Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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July 9, 2026

Chromosome

by David M Willis on May 31, 2012 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - Time Keeps on Slippin'

└ Tags: ethan, joyce, sarah

Discussion (159) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. SkepticJ
    SkepticJ
    May 31, 2012 at 12:02 am | #

    This can only end in tears.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      May 31, 2012 at 12:05 am | #

      If they end up watching ‘Graveyard of the Fireflies’ they might.

      • AliaPie
        AliaPie
        May 31, 2012 at 12:09 am | #

        That’s one of my favorite movies, but I never want to see it again. I’d rather not bawl like a baby again.

        • Kirt Dankmyer
          Kirt Dankmyer
          May 31, 2012 at 11:29 am | #

          That’s exactly how I feel about it.

          • Garret Sylvar
            Garret Sylvar
            May 31, 2012 at 1:49 pm | #

            Am I the only one who didn’t cry at that movie? Don’t get me
            wrong, it’s a very sad movie, but the fact it shows you they’re going to die sort of ruins the impact for me

            • fangshinobi
              fangshinobi
              June 20, 2012 at 12:25 pm | #

              I think it was the intro about them being dead that started the tears for me.

              • Jenny Creed
                Jenny Creed
                June 4, 2013 at 8:16 am | #

                That’s how tragedy works. If a sad thing happens with no warning, it’s shocking and horrific. If you can see it coming from far away and know nothing can change it, it’s disempowering and hopeless.

                And Grave of the Fireflies is the saddest thing I’ve seen second to the deaths of my own children.

      • Kernanator
        Kernanator
        May 31, 2012 at 12:11 am | #

        What are you talking about? Graveyard of the Fireflies was the best comedy ever! Remember the part where the sister died? HILARIOUS!

        • Joseph Harner
          Joseph Harner
          May 31, 2012 at 12:24 am | #

          I don’t know…. I wasn’t too thrilled about that fox’s vile firefly killing tendencies…. It really made me want to cry more than laugh. =(

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          May 31, 2012 at 12:27 am | #

          You would have loved Narutaru then, it’s like Pokemon but if it was written by Lovecraft.

          • Kernanator
            Kernanator
            May 31, 2012 at 12:45 am | #

            …I like Pokemon.

            • Bek359
              Bek359
              May 31, 2012 at 1:30 am | #

              The more relevant question: How much do you like H.P. Lovecraft?

              • AJBulldis
                AJBulldis
                May 31, 2012 at 6:06 am | #

                I don’t know any nerd who, having heard of Lovecraft and familiarized themselves with his work, does not at least pretend to like him. Though sometimes they point out his racism.

                • AngryBamboo
                  AngryBamboo
                  May 31, 2012 at 6:43 am | #

                  Cthulu used incite madness, its super effective!

                • AngryBamboo
                  AngryBamboo
                  May 31, 2012 at 6:43 am | #

                  Cthulu used incite madness, its super effective!

                • N0083rP00F
                  N0083rP00F
                  June 7, 2012 at 1:38 pm | #

                  The Doctor used time loop – it is/was/will be very effective.

          • Telos
            Telos
            May 31, 2012 at 10:37 am | #

            Ah! Thank you! I have been trying to remember the name of narutaru for months! I saw the few first episodes, then forgot what it was called and could never find it again!

      • Barf Ninjason
        Barf Ninjason
        May 31, 2012 at 1:58 am | #

        It’s just Grave of the Fireflies, isn’t it?

      • Cheredarenee
        Cheredarenee
        May 31, 2012 at 2:03 am | #

        I know, right?!?

      • tahrey
        tahrey
        May 31, 2012 at 5:06 am | #

        Or Transformers: The Movie
        🙁

        Or heck, Totoro itself, for a variety of reasons ranging from over-empathy with the characters to taking offense at its sturdy embrace of animism and complete disregard for any kind of western religious influence.

        I think we’re probably talking TV cartoons, though. I’ll have to click back a couple comics to re-gather the context.

        • begbert2
          begbert2
          May 31, 2012 at 10:51 am | #

          …Why would Totoro have any western religious influence? It’s an eastern movie.

          And if you’re aiming to be offended by that movie, I’d think the bath scene would do it for you. Nudity!

    • Kirt Dankmyer
      Kirt Dankmyer
      May 31, 2012 at 11:30 am | #

      Actually, I think Joyce serving as a beard to Ethan has a lot of potential for fun… for us. 🙂

  2. Mkvenner
    Mkvenner
    May 31, 2012 at 12:02 am | #

    Swing and a miss.

  3. Jen Aside
    Jen Aside
    May 31, 2012 at 12:02 am | #

    Yeah, that’s totally a rape-face on Ethan.

    Sarah’s next lesson: How to use teh GAYDAR

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      May 31, 2012 at 12:10 am | #

      Nah, that’s more of a guilty grin than a raep-face, the eyes need to be more sinister.

      • Thor
        Thor
        May 31, 2012 at 12:48 am | #

        I know it’s an internet meme and all that, but seriously, folks, rape isn’t a joke, and those who are triggered by that will likely thank you not to bandy the word around.

        • TheBenenator
          TheBenenator
          May 31, 2012 at 1:00 am | #

          Like me.

          Considering a very close friend of mine was raped and got pregnant from it.

          *RAGEFACE*

          • tahrey
            tahrey
            May 31, 2012 at 5:08 am | #

            Your avatar has probably never been more appropriate.

            Mike would make a ton of tasteless dead baby and gang-rape jokes just to score a reaction, but would also likely go to town, city, and several suburbs on an actual rapist.

      • Jen Aside
        Jen Aside
        June 1, 2012 at 12:07 am | #

        Well, I guess sarcasm is lost on the Internet, too. Lesson learned…?

        [spelled out]’cause Ethan has this face like he couldn’t rape a girl if his life depended on it[/spelled out]

        [[n/m]]

        [[[crawls back into hole in the wall]]]

  4. phroggonalog
    phroggonalog
    May 31, 2012 at 12:02 am | #

    ZING

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      May 31, 2012 at 12:04 am | #

      Don’t you mean PING!

      • Aizat
        Aizat
        May 31, 2012 at 12:08 am | #

        Hey, who Pinged?

        • Kernanator
          Kernanator
          May 31, 2012 at 12:09 am | #

          What’s my PING?

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            May 31, 2012 at 12:10 am | #

            The thing that comes before PONG, natch!

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            May 31, 2012 at 12:11 am | #

            Who’s SnooPING as usual?

            • Aizat
              Aizat
              May 31, 2012 at 12:22 am | #

              Don’t you mean “SnooPING AS usual I see?”

      • Rex Hondo
        Rex Hondo
        May 31, 2012 at 12:10 am | #

        One ping only, pleashe.

        • Jimmy
          Jimmy
          May 31, 2012 at 6:37 am | #

          Re-verify our range to target.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        May 31, 2012 at 12:14 am | #

        (For those ppl who don’t know, a ping is when you send an active signal from your sonar in the hopes of detecting boats in quiet mode.)

        • Kernanator
          Kernanator
          May 31, 2012 at 12:16 am | #

          It also has something to do with your Internet signal.)

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            May 31, 2012 at 12:19 am | #

            or pretty much any signal being sent out.)

            • Kryss LaBryn
              Kryss LaBryn
              June 1, 2012 at 12:31 am | #

              Marco.

              • Björn
                Björn
                June 1, 2012 at 6:18 am | #

                *sigh* Polo.

          • tahrey
            tahrey
            May 31, 2012 at 5:10 am | #

            (It’s also what most pro golfers have written on their hats for some reason)

            html tags are fun

        • Roborat
          Roborat
          May 31, 2012 at 2:18 pm | #

          Also, my favourite character in Megatokyo.

  5. Regalli
    Regalli
    May 31, 2012 at 12:02 am | #

    I’ll get the trombone.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      May 31, 2012 at 12:11 am | #

      http://sadtrombone.com/

  6. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    May 31, 2012 at 12:03 am | #

    Unless Joyce has the XXY set of chromosomes, which in thqat case, she will STILL be safe.

    • tahrey
      tahrey
      May 31, 2012 at 5:14 am | #

      Maybe he’s into that, though?

      I was already wondering if they may end up hitting it off in a pity-friends-with-benefits way that involved some way of producing arousal without mutual attraction…

      Yes I know he’s 100%, Kinsey-six gee-ay-why, but I wouldn’t put it past The Willis to complicate his characters’ relationships with something weird like that. Maybe Ethan can be dreaming of all the cute guys in his class whilst Joyce “explores” him in a variety of ways. Then returns the favour purely as a courtesy, not getting anything much out of it… nor being tempted to provide “just the tip”.

      And Sarah cowers on her bunk under the covers hoping they don’t come any closer.

    • Vibbles
      Vibbles
      June 1, 2012 at 5:30 am | #

      I- I thought people with Klinefelter’s were generally phenotypically male and therefore WOULD be in Ethan’s bracket…

      Not that he’s really the predator-type-of-dude anyway, so XXY Joyce would STILL be safe inasmuch. But “maleness” is determined by the presence of a Y chromosome; people with Klinefelter’s syndrome may be slightly more “feminine” in appearance or not depending on other genetic factors, but as far as I know, are all entirely physically male and aren’t anything in-between.

  7. Ridureyu
    Ridureyu
    May 31, 2012 at 12:04 am | #

    SARAH + ETHAN OTP!!!

    If Sarah becomes a dude, I guess.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      May 31, 2012 at 12:08 am | #

      It’s happened before

  8. Sensedog
    Sensedog
    May 31, 2012 at 12:04 am | #

    Yes indeed, this may end in hilarious tragedy.

  9. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    May 31, 2012 at 12:05 am | #

    Damn, that’s some grade A gay-dar Sarah’s got there

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      May 31, 2012 at 12:06 am | #

      Only the A-Grade ones can detect Straight Gays.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        May 31, 2012 at 12:09 am | #

        And Grade-B can only detect Bi-sexuals

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          May 31, 2012 at 12:15 am | #

          and undercover cops posing as hookers can detect Buy-sexuals.

          • Moonshine McGee
            Moonshine McGee
            May 31, 2012 at 12:35 am | #

            And undercover hookers posing as cops can detect bachelor parties.

            • Kernanator
              Kernanator
              May 31, 2012 at 12:43 am | #

              And undercover bachelors posing as Buy-sexuals can detect your mom! If you pay them a nickel.

      • Aizat
        Aizat
        May 31, 2012 at 12:19 am | #

        And only the S-grades can determine whether if they are the depraved type or not.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          May 31, 2012 at 12:26 am | #

          and V-grade can detect those who are deprived or not

          • Rognik
            Rognik
            May 31, 2012 at 1:09 pm | #

            But what if you’re deprived AND depraved?

  10. Kensou
    Kensou
    May 31, 2012 at 12:06 am | #

    She sees the truth of things.

  11. Khantalas
    Khantalas
    May 31, 2012 at 12:07 am | #

    Everyone but Joyce can apparently notice Ethan is gay.

    ((Well, everyone buy Joyce and Amber.))

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      May 31, 2012 at 12:29 am | #

      You can buy Amber and Joyce? For how much?

      • Khantalas
        Khantalas
        May 31, 2012 at 12:37 am | #

        20.000 dollars, plus tax.

        • Lawzlo
          Lawzlo
          May 31, 2012 at 12:52 am | #

          Does that include shipping and handling?

          • JK9000
            JK9000
            May 31, 2012 at 12:57 am | #

            Only handling.

          • Azukar
            Azukar
            May 31, 2012 at 3:42 am | #

            I see what you did there, and it is a stroke of brilliance.

          • tahrey
            tahrey
            May 31, 2012 at 5:15 am | #

            I hereby rename you “Lulzlo”.

        • Khantalas
          Khantalas
          May 31, 2012 at 1:11 am | #

          ((Owning another human being, fictional character or not, might be illegal in your country of residence. Please consult your lawyer before purchasing Joyce and Amber.))

      • Jackson
        Jackson
        May 31, 2012 at 7:00 am | #

        Sadly, Joyce is still in the development phase.

  12. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    May 31, 2012 at 12:09 am | #

    And thus, we now know Sarah’s deep dark secret.

    SHE CAN READ MINDS!

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      May 31, 2012 at 12:16 am | #

      Sarah sure is a surly Jean Gray.

      • Julio Dvulture
        Julio Dvulture
        May 31, 2012 at 12:37 am | #

        If I could read every stupid thought people have I would be surly too.

        • Kernanator
          Kernanator
          May 31, 2012 at 1:02 am | #

          Exactly.

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            May 31, 2012 at 2:38 am | #

            If I could read minds, I would end up knocking mothafuckas out!”

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        May 31, 2012 at 12:43 am | #

        Jean Gay.

      • Z
        Z
        May 31, 2012 at 6:10 am | #

        Being “surly Jean Grey” would put her one personality trait over ACTUAL Jean Grey who has always been so bland and personality free that she can’t even manage anything as interesting as a decent superhero name without an alien entity involved.

        Seriously, that should have been their first clue that Pheonix wasn’t really Jean… she developed a personality for a little while.

        • Makkabee
          Makkabee
          May 31, 2012 at 6:43 am | #

          I hear there’s an ointment for that.

        • John
          John
          May 31, 2012 at 7:12 am | #

          Marvel Girl was a nice name 🙁

  13. AliaPie
    AliaPie
    May 31, 2012 at 12:09 am | #

    Whooooosh over Joyce’s head.

  14. Wack'd
    Wack'd
    May 31, 2012 at 12:11 am | #

    How can everyone tell instantly? Ethan is one of the least stereotypical gay people I’ve seen in any given work of fiction!

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      May 31, 2012 at 12:13 am | #

      It’s in his eyes. It radiates out of him in such a powerful way that it cannot be drawn

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      May 31, 2012 at 12:18 am | #

      Sarah can detect even low levels of gaidiation.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        May 31, 2012 at 12:27 am | #

        what happens to those exposed to gamma gaidiation?

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          May 31, 2012 at 12:32 am | #

          When they get really mad, their interior design and fashion senses expand to military grade fabulousness.

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            May 31, 2012 at 12:36 am | #

            The Fashionable Hulk

            • Bryn
              Bryn
              May 31, 2012 at 1:08 am | #

              “Do make me angry” “You would like me when I’m angry”

              “Well, this living room would anyway”

              • Dragon Nataku
                Dragon Nataku
                May 31, 2012 at 6:29 am | #

                Hulk SMASH! And then remodels!

    • gangler
      gangler
      May 31, 2012 at 12:30 am | #

      The Walkyverse is popular media in the Dumbiverse. As such their stereotypes are a little bit different. Specifically transformers and cartoons are a big tell here.

    • AndysDrawings
      AndysDrawings
      May 31, 2012 at 4:36 am | #

      Go watch Happy Endings. Max is great.

    • tahrey
      tahrey
      May 31, 2012 at 5:17 am | #

      Maybe its in his voice, or how he moves/carries himself. Two things that don’t come across very well in a comic without it being made cringingly stereotypical. I’ve known two or three guys who I never could tell whether they were almost-straight-gay, or just camp-straight. Any time I came to a presumption in my head, it was later proven wrong. Could be Sarah is presuming the former, and Joyce the latter. Or just thinks he’s a real-life version of Ned Flanders…

      • Makkabee
        Makkabee
        May 31, 2012 at 6:46 am | #

        Not sure she even knows who Ned Flanders is. She just revealed she wasn’t allowed to watch The Simpsons, after all.

    • Jackson
      Jackson
      May 31, 2012 at 7:03 am | #

      Theory: anyone can instantly tell that Ethan is gay, if it would make Joyce’s ignorance the butt of the punchline.

      I suspect there will be many opportunities to test this theory in the near future.

  15. Rex Hondo
    Rex Hondo
    May 31, 2012 at 12:12 am | #

    Did Sarah and Ethan just do a soulgaze? Which one is the wizard, and how is Joyce going to react when she finds out?

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      May 31, 2012 at 12:18 am | #

      You have joined my Cool People list.

      Anyway, my money’s on Sarah.

      • HeatPhoenix
        HeatPhoenix
        May 31, 2012 at 6:00 am | #

        And the both of you have joined mine. I think it’s Sarah, she has that knowing look. As if she had seen too much, things from the Nevernever.

        • Rex Hondo
          Rex Hondo
          June 1, 2012 at 11:52 am | #

          Lots of things start to make sense. Ryan the rapist didn’t escape. He was a predator from the Nevernever that just reverted to ectoplasm (which went totally unnoticed among the rest of the mess at a college party) when Sarah beat him to “death.”
          Also, no matter who the wizard is, I think we can all agree that Joe is obviously a White Court vampire.

    • Jetstream
      Jetstream
      May 31, 2012 at 12:31 am | #

      Obviously Ethan is the Wizard, as he doesn’t get to have nice things.

      • Kernanator
        Kernanator
        May 31, 2012 at 12:40 am | #

        No no no, it’s obviously Sarah. She has the attitude and everything!

  16. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    May 31, 2012 at 12:13 am | #

    >–Sarah’s comment–>

    \O/
    | <— Joyce
    ^

  17. Brasca1
    Brasca1
    May 31, 2012 at 12:18 am | #

    Sarah’s gaydar works just fine.

    • ryan
      ryan
      May 31, 2012 at 8:07 am | #

      sarah doesn’t know because of her gaydar.
      sarah knows because she reads DoA.

  18. Edd
    Edd
    May 31, 2012 at 12:23 am | #

    Sarah has spot-on gaydar and some good jokes. Sadly Joyce never took biology (?) earlier and is too ignorant to connect the dots.

    • Steven
      Steven
      May 31, 2012 at 1:07 am | #

      Biology is a lie made up by Evolutionists to lead you astray.

    • Shade
      Shade
      May 31, 2012 at 3:37 am | #

      Well to be fair the XX/XY thing like most high school explanations of biology are alot simpler than it actually is.

      • tahrey
        tahrey
        May 31, 2012 at 5:19 am | #

        This is a concept known as “lies to children”, where you introduce the big ideas (from all parts of the educational spectrum) initially in the most dumbed down form possible without actually making anything up, then gradually add the various complicating flavours as they get older and more able to deal with it.

        • Shade
          Shade
          May 31, 2012 at 6:38 pm | #

          Oh I understand perfectly why it’s done. Biology is pretty fricking complicated at the higher levels.

      • tahrey
        tahrey
        May 31, 2012 at 5:20 am | #

        I mean, how are you going to expect an elementary schooler to deal with the idea of Klinefelter’s or AIS? Or the religious parents of a homeschooled girl, even…

  19. Raen
    Raen
    May 31, 2012 at 12:24 am | #

    …Joyce got over her fear fast.

    (Wait, how does Sarah know Ethan?)

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      May 31, 2012 at 12:46 am | #

      She doesn’t know him. She’s just that good.

  20. Henry
    Henry
    May 31, 2012 at 12:25 am | #

    Joyce Brown is… CAPTAIN OBLIVIOUS!

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      May 31, 2012 at 12:29 am | #

      “Look in the sky!!!It’s the Oblivious Signal!!!”
      “I don’t see it”

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        May 31, 2012 at 12:33 am | #

        It wasn’t obvious enough…

      • tahrey
        tahrey
        May 31, 2012 at 5:21 am | #

        See what? Sorry, I was daydreaming about how cool Jesus is 🙂

  21. sad
    sad
    May 31, 2012 at 12:53 am | #

    Didn’t take Sarah long to see past Ethans cunning ruse.

  22. Stone
    Stone
    May 31, 2012 at 12:54 am | #

    “check-plus”
    Oh shit, I actually get this joke

    • tahrey
      tahrey
      May 31, 2012 at 5:35 am | #

      Can you explain it? The interweb’s got nothing, apart from a one-line description on Urban Dictionary that tells us nothing we couldn’t learn from the comic itself.

  23. Ryan Balis
    Ryan Balis
    May 31, 2012 at 1:06 am | #

    Ethan’s blush marks his gayness from miles away

    • Bekah
      Bekah
      May 31, 2012 at 1:26 am | #

      I guess you didn’t notice that all of Willis’s characters have rosy cheeks…

      Oh wait…

  24. iSaidCandleja-
    iSaidCandleja-
    May 31, 2012 at 1:54 am | #

    At least this will finally force Ethan to be honest with Joyce (and himself). Unless Sarah decided not to say anything in an attempt to save her from a mental BSOD.

  25. Cheredarenee
    Cheredarenee
    May 31, 2012 at 2:02 am | #

    Sorry Ethan the only one you’re fooling is… Joyce…

  26. slicedtoad
    slicedtoad
    May 31, 2012 at 2:12 am | #

    Isn’t it Joyce’s opinion that gays are just [i]confused[/i] or something? How will she react to a gay guy pretending to be straight?

    • Bekah
      Bekah
      May 31, 2012 at 2:55 am | #

      I don’t see how not mentioning your sexuality is “pretending to be straight”.

      • Eggy
        Eggy
        May 31, 2012 at 3:16 am | #

        I – but – what – huh

        INTENTION IS THE MOTHER OF ACTION

        • Shadlyn Wolfe
          Shadlyn Wolfe
          May 31, 2012 at 8:56 am | #

          So if I don’t mention to someone immediately that I’m fond of peach salsa, I’m hiding my love of peach salsa?

          In that case…I’m ready. I want the world to know. I *love* peach salsa.

          • Roborat
            Roborat
            May 31, 2012 at 2:23 pm | #

            That’s nice. But I have to ask, how do you dance with peaches?

            • Shadlyn Wolfe
              Shadlyn Wolfe
              May 31, 2012 at 3:11 pm | #

              When they’re safely tucked inside my belly, I can dance with them all night and they’ll never miss a step!

            • das-g
              das-g
              May 31, 2012 at 5:47 pm | #

              Not ‘with’, ‘to‘.

  27. Uniqueantique
    Uniqueantique
    May 31, 2012 at 2:22 am | #

    But was Ethan trying to fool Joyce? I think he was just asking as a friend asks a friend to spend some time together. A lot of people know he’s gay, he dosen’t hide it, but he doesn’t advertise either. And yeah, Sarah is awesome.

  28. John42
    John42
    May 31, 2012 at 3:17 am | #

    “Accelerated Gaydar” would make a great band name

    • Krashthemystro
      Krashthemystro
      May 31, 2012 at 4:34 am | #

      Best Band Name ever.

      • Maycroft
        Maycroft
        May 31, 2012 at 6:02 am | #

        Best coctail name ever.

    • turkishproverb
      turkishproverb
      May 31, 2012 at 6:07 am | #

      …Now I need to learn to play an instrument.

      • Kernanator
        Kernanator
        May 31, 2012 at 11:29 am | #

        I’ll sing.

  29. Krashthemystro
    Krashthemystro
    May 31, 2012 at 4:33 am | #

    JOYCE! How did you not catch that your Christian not stupid!*headdeskslam*

    • HeatPhoenix
      HeatPhoenix
      May 31, 2012 at 5:44 am | #

      Some would say those are synonyms.

      • Rex Hondo
        Rex Hondo
        May 31, 2012 at 7:22 am | #

        Even most reasonable people would have to admit that they are at the very least not mutually exclusive.

        • AJBulldis
          AJBulldis
          May 31, 2012 at 10:24 am | #

          This is kind of an awful line of conversation.

          • Jackson
            Jackson
            May 31, 2012 at 12:28 pm | #

            Could be worse.

            I’d say it’s actually going halfway decent, considering that this is the internet.

    • begbert2
      begbert2
      May 31, 2012 at 3:49 pm | #

      Cite that she’s not stupid?

  30. turkishproverb
    turkishproverb
    May 31, 2012 at 6:06 am | #

    Sarah’s got good Gaydar.

  31. narmenduke
    narmenduke
    May 31, 2012 at 6:30 am | #

    Huh. Ethan’s never seemed that obviously gay to me. Maybe I’m just missing something. Or maybe Sarah CAN SEE INTO YOUR SOUL.

    • Arkadi
      Arkadi
      May 31, 2012 at 8:09 am | #

      “Maybe”?

    • Shadlyn Wolfe
      Shadlyn Wolfe
      May 31, 2012 at 9:01 am | #

      Or maybe he just put on his happy gay face for her so that she would reassure Joyce? After all, while Joyce’s caution is commendable, it’s probably awkward for him. “Oh, I don’t want to go to YOUR room because I’m afraid you might rape me. Come sit near the girl who hits rapists, instead, ok?”

      (And for what it’s worth, I approve of Joyce’s decision here. She’s trying to take precautions so she doesn’t make the same mistake twice. Overreaction is a natural part of that process. Quite aside from his Gayness, now someone she trusts knows where she’ll be.)

  32. Jimmy
    Jimmy
    May 31, 2012 at 6:44 am | #

    Sarah must have traveled into the future and stolen Bender’s gaydar.

    • turkishproverb
      turkishproverb
      May 31, 2012 at 7:56 am | #

      Or dumbing of age takes place in the Channel Awesome universe, and she stole it from insano.

  33. Jimbo
    Jimbo
    May 31, 2012 at 8:38 am | #

    she knows too much!

  34. TARDIS With A Hat
    TARDIS With A Hat
    May 31, 2012 at 9:33 am | #

    Dammit, that’s one impressive Gaydar, it’s fueled by the Rules of Funny

  35. Martin S Smith
    Martin S Smith
    May 31, 2012 at 10:14 am | #

    Still a little weird seeing Ethan interacting with Joyce after reading Shortpacked! for so long.

    And yes, Sarah clearly must be psychic and/or a witch. Burn her!

    • begbert2
      begbert2
      May 31, 2012 at 3:54 pm | #

      She also can talk without dropping the pencil from her mouth – a talent I would normally only expect of smokers. As she doesn’t appear to smoke, I can only assume that demonic powers are being employed here.

      • Mrelegos
        Mrelegos
        May 31, 2012 at 5:20 pm | #

        Or, like myself, she has a habit of pencil chewing. Spend enough time working with that habit, it becomes simple to talk with a pen in ones mouth.

  36. iggy_rock
    iggy_rock
    May 31, 2012 at 11:00 am | #

    I wanna know what Ethan sees in the first panel. He seems totally in awe of it whatever it is. 🙂

  37. TJ Baltimore
    TJ Baltimore
    May 31, 2012 at 12:02 pm | #

    This storyline actually makes me feel really sad in anticipation. I think Joyce will fall hard for Ethan, and when he finally realizes that he can’t be straight, it will break Joyce’s heart. It happened to my female friend in college, except that I wasn’t pretending anything: we were just good friends who like to hang out together pretty much all day.

    Not to mention that even if they remain “only friends”, that will make Joyce’s three closest friends a godless atheist, an alcoholic slut, and a hellbound homo.

    Trying to be straight can screw up Ethan a lot, too. That happened to another friend of mine after some “reparative therapy”. It really broke him, and he was never the same again.

  38. kyojikasshu
    kyojikasshu
    May 31, 2012 at 7:05 pm | #

    Joyce’s face in the final panel reminds me of Faz.

  39. status
    status
    May 31, 2012 at 9:53 pm | #

    am I the only one in the world who finds a masculine looking vulnerable handsome guy squirming with discomfort absolutely hot? Oh god!! 😀 *watches Willis back away slowly*

  40. Narf
    Narf
    March 1, 2013 at 9:45 pm | #

    My GOD Sarah is an insufferable conga.

    …what?

  41. Sambo
    Sambo
    February 19, 2014 at 9:18 pm | #

    Joyce, how did you not catch on to that??

CHOOSE A SIDE, NO COWARDS

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  • Polls Archive
CONVENTION APPEARANCES


September 13/14, 2025 - Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland

David M Willis! avatar
David M Willis!
@damnyouwillis.bsky.social
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 3h
Dumbing of Age: "LIVE JOCELYNE REACTION" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
LIVE JOCELYNE REACTION
that's not the end!  there's more tomorrow, already on patreon!...
33
9
74
 
reposted by David M Willis!
edidin.bsky.social's user avatar
Jay Edidin @edidin.bsky.social ⋅ 4h
hey, kid, what do you want to play with from the cool superhero movie? is it a nude, melting senator who feels like a stretch armstrong doll that has been left out in the son and maybe mildly chewed by a neighborhood dog? WELL, SON, YOU'RE IN LUCK!
the most upsetting toy of all time: a small and horrible statue of melting, nude Senator Kelly from the first x-men film
18
29
145
 
reposted by David M Willis!
brendelbored.bsky.social's user avatar
Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.social ⋅ 5h
James Gunn i demand u bring back Conservative Superman
Superman shaking Jared Fogle’s hand
23
131
894
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 10h
(July 10, 2026)
Sal and Danny saw you from across the room and enjoy your vibe.
5
2
47
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 16h
trying to voice recognition a search for superman's actor
1
35
 
reposted by David M Willis!
drivaaar.bsky.social's user avatar
Drivaaar @drivaaar.bsky.social ⋅ 19h
I want YOU to transform Autobot City (with generous green spaces, affordable public transport and amenities, and plentiful social initiatives)
3
20
86
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 16h
welp back to drawing comics featuring a character you can't see yet for like 11 months
6
68
 
reposted by David M Willis!
thewritertype.bsky.social's user avatar
Paul Bassett Davies @thewritertype.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Then they came for the sarcastic people and I was like oh great that's exactly what we need right now well done to all concerned.
11
169
807
 
reposted by David M Willis!
cassmoney.bsky.social's user avatar
Cass 🪻 @cassmoney.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Comic of a man peering through a window.
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
1
2
35
 
reposted by David M Willis!
nerdylawyer.bsky.social's user avatar
The Nerdy Lawyer @nerdylawyer.bsky.social ⋅ 20h
Dorothy: You can't just follow me into fire! Joyce: You don't want me following you into fire? Then don't run into fire!
2
48
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
today in #9chickweedlane i learned i apparently gotta go see if "correlate" has an archaic definition that means something nonsense
12
2
53
 
reposted by David M Willis!
virginiabarksdale.bsky.social's user avatar
Virginia Barksdale @virginiabarksdale.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
screaming, crying, throwing up, Pete the Peacock is real, I feel lesbian God in this chili's tonight
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
2
31
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
13
10
99
 
reposted by David M Willis!
riotgrlerin.bsky.social's user avatar
RiotGrlErin @riotgrlerin.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
pam bondi as porta potties: thread
Pam bondi and he side profile wearing a dark yellow coat.
A yellow porta potty probably less shitty than Pam.
235
1307
6611
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
header image - a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
media.tenor.com
a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
ALT: a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
2
22
 
reposted by David M Willis!
brigid.bsky.social's user avatar
Brigid Keely She/Her @brigid.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Joyce is absolutely totally straight and just wants to hang out with her best friend, who happens to be another lady. This is normal behavior and a normal biblical quote to use that has no other context. GAL PALS
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
joyce walks down an aisle
1
9
87
 
reposted by David M Willis!
southworth.bsky.social's user avatar
Paul Southworth ☢️ 🐟 @southworth.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
A lot of songs are lowkey about being horny
2
7
42
 
reposted by David M Willis!
inflatabledalek.bsky.social's user avatar
Stuart Webb @inflatabledalek.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
OK, I said I was going to a thread of receipts together on the guy who runs Kapow, in odder to explain why I personally would recommend not giving him your business at TFN. Starting with the original post, revealing the guy loves sharing right wing fascist stuff on LinkedIn.
xjmaw.bsky.social's user avatarAlex Maw @xjmaw.bsky.social ⋅ 6m
Since you might think it's weird you got a like on this over a year after the fact, the director of Kapow just shared this on LinkedIn; i.imgur.com/hqQYWgO.png
4
61
95
 
reposted by David M Willis!
rosalarian.bsky.social's user avatar
Ro Salarian @rosalarian.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
This is the best review I've ever gotten on my clothes. They will make you hot and popular. Find em at rosalarian.com/shop
Text conversation that reads: 
Pink text: i just wore my pervert shirt from your site to a party last night and it was possibly the funniest conversation starter OVER AND OVER. i could have full conversations with someoen about it and then the person literally sitting on the other side of me would look over and go HEY YOUR SHIRT SAYS PERVERT?! just immaculate, best design I've ever gotten and it also scores me a whole subway bench on the train.
Black text: This is exactly the reaction I was aiming for, both at the party and on the subway
Pink text: 100% crit rate
Pink text: i was extremely popular all of a sudden
A photo of a short sleeve button up skirt that is black with the word PERVERT scrawled all over it in white handwriting
5
32
122
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Bold new hero Steve Lombard
2
8
60
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
another one of those "this food is delicious and i would absolutely eat all of it, but i have very little appetite" days
1
26
 
reposted by David M Willis!
adam16bit.bsky.social's user avatar
Adam16bit @adam16bit.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Transformers Cyberworld is up on YouTube. For a short show to sell toys to kids, they did a good job with it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLVh...
header image - Transformers: CYBERWORLD | Episode 01 | Optimus Prime Crash Lands On CYBERWORLD
www.youtube.com
Transformers: CYBERWORLD | Episode 01 | Optimus Prime Crash Lands On CYBERWORLD
YouTube video by TRANSFORMERS OFFICIAL
1
6
22
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
www.instagram.com/p/DMAtlXHsyrO/ Took this as a challenge
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
finally done it, created a strip that defies instagram more than any strip ever before
21
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
not that giant of an axe actually a pretty modestly-sized axe
1
1
27
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
joyce walks down an aisle
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Dumbing of Age: "Panorama" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomic #webcomics
www.dumbingofage.com
Panorama
i promise multiple panels in tomorrow's strip, which you can see early on patreon...
7
12
82
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
tfw you have things to do
10
10
72
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Dumbing of Age: "Panorama" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomic #webcomics
www.dumbingofage.com
Panorama
i promise multiple panels in tomorrow's strip, which you can see early on patreon...
11
9
57
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
yep James Gunn made a Superman film
2
38
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Happy 8th anniversary to just tweeting it out
5
32
126
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
so i got photos of the makeship dina plushie proto and honestly it looks 100% perfect except sidebar the hood can pull off the head, like a real hoodie which is something i didn't even consider should i leave that as an option, or tell them to sew the hood to the top of the head
10
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