Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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sadly 'bisexual' isn't as alliterative
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May 12, 2026

Endearin’ly

by David M Willis on March 17, 2019 at 12:01 am
  • 03 - Sometimes the Sky Was So Far Away

└ Tags: becky, joyce, sal

Discussion (180) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    March 17, 2019 at 12:03 am | #

    is… is THAT what the Pointer Sisters were about

    • Stephen Bierce
      Stephen Bierce
      March 17, 2019 at 12:05 am | #

      *plays “Fire” on the hacked Muzak* Thank you!

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      March 17, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

      I mean, there was that scene in Friends where Monica sang The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Excited” while wearing no bra and a shirt that was see-through when the spotlight hit it.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      March 17, 2019 at 2:20 am | #

      White Pointers are both sharks and Aussie slang for perky tits.

      The More You Know…

      • Ntrovert60
        Ntrovert60
        March 17, 2019 at 7:55 am | #

        Heh.

      • HeySo
        HeySo
        March 17, 2019 at 10:31 am | #

        Okay, now I’m even more concerned about the Australians arbitrarily killing off sharks. Are Australians not loved by their mothers, or something? :/

        • Severing
          Severing
          March 18, 2019 at 4:46 am | #

          Huh, I can honestly say I’ve never heard someone use that euphemism.

          I’m not a fan of the shark culling, but it’s not exactly arbitrary. There’s been a pretty noticeable increase in shark attacks and sightings near popular beaches in the last few years (probably means their numbers are finally starting to recover).

          • Roborat
            Roborat
            March 18, 2019 at 3:36 pm | #

            Or they are being forced closer to shore due to lack of food.

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    March 17, 2019 at 12:04 am | #

    If she had a third, I expect she’d at least get some stares.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      March 17, 2019 at 8:34 am | #

      Total Recall.

    • Ed Rhodes
      Ed Rhodes
      March 17, 2019 at 9:16 am | #

      I expect Eccentrica Galomptrix, the triple-breasted whore of Erotocon VI, certainly gets her share!

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        March 17, 2019 at 10:55 am | #

        That’s ‘Gallumbits’.

  3. JetstreamGW
    JetstreamGW
    March 17, 2019 at 12:05 am | #

    What’d I miss with Malaya and connections that Joyce is aware of? I can’t think of it.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      March 17, 2019 at 12:05 am | #

      Ba-thumping with Joe.

      • AntJ
        AntJ
        March 17, 2019 at 12:10 am | #

        Is anyone else getting vibes that Joyce and Joe have undisclosed mutual feelings for each other?

        • Lily
          Lily
          March 17, 2019 at 12:14 am | #

          Yo

        • MatthewTheLucky
          MatthewTheLucky
          March 17, 2019 at 12:15 am | #

          Whaaaaaaaaaht? Noooo. No romantic and sexual tension between the two characters who already went on a date and are heavily invested in each others’ personal lives at alllllllll.

        • DailyBrad
          DailyBrad
          March 17, 2019 at 12:22 am | #

          Yyyyyup, seemingly it.

    • Tacos
      Tacos
      March 17, 2019 at 12:10 am | #

      Boinking Joe.

  4. Ridtom
    Ridtom
    March 17, 2019 at 12:06 am | #

    Becky’s face in that last panel haunts me

  5. Spruce Goose
    Spruce Goose
    March 17, 2019 at 12:06 am | #

    …
    Is Joyce salty about Malaya boinkin’ Joe?

    • Abel Undercity
      Abel Undercity
      March 17, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

      Several mines worth of salt. Great was her disappointment with Joe.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      March 17, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

      Goddamnit, there’s a church near me called “Salt Church,” and I keep meaning to take a picture of it in case an opportunity like this comes up.

      • UniqueSnowflake2
        UniqueSnowflake2
        March 17, 2019 at 12:15 am | #

        Halite-lujah!

        • Abel Undercity
          Abel Undercity
          March 17, 2019 at 12:18 am | #

          Ex-salt the Most High!

          • ValdVin
            ValdVin
            March 17, 2019 at 12:23 am | #

            Chlorine, chlorine, chlorine,
            In Ex-sodium Deo.

            • Marsh Maryrose
              Marsh Maryrose
              March 17, 2019 at 12:41 am | #

              Brine be the glory!

      • merbrat
        merbrat
        March 18, 2019 at 10:39 am | #

        *giggle-snort* at the follow-up salty puns!
        So, my “Lo-Salt” and “No-Salt” containers represent Agnostics and Athiests?

        • KarlBob
          KarlBob
          March 19, 2019 at 9:36 am | #

          Russel’s Salt Shaker instead of the Teapot;
          Mrs. Dash represents Satanists;
          The introduction of iodized salt as a stand-in for the Protestant Reformation

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      March 17, 2019 at 1:57 am | #

      I kinda think she is.

      And not ONLY because that left her to babysit the Faz alone.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        March 17, 2019 at 10:54 am | #

        Not only the obvious either.

        Joe took a big step back in his progress last time she saw him and I suspect she attributes that to his fling with Malaya.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      March 17, 2019 at 2:23 am | #

      Joyce salty? Did she accidentally walk into Joe’s “splash-zone” or something?

      • james
        james
        March 18, 2019 at 11:27 am | #

        +2 very sticky internet points for you!

  6. Abel Undercity
    Abel Undercity
    March 17, 2019 at 12:07 am | #

    MCINTYRE & BROWN: LESBIAN LOVE SLEUTHS, coming in June to Prime Video!

    The jinks, they will be most high.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      March 17, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

      “Cracking cases” already sounds like a euphemism.

      • Lieutenant Dan
        Lieutenant Dan
        March 17, 2019 at 9:08 am | #

        Wait, scratch that. Reverse it. 😏

    • tim gueguen
      tim gueguen
      March 17, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

      With Lori Petty as the voice of Becky.

      • Abel Undercity
        Abel Undercity
        March 17, 2019 at 12:11 am | #

        I like Amy Poehler for Joyce.

        • Yumi
          Yumi
          March 17, 2019 at 12:13 am | #

          For a confusing moment, I thought you were talking about shipping.

          In related news, you wanna hear about a new crossover ship?

          • Abel Undercity
            Abel Undercity
            March 17, 2019 at 12:14 am | #

            I never NOT want to hear these things. Launch thy ship.

        • Lokitsu
          Lokitsu
          March 17, 2019 at 1:22 am | #

          Can we have Patrick Warburton for Joe?

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        March 17, 2019 at 12:12 am | #

        I’ve been hearing Ashly Burch.

        Joyce is Tara Strong.

    • kendermouse
      kendermouse
      March 17, 2019 at 2:26 pm | #

      Oh maaan, now I’m hoping there will at least be fanfic of this, because it sounds ah-mazing.

  7. 1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals
    1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals
    March 17, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    Joyce brown: lesbian love slueth! coming soon to the disney afternoon

    • abysswatcher1993
      abysswatcher1993
      March 17, 2019 at 2:47 am | #

      Better than Walky’s Garbage Roof on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.

    • Arian
      Arian
      March 17, 2019 at 4:45 am | #

      I regret your loss…

  8. FaerwenOfValenwood
    FaerwenOfValenwood
    March 17, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    Not many things cuter than Sal letting her guard down a little, tbh.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      March 17, 2019 at 12:10 am | #

      Speaking of Sal and adorable, her in a ponytail and bandana continues to be the cutest thing ever.

  9. Pablo360
    Pablo360
    March 17, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    …wait, Joyce knows about Marcie and Malaya? Was this established?

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      March 17, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

      Nah, Marcie’s just really really obvious unless your name is Sal. Or, indeed, Malaya.

    • BarerMender
      BarerMender
      March 17, 2019 at 12:25 am | #

      Wasn’t Joe talking to Joyce when Malaya moved in? And Sal also was a witness.

      • Kinoko
        Kinoko
        March 17, 2019 at 3:11 am | #

        Sal, Marcie and Carla were all there when Malaya waltzed on over to Joe, who was talking to Joyce. Marcie’s reaction was *shrug*.

  10. 1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals
    1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals
    March 17, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    Dang wut r the odds we both thought 9f the excact same joke lol

    • Abel Undercity
      Abel Undercity
      March 17, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

      Great minds, naturally!

  11. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    March 17, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    Becky and Joyce have separate ways of diagramming the term “Lesbian Love Sleuth”.

    • ShinyNeen
      ShinyNeen
      March 17, 2019 at 12:58 am | #

      J: ‘Lesbian’ only modifies ‘Love’ in that descriptor!
      B: Pfft, speak fer yerself!

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        March 17, 2019 at 1:56 am | #

        The fun part is that Joyce is a lesbian love sleuth (with ‘lesbian’ modifying ‘love’) working on cases with (presumed) lesbian love (Mary having a crush on Carla?).

        Becky is a lesbian love sleuth (with ‘lesbian’ modifying ‘sleuth’) working on cases with straight love (Joyce and Jacob).

        It totally works!

    • Northamptonian
      Northamptonian
      March 17, 2019 at 3:55 am | #

      Yup, ambiguities like that can be fun. A handy term of art for the phenomenon is “bracketing”:
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracketing_(linguistics)

  12. BBCC
    BBCC
    March 17, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

    Awwwww, it’s sweet Sal talks about things she finds endearing about Marcie.

    And pffft, yeah, once again talking about the, ahem, ‘singularity from which no light can escape’, I believe your words were Sal? 😛

    But yeah, as much fun as siccing your well-meaning-but-annoying little sister on someone you don’t like can be, it’s not fun when your friend is stuck in the crossfire.

  13. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    March 17, 2019 at 12:10 am | #

    If only “lesbian love sleuth” was a tag so I can see what case Joyce was working on.

    • BarerMender
      BarerMender
      March 17, 2019 at 12:26 am | #

      It was the case of whether or not Mary had a thing for Carla. She didn’t.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        March 17, 2019 at 12:27 am | #

        Ah yes. I thought she was looking into Ruth and Billie.

        • BarerMender
          BarerMender
          March 17, 2019 at 1:09 am | #

          Joyce was as surprised as everyone else about Ruth & Billie.

          • Clif
            Clif
            March 17, 2019 at 8:46 am | #

            But given a chance, she shipped it.

            • BarerMender
              BarerMender
              March 18, 2019 at 3:25 am | #

              Joyce ships any and all things. Her ships are quantum.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      March 17, 2019 at 2:00 am | #

      Just because I love that strip, I will link it

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-7/04-the-do-list/creeeaaation/

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        March 17, 2019 at 2:06 am | #

        And just for symmetry: Becky MacIntyre – LESBIAN love sleuth (the word ‘lesbian’ modifies ‘sleuth’ in that description)

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-8/01-face-the-strange/majesty/

  14. Tacos
    Tacos
    March 17, 2019 at 12:11 am | #

    Took me a moment to figure out what Sal meant by “two pointers” >.>

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      March 17, 2019 at 12:15 am | #

      I innocently thought of Marcie’s hands and signing at first.

    • ruhrow
      ruhrow
      March 17, 2019 at 12:17 am | #

      It’s taken me several moments, and it still hasn’t hit me. Care to fill me in?

      • Abel Undercity
        Abel Undercity
        March 17, 2019 at 12:19 am | #

        (stage whisper) They’re talking about boobies.

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          March 17, 2019 at 1:53 am | #

          boooooooobies

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        March 17, 2019 at 12:19 am | #

        Marcie’s boobs are, to use Sal’s words, ‘a singularity from which no light can escape’.

        If that doesn’t clear it up – Sal thinks Marcie has a great rack and that anybody into girls would’ve checked it out by now.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          March 17, 2019 at 12:20 am | #

          Which, considering Sal ‘ah ain’t doin’ that, no’ Walkerton has clearly done so…I’m just gonna laugh.

        • Dark
          Dark
          March 17, 2019 at 1:35 am | #

          I don’t think the qualifier really applies.

          Nice enough set of tits and even I, a certified asexual bastard, will check ’em out.

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            March 17, 2019 at 1:42 am | #

            It was in the context of explaining why Sal didn’t think Malaya liked Marcie back. The implication is if Malaya liked girls, she’d have been checking out Marcie’s rack.

          • Rabid Rabbit
            Rabid Rabbit
            March 17, 2019 at 2:48 am | #

            https://shortpacked.com/comic/boobs

        • Bicycle Bill
          Bicycle Bill
          March 17, 2019 at 11:18 am | #

          Looking back at previous strips with Marcie in them (specifically this one, where we get a view of her ‘upper frontal bulge’ in profile), they’re OK, but they don’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary compared to your average eighteen-year-old girl.

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            March 17, 2019 at 5:11 pm | #

            I said Sal thinks Marcie has a great rack. YMMV.

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      March 17, 2019 at 2:48 am | #

      It took me way too long to figure out that by “pointers” Sal meant boobs.

      • Geneseepaws
        Geneseepaws
        March 17, 2019 at 9:23 am | #

        She is using her hands in a gesture to indicate what she means.

  15. Fasuhn
    Fasuhn
    March 17, 2019 at 12:17 am | #

    “I am a credentialed Lesbian Love Sleuth” would be an amazing title for the next book.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      March 17, 2019 at 1:53 am | #

      …or for a business card, if you are confident enough to pull it off.

      • ValdVin
        ValdVin
        March 17, 2019 at 10:51 am | #

        Is that a hint for me to pop out of the woodwork?

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          March 17, 2019 at 2:00 pm | #

          WELL played.

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      March 17, 2019 at 2:56 am | #

      That would be perfect for Dumbing of Age Book whatever number it is now.

  16. MatthewTheLucky
    MatthewTheLucky
    March 17, 2019 at 12:18 am | #

    No, Becky, her Lesbian modifies the Love, not the Sleuth.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      March 17, 2019 at 1:52 am | #

      While true for Joyce, the same can not be said for Becky.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      March 17, 2019 at 11:07 am | #

      Joyce: Sleuth of Lesbian Love
      Becky: Lesbian Sleuth of Love

    • showler
      showler
      March 17, 2019 at 9:07 pm | #

      Bisexual Boffing Boffin

      • J
        J
        March 18, 2019 at 5:34 pm | #

        Braggadocious Bisexual Boffing Baiting Boffins: “boffing’s what’s best for bodies”

  17. Nono
    Nono
    March 17, 2019 at 12:21 am | #

    The only thing that stood out for me was that Becky’s hand in the last panel looks… kinda off.

    Even her head seems unnaturally jutted forward, like a foraging bird.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      March 17, 2019 at 12:22 am | #

      Becoming a bird gets her closer to being a dinosaur gets her closer to fulfilling Dina’s fantasies.

      • ShinyNeen
        ShinyNeen
        March 17, 2019 at 1:08 am | #

        … and thus gets her closer to fulfilling her own fantasies??

  18. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    March 17, 2019 at 12:24 am | #

    This is one of the funniest and cutest strips in a while, and that’s saying something. Love to see A. the sass getting thrown around, and B. Sal being chipper. She probably appreciates Joyce knocking, for one, plus things have been going her way again.

  19. brionl
    brionl
    March 17, 2019 at 12:52 am | #

    bisexual crush detective?

    • MatthewTheLucky
      MatthewTheLucky
      March 17, 2019 at 1:32 am | #

      Alphabetical is sadly not as good as alliterative.

      • DaveM
        DaveM
        March 17, 2019 at 2:24 am | #

        Alliterative bisexual crush detectives (endearingly friendly)?

        • J
          J
          March 17, 2019 at 5:00 am | #

          Goodness, how informative.

          • Agnes Nitt
            Agnes Nitt
            March 17, 2019 at 9:02 am | #

            Just kidding, love my new occupation!

            • Deanatay
              Deanatay
              March 17, 2019 at 11:08 am | #

              Perhaps, quite ridiculously so!

              • MatthewTheLucky
                MatthewTheLucky
                March 17, 2019 at 2:13 pm | #

                This unbreaking volley works xenially.

                • Agnes Nitt
                  Agnes Nitt
                  March 17, 2019 at 7:47 pm | #

                  You zealot!

              • brionl
                brionl
                March 18, 2019 at 12:01 am | #

                Oops!

    • Lingo
      Lingo
      March 17, 2019 at 2:50 am | #

      Bisexual booty hunter?

      • BarerMender
        BarerMender
        March 17, 2019 at 3:44 am | #

        Bisexual boob bobbler.

  20. ShinyNeen
    ShinyNeen
    March 17, 2019 at 1:07 am | #

    Love Sleuths! I can only hope they get the hats and bubble pipes soon!

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      March 17, 2019 at 1:51 am | #

      Jamie would approve.

  21. egg
    egg
    March 17, 2019 at 1:10 am | #

    every single line in this strip is fucking hilarious

  22. BarerMender
    BarerMender
    March 17, 2019 at 1:10 am | #

    Isn’t this our second hint that Malaya is ace?

    • Lensipensi
      Lensipensi
      March 17, 2019 at 1:17 am | #

      Don’t know how that goes together with her having intimate relations with Joe.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        March 17, 2019 at 1:21 am | #

        Ace people can and do have sex.

        Personally, I always read Malaya as demi.

        • Miri
          Miri
          March 17, 2019 at 1:25 am | #

          My understanding with that is that people who are ace have little interest in having sex themselves but may be happy having it in a relationship because they know it’s something their partner enjoys (assuming they personally are eh rather than urgh about it, but acknowledging both may be the case)?

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            March 17, 2019 at 1:40 am | #

            That’s not quite correct. Ace people don’t feel sexual attraction (or, if they’re not using the split attraction model, attraction period). That doesn’t equate to not liking or wanting sex – ace people can still have libidos. Like, sure, there’s lots of aces with low or no libido, but there’s also lots of people with low or no libido who aren’t ace.

            • Sam
              Sam
              March 17, 2019 at 9:43 am | #

              This. It varies like with every other sexuality. It isn’t the ‘hates sex’ sexuality. It is the ‘feels no or very little or very rare sexual attraction’ spectrum of sexualities. This doesn’t correlate with what their libido or personal feelings on sex are. There are definitely those that love sex as much as anyone else, their desire for having it is just more internally caused (enjoys it, likes the intimacy) rather than externally (X looks sexy, Y is acting flirty, Z is dressing to impress).

          • ian livs
            ian livs
            March 17, 2019 at 2:03 am | #

            (Slight TMI warning, lol)

            Personally (as a Certified Ace), I’m not sexually attracted to my spouse–or anybody–but I’m pretty sex-favorable. It hits a lot of the same buttons as cuddling and kissing do for me, though I know there’s a lot of aces who are neutral or repulsed toward sex. The libido bit can fluctuate a lot depending on whatever else is going on at the time (depression either kills it or makes it ridiculously high, it’s a coin flip), but tbh, other than it sometimes triggering dysphoria, I don’t see any real negatives to sex.

            To use the probably overused metaphor, it’s like if you’re hungry but you don’t know what in particular you want. And then someone you really like is like “hey, I brought you some cake” and you didn’t crave cake in particular, but you’re like “heck yeah, thanks for the cake.” …That actually didn’t make as much sense as it did in my head, but idk. Sorry if this is rambly. 🙂

        • MatthewTheLucky
          MatthewTheLucky
          March 17, 2019 at 1:34 am | #

          Wait, doesn’t having sex with Joe go even more against demi?

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            March 17, 2019 at 1:38 am | #

            You can have sex with someone without being particularly interested in them. Malaya wanted to be seen getting with the List bro (partly because she thought Sal liked him). That’s got very little to do with liking him.

            • Rabid Rabbit
              Rabid Rabbit
              March 17, 2019 at 2:44 am | #

              Sure — it’s just that the commonly understood definition of demi is just the opposite — not wanting to have sex with anyone unless you actually like them.

              Admittedly, this is based on my demi friend, so I’m perfectly willing to be told that there are demi people where the definition is just the opposite.

              • BBCC
                BBCC
                March 17, 2019 at 2:55 am | #

                Not quite (also based on demi friends) – Demisexuality is not feeling sexual attraction to someone without an emotional connection. It doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have sex with someone you’re not attracted to. Heck, it’s not unheard of for people to have sex with someone they realize in hindsight they weren’t attracted to because they’ve only just now realized their sexuality.

                Malaya had reasons to have sex with Joe that went beyond whether or not she liked him in and of himself – she wanted to show Sal how to get the guy she thought Sal liked and to be seen having sex with List Guy, no so much her liking Joe.

                • Arian
                  Arian
                  March 17, 2019 at 4:55 am | #

                  “It doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have sex with someone you’re not attracted to.”

                  Though, speaking as a demi myself, that sounds like my worst nightmare. Other demis’ Mileage evidently Varies. But for myself, *shudder*.

                • Sam
                  Sam
                  March 17, 2019 at 9:46 am | #

                  This is accurate. As a demi person myself, I can’t remotely imagine doing so, but others probably could and would. It is certainly not impossible.

                • Seregiel
                  Seregiel
                  March 17, 2019 at 12:00 pm | #

                  As a Demi pan, I did this a lot before realizing my orientation, and the aftermath hurt a lot. I had crushes, but acting on them left me flat, confused or trying harder. Am I ace? Is it my medication? Do I actually not like one sex/gender or the other? I recognize physical attractiveness but it doesn’t do anything for me when we are alone. We both have a good time together and it doesn’t do anything for me or mean a click… I don’t get it! Frustrated grrrrrrrr! Experiment, experiment, success and sex drive… annnnnd gone with the person. Can’t find it again. Experiment some more. Oh, that’s not how I become attracted to someone? i literally need to be in the friends zone first and develope that connection? Oh there’s a word for this!?! Crap. I knew ace, aro, lgbtq, gender fluid – all of these different things and I still missed Demi between ace and sexual and hence myself on another thing that’s made out to be binary in a lot of education.

                  Later revelations… people don’t like that I am still friends with people I’ve had sex with… Because they were friends long before that sex and apparently that’s ALL they think I need to make that specific connection again? They dont get that the physicality went away, because that part of the emotional connection did but they were STILL friends before that? Uhhhhhhhhh.

                  Now that I’m with my husband – even if I don’t feel the want for sex in and of itself because of my own emotional volatility, I still seek sex for the emotional intimacy that action means and the point of connection is an affirmation of closeness despite my headspace and the lack of physical drive my headspace causes. Sex still has that meaning to me in our relationship even if it doesn’t result in sexual fulfillment.

    • Miri
      Miri
      March 17, 2019 at 1:22 am | #

      … She propositioned and banged Joe? She evidently is quite happy doing the do, even if she may have little interest in small talk with her man-candy or snuggles after…

      • Marsh Maryrose
        Marsh Maryrose
        March 17, 2019 at 1:58 am | #

        Her propositioning of Joe seemed to be more in the nature of a combination of status affirmation and spite: You’re hot. I’m hot…Let’s make everyone hate us more.

        Nothing in there about “I want to have sex with you because I personally find you sexually attractive.”

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        March 17, 2019 at 11:09 am | #

        My impression from the Slipshine is that she wasn’t particularly happy doing the do. She didn’t seem to mind, but she certainly wasn’t enthusiastic about it.

        • Shane Wegner
          Shane Wegner
          March 18, 2019 at 4:29 am | #

          I confess I’m curious about how that went down and didn’t realize Slipshine covered it. Up front seems a little high, but maybe there will be another sale someday.

        • Lensipensi
          Lensipensi
          March 19, 2019 at 2:59 am | #

          Ah, now I get why you all seem to know so much more about the situation. I didn’t realize there was a slipshine 🙂

    • mrnoidea
      mrnoidea
      March 17, 2019 at 1:30 am | #

      More like she’s straight.

    • BarerMender
      BarerMender
      March 17, 2019 at 1:58 am | #

      Sorry, the previous hint I’m referring to was that she was trans or enby, not ace. “Aren’t you a woman?” “Probably.”

      • Minim
        Minim
        March 17, 2019 at 6:21 am | #

        The two aren’t mutually exclusive (speaking as a genderqueer aroace here). Gender and sexual/romantic attraction can come in any number of combinations.

        • BarerMender
          BarerMender
          March 18, 2019 at 3:31 am | #

          Yeah, but there wasn’t any actual hint that she was ace. Although someone said that in her Slipshine with Joe she didn’t enjoy it much.

    • FacelessDeviant
      FacelessDeviant
      March 17, 2019 at 6:52 am | #

      She strikes me as pretty hetero.

      Kinda strange that Marcie hasn’t already tried to find this out, or even asked.
      Unless she has and I missed it, of course.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        March 17, 2019 at 1:26 pm | #

        Sal brought this up – Marcie’s having a hard time finding out whether Malaya is straight or not on the sly. “Do you like girls?” is kinda transparent.

        • FacelessDeviant
          FacelessDeviant
          March 18, 2019 at 2:33 am | #

          Transparent, but efficient.

          But I’m sure she could be a bit more sly about if she wanted.

    • NemesisDancer
      NemesisDancer
      March 17, 2019 at 10:01 am | #

      I think there’s a higher likelihood she’s aromantic rather than asexual (as she’s shown interest in sex previously but not relationships).

  23. Raen
    Raen
    March 17, 2019 at 1:14 am | #

    …well, Joyce has come a long way… perhaps too far…?

  24. Marsh Maryrose
    Marsh Maryrose
    March 17, 2019 at 1:22 am | #

    Somehow, I never noticed this before, but:

    Joyce: triangular smile
    Becky: oval smile (half-oval in profile)
    Lucy: semi-circular smile

    Goddamit, now I’m going to have to sort DoA characters into a taxonomy of smile types, which I’m going to have to first create, and shit if I’ve got time for that now.

  25. Jess
    Jess
    March 17, 2019 at 1:24 am | #

    Aw, Sal’s lil smile!!

  26. Lokitsu
    Lokitsu
    March 17, 2019 at 1:28 am | #

    In the last comic Joyce burns Sarah and now we see Sal welcoming Joyce and Becky with a non-ironic smile.
    This is both awesome and disturbing as hell.

    • MatthewTheLucky
      MatthewTheLucky
      March 17, 2019 at 1:35 am | #

      Smiles are for Joyces who know how to knock.

  27. Zach
    Zach
    March 17, 2019 at 1:31 am | #

    The gloves, they are off!

  28. Bagge
    Bagge
    March 17, 2019 at 1:50 am | #

    Sal is a good friend.

    How good a friend is Sal?

    She had ever opportunity to sick TWO wanna-be-romantic busybodies on Malaya – no doubt to her endless annoyance – but she didn’t because that would mean throwing Marcie in their path as well.

    Sal is a good friend.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      March 17, 2019 at 2:07 am | #

      Sal meant it when she said Marcie’s her most important person.

  29. Bea
    Bea
    March 17, 2019 at 1:56 am | #

    ok this page is so cute

  30. Bagge
    Bagge
    March 17, 2019 at 2:02 am | #

    As for Joyce’s credentials, she and Becky have the same lifelong background as hopelessly romantic busybodies. Becky herself helped Joyce upgrade to account for all parameters.

    http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-6/01-to-those-whod-ground-me/scenarios/

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      March 17, 2019 at 2:03 am | #

      That said, I’m not sure she has yet fully implemented these variables

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-7/03-the-thing-i-was-before/unraveling/

      • BarerMender
        BarerMender
        March 17, 2019 at 3:48 am | #

        Polyamory was way outside Joyce’s kenning.

  31. C.
    C.
    March 17, 2019 at 2:34 am | #

    I note here that you can see Marcie’s pointers on Slipshine.

  32. abysswatcher1993
    abysswatcher1993
    March 17, 2019 at 2:45 am | #

    Joyce knows what Malaya has been doing. Also, Joyce is pretty comfortable talking about sex right now. Did that atheist revelation altered her personality? Next is she going to be kind with Walky? Put Billie in her place? eat sushi? Vote democrat? Draw dinosaurs in her math notes?

    The age of miracles is happening, and Gamzee Makara and Hydra aren’t present, people!

    • BarerMender
      BarerMender
      March 17, 2019 at 3:33 am | #

      I think the revelation removed a lot of weird constraints and impetuses from Joyce’s personality, and the real Joyce is shining through.

    • Shane Wegner
      Shane Wegner
      March 17, 2019 at 4:07 am | #

      She does feel a little mellower and smoother.
      The interesting thing is eventually she’ll go home to her family, and they’ll probably “smell” that the uprightness is gone, and want her to put those chains ⛓ back on. They won’t couch it as such of course.

      • BarerMender
        BarerMender
        March 18, 2019 at 3:37 am | #

        Oh, they so will. Authoritarian Christians (thanks to Captain Cassidy at “Roll to Disbelieve” for the term, and also for hooking me up with DoA) can’t stand to let any little bit of power get away. They, or at least her mom, will try everything from praying, spiritual warfare (praying with big body movements), acting hurt, intimidation, and maybe even force. It’s the Christian way.

    • Zaxares
      Zaxares
      March 17, 2019 at 8:21 am | #

      I think it’s less the dream revelation and more the steadily-becoming-ever-more-steamy fanfiction she’s writing. 😉

  33. Joe Moose
    Joe Moose
    March 17, 2019 at 3:43 am | #

    I’m a Certified Lesbian Love Sleuth – Dumbing of Age: Ninth Book Collection

  34. Nobody
    Nobody
    March 17, 2019 at 3:52 am | #

    What’s with all these mostly well adjusted individuals, I thought this was a comic about awkwardness and tragedy

    • Arianod
      Arianod
      March 17, 2019 at 4:47 am | #

      This is clearly a doomed timeline.

    • Deathjavu
      Deathjavu
      March 17, 2019 at 8:44 am | #

      There’s always tomorrow’s strip

  35. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    March 17, 2019 at 6:29 am | #

    She got two pointers and ain’t afraid to use them

  36. GUIGUI
    GUIGUI
    March 17, 2019 at 8:51 am | #

    Mait, Sal, actually has a thing for Marcie ? I thought he was having an “upset that best friend isn’t spending as much time with me since she has got a lover”, but Sal actually had romantic feeling for Marcie ? When Did Sal figured that out ? When Marcie started seeing Malaya, or earlier ?

    Or is Sal is joking and isn’t actually bi and I am taking this too literally ? Was Sal being Bi mentioned earlier and I missed it ?

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      March 17, 2019 at 11:30 am | #

      Sal is, according to Willis, straight, but we also know he’s okay with revealing new info about characters like Danny or Dina being into multiple genders, so I guess take that however you want.

      But yes, this is the second time Sal’s talked about how fantastic Marcie’s rack is.

      • GUIGUI
        GUIGUI
        March 17, 2019 at 2:33 pm | #

        Upon second reading, it seems like Sal is actually talking about Marcie’s cheast, not her own and implying that someone good looking as Marcie should make it easier for her to find a partner. Is that what you were saying ? I guess it make more sense.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          March 17, 2019 at 2:56 pm | #

          Ohhhhh, I see. You thought Sal was referring to wanting Marcie to come on to her when she referred to pointers.

          No, Sal is saying Marcie has a fantastic rack. She thinks that someone into girls would have been checking out said fantastic rack (or at least, looking at other girls with interest, if not Marcie in particular). The fact Malaya hasn’t yet makes Sal think that Malaya isn’t interested.

          • GUIGUI
            GUIGUI
            March 17, 2019 at 3:06 pm | #

            I thought Malaya and MArcie were already together, though.

            • BBCC
              BBCC
              March 17, 2019 at 3:17 pm | #

              No, not yet. Marcie WANTS to date her and is working her way up to asking her out, but has yet to do so.

    • Seregiel
      Seregiel
      March 17, 2019 at 12:13 pm | #

      I think Sal and Joyce are determining Malaya’s orientation, not commenting on her own. I think Sal is straight, but is falling into the physical presentation trap like Malaya is. Malaya looks down and sees her physicality as something she can’t argue with. Sal “knows” what people who like women want from her time at a female boarding school.. and sneaking guys into said boarding school. In Sal’s head: Marcie has nice boobs, and people who are attracted to female presenting persons like boobs, so they will either work their magic or not and the results are hard to argue with in regards to Malaya’s sexuality.

      That or the connection isn’t about physical but that Malaya still hasn’t figured out Marcie isn’t just a friend but has a crush on her.

      • GUIGUI
        GUIGUI
        March 17, 2019 at 2:30 pm | #

        “That or the connection isn’t about physical but that Malaya still hasn’t figured out Marcie isn’t just a friend but has a crush on her.”
        It has never been outright siad, but I thought Malaya and Marcie were officially a romantic couple.

        • Seregiel
          Seregiel
          March 17, 2019 at 4:28 pm | #

          I must have missed that? Last I remember on the topic, Marcie was shrugging off Malaya going for Joe and there wasn’t a conclusion on whether or not Marcie had a shot, just that she was okay with Malaya being active elsewhere.

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            March 17, 2019 at 4:46 pm | #

            They’re not dating yet. Marcie WANTS to date her though (or, failing that, fuck her brains out). She’s trying to figure out if Malaya likes girls first though.

  37. JBento
    JBento
    March 17, 2019 at 9:26 am | #

    alt text: you’re wrong. Example: Bisexual Banging (or Boffin’) Booster.

  38. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    March 17, 2019 at 11:14 am | #

    Sal & Joyce in panels 3 & 4 are supposed to be looking away from each other, but the panel order makes it look like they’re staring disdainfully at each other…

  39. BenRG
    BenRG
    March 17, 2019 at 3:49 pm | #

    You know what is healthy about this strip? Three eighteen-year-old girls are behaving like eighteen-year-old girls rather than the messed up people they tend to be most of the time. It’s nice to see them be able to just… live and be alive for once.

  40. CJ
    CJ
    March 17, 2019 at 6:01 pm | #

    Was the cls originally Danielle’s idea or is it even older? http://girlswithslingshots.com/comic/gws-chaser-1047

  41. David Doty
    David Doty
    March 17, 2019 at 9:04 pm | #

    Nothing drove home how much Sal has changed in the last storyline than the relaxed, friendly version we see here. It’s one thing to have big epiphanies, it’s another entirely to change how you are in the day-to-day.

  42. Beef
    Beef
    March 17, 2019 at 11:59 pm | #

    Bisexual Bove Booth

  43. Jade
    Jade
    March 18, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    Alt Text: sadly ‘bisexual’ isn’t as alliterative

    Might “Beloved Bisexual Brigade” suffice? Admittedly, Beloved is the only “B” word I could think of that related to Love, so it doesn’t roll off the tongue as well as “Lesbian Love Sleuth” does 😛

  44. Makkabee
    Makkabee
    March 18, 2019 at 7:49 am | #

    Bisexuals Besotted By Both.

  45. Makkabee
    Makkabee
    March 18, 2019 at 7:52 am | #

    Sal is smiling. It’s morning, and Sal is SMILING. It’s like the fundamental laws of the universe are breaking down. What horrors does this portend?

  46. Dutch
    Dutch
    March 19, 2019 at 3:52 pm | #

    Wait
    are Sal’s boobs the pointers

    I am dense

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      March 22, 2019 at 2:56 pm | #

      Sal is saying Marcie’s boobs (which Sal thinks are great) aren’t getting Malaya’s interest.

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