Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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July 11, 2026

Dumped

by David M Willis on April 30, 2016 at 12:01 am
  • 03 - When God Closes The Door
└ Tags: danny, sal

Discussion (237) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Hawke
    Hawke
    April 30, 2016 at 12:01 am | #

    Fuckin’ Hell, I think Danny’s finally had enough of his shit luck.

    • CC
      CC
      April 30, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

      So he’s decided to start … making his own shit luck?

      • Kernanator
        Kernanator
        April 30, 2016 at 12:22 am | #

        Why screw things up by accident when he can screw things up on purpose?

        • Justin
          Justin
          April 30, 2016 at 12:43 am | #

          ….
          and this, boys and girls, is what happens when you play at being a superhero vigilante to disassociate your inner turmoil.
          and danny… tough bro… get where ya comin from but… easy up on the sal yah?

          • saltchocolate
            saltchocolate
            April 30, 2016 at 1:11 am | #

            ^ This. I mean, poor Sal. She can’t catch a fucking break right through here. [ . . . thought processes . . . ] Whoa… Does anyone see her ending up friends (or more) with Jason, almost by process of elimination??

            • Baronbrian
              Baronbrian
              April 30, 2016 at 1:42 am | #

              Nope. Danny.

            • Sophran
              Sophran
              April 30, 2016 at 6:37 am | #

              By the end of the strip she’ll be friends with Ethan somehow.

              • de Combys
                de Combys
                April 30, 2016 at 9:06 am | #

                Haha!!

                • Mordecai
                  Mordecai
                  April 30, 2016 at 6:46 pm | #

                  I always associate what people say in this comment with their Gravatars. So the “BECAUSE I AM!!!!” Joyce and your laugh are really messing with my head right now.

            • NelC
              NelC
              May 3, 2016 at 4:31 am | #

              Poor Sal, my ass. She helped create Amazi-Girl, and now she’s ambling around like it’s no big thing to have been holding up stores and terrorising innocents. “Eh, it was just a phase.”

              The resolution of this story has to lie with her taking her glove off and realising the link between her scar, her actions and Amber/Amazi-Girl, and taking responsibility for that.

              • pewpewzapzap
                pewpewzapzap
                May 4, 2016 at 12:15 am | #

                No, uh-uh. Sal is absolutely responsible for the crimes she’s committed in the past, but she doesn’t have to live the rest of her life in self-loathing to pay for it.
                Also, Sal is responsible for the trauma she caused Amber – however, what she is NOT responsible for is the piss-poor way Amber is dealing with that trauma. It’s AMBER’S responsibility to get help and get better, and no one else’s.

          • TPman
            TPman
            April 30, 2016 at 11:32 pm | #

            I think my sympathy’s with Danny on this one. He was too harsh, but but Sal should recognize that Danny boy is not in the mood for flippancy.

      • Clayton
        Clayton
        April 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm | #

        He could always have pot luck.

  2. AnvilPro
    AnvilPro
    April 30, 2016 at 12:01 am | #

    Well said Danny. I don’t totally agree but you made a good insult.

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      April 30, 2016 at 1:11 am | #

      “no I WON’T let you know, you and your somehow mere existence making my not-really-girlfriend dump me for reasons I didn’t even think to question because I’m Danny”

      [I’m late tonight because my beau likes to wait to do things that require leaving the house until just before midnightI missed the wormhole]

      • Emily
        Emily
        April 30, 2016 at 11:44 am | #

        You are being unreasonably critical of the kid all things considered.

        • Thor
          Thor
          April 30, 2016 at 10:59 pm | #

          No level of criticism of Danny is unreasonable.

          • Thor
            Thor
            April 30, 2016 at 10:59 pm | #

            And I’m not speaking of this situation. This is a universal rule.

          • GhostWriterL
            GhostWriterL
            May 2, 2016 at 10:22 am | #

            Except his reactions to things and attempts to do the right thing are probably the most ‘realistic’ out of the majority of the cast membership who wouldn’t just say “Fuck this shit, I got better things to worry about”.

            But I guess him continuing to be an enabler to a NOT superhero is better because it means more slipshines with Amber/Amazi vag, right?

    • BubblyJolobe
      BubblyJolobe
      May 1, 2016 at 5:52 pm | #

      I don’t get the jump some stairs insult pls explain 🙁

      • AlexanderHammil
        AlexanderHammil
        May 1, 2016 at 7:05 pm | #

        Here you go.

      • GhostWriterL
        GhostWriterL
        May 2, 2016 at 10:19 am | #

        It’s the equivalent of the military term of “Go kick rocks”.

        Which is the equivalent of telling someone “Go the fuck away”.

  3. Lapin
    Lapin
    April 30, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    And Sal works it out at last, I suspect.

    • Clif
      Clif
      April 30, 2016 at 1:55 am | #

      Nah.

    • Historyman68
      Historyman68
      April 30, 2016 at 12:33 pm | #

      I think Sal’s used to people being jerks to her for no reason.

  4. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    April 30, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    …. Does SAL not see it?

    • Wheelpath
      Wheelpath
      April 30, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

      I feel like she just didn’t get a good enough look

      • ShawnL
        ShawnL
        April 30, 2016 at 5:07 pm | #

        Or care enough to.

    • TheOthin
      TheOthin
      April 30, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

      I think she’s getting some ideas. If she talks to Walky and finds out Amazi-Girl was talking about stabbing someone “again”, she’ll definitely have it figured out.

      • DarkoNeko
        DarkoNeko
        April 30, 2016 at 2:09 am | #

        I’m not quite sure about that.

      • Sam
        Sam
        April 30, 2016 at 8:13 am | #

        I dont think it will be that quick.

    • Wack'd
      Wack'd
      April 30, 2016 at 12:55 am | #

      There’s no way she doesn’t. That look in the penultimate panel combined with her ridiculously on-the-nose statement in the last couldn’t possibly indicate anything else.

      • ChrisHerself
        ChrisHerself
        April 30, 2016 at 12:57 am | #

        I agree.

      • Tan
        Tan
        April 30, 2016 at 5:10 am | #

        That look in the penultimate panel is her reacting to Danny suddenly apparently turning on her.

        See also: the penultimate panel of http://www.dumbingofage.com/2016/comic/book-6/03-when-god-closes-the-door/pissybaby/

        The final panel is just continuing their conversation from earlier and obliviously driving the nail further into Danny’s wounded heart

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      April 30, 2016 at 4:02 am | #

      For one thing, AG doesn’t need glasses.

  5. kater
    kater
    April 30, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    I like this backbone on Danny!
    It’s refreshing!

    • ChrisHerself
      ChrisHerself
      April 30, 2016 at 12:58 am | #

      RIGHT?!? Yay Danny.

  6. CC
    CC
    April 30, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    Aaaaaaand back to dannying it up. He had a good run, at least

    • Sporky
      Sporky
      April 30, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      Honestly if I were in his situation I would do the same thing. It sucks that he’s alienating Sal in the process, but he’s probably angry enough that he doesn’t want to talk to ANYBODY.

      • Durandal_1707
        Durandal_1707
        April 30, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

        How’s he the one Danning it up anyway? Making fun of someone who just went through a breakup a few minutes ago is… not a nice thing to do.

        • TheOthin
          TheOthin
          April 30, 2016 at 12:27 am | #

          It’s not clear if Sal has figured out yet that Amber is Amazi-Girl, and if she doesn’t, she wouldn’t know Amber was even dating Danny in the first place. Still, Danny’s frustration is understandable.

          • ChrisHerself
            ChrisHerself
            April 30, 2016 at 1:50 am | #

            Man, you could read this so differently based on whether Sal has figured it out or not. There’s a lot going on in this strip.

            If Sal doesn’t know, she’s just making badly timed small talk and not knowing when to quit.

            If she does know, which I’m thinking she does, I feel for her so much after we just got the pretext of her feeling like everyone walks away from her eventually. And if she does know she’s clever as hell.

            “Ah kinda spaced out….” [I saw everything but only “saw” what you decide you’re ok to tell me]
            “Didn’t know you knew her. Ah think she lives on my floor? Small world!” [I’ve totally figured it out in case you need someone to talk to]
            “Lemme know if you talk to Amazi-Girl, all right?” [Let me know if you need someone to talk to about Amazi-Girl, all right?]

            She offered subtle support allowing Danny to reveal only what he’s comfortable with, got shut down, and still left the door open for support if he changed his mind. Dang girl. That is a ninja level of friendship there.

            • Durandal_1707
              Durandal_1707
              April 30, 2016 at 2:16 am | #

              How could she possibly not have figured it out by now?

              • Idris
                Idris
                April 30, 2016 at 2:46 am | #

                Given that “How could X not have figured it out by now” is a running theme in the comments, and in the comic X usually has no friggin clue, I figuring that it’s entirely possible she somehow hasn’t figured it out.

                Especially if that whole showdown in front of her got muted out by a SEP field.

                • StClair
                  StClair
                  April 30, 2016 at 3:08 am | #

                  That’s the most annoyingly convenient part of how she “spaced out” while all of that was going down.

                • ChrisHerself
                  ChrisHerself
                  April 30, 2016 at 8:58 pm | #

                  I dunno, her conversation with Walky just prior looks like it got her into her own head. Maybe she was just being socially considerate with the “Ah spaced out” to respect Danny/Amber’s privacy. Or she really could have been spacing out in her thoughts on lonerdom. I WANT TO KNOWWW

              • Dean
                Dean
                April 30, 2016 at 2:49 am | #

                Probably because it’s even odds that Sal has ever even looked directly at Amber, and also has her own stuff going on.

            • Tan
              Tan
              April 30, 2016 at 5:36 am | #

              Alternatively:

              “I am extremely tired due to having been suddenly startled awake from being passed out on a table, have a lot on my mind including but not limited to my best friend’s new romantic pursuit, the latest shot in my utterly terrible and damaging relationship with my parents, my brother’s clumsy newfound understanding of said parental relationship, the general interpersonal relationship issues said brother is dredging up, empathizing with and worrying for Amazi-Girl, possibly worry about Carla, Becky, and/or Joyce… So being that I’m not interested in trying to eavesdrop, I genuinely let my mind wander until I noticed yelling, at which point I saw you flailing and your friend storming away. If you want to catch me up, I am willing to offer support. … Oookay, you are extremely angry at me and I don’t know why. I am going to leave as requested. But don’t forget the Amazi-Girl thing; it’s important.”

              • de Combys
                de Combys
                April 30, 2016 at 9:12 am | #

                That’s my interpretation, at least.

              • HeySo
                HeySo
                April 30, 2016 at 8:21 pm | #

                +1
                And a positive response at the end, despite how obviously hurt she was.
                A good friend.

              • ChrisHerself
                ChrisHerself
                April 30, 2016 at 9:00 pm | #

                Good one, I can totally see that too. WhatIsTheTruth.gif

          • Questionor
            Questionor
            April 30, 2016 at 3:40 am | #

            It’s not like Sal is gonna turn her in or anything. The more important question is when will Sal recognize the person who stabbed her.

        • podian
          podian
          April 30, 2016 at 12:33 am | #

          She wasn’t really making fun of him – after all, she doesn’t know what happened.

    • Havtorn
      Havtorn
      April 30, 2016 at 1:43 am | #

      Meh, this is just him asking a friend for space and then doing it a bit more forcefully since she didn’t pick it up the first time. I doubt Sal will read more in to it than “Whoops, I seem to have stepped in some private beeswax”

      • Durandal_1707
        Durandal_1707
        April 30, 2016 at 2:14 am | #

        That’s generally my feeling (along with that Sal shouldn’t have been rubbing salt in this in the first place). Sal doesn’t seem like one to take things too personally.

        • Shadlyn Wolfe
          Shadlyn Wolfe
          April 30, 2016 at 7:58 am | #

          I think you’re mistaken. I think Sal takes everything personally, and desperately tries to pretend she doesn’t because it hurts every time. Look at…her entire life story so far.

          I don’t think she knows why Danny’s mad at her. And she just finished reflecting on the fact that she might be losing her only friend. Now her new almost-friend-person is yelling at her and she doesn’t know why.

          I think feels that pretty deep right now.

          • de Combys
            de Combys
            April 30, 2016 at 9:16 am | #

            Yep, totally what you said, imo.

    • GhostWriterL
      GhostWriterL
      May 2, 2016 at 10:23 am | #

      Him being an enabler was “Dannying it up”. Him trying to do the right thing and tell a self-harmer that he wants them to stop hurting themselves is growing a backbone.

  7. Endy
    Endy
    April 30, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    I really want to give Danny a hug right now, both to comfort him and also to convey how proud of him I am.

    • Clif
      Clif
      April 30, 2016 at 1:57 am | #

      That’ll teach him to listen to Sal instead of following his own instincts.

  8. Snugglebutts
    Snugglebutts
    April 30, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    Sal looks so hurt in the 5th panel…. I want to hug her but I want to keep my testicles intact at the same time.

    • Some1
      Some1
      April 30, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

      Save your testicles! Hug Danny instead!

    • Dr. T
      Dr. T
      April 30, 2016 at 12:29 am | #

      I take it as an indication that for some reason that Danny is one of the few people that Sal is interested in at some level (not necessarily romantically, though taking up with Danny might become the worst thing she did to Amber without even knowing it).

  9. Too Old To Be Cool
    Too Old To Be Cool
    April 30, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    And Sal blows her Intelligence roll…

    • Orctavius
      Orctavius
      April 30, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

      Did she blow the roll, or deliberately relent to the challenge without rolling.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      April 30, 2016 at 1:15 am | #

      I’d say more wisdom than intelligence.

    • Harvey Janus
      Harvey Janus
      April 30, 2016 at 1:30 am | #

      It’s a Wisdom check, mate. Sense Motive and Perception, not Knowledge.

      • de Combys
        de Combys
        April 30, 2016 at 9:20 am | #

        She def rolled a 1 on her perception roll there. “Oops, I spaced out, let me tell you exactly what you don’t want to hear with the best intentions.”

        • Gordon
          Gordon
          May 1, 2016 at 12:00 am | #

          Isn’t it more like she took a 1, rather than rolled. “Whatever is transpiring over there is irrelevant to me, so I am not curious about it and make no real effort to notice.”

  10. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    April 30, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    Sal knows when to desist.

  11. Just Me
    Just Me
    April 30, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    Sal doesn’t see anything she doesn’t want to see. If she had been paying attention she might have guessed.

    Anyway, Danny you have every right to be angry at Sal.

    • RakeJ4
      RakeJ4
      April 30, 2016 at 12:17 am | #

      Yes, that whole ‘giving badly needed advice that he had been ignoring for some time’ bit was a true transgression, worthy of retaliation. And it was completely obvious she knew exactly what she was doing and was deliberately provoking him.

      Strangely it’s a sign that subconsciously he trusts Sal more than he did Amber. She lashed out at him multiple times and he still didn’t raise his voice to her or lash out. Sal-who also has a rep of an ass-kicker-she makes one likely unintended misstep and BAM

      • de Combys
        de Combys
        April 30, 2016 at 9:22 am | #

        I also got the feeling that those two instinctively trust each other quite much for some reason. It’s an unlikely but very heartwarming friendship in the bud, I think.

      • m-m
        m-m
        April 30, 2016 at 12:59 pm | #

        And this isn’t the first time. When he was defending Amazi-Girl’s actions to Sal in the laundry room he went all angry-face and raised voice. I wonder how much time the two have spent together with tutoring & mariokart — that’s a fair amount of familiarity they seem to have.

    • Stomato
      Stomato
      April 30, 2016 at 12:22 am | #

      Ehh, I dunno that there’s any reason for him to be mad at Sal in particular. It’s actually a good thing she was respecting his privacy by not paying attention to the conversation (even if that wasn’t her reason for doing so.) And she did give him good advice about Amazi-girl.
      However, I’d say he does have every right to be angry — at no one in particular, and I don’t think anybody could fault him for taking it out on Sal right this moment.

      P.S. I love your avatar 😀

    • Mav
      Mav
      April 30, 2016 at 12:36 am | #

      I think Danny and Amber are the ones who hear what they want to hear. Confronting Amber about her behavior not only makes Danny uncomfortable, but it (very predictably) went south for Danny, and he’s sort of placing his anger on Sal, who no doesn’t really deserve it. She said what needed to be said and what would have been horribly apparent later (really, what is horribly apparent as it’s already gotten out of control), is all. I think we’ve all been there – we get past a bad stage in our lives, and we think of all the folks who warned us but we didn’t listen to till it blew up in our faces.

      Danny’s upset now, but in my opinion that’s mostly because he seems pretty co-dependent and thinks that he needs Amber and Amber needs him, which is not the case (I mean, how long have they been dating really? Like 3 weeks?). And he seems used to placating other people and not making waves. He’s “happy” as long as Amber is not mad at him.

      To be totally honest, just today I overheard what probably was a woman being pissed at her boyfriend over the phone (it kinda seemed like he’d cheated on her??) and telling him to fuck off. I deliberately stopped paying attention (1) because it’s rude to butt in and ask a total stranger about her personal life problems and (2) no one is really entitled to me coddling them emotionally. I’ve been there before with people I knew, and it’s an unfair expectation and it’s draining. So why should Sal have been diligently listening to the conversation? I would hate to have a difficult conversation in public in general. I still don’t get the hate Sal gets..

      i was just thinking that too, to the comment above – I read that and I was like, “Oh, NOW he’s got something tough to say” – obviously because he’s mad and Sal wouldn’t react badly like Amazigirl/Amber would.

      • trlkly
        trlkly
        April 30, 2016 at 9:16 am | #

        Or, you know, he just got dumped and is reasonably upset about it, and it wouldn’t have happened (right then at least)if Sal wasn’t standing there. And he told Sal “not now,” clearly indicating he wasn’t actually blaming her for anything but needed a moment, and she kept on, so he got a bit more forceful.

        I don’t see why Danny needs to be codependent to be upset that his girlfriend dumped him, or that someone he cares about is clearly going down a bad path.

        I don’t understand jumping to psychoanalysis when regular analysis will do.

        • Mav
          Mav
          April 30, 2016 at 11:33 am | #

          Oh, I totally understand that he’s upset about being dumped. Say inadvertently triggered it, but the relationship definitely would have gone south regardless. He does have a right to be upset , but when I said he was placing his anger on Sal, I meant it in the sense that he snapped at her. If I meant blame, I would have said blame.

          I should backtrack and say that I think Danny has tendencies since the beginning of the comic to forgo his own needs and cling to whomever he’s dating, even if they don’t treat him very well, which smells like Co-dependent *tendencies*. To me. I’m not saying he has to be codependent to be upset , I’m just thinking, all things considered.

          I was just responding to the first comment, which made it seem like it Sal was supposed to know what was going on and respond appropriately ,which I think is untrue. She continued because she didn’t hear about specifically what was said, and he told her to buzz off. We’ve all had that happen to us. To make this short I was pointing out this is not about her, it’s about Danny and his feelings about Amber .

  12. Sam
    Sam
    April 30, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

    “If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been dumped on these steps…I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s kind of weird it’s happened twice.”

    • MatthewTheLucky
      MatthewTheLucky
      April 30, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

      Doom for you too, yes.

    • a snow ʍousɐ
      a snow ʍousɐ
      April 30, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

      EVERY DIME

    • Kit
      Kit
      April 30, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

      Once is an occurrence, twice is a habit!

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 30, 2016 at 1:07 am | #

      He’s just been at college for a few weeks. Give him time…

    • linkman0596
      linkman0596
      April 30, 2016 at 1:12 am | #

      you’d be able to afford a very lovely couple of evenings with mike for your mother

    • Luke
      Luke
      April 30, 2016 at 1:28 am | #

      This has always been my favorite quote to come from that show.

    • two-star
      two-star
      April 30, 2016 at 2:37 am | #

      To lose one girlfriend, Mr. Wilcox, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      April 30, 2016 at 9:52 am | #

      Does he get another nickel for dumping on someone else immediately after being dumped? Because, if so, BAM! Fifteen cents.

    • Cyntalan
      Cyntalan
      April 30, 2016 at 10:32 am | #

      And Mike would have an offer for a threesome that you could afford. :V

  13. Los
    Los
    April 30, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

    lol, that face said “Poor guy. Let me save his life too by leaving”

  14. Marvelman
    Marvelman
    April 30, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

    I think Danny actually hurt Sal’s feelings.

    • comic.phile
      comic.phile
      April 30, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

      Yea, I think she was genuinely starting to think maybe they could be friends. Now he’s just another person pushing her away when she does try to open up and reach out…

      • CC
        CC
        April 30, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

        I think the worst part, for her, is that he used a much more personalized pushaway. Just telling someone to fuck off doesn’t take much effort, but that took at least a few brain processing cycles, so there was more impact behind it

        • Rezby
          Rezby
          April 30, 2016 at 12:35 am | #

          Poor Sal. 🙁

    • Just Me
      Just Me
      April 30, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

      I don’t think she gives a damn about being friends with anyone, especially not Danny.

      • RakeJ4
        RakeJ4
        April 30, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

        This is pretty ridiculous. She’s shown affection for Joyce, and she *unquestionably* cares about being friends with Marci. She’s eating shit regularly from a girl who she would’ve come to blows with because her closest friend likes her.

        But…somehow she doesn’t care or something? Anyway. She’s far from perfect but for pete’s sake, there’s criticism and then there’s fanfic level bashing.

        • comic.phile
          comic.phile
          April 30, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

          Yea, I agree, that’s rediculous. She just recently said she had trouble opening up because no one cared for long anyway, except Marcie

          • trlkly
            trlkly
            April 30, 2016 at 9:23 am | #

            Which would be the comic where she said she didn’t see the point in trying to make friends.

            • RakeJ4
              RakeJ4
              April 30, 2016 at 3:01 pm | #

              Which is not at all the same thing as wanting friends, or wishing they could be made. In any event she is already being good friends with Marci.

        • ChrisHerself
          ChrisHerself
          April 30, 2016 at 1:04 am | #

          Yup. Literally minutes prior she was talking to herself about how nobody cares for long before tossing her aside. Then someone she’s actually had the tiniest chance to grow close to tells her to fuck off and it confirms exactly the idea she was just musing on.

          Sal’s resilient as all get out and smart enough to see that she’s not the one Danny’s mad at. I doubt this is the end of their acquaintanceship. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when something like this happens, no matter how skilled you are at poker face-ing.

      • Sophia
        Sophia
        April 30, 2016 at 12:54 am | #

        I don’t think we’re reading the same comic.

  15. nhammen
    nhammen
    April 30, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

    zis place is cursed

  16. Achallenger
    Achallenger
    April 30, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

    do a barrel roll sal

  17. figureaddict
    figureaddict
    April 30, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

    Well, shoots down the theory that Sal had figured out who Amazing Girl is.

    • beoluves
      beoluves
      April 30, 2016 at 1:24 am | #

      But does it though? Could she be pretending? Am I reaching here?

      • TheGrammarLegionary
        TheGrammarLegionary
        April 30, 2016 at 2:50 am | #

        The dialogue did seem very contrived to me, which is very uncharacteristic of this comic. Unless, of course, you read it as “Ah know things, but ah dunno if ya WANT me to know things, so ah’ll let you fill me in as much as ya feel necessary.”

        • figureaddict
          figureaddict
          April 30, 2016 at 10:24 am | #

          On that note, I thought Sal knew that it was Ambers clothes she helped Danny pick up off the hall floor?

  18. CC
    CC
    April 30, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

    Covering a character’s face with the panel border: more effective and less overt than the Cliche Anime Face Shadow(TM)

  19. Lamia M
    Lamia M
    April 30, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

    Wow, poor Sal… she was really reaching outside of her comfort zone to help, and socialize outside of her circle, there, and Danny just stamped her down…

  20. Kindra
    Kindra
    April 30, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

    Poor Sal. Danny must feel like shit right now, so his reaction makes sense, but Sal didn’t deserve that.

    • Dave
      Dave
      April 30, 2016 at 12:58 am | #

      It’s true she didn’t, but man, I can’t imagine how FRUSTRATED that question must’ve made him, because he can’t answer it without outing Amazi-Girl, and I imagine he’s in no mood to make something up right about now.

    • ChrisHerself
      ChrisHerself
      April 30, 2016 at 1:09 am | #

      Sal didn’t deserve it but she did keep pressing when Danny told her first, “Not now.” He was terse but not hostile. Honest mistake on Sal’s part to keep musing on it, but yeah he did try to be civil before telling her to buzz off.

      I just want to give all of them hugs right now. </3

      • Shadlyn Wolfe
        Shadlyn Wolfe
        April 30, 2016 at 8:02 am | #

        Yeah, I don’t think Danny’s a monster. The same way the timing is terrible for him, it’s terrible for Sal, who was already feeling really lonely and vulnerable in that moment.

        They hurt each other just about as bad as possible right there, in all innocence.

        • Ntrovert60
          Ntrovert60
          April 30, 2016 at 8:27 am | #

          Yes. This.

    • StClair
      StClair
      April 30, 2016 at 3:09 am | #

      Agreed to all of the above.

  21. Rukduk
    Rukduk
    April 30, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

    Yes. Give in to the rage young one. Let it consume you. And then, once you have drunk deeply of the power of the dark side take your place as an apprentice to a Darth.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      April 30, 2016 at 10:05 am | #

      Darth Schwester?

      (‘Schwester’ is ‘sister’ in German. ‘Vader’ is thought to be a mangling of the German ‘vater’, or ‘father’. So, if Darth Vader was the ‘dark father’, Sal can be the ‘dark sister’? Also, because, she’s the ‘darker’ sibling.)

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        April 30, 2016 at 10:09 am | #

        Oh, dear.

        I just realized, that if Sal is ‘Darth Schwester’, then her brother naturally becomes ‘Walk Skyluker’.

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        April 30, 2016 at 10:13 am | #

        Also, Sal already has a helmet that obscures her appearance and voice.

      • Orkimedes
        Orkimedes
        April 30, 2016 at 10:33 am | #

        It’s more likely to be from Dutch than German, since “vader” translates as “father” in Dutch. (although the pronunciation is rather different than the one used in star wars, so it might still be coincidence)

  22. newllend(henryvolt)
    newllend(henryvolt)
    April 30, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

    Hey what do you know I guessed the title of today’s strip

  23. Rob
    Rob
    April 30, 2016 at 12:17 am | #

    Oh, so now both Danny and Ethan are single… that’s… just… a shame…

    • DarkoNeko
      DarkoNeko
      April 30, 2016 at 12:47 am | #

      It really is. There’s no way they’d make it happen wi that common baggage tho.

      • ChrisHerself
        ChrisHerself
        April 30, 2016 at 1:11 am | #

        Here on The Good Ship Problematic

      • Spencer
        Spencer
        April 30, 2016 at 5:01 pm | #

        The real hurdle to them happening is that they might not want to step on Amber’s toes, and really that’s a pretty legitimate reason not to pursue a relationship. It’s not like Danny is the only other Queer dude in the entire universe. At least not until my constant pestering for more Sayid pays off, anyway.

        But, yeah, I think it is going to at the very least be heavily explored, because there really is no other valid love interest for either character now and if Danny and Amber ever reconciled that would take a long time and it probably would be bad for Danny to jump right back in with her. If Amber found out that they wanted to date she’d probably force herself to be okay with it, because after the dust settles from this I’m pretty sure she’s going to double down on “Amber is worthless shit and Danny deserves better.”

        On the flip side, plenty of people hate Amber now. Her getting in the way of dudes banging? I think someone might actually will themselves into the comic to kick her in the face.

  24. Raen
    Raen
    April 30, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

    The sixth panel makes me think of the little tachometer thing from the Scott Pilgrim movie.

  25. Victor Riley
    Victor Riley
    April 30, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

    Must be the Clark Kent effect… the glasses make most people unable to put 2 and 2 together.

    • DarkoNeko
      DarkoNeko
      April 30, 2016 at 2:10 am | #

      he arranges he hair differnetly too !

  26. Ardin
    Ardin
    April 30, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

    Daaamn, out of all the people for Danny to be the one to talk down to Sal like that without getting harmed, it’s quite interesting.

    • RakeJ4
      RakeJ4
      April 30, 2016 at 12:20 am | #

      I’m sure she’ll like cut his throat in his sleep or something, cold blooded monster that she is, right?

      • Tacos
        Tacos
        April 30, 2016 at 12:28 am | #

        Naw. She’ll buy Danny an ice cream cone so she can then smack it out of his hand and onto the ground. That is truly monstrous >.>

        • Dana
          Dana
          April 30, 2016 at 5:21 am | #

          Yeah, wasting ice cream!

    • Some1
      Some1
      April 30, 2016 at 12:40 am | #

      Sal probably finds it refreshing,
      Woo! Someone else I can develop a real friendship with that extends beyond them praising me all the time.

      • DarkoNeko
        DarkoNeko
        April 30, 2016 at 12:46 am | #

        And maths lessons

  27. Regalli
    Regalli
    April 30, 2016 at 12:23 am | #

    Note that Sal was at least a good ten, twenty feet away from that conversation and that she was only semi-even looking in their direction. In what’s probably a fairly busy, noisy area. I don’t think Sal’s ever given Amber a really good look.

    • Some1
      Some1
      April 30, 2016 at 12:36 am | #

      I can’t fault Sal for that, however I can fault her for being really terrible at reading people.

      Please note: When people are sitting on steps, looking like they’re about to cry, they probably do not want casual conversation.

      • Regalli
        Regalli
        April 30, 2016 at 12:40 am | #

        Probably not, no. But then reading people’s emotions can be sincerely hard to tell (hi, autistic person! Not saying Sal’s necessarily got any neurodivergence going on herself but just saying, it’s kind of annoying when a trait you can’t control is seen as a character flaw, super fun all the time,) and she CLEARLY wasn’t listening to the conversation and isn’t even looking at Danny for most of the comic. She comes into it saying she was spaced out, it’s possible she hasn’t totally kicked it back into gear when she starts talking.

        • Some1
          Some1
          April 30, 2016 at 12:42 am | #

          It is entirely possible the 6th panel was showing guilt.

          Sal’s thoughts: Oh shit, thats what his face looks like, well now I feel kinda crappy.

          • Regalli
            Regalli
            April 30, 2016 at 2:00 am | #

            Yeah, we’ll see how she reacts next time she sees him/her next interactions with Billie or someone, ’cause it could be hurt or it could be guilt or both.

        • Orion Fury
          Orion Fury
          April 30, 2016 at 1:21 am | #

          There are just so many different variances. Being able to adjust and guess meaning for unseen ones can be tricky. Norms got it easy there, or at least easier.

      • Sophia
        Sophia
        April 30, 2016 at 12:58 am | #

        I’m terrible at reading people. It’s not on purpose. And Sal came up to him from behind. I don’t necessarily look someone in the eyes every time I start a conversation, especially if I know them already. I don’t know, I just don’t see how she’s at fault here.

      • trlkly
        trlkly
        April 30, 2016 at 9:36 am | #

        I don’t think she needs to read people. She just needs to realize that “Not now, Sal” really means “Not now, Sal.” As in, “leave me alone, I’ll talk to you later.”

        And I personally think she did realize it with the second comment. If she were horribly hurt, I don’t think she would have responded like she did in the last panel. That’s way too understanding.

  28. Adept Arcanist
    Adept Arcanist
    April 30, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

    Sal: “Maybe I should ask Superman or his friend Clark Kent to look for her.”

  29. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    April 30, 2016 at 12:31 am | #

    Yes, Danny. Let the hate flow through you. Let it consume you. With every whine you come ever closer to the dork side.

  30. Conuly
    Conuly
    April 30, 2016 at 12:36 am | #

    Danny, dear, now is the time to talk to Ethan. NOT about hooking up, but about helping Amber.

  31. Foxhack
    Foxhack
    April 30, 2016 at 12:48 am | #

    Wow, Sal actually looks hurt.

    She actually considered Danny a friend. Dammit. 🙁

  32. Jake
    Jake
    April 30, 2016 at 12:49 am | #

    Sorry Danny, but you’re just going to have to get dumped on those stairs over and over again until Willis feels like drawing more backgrounds. 🙂

  33. Adam Black
    Adam Black
    April 30, 2016 at 12:50 am | #

    “Jump some stairs?”?

    Is this some Indiana Colloquialism ? or did he see her her skate?

    • Mav
      Mav
      April 30, 2016 at 12:58 am | #

      I’ve never heard that either! Maybe it’s like saying “go jump in a river”, or he’s making fun of her hobby of skating, or maybe he’s sarcastically making fun of her badass reputation

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        April 30, 2016 at 1:23 am | #

        Callback to earlier strips, where he asked if she should be doing just that on her bike, and where (I think) she actually did.

        • Elitist oars
          Elitist oars
          April 30, 2016 at 9:07 am | #

          That was itself a callback to an even earlier strip: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2016/comic/book-6/03-when-god-closes-the-door/kindness-4/

  34. Some1
    Some1
    April 30, 2016 at 12:52 am | #

    I love how many commenters think that because Danny said something slightly mean to Sal in an emotionally upset moment, they can never be friends again.

    • ChrisHerself
      ChrisHerself
      April 30, 2016 at 1:13 am | #

      I know right? Like neither of them have demonstrated any resilience or forgiving or understanding in the past so why should they now.

    • Sam
      Sam
      April 30, 2016 at 7:14 am | #

      It is not that they can *never* be friends again, but that Sal might withdraw and make it difficult to reestablish. Because this fits with her pattern of ‘people are only interested for so long’. And a lot of people can relate to that and feel worried about it because it would be easy for Sal to withdraw and for Danny to not do anything about it which would let it disintegrate and just be further proof that Marcie is the only one she can rely on.

      • Shadlyn Wolfe
        Shadlyn Wolfe
        April 30, 2016 at 8:07 am | #

        ^This. For Sal, this was a potential friendship beginning in a time she needed one, and we know from her character that she will assume rejection when none exists. The more she needed the support, the more she’s going to ASSUME it will be withdrawn. For Danny, this was a casual acquaintance who was cool, but who he never really got close to. He may not *pursue* the friendship if she closes off, especially if by trying to befriend Sal he thinks he’s hurting Amber. I still think it’s possible they’ll be friends, but this was a fragile point in a fledgling friendship that just snapped.

  35. Mr. Mendo
    Mr. Mendo
    April 30, 2016 at 12:52 am | #

    Yeesh, Danny’s pissing EVERYBODY off, today.

    • Kamino Neko
      Kamino Neko
      April 30, 2016 at 6:38 pm | #

      … Except Danny’s the only one in this strip pissed off.

  36. LooksLikeDaniel
    LooksLikeDaniel
    April 30, 2016 at 12:58 am | #

    2nd to last panel. Did Sal just display emotion? Visibly? Egads!

  37. Bagge
    Bagge
    April 30, 2016 at 12:59 am | #

    Danny’s friends are not the best at being supportive At those stairs either.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 30, 2016 at 1:01 am | #

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2010/comic/book-1/01-move-in-day/prediction/

  38. Tom T.
    Tom T.
    April 30, 2016 at 1:00 am | #

    I have little sympathy for Sal here. She refuses to address Danny with his actual name instead of a derogatory insult, even after he’s expressly asked her to do so. Be a jerk, expect to get treated like one.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 30, 2016 at 1:04 am | #

      Well… yeah. Not letting people close is exactly her problem, she said so herself a few strips ago when Walky was out of earshot. She is not proud of it, but that is her defense mechanism.

      More worthy of pity than scorn, in my opinion.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      April 30, 2016 at 1:25 am | #

      I took it as a term of endearment. Guess I missed or forgot him asking her to stop using it.

    • vysearhone
      vysearhone
      April 30, 2016 at 1:35 am | #

      it’s kind of her defense mechanism. she acknowledges that someone she developed a bit of an affinity for is hurt by her quips, so she distances herself to make sure she doesn’t hurt more than she has to. she’s not the most socially adept, and furthermore she’s not the best at knowing what people’s boundaries are. it’s not surprising that she’d try to make small-talk to diffuse what she understands to be a ‘situation’ regardless of not knowing if it’s appropriate or not. it doesn’t help she doesn’t know she’s inadvertently a reason behind the breakup.

      her recent developments show that she really is hard pressed for people around her that she feels she can trust not to leave her in the dust, so yeah, this is a pretty understandable reaction, even if not the best one.

      i don’t have sympathy or pity for her, i just understand.

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      April 30, 2016 at 9:46 am | #

      He’s just told her to go jump down some stairs.

    • Amazi-Stool
      Amazi-Stool
      April 30, 2016 at 11:41 am | #

      When did Danny “expressly asked her to do so” (not adressing him as Wonderbread)?

      That never happened!

      It was Sal who protested against being called Sally, but in all the strips tagged as danny+sal, you’ll find lots of “wonderbreads”, but no objection from Danny.

  39. Emily
    Emily
    April 30, 2016 at 1:13 am | #

    Aw displacement! : ( Poor Sal. Also, did she mean “round glasses” or “round girl” ? haha

    • Tomas
      Tomas
      April 30, 2016 at 11:05 am | #

      Good catch. It makes me wonder if Amber’s real disguise is her figure. No one expects the short, fat girl to be a good athlete.

  40. Cthulhu's Intern
    Cthulhu's Intern
    April 30, 2016 at 1:24 am | #

    Danny’s getting angry. Is he going to make this dark, evil looking suit, start robbing banks and stuff, and then taunting Amazi-Girl on video while cackling?

    • Some1
      Some1
      April 30, 2016 at 1:28 am | #

      Naw Ambers gonna go full on knight templar, leading Danny to try to stop her. They have a final bat to bat battle on top of the rooftops, that begins with Sarah tossing her bat to Danny.

      • inqntrol
        inqntrol
        April 30, 2016 at 1:11 pm | #

        And in that time people will grab their snacks and enjoy the show.

  41. Orion Fury
    Orion Fury
    April 30, 2016 at 1:31 am | #

    For me, in the sixth panel, Sal looks like she’s about to cry. Trying to open up to a possible new friend, and being yelled at. Though in the last panel (again for me) it seems like he saw that he’s in a bad mood and doesn’t want to talk, and decided to give him the space she assumes he needs.

    Someone needs to start giving out free hugs or something to the main cast. Except Mary. Until Willis finds a way to make her sympathetic.

    • Some1
      Some1
      April 30, 2016 at 3:24 pm | #

      But who prays for Satan? Who in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        April 30, 2016 at 11:51 pm | #

        Good point. Probably should get around to reading “Lucifer” under the Vertigo label. Fan of the show, and I hear it’s crap compared to the comics.

  42. skdk
    skdk
    April 30, 2016 at 1:42 am | #

    danny is upset and dordnt want to be talked to? danny is evil!!!

    • Some1
      Some1
      April 30, 2016 at 1:45 am | #

      I feel like a bunch of the commentators always need someone to blame or attack, we can’t have a strip without a villain!

      • Alice Macher
        Alice Macher
        April 30, 2016 at 2:26 pm | #

        Welcome to webcomics fandom. It seems that if a story is doled out in episodes of about a minute’s reading time each, rather than presented as a done-in-one novel or film, some people assign rather more significance to a given line of dialogue, or facial expression, than is warranted. So every disagreement is somehow an “Oh no, enemies forever” fight, every moderately curt word or disapproving look evidence that a character is The Worst Human Being Ever, every shared smile proof that two characters are an OTP and should make with the sexings like yesterday.

        • hueloovoo
          hueloovoo
          April 30, 2016 at 10:44 pm | #

          It’s so easy when reading something you love like we love Willis’ work, to get really invested in the little moments each day. I don’t blame anyone for it, and I fall victim to it regularly too. All we can do is try not to let it get out of hand, and laugh at ourselves when it does.

  43. Yossarianduck
    Yossarianduck
    April 30, 2016 at 1:50 am | #

    It’s not often it happens, but Sal never looks more like her brother than when she’s completely oblivious to a situation.

  44. Saaaam
    Saaaam
    April 30, 2016 at 1:50 am | #

    This is some evangelion levels of people digging chasms between each other

    • SundaesChild
      SundaesChild
      April 30, 2016 at 9:01 am | #

      You can (not) communicate effectively.

      • Saaaam
        Saaaam
        April 30, 2016 at 9:09 pm | #

        you just summed up both series

  45. Shelbeans
    Shelbeans
    April 30, 2016 at 1:56 am | #

    Thank goodness that horrible relationship is over, but damn… Sal wasn’t expecting to get shit on.

    • M-M
      M-M
      April 30, 2016 at 3:34 am | #

      Cutest avi evah!

  46. skdk
    skdk
    April 30, 2016 at 2:07 am | #

    i think people are angry at danny and acting as if hes doing something wrong just cause they ship him with sal and wanted them to make out

  47. lia
    lia
    April 30, 2016 at 2:13 am | #

    AW SAL I STILL LOVE U

  48. John
    John
    April 30, 2016 at 2:13 am | #

    I kind of want Danny and Sal to hook up now, just to fuck with all the Danny/Ethan shippers.

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      April 30, 2016 at 7:41 am | #

      Danny/Sal? psh thats ridiculous when could that ever happen

  49. Chromacandi
    Chromacandi
    April 30, 2016 at 2:21 am | #

    feeling actively bad for Sal right here.. she’s not trying to be too cool for school, she’s just a product of it’s bullshit. I think she kinda hoped Danny would be cool about all this bullshit…

    but he’s Danny.. and for all the longtime followers of this comic..

    enough said

  50. Scar Man!!!
    Scar Man!!!
    April 30, 2016 at 2:23 am | #

    Ok, sad shit aside, the fact that Sal doesn’t know her secret identity and the way we are finding that out are both hilarious

  51. Rick Robin Cagnaan
    Rick Robin Cagnaan
    April 30, 2016 at 2:30 am | #

    Sly Sirs Redux?

  52. Rosicrucian
    Rosicrucian
    April 30, 2016 at 2:32 am | #

    I think that was the most Sal way of saying

    “I heard all of that, wanna talk about it?”

    • StClair
      StClair
      April 30, 2016 at 3:11 am | #

      Except she apparently didn’t, because if there was actual communication, this plot would fall apart.

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        April 30, 2016 at 11:54 pm | #

        The plot of everything everywhere would fall apart if people talked.

  53. Kei
    Kei
    April 30, 2016 at 2:38 am | #

    As far as ways of brushing people off go, implying that they should go be cool doing cool shit instead isn’t that bad.

    • Idris
      Idris
      April 30, 2016 at 2:58 am | #

      Go victory strut while an explosion goes off behind you, Sal.

      • Spencer
        Spencer
        April 30, 2016 at 8:01 am | #

        Go do a cool midair motorcycle resc-oh wait.

  54. Idris
    Idris
    April 30, 2016 at 3:02 am | #

    Sadness. I get where they’re both coming from here, and kinda rooting for both of them. But this was an inevitability.

    I hope they can patch things up later, because Danny needs some good friends. And at least be friends with Sal will mean he won’t run the risk of running into Amber.

    Of course, I’m still kinda rooting for Danber. But, only if this showdown gets Amber in the right headspace to realize that the impulses that lead to AmaziGirl are getting out of control, and gets her started on fixing them.

  55. ninja_jesus
    ninja_jesus
    April 30, 2016 at 3:11 am | #

    Thanks for being worried about Danny, Sal. Honestly, I would love to see the two of you as friends. Let Amber go blow off steam somewhere else.

  56. newllend(henryvolt)
    newllend(henryvolt)
    April 30, 2016 at 3:35 am | #

    You know it’s to bad really him and Sal actually have somethings in common, like the fact that they’re both treated poorly by their parents.

  57. Catty
    Catty
    April 30, 2016 at 3:41 am | #

    Danny shows a bit of spine for once. It’s a pity Sal’s the target though.

    Developing the Danny-Sal relationship (not necessarily in a sexual direction; maybe partners-in-crime or something) would be interesting.

  58. Derf
    Derf
    April 30, 2016 at 3:49 am | #

    Man, poor Panel 2 Danny. He’s looking down, thinking “Dammit Willis. Did you have to put the Slipshine link with the shot of Amber licking my abs *right there* just in time for this strip?”

    • hueloovoo
      hueloovoo
      April 30, 2016 at 10:47 pm | #

      +1 internet

  59. lomie
    lomie
    April 30, 2016 at 4:12 am | #

    Another small step to sausages, bet it wont be long now.

  60. CJ
    CJ
    April 30, 2016 at 4:29 am | #

    Very skillfully drawn. When she looks up in the second to last panel, it’s with sheer astonishment that Danny tells her to get lost, because, well she knows as good as we do that this isn’t like Danny.
    We don’t see Sal’s face in the last panel, so we can only speculate what she feel or thinks about what she saw in his face.
    Before, she acted like ‘This unimportant little girl from my floor was having a fit at Danny, I vaguely wonder what’s it about’.
    It doesn’t at all look like she picked up on an danger of physical expressions of rage – or maybe in her mind Amber’s just so weak it out of imagination.
    But I cannot imagine that she ‘knows it all’ and choose to act like this. I’d rather imagine her asking him ‘that didn’t go well’ or some such.
    So once again Willis keeps us guessing and riveted.

  61. BenRG
    BenRG
    April 30, 2016 at 4:51 am | #

    It’s strips like this that remind us just what a massive comic books nerd Willis really is. Just like the characters in superhero comics, most people seem to be selectively blind and deaf even when Amber does and says things that should make it abundantly clear to everyone that she and Amazi-Girl are one and the same.

    This, oddly enough, gives me hope. Unless Willis is planning a deconstruction, this suggests strongly that Amber’s secret is never going to be known outside her small intimate circle (basically, Ethan and Danny) and that it is possible that her problems, if not solved, will at least be addressed and tackled without a massive public ‘coming out’.

    • Amazi-Stool
      Amazi-Stool
      April 30, 2016 at 11:53 am | #

      That small circle also include Dorothy and Dina and this means the circle is growing.

      Also Walky had close conversations with her – only a matter of time until he registers the similarity.

      • John
        John
        April 30, 2016 at 1:08 pm | #

        Walky’s spent a fair amount of time around Amazi-Girl now, but he doesn’t really know Amber. I’m not sure he even knows her name. They were both at Joyce’s dorm party, but Walky was drunk and Amber was doing her usual wallflower act, and that’s the only time they’ve seen each other more than just in passing.

        • John
          John
          April 30, 2016 at 1:13 pm | #

          And, y’know, I wouldn’t put it past Walky to have figured it out but just not felt the need to say anything about it, like with Ethan’s orientation. He’s way more observant than he lets on.

          • Orion Fury
            Orion Fury
            April 30, 2016 at 1:40 pm | #

            Obfuscating Stupidity. Could end up like Daredevil, with the worst kept secret identity of a super that keeps one.

    • StClair
      StClair
      April 30, 2016 at 9:31 pm | #

      It’s actually starting to irritate me, ’cause it’s being used to draw out plots rather than bring them toward closure, to keep conversations from being had which need to be, and stands in contrast to other matters which are being handled much more realistically (IMO).

  62. Dariu55
    Dariu55
    April 30, 2016 at 5:04 am | #

    Sal knows when she’s not wanted/needed at a given time.

  63. L!ghtn!ng
    L!ghtn!ng
    April 30, 2016 at 6:06 am | #

    Aww, I really wanna hug Danny right now.

    A couple of years ago I would have enjoyed seeing Danny kicked while he was down. He’s undergone some tremendous character development in DoA!

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      April 30, 2016 at 11:56 pm | #

      There’s still Mary.

  64. uuuuuuuuuuuuuurgh
    uuuuuuuuuuuuuurgh
    April 30, 2016 at 7:59 am | #

    GodDAMN are these two kawaii

    Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurgh

    Danny x Sal x Ethan orgy nooooooooooooooooow

    • fogel
      fogel
      April 30, 2016 at 11:02 pm | #

      Well, Sal did tell Ethan, at Joyce’s party, that she likes tall, as she looked up at him smiling. But Ethan does not seem inclined to a bi-triangle.

  65. bunivasal
    bunivasal
    April 30, 2016 at 8:37 am | #

    For a minute I really liked assertive, angry Danny, and the fact that original Danny was obsessed with Sal really launched a ship. I mean, assertive Danny plus Sal? He was definitely getting it from behind.

  66. SundaesChild
    SundaesChild
    April 30, 2016 at 9:07 am | #

    A lot of commenters are reading panel five as Sal being hurt, which is definitely a valid – and probably correct – reading. I read it more as shock and concern, though. Sal’s not AS tough as she puts on, sure, but she does have a somewhat thick skin, and if she’s able to think about how the exchange went, she’ll realize she should have stopped pushing the topic when Danny said “not now.”

  67. Josh Spicer
    Josh Spicer
    April 30, 2016 at 9:57 am | #

    As SundaesChild said, a lot of people are reading 6 as Sal being hurt and going off of it that “she just lost another friend.”

    I think that’s kind of reaching there. Considering she leaves him be in the following panel and tells him to keep her informed regarding his situation (although its hard to tell if that’s her being hurt or not since the fricken border is covering it and it’s a comic), I think she realizes that he’s in an emotional state and should be left alone.

  68. trlkly
    trlkly
    April 30, 2016 at 9:59 am | #

    I find it funny that Sal pulled a Walky here. No, Sal, when someone says “Not now” when you try to talk to them, it’s not a good idea to make idle chit-chat about the thing that probably upset them.

    Even if she wasn’t listening, surely she could know that he’s upset about that “glasses girl” and so talking about her would be a bad idea.

    This comic would have been a lot better on both of them if your remove the fifth and sixth panels.

    Also, where’s triangle guy? We could use some smiles right now…

  69. Just for kix
    Just for kix
    April 30, 2016 at 10:49 am | #

    Danny, I am proud that you have manned up and told Amber what she needs to hear (well she ran off before you can fully do that but still I applaud your attempt). The break up is good for you.

  70. Tomas
    Tomas
    April 30, 2016 at 10:58 am | #

    I went back and re-read this scene starting with “Eagles” from April 22. It really put today’s comic in perspective. Her budding friendship with Danny was way outside her comfort zone. She must have really liked him for it to have lasted as long as it did. Danny’s anger at Sal is arguably a bigger deal than AG’s dumping of Danny.

  71. nothri
    nothri
    April 30, 2016 at 12:00 pm | #

    The good news is that Amazigirl could switch her Nemesis for a brick wall and retain the same basic level of complex thinking.

    No pun intended.

    • JBento
      JBento
      April 30, 2016 at 2:45 pm | #

      Sal’s actually good at complex thinking, assuming she has the DATA for that thinking, which she doesn’t here. AG could switch her nemesis for a brick wall and retain the same level of nemesis-awareness, though, much like Becky and Dorothy.

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        April 30, 2016 at 11:58 pm | #

        The brick wall’s internal screaming are just pure magic.

  72. Griffin
    Griffin
    April 30, 2016 at 1:04 pm | #

    Sal. You just don’t know, Sal.

  73. Tunasammich
    Tunasammich
    April 30, 2016 at 1:57 pm | #

    Awww, poor Sal. I just want her to join Sarah and Dina and become the socially-awkward girls squad and be happy.

    • Falling Star
      Falling Star
      April 30, 2016 at 6:10 pm | #

      And they all need to give Joyce an honorary membership and some hugs.

  74. Synnerman
    Synnerman
    April 30, 2016 at 2:02 pm | #

    Now Ethan, salve his soul.

  75. ninja_jesus
    ninja_jesus
    April 30, 2016 at 4:44 pm | #

    Why does everyone think that Sal is hurt? That’s more a look of worry than anything.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      April 30, 2016 at 11:59 pm | #

      We all see what we feel?

  76. Falling Star
    Falling Star
    April 30, 2016 at 6:09 pm | #

    Aww, she worries.
    Also, those stairs brought you closer to your boyfriend.
    They are telling you to be with him.
    GO, MY CHILD.

  77. Prinnyramza
    Prinnyramza
    April 30, 2016 at 6:12 pm | #

    Years later with his spouse and kids, Danny will drop his oldest off at this spot. He will recall to his child of the time his first girlfriend dumped him on those steps and how his second girlfriend also dumped him on those steps, but it doesn’t matter cause he benefited at the end.

    That is when his significant other suddenly asks him for a divorce.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      April 30, 2016 at 11:59 pm | #

      jk?

  78. PerilsoRosella
    PerilsoRosella
    May 1, 2016 at 6:55 am | #

    God, Danny and Amber belong together. Leave now Sal; you’re fucking awesome.

  79. Valkyr
    Valkyr
    May 1, 2016 at 9:23 am | #

    They are some damn fine steps though, prime hangout spot

  80. whispl
    whispl
    May 1, 2016 at 1:15 pm | #

    Daww Sal cares

  81. fudo81
    fudo81
    May 16, 2016 at 12:13 pm | #

    I just noticed: Sal says “didn’t know you knew her”, so apparently she forgot about how her first encounter with Danny ended… or maybe she hadn’t memorized Amber’s face yet, back then.

So...

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Okay, everyone's jumping to conclusions, but Joyce was hit with a mysterious pink gas in Thursday's strip. Now, in recent years, the police are known to increasingly use military grade weapons. Which reminded me of this bit of proposed technology from the 1990s: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bomb
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