Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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July 11, 2026

So much

by David M Willis on October 27, 2014 at 12:01 am
  • 01 - When Somebody Loved Me
└ Tags: ethan, joyce

Discussion (326) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Camachri
    Camachri
    October 27, 2014 at 12:01 am | #

    Well, technically you’re embracing him face-to-glorious-man-chest, so you’re all clear.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      October 27, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

      Face-to-Batman-logo.

      That’s like embracing Batman, which is pretty much the same thing as embracing Jesus, so I think she’s in the clear.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        October 27, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

        Man, that comparison would tick off so many fundies that it’s simultaneously hilarious and deeply disturbing.

        • Doctor_Who
          Doctor_Who
          October 27, 2014 at 12:10 am | #

          Batman is a savior who came back from the dead, helps the downtrodden, inspires disciples, and you request his aid by directing a message upwards to the heavens. Sounds apt to me.

          • Disloyal Subject
            Disloyal Subject
            October 27, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

            I wasn’t arguing – just laughing/crying at those who would.

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            October 27, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

            Jesus’ parents are dead?!

            • Leorale
              Leorale
              October 27, 2014 at 12:21 am | #

              Nietzsche would say so, anyhow.

              • Plasma Mongoose
                Plasma Mongoose
                October 27, 2014 at 12:26 am | #

                Cant argue with that.

            • Seth
              Seth
              October 27, 2014 at 12:26 am | #

              ‘Are’ or ‘were’? Jesus may not have been an orphan, but there’s no way Joseph and Mary are still alive. And if we’re counting God, there are also arguments in that direction.

              • Chris Phoenix
                Chris Phoenix
                October 27, 2014 at 3:14 am | #

                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_of_Mary

                • Chris Phoenix
                  Chris Phoenix
                  October 27, 2014 at 3:15 am | #

                  Darnit, the end of the URL isn’t visible. It’s about the Catholic myth that Mary was taken bodily into heaven… and thus never died… so presumably is still alive!

                • Slinx
                  Slinx
                  October 27, 2014 at 11:47 am | #

                  I think “Jesus’s parents are in Heaven” is close enough, though. They may not be “dead”, but they are in heaven and probably aren’t going to return to earth any time soon.

            • rmtsukuru
              rmtsukuru
              October 28, 2014 at 7:32 pm | #

              Hey Mongoose, I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while but your icon is awesome! Is the character from anything I might know of or is it an original work in and of itself?

        • Ikaru
          Ikaru
          October 27, 2014 at 3:00 pm | #

          I’m a fundamental Christian and that doesn’t bother me at all. Batman is awesome.

          • Varian Fry
            Varian Fry
            October 27, 2014 at 4:36 pm | #

            Got the best possible avatar for that comment, that said, I happen to have unbeatable proof that God, if real, is not perfect.

            • Sambo
              Sambo
              October 27, 2014 at 8:01 pm | #

              Ooh! This I’d like to hear! 😀

              • Thomas64
                Thomas64
                October 27, 2014 at 9:24 pm | #

                There are lots of variations on that theme. Here’s one: can God create a boulder that is so heavy, even He Himself cannot lift it?

                • Stoike
                  Stoike
                  October 27, 2014 at 11:19 pm | #

                  Sure, if he wanted to. The moment he wanted to lift it he probably could though.

                • Thomas64
                  Thomas64
                  October 27, 2014 at 11:45 pm | #

                  In other words, no.
                  Either he can create a boulder he cannot lift, or he cannot create such a boulder. Either way, there is something he cannot do. Omnipotence thus leads to a logical contradiction, which implies it cannot exist.

                • Rodavure
                  Rodavure
                  October 27, 2014 at 11:48 pm | #

                  The best argument for that is that omnipotence means that you can do anything that is logically possible. It is logically impossible to create a rock so large, thus it is not something an omnipotent being can do but, said being is still omnipotent. An easier analogy would be that an omnipotent being could not create a married bachelor due to them being logically exclusive.

                • Jinxed44
                  Jinxed44
                  October 28, 2014 at 3:14 am | #

                  Rodavure.
                  Thank you.

    • etybolik
      etybolik
      October 27, 2014 at 2:49 am | #

      I dunno, that looks more like a face-to-upper-arm/shoulder embrace to me. Ethan’s pretty much built like a brick house anyway though so it’s all good.

  2. OrtyBortorty
    OrtyBortorty
    October 27, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    I’m confused. Is Willis a Christian?

    • Dave Van Domelen
      Dave Van Domelen
      October 27, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

      Raised as such, Dorothy is in many ways his self-insert when it comes to his upbringing.

      • David M Willis
        David M Willis
        October 27, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

        man i wish

        • EvilPenguin
          EvilPenguin
          October 27, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

          yeah i wish i looked like joyce when i was her age

          instead i wound up like faz

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            October 27, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

            I look like Sierra. Only with smaller boobs and dreadlocks.

            • Plasma Mongoose
              Plasma Mongoose
              October 27, 2014 at 12:16 am | #

              So you have been lusting after your opposite-sex clone?

              THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING! ^_^

            • Tom Speelman
              Tom Speelman
              October 27, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

              Except for the Jewishness, the hair, the good looks, the gayness, and the fact that I wear glasses, I’m basically Ethan.

              • Yotomoe
                Yotomoe
                October 27, 2014 at 12:27 am | #

                Why hasn’t Willis drawn Ethan in Glasses. Ethan could pull off some glasses.

                • Deanatay
                  Deanatay
                  October 27, 2014 at 9:02 am | #

                  He put Jacob in glasses, and now Ethan lusts after him even more. Maybe, that counts?

              • NotPiffany
                NotPiffany
                October 27, 2014 at 2:26 pm | #

                If Mary were fat, had glasses, cut her hair, and was a couple of decades older, she’d look a bit like me.

            • GodtiernickCage
              GodtiernickCage
              October 27, 2014 at 4:11 am | #

              Man you guys are lucky you can look like cool cartoon characters and stuff, I just look like a bad stereotyped caveman, I guess a one armed wolverine technically but still he’s canadian and not the cool bisexual mean red head kind of canadian

              • Vincent
                Vincent
                October 27, 2014 at 11:26 am | #

                Thinning stereotype caveman with glasses, yo.

                *sigh* Well at least my chances of getting cancer don’t seem all that high.

              • Opus the Poet
                Opus the Poet
                October 27, 2014 at 1:10 pm | #

                Body model for a comic character, not saying which one.

                • David
                  David
                  October 28, 2014 at 6:55 am | #

                  Beaver from Beaver&Steve?

              • Brady Kj
                Brady Kj
                October 27, 2014 at 6:34 pm | #

                Cool bisexual mean red head kind of Canadian? I don’t get the reference. Are you saying you’re a cool, bisexual, mean, red-headed Canadian with one arm who looks like a red-headed Wolverine?

                I just look like a generic white man with brown hair. I have a beard so people can tell me apart from everyone else, and somewhat of a unibrow, and a zit right now, so that all helps. As a generic white man, I’m not much different from Joe, Ethan, and Danny.

                • saltchocolate
                  saltchocolate
                  October 27, 2014 at 10:07 pm | #

                  Except that Joe is not generically white.

            • Ikaru
              Ikaru
              October 27, 2014 at 3:02 pm | #

              I look a little like Amber, glasses, brunette, brown eyes. But thinner and flatter. Not that much in the way of curves. More like…Dina in that way, just not as short.

      • liahansen
        liahansen
        October 27, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

        Joyce*

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        October 27, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

        I think you meant to type Joyce.

        • EvilPenguin
          EvilPenguin
          October 27, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

          totally made my comment thinking he was talking about joyce

          sigh

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        October 27, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

        Dotty is what Willis wanted to be, Joyce is what he was at that age but with a penis… I think…

        • Jen Aside
          Jen Aside
          October 27, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

          Joyce has a penis?!?!?

          THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING

          • Doctor_Who
            Doctor_Who
            October 27, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

            Ethan must be told.

            • Plasma Mongoose
              Plasma Mongoose
              October 27, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

              Ethan could do with some good news. 😀

              • Anderhail
                Anderhail
                October 27, 2014 at 12:16 am | #

                I usually love this comments section, especially thanks to the regulars, but also due to Willis being such a chill dude. I see nothing here that would alter that. 😉

              • Hannah
                Hannah
                October 27, 2014 at 12:53 am | #

                Eh, if she still identified as a girl, it wouldn’t really be good news for Ethan. Just sayin’. :/

                • barefootbiker
                  barefootbiker
                  October 27, 2014 at 2:46 am | #

                  It might be, though. Sexual attraction and identity don’t always get along so great. Ethan might be into a girl with a penis (although so far all precedent except for Danny would indicate that big, bulky, hairy dudes are more Ethan’s speed).

                • Robin
                  Robin
                  October 27, 2014 at 4:34 am | #

                  Well, he was pretty interested in Jocelyn. Granted, he didn’t *know* she’s a girl.

                • Opus the Poet
                  Opus the Poet
                  October 27, 2014 at 1:11 pm | #

                  Joyce is futa? That would explain a lot…

                • Hannah
                  Hannah
                  October 28, 2014 at 12:21 am | #

                  @barefoot

                  Ethan’s gay, and Joyce is still a girl. Regardless of what organs she might have, it would still most likely not work out. So, even on the off chance that it might seem like “good news” for Ethan initially, his enthusiasm would probably wear off once he realized that Joyce *isn’t a guy*. That’s the detail that kind of throws a wrench into that train of thought, not to mention what makes the kinds of jokes that people make about the subject incredibly stupid.. not to mention insensitive. :/

                  -shrugs- Anyway, I’m not on any sort of crusade, I just wanted to point out why in reality (well, fictional reality.. and normal reality in similar situations) it would probably end up being more of a moot point than any sort of “good news”. 😛

                • Hannah
                  Hannah
                  October 28, 2014 at 12:34 am | #

                  Also, you know, there’s the little detail that even if Joyce did have a penis, she probably wouldn’t like it being fetishized, so thinking of it as “good news” is sort of.. well not sort of, it is majorly disrespectful. So again, moot point and all that.

                  Yes I realize this is all based on a hypothetical situation, and yes I realize it was a joke, but that doesn’t make it any less disrespectful.

                • David
                  David
                  October 28, 2014 at 6:56 am | #

                  He’s been all over Joycelen.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      October 27, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

      He was raised fundamentalist. Check the FAQ

      • OrtyBortorty
        OrtyBortorty
        October 27, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

        The FAQ doesn’t say if he’s a Christian NOW, does it?

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          October 27, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

          Ah, indeed it doesn’t. Other comics and writings suggest his beliefs are very much atheist. Yo, Willis, do you still do Christian stuff?

          • LittleMountain
            LittleMountain
            October 27, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

            Whatchu talkin’ bout, Willis?

            …Oh god I’m so sorry I couldn’t stop myself.
            I’ll just let myself out.

            • Adaam Black
              Adaam Black
              October 27, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

              are you the first person to type that?

              • TrueVCU
                TrueVCU
                October 27, 2014 at 12:33 am | #

                Only on this page

          • Cholma
            Cholma
            October 27, 2014 at 12:19 am | #

            The Willis is an avowed Cheese-ist. He worships at the altar of Mac & Cheese, and glorifies its orangeness in all its forms.

            • Leorale
              Leorale
              October 27, 2014 at 12:22 am | #

              Ah, that must be it. This is now my head-canon.

            • Annie
              Annie
              October 27, 2014 at 3:57 am | #

              How to I join this most awesomely cheesy holy faith? Truly the combination of pasta and cheese is a thing to be glorified and worshipped.

            • GodtiernickCage
              GodtiernickCage
              October 27, 2014 at 4:13 am | #

              if that is the case then I must raise my gauntlet in holy retribution, for there can be only one pasta noodle god and that is his noodly majesty himself the Flying Spaghetti monstar.

              • TSED
                TSED
                October 27, 2014 at 6:56 am | #

                And so it begins. No religion is safe from the corruption of heretics, and it seems that Pastafarianism is no exception (despite it only being a parody).

                • The_Bionic_Doctor
                  The_Bionic_Doctor
                  October 28, 2014 at 5:16 am | #

                  I… what… coolest thread evar

    • Someone
      Someone
      October 27, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

      He used to be an adorable little fundamentalist. Joyce is an autobiography of that time in his life.

    • Cephalo the Pod
      Cephalo the Pod
      October 27, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

      Was. Long ago.

    • Questionor
      Questionor
      October 27, 2014 at 1:36 am | #

      Read #8 http://www.dumbingofage.com/about/

      • fogel
        fogel
        October 27, 2014 at 9:53 am | #

        Is there someplace where Willis explains his decision that DoA will not reach Sophmore Year? And are Sarah, Ruth, and Daisy the only non-Freshers?

        • Jackson
          Jackson
          October 27, 2014 at 12:23 pm | #

          Carla’s a sophomore, and I think he just doesn’t want to give DoA an expiration date.

      • fogel
        fogel
        October 27, 2014 at 9:54 am | #

        Is there a prize for the first commenter to use “strawman” correctly?

        • Lume
          Lume
          October 27, 2014 at 3:47 pm | #

          Congratz! You get a cookie.

    • Jeff D
      Jeff D
      October 27, 2014 at 9:21 pm | #

      I’ve never been able to tell and honestly? I kind of like that.

  3. Jen Aside
    Jen Aside
    October 27, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    Stay the course, Joyce! Just remember that you may be giving up a LOT of happiness now, but one day you’ll possibly get to be near someone who hates everyone you love because they chose to be happy instead of toeing the line in the name of some arbitrary and self-contradictory value system!

    .

    .

    .

    wait that sounds like a horrible deal

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      October 27, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

      Joyce might just kick God’s ass if he sends Dorothy to Hell.

      • Emperor Kiva
        Emperor Kiva
        October 27, 2014 at 1:35 am | #

        I got $100 on Joyce beating the big guy’s ass in round 1

        • tinfoil theory
          tinfoil theory
          October 27, 2014 at 5:28 am | #

          God prefers atheists.

          • begbert2
            begbert2
            October 27, 2014 at 10:59 am | #

            Because they don’t anticipate his attack.

  4. Tunaro
    Tunaro
    October 27, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    Feels…Too much… Heart…Can’t take it…
    God…Damnit…Willis…

    • CommunistCanada
      CommunistCanada
      October 27, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

      I’m afraid of What comes next, but Joyce and Ethan desperately need this.

      • NotPiffany
        NotPiffany
        October 27, 2014 at 1:33 pm | #

        Therapy. Joyce and Ethan desperately need therapy.

        • Razzmatazz MacKenzie
          Razzmatazz MacKenzie
          October 27, 2014 at 10:54 pm | #

          So does Bilie. And Ruth. And Mike, probably. Also Sal. And Amber. And you could make the case for Walky, Dorothy, Danny, and Roz. So…yeah. Dammit Willis.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      October 27, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

      We need to call Captain Planet STAT!

      • turbanous
        turbanous
        October 27, 2014 at 5:57 am | #

        Let our powers combine.
        EARTH!!

        • JacHunter
          JacHunter
          October 27, 2014 at 10:08 am | #

          FIRE!

          • FantasyFreakVI
            FantasyFreakVI
            October 27, 2014 at 10:19 am | #

            WIND!

            • Leorale
              Leorale
              October 27, 2014 at 12:10 pm | #

              WATER

              • Opus the Poet
                Opus the Poet
                October 27, 2014 at 1:27 pm | #

                Heart!

                • Lume
                  Lume
                  October 27, 2014 at 3:47 pm | #

                  CHEESE!

                • David Herzog
                  David Herzog
                  October 27, 2014 at 5:03 pm | #

                  Concerning your gravatar, Opus,I would be very, VERY frightened if Mike ever received the heart ring in particular…

      • Dibullba
        Dibullba
        October 27, 2014 at 9:17 am | #

        http://youtu.be/SmypHQ5AUxQ?t=15s

  5. Kris
    Kris
    October 27, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

    Oh..my..god. A face to face hug! Such scandal!

    • LittleMountain
      LittleMountain
      October 27, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

      Face-to-Chest even.
      Ethan’s glorious man-chest…

    • Gigafreak
      Gigafreak
      October 27, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

      Yeah you gotta watch out for those facehuggers or you might suddenly die giving birth to an alien larva

      Wait what

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 27, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

      How lewd. That’s even lewder than unprotected hand holding.

      • MrSirk
        MrSirk
        October 27, 2014 at 12:42 am | #

        Unprotected hand holding! Not in my America! No glove no love.

  6. THEBOONDOCKS
    THEBOONDOCKS
    October 27, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

    I cannot be the only one tired of Joyce’s religious existential crisis.

    I need more Dina talking about how great cereal is.

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      October 27, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

      The more crisis she has the more progress she makes! the more progress she makes the wiser she becomes. She’s already come so far.

      I’m really waiting for the point where she realises trying to de-gay Ethan is wrong. She hasn’t really had to process how much that could hurt him since they’re not being physically intimate and he’s been playing along.

      • Dragon
        Dragon
        October 27, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

        Agreedo.

      • MrSirk
        MrSirk
        October 27, 2014 at 7:37 am | #

        I don’t agree with Joyce’s intentions for Ethan but I do like the relationship they’ve formed In some ways it’s good for the both of them. It’s nice to see Ethan just being there for her. She definitely needs that from someone.

      • Anders
        Anders
        October 27, 2014 at 10:18 am | #

        I’m guessing the homosexual event horizon will be around the time she finds out Billy’s boyfriend is actually a girl.

    • Itama
      Itama
      October 27, 2014 at 12:46 am | #

      but… isn’t this comic just an unending anthem of angst driven existentialist teen screaming set in the foregrounds of a raging drama hurricane?

      isn’t that the whole point?

    • 3oranges
      3oranges
      October 27, 2014 at 1:36 am | #

      Well, I suspect Joyce is tired of her religious existential crisis, so maybe you can bond with her over that and put up with a bit more?

      But who can argue with calls for more Dina? Just imagine a feature where she discusses new dinosaur discoveries, it would be the best.

  7. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    October 27, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

    Poor Joyce, ironically she was the only one who went to IU to gain a MRS degree.

    • Jen Aside
      Jen Aside
      October 27, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

      I read that as MRA and was VERY confused

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        October 27, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

        Joyce as an MRA? She’s far more likely to be a member of the NRA.

        • Gigafreak
          Gigafreak
          October 27, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

          Until I found out what MRA stood for, my brain tried to define it by the closest match it could find: MRE (Meal Ready to Eat, the name for military rations).

          …they’re about the same level of tastelessness, really!

          • NotPiffany
            NotPiffany
            October 27, 2014 at 1:36 pm | #

            That seems a little insulting. MRE’s provide some nutrition, and my ex-serviceman friends have said that one or two aren’t completely disgusting.

  8. Hoboturtle
    Hoboturtle
    October 27, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    Wont worry, you’re on your knees so your genitals arent gonna be touching. No temptation at all XD

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      October 27, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

      …[/sarcasm?]

      • Hoboturtle
        Hoboturtle
        October 27, 2014 at 12:13 pm | #

        [Christian Side Hug Joke]

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 27, 2014 at 12:19 am | #

      As You know, nothing sinful happens on your knees.

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        October 27, 2014 at 12:42 am | #

        Your ALT-text is invisible… Was that on purpose?

      • Lume
        Lume
        October 27, 2014 at 3:50 pm | #

        http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/41/98/31/4198319d5af8ad706c39d1988b259441.jpg

  9. Disloyal Subject
    Disloyal Subject
    October 27, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    Have… have they tried headpats?
    They’re very therapeutic. (Or so I’m told.)

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      October 27, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

      Many pets I had swear by them.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        October 27, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

        I tend to nip at hands that get too near my face. Nobody touches the hair.
        But they’ve proven demonstrably effective on other people/critters, so…

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 27, 2014 at 12:20 am | #

      I don’t like people touching my hair unless we’re very well aquainted.

    • kelticat
      kelticat
      October 27, 2014 at 6:08 pm | #

      Unfortunately, Joyce’s parents are head patters so it may reinforce their indoctrination.
      Not what Joyce needs.

  10. Vince
    Vince
    October 27, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    Our little Joyce MAY be on the verge of growing up a little bit.

    • NotPiffany
      NotPiffany
      October 27, 2014 at 1:39 pm | #

      She’s either going to grow up a bit or backslide horribly. Being the closest Willis has to a self-insert, and seeing as he’s turned out to be a hoopy frood, I’m hoping for the best. *crosses fingers*

  11. Mkvenner
    Mkvenner
    October 27, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    Billie doesn’t have a boyfriend and I think she’s a cultural Christian.

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      October 27, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

      Joyce figured out she’s now in a relationship, and being Joyce, made the assumption that it’s with a dude.

      • Mkvenner
        Mkvenner
        October 27, 2014 at 12:18 am | #

        I know that.

    • caramelundqueer
      caramelundqueer
      October 27, 2014 at 12:14 am | #

      Joyce has just assumed Billie’s in love with a guy. Just like most people would have even without the excuse of childhood brainwashing. Unless you consider or society’s obsession with compulsory heterosexuality to be brainwashing…which kind of?

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        October 27, 2014 at 12:21 am | #

        I think I’m bugged by the society’s obsession with disregarding compulsory homosexuality. People are stupid.

        • caramelundqueer
          caramelundqueer
          October 27, 2014 at 12:29 am | #

          I really fail to see what’s so annoying about people being considerate enough to just not assume everyone is hetero by default. If anything those who do make the world a much more welcoming place.

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            October 27, 2014 at 1:03 am | #

            I’m not gonna lie. I think we as humans jump to assumptions. I don’t think that’s…bad. If you heard me speak in your mind you might picture me being a young white child rather than a 20 year old black guy. I’m not gonna fault you for that. I’m just gonna fault you if your opinion of me changes because of that.

            • Comatose
              Comatose
              October 27, 2014 at 2:40 am | #

              Well said. I second the sentiment.

  12. AgentKeen
    AgentKeen
    October 27, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

    Joyce, Joyce, Joyce.
    You’ve got this all wrong.

    Billie doesn’t have a boyfriend. She has a girlfriend.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      October 27, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

      I enjoyed that Joyce assumed that Billie (and everyone else) is in a hetero relationship. Makes perfect sense for her upbringing/experience thus far, and moreover, preserves the awesome faces that she’s bound to make when she finds out.

      • Adaam Black
        Adaam Black
        October 27, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

        The last GF revelation seemed to go right past her

        • timemonkey
          timemonkey
          October 27, 2014 at 12:19 am | #

          What was said could have easily been platonic affection, it sailed right by my head when I first read it. I didn’t understand why so many people jumped to that conclusion but then Willis confirmed it.

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        October 27, 2014 at 12:18 am | #

        To be fair, Billie’s been pretty vocal about her liking of the dudes. Does Joyce even know bisexuality is a thing?

        • Jon P
          Jon P
          October 27, 2014 at 12:32 am | #

          I don’t know if she’d know enough to use that term, but Billie has certainly talked to Joyce about girls sometimes liking girls.

        • Adaam Black
          Adaam Black
          October 27, 2014 at 12:58 am | #

          How soon you forget the revelation of Chicken Nuggets Drama Hurricanes, and them being sexually transmitted.

          Willis you should make a Book called “Chicken Nuggets Drama Hurricanes”
          ( or Sexually Transmitted Drama Hurricanes )

          • Doctroid
            Doctroid
            October 27, 2014 at 7:01 am | #

            I’m far from a naive fundie, and that revelation went right over my head at the time.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        October 27, 2014 at 12:22 am | #

        Not to out myself as a degenerate homophobe, but I probably would have assumed it was a dude too. I wouldn’t be SHOCKED to find out it’s a girl but I’d probably assume it’s a dude.

        • IAmDeltaS
          IAmDeltaS
          October 27, 2014 at 12:36 am | #

          I feel like most people would, honestly. Heterosexuality being seen as the “default” sexual orientation and all that.

          • Leorale
            Leorale
            October 27, 2014 at 12:46 am | #

            It’s nicest to refrain from assuming that people are straight, but statistically, most people are. So, in practice, the assumption that a girl is probably in love with a boy is still pretty reasonable.

            (It’s unreasonable to be a jerk about everyone else, such as by believing that LGBTQ+ folks are abnormal/wrong, which nobody is doing on here.)

            • fogel
              fogel
              October 27, 2014 at 10:20 am | #

              It’s context. IF you were placing a bet, you’d bet cis-hetero if you had no other info, that’s statistics plus “smart money plays the odds”. Unfortunately, people still automatically make that “bet” psycho-sociologically, even when it’s completely irrelevant in context, thereby perpetuating the various normativities of our society AND thereby Othering people. In contexts where these things don’t matter, block them out of your mind. In contexts in which they do matter, don’t assume or project bell curves onto individuals. IDIC

              • Yotomoe
                Yotomoe
                October 27, 2014 at 12:04 pm | #

                Honestly, I don’t even have an issue with being “other”ed. I always think being something different from the norm makes me Unique and therefore better. The only reason I DON’T like that is if people treat me lesser for it. It’s why a bunch of my characters are multi-racial ladies. I’m just so BORED of Straight white dudes. They’re so booooooooooooring to me now.

              • Leorale
                Leorale
                October 27, 2014 at 12:16 pm | #

                Fair ’nuff, Fogel.

              • cj95
                cj95
                October 27, 2014 at 1:09 pm | #

                “Other-ed”

                I learned a new word….I think. :/

                • Opus the Poet
                  Opus the Poet
                  October 27, 2014 at 1:42 pm | #

                  It’s something we bicycle people have become used to. You would not believe the number of times that I was assumed to be non-hetero because I was wearing spandex at the time. What made it funny was I was riding to see my girlfriend in another town at the time and wearing spandex because riding a bicycle 60 miles each way in TX during the summer that’s the only way to do it unless you like skin falling off your thighs in sheets leaving gaping open sores.

                • Gadgeteer Smashwidget
                  Gadgeteer Smashwidget
                  October 27, 2014 at 2:12 pm | #

                  @Opus:
                  Wouldn’t you have gotten really sweaty?

                • cj95
                  cj95
                  October 28, 2014 at 10:40 am | #

                  See now I had to wonder if “bicycle people” was a euphemism for something.

      • Adaam Black
        Adaam Black
        October 27, 2014 at 12:26 am | #

        This is what I expected.
        Ethan can fix this — if Joyce lets him in.
        GO ETHAN!

        • Adaam Black
          Adaam Black
          October 27, 2014 at 12:27 am | #

          But oddly ( and thankfully ) Ethan isnt insulted that Joyce is implying their relationship isnt good enough.

          But It also shows he needs to be careful not to convince her of that either.
          She craves hearing that their relationship is equal and that he loves her.
          If he does that this will go south and reinforce whats wrong with this, and keep him deeper closeted.

          If hes just loving and supportive and allows a safe emotional intimacy, Joyce can return that later and support him coming out.

          • Emperor Kiva
            Emperor Kiva
            October 27, 2014 at 8:01 am | #

            Safe as in no sex right?

      • zebrathinker
        zebrathinker
        October 27, 2014 at 11:26 am | #

        it was a really nice touch.
        hoo boy i cant wait til she finds out that everyone ain’t as hetero as she thought.

  13. Dreadhawk177
    Dreadhawk177
    October 27, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

    Joyce is a. . . face-hugger??

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      October 27, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

      So Ethan will be experiencing stomach pains in the near future then?

      • AgentKeen
        AgentKeen
        October 27, 2014 at 12:14 am | #

        That’s why you get the Space Soup instead of the Space Special.

        • Cholma
          Cholma
          October 27, 2014 at 12:24 am | #

          Check, please!

        • MeHael
          MeHael
          October 27, 2014 at 11:47 am | #

          …not again….

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        October 27, 2014 at 12:19 am | #

        Chest. Pains. Chest burster!

        • JessWitt
          JessWitt
          October 27, 2014 at 12:49 am | #

          Eek! Call the chest burster busters!

          • Deanatay
            Deanatay
            October 27, 2014 at 9:17 am | #

            “Hello, my baby!
            Hello my honey!
            Hello my ragtime gal!
            Send me a kiss by wire!
            Baby my heart’s on fire!

            If you refuse me,
            Honey, you lose me
            And you’ll be left alone
            So, baby, telephone
            And tell me I’m your own!”

            • NotPiffany
              NotPiffany
              October 27, 2014 at 1:44 pm | #

              Check please!

  14. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    October 27, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

    …Is that implying that she thinks that Ethan hugging her from behind would be better?

    • Mkvenner
      Mkvenner
      October 27, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

      Maybe.

    • Kimbo G Pataki
      Kimbo G Pataki
      October 27, 2014 at 12:16 am | #

      You’re supposed to do the side hug! Haven’t you ever seen 19 Kids and Counting?

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 27, 2014 at 12:23 am | #

      Hug her from the side. There’s nothing lewd about a good side hug.

    • Annie
      Annie
      October 27, 2014 at 4:13 am | #

      I understood it as a reference to side-hug too. In a lot of fundamentalist families you cannot hug someone not in your family face-to-face. You both stand facing the same way and put one arm around the other’s back so that only your arms and sides touch.
      Some families/individuals are strict enough about this that you cannot regular-hug anyone except your spouse. It makes me sad that some people find it somehow wrong and sinful to hug your own child face-to-face.

      • spaceinvader42
        spaceinvader42
        October 27, 2014 at 10:24 am | #

        Wow, I never thought I could hear something that would make me dislike fundamentalist Christians even more than I already do. That is just horrific! What kind of person could put up with that? And what kind of horrible God would forbid you from hugging your own children?

      • chris73
        chris73
        October 27, 2014 at 6:08 pm | #

        I had no idea some people were like that

  15. Dean
    Dean
    October 27, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

    So, why does Joyce think that Billie is a Christian?

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      October 27, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

      IIRC Billie said as such, even if she isn’t practicing it very much.

    • Mkvenner
      Mkvenner
      October 27, 2014 at 12:10 am | #

      Because she doesn’t have any evidence to contradict this notion. Yet.

      • sun tzu
        sun tzu
        October 27, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

        No, Billie outright told Joyce she believed in God (and was surprised to hear that not everyone did), back when Joyce asked if the reason Billie wouldn’t go to Church on Sunday was because she was an atheist.

        • Mkvenner
          Mkvenner
          October 27, 2014 at 12:20 am | #

          Believing in God is not the same as being a Christian in some parts of the USA.

          • Winter
            Winter
            October 27, 2014 at 12:24 am | #

            You are correct about that.

            But with regards to Billie, she has explicitly identified herself as Christian. See AgentKeen’s link below.

          • timemonkey
            timemonkey
            October 27, 2014 at 12:24 am | #

            Everyone from Roomies is a Christian until explicitly stated otherwise (such as Joe). So that’s Danny, Billie, Ruth, Mary, Joyce and a few others.

            • caramelundqueer
              caramelundqueer
              October 27, 2014 at 12:33 am | #

              Hmm to be honest I’d be a little surprised if Danny wasn’t at least agnostic.

              • Winter
                Winter
                October 27, 2014 at 12:43 am | #

                I’m pretty sure Danny would call himself a Christian too, considering what he says in this strip: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2012/comic/book-2/06-strange-beerfellows/superexcited/

                But as for his personal philosophy… yeah probably.

                It’s confusing because a lot of people identify with religious groups on a cultural level, without it really matching up with what they believe religiously.

                Like when I say I’m Catholic and I really just mean I grew up in a Catholic family and live my life in constant reaction to preemptive Catholic guilt. If we’re talking about religious ideology, I definitely consider myself agnostic.

                And, well, I guess you could say that’s technically a contradiction in terms, but people describe themselves like this all the time.

              • HiEv
                HiEv
                October 27, 2014 at 7:23 am | #

                One can be both Christian and agnostic at the same time, the terms aren’t mutually exclusive.

                “Agnostic” just means that you either don’t know for sure that a god or gods exist and/or that you believe that we can’t know if gods exist. One can believe that the Christian God exists, without knowing for sure.

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      October 27, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

      Because she is? And has said so on panel.

    • dailybrad
      dailybrad
      October 27, 2014 at 12:14 am | #

      Billie explicitly referred to herself as a Christian when asked by Joyce, but still declined going to church with her, wanting to sleep in.

    • AgentKeen
      AgentKeen
      October 27, 2014 at 12:20 am | #

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2012/comic/book-2/02-choosing-my-religion/christian/

      She also seems to think it’s weird if you don’t at least believe in god.

  16. Emperor Kiva
    Emperor Kiva
    October 27, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

    She’s such a good person.

    • Emperor Kiva
      Emperor Kiva
      October 27, 2014 at 12:10 am | #

      Honestly I’d date her

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        October 27, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

        Better you than me. She’s a good kid, but she’s not my kind of crazy.

        • CommunistCanada
          CommunistCanada
          October 27, 2014 at 12:18 am | #

          I’d consider her Prime dating material. I see a lot of Me in her.

          And I just realized how wrong that Sounds.

          • AgentKeen
            AgentKeen
            October 27, 2014 at 12:22 am | #

            Freudian PSL?

          • tinfoil theory
            tinfoil theory
            October 27, 2014 at 8:09 am | #

            As the priest said to the altar boy…

        • IAmDeltaS
          IAmDeltaS
          October 27, 2014 at 12:37 am | #

          That avatar with that comment is pretty hilarious

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        October 27, 2014 at 12:24 am | #

        I wouldn’t. I wanna date a lady who’s chill. Just someone to veg out and play ukulele on the couch with me while we watch Steven Universe.

  17. Leorale
    Leorale
    October 27, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

    Wow, guilt about hugging would be so awful. Hugs are the greatest. Feels!

    • HiEv
      HiEv
      October 27, 2014 at 7:26 am | #

      And yet, the “Christian side-hug” is a thing because religion can make you feel guilty about good things for no objectively justifiable reason.

      • Gadgeteer Smashwidget
        Gadgeteer Smashwidget
        October 27, 2014 at 2:16 pm | #

        As a Christian, I’ve never heard of this “Christian side-hug” until now.

        • David M Willis
          David M Willis
          October 27, 2014 at 2:30 pm | #

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJAMu9cUtIc

          • Leorale
            Leorale
            October 27, 2014 at 9:28 pm | #

            Oh my god. Is this for real?

            Here are some of the lyrics:

            “I’m goin’ global
            ‘Cause you don’t know me
            I’m buyin’ babies like Angelina Jolie
            So quit that huggin’
            And slow down, mama
            And hit my fist like President Obama”

            • Leorale
              Leorale
              October 27, 2014 at 9:32 pm | #

              P.S. I went to an Orthodox Jewish middle school, and I was explicitly taught that touching boys on the hand would be deeply inconsiderate as it could distract said boys from their studies.

              But nobody there attempted to rap about it.

  18. caramelundqueer
    caramelundqueer
    October 27, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

    Oh Joyce you poor sweet kid. You have a hell of a journey ahead of you.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 27, 2014 at 12:25 am | #

      First you must go through the forest of nails. Then you must traverse the lake of fire, before entering the plain of eternal screams…

      • Catullus
        Catullus
        October 27, 2014 at 12:30 am | #

        …and then there’s the Rodents of Unusual Size.

        • Disloyal Subject
          Disloyal Subject
          October 27, 2014 at 2:38 am | #

          Rodents of Unusual Size? I don’t believe they exist.

          • Jupiterror
            Jupiterror
            October 27, 2014 at 10:23 am | #

            rex duodecim angelus

        • fogel
          fogel
          October 27, 2014 at 10:27 am | #

          From Sumatra!

      • Comatose
        Comatose
        October 27, 2014 at 2:44 am | #

        And that’s how you find the clitoris.

        • JacHunter
          JacHunter
          October 27, 2014 at 11:01 am | #

          I KNEW I had the wrong map…

          • Opus the Poet
            Opus the Poet
            October 27, 2014 at 1:47 pm | #

            Do a Google Maps search for G-spot… No such place exists. 😉

  19. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    October 27, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

    *deep sniff* Ah yes, crippling existential drama. I was wondering when we would return.

  20. Hannah
    Hannah
    October 27, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

    Yep… that about sums up the “growing up in a religious household” experience, making you think that just being human is evil. -sigh- I feel for Joyce, I really do. :/

  21. Nick J.
    Nick J.
    October 27, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

    God, I feel for Joyce, and hope she can find a way to reconcile her beliefs while also finding her own happiness.

    • Heather
      Heather
      October 27, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

      Is that a prayer or coincidence?

      • Raptorman
        Raptorman
        October 27, 2014 at 1:41 am | #

        A bit of both I think.

        As a person of faith myself I long ago worked out that God never wants a person to stop being human. Its about finding your own way of being happy while having the inner peace of your faith.
        I’m also certain that the Lord doesn’t look down on you for dressing like a Goth, having tattoos, or loving someone outside marriage…if He does than I guess I’m in big trouble (he he).

        Joyce, my advice as one person of faith to another (even if you are a fictional character), find your own groove like Cusco.
        Keep to your faith, but know that God doesn’t want you to be unhappy either. He wants you to have joy in your life and to love Him and to love your friends. Letting lose one in awhile is not backsliding. You don’t have to walk on water, someone else already did that for you. Believe me whatever path you take will serve His plan regardless.

        • Nick J.
          Nick J.
          October 27, 2014 at 11:21 pm | #

          I’m not religious myself, but it’s clear to me that Joyce sincerely believes
          in God, but can’t reconcile that with her emotional and physical needs. So
          I just hope she can realize that a person can believe and still be fully human,
          that it doesn’t have to be a conflict between the two at all, that they can
          even be in harmony with each other.

  22. Yumi
    Yumi
    October 27, 2014 at 12:10 am | #

    My first thought with this strip was, “Wait, Billie has a boyfriend? Wait– oooohhh…”

    • Anderhail
      Anderhail
      October 27, 2014 at 12:19 am | #

      I actually started hitting the back button on the comic to see what I had missed before that kicked in. Then I decided to make brownies instead.

  23. David Alexander McDonald
    David Alexander McDonald
    October 27, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

    Poor Joyce…she’s doing the A-frame hug…let not the naughty bits potentially come into proximity with other potentially naughty bits! It’s usually guys who do the A-frame….

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      October 27, 2014 at 9:28 am | #

      Admittedly, it’s the guys who usually have a cross-bar on their A-frame…

  24. Emperor Kiva
    Emperor Kiva
    October 27, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

    Come here, Joyce. Let the hug of Emperor Kiva take your sorrow and pain.

    • tinfoil theory
      tinfoil theory
      October 27, 2014 at 8:12 am | #

      Just not face to face.
      Or from behind.
      Or in any way that covers too miuch area.
      Ot the wrong kind of area.

  25. Rheinman
    Rheinman
    October 27, 2014 at 12:14 am | #

    Fear and (self) loathing in Indiana

  26. blackhat64
    blackhat64
    October 27, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

    Oooh, Joyce. *coughs* Ehm… about Billie’s “boyfriend”…

  27. dailybrad
    dailybrad
    October 27, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

    I know it has been shown before that Joyce and Walky do consider each other friends, even if it’s with some major head-butting, but it’s still sweet to see her acknowledge it.

    Joyce has a lot of growing to do, but it’s good that she can recognized a lot of the complicated emotions she’s going through here. She’s got a major edge on a lot of people in their late teens. (I don’t think she’s 20 yet)

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      October 27, 2014 at 12:21 am | #

      When has it ever been shown they consider each other friends? He thinks she’s crazy and she thinks he’s an ass. The only reason they spend time together is because of class, Dorothy or because Joyce is afraid to be alone in public.

      • Wack'd
        Wack'd
        October 27, 2014 at 3:01 am | #

        If nothing else, Joyce is happy for Dorothy, which implies that even if she doesn’t see eye-to-eye with him she’s not still in “he’s not good enough for her” mode.

      • NotPiffany
        NotPiffany
        October 27, 2014 at 2:22 pm | #

        I don’t know if they’re “friends,” as such, but between his relationship with Dorothy and his reaction to her assault (i.e. he believed it happened and didn’t attack her over it), he’s pretty firmly placed in the “safe male” category.

    • Maveric1984
      Maveric1984
      October 27, 2014 at 12:23 am | #

      It’s only been about 18 days since they started college. Most of the cast is still 18.

  28. Matt Boyd
    Matt Boyd
    October 27, 2014 at 12:21 am | #

    Good comic.

  29. Sam
    Sam
    October 27, 2014 at 12:26 am | #

    I feel really bad for Joyce but is it bad that I started howling with laughter when she mentioned Billie? Oh Joyce. If only you knew…

    • Dorje Sylas
      Dorje Sylas
      October 27, 2014 at 4:31 am | #

      The gulf between her head-canon and the reality of Billie-Ruth is going to be spectacular if (okay when) it gets outed by Mary.

    • Em
      Em
      October 27, 2014 at 6:21 pm | #

      I think Billie IS Christian. I’ve know a lot of queer people who are Christian. I know it might sound weird, but…*shrugs* A lot of people fight over if the bible really says gay people are bad.

  30. newllend
    newllend
    October 27, 2014 at 12:32 am | #

    Sigh* Well Joyce here’s something you should ask yourself what DO you want? Because you still seem unhappy and it kind of tugs at the heart a bit.

    • Wack'd
      Wack'd
      October 27, 2014 at 3:03 am | #

      Joyce wants, I think, to be able to love her friends and feel happy that they’re happy without thinking her friends are going to hell and the things that make them happy are evil. And she wants to be able to be made happy by the same things they are.

      That’s not something that’s gonna be obtainable for her for a while.

  31. JeremiahTheBulldog
    JeremiahTheBulldog
    October 27, 2014 at 12:35 am | #

    Jeez, is Joyce starting to become a parody? Sometimes fiction (and especially graphic fiction in a realistic world) has to try extra hard to be credible.

    • Adaam Black
      Adaam Black
      October 27, 2014 at 12:50 am | #

      You forgot to read the part about Joyce being “auto-biographical” .

      She already shared these feelings with Dorothy.
      This is a consistent narrative, and a sign of good writing

    • fishamaphone
      fishamaphone
      October 27, 2014 at 3:54 am | #

      Why do you think she’s parody? I’m ten years older than her, male, and secular, and I very often have the exact same feelings she expresses in this comic. Having friends who are different from you in one basic way is hard.

    • Teppy
      Teppy
      October 27, 2014 at 10:31 am | #

      No.

    • Jackson
      Jackson
      October 27, 2014 at 12:20 pm | #

      If Joyce were a parody, this would be funny instead of incredibly tragic.

    • David M Willis
      David M Willis
      October 27, 2014 at 1:43 pm | #

      I always enjoy how whenever I write a comic that is 100% authentic to myself in a painfully honest and vulnerably introspective way, some guy comes along and shits all over it.

      • NotPiffany
        NotPiffany
        October 27, 2014 at 2:03 pm | #

        Have an internet hug from a complete stranger, if you want one.

      • EmbraceEvil
        EmbraceEvil
        October 27, 2014 at 3:16 pm | #

        *Hugs you* Shh Ssh Ssh. Don’t listen to the people on the internet

        • auo> mous
          auo> mous
          October 27, 2014 at 10:06 pm | #

          If that’s not an evangelical Christian side hug, it’s an evil embrace.

      • Jen Aside
        Jen Aside
        October 28, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

        The internet is the shittingest

        don’t worry, we love you Willis

    • 3oranges
      3oranges
      October 27, 2014 at 2:11 pm | #

      I guess this is outside your experience? Because it rings true to me, and I’m not one of the people who have gone through it themselves, like the author.

      You should pay attention to his writing, and learn a bit more about the sorts of things other people go through, before assuming you already know all about what is and isn’t credible.

  32. IAmDeltaS
    IAmDeltaS
    October 27, 2014 at 12:38 am | #

    Haha, oh Joyce. Billie doesn’t have a “boyfriend”…

    • Sir Mockingbird XI
      Sir Mockingbird XI
      October 27, 2014 at 2:34 am | #

      What do you mean Ruth is by far the manliest man in this entire series

  33. Adaam Black
    Adaam Black
    October 27, 2014 at 12:47 am | #

    uh -oh…
    Joyce could easily say she loves Ethan next.
    Problems….
    If he says it back, it could strengthen this relationship for the worse, keep him in the closet, and strengthen Joyce’s repressions

    If he doesnt say it, it could be devastating to her and confirm that she doesnt belong.

    She didnt hear Walky’s “save” , or this wouldnt be happening.

    Willis, please dont do that!

    ( OH , you are going to do that arent you ? ( sigh )
    of course you are! Ok , I can handle it… everybody brace yourselves for a “Damn you , Willis moment .

    These characters were so close to developing a healthy , loving friendship.

    Ethans self-aware enough to try and tell Joyce he loves her like a friend, too, but not romantically .
    But when a woman is crying and you are hugging her — its just not the best time to qualify an ” i love you ” .

    There is really no good time after that, either :/ .

  34. Bagge
    Bagge
    October 27, 2014 at 12:52 am | #

    Joyce doesn’t like breaking promises
    http://www.dumbingofage.com/2010/comic/book-1/01-move-in-day/forget/

    • cesium133
      cesium133
      October 27, 2014 at 9:21 am | #

      Something I’ve noticed about that: the last several times Joyce has been seen trying to call Becky, she didn’t answer. If I remember correctly, the last time Joyce actually talked to Becky was at the church when she was bragging about holding Ethan’s hand. Eventually, she’ll manage to contact Becky and I’m guessing it won’t go well. I see two possibilities: 1) Becky is the one who’s changed (she’s given up the fundametalism thing and doesn’t want to talk to Joyce anymore), though this one is less likely than 2) Becky thinks Joyce has changed and doesn’t want to talk to her anymore out of fear that Joyce will be a bad influence on her. If it’s the latter, Joyce probably won’t react well to the shunning…

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        October 27, 2014 at 10:34 am | #

        Or, maybe, just maybe, Becky and Joyce will be able to retain their friendship and accept the changes in the other.

        From a narrative standpoint Becky doesn’t need to be the anchor to Joyce’s old life – her family is that already. Maybe Becky changes as well in a way similar to Joyce – to highlight how life changes people – or in a different way to serve as a “road not taken” parallel. Or maybe she will be just as she was when we last saw her a few weeks ago, because everything does not have to follow the narrative standpoint.

        A much more crucial question than whether or not Becky will accept the change in Joyce is if Joyce herself is going to accept it. My guess is that Becky – if she is anything like Joyce at all – will do her best to help Joyce when the call finally goes through. How that help expresses itself will be very different depending on if Joyce ask “please help me return to my christian values” or “please help me accept myself as I am.”

  35. Angie
    Angie
    October 27, 2014 at 12:54 am | #

    As much as I’m sad for the position Joyce is in with her relationship to Ethan… I’m so glad that she’s got someone she feels she can open up this much to. That’s not an easy thing to confront in yourself. :c

  36. A Young Adult
    A Young Adult
    October 27, 2014 at 1:11 am | #

    Stop drawing parallels to my life, damnit!

  37. Shanunu
    Shanunu
    October 27, 2014 at 1:30 am | #

    Ouch. The irony of this page and Billie is physically painful.

    I’d say her brain might explode from it if/when she finds out the truth, but then again she is currently in bed with a gay guy while hugging her face to his chest.

  38. fireindaarcade
    fireindaarcade
    October 27, 2014 at 1:37 am | #

    Poor poor Joyce 🙁

  39. XMinusOne
    XMinusOne
    October 27, 2014 at 1:39 am | #

    My heart bleeds for Joyce. She’s too young for this angst. She needs to be out having fun and enjoying her youth. She needs to cut that Fundie albatross loose that her parents have hung around her neck and live a little. Having a platonic relationship with a Gay man is a start, I guess. At least she has someone to talk to that won’t judge her or think she’s weird.

  40. 3oranges
    3oranges
    October 27, 2014 at 1:48 am | #

    Maybe Joyce’s mom and dad were right…but only if that’s an abrupt topic change, and she means their advice on cutlery or something.

  41. Anfernee
    Anfernee
    October 27, 2014 at 1:50 am | #

    Holy fucking feels.

  42. Anywhere
    Anywhere
    October 27, 2014 at 1:51 am | #

    I started crying around panel 2 [damn you Willis!]. T_T

  43. Tomas
    Tomas
    October 27, 2014 at 1:58 am | #

    That moment you realize one of your favorite cartoonists puts his own pain into his work.

    Joyce’s breakdown here sounds just like David’s breakdown on Tumblr.

    Hugs.

    • ProjectXa3
      ProjectXa3
      October 27, 2014 at 7:53 am | #

      What breakdown was that?

  44. Idon'tcarenomore
    Idon'tcarenomore
    October 27, 2014 at 2:07 am | #

    Ethan is using Joyce as a beard. He may really like her, but no doubt about it, he is using her.

    Joyce knows he is gay and she is in this situation for the same reason he is, she is hiding. She has the fundie thing going (and that is getting old) and she has the near rape that scared the Hell out of her.

    She is 18 and not worldly, but she is not ‘sweet’ and she is not stupid. She is bouncy, outgoing, annoying, overbearing, but not sweet.

    She knows that her religion as taught by her parents is making her miserable. She used her own judgement and told her parents NO, when they said she couldn’t see Dorothy because Dorothy was an atheist or ungodly or whatever. So Joyce CAN use her own judement when pushed far enough.

    She knows she will never get anywhere in her relationship with Ethan, she used ‘degaying’ him as an excuse, she is too smart to believe that. He makes a good shield. A platonic relationship is what she has, but not what she wants or needs. she has Sarah and Dorothy to talk to and although she exasperates Sarah, Sarah cares about her.

    One of the other of them will break, and whichever one it is, Joyce is going to hurt worse.

    • astraea
      astraea
      October 27, 2014 at 3:08 am | #

      Don’t forget that the degaying and her fundamental attitudes aren’t the only thing that put her into this relationship with Ethan. The one time she went to a college party, she got attacked, which doesn’t exactly help foster the idea that doing something non fundamental is a good thing. She feels *safe* with Ethan because he doesn’t want to have sex with her, won’t attack her because she feels uncomfortable about sex. So now she’s starting to realize that safe does NOT = happy, but it’s so hard to break that self-protective instinct, even when it’s making you unhappy.

    • Lanval
      Lanval
      October 27, 2014 at 11:09 am | #

      I don’t know about that actually; gayness as a choice is a thing with a lot of right wing Christians. Joyce seems to have accepted all of their doctine at face value (creationism, atheists as immoral, etc.) and is only questioning it now.

      That isn’t to say she isn’t “too smart to believe that”, just that until confronted by proof (and raised in an echo chamber for certain beliefs), one can believe a lot of things regardless of intelligence.

      • NotPiffany
        NotPiffany
        October 27, 2014 at 2:11 pm | #

        I think you’re right. The conflict is in what Joyce will ultimately choose to believe: her upbringing or her observations.

  45. NobodySpecial
    NobodySpecial
    October 27, 2014 at 2:15 am | #

    You know, panel 2 isn’t just for the religiously stunted of us. Imagine being a single middle aged man in the middle of all of your friends being either happily married or in a long term relationship. Love/hate for sure.

    • Captain Whitebread
      Captain Whitebread
      October 27, 2014 at 2:38 am | #

      This divorced middle-aged man felt like that for years. It’s only recently that I finally got comfortable enough with my life to where I’m not secretly envious of my friends in good relationships.

      • MeHael
        MeHael
        October 27, 2014 at 11:54 am | #

        Seconded, except that I’m still working on being comfortable with it and not envious.

  46. FuryOfFirestorm
    FuryOfFirestorm
    October 27, 2014 at 2:25 am | #

    and so, the stage for Willis’ next Slipshine is set…

    • Kamino Neko
      Kamino Neko
      October 27, 2014 at 2:41 am | #

      Joyce and Ethan Make a Platonic Incompatible-Sexualities Snuggle?

  47. shammers
    shammers
    October 27, 2014 at 2:33 am | #

    this is becoming too relatable STOP. at the same time, that alt text made me giggle like no other. it’s a roller coaster of emotions

    willis why

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      October 27, 2014 at 3:27 pm | #

      My first thought on reading the alt-text:

      “More like pre-marital sleepy-weepy.”

  48. Chengrel
    Chengrel
    October 27, 2014 at 2:40 am | #

    Those first 3 panels bongo slapped me right in the feels.

  49. Some Guy From Another Board
    Some Guy From Another Board
    October 27, 2014 at 2:42 am | #

    YES, THE FEELS

    I don’t know where we are. I haven’t been here either. And at some point, we’re going to have to explain this. Wouldn’t it be better if we had a story? Wouldn’t it be better if we told other people that in this moment, we understood something about people? Or would pretending to be scared be better? I don’t know. You’re looking at me to know, and all I know is this. I wish we could share this moment, but you’re hoping I can be your guide, and honestly, I am *at least* as terrified as you are. If I don’t have to speak for a lost life, neither of us have lost it.”

  50. Orangey
    Orangey
    October 27, 2014 at 2:46 am | #

    🙁

  51. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    October 27, 2014 at 2:55 am | #

    Billie being religious and a lesbian would be an excellent twist. Not to mention…entirely true to life.

    • Charles Phipps
      Charles Phipps
      October 27, 2014 at 2:58 am | #

      And she is, I just forgot it. Of course, I grew up Presbyterian and my wife grew up a fundamentalist so SHE’S stunned at all the crazy stuff I believe like not hating on the gays or believing in Young Earth Creationalism.

      • Charles Phipps
        Charles Phipps
        October 27, 2014 at 2:59 am | #

        And to clarify, my wife gave up those beliefs. She’s just surprised I didn’t think of any of them as explicitly Christian.

      • clodia
        clodia
        October 27, 2014 at 11:35 am | #

        Bi. Billie’s bi.

    • Rutee
      Rutee
      October 27, 2014 at 1:57 pm | #

      Uh, yeah, plenty of gay people believe in a religion. Helps that anti-gay sentiment isn’t nearly as strong in non-abrahamic religions, but more to the point, even within them, they tend to gravitate towards denominations that, you know, don’t hate them.

      Which isn’t to say there aren’t catholic gay people and the like, but.

  52. TheOtherDibbler
    TheOtherDibbler
    October 27, 2014 at 3:59 am | #

    It’s okay Joyce, non-sexual hugging with all parties fully clothed is just like hugging a family member.

    • JacHunter
      JacHunter
      October 27, 2014 at 10:01 am | #

      Especially when the person you’re hugging has no sexual attraction to you whatsoever.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        October 27, 2014 at 10:26 am | #

        I don’t think the hetronormative narrative recognizes no sexual attraction as an option when non-sibling boys and a girls engages in face-to-face-embracing.

      • 3oranges
        3oranges
        October 27, 2014 at 2:15 pm | #

        Since she’s struggling with fear about her own actions and temptations, his attraction to her isn’t the concern. 🙁

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          October 27, 2014 at 2:19 pm | #

          True

  53. OnyxIdol
    OnyxIdol
    October 27, 2014 at 5:50 am | #

    Ahh sweet envy-hate, my old nemesis.

  54. Saintslayer
    Saintslayer
    October 27, 2014 at 6:26 am | #

    Joyce performs a sleepy.

  55. PlainMarie
    PlainMarie
    October 27, 2014 at 6:33 am | #

    Poor baby. 🙁

  56. Grant
    Grant
    October 27, 2014 at 6:41 am | #

    Damn like…accuracy.

  57. Pantheon the Mantheon
    Pantheon the Mantheon
    October 27, 2014 at 6:44 am | #

    A man standing behind a two way mirror smiles and scribbles some observation notes onto his clipboard. The Head scientist enters the room and seats himself in a large rotating armchair.
    HS: What have you to report?
    Man: *clears throat* she seems to be responding well to the deprogramming sir. She has become self aware and is beginning to question her logic. *Checks notes* by my calculations, she has a definite chance of becoming well adjusted if…..
    HS: If?
    Man: if we increase the intensity of our deprogramming. The only issue is she may suffer more and there is a chance of mental destabilization.
    HS: hmm….. do it.
    The head scientist smiles.
    HS: Once we remove those silly notions from her head, *leans forward in his chair and interlocks his fingers* then the real work begins….

    • Emperor Kiva
      Emperor Kiva
      October 27, 2014 at 7:53 am | #

      Really?
      Me: Hey guys.
      HS: Who are you?
      Me: Emperor Kiva and you’re going down!
      *WAKE UP FEVER!*

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 27, 2014 at 10:23 am | #

      I read that as Head Alien…

      • Pantheon the Mantheon
        Pantheon the Mantheon
        October 27, 2014 at 3:49 pm | #

        I almost wrote that in but decided to leave the past where it was

    • Cephalo the Pod
      Cephalo the Pod
      October 27, 2014 at 11:44 am | #

      And the Head Scientist is Dargon Chesterfield!

  58. Alexis
    Alexis
    October 27, 2014 at 7:14 am | #

    I can tell this is a sad moment but I am laughing too hard at her comments about Billie.
    BILLIE IS SUCH A CHRISTIAN *commits a homosexuality* SHE’S GONNA BE HAPPILY MARRIED BEFORE I EVER DO *only as long as this story takes place past October 2014*

    • Slinx
      Slinx
      October 27, 2014 at 12:01 pm | #

      Yes, because Billy has a boyfriend now, wasn’t depressed, and isn’t horribly emotionally damaged.

    • Jen Aside
      Jen Aside
      October 27, 2014 at 7:50 pm | #

      Well, it’s a pretty accurate depiction of how people think the other half lives and envy/belittle/judge them based on wholly inaccurate assessments; e.g. https://twitter.com/pyratejack/status/509740255558115328

  59. hof1991
    hof1991
    October 27, 2014 at 10:24 am | #

    It’s easy to forget just how sheltered Joyce was. She couldn’t ride her bike around the block until she was 16. No sisters (that she knew of). Yes, that’s what the homeschooled fundy lifestyle is like. Check out the many websites that deal with the fallout. The kids consider it a form of child abuse when they finally escape.

    No wonder she is so desperate for female friends. The last six weeks (years) have brought more change to her life than the previous 18 years. Give her time (like until 2020).

  60. lordhaw
    lordhaw
    October 27, 2014 at 10:25 am | #

    I know what she is going through…been there myself. The level of guilt you feel for doing what is simply part of being human is horrible. You feel like you are such a horrible sinner for the simplest things.

    Interesting watching this happen, but I feel so bad for Joyce.

  61. Just Here
    Just Here
    October 27, 2014 at 11:47 am | #

    I am horribly fascinated watching Joyce’s brain strip its gears.

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      October 27, 2014 at 2:12 pm | #

      It’s like watching a fatal car wreck in ultra-slow motion. You know it’s going to end badly, but you can’t stop watching to see what caused it. I used to do wreck re-construction so I watched a lot of those videos. The one that made me the most angry was the one where LEO had initially blamed a cyclist for “not yielding” to a truck making a right turn across the bike lane before seeing the video, and then the video showed the truck hitting the cyclist from behind as it made the turn. One the cyclist never got to see the truck’s turn signal, and two the cyclist was in front of the truck and had the right of way so the truck should have yielded. Three the cyclist was in the truck’s right-front blind spot, so the driver didn’t know he was about to run her over. Just bad all the way around… But I don’t do that thing any more so maybe I will be a little more sane soon?

  62. Slinx
    Slinx
    October 27, 2014 at 11:58 am | #

    Ugh. So many comments about Ethan’s “glorious man-chest”. I feel like I’m reading Twilight again. (Although it is his chest and not his face, and it is actually kind of relevant instead of every single time Ethan appears in a comic, so it is better that way.)

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 27, 2014 at 12:06 pm | #

      I for one want every single future mention of Ethan in the comic to be accompanied by praise of his glorious man-chest.

      • Camachri
        Camachri
        October 27, 2014 at 1:55 pm | #

        Don’t. Tempt. Me.

      • 3oranges
        3oranges
        October 27, 2014 at 2:01 pm | #

        Tags: ethan, ethan’s glorious man chest, feels, issues, joyce

  63. wakeangel2001
    wakeangel2001
    October 27, 2014 at 1:09 pm | #

    maybe her parents should have locked her in a tower until the time for her arranged marriage to her 2nd cousin.

  64. Cedrick
    Cedrick
    October 27, 2014 at 1:11 pm | #

    Joyce’s parents sure did a number on her 🙁

  65. Daggart
    Daggart
    October 27, 2014 at 2:05 pm | #

    Oh Joyce… You’re like looking in a mirror. A transgendered tragically self aware mirror.

    🙁

  66. OmegaDez
    OmegaDez
    October 27, 2014 at 5:12 pm | #

    Is this really how fundies are?
    Thinking they’re dirty whenever they’re simply doing things humans should be doing?

    • Just Here
      Just Here
      October 27, 2014 at 6:09 pm | #

      A strict upbringing of any kind can instill a mindset that’s almost like literal programming. They don’t know how to handle things that are ‘off the script.’ If the kids can find a support network that is willing to help them adapt, they do fine. But it can go very badly as well. They can be over-trusting because they assume that everyone else is working on the same moral code they are.

      Joyce is… doing acceptably well, I think.

    • Just Here
      Just Here
      October 27, 2014 at 6:22 pm | #

      For a good non-religious example, look at the 1998 movie “Soldier” starring Kurt Russel. The way the soldiers were raised, they didn’t know how to handle a non-military situation.

      • HiEv
        HiEv
        October 27, 2014 at 7:04 pm | #

        That’s a surprisingly great movie. It portrays an “alien” mindset in a human better than most movies with actual aliens.

      • chris73
        chris73
        October 27, 2014 at 11:19 pm | #

        Side bar: that is one of my most favourite movies, how it wasn’t a smash is beyond me.

    • kelticat
      kelticat
      October 27, 2014 at 6:39 pm | #

      My fundie sister refuses to read certain romance authors because there is too much sex in the books. When I told her about an adventure story she might like her response was “Is it normal adventure or slutty adventure. Because you read a lot of slutty adventure.” Slutty adventure=Romantic suspense.

  67. TheAphroChick
    TheAphroChick
    October 27, 2014 at 6:41 pm | #

    So…was Joyce brought up ATI? Her beliefs sound very Duggarish to me.I’m shocked she wears pants.

  68. Emperor Kiva
    Emperor Kiva
    October 27, 2014 at 7:21 pm | #

    I don’t think Joyce will be in any Slipshines or whatever. Because of a pic Willis posted on Deviantart of Joyce in her bra and pants and next to her is the words “I’m so sorry about this.”

    • Sir Robin
      Sir Robin
      October 27, 2014 at 7:53 pm | #

      Where can I see this pic? For research obviously

      • Emperor Kiva
        Emperor Kiva
        October 27, 2014 at 7:56 pm | #

        At his Deviantart page.

        • Sir Robin
          Sir Robin
          October 27, 2014 at 8:05 pm | #

          The one of her and Sarah sitting on the washers? That’s all I can see with Joyce

          • Emperor Kiva
            Emperor Kiva
            October 27, 2014 at 8:53 pm | #

            Nope, Joyce will be alone with a white background. And putting her hair up.

          • Emperor Kiva
            Emperor Kiva
            October 27, 2014 at 8:57 pm | #

            He must have removed it which is fine by me.

          • Camachri
            Camachri
            October 28, 2014 at 1:39 am | #

            I believe you’re after this.

        • Emperor Kiva
          Emperor Kiva
          October 27, 2014 at 8:08 pm | #

          I can’t supply a link because I’m using an X-Box 360

  69. boomwolf
    boomwolf
    October 27, 2014 at 7:44 pm | #

    Remind me again why she hasn’t at least messed around with herself before? Like seriously, I’m pretty sure there isn’t some rule in the Bible about masturbation.

    • Jen Aside
      Jen Aside
      October 27, 2014 at 7:48 pm | #

      ingrained belief system designed by control freaks and built upon shame about being a normal fucking human being

    • ahuh
      ahuh
      October 27, 2014 at 8:56 pm | #

      Uh, there is actually. Hence the word “onanism”.

      • Herbert
        Herbert
        October 27, 2014 at 9:17 pm | #

        Onan wasn’t masturbating, he failed to impregnate his brother’s widow by using the withdraw system of birth control after the widow only consented to relations for an heir.

        • Will
          Will
          October 28, 2014 at 7:10 am | #

          There’s Bible canon, and there’s Bible fanon. Unfortunately the fanon is stronger.

          People like Joyce suffer because the way certain Christians read the book, not necessarily what is actually written there.

          So “but it’s not in the book” is not a valid point here. “Joyce’s church and Joyce’s parents and Joyce herself believe it’s part of God’s rules (sometimes baselessly)” is more like what actually happens.

      • Thomas64
        Thomas64
        October 27, 2014 at 11:40 pm | #

        But Onan received the divine smackdown for spilling his seed onto the floor, rather than using it to impregnate a woman. Every sperm is sacred and all that.
        When a woman masturbates, no reproductive material is wasted. If there is anything in the Bible banning female masturbation, I’m not aware of it.
        (Then again, I was raised without religion and have only read bits and pieces of the Bible later on, out of curiosity, so I’m not exactly an authority on Christianity.)

      • boomwolf
        boomwolf
        October 29, 2014 at 10:09 pm | #

        Wait does that mean I gotta stop then?

  70. kelticat
    kelticat
    October 27, 2014 at 9:44 pm | #

    Someday I might tire
    Having walked through these fires
    Because I am wired wrong

    Maybe someday I’ll be
    In a place where I can see
    That I’m not wired wrong
    –David Michael Bennet

    Nice song but hard to listen to. Thought it suited most of DOA, but especially Joyce and Ethan today.

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Doc Impossible @impossiblephd.bsky.social ⋅ 2h
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Also, I see we're bringing back the ol' love octagon.
Several panels from the webcomic Shortpacked! depicting the character Robin Desanto unveiling a chalkboard that shows various characters in the webcomics' romantic relationship statuses to each other, the equivalent of a
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drawncoyote.bsky.social's user avatar
John Berry @drawncoyote.bsky.social ⋅ 18h
It worked! Thanks, Joe! Also, sorry, Joe.
Joe:
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 19h
I think you mean Poop. Prints don't drop from the butt.
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Dan Schkade @danschkade.bsky.social ⋅ 20h
Happy Nonbinary People's Day, you gemstones. A year or two back we introduced FLASH GORDON's first enby, the outlaw lawman Bones Malock. Having known and loved a lot of nonbinary people, I knew the truest way to represent you was as a unsettling desert pirate with a lightning sword
Flash Gordon's Bones Malock:
Bones Malock, under captions reading:
Bones Malock and Flash Gordon.

Flash: Okay... wait thirty seconds, then give me a distraction.

Bones: Got just the thing.

Flash: Do NOT blow the place up.

Bones: You're the boss.
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Hannah Who @notablyuncool.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Happy International Non-Binary People's Day to all those who work, create, parent, protest, love and live without ever fitting into someone else's category.
header image - a yellow purple and black flag flies in the wind
media.tenor.com
a yellow purple and black flag flies in the wind
Alt: Non-binary flag blowing in the wind
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reposted by David M Willis!
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Haus of Decline @hausofdecline.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
A blond female Philly Phanatic says
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bitshammer.bsky.social's user avatar
Bits @bitshammer.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Mood
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Jacob @jacobaugust.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Nice.
A screenshot of the Dumbing of Age archives, showing the chapter titles of Book 15 and their respective number of strips. Chapter 4,
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DaisyFM ✒︎ @daisyfm.net ⋅ 1d
Okay, everyone's jumping to conclusions, but Joyce was hit with a mysterious pink gas in Thursday's strip. Now, in recent years, the police are known to increasingly use military grade weapons. Which reminded me of this bit of proposed technology from the 1990s: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bomb
en.wikipedia.org
Gay bomb - Wikipedia
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
I ain't readin' all that!
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "LIVE JOCELYNE REACTION" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
LIVE JOCELYNE REACTION
that's not the end!  there's more tomorrow, already on patreon!...
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "LIVE JOCELYNE REACTION" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
LIVE JOCELYNE REACTION
that's not the end!  there's more tomorrow, already on patreon!...
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reposted by David M Willis!
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Jay Edidin @edidin.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
hey, kid, what do you want to play with from the cool superhero movie? is it a nude, melting senator who feels like a stretch armstrong doll that has been left out in the son and maybe mildly chewed by a neighborhood dog? WELL, SON, YOU'RE IN LUCK!
the most upsetting toy of all time: a small and horrible statue of melting, nude Senator Kelly from the first x-men film
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Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
James Gunn i demand u bring back Conservative Superman
Superman shaking Jared Fogle’s hand
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
(July 10, 2026)
Sal and Danny saw you from across the room and enjoy your vibe.
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David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
trying to voice recognition a search for superman's actor
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reposted by David M Willis!
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Drivaaar @drivaaar.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
I want YOU to transform Autobot City (with generous green spaces, affordable public transport and amenities, and plentiful social initiatives)
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
welp back to drawing comics featuring a character you can't see yet for like 11 months
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reposted by David M Willis!
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Paul Bassett Davies @thewritertype.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Then they came for the sarcastic people and I was like oh great that's exactly what we need right now well done to all concerned.
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Cass 🪻 @cassmoney.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Comic of a man peering through a window.
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
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reposted by David M Willis!
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The Nerdy Lawyer @nerdylawyer.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Dorothy: You can't just follow me into fire! Joyce: You don't want me following you into fire? Then don't run into fire!
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
today in #9chickweedlane i learned i apparently gotta go see if "correlate" has an archaic definition that means something nonsense
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Virginia Barksdale @virginiabarksdale.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
screaming, crying, throwing up, Pete the Peacock is real, I feel lesbian God in this chili's tonight
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
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reposted by David M Willis!
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RiotGrlErin @riotgrlerin.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
pam bondi as porta potties: thread
Pam bondi and he side profile wearing a dark yellow coat.
A yellow porta potty probably less shitty than Pam.
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
header image - a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
media.tenor.com
a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
ALT: a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
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Brigid Keely She/Her @brigid.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
Joyce is absolutely totally straight and just wants to hang out with her best friend, who happens to be another lady. This is normal behavior and a normal biblical quote to use that has no other context. GAL PALS
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
joyce walks down an aisle
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reposted by David M Willis!
southworth.bsky.social's user avatar
Paul Southworth ☢️ 🐟 @southworth.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
A lot of songs are lowkey about being horny
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