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Emasculated
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May 12, 2026

Emasculated

by David M Willis on December 11, 2012 at 12:01 am
  • 01 - If the Shoe Splits
└ Tags: joyce, mike, sal, walky

Discussion (113) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Khantalas
    Khantalas
    December 11, 2012 at 12:05 am | #

    Sal doesn’t seem fond of Walky comparing himself to her. Or reminding her that he can be compared to her.

    On the upside, woo. We get to see Sal again.

    • ADHadh
      ADHadh
      December 11, 2012 at 1:38 pm | #

      Sal clearly finds Walky being mistaked for her even more emasculating.

  2. David Herbert
    David Herbert
    December 11, 2012 at 12:09 am | #

    You know Mike is going to mess them up before they’re given back.

  3. Xydux
    Xydux
    December 11, 2012 at 12:11 am | #

    Don’t worry, you’ll feel more emasculated. I know I have, and I wasn’t even wearing a dress! (It was a tuxedo bikini. Don’t ask.)

    • Bekah
      Bekah
      December 11, 2012 at 12:17 am | #

      Pics or GTFO

      • Xydux
        Xydux
        December 11, 2012 at 12:25 am | #

        There are probably pictures somewhere. I choose instead to GTFO.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        December 11, 2012 at 12:33 am | #

        What happens in /b/ stays in /b/.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          December 11, 2012 at 12:40 am | #

          What what in the /b/. I said What What in the /b/

          • |Agent
            |Agent
            December 12, 2012 at 1:43 am | #

            Damn it. I was just starting to get that song out of my head.

        • MLBlue
          MLBlue
          December 11, 2012 at 7:49 am | #

          Agh, that really drives the point home with a Rei Ayanami Rape Face.

          • Andiemus
            Andiemus
            December 12, 2012 at 5:37 pm | #

            Indeed. Pic so relevant it’s horrifying.

    • tahrey
      tahrey
      December 12, 2012 at 4:38 am | #

      Tuxedo. Bikini.

      I would ask for someone to pass the mind bleach, but my imagination is actually flat out refusing to even go there.

      • myIDID
        myIDID
        December 12, 2012 at 10:42 pm | #

        Despite a lack of need for mind bleach in particular, well, everyone knows: there’s no bleach for tuxedos on the beach like mind bleach pollutant.

  4. Wonder Wig
    Wonder Wig
    December 11, 2012 at 12:14 am | #

    Try not to feel so insolted Walky.

    • Vabolo
      Vabolo
      December 11, 2012 at 12:44 am | #

      I dunno man, it might take a while for that injury to heel.

      • Resne
        Resne
        December 11, 2012 at 1:07 am | #

        One would be wise not to speak too quickly about your masculinity, Walky. You’re liable to end up with your foot in your mouth.

        • diremoi
          diremoi
          December 11, 2012 at 1:28 am | #

          That’s enough tongue in cheek repartee from you lot.

          • Wonder Wig
            Wonder Wig
            December 11, 2012 at 2:04 am | #

            Yes Sarah…

          • Jackson
            Jackson
            December 11, 2012 at 8:31 am | #

            I don’t think that more of this banter would be out of p-lace.

            • Kernanator
              Kernanator
              December 11, 2012 at 12:04 pm | #

              You guys need to stop toeing the line.

              • Jackson
                Jackson
                December 11, 2012 at 1:26 pm | #

                We toetally do.

                • begbert2
                  begbert2
                  December 11, 2012 at 8:38 pm | #

                  Eyelet myself get carried away; sorry.

                • Jeff K!
                  Jeff K!
                  December 12, 2012 at 10:20 pm | #

                  Ag!-Let it stop!

  5. Sporky
    Sporky
    December 11, 2012 at 12:16 am | #

    Walky in this ‘verse is pretty insecure in his masculinity. I didn’t really expect that.

    Also, it’s really cute but also kind of sad just how impressed Joyce seems to be that Walky isn’t wearing grody-ass shoes.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      December 11, 2012 at 12:41 am | #

      That’s what happens when you’re like…the shortest guy character.

    • Mogotoo
      Mogotoo
      December 11, 2012 at 2:42 am | #

      I can recall a handful of strips scattered around It’s Walky! where Walky shows his distaste for girliness.

  6. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    December 11, 2012 at 12:18 am | #

    Is this a not-so-subtle dig at people that have confused Walky for a girl?

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      December 11, 2012 at 12:22 am | #

      But he’s so pretty… 😛

      • The Weird Guy
        The Weird Guy
        December 11, 2012 at 8:05 am | #

        What is it with your Rei(pe) face and how it makes everything you say ten times scarier?

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          December 11, 2012 at 4:40 pm | #

          But Rei looks so trustworthy… 😀

    • David
      David M Willis
      December 11, 2012 at 12:22 am | #

      I wasn’t aware that was a thing.

      • Mogotoo
        Mogotoo
        December 11, 2012 at 12:14 pm | #

        March 19, 2003: Joyce’s mom claims that Joyce is a lesbian. She refers to when “you kissed that girl on TV”.

        “…Mother, that was Walky!”

        I wish I could remember more.

    • Kurai Seraphim
      Kurai Seraphim
      December 11, 2012 at 12:30 am | #

      I thought it was a mythology joke about the gender swap time in Its Walky! where the characters acknowledges that a girl Walky is Sal and vice versa.

    • WhiteEyedCat
      WhiteEyedCat
      December 11, 2012 at 2:39 am | #

      I thought it was a comment about how he and Sal look similar.

  7. David Herbert
    David Herbert
    December 11, 2012 at 12:18 am | #

    Hey Joyce, you’re eyeing up your friend’s sculpted caramel there.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      December 11, 2012 at 12:25 am | #

      Especially when she has got herself a tasty bagel already.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        December 11, 2012 at 12:43 am | #

        Does that mean Amazi-girl has Wonder Bread?

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          December 11, 2012 at 12:52 am | #

          Sounds about right to me.

      • Blue
        Blue
        December 11, 2012 at 11:52 am | #

        Too bad for her he prefers baguettes.

    • Zababcd
      Zababcd
      December 11, 2012 at 12:33 am | #

      I can never tell where these eyes are pointed. I think distant-but-coloured-in-guy in the first panel could be looking discreetly checking out Mike’s rear. Anything is possible.

      • ComicGeek11
        ComicGeek11
        December 11, 2012 at 6:58 am | #

        Thus the Mike/distant-but-coloured-in-guy ship was born XD

  8. Sporky
    Sporky
    December 11, 2012 at 12:20 am | #

    also i just noticed that sal is in the background of the last panel

    her expression is now the best thing about this strip

  9. Uniqueantique
    Uniqueantique
    December 11, 2012 at 12:20 am | #

    Reverse engineering. Won’t work Joyce. Walky’s a natural born, and happy about it, slob. Looks to me like it would be his individuality he would be mourning, not his masculinity?

    • TPman
      TPman
      December 11, 2012 at 12:26 am | #

      Indeed. Walky takes a lot of pride in his slobbish ways. I wonder if there’s some unrevealed backstory there.

  10. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    December 11, 2012 at 12:21 am | #

    They really do look like brother and sister, almost as alike as Amber and Dotty.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      December 11, 2012 at 12:46 am | #

      These twins almost look as related as two strangers.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        December 11, 2012 at 12:51 am | #

        Yup! 😀

  11. John
    John
    December 11, 2012 at 12:23 am | #

    … and one time in an alternate universe, Walky turned into a girl, put on a schoolgirl’s uniform, and made out with boy-Joyce.

    And this is still more emasculating!

  12. Suziroo
    Suziroo
    December 11, 2012 at 12:23 am | #

    I love today’s comic. So. Much.

    • Suziroo
      Suziroo
      December 11, 2012 at 12:25 am | #

      I also love that my gravatar has gone back to Screamin’ Robin.

      • Wonder Wig
        Wonder Wig
        December 11, 2012 at 12:58 am | #

        I see screamin’ Robin and I hear, “HEEEY YOOUUU GUUYYYYSS!!

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      December 11, 2012 at 12:28 am | #

      I can tell! 😀

  13. TPman
    TPman
    December 11, 2012 at 12:23 am | #

    What’s emasculating about being confused with Sal?

    • DaJoshMaster
      DaJoshMaster
      December 11, 2012 at 7:16 am | #

      Boobies?

    • CWR
      CWR
      December 11, 2012 at 7:39 am | #

      That Sal lacks male genitalia.

      • Ryorin
        Ryorin
        December 11, 2012 at 2:46 pm | #

        Please. She’s never needed male genitalia before to be the manliest character.

        • tahrey
          tahrey
          December 12, 2012 at 4:40 am | #

          “I may be a girl, but I’ve STILL got bigger balls than you do”?

  14. Zababcd
    Zababcd
    December 11, 2012 at 12:23 am | #

    Trying to figure out the timing of that first panel… They have all turned around to look at Walky, indicating that they were alerted to his presence by Joyce, who spoke; however, Joyce is turned around less than either of the others (still mostly continuing forward). Joyce must have noticed he was there and spoken to him but rudely continued on anyway, while the other two stopped and turned around.

    • Bekah
      Bekah
      December 11, 2012 at 12:32 am | #

      Or, Mike sees Walky, Joyce sees that Mike is turned, turns to see what Mike is looking at, because Mike’s not going to speak up, and greets walky before she’s fully turned around. Sal was already ahead of everyone, and is only looking back out of instinct because someone said her brother’s name and siblings, etc. or was also turned in that direction, like Mike.

      • Zababcd
        Zababcd
        December 11, 2012 at 12:37 am | #

        I see your sequence of events. That’s plausible.

  15. Zababcd
    Zababcd
    December 11, 2012 at 12:28 am | #

    Sal is upset because of Walky’s implication that being less ‘manly’, with a direct allusion to Sal as an example, is something to be ashamed of – more specifically, something that he would be ashamed of.

    Either that, or she just looks like that because she always does.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      December 11, 2012 at 12:31 am | #

      But Sal is ‘manlier’ with her high-powered bike and secret identity.

      • Zababcd
        Zababcd
        December 11, 2012 at 12:43 am | #

        Actually, I meant that she was offended from a feminist viewpoint – Walky does take Gender Studies, after all; he should know better. Arguably, she could be offended on both counts – both at his treatment of ’emasculation’ as a negative thing, and hence negative regard of the female gender, and at his implication that she doesn’t have the positive qualities which he regards as ‘manliness’.

        • Justanothersomethingorother
          Justanothersomethingorother
          December 11, 2012 at 10:49 pm | #

          Emasculation IS a negative thing, not because women are an inferior gender, but because it is ALWAYS negative to be forced to be someone who you are not.

          Just sayin’

          • tahrey
            tahrey
            December 12, 2012 at 4:41 am | #

            ^ this.

            Though on that front it’s remarkable how little webfic that involves unwanted and demeaning sex changes involves female-to-male rather than the reverse…

  16. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    December 11, 2012 at 12:33 am | #

    The resemblance IS uncanny. I keep wondering why Sal keeps cutting her hair short when I remember.

  17. Pie
    Pie
    December 11, 2012 at 12:43 am | #

    Joyce seems to have recovered from her head trauma pretty quickly.

    • begbert2
      begbert2
      December 11, 2012 at 10:53 am | #

      The shower stalls are made of springy rubber. Slippery, yes, but one somebody falls they just bounce back and forth for a few minutes before coming to a dizzy stop, with the entire row of stalls jiggling to a slow stop around them.

      • Pie
        Pie
        December 11, 2012 at 12:00 pm | #

        This sounds like the shower stall equivalent of a bouncy castle. And that sounds AMAZING.

        • Andy
          Andy
          December 11, 2012 at 9:54 pm | #

          Until you factor in the ungodly amount of hair that apparently carpets the floor.

    • tahrey
      tahrey
      December 12, 2012 at 4:42 am | #

      I was just thinking the same thing. One presumes she was cushioned by her unerring and constantly protective belief in The Lord.

  18. scabbert
    scabbert
    December 11, 2012 at 12:44 am | #

    Being expected to tie your shoes is emasculating?
    I’m pretty sure Walky has been confusing being girly and emasculated with being a freaking adult, or at least older than 10.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      December 11, 2012 at 12:49 am | #

      I don’t think I ever tie my shoes. I tie them when they’re on my feet once, and then spend the rest of the year slipping my foot in and out of them.

      • Salt
        Salt
        December 11, 2012 at 1:05 am | #

        ALL DESE SLIPPER SHOES UP INS

        HOLLA HOLLA

      • Kernanator
        Kernanator
        December 11, 2012 at 1:34 am | #

        Oh my god, I do this too.

        Are you related to me somehow?

        • ComicGeek11
          ComicGeek11
          December 11, 2012 at 6:50 am | #

          A distant cousin, perhaps?

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      December 11, 2012 at 12:50 am | #

      REAL MEAN WEAR VELCRO.

    • John
      John
      December 11, 2012 at 3:58 pm | #

      Having to tie your shoes isn’t emasculating. Being told by your girlfriend – or possibly by your girlfriend’s ex – that you have to tie your shoes is emasculating.

      • begbert2
        begbert2
        December 11, 2012 at 8:48 pm | #

        Pfft, he should be acclimatized to that by now – the sum total of his relationship with Dorothy is her telling him to do things, from sitting and studying for an afternoon to not wearing pajama jeans to touching her breast and sleeping in her bed. The only things he’s done on his own initiative are following her around with a brain-damaged expression and throwing a monkey at her head. Smooth moves to be sure, but those were early in the relationship before Dorothy took control. At this point she’s calling the shots – and if that’s emasculating to him, Dorothy’s a lesbian by now.

      • scabbert
        scabbert
        December 12, 2012 at 3:41 am | #

        What about having a track record that makes others feel this is important information to convey?

        If I’m a guest in someone’s house and the general consensus is that I need to be reminded to flush after I poop, I’d start to wonder whether they have the problem, or me.

    • tahrey
      tahrey
      December 12, 2012 at 4:45 am | #

      No, being expected to undo the laces when you want to take them off, then re-tie them every time you put them on – being really precious about your footwear – is… well, I wouldn’t put it quite as strongly as Walky did, but it is a bit… yknow… girly.

      Not that I know many women who actually bother with lace-up shoes in the first place, so that analogy kinda falls on its face anyway.

      It’s subnormal behaviour is what I’m trying to get at, at least it would be considered so for a slobbish male in his late teens. (Been there, done that)

      • scabbert
        scabbert
        December 13, 2012 at 11:56 pm | #

        True, except for the fact that that’s not what Walky said.

  19. NF
    NF
    December 11, 2012 at 12:59 am | #

    “I’ve never felt so emasculated, and I’ve often been confused for my sister.”

    I’ve read this in a fan-fic. (Rim shot)

  20. Thor
    Thor
    December 11, 2012 at 1:26 am | #

    I’m sure if he still feels that way by the end of the day, Dotty can do something to re-masculate him.

  21. Soozi
    Soozi
    December 11, 2012 at 1:40 am | #

    So is a showerroom tumble just a normal thing or Joyce or is brain damage not so worrisome anymore? O_o

  22. DT
    DT
    December 11, 2012 at 1:50 am | #

    Sal’s facial expression in the last panel? Icing on the hilarious cake.

    • Dibullba
      Dibullba
      December 11, 2012 at 4:19 am | #

      Like I did to your mom for a nickel. You should have seen her FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEEE!!!! It was hilarious.

      • ComicGeek11
        ComicGeek11
        December 11, 2012 at 6:54 am | #

        And of course you were wearing pajama jeans.

  23. WhiteEyedCat
    WhiteEyedCat
    December 11, 2012 at 2:40 am | #

    Real men don’t tie their shoes!

    • Jimmy
      Jimmy
      December 11, 2012 at 6:53 am | #

      Damn, so that’s what I’ve been doing wrong this entire time!

  24. Raoullefere
    Raoullefere
    December 11, 2012 at 2:50 am | #

    Eh, just wait, Walky. I have every confidence that if you stick with her, Dotty will manage to make you feel far more emasculated. After a while with her, you may not even be sure you have them anymore.

  25. Mogotoo
    Mogotoo
    December 11, 2012 at 2:53 am | #

    So, what’s Joyce’s opinion on Walky? She’s been shown a few times to be rather annoyed by him, and he’s prone to making jabs at her. Yet here she is, seeing him and calling him to join the group with a big smile.

    Then again, being super-forgiving would totally be in the cards for her character.

    • Josh
      Josh
      December 11, 2012 at 4:32 am | #

      She’s Joyce. I’ve long since given up trying to work out her logic. 😛

      • CWR
        CWR
        December 11, 2012 at 7:43 am | #

        Ha-haaaa!

        Joyce…and logic!

        You’re good.

  26. Jesse
    Jesse
    December 11, 2012 at 3:19 am | #

    To be fair, his sister is pretty cool.

  27. JoeMerl
    JoeMerl
    December 11, 2012 at 5:05 am | #

    Walky, no offense, but Sal is manlier than you’ll ever be. XD

    • J42
      J42
      December 11, 2012 at 6:11 am | #

      Was just about to say this

  28. RealMonster
    RealMonster
    December 11, 2012 at 6:27 am | #

    I like today’s strip because Walky feels bad.

  29. Andrew_C
    Andrew_C
    December 11, 2012 at 6:45 am | #

    Good to see Joyce surviced the shower. Last time I did a headflip in the bathroom (I’m epileptic) I woke up in a puddle of blood in the bath and had go to ER to have my ear sewed back together.

  30. Andrew_C
    Andrew_C
    December 11, 2012 at 6:45 am | #

    Good to see Joyce survived the shower. Last time I did a headflip in the bathroom (I’m epileptic) I woke up in a puddle of blood in the bath and had go to ER to have my ear sewed back together.

  31. ComicGeek11
    ComicGeek11
    December 11, 2012 at 7:02 am | #

    Not sure if it makes the emasculation worse or better knowing that the shoes were lent to him by Danny O_o

  32. Andy
    Andy
    December 11, 2012 at 9:15 am | #

    Well, y’know, if you’d had the balls to face Ruth last night, you’d have your shoes and your balls this morning, Walky.

  33. Kafloobop
    Kafloobop
    December 11, 2012 at 10:31 am | #

    Sal’s face in last panel = http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2012/09/Grumpy-Cat-Tadar-Sauce.jpg

  34. Eposi
    Eposi
    December 11, 2012 at 10:55 am | #

    I don’t see what the big deal is being confused for a girl. It has happened to me a few times, when I turn to face the men the vomit comes forth

  35. begbert2
    begbert2
    December 11, 2012 at 10:57 am | #

    Wow, that’s a pretty whiny attitude you’re sporting there, Walky. That actually emasculates you far more than borrowing another man’s shoes and having to avoid trashing them.

  36. Lareth
    Lareth
    December 11, 2012 at 11:57 am | #

    Have I mentioned how nice this palette is? These colors are awesome.

  37. Deimir
    Deimir
    December 11, 2012 at 12:18 pm | #

    And yet, oddly, Sal has never been confused for Walky.

  38. Niblik
    Niblik
    December 11, 2012 at 1:10 pm | #

    Darn it Danny, if my logic circuits are correct that means you loaned Walky your shoes…

    Dude. Why did you listen to your ex?

    P.S. Always nice to see more Sal. 🙂

    • begbert2
      begbert2
      December 11, 2012 at 8:51 pm | #

      Danny doomed himself the minute he gave her the choice between the shoes and the interview. At that point it wasn’t about listening to his ex; it was about not shredding his remaining dignity by going back on his word.

      On the other hand, the loan of the shoes shows that Dorothy won the argument with Walky over the choice to make. Big shock, there.

  39. ADHadh
    ADHadh
    December 11, 2012 at 1:41 pm | #

    Funny observation: the Walkerton twins are almost flipped Pines twins.
    Namely one being silly and having a penchant for a type of clothing and the other more mature and serious.

  40. me
    me
    December 11, 2012 at 10:00 pm | #

    I once held my ears back while looking in the mirror to see what I might look like a little less Ross Perot-ish……like my sister. Kind of depressing to find your ears are your most masculine feature.

  41. averystrangeplace
    averystrangeplace
    January 2, 2013 at 2:24 pm | #

    Those shoes are made for Walky, and that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days those shoes are gonna Walky all over you.

  42. Comrade
    Comrade
    May 30, 2013 at 1:33 pm | #

    I’m pretty sure Walky being mistaken for Sal would be far more ’emasculating’ for Sal than for Walky…

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