Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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the most you could hope out of a sarah pep talk: these things you do that annoy me could be useful in some circumstances
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July 11, 2026

Relentless

by David M Willis on August 20, 2015 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - Walking with Dina
└ Tags: joyce, sarah

Discussion (179) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Nightsbridge
    Nightsbridge
    August 20, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

    I-it’s not like I like you or anything!

    • MM
      MM
      August 20, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

      Baka!

      • Tayo
        Tayo
        August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

        BAKA BAKA

        • Darkoneko
          Darkoneko
          August 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

          Baka bakka.

          • Stephen R. Bierce
            Stephen R. Bierce
            August 20, 2015 at 12:23 am | #

            *plays some Jerry Lee Lewis on the Muzak*
            Hurry over baby/We got chicken in the corn/In the corn/Whose corn?–MY corn!

          • sps48
            sps48
            August 20, 2015 at 1:05 am | #

            Shinji Shinji

            • Darkoneko
              Darkoneko
              August 20, 2015 at 10:58 pm | #

              Nadesico, actually.

            • Tacos
              Tacos
              August 20, 2015 at 11:00 pm | #

              Oh no, this is a path that’ll lead to someone piloting an Evangelion and initiating Third Impact…

          • Pierre-Eric
            Pierre-Eric
            August 20, 2015 at 2:43 am | #

            Baka Baka
            Do-do-be-do-do
            Baka Baka
            Do-do-be-do

          • Lord Circe
            Lord Circe
            August 20, 2015 at 1:25 pm | #

            Baka baka, need more dakka!

          • Chris
            Chris
            August 20, 2015 at 6:45 pm | #

            And as we all know, there’s no such thing as too much Baka

          • Jeff K!
            Jeff K!
            August 22, 2015 at 2:20 am | #

            BAKA SONG!
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS4mRlNCV8g

        • thebombzen
          thebombzen
          August 20, 2015 at 1:02 am | #

          EMIYA-KUN!!!!

          • Jordan
            Jordan
            August 20, 2015 at 2:40 am | #

            SHIROU!!!! WHEN’S DINNER GOING TO BE READY!?!?

    • gkheyf
      gkheyf
      August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

      big sis, your dere is showing!

    • David Herbert
      David Herbert
      August 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

      Sempai, stop noticing me.

      • JetstreamGW
        JetstreamGW
        August 20, 2015 at 12:50 am | #

        Kouhai. Joyce is kouhai 😛

    • Someone
      Someone
      August 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

      At the end of the Becky saga Joyce will face down Toe Dad in a sword fight . They will rush at each other and there will be a brief flash of light as they pass by each other. Toe Dad will take a brief moment to acknowledge Joyce’s true abilities before dying. Joyce will then dramatically sheath her sword.

      • Cephalo the Pod
        Cephalo the Pod
        August 20, 2015 at 12:15 am | #

        Nonononono WAIT.
        She sheathes the sword.
        Then he dies.

        • Tacos
          Tacos
          August 20, 2015 at 12:21 am | #

          She also needs to turn around and point at him while saying, “Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru.” before he dies.

          • Darkoneko
            Darkoneko
            August 20, 2015 at 12:34 am | #

            Ken fights bare-handed.

          • Someone
            Someone
            August 20, 2015 at 1:05 am | #

            Or alternatively, scream

            EXCALIBUR!!

            • Cybersnark
              Cybersnark
              August 20, 2015 at 9:44 am | #

              Aaaand now I’m visualizing Galasso wielding the Soul Eater version of Excaliber.

              They get into an endless loop calling each other FOOLS!!

              • you can't see me
                you can't see me
                August 20, 2015 at 1:32 pm | #

                FOOL!

              • Disloyal Subject
                Disloyal Subject
                August 20, 2015 at 8:16 pm | #

                I’d probably enjoy watching that.

              • beige
                beige
                August 20, 2015 at 10:38 pm | #

                excalibur finds the one person he can’t tolerate being wielded by

                • Disloyal Subject
                  Disloyal Subject
                  August 20, 2015 at 11:20 pm | #

                  Or they conquer the world. Even odds, but my money’s on global domination for a minimum of fifteen seconds.

      • Mada
        Mada
        August 20, 2015 at 12:39 am | #

        I like to think at the very least if/when she confronts him, her rage will be great enough that she will actually call him an asshole.

        Not “butthole”.

        She will call him an asshole, and it will have glorious meaning.

        • Bicycle Bill
          Bicycle Bill
          August 20, 2015 at 1:36 am | #

          This raises an interesting point and calls for some audience participation.  It is a given that at some point in her college career, Joyce is eventually going to swear — or at least use a thoroughly vulgar word/phrase.  It may not happen this semester, which means we will never see it in DoA, but here’s the question:
          1) what word/phrase will result in Joyce losing her swearing cherry, and
          2) who or what will provoke it?

          • Someone
            Someone
            August 20, 2015 at 1:42 am | #

            That seems like something that would be part of the grand finale.

          • BenRG
            BenRG
            August 20, 2015 at 2:51 am | #

            I’m thinking of ‘damn’; it’s a word that’s probably in her standard daily lexicon anyway but it would be different for her to use it as a cuss.

            • Yet_One_More_Idiot
              Yet_One_More_Idiot
              August 20, 2015 at 5:38 am | #

              Either “damn” or “hell”, for pretty much the same reason. They’re both words Joyce already knows, but either could be repurposed as a swear.

              Or perhaps, “Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii—!” or “Ffffffuuuu—-!” 😛

              • El Chupacabre
                El Chupacabre
                August 20, 2015 at 9:09 am | #

                See, I think Damn and Hell are the least likely for that reason—for Joyce, they have so much more meaning. Think about the difference between the average person saying “Damn you” Or “to hell with you” — expressions of anger, defeat, frustration. Whereas to Joyce, that’s literally wishing for her God to sentence that person to an eternity of suffering. Shit and crap, being terms that reference poop and are really only taboo because they -are- expressions of anger, seem most likely to me.

          • SeanR
            SeanR
            August 20, 2015 at 9:40 am | #

            Probably the F bomb. Vulgarities are easier to justify than profanities.

            Even though, the FCC allows profanities through, these days, but bleeps vulgarities.

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          August 20, 2015 at 3:55 am | #

          There will be thunder, lighting, people swooning, Sal silently handing Joyce the keys to her motorcycle, that kind of thing.

          • Mada
            Mada
            August 20, 2015 at 10:11 am | #

            I’m picturing this. Sal silently handing the keys over…and as she takes them, Joyce’s hair suddenly flashes and triples in length.

            • Bagge
              Bagge
              August 20, 2015 at 10:23 am | #

              Dorothy: “…I’m kinda sliding down the Kinsey scale here.”
              Becky: “Been there, tried that.”

              • Deanatay
                Deanatay
                August 20, 2015 at 11:54 am | #

                Don’t you mean sliding UP the scale?

                Mada: also, mittens and fuzzy boots appear on her hands and feet.

                • xKiv
                  xKiv
                  August 20, 2015 at 6:54 pm | #

                  Gravity points down, by definition.
                  And that’s why it’s a slide.

                • Bagge
                  Bagge
                  August 20, 2015 at 11:09 pm | #

                  …honestly I didn’t bother to look up the polarity of the scale.

                  There is only one thing to do.

                  REVERSE THE POLARITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          • Someone
            Someone
            August 20, 2015 at 2:12 pm | #

            Becky is kidnapped by toe dad. They need the motorcycle to save her but Sal is hurt. Joyce says: “give me the fucking keys”

            Looking at her with approval, Sal hands Joyce the keys and an epic motorcycle car chase begins.

            • WolfLann
              WolfLann
              August 20, 2015 at 7:09 pm | #

              And that is when Ruth gets hit by a truck pushing Danny out of the way.

              • Disloyal Subject
                Disloyal Subject
                August 20, 2015 at 8:23 pm | #

                After two days in ICU, the truck dies.

                • merbrat
                  merbrat
                  August 21, 2015 at 12:55 am | #

                  RIP keyboard.
                  (needed a beverage alert, there Bucko.)

      • Max
        Max
        August 20, 2015 at 7:26 am | #

        Will Ninja Rick be there?

        • Time Sage
          Time Sage
          August 20, 2015 at 10:11 pm | #

          …Where IS Ninja rick in this universe?

          • beige
            beige
            August 20, 2015 at 10:40 pm | #

            Ninja rick is the professor of ninja-ology, providing the most popular and sensible course of the campus

            • Darkoneko
              Darkoneko
              August 20, 2015 at 11:00 pm | #

              Too bad apparently only Dina knows about it.

  2. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    August 20, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

    DO IT

    JUST DO IT

    • Inkblot
      Inkblot
      August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

      It may not be possible, but it is necessary. (Interstellar)

      • Ana Chronistic
        Ana Chronistic
        August 20, 2015 at 2:09 am | #

        She’ll come atcha like a spider monkey!

  3. Darkoneko
    Darkoneko
    August 20, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

    Your annoyances have use, sometimes.

    • BarGamer
      BarGamer
      August 20, 2015 at 7:35 am | #

      Annoyuses.

  4. otusasio451
    otusasio451
    August 20, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

    Awwwww, big sister moment. Needed that.

  5. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Joyce is the Terminator!

    • MM
      MM
      August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

      Dang, too slow. 🙁

    • gkheyf
      gkheyf
      August 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

      and, as with the original, her motivation is sarah

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        August 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

        BONUS! ^_^

      • Darkoneko
        Darkoneko
        August 20, 2015 at 12:07 am | #

        …well played.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        August 20, 2015 at 9:54 am | #

        BEST COMMENT TODAY!!!

    • m2iCodeJockey
      m2iCodeJockey
      August 20, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

      “Caum wid me if you want to watch Dexter and Monkey Mastah…”

      • sps48
        sps48
        August 20, 2015 at 1:06 am | #

        It’s not a tooma!

      • Orbit Junkie
        Orbit Junkie
        August 20, 2015 at 1:18 am | #

        “Get to the SAUCAH!”

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      August 20, 2015 at 12:25 pm | #

      Listen. Understand. That Joyce is out there. She can’t be bargained with, can’t be reasoned with. She doesn’t feel pity or remorse or fear (well, maybe sometimes) and she absolutely will not stop, EVER, until her friends are happy!

      You still don’t get it, do you?? She’ll help people! That’s WHAT she does! That’s ALL SHE DOES!! You can’t stop her!!

      • m2iCodeJockey
        m2iCodeJockey
        August 20, 2015 at 2:37 pm | #

        !!!

      • Darkoneko
        Darkoneko
        August 20, 2015 at 11:01 pm | #

        you can’t stop her, but you can change the way she helps, at least.

        Like, the way she was trying to “help” Ethan vs now.

  6. Tayo
    Tayo
    August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Sarah: The motivational speaker

  7. Mada
    Mada
    August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Best. Big Sister. Ever.

  8. MM
    MM
    August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    “Basically, you’re a defanged variant of the Terminator, and I’d rather have the one that can shoot lasers.”

    • Yet_One_More_Idiot
      Yet_One_More_Idiot
      August 20, 2015 at 5:49 am | #

      Sarah: Congratulations Joyce, your biggest superpower is that you just don’t know when to quit. FYI, sarcasm.

  9. madock345
    madock345
    August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Sarah, I already love you best, you can stop now.

  10. David Herbert
    David Herbert
    August 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    And then in comes the unrequested hug.

  11. Darkoneko
    Darkoneko
    August 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

    So, Sarah is totally drawing similarities with the way she handed her own best friend last year.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 20, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

      That’s what I saw, too.

      • AgentKeen
        AgentKeen
        August 20, 2015 at 12:31 am | #

        I really want to see what’s going on with Dana now. I know, knowing could potentially resolve both internal and external conflict that Sarah’s dealing with, but I’m really curious.

    • Cass
      Cass
      August 20, 2015 at 12:54 am | #

      Though Dana wasn’t her best friend. She appreciated that she was reaching out to her, but all she said was that she got to feel more comfortable with her and her group for while but still never spent much time with them.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        August 20, 2015 at 1:49 am | #

        I get the impression that Dana didn’t have a whole lot of competition for ‘best friend’.

        • Darkoneko
          Darkoneko
          August 20, 2015 at 1:31 pm | #

          yeeup

  12. syd
    syd
    August 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

    Joyce, your drill is the drill that will pierce toedad

    • Mada
      Mada
      August 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

      Well she DOES know what a strapon is now, so….

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        August 20, 2015 at 12:07 am | #

        Joyce would need a size 12 to use on Toedad.

        ENJOY THAT IMAGERY! 😛

        • Mada
          Mada
          August 20, 2015 at 12:10 am | #

          I’m picturing her posing dramatically with a Gurren Lagann-esque expression of fury on her face while Toedad has the horrified expression of that face on the “In the Court of the Crimson King” album cover.

          It’s late enough right now that I find it hilarious, but at any other time I would probably be traumatized.

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            August 20, 2015 at 12:14 am | #

            I have seen more than enough of the dark side of the internets not to be too bothered by imagery like that anymore.

            • Deanatay
              Deanatay
              August 20, 2015 at 8:46 am | #

              This sounds a bit too much like, “I’ve seen enough hentai to know where this is going”…

              • Opus the Poet
                Opus the Poet
                August 20, 2015 at 12:16 pm | #

                http://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/490

                So has Sydney.

                • m2iCodeJockey
                  m2iCodeJockey
                  August 20, 2015 at 6:07 pm | #

                  “I don’t watch hentai. Where is this going…?”

                • Plasma Mongoose
                  Plasma Mongoose
                  August 20, 2015 at 8:52 pm | #

                  I must get around to archive-binging Grrl Power one of these days.

                • Disloyal Subject
                  Disloyal Subject
                  August 20, 2015 at 11:22 pm | #

                  Do it! It’s not that long yet.
                  The comments are even more intimidatingly numerous than Paranatural’s, though.

          • David Alexander McDonald
            David Alexander McDonald
            August 20, 2015 at 12:24 am | #

            21st CVentury Schizoid Spam, did you say? http://40.media.tumblr.com/ab76f445411ba57839c8faa72fa71c5b/tumblr_nbgxucekp71riygnso1_500.jpg

          • MrZombieScordo
            MrZombieScordo
            August 20, 2015 at 12:31 am | #

            I picture that same pose, but with her yelling, “WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?”

            • Someone
              Someone
              August 20, 2015 at 12:50 am | #

              Its Joyce…WHO THE HECK DO YOU THINK I AM!

            • Mada
              Mada
              August 20, 2015 at 10:13 am | #

              I hope a number of fanartists are reading these comments about now.

            • Disloyal Subject
              Disloyal Subject
              August 20, 2015 at 8:27 pm | #

              That’s sacrilege! No one messes with Team Guren’s slogan!

              • Disloyal Subject
                Disloyal Subject
                August 20, 2015 at 8:28 pm | #

                Intended for Someone.

                • Darkoneko
                  Darkoneko
                  August 20, 2015 at 11:03 pm | #

                  Meh, there are already big variant between the way the various chars says it.

                • Disloyal Subject
                  Disloyal Subject
                  August 20, 2015 at 11:25 pm | #

                  Exactly – between “Who in the hell do you think I am!?” “Just who the hell do you think I am!?” and good ol’ bare-bones “Who the hell do you think I am!?” ‘hell’ is a constant.
                  I admit, my knee-jerk reaction to change made me actually mean my intentionally silly outburst. Now that I think about it, I’m fine with ‘heck’ so long as Joyce wears an appropriately absurd outfit.

                • Darkoneko
                  Darkoneko
                  August 20, 2015 at 11:59 pm | #

                  Well, for instant, Nia says it very politely.

                  I’m not sure it was conveyed in the dub properly tho (why would I watchenglish dub, I’m french)

    • AgentKeen
      AgentKeen
      August 20, 2015 at 12:32 am | #

      Believe in the me that… thinks you’re actually quite annoying.

  13. bodmans
    bodmans
    August 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

    Joyce’s face is very grav-genic

  14. m2iCodeJockey
    m2iCodeJockey
    August 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

    The alt text was on the nose…

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      August 20, 2015 at 12:21 am | #

      But on the money nonetheless!

      • Volkai
        Volkai
        August 20, 2015 at 7:30 am | #

        On the nose of the money!

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          August 20, 2015 at 12:17 pm | #

          Or on the money of the nose.

  15. Bagge
    Bagge
    August 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

    Awesome Joyce-face: Achieved.

  16. read all over
    read all over
    August 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

    Is that what Sarah did when it came to Dana?

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

      Yep.

  17. Leorale
    Leorale
    August 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

    Ouch, right in the feels.
    Forgive me for derailing. I’m on leave from training to be a social worker, and I’m deeply worried that I might not be nearly relentless enough to make the difference that is needed. It’s hard, you guys. I agree with Sarah, that Joyce will never quit. I wish I was like Joyce in this one way.

    • dailybrad
      dailybrad
      August 20, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

      You’re going to be a social worker. That already speaks to dedication, and well, people can often rise to the occasion when things do get hard. I wish you the best.

    • A Scientist
      A Scientist
      August 20, 2015 at 1:02 am | #

      I’m good friends with a social worker. I know it’s a small sample, but from her, it seems to me, that whatever it is that gets you into being a social worker is also whatever gets you through being a social worker. I don’t know what that thing she has is, but it strikes me as a prerequisite to even considering the field seriously.

  18. Katerly
    Katerly
    August 20, 2015 at 12:07 am | #

    Don’t knock it! Some of the best pep talks of my life have been that backhanded.

  19. redraine
    redraine
    August 20, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

    This is probably the most inspiring thing I’ve read in my entire life.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      August 20, 2015 at 12:23 am | #

      I concur, it’s beautiful stuff.

  20. dailybrad
    dailybrad
    August 20, 2015 at 12:09 am | #

    Joyce’s faith is powerful. When she puts it in people, she can do great things.

  21. Spidergirl
    Spidergirl
    August 20, 2015 at 12:10 am | #

    You’ll do it for her, that is to say, to save her from him.

    • Tacos
      Tacos
      August 20, 2015 at 12:12 am | #

      I get that reference.

    • MM
      MM
      August 20, 2015 at 12:12 am | #

      Becky’s more of an Amethyst, though.

    • Nightsbridge
      Nightsbridge
      August 20, 2015 at 12:16 am | #

      Ma’am, I like you.

    • Cephalo the Pod
      Cephalo the Pod
      August 20, 2015 at 12:18 am | #

      “Why won’t you let me do this for you, Ethan?!“

    • Siyajkak
      Siyajkak
      August 20, 2015 at 12:27 am | #

      But Sarah! If Toedad crushes Joyce, she can’t regenerate!

      • Cerberus
        Cerberus
        August 20, 2015 at 2:04 am | #

        Sarah can’t! Sarah doesn’t want to think about herself!

    • dailybrad
      dailybrad
      August 20, 2015 at 10:42 pm | #

      Deep down, you know, that you’re not dishonest
      But that doesn’t mean you’re not prepared to try
      What he won’t know, is what will help protect her
      When you live for someone, you’re prepared to lie

  22. Romanticide
    Romanticide
    August 20, 2015 at 12:28 am | #

    Sarah going all tsundere is cute 😛

    • Aeron
      Aeron
      August 20, 2015 at 5:09 am | #

      I was going to comment that that final panel is the cutest picture of Sarah I’ve ever seen.

  23. Idon'tcarenomore
    Idon'tcarenomore
    August 20, 2015 at 12:40 am | #

    Probably the nicest confidence speech I’ve ever heard….very Sarah.

  24. caesaria82
    caesaria82
    August 20, 2015 at 12:55 am | #

    This is actually so lovely and adorable, I can barely deal. I’m not crying, you’re crying!!

  25. Historyman68
    Historyman68
    August 20, 2015 at 1:07 am | #

    Tonight Annoying Joyce Saved My Life

  26. A Scientist
    A Scientist
    August 20, 2015 at 1:08 am | #

    For five panels, Sarah’s guard is down. In the sixth, she realizes what she’s done and makes sure to compensate accordingly.

    This is how I offer support, except Sarah was so much more eloquent and convincing than I am. I now have a role model or something.

  27. Cerberus
    Cerberus
    August 20, 2015 at 1:13 am | #

    I’m pretty sure Sarah is talking about herself just as much as she is about Joyce. And yes, she does find it annoying how easily she gets wrapped up wanting to solve other people’s problems and keep trying, even when she doesn’t know what to do, even when it impacts her ability to take care of her own needs, even when she gets it wrong or says something or does something astute or decisive that makes everyone hate her. She wants to push everyone away and be safe from the rejection, but she can’t help trying and helping. Just like Joyce.

    So the last bit is half-encouraging half-hope. She wants to believe that this trying pays off in the long run and those she helps are actually in better places even if they want nothing to do with her. And she wants to believe that will be the case for Joyce because then there might be hope for her to.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      August 20, 2015 at 3:44 am | #

      Also I think she envies Joyce just a tiny bit, because Joyce doesn’t try to back down and not get involved like she does – Joyce live by and for her ethics and pathos. Of course, Sarah snarks about it a lot, but when the chips are down she does the right thing too.

      • Cerberus
        Cerberus
        August 20, 2015 at 12:01 pm | #

        This. Sarah is broken by the cost of her empathy and so envies the freshness of someone who hasn’t gone through that yet and who seems to have an infinite ability to bounce back from terrible things.

        I think despite the protests to the contrary, Sarah wishes she could be a little more like Joyce.

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          August 20, 2015 at 4:50 pm | #

          This is not lost on Dina.

  28. les-be-friends dinosaurs
    les-be-friends dinosaurs
    August 20, 2015 at 1:17 am | #

    Fuckin tsunderes

    • m2iCodeJockey
      m2iCodeJockey
      August 20, 2015 at 7:31 am | #

      That avatar…

  29. Ryan
    Ryan
    August 20, 2015 at 1:29 am | #

    I think you mean “It’s actually quite annoying”, Sarah. Also, speaking of things that are actually quite annoying: complaining about other people’s pronoun disuse.

    • Random832
      Random832
      August 20, 2015 at 9:45 am | #

      She already basically admitted she was just attempting to divert attention from Dina’s original question; what more do you want?

  30. Kraken
    Kraken
    August 20, 2015 at 1:32 am | #

    Sarah used Inspiring Word! That’s a minor action too, so she can totally move to close range and use do a hug roll. She could move away too, but she better watch out for hugs of opportunity.

    The only problem I have with this is it kinda makes the whole ordeal seem like a T-800 vs T-1000 situation. I believe Becky will be fine in the end, but it’ll be a rough journey…

  31. Kitschensyngk
    Kitschensyngk
    August 20, 2015 at 1:48 am | #

    As far as Sarah’s concerned, that IS a compliment.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      August 20, 2015 at 3:48 am | #

      As far as Joyce is concerned too. Just the compliment she needed, in fact. Sarah has done good.

  32. Lapin
    Lapin
    August 20, 2015 at 1:52 am | #

    Big sister, and little sister.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      August 20, 2015 at 3:49 am | #

      It’s very, very beautiful.

  33. Poli
    Poli
    August 20, 2015 at 1:59 am | #

    Man, Sarah is F***ing awesome.

  34. Asper Storm
    Asper Storm
    August 20, 2015 at 2:03 am | #

    Did Sarah just do something incredibly sweet and nice just to make Joyce feel better!?!?!

  35. inqntrol
    inqntrol
    August 20, 2015 at 2:07 am | #

    Don’t deny it Sarah,you know you like to help others.

  36. BenRG
    BenRG
    August 20, 2015 at 2:17 am | #

    Yes… Sarah never met anyone quite as strong-willed as Joyce before. It annoys her because she doesn’t really like being in the situation where she’s not necessarily the dominant one in the dorm room.

  37. nothri
    nothri
    August 20, 2015 at 2:28 am | #

    Sarah, I’m pretty sure everything you just said about Joyce’s relationship with Becky also applies to your relationship with Joyce. Just saying.

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      August 20, 2015 at 2:49 am | #

      I do think that this is something that Sarah, on a certain, unconscious level, is afraid of about Joyce. That, much against either of them’s intentions, just knowing Joyce will inspire Sarah to become a better person rather than the cynical, antisocial shell that is her current comfort zone.

  38. Freezer
    Freezer
    August 20, 2015 at 3:03 am | #

    Behold the power of FRIENDSH… er… PRAGMATISM!

  39. Zan Thrax
    Zan Thrax
    August 20, 2015 at 4:37 am | #

    Sarah’s speech is both wonderful and revealing and all that jazz, but I’m kinda stuck on panel one.

    Holy balls Joyce. That’s simultaneously incredibly egotistical that you think that someone else’s entire life revolves around what you do or don’t do, incredibly self-sacrificing to try to take responsibility for making everything in someone else’s life work out the way they want, and at least a little bit emasculating to assume that Becky can’t take care of herself at all.

    You’re her best friend, not her parent; it’s not your job to protect her from the world or to sacrifice yourself for her either.

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      August 20, 2015 at 5:07 am | #

      Is this the martyr complex?

      • BenRG
        BenRG
        August 20, 2015 at 5:14 am | #

        It’s what Hermione Granger refers to as the ‘saving people thing’.

        Someone like that ends up as a hero or a villain; they can’t help it because it is in their nature to be involved.

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      August 20, 2015 at 5:11 am | #

      Super-powers or not, alien DNA splicing or no, Joyce Brown has the heart and soul of a Knight Errant. Sometimes, that leads to this frequently self-damaging egoism that she and she alone can save people.

      This is not simply about Becky either; look how she’s having to restrain herself with trying to manage and ‘fix’ Ethan’s life!

      I have long wondered if, by some weird narrative arc, Sal would end up as Amazi-Girl’s sidekick. It suddenly occurs to me that, with the right stimulus and the necessary level of discipline, it could quite easily be Joyce. Hmm… (Visualises Joyce in spandex; maybe something like the classic Huntress costume from the 1990s)

      • Amazi-Stool
        Amazi-Stool
        August 20, 2015 at 3:36 pm | #

        Her superhero name is Bible Belt – girl of ministry!

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        August 20, 2015 at 11:12 pm | #

        Sal would be more of a rival than sidekick anyway. She plays second fiddle to no one, least of all someone enforcing laws that the establishment can’t be arsed to uphold themselves.
        I was going to call her the Bane to Amber’s Batman, considering that they both tend to be reasonable and willing to cooperate without being any less ruthless, but I think Bane has substantially more respect for Bats than Sal does for Amazi-girl.

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      August 20, 2015 at 6:24 am | #

      Except she’s right. Becky is completely dependant on Joyce. Becky can’t feed, clothe, protect, or give herself a home. She has zero resources to work with right now and is in great immediate danger.

    • Cerberus
      Cerberus
      August 20, 2015 at 12:09 pm | #

      I’m pretty sure it’s a direct reference to this:
      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/04-walking-with-dina/buttholedad/

      Joyce understands that the easiest and most likely to be enduring solution to the pressing problem of Toedad is to convincingly lie to someone she has been trained all her life that you are never supposed to lie to and is worried about her ability to pull that off.

      Which I think is part of what Sarah is trying to impart. That, yes, maybe Joyce will fail in that, but it’s admirable that she’s willing to take that moral evolution step to try and that willingness to try is what is helping the most.

  40. Les
    Les
    August 20, 2015 at 7:05 am | #

    And the smile is back…

  41. RavenRyy
    RavenRyy
    August 20, 2015 at 8:06 am | #

    I think I want to hug Sarah. Then again, I think the way to show that would be to pass her a coke and a packet of nibbles.

    Either way, she’s awesome.

    • m2iCodeJockey
      m2iCodeJockey
      August 20, 2015 at 10:22 am | #

      • RavenRyy
        RavenRyy
        August 20, 2015 at 1:57 pm | #

        Your silence. . . intrigues me.

        • m2iCodeJockey
          m2iCodeJockey
          August 20, 2015 at 4:17 pm | #

          It was supposed to say:

          Raven tries to hug Sarah…

          http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/guard/

          • RavenRyy
            RavenRyy
            August 20, 2015 at 8:00 pm | #

            Ha! I was thinking of that when I wrote my first comment! You a mind reader!

  42. Deimir
    Deimir
    August 20, 2015 at 8:26 am | #

    Today’s strip is even funnier if you read “do it” in Shia Labeouf’s voice.

  43. hof1991
    hof1991
    August 20, 2015 at 8:40 am | #

    So in the end will it come down to Joyce

    A. Lying convincingly, as has been foreshadowed
    B. Unloading a truck full of truth and righteousness on toedad.
    C. Swordfight to the death for Becky’s future.

    Since b and c would be very satisfying , I am betting on A

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      August 20, 2015 at 8:55 am | #

      I seem to remember that Walkyverse Joyce is a psychic. Just how much commonality between the two universes is there again?

      *Sub-bass rumble in the background* “You have no reason to believe Becky is here.”

      “… I have no reason to believe Becky is here.”

      “She only ran away because you overreacted.”

      “… She only ran away because I overreacted.”

      “You are going home to reassess how you treat her.”

      “… I’m going home to reassess how I treat her.”

      “You’ll say hi to my folks for me. Goodbye.”

      “… I’ll say hi to your folks for you… Goodbye… Uh… wh…? Yeah, goodbye, Joyce! Thanks for your help!”

      Yeah, totally implausible but fun to visualise! 😀

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        August 20, 2015 at 5:25 pm | #

        Joyce is not psychic, she had super strength and toughness and had super math powers that let her use the jetpack effectively.

        • Disloyal Subject
          Disloyal Subject
          August 20, 2015 at 11:17 pm | #

          She does have the perfect combination of altruism and dedication to a formalized code of conduct to be an excellent Jedi Knight, though.

  44. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    August 20, 2015 at 8:59 am | #

    Ultimately, they all fail. Toedad finds Becky, gets her kicked out of the dorms, and forces her into gay rehab.

    All hope seems lost, as the rehab-rapists come for her in the night..

    Until they are viciously mauled by an unexpected raptor attack!

    In the confusion, Joyce and her friends spirit Becky away all Ocean’s Eleven-style!

    Because Joyce is RELENTLESS!

  45. Tomas
    Tomas
    August 20, 2015 at 9:26 am | #

    Notice she said, “You will do it.”, and not, “You’ll do it.” Sarah caught the Dina Virus.

    • SeanR
      SeanR
      August 20, 2015 at 10:30 am | #

      Nah. It’s just more powerful, in that instance, to keep the words separate.
      It’s a rousing speech, after all.

      I started to make a comment on the value of capitalizing Will for emphasis, but noticed [b]Do[/b] was bolded.
      Since the speech bubbles are all caps, all the time, you can’t bold select words for emphasis.

  46. DSL
    DSL
    August 20, 2015 at 11:01 am | #

    Sarah tries to save face in the last panel. Joyce ain’t buyin’ it.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      August 20, 2015 at 4:55 pm | #

      Translated from Sarah-speak this means roughly “You are all kinds of awesome. Here, have all the gold stars and a free unicorn, that’s how awesome you are.”

  47. Cirne
    Cirne
    August 20, 2015 at 11:01 am | #

    As of this strip, Sarah is forever voiced by Garnet in my headcanon. I can so very see her saying this.

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      August 20, 2015 at 11:18 pm | #

      Well, that’s all the reason I need to finally give Steven Universe a try.

  48. GMB13carat
    GMB13carat
    August 20, 2015 at 11:19 am | #

    Panel three sounds like the beginning of that nightmare Joyce had.

  49. man in black
    man in black
    August 20, 2015 at 9:00 pm | #

    So she’s like the Terminator?

  50. The Paulosopher
    The Paulosopher
    August 20, 2015 at 9:59 pm | #

    Anyone else notice that Sarah is using WAY fewer contractions now?

    • Kate
      Kate
      August 21, 2015 at 4:27 am | #

      I was just going to ask that.

      I think Dina is the real Bad Influence here.

  51. 0kami
    0kami
    August 30, 2015 at 6:21 am | #

    Anyone else notice how this strip seems to not be name-tagged at all?

  52. BrokenEye, True False Prophet
    BrokenEye, True False Prophet
    October 9, 2015 at 10:32 pm | #

    They have a weird relationship

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