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by 'caped stuff' ethan means she's doing magic tricks in the quad
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BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

September 20, 2023

Limb

by David M Willis on May 19, 2015 at 12:01 am
  • 03 - The Butterflies Won't Fly Away

└ Tags: danny, ethan

Discussion (200) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Jen Aside
    Jen Aside
    May 19, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

    Danny: “Slipshine!”

    Ethan: “…what?”

    Danny: “ohnothingreallyIdidn’tsayanythingIswear”

    • Someone
      Someone
      May 19, 2015 at 12:10 am | #

      Dammit Danny we already have to much force wall breaking in this strip!

      • Someone
        Someone
        May 19, 2015 at 12:30 am | #

        fourth wall* unless Danny is a jedi.

        • Doctor_Who
          Doctor_Who
          May 19, 2015 at 12:38 am | #

          Still less of a whiny dork than Anakin.

          • Disloyal Subject
            Disloyal Subject
            May 19, 2015 at 2:04 am | #

            …my word, you’re right.

          • Rich
            Rich
            May 19, 2015 at 8:30 am | #

            That is a very, very low bar to set.

          • Deanatay
            Deanatay
            May 19, 2015 at 9:11 am | #

            So, you’re saying Anakin could conceivably out-Danny Danny?

            • Gigafreak
              Gigafreak
              May 19, 2015 at 9:47 am | #

              Dannykin Skywalker has opinions about sand.

        • gwalla
          gwalla
          May 19, 2015 at 11:29 am | #

          Source Wall if he’s one of the New Gods.

          • Daibhid C
            Daibhid C
            May 19, 2015 at 11:47 am | #

            Then his name would have to be Daaniy or something.

    • pumacatrun2
      pumacatrun2
      May 19, 2015 at 4:00 am | #

      Dang I’d read that.

    • JD
      JD
      May 19, 2015 at 7:16 am | #

      That would actually get me to subscribe.

  2. otusasio451
    otusasio451
    May 19, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

    sliiiiiiiiipshiiiiiiiiiiine…

    • thebatman22
      thebatman22
      May 19, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

      Willis hasn’t done a slipshine woth two dudes yet has he?

      • Catullus
        Catullus
        May 19, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

        No, not yet.

      • LiaHansen
        LiaHansen
        May 19, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

        Danny and Ethan are definitely gonna happen though, so that’s comin

        • Doctor_Who
          Doctor_Who
          May 19, 2015 at 12:12 am | #

          Danny and Ethan Perform Awkwardly.

          • Emily
            Emily
            May 19, 2015 at 12:20 am | #

            Danny And Ethan Fail To Perform Due To Anxiety And Self-Doubt

            • DarkoNeko
              DarkoNeko
              May 19, 2015 at 4:23 am | #

              Ooouch.

        • J42
          J42
          May 19, 2015 at 12:21 am | #

          Cumming right up

        • Paradoxius
          Paradoxius
          May 19, 2015 at 12:39 am | #

          Ethan and Danny Complete the Triangle

        • timemonkey
          timemonkey
          May 19, 2015 at 8:00 am | #

          He said two dudes would definitely happen, he didn’t specify who they were. We just assume Ethan/Danny because they’re the only current option.

          • Havtorn
            Havtorn
            May 19, 2015 at 7:24 pm | #

            Jason/Walky in a hi-larious drunken sibling/blond person mixup… ok, Walky would probably have to get _really_ drunk for that to happen.

            • Rich
              Rich
              May 19, 2015 at 8:18 pm | #

              No, no, it’s family tradition to sleep with your math tutor.

            • Rycan
              Rycan
              May 19, 2015 at 9:47 pm | #

              So, two beers?

              • Rich
                Rich
                May 19, 2015 at 10:37 pm | #

                Three, if Jason asks him to cosplay as Sal with a wig and some gloves.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        May 19, 2015 at 12:17 am | #

        Is Willis high enough on the Kinsey Scale to be able to draw up a bunch of gay slipshine comics?

        • Em
          Em
          May 19, 2015 at 12:29 am | #

          He said that he’s going to.

        • lekoppa
          lekoppa
          May 19, 2015 at 12:32 am | #

          He’s stated a few times that while dude/dude isn’t his thing, it’d be interesting enough as a technical exercise. The lack of m/m slipshine updates isn’t reflective of Willis’ Kinsey Scale rating; it’s because there are no dudes in the story who are cannonically banging. Yet.

          • JessWitt
            JessWitt
            May 19, 2015 at 12:34 am | #

            Would’ve been nice to see Ethan x Manny from the Shortpackedverse tho.

            • otusasio451
              otusasio451
              May 19, 2015 at 12:44 am | #

              Perhaps the sheer amount of awkwardness created by their combined sexual insecurities will generate a rift in dimensional space, allowing that to actually happen. And then…SOGGIES MAY RULE DoA.

              • Someone
                Someone
                May 19, 2015 at 1:24 am | #

                Crossover! I would pay just to see DoA Walky and Joyce’s reactions to Joyce and Walky’s relationship in the Walkyverse.

                • Rycan
                  Rycan
                  May 19, 2015 at 1:24 pm | #

                  PREMARITAL HANKY-PANKY!

                • Someone
                  Someone
                  May 19, 2015 at 7:09 pm | #

                  but Joyce and Walky are married now. Its MARITAL HANKY-PANKY!

            • John
              John
              May 19, 2015 at 2:25 am | #

              Eh. Manny is basically a complete non-entity. He has basically no existence outside “gay dude who’s not an asshole for Ethan to hook up with”.

            • Nono
              Nono
              May 19, 2015 at 2:58 am | #

              I’d have put my money on the Ethan/Drew Riddler/Batman? sex myself.

              • Captain Batson
                Captain Batson
                May 19, 2015 at 4:14 pm | #

                I feel like Drew might’ve been Catman, but probably not, since Ethan didn’t notice the similarities until immediately after the breakup.

          • Packy
            Packy
            May 19, 2015 at 8:03 am | #

            But one of the Slipshines is Amber and Mike in the Walkyverse. So he has done Walkyverse Slipshine, and there are m/m pairings there.

            • fogel
              fogel
              May 19, 2015 at 1:19 pm | #

              Including Mike & Ethan, at least once.

              • Smiling Cat
                Smiling Cat
                May 19, 2015 at 4:00 pm | #

                Do a slipshine of the entire event! “Mike performs a metaphorical crotch-kick, with a guest appearance by Faz”.

  3. LiaHansen
    LiaHansen
    May 19, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Politely Sad is one of the things Danny does best!

    • thecanvashat
      thecanvashat
      May 19, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

      Next to availability, earnestness, and Dannying!

  4. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    May 19, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Poor Danny, if only you knew the truth…

    • LeslieBean4Shizzle
      LeslieBean4Shizzle
      May 19, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

      Utena avatar! ^^
      (Everyone but PM can just ignore me – fangirling over here.)

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        May 19, 2015 at 12:12 am | #

        Utena doesn’t get much love anymore, I wonder if they will ever remake it, I just hope that if they do a remake, it will be a better job then Sailor Moon Crystal.

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          May 19, 2015 at 1:04 am | #

          The series was totally surreal, but I liked Utena, she was a badass chick with a sword. Never did figure out what the deal was with the ’50s Vette.

          • Gigafreak
            Gigafreak
            May 19, 2015 at 9:50 am | #

            I choose to believe that someone horribly misunderstood the script when it said “…and then she takes her for a ride!“

          • Usayasha
            Usayasha
            May 20, 2015 at 7:05 am | #

            My question for Utena is why she’s supposedly wearing a “boy’s uniform” but none of the other boys at her school are wearing that uniform. I mean, I’m still going through the series (my friend introduced me recently, and I’m loving it), but that is a question that I don’t think is getting answered any time soon.

        • Romanticide
          Romanticide
          May 19, 2015 at 1:21 am | #

          I don’t think they will ever remake it, but at least the remastering was good

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          May 19, 2015 at 4:26 am | #

          Nooo they shouldn’t remake it. Even back then, it looked pretty “antiquated” and it was awesome that way.

          • DarkoNeko
            DarkoNeko
            May 19, 2015 at 4:27 am | #

            NB : zettai unmei mokushiroku.

        • LeslieBean4Shizzle
          LeslieBean4Shizzle
          May 20, 2015 at 12:16 am | #

          My biggest problem with Crystal was that it squandered all opportunities by just being the manga again. An anime based directly on the Utena manga would actually be kinda neat – so long as it actually expanded the manga rather than doing a scene for scene remake as Crystal did. So much potential squandered.

        • Roborat
          Roborat
          May 20, 2015 at 3:44 pm | #

          Yay me, I got that one. I’m hip or something.

  5. Dean
    Dean
    May 19, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Danny’s ex-girlfriend will be there as well, so that should help the awkwardness.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      May 19, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

      Ain’t no party like an awkward party.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        May 19, 2015 at 12:24 am | #

        Still much better than a Lemon Party.

        • brute
          brute
          May 19, 2015 at 11:51 am | #

          Speak for yourself~

    • Rich
      Rich
      May 19, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

      Danny’s awkward enough for an entire party by himself. Doesn’t really need any help.

      • Rycan
        Rycan
        May 19, 2015 at 1:25 am | #

        Oh, there will be help. Plenty of help.

    • Lucretiel
      Lucretiel
      May 19, 2015 at 12:11 am | #

      Are any ex-couples… not going to be there? It seems like we’ve got every one.

      • Rich
        Rich
        May 19, 2015 at 12:15 am | #

        Do Sal and Jason count as an ex-couple?

        • tim gueguen
          tim gueguen
          May 19, 2015 at 12:59 am | #

          Do they count as a couple?

          • DarkoNeko
            DarkoNeko
            May 19, 2015 at 4:27 am | #

            …nooope.

            • Rich
              Rich
              May 19, 2015 at 8:28 am | #

              So, they were just coupling, then?

              • Kaoy
                Kaoy
                May 19, 2015 at 9:17 am | #

                Or just copulating.

                • Rich
                  Rich
                  May 19, 2015 at 8:15 pm | #

                  Synonyms are fun.

        • fogel
          fogel
          May 19, 2015 at 1:23 pm | #

          The last we saw them in DoA, I thought that maybe they could become a couple &/or friends: Jason seemed genuinely concerned about Sal.

      • Kinoko
        Kinoko
        May 19, 2015 at 12:41 am | #

        They’ll have Billie but no Alice. Which is probably for the best, honestly. Billie deserves to enjoy her hard-won drama respite.

        • Rycan
          Rycan
          May 19, 2015 at 1:39 am | #

          You think this party will be the place for a drama respite?

          • fogel
            fogel
            May 19, 2015 at 1:29 pm | #

            Becky will pull a Plus-Ultra-Drama Tag that she finds at the back of Joyce’s closet and ask “What’s this?”. (plus ultra = Latin for further/more beyond)

    • hof1991
      hof1991
      May 19, 2015 at 8:14 am | #

      So Danny will see:
      His ex-girlfriend
      His current squeeze, who may or may not acknowledge it depending upon her masked status
      Someone he is dreaming about
      The girl who tried to tear his clothes off

      Nope. No drama possible.

      • fogel
        fogel
        May 19, 2015 at 1:32 pm | #

        You mean the girl who almost made Joe proud of Danny till he Dannied up that opportunity?

      • fudo81
        fudo81
        May 19, 2015 at 9:41 pm | #

        I’m a bit puzzled by Danny’s words, in fact; “this party is just going to be me, you and your girlfriend?”… did he forget about Becky inviting Dorothy, or did he just fail to connect the dots?

        • Rich
          Rich
          May 19, 2015 at 10:35 pm | #

          Becky did the Jedi mind trick on him during that conversation. Apparently it worked really well.

  6. Rich
    Rich
    May 19, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

    Magic tricks? I assumed Amber was off practicing her bullfighting skills.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      May 19, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

      “I shall now make crime disappear!”

    • Rycan
      Rycan
      May 19, 2015 at 1:46 am | #

      Trying to stab criminals with a rapier without getting gored? Interesting crime-fighting tactic.

      • Rich
        Rich
        May 19, 2015 at 9:10 am | #

        The tricky part is finding good banderilleros for your entourage. Very rare in the Midwest.

  7. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    May 19, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

    Or maybe Amber’s LARPing it up instead.

  8. HeinousActsZX
    HeinousActsZX
    May 19, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

    This is killing me.

    My desperation for a m/m pairing grows more feverish by the day, and Danny continues to dance around it.

    Damn guy has to be so damn faithful grumble mutter

    • Jon
      Jon
      May 19, 2015 at 5:27 pm | #

      I know, fuck honor right

      • fogel
        fogel
        May 19, 2015 at 11:02 pm | #

        Who is Honor? Does she live in Clark or some other dorm?

        • Usayasha
          Usayasha
          May 20, 2015 at 7:08 am | #

          Tell me when you find her – my friend Zuko is looking for her. I hear she’s aviator.

  9. maxyai
    maxyai
    May 19, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

    Everything is better with a cape.

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      May 19, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

      Imagine an ape in a cape.

      • boomwolf
        boomwolf
        May 19, 2015 at 12:11 am | #

        An ape in a cape with a grape taped to the nape of his neck?

        • Gigafreak
          Gigafreak
          May 19, 2015 at 9:53 am | #

          …Cosplaying Professor Snape out of shape with mouth agape, stuffed with a crepe?

      • thecanvashat
        thecanvashat
        May 19, 2015 at 12:11 am | #

        An ape in a cape eating grapes.

    • Rich
      Rich
      May 19, 2015 at 12:13 am | #

      Dollar Bill from Watchmen begs to disagree.

    • Dean
      Dean
      May 19, 2015 at 12:16 am | #

      NO CAPES!

      • Architex
        Architex
        May 19, 2015 at 12:21 am | #

        Do you remember…Thunderhead?

        • boomwolf
          boomwolf
          May 19, 2015 at 12:38 am | #

          Anyone else notice that Syndrome’s cape was the reason he died? And that his fape almost got him killed near the beginning during that scene with Bomb Voyage? Guess you could say he had his cape and met his doom…. get it? Like had his cake and ate it… whatever, I’m gonna go stand in the corner forever…

          • Someone
            Someone
            May 19, 2015 at 1:28 am | #

            I’m fairly certain that Syndromes cape killing him was the entire reason for the setup.

      • John
        John
        May 19, 2015 at 2:38 am | #

        Counterpoint.

  10. caesaria82
    caesaria82
    May 19, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

    Ethan is so happy to be single, haha. It’s kinda nice to see Ethan in a lighter mood for once 🙂

    • Rich
      Rich
      May 19, 2015 at 8:33 am | #

      Most of Happy Ethan has happened around Danny. Funny, that.

      • fogel
        fogel
        May 19, 2015 at 1:34 pm | #

        Joe should have a “serious” talk with Ethan.

  11. Too Old To Be Cool
    Too Old To Be Cool
    May 19, 2015 at 12:07 am | #

    Let’s see how much Danny and Amber wind up giving away to their friends…

  12. JessTheBest
    JessTheBest
    May 19, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

    “Yes but is it art?”

  13. Koms
    Koms
    May 19, 2015 at 12:10 am | #

    Danny is definitely not sad. He must be squeeeeeing from within.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      May 19, 2015 at 12:39 am | #

      I am, too! Eeeee I sure hope they are super awkward ^.^

      • Rycan
        Rycan
        May 19, 2015 at 1:31 am | #

        That’s like hoping for the sun to rise tomorrow.

    • ditrysia
      ditrysia
      May 19, 2015 at 1:06 am | #

      He’s sad because now it makes it even more complicated for him to control his attraction towards Ethan, as he’s now available. But Danny isn’t. Hence the inner turmoil, hence the sadness.

      • No Name
        No Name
        May 19, 2015 at 3:45 am | #

        In other words, he’s sad, because he’s happy.

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          May 19, 2015 at 4:31 am | #

          …I see what you did there.

      • Lord Stoneheart
        Lord Stoneheart
        May 19, 2015 at 12:10 pm | #

        Technically, Danny doesn’t know that Ethan is available in that sense. He doesn’t know that Ethan’s gay. (Amber knows for obvious reasons, Mike knows because he went to high school with Ethan, Sarah knows because she can read a “I’m living a lie and I hope no one notices face.”, Joyce knows for obvious reasons, Dorothy pieced it together via Joyce’s cryptic confession, and Walky assumed because of Ethan’s lack of initiative around Joyce. Every other student that Ethan has interacted with believes he’s straight.)

        • fogel
          fogel
          May 19, 2015 at 1:39 pm | #

          Dorothy figured it out the very first time she saw Joyce with Ethan (and Mike) in the lobby, after which Joyce told her that Ethan was different than other boys in the way he looked at her — or, didn’t look at her — which made her feel safe with him.

          • Lord Stoneheart
            Lord Stoneheart
            May 19, 2015 at 2:05 pm | #

            Had to recheck a strip that I only knew was vaguely in book 2, but yeah Dorothy makes an offhand comment after Joyce says that “Hanky panky doesn’t even register on his mind!”, which Joyce brushes off. The next time she sees Ethan he’s identified as Joyce’s boyfriend. And from what she says here: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/02-threes-a-crowd/unpretty/ she didn’t think that Joyce would actually try to change someone’s sexual orientation like that. I’m pretty sure she thought he was straight until http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/02-threes-a-crowd/beard/

  14. Kraken
    Kraken
    May 19, 2015 at 12:13 am | #

    Ethan: “You, me, my ex-girlfriend, your girlfriend-who-is-also-my-ex-girlfirend, your ex-girlfriend, that girl you let down before even establishing interest, that girl who was gonna bang you until you rejected her and your ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend. Oh, and Becky.

    If they all show up.”

    • Rich
      Rich
      May 19, 2015 at 12:16 am | #

      Danny: “When you put it that way…”

      Turns around and goes back to his room.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        May 19, 2015 at 12:58 am | #

        Joe silently hands them the sock and leave

    • Rycan
      Rycan
      May 19, 2015 at 1:33 am | #

      And that girl behind the door. Can’t forget her.

      • Kraken
        Kraken
        May 19, 2015 at 1:46 am | #

        Darn, I totally forgot Dina!
        I also forgot Roz. I wonder if that sex tape drama has run its course…

        • Rich
          Rich
          May 19, 2015 at 8:24 am | #

          Considering Roz was making a play for Jacob and he’ll be at the party at some point, an ill-timed cameo by Roz might produce some sparks too – especially if she manages to wreck a reconciliation between Jacob and Sarah in the process.

          Or Roz and Joe could wind up rehearsing for a sequel, leaving Danny socked out of his room when the party breaks up.

          • Greenygal
            Greenygal
            May 19, 2015 at 12:44 pm | #

            Oh, good lord, I’d totally forgotten about Roz and Jacob. I’m tempted to think that was set up specifically so things could get awkward at this party. (I realize that strip was over a year ago, but you never know.)

            • No Name
              No Name
              May 19, 2015 at 5:20 pm | #

              Greenygal, this is Willis we’re talking about. Of course that’s why he set that up.

          • Rycan
            Rycan
            May 19, 2015 at 1:21 pm | #

            Joe was explicitly uninvited, though. He’ll be back in his room, furiously tapping an index card.

            • Rich
              Rich
              May 19, 2015 at 8:00 pm | #

              You’re looking at it wrong. Joe knows he has the room to himself for at least a few hours. Good odds that Danny will come home to a sock on the doorknob.

              Maybe Danny can crash in Ethan’s room? Or maybe they’ll both have to go spend the night at Amber’s when Jacob and Sarah sock them out of Ethan’s room. At least Dina can have Sarah’s bed in that scenario. 🙂

    • fogel
      fogel
      May 19, 2015 at 1:40 pm | #

      Wait, which is “that girl you let down before even establishing interest,”?

      • Greenygal
        Greenygal
        May 19, 2015 at 6:19 pm | #

        Sarah.

  15. Siddlaw
    Siddlaw
    May 19, 2015 at 12:23 am | #

    Listen Ethan, if sitcoms have taught me anything, you DON’T want to go to a party with two exs and a potential new fling. Hilarity is going to happen.

    • StClair
      StClair
      May 19, 2015 at 1:28 am | #

      It’s worse than that; see Kraken’s post, above.

    • Historyman68
      Historyman68
      May 19, 2015 at 7:40 am | #

      But I love hilarity!

      • insomniac
        insomniac
        May 19, 2015 at 12:50 pm | #

        Not just hillarity. Shenanigans for certain, plssibly even wacky hijinks.

  16. J42
    J42
    May 19, 2015 at 12:24 am | #

    Wouldn’t Danny totally recognize what “caped” means, and that they both know Amazi Girl’s identity?

    • A5PECT
      A5PECT
      May 19, 2015 at 12:28 am | #

      Both of them already know the other knows Amazi-Girl’s real identity.

      • A5PECT
        A5PECT
        May 19, 2015 at 12:29 am | #

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/03-up-all-night-to-get-vengeance/nightclass/

        • J42
          J42
          May 19, 2015 at 5:30 am | #

          Oh yeah! Thanks

    • Catullus
      Catullus
      May 19, 2015 at 12:28 am | #

      Ethan intends for Danny to recognize what “caped” means, he’s just using it to dance around the point in case anyone else is listening.

      • neeks
        neeks
        May 19, 2015 at 5:44 am | #

        Honestly he could have just said “stuff” to make his point without the word “caped” in front of it. Danny would take like half a second’s thought of “stuff? What kind of stuff would Amber–oh right” to figure it out, probably, but whatever.

        • Rich
          Rich
          May 19, 2015 at 8:36 am | #

          To be fair, “stuff” could include “she’s obsessed with a game/fanfic binge and I couldn’t get her off the computer” in Amber’s case. Adding a qualifier about what kind of stuff it is isn’t unreasonable.

      • Historyman68
        Historyman68
        May 19, 2015 at 7:42 am | #

        It’s not much of a euphemism. Ethan might as well have said, “Amber’s one amazing girl, isn’t she! Anyway, she’s busy tonight. Did I mention how she’s amazing yet?”

      • fogel
        fogel
        May 19, 2015 at 1:45 pm | #

        To be really careful he should have put on an Amazi-Mask and then nobody who overheard him could have understood what he meant by “caped stuff”. Or an Amazi-Condom?

  17. newllend(henryvolt)
    newllend(henryvolt)
    May 19, 2015 at 12:25 am | #

    If you guys haven’t noticed yet that this is going to be one huge disaster than its already to late.

    • chris73
      chris73
      May 19, 2015 at 12:26 am | #

      We know and we’re looking forward to it

      • Rycan
        Rycan
        May 19, 2015 at 1:35 am | #

        It’s a train wreck without all the death – fun to watch, and you don’t feel too horrible for enjoying it!

  18. Captain Batson
    Captain Batson
    May 19, 2015 at 12:37 am | #

    I just noticed that this version of Ethan seems much hunkier than Walkyverse Ethan. Cool.

    • No Name
      No Name
      May 19, 2015 at 3:47 am | #

      Well, he is younger.

  19. Ashley
    Ashley
    May 19, 2015 at 12:37 am | #

    If you want Amber, Ethan and Danny to be in a polyamorous relationship clap your hands.

    • Ashley
      Ashley
      May 19, 2015 at 12:39 am | #

      *clap clap*

    • Sam
      Sam
      May 19, 2015 at 12:43 am | #

      *clap clap*

      If you want a depiction of healthy polyamory in your fave webcomics, clap your hands.

      *clap clap*

      • Ashley
        Ashley
        May 19, 2015 at 12:46 am | #

        *clap clap*

      • apostateCourier
        apostateCourier
        May 19, 2015 at 12:48 am | #

        *clap clap*

      • tim gueguen
        tim gueguen
        May 19, 2015 at 1:03 am | #

        Aren’t they a bad trio to pick for healthy polyamory?

        • Ashley
          Ashley
          May 19, 2015 at 1:28 am | #

          There might be some wrinkles to iron out but all relationships have that, don’t they?

        • Rich
          Rich
          May 19, 2015 at 9:02 am | #

          They’re young, Amber has serious mental health issues, Danny is struggling with his own sexual identity, and Ethan isn’t entirely comfortable out of the closet yet either. So yes, a poly relationship between the three is likely to be rocky.

          OTOH, the fact that they could provide each other with a lot of much-needed mutual support makes them interesting from a story-telling POV, and they’re not at all implausible as a trio. If you want to do a positive depiction of a poly relationship, showing how mutual affection and faithfulness can improve everyone’s lives would be a good start.

          The stable long-term poly groupings I’ve known in real life have been more about mutual trust and understanding than some racy swinger lifestyle fantasy. Those folks were all past their teens and looking for different things out of life than a bunch of college freshmen, though.

          • Ashley
            Ashley
            May 20, 2015 at 3:18 am | #

            I think Dumbing of Age in part deals with how young people deal with relationships, feelings, sexuality and stuff like that. I don’t want the three of them to magically work together, but I do think it would be interesting to see. Yes, stable long-term poly relationships would be great, but there’s also something to be said for people experimenting and learning.

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        May 19, 2015 at 7:49 am | #

        If you want a depiction of healthy polyamory with characters that could actually pull it off instead of just the first lust triangle that presents itself clap your hands.

        • AlexGR
          AlexGR
          May 19, 2015 at 5:18 pm | #

          *clap clap*
          Any decent webcomics out there containing something along those lines?

          • KarlBob
            KarlBob
            May 20, 2015 at 2:31 am | #

            I suggest Leftover Soup

        • Ashley
          Ashley
          May 20, 2015 at 3:19 am | #

          Maybe they won’t be able to pull it off. Maybe it will be messy and leave someone heartbroken. That doesn’t mean the possibility should be off the table.

      • Rich
        Rich
        May 19, 2015 at 8:14 am | #

        *roar of applause*

        • Rich
          Rich
          May 19, 2015 at 8:16 am | #

          Damn this formatting, that’s in reply to Sam, not the timemonkey.

          • timemonkey
            timemonkey
            May 19, 2015 at 9:43 pm | #

            It’s in the right place. But now we are enemies.

            • Rich
              Rich
              May 19, 2015 at 10:22 pm | #

              Glad to have a nemesis. Especially a temporally-mobile simian. Haven’t had one of those in a while.

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      May 19, 2015 at 2:11 am | #

      *clap clap*
      It’s like Danny is a catalyst for unspeakable cuteness

    • John
      John
      May 19, 2015 at 2:41 am | #

      It’s kind of weird… I don’t think any two of them should be in a relationship, but I’m all for all three together.

    • Li
      Li
      May 19, 2015 at 2:10 pm | #

      I kind of feel like Ethan’s lack of sexual or romantic interest in Amber would prevent it from being fully poly, but then again I’ve heard of plenty of poly relationships where two people were both romantically involved with the third but NOT each other.

  20. V
    V
    May 19, 2015 at 12:56 am | #

    Illusions. She’s doing magic illusions in the quad.

  21. Bagge
    Bagge
    May 19, 2015 at 12:56 am | #

    When Ethan and Danny finally get together they will start by making diagrams sorting out their relationships

  22. Architex
    Architex
    May 19, 2015 at 1:00 am | #

    You people cry “Slipshine” when it really should be “Party Time”

    • Rycan
      Rycan
      May 19, 2015 at 1:37 am | #

      If Party Time turns into Slipshine, Joyce will not be happy, to say the least.

  23. Emoroffle
    Emoroffle
    May 19, 2015 at 1:10 am | #

    Danny: “Well just bone me.”
    Ethan: “What?”
    Danny: “Just shoot me. I said shoot. Because I’m boned. Not your bone. I mean oh god why am I still talking! I’m going to be very uncomfortable at this party”

  24. Disloyal Subject
    Disloyal Subject
    May 19, 2015 at 2:12 am | #

    As a wise woman once said…
    “Just fuck already!”

  25. Idon'tcarenomore
    Idon'tcarenomore
    May 19, 2015 at 2:19 am | #

    As has been noted by several people already: this party is a train wreak preparing to happen.
    Ruth already knows there’s a party and may just decide to check it out later.
    Becky’s parents are coming to the college, you just have to bet on that.
    I’m surprised that Joyce’s haven’t arrived, to save her from Mike’s phone answering service.
    And Blaine just has to show up eventually.

    So many ways to go. And nothing awful has happened in, what 3 days?

    • Nono
      Nono
      May 19, 2015 at 2:49 am | #

      Does Ruth even have anything to hold against the party? Nobody’s drinking alcohol or doing drugs, and as long as they keep the noise to a respectable level there isn’t anything they can do that’s ban-worthy. Except, y’know, have a giant rolling orgy.

      • Rycan
        Rycan
        May 19, 2015 at 4:12 am | #

        She knows who’s hosting the party, so she already suspects the worst that could happen is somebody says “god dammit”.

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          May 19, 2015 at 5:02 am | #

          *gasp*

        • neeks
          neeks
          May 19, 2015 at 5:46 am | #

          *silently judges you and points to the swear jar*

        • Gigafreak
          Gigafreak
          May 19, 2015 at 10:04 am | #

          God Dannit!
          Oh wait

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      May 19, 2015 at 7:44 am | #

      Becky only has a dad, her mom is long dead. And if he shows up Joyce and Sarah can tell him that he can’t come in, can’t look for Becky and to leave before they report him for being there without a proper pass. And if Joyce’s parents call to object Joyce can just tell them Sarah doesn’t like strange men trying to get into her bedroom. It’s not even a lie!

    • Amazistool
      Amazistool
      May 19, 2015 at 1:16 pm | #

      And nothing awful has happened in, what 3 days?

      Something very awful happened about half an hour ago!

      • Kamino Neko
        Kamino Neko
        May 19, 2015 at 9:41 pm | #

        Link’s broke. Was it meant to go here?

  26. Zuzi
    Zuzi
    May 19, 2015 at 2:41 am | #

    Yep,
    You’re definitely over Joyce
    totally

  27. Nono
    Nono
    May 19, 2015 at 2:47 am | #

    My brain thought the two were holding hands in the first panel before it corrected itself.

    • Rycan
      Rycan
      May 19, 2015 at 4:10 am | #

      Ethan’s in the right position. Danny just had to Danny it up by putting his hands in his pockets.

  28. Willoughby Chase
    Willoughby Chase
    May 19, 2015 at 4:53 am | #

    The party’s going to be fine. No drunks. No drugs. People will stand around making small-talk, listening to the wonderful music.

    It’ll be fine.

    Trust me.

  29. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    May 19, 2015 at 5:03 am | #

    2nd panel kinda breaks my heart.

    “yeah… I’m very close with my lifelong friend, Joe. Of course. I can talk with him about anything…”

    • Jimmy
      Jimmy
      May 19, 2015 at 7:42 am | #

      Agreed. It sucks to have a “best friend” who you can’t really talk to about anything without him saying you’re boring or ignoring you altogether.

    • Li
      Li
      May 19, 2015 at 2:12 pm | #

      This.

  30. Iris
    Iris
    May 19, 2015 at 5:44 am | #

    I know I’m finally going to cave in and buy that damned subscription if we get a Danny/Ethan slipshine. Gaah this is going so slow TT.TT

  31. Spencer
    Spencer
    May 19, 2015 at 5:47 am | #

    Danny’s face in panel two is just all kinds of heartbreaking.

  32. Keeveet
    Keeveet
    May 19, 2015 at 7:22 am | #

    This whole situation is so perfectly set up for Dan to Dan it up. But waiting to see just HOW he’ll Dan it up is so suspenseful!

  33. Ragnalok
    Ragnalok
    May 19, 2015 at 8:32 am | #

    For some reason I can’t stop hearing Ethan as the voice of young Brad Garrett. Ca;; me craazy.

  34. Rheios
    Rheios
    May 19, 2015 at 10:14 am | #

    So…awkward thought…do you think Sal’s invited?

    • Rich
      Rich
      May 19, 2015 at 8:28 pm | #

      So she can show up the same time Amber does, right?

      If Sal got invited it was off-panel. Maybe Joyce was so intimidated by her coolness that she didn’t dare put Sal on the invite list.

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        May 19, 2015 at 9:41 pm | #

        Sal was probably invited, and probably won’t show up.

        • Rheios
          Rheios
          May 20, 2015 at 6:35 pm | #

          That DOES sound appropriately Sal.

      • Rheios
        Rheios
        May 20, 2015 at 6:37 pm | #

        Or even, y’know Ethan. Who seems a lot cooler with that understanding but I figure SOME discussion would take place. Even Sal going, “Ya’ look familiahr. Do I know you?” (I know people with a southern accent and still can’t write that dialog.)

    • Bill
      Bill
      May 20, 2015 at 1:46 am | #

      I think Sal was definitely invited, and was told to bring her motorcycle.

  35. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    May 19, 2015 at 11:12 am | #

    Alas, my previous Muzak play didn’t take overnight.

  36. mick4state
    mick4state
    May 19, 2015 at 12:16 pm | #

    The comic passed the Reverse Bechdel Test for a whole two panels. WE DID IT!

    • Lord Stoneheart
      Lord Stoneheart
      May 19, 2015 at 1:49 pm | #

      It did pass it quite a while ago. Way back here: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-1/03-men-are-from-beck-women-are-from-clark/mcnuggets/

      • mick4state
        mick4state
        May 20, 2015 at 12:29 pm | #

        That was still only three panels. Anything 2 or greater is fairly rare.

    • brumagem
      brumagem
      May 19, 2015 at 3:10 pm | #

      It also happened like a year ago when Danny and Ethan talked about comics, and like two years before that when Ethan and Mike were talking about the ethical ambiguity of a gay man enjoying Chick-fil-A. Also a couple months ago when Joe and Dan were talking about friendship dynamics, and wow there are a lot of moments now that I think about it.

      • Greenygal
        Greenygal
        May 19, 2015 at 4:36 pm | #

        Plus, you know, yesterday.

    • Rowen Morland
      Rowen Morland
      May 19, 2015 at 7:39 pm | #

      And this strip wouldn’t even pass, would it?

  37. Eric
    Eric
    May 19, 2015 at 9:24 pm | #

    Does Danny know that Ethan is gay?

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      May 19, 2015 at 9:33 pm | #

      No. Only Amber, Joyce, Mike, Walky and Dorothy know.

    • fudo81
      fudo81
      May 19, 2015 at 9:36 pm | #

      Not yet; as far as we know he doesn’t.

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