Dumbing of Age Book Eleven

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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September 20, 2023

Gasp

by David M Willis on April 7, 2011 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - The Bechdel Test

└ Tags: dorothy, joe, joyce, roz, walky

Discussion (236) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Chrisby
    Chrisby
    April 7, 2011 at 12:02 am | #

    DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNN

    • knowwonattawl
      knowwonattawl
      April 7, 2011 at 12:14 am | #

      That was my first thought too.

    • Romanticide
      Romanticide
      April 7, 2011 at 1:29 am | #

      that is exactly the sound I made XD

      • Rodrigo
        Rodrigo
        April 8, 2011 at 12:03 am | #

        Actually, it also could be a glass shattering sound!

        • That guy
          That guy
          August 16, 2014 at 4:59 pm | #

          I heard a record screech like in cartoons

    • Lunchbox
      Lunchbox
      April 7, 2011 at 12:13 pm | #

      If Billie wanted a violent, nerd-rage, and possibly satanic murder story to cover for Daisy, this is it.

    • david with a small d
      david with a small d
      April 7, 2011 at 3:48 pm | #

      Totally my reaction as well! And then I look down and see this first comment. Win!

    • Darkflame
      Darkflame
      April 8, 2011 at 6:18 am | #

      you need this;
      http://www.dramabutton.com/

      • Darkflame
        Darkflame
        April 8, 2011 at 7:28 am | #

        come to think of it…where did that sound come from anyway?

    • newllend
      newllend
      August 13, 2013 at 6:40 pm | #

      I was thinking a car screech

  2. George
    George
    April 7, 2011 at 12:02 am | #

    Joyce’s brain just blew a few fuses, I can tell.

    • Lan M.
      Lan M.
      April 7, 2011 at 12:58 am | #

      Nah it didn’t blow a few fuses. It blew an entire freaking portion of her mind into oblivion and the rest into a catatonic state that can only be repaired via being poked vigorously with a stick.

    • sarpiedon
      sarpiedon
      April 7, 2011 at 10:35 am | #

      ehh, just play the Sound of Music. She’ll be fine.

      • Marc
        Marc
        April 8, 2011 at 11:53 am | #

        sarpiedon, I don’t know who you are, but I love you with all the love a webcomic nerd can give.

    • Rodrigo
      Rodrigo
      April 8, 2011 at 12:02 am | #

      “How can she love satan and hate humanity? She don’t look a killer psicopath, innocent women rapist nor a baby eater!?”

      • DaveO
        DaveO
        April 8, 2011 at 11:11 am | #

        Innocent women rapist? She’s a lesbian too? *GASP!*

  3. Coppermouth
    Coppermouth
    April 7, 2011 at 12:02 am | #

    Oh geez, here we go…

    • Jabberwocky
      Jabberwocky
      April 7, 2011 at 8:53 am | #

      This comment improved 70% by your avatar.

      • Gabe
        Gabe
        April 7, 2011 at 12:17 pm | #

        Half of these comments become hilarious if you read them with the persona of their avatar.

        • Rowen Morland
          Rowen Morland
          April 7, 2011 at 3:57 pm | #

          A quiet and unheard observation? 😉

  4. Jen Aside
    Jen Aside
    April 7, 2011 at 12:02 am | #

    Predictable much?

  5. captainswift
    captainswift
    April 7, 2011 at 12:05 am | #

    Joyce is broken. We need to buy a new Joyce.

    • wnderjif
      wnderjif
      April 7, 2011 at 4:18 pm | #

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwVA698Hx2g

      lol..

  6. ProtonCon
    ProtonCon
    April 7, 2011 at 12:06 am | #

    I’m starting to see how some people could hate Joyce.

    • knowwonattawl
      knowwonattawl
      April 7, 2011 at 12:11 am | #

      Why would people have trouble feeling empathy for her? First a class full of lesbians, then her first date is with a pervert, now it turns out the only seemingly sane person she’s met so far is a heathen. What a poor, sheltered, ignorant, psychotic…. I withdraw my question…

      • Eposi
        Eposi
        April 7, 2011 at 12:50 am | #

        technically to be a heathen you would have to follow the Norse Pantheon, Odin, Thor, etc

        • gangler
          gangler
          April 7, 2011 at 1:36 am | #

          http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heathens?show=0&t=1302154404

          That’s the only definition of the word I know. Which are you using? This sounds like some kind of religious jargon, and if I said it to the wrong group of people they would assume I was referring to followers of Thor. As such, details would be appreciated.

          • Loki
            Loki
            April 7, 2011 at 11:48 am | #

            In some neo-pagan circles heathen is used to refer to Norse pagans. So, yes, Eposi is speaking using a subculture-specific jargon.

            • gangler
              gangler
              April 7, 2011 at 3:45 pm | #

              Sweet! Called it!

              Thanks for the info. That makes sense. Sometimes Pagan’s need a word to refer to “The other Pagans” I guess.

              • Lokitsu
                Lokitsu
                April 7, 2011 at 4:54 pm | #

                “The other Pagans”.
                Is that anything like “The other white meat?”

              • Lis
                Lis
                April 16, 2015 at 9:37 pm | #

                to be fair I mostly hear Heathens (refering to Norse Reconstructionists) refer to themselves as Heathens. Usually its used to keep themselves separate. I will admit I haven’t meant many heathens so please don’t hurt me but I usually hear it as a way to put oneself above others. “I’m not Pagan I’m a Heathen” though there is one person in the pagan group on my Campus who calls herself a Heathen simply as a way to say quickly which subgroup she is in, in the same way my friend says she is a wiccan instead of saying “I’m a Duotheist who practices magick.”

        • Osaru Sensei
          Osaru Sensei
          April 7, 2011 at 3:14 am | #

          Heathendom isn’t restricted to only Norse Mythology, as Gangler already (dammit) has pointed out.

          As long as you don’t follow the Bible, you’re a ‘Heathen’.

          • Magnus369
            Magnus369
            September 26, 2011 at 8:42 pm | #

            So what’s it called you don’t follow the “One True Dictionary”? Do the Wikites fight with the Websterians? Are the Encyclogians in an endless war against the Thesaurians? (yes, I know… a thesaurus isn’t a dictionary, but still… it sounded funnier in my head)

            • DarkVeghetta
              DarkVeghetta
              June 19, 2015 at 8:35 pm | #

              All bow to the same queen. Or some transient president if you’re in the US.

              But seriously, there IS a body that sets these things into code/law. I’m not sure of their names for U.K. or US, but I did know my own country’s version… um… before I promptly forgot it that is. Point is it’s there, it exists and lords over grammar, pushing against current trends and only budging ever so slightly under great pressure.

        • Semysane
          Semysane
          April 7, 2011 at 3:57 am | #

          Methinks you’re getting the definitions of “heathen” and “pagan” mixed up.

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            April 7, 2011 at 6:48 am | #

            I always figured that the definition of a heathen is someone who doesn’t follow the same religion as you.

            • Seraph
              Seraph
              April 7, 2011 at 9:50 am | #

              It is. “Pagan” has actual (if broad – that is to say, not limited to one pantheon) meaning; “heathen” is anyone who isn’t you.

              • DarkVeghetta
                DarkVeghetta
                June 19, 2015 at 8:40 pm | #

                ‘heathen’ would imply some level of distaste for sed group, while ‘pagan’ is the more neutral term. I’ve also never seen heathen being used in any history class except when discussing religious biases, while pagan is a common descriptor for various religions not endemic to your culture.

          • Lokitsu
            Lokitsu
            April 7, 2011 at 4:59 pm | #

            The words pagan and heathen are pretty much interchangeable.

            I don’t care that the neo-pagans say different. They’re just a bunch of heathens anyways.

            • moonchylde
              moonchylde
              April 7, 2011 at 10:59 pm | #

              *rimshot*

    • Tristan J
      Tristan J
      April 7, 2011 at 12:14 am | #

      I have to be honest, I would like Joyce even if she was a real person. Though to be fair I like interesting people more than likable people.

      • knowwonattawl
        knowwonattawl
        April 7, 2011 at 12:18 am | #

        Dangerously violent and self-righteous? Not my definition of interesting. But I grew up in rural Georgia where you can find that on any block so maybe I’m just used to it.

        • Tristan J
          Tristan J
          April 7, 2011 at 12:25 am | #

          Well, granted it helps if you also are/know someone very smart, so you can subtley trip them over their own beliefs without outright pissing them off. It’s like a game!

          • knowwonattawl
            knowwonattawl
            April 7, 2011 at 12:28 am | #

            I think you and I have different definitions of the word “like”.

            • Tristan J
              Tristan J
              April 7, 2011 at 12:33 am | #

              I’ve lived with crazy arseholes all my life, I had to find some way to deal with it.

    • Michelle Alford
      Michelle Alford
      April 7, 2011 at 12:55 am | #

      This is her first experience with people who aren’t religious. As of yet, she hasn’t actually handled herself that poorly. A lot of people approach beliefs that are different from theirs with hate or immediately dismiss those who disagree, and Joyce hasn’t done that. She went on a date with Joe even though he was Jewish. Sure, she wanted to eventually convert him to Christ, but she didn’t think he was a terrible person or completely dismiss him because he wasn’t Christian. She may not handle the race thing perfectly, but she’s curious and interested, not hateful or fearful. She seems like a nice enough person, just sheltered and ignorant to the ways of the world.

      • Forsaken1ne
        Forsaken1ne
        April 7, 2011 at 1:53 am | #

        I would rather have someone dismiss me and be done with them than have them try to convert me to their brand of crazy.

        • dchorror
          dchorror
          April 7, 2011 at 11:56 pm | #

          As opposed to your own brand of crazy?

        • Michelle Alford
          Michelle Alford
          April 8, 2011 at 12:36 am | #

          Do you really believe that? Religion and politics are touchy subjects, but we go through every day of our lives trying to convert people to our brand of crazy. Our favorite foods, movies, music. Our opinions on drugs, relationships, families, jobs, weather. The fact that she’s not dismissing them means that she might take the chance to learn more about them and expand her world, whereas dismissing them means she’d remain ignorant and sheltered forever.

          • ShadeTail
            ShadeTail
            April 8, 2011 at 2:27 pm | #

            Speaking for myself, *I* really believe that. I’m not busy trying to convert anyone to anything. My hobbies, clothes, food tastes, etc? Mine alone, and I don’t care that other people have different preferences. Religion? Even more so.

            I’m happy to live and let live, so if you can’t handle me having different tastes, then at least have the decency to leave me alone.

            Now, wanting to just understand rather than preach? That I would be perfectly fine with. But you don’t really think that someone like Joyce would be interested in that, do you?

      • Lanny
        Lanny
        April 11, 2011 at 12:47 pm | #

        I like you. Out of all the comments (with the exception of two or three others) you’re one of the few whose managed to actually look at the character Joyce with out putting on your SELFRIGHTEOUS tinted classes as well as not openly hating her just because she was sheltered into a narrow line of belief and thought.

        • Lanny
          Lanny
          April 11, 2011 at 12:51 pm | #

          OH DEAR GOD WHY DID I GET THAT FAAAAAAAACE! -_- freaking gravatar

  7. NCP19
    NCP19
    April 7, 2011 at 12:07 am | #

    My favorite part is actually Walky’s continued “oh crap it’s Dorothy” expression in the background.

    • themann1086
      themann1086
      April 7, 2011 at 12:15 am | #

      A million times THIS. I love that facial expression.

      Also, long-time reader, first-time commenter 🙂

    • Black Drazon
      Black Drazon
      April 7, 2011 at 12:15 am | #

      Oh man, I just noticed, that’s great.

    • knowwonattawl
      knowwonattawl
      April 7, 2011 at 12:19 am | #

      Yeah. I kind of wonder how the world looks through those vacant, awkward eyes he’s sporting. I want a comic in Walky-vision.

      • Haituri
        Haituri
        April 7, 2011 at 7:00 am | #

        Now that you mention it, I also want this

      • 1Samildanach
        1Samildanach
        April 7, 2011 at 7:48 am | #

        Walky-goggles?

        …

        ‘scuse me, got business plans to write up, mounds of cash to make :P.

      • Heavensrun
        Heavensrun
        April 7, 2011 at 4:00 pm | #

        I imagine it’s probably an overlay of the world as it would normally look, but constructed out of a mosaic of images of Dorothy from every time he’s encountered her.

    • creativerealms
      creativerealms
      April 7, 2011 at 7:55 am | #

      Walky’s expression when he’s around Dorothy is just weird.

  8. skies
    skies
    April 7, 2011 at 12:08 am | #

    lolling forever.

  9. Qaxis
    Qaxis
    April 7, 2011 at 12:08 am | #

    So now Dorothy has shattered Joyce’s and Walky’s brains. She’s good at this.

    • Undrave
      Undrave
      April 7, 2011 at 12:51 am | #

      Obviously Dorothy is an eldritch abomination come to rob us all of our sanity :p

      • Romanticide
        Romanticide
        April 7, 2011 at 1:30 am | #

        And we love her for that.

      • MM
        MM
        April 7, 2011 at 2:01 am | #

        I-Yale i-Yale! Ivy ftaghn!

      • Haituri
        Haituri
        April 7, 2011 at 7:01 am | #

        It’s called ‘an atheist’.
        ;D

  10. knowwonattawl
    knowwonattawl
    April 7, 2011 at 12:08 am | #

    I choose to believe that since we can’t see Joe in the previous panel that Joyce’s reaction is not to what Dorothy said, but rather that her ass just got grabbed. The facial expression still works for my version.

    • Shift
      Shift
      April 7, 2011 at 12:17 am | #

      Joyce and Mike spent an entire evening beating the every loving shit out of Joe. Do you really think he’s that stupid or that much of a masochist to pinch the ass of a nut ball like Joyce? I would have liked to have though Joe had some basic self-preservation instincts.

      • knowwonattawl
        knowwonattawl
        April 7, 2011 at 12:20 am | #

        But are they stronger than his Joe instincts?

        • George
          George
          April 7, 2011 at 2:48 am | #

          We shall see.

        • Seraph
          Seraph
          April 7, 2011 at 9:46 am | #

          Actually, his Joe instincts would probably urge him not to grab her ass. His goal is not random harassment, but actual Joeing opportunities. Grabbing Joyce’s ass would not only be pointless in this regard, but would actually kill future Joeing opportunities with any woman there to witness the scene – and Joyce would definitely make one (and rightly so).

          Besides, his Joeing instincts seem to have been directed at Roz for the moment. To his credit, Joe is more interested in finding a woman who’s actually interested in Joeing than in making some sort of “conquest”.

          • Jackson
            Jackson
            April 7, 2011 at 10:25 pm | #

            He’s a Joetilitarian. The greatest Joe for the greatest number.

      • zuche
        zuche
        April 7, 2011 at 11:31 am | #

        Don’t overstate what was done to Joe. It’s inconsistent with what he did with Roz later that evening, let alone with walking out of the restaurant in the condition we see him.

    • Stephen
      Stephen
      April 7, 2011 at 12:20 am | #

      Your version amuses me greatly.

    • dchorror
      dchorror
      April 7, 2011 at 11:59 pm | #

      Can’t it be both?

  11. Tristan J
    Tristan J
    April 7, 2011 at 12:08 am | #

    This is going to be the greatest story arc in the comic. I say that without irony or sarcasm.

    The final panel is magnificent already.

  12. The Sound Defense
    The Sound Defense
    April 7, 2011 at 12:08 am | #

    Time to bring the fists back out.

  13. Digidestined of Trust (Tim)
    Digidestined of Trust (Tim)
    April 7, 2011 at 12:09 am | #

    GASP! Is right! YIPE!

  14. Dedlok
    Dedlok
    April 7, 2011 at 12:17 am | #

    I think I may have a new steam spray (panel 4). Tho I dunno if I really want to replace this or not: http://www.mspaintadventures.com/storyfiles/hs2/03379_2.gif

  15. Shift
    Shift
    April 7, 2011 at 12:20 am | #

    I suppose its too much to hope that Joyce is going to respect Dorothy’s beliefs and not desperately try and convert her to her beliefs like she wanted to do with Joe, huh?

    Oh who am I kidding… This is going to hurt…

    • Seraph
      Seraph
      April 7, 2011 at 10:03 am | #

      She’s been raised to believe that it’s her duty as a Christian to Witness at every opportunity, and that she’s doing her Witnessees a favor by doing so. If you tried to explain the concept of “respecting others’ beliefs” to her, she would understand it as a) passing on chances to rescue people from Hell, and b) allowing the Godless world to shame her into keeping silent about Christ’s message – both of which are things she was specifically warned against before she went off to a secular college (people from families and churches like hers always are). It wouldn’t end well.

      • Shift
        Shift
        April 9, 2011 at 3:56 am | #

        Yeah, I know, but it would still be nice to hope that she wouldn’t be a pushy bible thumper.

  16. Scott
    Scott
    April 7, 2011 at 12:23 am | #

    I’m looking to buy the definitive David Willis collection. However in the store i only see Shortpacked volume 2 and 3 and “it’s Walky”. What would you guys recommend?

  17. NF
    NF
    April 7, 2011 at 12:23 am | #

    I think you could put almost anything in the dialogue for the third panel and the last panel would make it comedy gold.

    • Tristan J
      Tristan J
      April 7, 2011 at 12:28 am | #

      Dorothy: Well, I like big butts and I cannot lie.

      Dorothy: My shoes are made in Taiwan.

      Dorothy: I have Fist Aids.

      • knowwonattawl
        knowwonattawl
        April 7, 2011 at 12:30 am | #

        Dorothy: Do you ever wonder what life would be like if you had been abducted by aliens as a kid?

        • XLR
          XLR
          April 7, 2011 at 6:24 am | #

          oh god haha XD

    • Jillian
      Jillian
      April 7, 2011 at 12:28 am | #

      I smell a meme waiting to be born~

    • Tristan J
      Tristan J
      April 7, 2011 at 12:34 am | #

      Dorothy: I just farted. Take a breath!

    • Tristan J
      Tristan J
      April 7, 2011 at 12:41 am | #

      Dorothy: Personally, I think hair metal should make a comeback.

      Dorothy: Code word, ‘whiskey tango foxtrot’.

      Dorothy: Actually, God is a gigantic cheese-like robot. Who knew?

      I could do this all day.

    • Tristan J
      Tristan J
      April 7, 2011 at 12:57 am | #

      Dorothy: Could you show me your FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE?

    • Valkeer1
      Valkeer1
      April 7, 2011 at 1:09 am | #

      Dorothy: I can totally see you & that Walky kid getting married.

      • MM
        MM
        April 7, 2011 at 2:05 am | #

        Or who needs marriage, really? You should totally have premarital hanky-panky!

    • George
      George
      April 7, 2011 at 2:52 am | #

      Dorothy: Pick up the glowing branch and give Him a call. We need to settle this.

    • Malph
      Malph
      April 7, 2011 at 2:52 am | #

      Dorothy: We’re just characters in an AU reboot of a comic made over a decade ago.

      Dorothy: Right now, some guy is reading about our lives. He’s probably not wearing pants either. (note: I AM wearing pants)

      Dorothy: Can you believe it’s not butter?

      Dorothy: Hey, Joyce, what’s one divided by zero?

      • Haituri
        Haituri
        April 7, 2011 at 7:03 am | #

        That last one is my favourite.

    • 1Samildanach
      1Samildanach
      April 7, 2011 at 8:02 am | #

      Dorothy: I am your father.

      Dorothy: I am your long lost sister.

      Dorothy: You and I have just given birth to a meme.

      Dorothy: He’s male. And he’s late on my alimony. Again.

      Dorothy: I want to Joe you up ’til you’re normal.

      Dorothy: You spin me round, baby, like a time loop baby, right round round round…

      • Makkabee
        Makkabee
        April 7, 2011 at 8:30 am | #

        Dorothy: Say, is Doctor Bian totally tripping everyone else’s gaydar?

        • calendarman27
          calendarman27
          April 7, 2011 at 10:36 pm | #

          Dorothy: Look out! Walky’s got a knife!

          Dorothy: I am actually a man and am desperately in love with you!

          Dorothy: The ultimate answer is 42!

    • Lokitsu
      Lokitsu
      April 7, 2011 at 10:37 pm | #

      Dorothy (holding up her iphone): Speaking of two girls, have you ever seen this video?

    • dchorror
      dchorror
      April 8, 2011 at 12:10 am | #

      Dorothy: Gotta go, playing D&D in the common room.

      Dorothy: You’re not the most popular character.

      Dorothy: Look shock and confused, quick!

  18. alicemacher
    alicemacher
    April 7, 2011 at 12:23 am | #

    Although I find it hard to believe Joyce has never encountered atheism first-hand before, that is one loltastic face in the last panel. Well done, sir.

    • knowwonattawl
      knowwonattawl
      April 7, 2011 at 12:26 am | #

      I never met an atheis until college myself. Rural America is a very sheltered and non-diverse environment. In Joyce’s case she grew up with all her socialization being through church and Christian group home-schooling. Probably not many atheists attending either of those.

    • Darastrix
      Darastrix
      April 7, 2011 at 2:31 am | #

      It’s easier than you might think. Some of my high school classmates could have been atheists for all I knew, but if they were, they never mentioned it. Topics like the existence/nonexistence of god(s) didn’t have a place in any of my classes, members of the “in” crowd all professed to be Christians, and in the group I hung out with through school, there was one Catholic, a handful of folks of different Protestant denominations, a guy who was into Eastern religions, and a couple of pagans. So, between attending a public school with a huge percentage of Christian students, growing up in a Christian family, doing choir, youth group, and spending spring break on choir tours, I wasn’t aware of a single person who claimed to be an atheist until my third or fourth year at college.

    • Ozzmandius
      Ozzmandius
      April 7, 2011 at 6:28 am | #

      Well, until my second year of university, I had never encountered anyone (my age) who was outright religious. Well, I guess I technically had, but I didn’t realse they were relgious until much later.
      So, I guess I can kinda see how Joyce was able to do the opposite.

  19. ScytheAkse
    ScytheAkse
    April 7, 2011 at 12:23 am | #

    the HORROR

  20. arjay2813
    arjay2813
    April 7, 2011 at 12:24 am | #

    lol, looks like someone broke Joyce =D

  21. iSaidCandleja-
    iSaidCandleja-
    April 7, 2011 at 12:41 am | #

    I feel bad for Joe. His heart will be broken into thousands of tiny pieces. And the Roz hate will intensify.

  22. Steven
    Steven
    April 7, 2011 at 12:44 am | #

    Oh come on guys, I LOVE Joyce. I’d love her in real life too. She’s so sheltered, every day would be hilarious with her.

    • Tristan J
      Tristan J
      April 7, 2011 at 12:50 am | #

      *Joyce high five*

  23. Jetstream
    Jetstream
    April 7, 2011 at 12:52 am | #

    Willis, I am totally waiting for you to bring in a character that will explain to Joyce the inconsistencies between Christ’s actual teachings and what her pastor’s been telling her all her life.

    That would be very, VERY entertaining.

  24. Undrave
    Undrave
    April 7, 2011 at 12:53 am | #

    Gasp in the FAAAAAAACE!

  25. Eposi
    Eposi
    April 7, 2011 at 12:54 am | #

    Because no one has done it yet
    FFFFAAAACCCCEEEE

    • Eposi
      Eposi
      April 7, 2011 at 12:55 am | #

      oops beaten by a minute

  26. Dahlia
    Dahlia
    April 7, 2011 at 12:56 am | #

    Now…Joyce…It’s OK for Dorothy’s beliefs to differ from your own…

    Please don’t go psycho on her!!

    • Rognik
      Rognik
      April 7, 2011 at 11:20 am | #

      Might as well tell the rain not to fall, or the sun not to rise.

    • James
      James
      April 7, 2011 at 2:58 pm | #

      Don’t… psycho… Joyce… respect…

      …I understand each word INDIVIDUALLY, but when I try stringing them together it just turns into gibberish.

      • Dahlia
        Dahlia
        April 9, 2011 at 5:32 pm | #

        v.v Sadly, Joyce has done nothing to keep me from disagreeing with this statement.

  27. Valkeer1
    Valkeer1
    April 7, 2011 at 12:58 am | #

    If that’s Joyce’s reaction to an atheist, I’m kinda afraid to see her reaction to meeting a Pagan…

    • Seraph
      Seraph
      April 7, 2011 at 10:05 am | #

      Actually, she might handle it better. “Following false gods” fits into her worldview. “Doesn’t believe in any god” just doesn’t compute.

      • Valkeer1
        Valkeer1
        April 7, 2011 at 10:06 pm | #

        You’ve never lived in rural Texas, have you?

  28. Lan M.
    Lan M.
    April 7, 2011 at 12:59 am | #

    Brain = broken yes?

  29. DrDVD
    DrDVD
    April 7, 2011 at 1:09 am | #

    I want her to meet a hot wicka follower and then break out the holy water supersoaker, joe would be involved 😀

    • Valkeer1
      Valkeer1
      April 7, 2011 at 1:13 am | #

      I’m going to assume you meant Wicca?

      • George
        George
        April 7, 2011 at 2:53 am | #

        Do we need to care?

      • Noel Schornhorst
        Noel Schornhorst
        April 7, 2011 at 2:39 pm | #

        Maybe DrDVD meant ‘wicker.’

        • James
          James
          April 7, 2011 at 2:59 pm | #

          Followers of wicker worship bees, right?

          • Jetstream
            Jetstream
            April 7, 2011 at 7:14 pm | #

            No. Chairs.

  30. personman
    personman
    April 7, 2011 at 1:14 am | #

    last panel face is the best face ever

  31. shoeboxjeddy
    shoeboxjeddy
    April 7, 2011 at 1:14 am | #

    Next comic: without changing her expression at all, Joyce goes, “Really? That’s… neat.”

  32. zuche
    zuche
    April 7, 2011 at 1:17 am | #

    Apparently Joyce subscribes to the Sicilian response with regard to John Lennon’s lyrical proposal concerning an absence of heavens.

    • Jetstream
      Jetstream
      April 7, 2011 at 7:15 pm | #

      Y’know, I’m not a Christian either, but I really hate that song. 🙂

  33. Romanticide
    Romanticide
    April 7, 2011 at 1:32 am | #

    At least she seems to know the definition of atheist… maybe…

    • Jason
      Jason
      April 7, 2011 at 3:52 pm | #

      That’s exactly what I was gonna say. Her mind can’t be TOO blown because at least she’s heard of the concept of atheism. Now if Dorothy had said, “I don’t believe in a God,” and Joyce made that face, we couldn’t even be sure if she had ever even conceived of someone who doesn’t believe in God.

  34. Romanticide
    Romanticide
    April 7, 2011 at 1:35 am | #

    Or maybe she is going to think she is a hollywood version of an atheist, driven by trauma to renounce god and will try to “convert” her back… or maybe not.

    • Seraph
      Seraph
      April 7, 2011 at 10:07 am | #

      No, you’re probably right – or would be, if Joyce was real. God is so central to her life that she can’t comprehend someone actually not believing

    • Wackd
      Wackd
      April 7, 2011 at 4:49 pm | #

      I’d bet on it. She did want to pull a Parent Trap with regards to Joe’s parents.

  35. Zaratustra
    Zaratustra
    April 7, 2011 at 2:05 am | #

    First panel highlight: Joe tracking Roz with his eyes and wondering if a second round is worth it.

    • George
      George
      April 7, 2011 at 2:54 am | #

      Wow, did not notice that. I love when a comic has little details like that.

  36. turkishproverb
    turkishproverb
    April 7, 2011 at 2:49 am | #

    Yay. She broke.

  37. Osaru Sensei
    Osaru Sensei
    April 7, 2011 at 3:17 am | #

    LE GASP!

    … it had to be said.

    Also, shut your FAAAACE!

  38. KZero
    KZero
    April 7, 2011 at 4:43 am | #

    Oh, this should be fun. Personally I’d have loved the chance to drop that one on Joyce, being an athiest myself.

    • XLR
      XLR
      April 7, 2011 at 6:21 am | #

      fate has decided to give you a Joyce icon for the fuck of it. Fitting

      • KZero
        KZero
        April 7, 2011 at 2:30 pm | #

        I know, right?

  39. Joey
    Joey
    April 7, 2011 at 4:52 am | #

    hahahaha Joyce’s FAAAAAACE is so awesome in the last panel

    • Jackson
      Jackson
      April 7, 2011 at 10:43 pm | #

      Joyce has had some really fantastic expressions so far. Like panel four over here.

      Which expression is better? I think we need to have a FAAAAAACE-off.

  40. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    April 7, 2011 at 5:48 am | #

    You better prey the wind doesn’t change, or your face will get stuck that way.

  41. TemplarKnight
    TemplarKnight
    April 7, 2011 at 6:46 am | #

    One minder, please.

    • TemplarKnight
      TemplarKnight
      April 7, 2011 at 6:47 am | #

      Mindwiper*. . .wow.

  42. Robert in San Diego
    Robert in San Diego
    April 7, 2011 at 7:42 am | #

    I wonder how Leslie would have handled Joyce’s question. I, myself, in college days, have had near-Joyce level bad reactions, although not usually over overtly religious issues. I’m STILL flabbergasted whenever I come up against “King James Version Only” folks. (Nota Bene 1: There are valid reasons for standardizing upon the King James Version for worship and even for group study, but these reasons and rationales do not deprecate the accuracy or validity of other translations, or texts in other languages. Nota Bene 2: I still remember a near riot at an “ecumenical” all-Christian service were the should-have-known-better Catholic priest quoted from the Book of Tobit).

  43. Kelsey
    Kelsey
    April 7, 2011 at 7:51 am | #

    WAY TO GO YOU JUST BROKE JOYCE.

  44. MarkLar
    MarkLar
    April 7, 2011 at 8:40 am | #

    Insert rage face.

  45. ziggy78eog
    ziggy78eog
    April 7, 2011 at 9:04 am | #

    The best part is, Joyce is going to have that look on her face fpr the rest of the day. So, by the end of the semester, how many people is Joyce going to have to “save” from their misguided beliefs?

    • Seraph
      Seraph
      April 7, 2011 at 9:15 am | #

      Nearly all, I suspect. I also suspect that her success rate will be nil. Someone who’s been raised on the Obvious Truth Of The Bible (or any other dogma), with little exposure to other viewpoints, has no idea of how hard it really is to change people’s minds. I mean, when your religious text is the central authority of your life, how do you even communicate with people who don’t accept it? What do you even say when you give a Bible quote that you’d been told was a magic bullet, just to have someone say “Yeah, and?”

      Take a look at a Jack Chick tract if you can stand it. Chances are good that Joyce really does think it will be that easy, and she’ll be shocked when it’s not.

      • Heather
        Heather
        April 7, 2011 at 6:04 pm | #

        Plus she maye be confused because Dorothy doesn’t look hideous like atheists do in the Tracts. (Granted they all look hideous- but for the atheist characters even more so).

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          April 7, 2011 at 7:27 pm | #

          Joyce is a Jack Chick fan? That explains the FAACCEEEE!

  46. Sloth
    Sloth
    April 7, 2011 at 10:08 am | #

    ….oh god if she freaks out of make a big deal about it THEN will you have someone punch her out? …it’s becoming a VERY real desire.

    • begbert2
      begbert2
      April 7, 2011 at 10:51 am | #

      But if she’s unconscious, how can we mess with her head and destroy her worldview anymore? That’s no fun.

      • 1Samildanach
        1Samildanach
        April 7, 2011 at 9:06 pm | #

        If she’s unconscious, we can’t even try to Joe her :(.

  47. Ryan Balis
    Ryan Balis
    April 7, 2011 at 10:55 am | #

    Best Joyce face ever!

  48. Jack Faire
    Jack Faire
    April 7, 2011 at 11:27 am | #

    Damn. *Starts rifling through drawers to find Joyce’s warranty*

  49. AngieBatgirl
    AngieBatgirl
    April 7, 2011 at 12:06 pm | #

    Yeah, that’s pretty much the reaction I get IRL. I just try to avoid talking about it so I don’t have to deal with burning in hell and whatnot.

    • KZero
      KZero
      April 7, 2011 at 2:35 pm | #

      Your icon is adoraable and goes well with your statement.

      I also try not to mention it much to avoid hastles honestly. For me it’s more of a “here we go…” thing usually.

  50. Ezzy
    Ezzy
    April 7, 2011 at 12:19 pm | #

    Although I usually hate this type of people, I just can’t hate Joyce.

    Must be the pretty blue eyes.

  51. Gabe
    Gabe
    April 7, 2011 at 12:26 pm | #

    We all know it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump until we get to Anti-Joyce again. Then she shacks up with Walky 😛

    Honestly I have trouble envisioning any relationships except the original ones, even those I started reading Dumbing of Age first. I have to say that I DID appreciate Joyce’s growth and transformation out of a sheltered bible-thumper.

  52. Fady
    Fady
    April 7, 2011 at 12:45 pm | #

    You could hear the terror in her unscreaming face.

  53. Bill M.
    Bill M.
    April 7, 2011 at 1:22 pm | #

    Joyce, if they’re talking about Yahweh, then yes it passes, since Yahweh is neither male nor female. Same goes for the Holy Spirit. However, if they’re talking about Jesus, then no, since that part of the Trinity is the only one in human form, thus the only one needing a gender.

    Also, Dorothy, you’re mistaken. Atheism isn’t a belief there is no God. Atheism is belief of nothing. More likely you’re a secular humanist. Secular humanism basically believes that there is no god and that an individual is his or her own ultimate moral authority.

    • Seraph
      Seraph
      April 7, 2011 at 1:43 pm | #

      Um…no, actually atheism really is the belief that there is no god or gods. It’s right there in the word. Secular humanism is an atheist philosophy, but hardly the only one.

      • KZero
        KZero
        April 7, 2011 at 2:38 pm | #

        I’m pretty sure Bill is thinking of Nihilism.

        • Wackd
          Wackd
          April 7, 2011 at 4:53 pm | #

          WE BELIEF IN NOFFINK!

          • Wackd
            Wackd
            April 7, 2011 at 4:55 pm | #

            …Sorry, that’s my inherent reaction to nihilism. I had never heard of it before seeing a certain film and therefore that’s instantly where my mind goes where I hear the word.

            • Kelly
              Kelly
              April 7, 2011 at 11:53 pm | #

              Nice Marmot

            • Jack Faire
              Jack Faire
              April 8, 2011 at 8:15 am | #

              Yeah that movie really ties the room together

    • Doom Shepherd
      Doom Shepherd
      April 7, 2011 at 2:50 pm | #

      What’s “I believe (temporarily) in the opposite of whatever you believe in, because you’re being a douche about it and I want to troll you until your head explodes?”

      That’s my religion. I shall call it “Jerkassism.” (Or maybe “Mikeology.”)

    • Wizard
      Wizard
      April 7, 2011 at 3:36 pm | #

      Nah, Yahweh is pretty definitely male. In the earliest versions of the mythology, He even had a wife. As Judaism became more strictly monotheist, she got retconned out of the scriptures, although there are still hints here and there if you know where to look.

      • Crimson Magic
        Crimson Magic
        April 7, 2011 at 5:37 pm | #

        Where should we look?

        • David
          David M Willis
          April 9, 2011 at 8:45 am | #

          http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42154769/ns/technology_and_science-science/

          Though it’s hard for me to take seriously. The whole point of large parts of the Old Testament are about how the Israelites kept on borrowing other gods for their temples, which made God mad, and why he kept on punching them in the face with history. It’s no big deal for the JudeoChristian faith if archeologists dig up other names.

  54. James Rye
    James Rye
    April 7, 2011 at 1:34 pm | #

    I have to say that this was probably the best face, pardon; FAAAAAAACEEE Joyce ever made in all those years. XD

  55. Eskimio
    Eskimio
    April 7, 2011 at 1:39 pm | #

    lold @ last panel

  56. katamanda
    katamanda
    April 7, 2011 at 1:40 pm | #

    I wonder if Joyce’s family are one of those who are ‘no Halloween for you!’, like my dad was. If so, I look forward to her experiencing her first halloween, I am given to understand that in America it’s a pretty massive deal XD

    Dat face.

    • KZero
      KZero
      April 7, 2011 at 2:42 pm | #

      You never got to trick or treat as a kid? Bummber.

      And I WISH I could say it was a massive deal here, but it seems to be fading out I think, at least around here. All the kids trick or treat early rather than at night and it seems like fewer kids are doing it.

      If people wouldn’t look at me funny or if I had a group to go with me I’d go trick or treating still <.< the one time I did I did with a girl I was friends with. Everyone thought we were getting candy for our non-existant baby or something. Caused an awkward fizzle out prretty quickly.

      • Doom Shepherd
        Doom Shepherd
        April 7, 2011 at 2:56 pm | #

        Last Halloween I and a friend went as zombie versions of our poltitical opposites.

        He, being a Democrat, went as “Red Zombie,” dressed in camo and a confederate flag, thumping a tattered Bible and moaning “Faaaaamily Vaaaaalues!”

        I went as “Blue Zombie.” Distressed “O” T-shirt, open mind (plus leaking brains), and moaning “Chaaaaaaange! CHAAAAAANGE!!”

        Whenever we approached a crowd of people we’d ineffectually attack each other.

        Much fun was had. Also, candy.

        • Matt
          Matt
          April 7, 2011 at 3:10 pm | #

          “Blue zombie” needed a National Public Radio tote bag.

        • Roxy
          Roxy
          April 7, 2011 at 5:08 pm | #

          That.. is Awesome

  57. DiDi
    DiDi
    April 7, 2011 at 3:35 pm | #

    LOL!!!

    Omigod, poor Joyce. Look at her horrified face!!

    I’m laughing while I can because soon, it’s not gonna be so funny anymore.

  58. Corsair114
    Corsair114
    April 7, 2011 at 3:54 pm | #

    Ok, so that last paned is perfect for becoming a meme, or at least useful for a demotivational image.

  59. Heavensrun
    Heavensrun
    April 7, 2011 at 3:56 pm | #

    (cackles manaically)

  60. Jason
    Jason
    April 7, 2011 at 3:57 pm | #

    Walky’s face still reminds me of one of these: http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/wacky/gags/popping-martian.html

    • Jason
      Jason
      April 7, 2011 at 3:59 pm | #

      And now, so does Joyce’s!

  61. John
    John
    April 7, 2011 at 4:16 pm | #

    aw, Joyce. I’ve given people that reaction when they found out (I live around a place with a lot of Joyce-like raised people)! But except for one or two cases, they were pretty nice after.

  62. wnderjif
    wnderjif
    April 7, 2011 at 4:29 pm | #

    hmm, i see this ending well. or, something close to awesome, but only if joe can get them into a jelly wrestling competition.

  63. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    April 7, 2011 at 6:24 pm | #

    Dorothy, you have broken our Joyce. We demand a Joyce of equal or greater value.

    Seriously, someone make that last panel a Gravatar.

    • Joebo
      Joebo
      April 7, 2011 at 7:41 pm | #

      Challenge Accepted!

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        April 7, 2011 at 7:54 pm | #

        Damn, you beat me to it and why does it still show Joe’s face instead of my new Grav?

      • Jack
        Jack
        April 7, 2011 at 11:09 pm | #

        Joebo we have the same gravatar. I’m sorry but I might have to Jack you.

        (Willis, introduce a character named Jack and I will probably die.)

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      April 7, 2011 at 7:53 pm | #

      I’ve photoshopped such a Gravatar, I just hope it shows up next to my handle.

  64. Andi
    Andi
    April 7, 2011 at 6:28 pm | #

    And… cue the world crashing down.

  65. Eliwyn
    Eliwyn
    April 7, 2011 at 7:05 pm | #

    Lol priceless.

  66. Jack
    Jack
    April 7, 2011 at 7:45 pm | #

    So, uh, who likes my new Gravatar?

    • Sporkaganza
      Sporkaganza
      April 7, 2011 at 8:15 pm | #

      Me! DoA has pretty much all of the best faces Willis has ever drawn.

    • Rayri
      Rayri
      April 7, 2011 at 8:43 pm | #

      It’s AWESOME

  67. ArchSchnitz
    ArchSchnitz
    April 7, 2011 at 8:38 pm | #

    Dorothy is now my favorite, at least temporarily. Of course, Mike would do it just to bother Joyce, so…

  68. Alex
    Alex
    April 7, 2011 at 9:22 pm | #

    I kind of hate Joyce so I support the destruction of Joyce’s world.

  69. André
    André
    April 7, 2011 at 9:41 pm | #

    I get that all of your characters are based on stereotypes, but Joyce has to be the most unbelievable.

    • David
      David M Willis
      April 7, 2011 at 10:04 pm | #

      Joyce is autobiographical.

      • Lokitsu
        Lokitsu
        April 7, 2011 at 10:42 pm | #

        I wonder how many of the readers made a Joyce face after reading that.

        • Jack
          Jack
          April 7, 2011 at 11:07 pm | #

          <— mfw I read David's post

          • Kavonde
            Kavonde
            April 7, 2011 at 11:37 pm | #

            I just cheered. Me too, Willis. Me too.

            • Zem
              Zem
              April 8, 2011 at 12:05 pm | #

              Reality is unrealistic.

              If it wasn’t, why’d we read?

      • Jen Aside
        Jen Aside
        April 8, 2011 at 12:04 am | #

        Hahaha whut, you pissed off a hot biker chick in college and/or zapped yourself with an amnesia gun to forget about PREMARITAL HANKY PANKYYYYYYYYYY???

      • André
        André
        April 8, 2011 at 10:16 am | #

        That doesn’t mean she isn’t unbelievable?

    • 1Samildanach
      1Samildanach
      April 8, 2011 at 1:35 am | #

      Surely we all know that fiction is more believable than complete truth?

    • Heather
      Heather
      April 8, 2011 at 5:29 am | #

      Unbelievable… bwhahahahaha.

      I wish I lived on your planet where this didn’t happen IRL. Seriously it must be awesome.

  70. Zem
    Zem
    April 8, 2011 at 12:11 pm | #

    You know what else you need, one of those annoying “agnostic not atheist” kids.

    I wonder, does Willis research youth culture or anything foer this strip? I want the spirit of the youth of the current years in this comic, dammit. David might be getting oold to be able to write some of that.

    That reminds me, we totally need some after-its-expiration-date youth slang in this comic. Rad to the max!

    • Sildraug
      Sildraug
      October 21, 2011 at 8:45 am | #

      I’ve had to use ‘agnostic not atheist’ as a defense from some people. ‘No, it’s not that I think you’re wrong, necessarily, it’s that I don’t know!’ Even if I do happen to think they’re wrong. Spin management, I guess you could say.

      Y’know, getting Joyce’s reaction from a stranger wouldn’t bother me as much as getting it from relatives did. That was a fun ride to the airport.

  71. hotsauce
    hotsauce
    April 8, 2011 at 1:43 pm | #

    Had almost this exact conversation with a coworker last night.

    • ArchSchnitz
      ArchSchnitz
      April 8, 2011 at 6:03 pm | #

      I have this conversation pretty often. Apparently I give off a strong “christian vibe” or whatever, which is silly when you really consider the stuff I say.

  72. Kylar
    Kylar
    May 2, 2011 at 3:11 pm | #

    Give me an hour with Joyce and her world will be falling down around her sheltered little ears.

    -sighs- It’s such a good thing my friends aren’t religious.

  73. Engelfire
    Engelfire
    May 19, 2011 at 6:59 pm | #

    Joyce_Brown.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

  74. SpiffytheCreative
    SpiffytheCreative
    June 16, 2011 at 11:59 pm | #

    “I don’t think either,” I’m sorry, but that sounds hilarious.

  75. Another Commenter
    Another Commenter
    August 26, 2011 at 12:50 pm | #

    You know, people like Joyce seem to only exist to give Christianity a bad reputation.

  76. SonicBlueRanger
    SonicBlueRanger
    September 9, 2011 at 3:06 pm | #

    I genuinley don’t get why people hate this version of Joyce she’s exactly as pre-mindwipe Walkyverse Joyce.

  77. Freeholder
    Freeholder
    November 27, 2011 at 2:28 am | #

    I love this Joyce, that is really fun to see a comic character who is both a fundie and a genuinely nice person. She reminds me of the theoretical atheists that reddit complains about all the time. That being said, I can call with a decent amount of certainty that there will be a crisis of face moment for Joyce. Personally I hope it leads to lesbianism, with the best case scenario having her hooked up with a different Walkerton twin in each universe.

  78. Wack'd
    Wack'd
    February 27, 2012 at 11:10 pm | #

    Anyone else hear Psycho strings in the background of the last panel?

  79. Hinoron
    Hinoron
    December 10, 2012 at 10:52 pm | #

    Can’t wait until she meets her first Wiccan or Pagan. >.>

  80. SHAZAM
    SHAZAM
    February 19, 2013 at 11:18 am | #

    I could have talked about this any other time I read through, but I’ll do it now. I was arguably as naive about stuff that Joyce is before I went into boarding school at 11. Nothing my parents fault, I just came to the conclusion that everyone in the western world was christian, everyone in Israel was Jewish and all Arabs were Muslim. The concept of atheism simply didn’t exist to me until that point.

    I mean now I know it’s a hell of a lot more complicated, so my default assumption is other people are gonna be atheist until they tell me otherwise.

    • RandomPerson12
      RandomPerson12
      October 22, 2014 at 9:19 pm | #

      But what if the person is wearing a shirt that says “I am a Christian” on it?

  81. Somebody
    Somebody
    March 4, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    I’m really glad I didn’t read Roomies now.

  82. Stephen
    Stephen
    March 22, 2013 at 1:31 am | #

    Dun dun dunnnn…

  83. newllend
    newllend
    August 13, 2013 at 6:35 pm | #

    Ooohh, here we go and political war between christianity continues

  84. Taigan
    Taigan
    October 11, 2013 at 8:32 pm | #

    The first time I was in the deep south by myself, a beggar at the bus station asked me for change and said it was the Christian thing to do. I told him I was an atheist and (after explaining what that meant) he got that same look on his face.

  85. ubun7u43v3r
    ubun7u43v3r
    January 24, 2014 at 12:53 pm | #

    Someone needs to make an animated gif of Joyce’s eyeballs exploding using the last panel. It would be gross, but epic.

  86. RandomPerson12
    RandomPerson12
    October 22, 2014 at 9:17 pm | #

    “Please inform me when you resume breathing”
    -Head Alien

  87. Aisling
    Aisling
    May 23, 2015 at 2:25 pm | #

    Joyce’s brain now needs an overhaul xD

  88. TaintedMythos
    TaintedMythos
    June 18, 2015 at 8:35 pm | #

    God is a girl… That’s a song or something…
    God is a girl
    Wherever you go
    Can you believe it
    Can you receive it?

    Something like that, right?

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    • Just a Little Bitter. | Unlicensed Thoughts
      November 26, 2013 at 5:22 am | #

Who's that guy over there?

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