FEELS. Something terrible is about to happen tomorrow, right? I mean, laughs and cuteness!? Something MUST be up!

  34. rhelmot
    rhelmot
    October 13, 2013 at 4:10 am | #

    “Joyce, I dunno if I can accept your beliefs. I think there used to be dinosaurs.”

    “There are not! Joshua, the Earth isn’t old enough for this!”

    “I think the evidence disagrees.”

    • Kerry
      Kerry
      October 13, 2013 at 1:25 pm | #

      No, no, no, Joyce knows dinosaurs exist…

      …She just thinks that they all lived at the same time (along with humans and like, dogs, I guess).

      • Bill
        Bill
        October 13, 2013 at 3:06 pm | #

        “Joyce knows dinosaurs exist…”

        Of course they did, and the US Gov’t even endorses the fact:
        http://creationrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/alleyoop.jpg

  35. Kennisiou
    Kennisiou
    October 13, 2013 at 5:12 am | #

    Oh my god I have done this exact thing to my younger sister. I do it regularly.

    David Willis you write young adult siblings so well. Joyce and her brother relate so believably.

  36. David
    David
    October 13, 2013 at 5:35 am | #

    Well, Ethan better see his parents off before they start talking to anybody else.

  37. annabanana
    annabanana
    October 13, 2013 at 5:37 am | #

    Does Joyce know that Ethans gay?

    • Milae
      Milae
      October 13, 2013 at 5:55 am | #

      Yes, she knows he is gay now. But she is using him as a shill to hide the fact that she is totally into Dorothy. In fact she’s even hiding it from herself but if you look into the strips they’ve shared together and some of the comments they’ve posted in the ‘tweets’ section it becomes obvious.

      Ok – JoycexDorothy shipping aside and into the ‘canon’ explanation. Joyce feels that it is her mission in life to convert him to being straight and also feels he’s the perfect boyfriend because no way would he want hanky-panky before the wedding.

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 1:28 pm | #

        It’s more complicated than “[she] feels that it is her mission in life to convert him to being straight”. I don’t think Joyce ever thought it was her duty in the first place. They came to an agreement, deciding it was the best thing for both of them that they resist temptation together.

        Also, idk, I kinda think Joyce really does like Ethan. Perhaps not love, but…

      • Thasvaddef
        Thasvaddef
        October 13, 2013 at 2:08 pm | #

        Or after the wedding…

  38. Milae
    Milae
    October 13, 2013 at 6:09 am | #

    Ok, honestly… Willis if you read this I have a question for you. How would you feel about my making a video which has bits and pieces from various scenes of your webcomic for the Joyce & Dorothy pairing theme and posting it on you-tube for the Joyce & Dorothy pairing?

    I wanted to ask before doing it for multiple reasons. I didn’t want you to feel like I was trying to steal your work or insult your canonical story, I didn’t want to upset you as you’ve said that Joyce is somewhat of an autobiography character and I didn’t want to make it seem like I was pressing for gender choices for you personally, and also because you may honestly hate the concept of the pairing and never want it to see the light of day and I respect your work enough to accept that. xD

    • David Willis
      David M Willis
      October 13, 2013 at 12:14 pm | #

      I am super fine with stuff like that.

      • Kerry
        Kerry
        October 13, 2013 at 1:28 pm | #

        Creators who like the fandom and the stuff they do for said fandom make me very, very happy.

  39. Raznaak
    Raznaak
    October 13, 2013 at 6:35 am | #

    It’s strange seeing a weak Joyce. I went through Willis’ original comic recently and that continuum’s Joyce can bench-press a few hundred kilograms and maybe more than a ton…

    • Thasvaddef
      Thasvaddef
      October 13, 2013 at 2:11 pm | #

      Joshua is an android made of osmium and weighs 1000 kg.

  40. Andrew_C
    Andrew_C
    October 13, 2013 at 7:34 am | #

    I demand to know why there hasn’t been a “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” joke yet! The service here is appalling.

    • Jason
      Jason
      October 13, 2013 at 2:25 pm | #

      Does seem sort of obvious in retrospect, doesn’t it? But perhaps that reference is too old for most of DoA’s readers.

      • Bill
        Bill
        October 13, 2013 at 3:10 pm | #

        Not this particular reader, at least.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl5vi9ir49g

  41. Orangey
    Orangey
    October 13, 2013 at 7:45 am | #

    awhhhhh this reminds me of lilo and stitch… I’m going to have to watch that again soon

  42. Biege
    Biege
    October 13, 2013 at 9:52 am | #

    so, joshua is some form of cat? I knew it!

  43. Jack Finch
    Jack Finch
    October 13, 2013 at 10:52 am | #

    Joyce and Dorothy = whatever word is equivalent to bromance, not an actual ship.

    • Heavensrun
      Heavensrun
      October 13, 2013 at 11:08 am | #

      Speak for yourself.

      A ship is not necessarily a reflection of the actual nature of a relationship, you know. Plenty of people ship characters that literally hate each other. A ship is as much a reflection of the ideals and tastes of the shipper.

      I ship Joyce and Dorothy because their backgrounds make them interesting potential foils for each other, and because their friendship is particularly heartwarming given their fundamentally different worldviews.

      As an atheist who came from a religious background, who has had deeply religious friends and family members, I also appreciate the balanced treatment of their worldviews in the comic. It is common for these things to hold up one side or the other as a strawman to be knocked down, but while Willis obviously seems more in agreement with Dorothy than Joyce on most issues (I don’t profess to speak for him) he writes Joyce from the perspective of someone who -was- once there, and understands the emotional complexities of being a believer.

      All of this rounds out Dotty and Joyce’s relationship and tempts me to imagine a deeper connection.

      Also, girls kissing girls is really really nice.

      But again, even if there is no actual romance there, that has absolutely nothing to do with fans shipping them.

    • Kerry
      Kerry
      October 13, 2013 at 1:31 pm | #

      Uh, do you know what the word “ship” means? All it is is pairing two characters up together. Some are canon, most are not, from my experience.

      • Jack Finch
        Jack Finch
        October 13, 2013 at 4:12 pm | #

        Maybe. I just go with the way my kids use it–romantically.

        • Kerry
          Kerry
          October 13, 2013 at 5:01 pm | #

          That’s what I meant by “pairing”.

          Of course, there’s friendshipping, but that’s kinda whatever.

  44. fintikisniko
    fintikisniko
    October 13, 2013 at 10:56 am | #

    I’m just hopeing joyce don’t get hurt 2 bad with all thid flirting Ethan has been up to

  45. nothri
    nothri
    October 13, 2013 at 11:05 am | #

    Methinks Joshua may be a comic away from falling flat on his ass under his own weight when his “pillar” figures out how to get out from under him.

    • Bill
      Bill
      October 13, 2013 at 3:11 pm | #

      And that’s what makes this kind of horseplay all that much more fun.

  46. Hobo von Lichtenstein
    Hobo von Lichtenstein
    October 13, 2013 at 1:26 pm | #

    Being the older brother gives you license to do stuff like this. That and you always are given permission to noogie and indian burn your siblings. Someimes you are allowed to tell them terrible lies that will get them into trouble.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      October 13, 2013 at 2:59 pm | #

      I’m a middle sister, and I convinced my little brother that the black dots on banana peels were the holes through which the snakes got in. More bananas for me.

      • Jath
        Jath
        October 13, 2013 at 5:30 pm | #

        I can’t believe I’m not the only one who did that.

      • Logician
        Logician
        October 13, 2013 at 5:34 pm | #

        when I was about 3, my elder sister told me that soap was really delicious. I took a big bite…

  47. Arkadi
    Arkadi
    October 13, 2013 at 6:19 pm | #

    Well, this is refreshing after all the tension and drama ^_^ *phew*

  48. hof1991
    hof1991
    October 13, 2013 at 6:32 pm | #

    what will we do for drama after the parents all leave? This has been quite an arc, with more feels than most webcomics see in a decade.

    • Kerry
      Kerry
      October 13, 2013 at 7:53 pm | #

      I remember Willis saying the next arc was a lot more adorable/lighthearted, but I could just be delusional.

    • norj
      norj
      October 13, 2013 at 8:02 pm | #

      Ruth and Billie still have to figure if they’re a couple, Amber has anger issues, Ethan is still trying to hide in the closet, Joyce hasn’t dealt with the emotional trauma of her nearly being raped, Daisy needs to get laid and of course the SS Robin/Leslie needs to be officially launched.

  49. Sir Robin
    Sir Robin
    October 13, 2013 at 8:23 pm | #

    I expected more conflict with today’s strip, you’d think Joshua would be more concerned

  50. Bilfred
    Bilfred
    October 13, 2013 at 9:03 pm | #

    This is nearly identical to me&my sister

  51. Bilfred
    Bilfred
    October 13, 2013 at 9:52 pm | #

    wait, what is that statue in the background of?

    • sumolegend
      sumolegend
      October 13, 2013 at 10:15 pm | #

      Legend holds that every night a virgin is deflowered by it.

  52. Kira
    Kira
    October 13, 2013 at 11:42 pm | #

    Ha, this made me smile…my brothers still do things like that to me, and we’re all in our mid-twenties. Silly Joyce, you’re never too old for that to happen to you.

    • tahrey
      tahrey
      October 14, 2013 at 9:20 am | #

      Heh, this is pretty much me and my brother whenever we’re not either arguing, ignoring each other, or chatting shit about vidyagaems.

      I’m 31, he’s 29. It never stops.

  53. Maycroft
    Maycroft
    October 14, 2013 at 4:23 pm | #

    The Elder-bro code clearly establishes you’re never too old to annoy your siblings.

  54. Skud
    Skud
    October 14, 2013 at 9:31 pm | #

    I used to do the same exact thing to my younger sister….
    WHAT ELSE DO YOU KNOW WILLIS!?!!?

  55. Stephen
    Stephen
    October 17, 2013 at 3:46 pm | #

    Haha, that’s awesome. Yup, siblings and I do that to my kids, too, ‘oops, you’re just going to have to help daddy up!’ 🙂

  56. Allons-y
    Allons-y
    October 20, 2013 at 1:29 am | #

    I do that all the time to my little sister. Especially around her friends.

  57. Hats
    Hats
    October 12, 2014 at 4:44 pm | #

    So I’ve been going back through the archives, and this is the first time I noticed the “jocelyne” tag. Was this there originally and I missed it? Or was it added later, after the next few comics?

    • John
      John
      January 29, 2015 at 3:01 am | #

      The tag changed after the next comic.

  58. Akahane
    Akahane
    March 10, 2015 at 1:10 am | #

    Aw siblings <3

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