Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
RSS
‹
›
  • Home
  • About/Read before posting
  • Archive↓
    • by calendar
  • Cast
  • Store↓
    • Main Store (books and stuff)
    • T-shirts
  • Patreon↓
    • Patreon (regular)
    • Patreon (NSFW)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
spoilers: i will be doing my best to avoid drawing this exercise machine again in subsequent strips
First Previous Random 142Comments Share Next Latest
Reddit Digg Facebook MySpace Delicious Stumbleupon Buzz Up! Mixx Technorati Google Bookmarks Yahoo Bookmarks Yahoo MyWeb Windows Live Propeller FriendFeed Newsvine Xanga LinkedIn Blinklist Twitter
Discover more Hiveworks comics
Namesake
Isa, Meg
There's ghosts at your heels and fairy tale worlds ahead. What do you do? Jump down the rabbit hole!
Peritale
Mari Costa
A fairy godmother with no magic tries her best to successfully fulfill a Fairytale and win the respect of her peers.
Lies Within
Lacey
Lysander's aimless and carefree life is turned upside down when he accidentally discovers that the cute boy next door, Simon, is a literal monster
Sister Claire
Yamino
In the troubled aftermath of a great war between Witches and her fellow Nuns, novice Sister Claire just wants a purpose.
The Golden Boar
Magnolia Porter Siddell
A young woman joins a group of summoners who call forth Guardian Beasts to protect their isolated magical island. Unfortunately, her Guardian Beast is nothing like she'd imagined, and he's about to change her life, and everything she thought she knew about herself...
Saint for Rent
Ru Xu
Saint Halliday runs an inn for Time Travelers. Unfortunately, he seems to attract other supernatural "guests," too.
Blindsprings
Kadi Fedoruk
Tamaura, wrested into a world 300 years in the future, must find a way to save the magic fading from her country.
Monster's Garden
Ash G.
Champion pit fighter Kilo Monster was content to spend the rest of his days tending to his quiet garden alone... until he met a curious robot girl and her human family.
Sleepless Domain
Mary Cagle (Cube Watermelon)
In a world where magical girls and their battles are commonplace, loss has become all too common as well.
Freakshow
Scotty
A festival of broken people, blood flows in the center ring. Come one and come all, to the greatest show in all of Paris.
The Messenger
indui
In a ruin-abound town cursed with bad luck, Kai and Kalla--a young boy and a fledgling dragonbird spirit--take on a quest in hopes the reward will solve all of their problems.
Empowered
Adam Warren
A sexy superhero comedy (except when it isn't) about the never-ending struggles of a plucky but very unlucky young superheroine.
Angel's Orchard
Harry Bogosian
After the events in Demon's Mirror, Gerda has accepted her role as a Demon Hunter, and Cezar has traveled back to the Demon City. Demons have existed alongside humans for millennia, so things begin to return to normal. But an impossibly powerful Relic has been taken by one of the Demon Masters, and a silent war enters its final stages.
Ozzie the Vampire
Eric Lide
Ozzie and her best friend Kimmy are your average everyday normal art students – except one is an immortal vampire with superpowers and the other possesses a magic talking grimoire. Also they have to save their town from a demonic invasion.
Novae
KaiJu
A historical romance with a touch magic and a dash of astronomy. It chronicles the romantic adventures of Sulvain, a sweet tempered necromancer and Raziol, a passionate 17th century astronomer.
Cyanide & Happiness
Explosm
Satire, dark humor and surreal humor.
Darkling Bright
Chris Hazelton
Kieran Bright is a college student home for the summer and roped into an online reunion with his old neighborhood friends in the most recent update of their favorite childhood MMORPG. At least, he was, and that was the idea... Join Kieran and his friends as they are pulled into another reality that may or may not be real and are forced to confront their own identities, the nature of simulated universes and reality itself.
Heroes of Thantopolis
Izzy Strontium Hall
A living boy fights to save the City of the Dead.
Sakana
Mad Rupert
Our heroes must navigate a hazardous dating scene, overcome personal anxieties, and wrangle unruly seafood in order to find love, peace of mind, and a paycheck.
Stand Still, Stay Silent
Minna Sundberg
A few generations after the end of the world, a small, poorly financed research crew is sent out to rediscover whatever is left of the forbidden old world in the south.
Guilded Age
T Campbell, John Waltrip, Florence Machina
Welcome to the saga of the working-class adventurer! Enjoy the complete story with new annotations daily!
Barbarous
Ananth Hirsh, Yuko Ota
A crummy wizard and an anxious monster have to get over themselves and bring order to an apartment building full of misfits.
ARISE, YE SKELETON KING
Brian Clevinger, Escher Cattle, Lee Black
A troupe of wandering "adventurers" down to their last silver "acquire" a map only to find the real treasure was the fiend they dug up along the way.
Three Panel Soul
Matt Boyd, Ian McConville
It's a pretty rigid format but we keep the content loose, you know?
Edison Rex
Chris Roberson
The adventures of the world’s greatest villain who, after defeating his superheroic nemesis, decides that he’s the only one left to defend the world.
The Weave
Rennie Kingsley
A young woman pursued by bad luck is witness to the murder of the Fairy Queen of Summer. Can she get to the bottom of this mystery?
Augustine
Winter Jay Kiakas, Windy
August and her ragtag group are just like everyone else, simply surviving in the treacherous Crater... When they stumble into what may be an artifact of the ancient past, their lives are thrown into a much bigger loop as they trifle with bounty hunters, monsters and gods.
Nerf Now!!
Josué Pereira
A cute webcomic about fanservice, video games, and... love. Mostly video games, though.
Little Tiny Things
Clover
What are the little things that move us? The simple joys that warm our bodies and hearts? The micro life of insects that influence our world more than we think? The tiny steps we make everyday to have a happier tomorrow?
Nigh Heaven & Hell
Scotty
Heather Vodihn is on a simple mission: find her father. However she becomes entangled with two strangers with mysterious powers being stalked by a group with bizarre demands. Heather must learn to trust her new traveling companions, even if she is untrustworthy herself.
Not Drunk Enough
Tess Stone
Logan Ibarra is possibly the unluckiest repairman in the world. A late night job should not have landed him in the middle of a mad scientist's squabble, but he soon finds himself surrounded by monsters and further madness with little tools to get out.
Dumbing of Age
David M Willis
Joyce has been homeschooled her entire life until now, when she's suddenly a freshman in college! Things don't go well.
BOOKMARK
Click "Tag Page" to bookmark a page. When you return to the site, click "Goto Tag" to continue where you left off.
Goto TagClear Tag


BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

May 22, 2026

Wares

by David M Willis on November 23, 2017 at 12:01 am
  • 02 - This Is the Way that We Love

└ Tags: jacob, joe, joyce

Discussion (142) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. AnvilPro
    AnvilPro
    November 23, 2017 at 12:01 am | #

    Joyce and Joe are destined to do this dance forever

    • Proto
      Proto
      November 23, 2017 at 12:04 am | #

      I like the term “augmenting my wares” for working out and I will henceforth do my best to work it in to my day to day life.

      • CJ
        CJ
        November 23, 2017 at 12:58 am | #

        The word or the deed?

        • CJ
          CJ
          November 23, 2017 at 1:00 am | #

          Damn, which capitalisation gave me Sal?
          Browsers need a “clear all cookies but this” function.

          • CJ
            CJ
            November 23, 2017 at 1:04 am | #

            Sighs

            • CJ
              CJ
              November 23, 2017 at 1:05 am | #

              Last try for today

              • Iforgetwhatiputhere
                Iforgetwhatiputhere
                November 23, 2017 at 2:48 am | #

                You think you have it bad…

              • Reltzik
                Reltzik
                November 23, 2017 at 2:53 am | #

                BINGO!

              • Keulen
                Keulen
                November 23, 2017 at 3:34 am | #

                The last time I tried the grav roulette I was unable to comment for days, so I guess I’ll stick with Mike.

                • ǝ snow ʍousɐ
                  ǝ snow ʍousɐ
                  November 23, 2017 at 11:57 am | #

                  That sucks. Hope you’re not totally anti-Mike.

                  I was so dissatisfied by the grav roulette that I switched to using my university email. I wonder if I can keep using this email after I graduate.

    • Durandal_1707
      Durandal_1707
      November 23, 2017 at 12:20 am | #

      Well, you never know, Joe might eventually discover some kind of crazy middle ground between being a complete dick and swearing off all romantic and sexual relationships forever.

    • EvilMidnightLurker
      EvilMidnightLurker
      November 23, 2017 at 12:43 am | #

      Except that one of their actors will die shortly after filming.

  2. Stu
    Stu
    November 23, 2017 at 12:01 am | #

    Did Joe borrow Dina’s shirt?

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      November 23, 2017 at 12:04 am | #

      Dina is approximately a size zero, so guessing he has his own.

      Also guessing the double entendre is NOT lost on him.

      • gkheyf
        gkheyf
        November 23, 2017 at 12:07 am | #

        • gkheyf
          gkheyf
          November 23, 2017 at 12:08 am | #

          oops. i meant to say:
          or is it?

          • Blackbird
            Blackbird
            November 23, 2017 at 12:24 am | #

            And this is why it went from “daily wear” to “exercise shirt”. Circle of life and all that….

            • ANeM
              ANeM
              November 23, 2017 at 1:30 am | #

              I mean, no reason to throw out a perfectly good shirt just because you’re not sure about what it says about your own sexuality.

              Unless it has Powergirl level holes in front a college guy will not throw out a shirt.

            • Kamino Neko
              Kamino Neko
              November 23, 2017 at 3:59 am | #

              Does he really want to be wearing a shirt that might be advertising that he’s into bones while exercising around other guys if he’s that worried about it?

              • timemonkey
                timemonkey
                November 23, 2017 at 1:40 pm | #

                Danny did ask him if he knew any quality gay dudes to hook up his friend with. Gotta find them somehow.

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        November 23, 2017 at 12:49 am | #

        The entendre was actually discussed by him and Danny a few books back.

    • Carms
      Carms
      November 23, 2017 at 12:05 am | #

      Hilarious, best joke in the comic.
      Probably not quite true but up there

    • Jago
      Jago
      November 23, 2017 at 9:14 pm | #

      No, they both have it.

  3. shadowcell
    shadowcell
    November 23, 2017 at 12:02 am | #

    WELCOME TO THE GUN SHOW, NOW WITH EXTRA GUNS

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      November 23, 2017 at 2:00 am | #

      Yes! And today is the day that Joyce enjoys so early-morning window shopping!

    • Disastroid
      Disastroid
      November 23, 2017 at 9:01 am | #

      Just read this to the tune of “Welcome to the Jungle” and now you are, too

      • shadowcell
        shadowcell
        November 24, 2017 at 12:03 am | #

        WE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, INCLUDING AWFUL PUNS

  4. CandidCanid
    CandidCanid
    November 23, 2017 at 12:03 am | #

    Joe’s shoulders. 030

    • Passchendaele
      Passchendaele
      November 23, 2017 at 12:14 am | #

      those are dream shoulders. (º-°)

  5. Yumi
    Yumi
    November 23, 2017 at 12:04 am | #

    Ooo, their exercise room has nicer equipment than my dorm’s did. Of course, we’ve only seen one machine; the exercise room we had only had a few, so if they only have a couple of things, they may be equal.

    • Deathjavu
      Deathjavu
      November 23, 2017 at 12:49 am | #

      Our dorm exercise rooms were closed, I believe because someone had hurt themselves. In the middle of winter, walking the quarter mile to the gym, I missed them…

    • vlademir1
      vlademir1
      November 23, 2017 at 1:02 am | #

      At the university I attended about twenty years ago, the student housing didn’t have their own and instead there was one in the student union building where those of us who didn’t live on campus could also access it. Because it was centralized, it had reasonable facilities to get a solid workout regardless of one’s fitness goals where splitting the equipment budget across each student housing complex would have left each underwhelming in that regard.

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        November 23, 2017 at 1:08 am | #

        I mean, my university was a very large school which of course had several gyms on campus. But again, it was a very large school, so similar to Deathjavu’s experience, the convenience factor of having one close by, even if it was kind of crappy, was significant. Plus the campus gyms were always packed and often full of dudebros.

        (And they cost additional money, in case you weren’t paying the university enough. During my senior year, I actually got a gym membership at the city community center because I found it to be a better deal and experience.)

  6. chris73
    chris73
    November 23, 2017 at 12:06 am | #

    Gotta say I’m damn impressed they’re it as this time in the morning though, for some reason, Jacob seemed the type that would shun machines and keep it old school barbell training

    So Joyce is now seeing the first guy she crushed on and the current all sweaty and muscles bulging…this could get interesting very interesting

    • Cass
      Cass
      November 23, 2017 at 12:27 am | #

      Though it looks like, while they’re both there, Joe’s the one she’s focused on. But it’s hard to tell for sure with that angle.

    • Hteph
      Hteph
      November 23, 2017 at 12:36 am | #

      This could indeed be a interesting time, especially to se how the two male J interacts with each other in presence of the interested (but in denial) female J who they both may be interested in.
      Classical triangle love set up!

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        November 23, 2017 at 2:55 am | #

        Of course, both the males would also be in denial about THEIR interest.

    • vlademir1
      vlademir1
      November 23, 2017 at 12:44 am | #

      In relation to the comment about Jacob being the type to shun machines for free weights, I’ll just point out that most who do that will still use the machines if not in a situation where free weights are either reasonably safe or else not available. Joe seems like he wouldn’t be the best choice of spotter, and working with free weights, other than maybe dumbbells, at a reasonable level of weight compared to one’s strength to actually get a good workout without a solid reliable spotter is dangerous enough only someone actually crazy would do it.

      • Inahc
        Inahc
        November 23, 2017 at 1:13 am | #

        eh, a squat rack or bench that’s properly adjusted (and properly using the clip thingies on the bar) is safe. I found that out the hard way when some idiot bumped into my barbell – instinct took over and dropped me straight down, the rails took the bar, and I was fine once I recovered from the shock 🙂

        I suspect the real reason they’re on a machine is so Willis can fit both of them into one panel. 🙂 although a gym for just one dorm is probably pretty small and neglected, so there’s no guarantee it’ll even *have* a squat rack 😛

        • Inahc
          Inahc
          November 23, 2017 at 1:20 am | #

          oh, I forgot, not all benches have rails. if there’s no rails, then yeah, you should have a spotter. 🙂

          • A Scientist
            A Scientist
            November 23, 2017 at 1:35 am | #

            I bench without a spotter. When I can’t put up the weight, I roll sideways to drop one side to the ground, and then I can scoot the rest of the weight down off me by way of my hips. But the squat boxes are real life savers.

            • Inahc
              Inahc
              November 23, 2017 at 1:48 am | #

              my husband’s method for that was the “roll of shame” – slowly roll the barbell down to your hips, then sit up. I don’t think my stomach could take that, though 🙂 let alone my breasts 😛 the area the barbell is over, iirc, gets irritable just having an underwire pressing on it too much.

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            November 23, 2017 at 1:47 am | #

            I never bench without a spotter.

            I also never bench, but that’s beside the point.

    • A Scientist
      A Scientist
      November 23, 2017 at 1:37 am | #

      I don’t know how anyone could get that big working exclusively on machines. Perhaps he does free weight exercises, and supplements them with the machine.

      • Roborat
        Roborat
        November 23, 2017 at 2:36 pm | #

        From what I have been told, as long as you are doing the exercise properly, there is no difference between using free weights and a machine.

        • Inahc
          Inahc
          November 23, 2017 at 6:59 pm | #

          machines neglect the little balance muscles that you need if you’re planning to lift real things outside the gym. otoh, this also makes them safer and simpler to use.

  7. TheLurkerAbove
    TheLurkerAbove
    November 23, 2017 at 12:06 am | #

    Triple J Triple Trouble! I like where this is going.

  8. Nono
    Nono
    November 23, 2017 at 12:06 am | #

    Alternate universe: Joe does attempt to pork up, but Jughead-esque genetics prevent him from ever getting fat.

    • Stephen Bierce
      Stephen Bierce
      November 23, 2017 at 12:08 am | #

      He hangs out at the bakery to load up on carbs, and winds up dating a pastry chef…

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 23, 2017 at 2:18 am | #

      Well, when you’re in your late teens to early 20s that’s generally what happens anyway. He’s got a few more years before things slow down

      Then a few years after that, you can start porking up by accident, even after cutting back on junk food. It’s… disconcerting.

  9. @zombieundergrnd
    @zombieundergrnd
    November 23, 2017 at 12:07 am | #

    Wait … I’m supposed to buy that two male university students who are not scholarship athletes are in the gym at 5am in the morning? GTFO

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      November 23, 2017 at 12:08 am | #

      Well, Joe seems to be doing so under protest, and I can see Jacob doing so for the same reason Dorothy does – exercise.

      • Jason
        Jason
        November 23, 2017 at 4:52 am | #

        Oh yeah. Jacob seems pretty strict with his own routine and achievements. I’m guessing Joe was in the habit of going, bonded with Jacob there, and is there because it’s habit for them to work out together now? A workout partner can make so much difference in getting in the gym or not.

  10. Passchendaele
    Passchendaele
    November 23, 2017 at 12:07 am | #

    Well, you know what they say – there’s no j in exercise room.

    …Actually, wait, there’s three. Nevermind. ‹.‹

    • Durandal_1707
      Durandal_1707
      November 23, 2017 at 12:22 am | #

      There is no P in our exercise room. Let’s keep it that way.

  11. Danni
    Danni
    November 23, 2017 at 12:10 am | #

    image of that one guy saying “ill give the best hugs”

  12. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    November 23, 2017 at 12:14 am | #

    *mulls over various songs associated with exercize*
    *decides to play “Pump Up The Jam” on the hacked Muzak as a pass-and-promise*

    • m-m
      m-m
      November 23, 2017 at 12:18 am | #

      Hums “let’s get physical” by Olivia newton-John. *chuckles*

      • fogel
        fogel
        November 23, 2017 at 8:00 am | #

        I now have the song playing in my head, which is trying to generate a gym montage to go with…. Im curious what you all think Joyce’s reaction would be watching The J Bros working out to that tune?

  13. Tacos
    Tacos
    November 23, 2017 at 12:21 am | #

    I don’t know why but when I see Joyce’s “hello” I hear it in my head as John Stewart’s impression of the Queen of England…. >.>

    • vlademir1
      vlademir1
      November 23, 2017 at 1:18 am | #

      Funny I was hearing it in Dot Warner’s voice… followed by “nurse”. (cf here if you need an example) ;D

  14. ESM
    ESM
    November 23, 2017 at 12:22 am | #

    I’m a little concerned that Joe sees no middle ground between “constant sex” and “volcel”.

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      November 23, 2017 at 12:30 am | #

      I mean, discovering that middle ground is kinda his narrative turf.

      • ESM
        ESM
        November 23, 2017 at 1:10 am | #

        Joe’s character arc is going to be about how he sets out on a quest to respect women but gets horribly lost and becomes a raging incel.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          November 23, 2017 at 1:54 am | #

          Geez I hope not. Those guys have the polar opposite of respect for women.

        • JessWitt
          JessWitt
          November 23, 2017 at 8:26 pm | #

          Well I’m learning some new celibacy-related slang today.

    • Jason
      Jason
      November 23, 2017 at 4:54 am | #

      Makes sense. He realises that he has no idea how to get women into bed without being a disgusting sleazemonster. Until he works through that and better understands how to communicate sexually without being an arse, it absolutely makes sense to not be trying at all.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        November 23, 2017 at 10:17 am | #

        More that he thinks that if he does try to have an actual relationship with a woman, he’ll wind up like his father and hurt them even more. His sleazemonster behavior was an attempt at having sex while avoiding that. He didn’t recognize the lesser, but broader damage he was doing in the process.
        It also didn’t work particularly well at getting them into bed – He was apparently mostly boasting and the only actual sex he had was with Roz and Penny – both very likely initiated by them.

  15. Marsh Maryrose
    Marsh Maryrose
    November 23, 2017 at 12:22 am | #

    Joe has worn that same shirt before. And I’m guessing that, unlike Dina, he didn’t need to have the “bone” metaphor pointed out to him.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      November 23, 2017 at 3:12 am | #

      He undoubtedly found the joke very humerus.

      • fogel
        fogel
        November 23, 2017 at 8:03 am | #

        😀

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      November 23, 2017 at 10:19 am | #

      No, but he apparently wasn’t aware it could be taken as advertising his interest in boners.

  16. TechSY730
    TechSY730
    November 23, 2017 at 12:23 am | #

    While swearing off all romantic and sexual relationships may be good idea for now, given how extreme Joe was in the other direction, I don’t think it is a good idea to do long term. Trying to force yourself to the opposite end of asexuality as a form of penance is also not healthy.

    Well, baby steps.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      November 23, 2017 at 3:12 am | #

      That is the exact opposite of baby steps.

      • TechSY730
        TechSY730
        November 23, 2017 at 3:23 am | #

        Point. It is an overcorrection, which is the opposite of baby steps.

        I meant baby steps on finding the right path to becoming a better person, even if the path he is on now is very much not baby steps. He is starting journey to find the path to become a better person, but now I am just getting meta. 😛

        (Also, I thought Danny was my avatar. Why did it change?)

        • Jason
          Jason
          November 23, 2017 at 4:57 am | #

          I don’t think there’s an over in his correction. If the options are “make women feel uncomfortable” or “don’t actively try to find a sexual partner”, the latter is absolutely the better option- and, until Joe better understands how to communicate and empathise, he’s making the right call. In my opinion.

  17. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    November 23, 2017 at 12:27 am | #

    Damnit Joe you’re starting to look like Bruce Wayne

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      November 23, 2017 at 3:13 am | #

      He’s always looked like Bruce Wayne. Now he’s starting to angst like Bruce Wayne.

      • AGV
        AGV
        November 23, 2017 at 7:14 am | #

        Then, Dani makes for a good Robin now that I think about it

        • JessWitt
          JessWitt
          November 23, 2017 at 8:09 am | #

          Danny can be Robin, but Ethan is totes Nightwing.

          • King Daniel
            King Daniel
            November 23, 2017 at 10:29 pm | #

            If Danny’s Robin, is Robin Danny?

  18. Keulen
    Keulen
    November 23, 2017 at 12:31 am | #

    I don’t think we had exercise rooms in any of the dorms when I was in college. I never checked, but I’m pretty sure if we had any exercise rooms they were in the sports building or something.

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      November 23, 2017 at 2:46 pm | #

      Yea, I had to walk two blocks from the dorms to the gym. Was not fun in February.

  19. Bagge
    Bagge
    November 23, 2017 at 12:37 am | #

    I find it very heartwarming that, the very strip after Joyce remind us of her trauma and her fear of “Shrödinger’s rapist”, she happily skips into the gym early in the morning with Joe and Jacob. No fear here!

    Yes, yes, Joe. You learnt something new about yourself. Stop being such a drama queen about it.

    • Jason
      Jason
      November 23, 2017 at 4:59 am | #

      Drama queening is actually very common to huge realisations that challenge a person’s concept of self. He needs to re-evaluate who he is and how he behaves. It takes time and in the interim he’s allowed to make a big deal of it- because to him, it is.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        November 23, 2017 at 7:24 am | #

        …fine.

        Yeah, you are right. Please keep on drama queening, Joe.

  20. MatthewTheLucky
    MatthewTheLucky
    November 23, 2017 at 12:41 am | #

    Joyce has just discovered that beyond the candy machine is the eye candy machine.

    • Lingo
      Lingo
      November 23, 2017 at 12:50 am | #

      LOL, have a gold star.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      November 23, 2017 at 1:08 am | #

      Heh

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      November 23, 2017 at 1:30 am | #

      +1

    • Micki
      Micki
      November 23, 2017 at 2:02 pm | #

      Your avatar works pretty well with this comment, too.

    • PB
      PB
      November 23, 2017 at 8:10 pm | #

      (Claps)

  21. jeffepp
    jeffepp
    November 23, 2017 at 12:54 am | #

    And, Joyce has discovered the font of her type. Joe and Jacob, both sweaty and musculating.

    I predict that she will flirt with Jacob, then give Joe the look, to tell him, it could have been him.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      November 23, 2017 at 1:09 am | #

      I don’t think she will SAY it.

      I think he will THINK it.

      • Badgermole
        Badgermole
        November 23, 2017 at 1:13 am | #

        I predict Joe will immediately spot Joyce flirting-but-not with Jacob, point it out to her (with some valiantly repressed jealousy?), and it will fluster or upset her. TRIANGULATED SHENANIGANS.

      • BenRG
        BenRG
        November 23, 2017 at 2:04 am | #

        I also think that she might have a guilt trip afterwards, being Joyce.

  22. Badgermole
    Badgermole
    November 23, 2017 at 1:11 am | #

    Joe’s self esteem is subterranean isn’t it.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      November 23, 2017 at 4:09 am | #

      Given that he just discovered that the one thing he hitched it to is kinda shitty… yeah.

  23. Brute
    Brute
    November 23, 2017 at 1:18 am | #

    i hope this all leads to joyce in a polyam relationship with Jacob and post-self-work Joe so that her formerly repressed self can get all kinds of healthy dickings forever.
    also I hope this comment isn’t wildly inappropriate but i just woke up and i’m not all here yet

    • Inahc
      Inahc
      November 23, 2017 at 1:30 am | #

      HOT

      …

      DICKINGS.

      I haven’t even seen Dr Tran in what, a decade? but that was still the first thought to show up 😛 also you forgot Jacob’s in a monogamous relationship already. and sadly I think joyce is very monogamous.

      • Brute
        Brute
        November 23, 2017 at 1:45 am | #

        i DID forget that! :U

        also i use that phrase a lot and still haven’t thought about dr tran in years despite having stolen its wording! how dare i 🙁

  24. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    November 23, 2017 at 1:33 am | #

    I watched a porn video that started this way, but minus Joyce.

    • Brute
      Brute
      November 23, 2017 at 1:46 am | #

      😂

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      November 23, 2017 at 2:43 pm | #

      I thought porn videos always started with pizza being delivered.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        November 23, 2017 at 8:22 pm | #

        I have, um, particular tastes.

        • Jhon
          Jhon
          November 23, 2017 at 9:11 pm | #

          Anchovies?

  25. BenRG
    BenRG
    November 23, 2017 at 2:03 am | #

    I do think that Joyce is going to have an interesting morning here. I don’t think that she’s ever really had a ‘lust’-type response to a man before – I mean totally physical attraction. Now she’s in an enclosed space with these two who are also engaged in strenuous physical activity! Meanwhle she is in her exercise clothes, which are a lot more revealing than her normal clothing. I wonder if she’ll find herself subconsciously responding to them?

    • chris73
      chris73
      November 23, 2017 at 2:27 am | #

      I dunno about not having a ‘lust’-type response to a man before: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-1/03-men-are-from-beck-women-are-from-clark/temple/

      But it is nice she feels safe with both double J

      • Thunder
        Thunder
        November 23, 2017 at 3:18 am | #

        And don’t forget about her sexy Ethan dream, which I would totally link to if it wasn’t past midnight and I had to be up in the morning.

      • CoMa
        CoMa
        November 23, 2017 at 6:36 am | #

        But that’s before Joyce got to know both of them any better, and still had the goal to just find a husband in her college time. Now that she knows they are persons, with personality, flaws etc., she might get flustered (possibly afterwards), but that’ll be it. At least that’s my take on it, for now.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      November 23, 2017 at 3:15 am | #

      Judging by her expression, that’s not “Hello hot man-meat!” That’s, “Hello people who are my friends and thus have no reason to dislike my obnoxious cheerfulness because what sort of friend doesn’t like that!”

      • Thunder
        Thunder
        November 23, 2017 at 3:23 am | #

        I agree that it is likely the latter and not the former.

        YET!

        It’s still early, and unless I’m mistaken this will be Joyce’s first true exposure to the magnificent temple that is Jacob’s body.

        • BenRG
          BenRG
          November 23, 2017 at 4:27 am | #

          Prediction: Joyce kisses Jacob at the end of it. It’s entirely chaste and sisterly but it is a bit too much of a taster for Joyce’s peace of mind. That’s why she is seen in one of the preview panels from early next year apparently begging Sarah for advice.

          • Roborat
            Roborat
            November 23, 2017 at 2:42 pm | #

            Or asking to borrow “other Jacob”.

    • Jason
      Jason
      November 23, 2017 at 5:03 am | #

      Joyce has fantasised about sexy man bod (minus face) in the shower before. And promptly broke down crying. She HAS lust, she just represses it very hard.

  26. Zaxares
    Zaxares
    November 23, 2017 at 3:45 am | #

    Sooo, seeing both Jacob and Joe all sweaty and muscly must be like… ULTRA TEMPTATION MODE for Joyce. XD

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      November 23, 2017 at 2:41 pm | #

      Yup, she is going to want all the things rubbing on her tummy.

  27. Parzival
    Parzival
    November 23, 2017 at 4:31 am | #

    *shipping intensifies*

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      November 23, 2017 at 5:53 am | #

      “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate starts to play over the PA…

  28. Jason
    Jason
    November 23, 2017 at 5:05 am | #

    I’ve been extremely interested in seeing Joyce’s relationships with both Joe and Jacob develop further, so hooray!
    Also maybe J men are inherently comforting and approachable to her…?

  29. NozajDarkcaster
    NozajDarkcaster
    November 23, 2017 at 6:05 am | #

    It’s surprisingly difficult for me to recreate the dumbing of age style in a profile picture…

    How long do you spend on each one of these?
    I’m kind of impatient so I doubt I will ever create a daily web comic of my own…

  30. CoMa
    CoMa
    November 23, 2017 at 6:38 am | #

    I have to say, I REALLY liked the dialogue in this one, it made me burst into laughter, that hasn’t happened for some time!

  31. Sarah-2
    Sarah-2
    November 23, 2017 at 7:11 am | #

    Aw Willis but the machine is drawn REALLY well…. Like I feel like it’s its own character and it needs a name and a character photo (I would rock an excercise machine profile picture soo hard)

  32. Sarah-2
    Sarah-2
    November 23, 2017 at 7:16 am | #

    That grey bit of machine in front of Joe’s crotch… Are you suppose to put your knees under for resistence though? Or am I confusing this with something else

    • CoMa
      CoMa
      November 23, 2017 at 7:51 am | #

      As I understand it, it’s to lock your knees under to support a correct sitting position for pushing the weights forward/up (the higher the weight, the more difficult to hold a correct position, and wrong position often equals wrong training up to even the possibility of hurting oneself).
      Though I’ve personally never seen a chest-press-type of machine like that with a ‘foothold’ – those are normally at machines where you have to pull the weight down, while sitting (e.g. while training your shoulders, like with a cable pulldown machine).

    • Vulcanodon
      Vulcanodon
      November 23, 2017 at 11:01 am | #

      You put a second set of gray rollers in the bottom bracket near the floor, hook your knees above the top set, and do knee extensions.

  33. CoMa
    CoMa
    November 23, 2017 at 7:52 am | #

    I somehow also hope we get to see the whole of Joyce’s training outfit! I’d so like to see if it’s completely 80’ies inspired!

    • CoMa
      CoMa
      November 23, 2017 at 7:57 am | #

      Okay, I just realised we got to see most of it in the last strip anyway, my bad. But use the headband, Joyce, if you’re really going to use the treadmill, your fringes will definitely stick to your face! That’s not specifically a comfortable feeling!

  34. Vulcanodon
    Vulcanodon
    November 23, 2017 at 10:47 am | #

    Ruh-roh! Can’t wait until Jacob and Joyce get a look at each other in workout clothes…

  35. Vulcanodon
    Vulcanodon
    November 23, 2017 at 10:48 am | #

    Nothing wrong with looking for female companionship, Joe. Just, you know, remember that women are people.

  36. RZ
    RZ
    November 23, 2017 at 10:49 am | #

    HOW IS EVERYONE HERE AWAKE BEFORE 5AM?!! I could barely make it to a 9 am class. These people are exercising & studying?!

    • Daibhid C
      Daibhid C
      November 23, 2017 at 1:42 pm | #

      Thankfully, I don’t think I had a 9 am class at uni. It didn’t help – my college career was not unlike Dave Lister’s (except I lasted more than a day):

      “They had lectures, like, first thing in the afternoon! Half past twelve every day! Who’s together by then? You can still taste the toothpaste!”

      • RZ
        RZ
        November 24, 2017 at 9:00 am | #

        Exactly. I only took a 9am class if I absolutely had to for some horrible reason. Now I’m awake every day by 7 or 8 am & all the masters classes I want to take are at 5 pm or later. Now I think that is a crazy late time.

  37. MatsuoTanuki
    MatsuoTanuki
    November 23, 2017 at 11:14 am | #

    Listen here!

    Every man wants to be a macho man!
    To have the kind of body always in demand!
    Joggin’ in the mornings, go man gooo!
    Workouts in the health spa, muscles grooow!
    You can best believe me…
    He’s a macho maaan!
    Glad he took you down with anyone you can!
    Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!

    Macho, macho maaaaan!
    I gotta be a macho maaaan!

  38. Josh Spicer
    Josh Spicer
    November 23, 2017 at 12:40 pm | #

    Oh good timing Joyce.

  39. TheKelliestKelly
    TheKelliestKelly
    November 23, 2017 at 3:10 pm | #

    I hope Joyce is casually eating the honey bun in the next strip

  40. Tenn
    Tenn
    November 23, 2017 at 4:57 pm | #

    Re: alt text: how long before Willis posts artwork of an exercise machine dressed in plaid? I give it a week.

  41. Puckish Rogue
    Puckish Rogue
    November 23, 2017 at 6:00 pm | #

    Looks like they’re both been concentrating on their upper bodies…don’t neglect your legs Joe

  42. RiverDee
    RiverDee
    November 23, 2017 at 7:21 pm | #

    grav roulette!

  43. chiscii
    chiscii
    November 23, 2017 at 10:36 pm | #

    Ok wow I try not to do this and silver lining that I’m commenting around the time the new strip is gonna be up so not many people will see me being an ass, but honestly there is A LOT of suspension of disbelief going on in this strip

    1) The two of them being at the gym at like 5 in the morning
    2) Joe going right after a night of not sleeping
    3) Them working out at a dorm exercise room that has a seemingly well-equiped assortment of machines instead of a regular 24-hour gym. (I mean, the exercise room where I live has two treadmills. And one has been in repairs for the better part of the year.)
    4) Joe having those guns without having developed self-discipline for himself instead of just for sex, or without liking the exercise itself.
    5) Conversation in the middle of a series. You’re already short of breath, you wait until the rest period, it’s like 4 reps away anyway.
    6) The line about “deafening siren call of the ladies” when basically the entire female schoolbody hates his guts

    I’ve recommended this comic years past as a good read. This strip I would recommend to mock. It has the same level of coherence as a pot brownie, it just keeps on giving layers of nah, and honestly I just remembered that there’s supposed to be a punchline in there somewhere, but like in an AA meeting the punch line doesn’t exist, and it’s due to a lack of punch rather than a lack of line.

    In sum, What the Fuck.

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      November 23, 2017 at 11:54 pm | #

      1) I know it’s an affront to nature, but somehow people actually do this

      2) I think the only time I’ve ever worked out in the morning was in college, after staying up all night. You get a weird sort of second wind after a certain point.

      3) IU is pretty big school that can probably afford nice amenities like a proper workout room

      4) I dunno, given my experience with bros, I find it entirely believable that the only self-discipline Joe has developed is directly tied into both masculinity and attempting to get laid

      5) Adding more grunting and heavy breathing to the dialog to make it seem more realistic would result in the panels being completely covered by word balloons

      6) It’s Joe and nobody has duct taped his mouth shut. It would be out of character if nothing awful escaped. Pulling his head out of his ass will be an awkward, painful, and lengthy process, if that helps any

      Also, I’m pretty sure that the punchline is the arrival of the one girl still talking to Joe, who also happens to be the ONE girl that he stopped trying to bang.

    • Vulcanodon
      Vulcanodon
      November 23, 2017 at 11:54 pm | #

      Most conversations in comic strips make more sense than most real conversations do. Every once in a while a comic strip conversation sounds as fragmented as real conversation does (when you record and transcribe it) and this is the result.

Who should be the default doodle for Book 14?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
CONVENTION APPEARANCES


May 3, 2025 - FCBD @ Laughing Ogre Comics in Columbus, Ohio

David M Willis! avatar
David M Willis!
@damnyouwillis.bsky.social
reposted by David M Willis!
kelmcdonald.bsky.social's user avatar
Kel McDonald @kelmcdonald.bsky.social ⋅ 2h
From May 12th and June 10th everything in my store is 20% with the coupon code Happy Birthday kelmcdonald.com/shop/
Sorcery 101 is 20! Here is Danny with a cake
1
4
6
 
reposted by David M Willis!
dialhforhagai.bsky.social's user avatar
Hagai Palevsky (he/him) @dialhforhagai.bsky.social ⋅ 3h
I am DONE making comics out of a CULTURE of FEAR. from NOW on I am ONLY making comics that are TRANSGRESSIVE and BRAVE where WALDO from WHERE’S WALDO is DIVORCED and BURNT OUT and WANTS TO DIE
9
31
214
 
reposted by David M Willis!
galegalligan.bsky.social's user avatar
Gale Galligan @galegalligan.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
choose your fighter
Simply drawn comic in black and white with blue-gray spot color.

Panel 1: A rabbit looks at a book. 
Rabbit: this comic is very popular, but i don't like it!

Panel 2: The rabbit flips through the book.
Rabbit: that's cool! i wonder what about it is resonating with people
SFX: flip

Panel 3: White text on black background spans the width of the page.
Caption: why don't i like it?
Caption: what would i do differently?
Caption: what can i learn from this?

Panel 4: Borderless panel. Sequential drawings of the rabbit reading the book.
Rabbit 1: flip
Rabbit 2: hm!
Rabbit 3: huh
Rabbit 4, looking up from the book: comics are neat!
Two panel comic drawn simply with black lines and blue-gray spot color.

Panel 1: Rabbit looks at a book.
Rabbit: this comic is very popular, but i don't like it!

Panel 2: The rabbit closes the book with a peaceful smile.
Rabbit: well, good for them!
28
424
1429
 
reposted by David M Willis!
oliveoilcorp.bsky.social's user avatar
Olivia Stephens @oliveoilcorp.bsky.social ⋅ 3h
no notes
Excerpt from a Comicsbeat article by E.B. Hutchins about Alex Graham's racist ass comic:  

Is there somewhere in this article where I could talk about the very real feeling of jealousy and how it can make even the nicest people into assholes? No, that’s not this article. It’s not this article because we’ve let appealing to white people’s comfort get in the way of progress to the point where our culture, democracy, and future is at stake. Appealing to white people’s comfort is how we got to where BIPOC and LGBT people are being erased from history all together because the dark history of this country makes white people uncomfortable.
comicsbeat.bsky.social's user avatarComicsbeat @comicsbeat.bsky.social ⋅ 3h
It's Bigger Than Alex Graham's Comic: An Instagram post has stirred up a hornet's next of controversy by suggesting that comics by marginalized groups are overrated
header image - Commentary: It’s Bigger Than Alex Graham’s Comic (With An Update)
www.comicsbeat.com
Commentary: It’s Bigger Than Alex Graham’s Comic (With An Update)
An Instagram post by Alex Graham has stirred up a hornet's next of controversy
6
237
672
 
reposted by David M Willis!
lebassett.bsky.social's user avatar
Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social ⋅ 5h
And only Luigi is being charged with murder
weloveluigi.bsky.social's user avatar24 hour Luigi Mangione report @weloveluigi.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
UPDATE: UnitedHealth deliberately changed patients to "do not resuscitate' so that they would be left to die in any medical emergency as they considered especially critically ill patients to be 'a waste of money' regardless of patient's desire to live.
Free Luigi Mangione
Free Luigi Mangione
8
252
647
 
reposted by David M Willis!
louisathelast.bsky.social's user avatar
Louisa @louisathelast.bsky.social ⋅ 3h
If you’re lost, in a nutshell, artist Alex Graham posted a whiny little comic about how comics she thinks are bad win acclaim because of the white guilt of comic readers bsky.app/profile/jesn...
jesncin.bsky.social's user avatarJes & Cin @jesncin.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
If you'd like context for what comics bluesky is talking about, it's this short comic by Alex Graham: www.instagram.com/p/DJ2v_leSN5...
www.instagram.com
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
9
18
67
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 4h
www.ebay.com/itm/23611446... bid on my movie masterpiece megatron
1
1
3
 
reposted by David M Willis!
dmacalvert.bsky.social's user avatar
Darren M. A. Calvert @dmacalvert.bsky.social ⋅ 7h
Finally I created a perfect blend of Popeye and Donald Duck:
A blend of Popeye and Donald Duck with Popeye's face and skin colour and Donald Duck's body shape and clothing.  He looks great.
204
555
2120
 
reposted by David M Willis!
ironspike.bsky.social's user avatar
Iron Spike @ironspike.bsky.social ⋅ 10h
"Calarts Style" is the "woke" of shitty cartoonists Doesn't really mean anything other than "I don't like it, but I'm going to pretend my objection is moral/cultural to make it feel important"
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 13h
i wake up everything's calarts style this rug is calarts style your face is calarts style the sky is calarts style the increasing crescendo of calarts style from beneath the floorboards, i can hear its symphony whispering to me its awful refrain: "get something real to hate"
4
157
816
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 7h
This shirt where the inked Marvel profile character arts are recolored in cartoon colors is an abomination.
1
2
10
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
tfw you see a round cartoon mouth
1
2
29
 
reposted by David M Willis!
maxberger.bsky.social's user avatar
Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social ⋅ 13h
A story about why Democrats are losers, in four parts.
196
2609
9455
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 12h
I won the Think of a Decepticon challenge by thinking of Predacon Scorponok, AMA
3
1
16
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 13h
i wake up everything's calarts style this rug is calarts style your face is calarts style the sky is calarts style the increasing crescendo of calarts style from beneath the floorboards, i can hear its symphony whispering to me its awful refrain: "get something real to hate"
24
77
513
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 13h
www.ebay.com/itm/23610614... 9 hours left on this weirdo
www.ebay.com
Pardon Our Interruption...eBay Home
1
1
5
 
reposted by David M Willis!
billcorbett.bsky.social's user avatar
Bill Corbett @billcorbett.bsky.social ⋅ 18h
I wrote in to Reddit about my addiction. Ok, now back to having AI call me gay.
cait.bsky.social's user avatarcait (and adonis) @cait.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
14
19
244
 
reposted by David M Willis!
danschkade.bsky.social's user avatar
Dan Schkade @danschkade.bsky.social ⋅ 16h
Having left wing beliefs is hard because you have to listen to different types of people and give up saying slurs and read articles all the way through, wouldn’t you rather just watch youtube shorts of bald podcasters and believe any old bullshit
11
53
330
 
reposted by David M Willis!
wackd.bsky.social's user avatar
Wack'd @wackd.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
i need money and have a flintstone cel i do not want. if you need a flintsone cel and have money you do not want, please click here, thank you ebay.us/m/XdPL0q
32
34
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "Compressed" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomic #webcomics
www.dumbingofage.com
Compressed
3
4
34
 
reposted by David M Willis!
shenanigansen.bsky.social's user avatar
Shen Comix @shenanigansen.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
if you're ever sad alone silently, consider this: - i hold a copyright on being like that - you are encroaching on my intellectual property - i will send you a cease & desist - i will possibly take you to court so please make yourself legally distinct by talking to someone about it
88
706
4675
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
(May 22, 2026)
Joyce and Walky have a discussion in front of FOUR DOORS, one of which still totally exists to this day
5
7
70
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
look okay openpsychometrics.org/tests/charac...
alinapete.bsky.social's user avatarAlina Pete @alinapete.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
Take the fictional character quiz and post the first four you know: openpsychometrics.org/tests/charac... What this should tell you is that I'm always down to cause chaos and good trouble
Guinean from Star Trek TNG, wearing an orange outfit
Lilo from the animated Lilo and Stitch
Westley from The Princess Bride
Robin Hood the hot anthro fox from the animated Robin Hood
5
1
32
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
iykyk
7
4
41
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Would you like to take a survey? Do you like to eat beans? Do you like George Wendt? Would you like to eat beans with George Wendt? Would you like to watch a movie about George Wendt eating beans?
7
33
142
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
thirty different editorial cartoons about St Peter greeting him with NORM!, coming right up
3
3
63
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
today in #9chickweedlane i learned FUCK YOU, INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE, WE COULD JUST BE FUCKING OUR DOGS INSTEAD, AND WITH LESS CAKE I GUESS wait what
12
37
 
reposted by David M Willis!
eddierobson.bsky.social's user avatar
Eddie Robson @eddierobson.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
I didn't know my mum was writing promotional emails for Nintendo now
Nintendo marketing email reading
24
713
3325
 
reposted by David M Willis!
darrylayo.bsky.social's user avatar
Ayo @darrylayo.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
I just got fired from Star Wars because my prequel idea was the exact same as the existing prequels except that Palpatine was going to be bishonen hot
2
17
90
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
so i'm thinking, okay, i took some extra photos of this set of doors this year so i could draw some other angles, it's an important set of doors, so let's pull up my new reference photos... ....and do you see a problem, do you see an issue
16
3
71
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
i agree! let's all celebrate the weeniejob
6
4
56
 

©2010-2025 Dumbing of Age | Powered by WordPress with ComicPress | Subscribe: RSS | Privacy Policy | Back to Top ↑