Dumbing of Age Book Eleven

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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guess sal got ethan something nice after all
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July 21, 2023

Sorted

by David M Willis on October 21, 2018 at 12:01 am
  • 01 - Flyin' to the Red

└ Tags: ethan, sal, thad

Discussion (169) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    October 21, 2018 at 12:05 am | #

    “I CAN ARM WRASSLE YA!”

    wait no

    (wondering if Thad will be posting in this thread shortly)

    • Unusually Angry Hippie
      Unusually Angry Hippie
      October 21, 2018 at 12:36 am | #

      Okay, I read back. Absolutely nothing they said suggested the idea of it being a robbery or mentioned a convenience store. She just apologized for holding a knife to his neck.

      Little bit nettled, because Willis is usually so very good at catching that sort of thing.

      • Danielle
        Danielle
        October 21, 2018 at 12:51 am | #

        I’m reasonably sure we didn’t see the entire conversation.

        • Jimi
          Jimi
          October 21, 2018 at 1:20 am | #

          *sees gravatar of a Troutman character*

          *approving nod*

          • Jimi
            Jimi
            October 21, 2018 at 1:20 am | #

            Man Sarah as a gravatar does not fit half my comments I love it

          • Danielle
            Danielle
            October 21, 2018 at 6:28 pm | #

            In fact that is me, AS a Troutman character. Commissioned for just such comments. 😀

      • Miri
        Miri
        October 21, 2018 at 12:53 am | #

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/category/comic/book-9-comic/01-flyin-to-the-red/ and the next strip, Ethan mentions the gas station and convenience store. If Thad was in earshot for a while and overheard that and the later part, he could conceivably have joined the dots.

        • Unusually Angry Hippie
          Unusually Angry Hippie
          October 21, 2018 at 3:54 pm | #

          Soooo….Thad stalked them halfway through the whole dorm so that he could comfort Ethan? Dude is THIRSTY.

          • Nelly Dreadful
            Nelly Dreadful
            October 21, 2018 at 5:26 pm | #

            Have you SEEN Ethan? Dude’s probably had wistful gay dudes forlornly follow him a LOT further than half the dorm. Thad just happened to be the one at the head of the pack who was stalking close enough to be in earshot.

            • Regalli
              Regalli
              October 21, 2018 at 9:12 pm | #

              They have a schedule for who gets to casually, wistfully flirt with Ethan when.

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    October 21, 2018 at 12:05 am | #

    And with that Thad gives him a business card for a good therapist and departs.

  3. MatthewTheLucky
    MatthewTheLucky
    October 21, 2018 at 12:06 am | #

    Huh, Sal did make it up to him with sex.

    • Some1
      Some1
      October 21, 2018 at 12:08 am | #

      She used her coolness powers to will a guy to do that for her. Its called Telegayany.

  4. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    October 21, 2018 at 12:07 am | #

    *fails to find his old Village People records*

    • Stephen Bierce
      Stephen Bierce
      October 21, 2018 at 12:08 am | #

      Meanwhile, Penn State and the Hoosiers played a very good football game today.

  5. NerdHerder
    NerdHerder
    October 21, 2018 at 12:07 am | #

    Time and Thad’s penis heal all wounds.

  6. BBCC
    BBCC
    October 21, 2018 at 12:07 am | #

    *happy gasp* Oh, neat! I was wondering if Thad and Ethan would get another shot the other day.

    And Ha! Yeah, that alt text ain’t wrong. But on the Sal note, her expressions remain the CUTEST GODDAMN THING and I love how happy she and Ethan both are to have things in the open. And now Sal might be able to remember his name.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 21, 2018 at 1:11 am | #

      I really think this was the healing exercise Ethan hoped for.

    • RacingTurtle
      RacingTurtle
      October 21, 2018 at 1:26 am | #

      Ethan getting a chance with Thad this time around is probably one of the top 10 things I wanted from a new universe of these characters, so I am extremely happy right now.

  7. Victor Riley
    Victor Riley
    October 21, 2018 at 12:07 am | #

    And now Ethan has found his pickup technique. Dudes dig the trauma, I guess.

    • Alanari
      Alanari
      October 21, 2018 at 12:17 am | #

      Pretty sure people do. I don’t really know why, but if you tell someone “I had to get through (insert something really horrible here) and now I’m traumatised”, people mostly immediately take interest in you. It doesn’t really matter whether you currently are in a good or a bad place.
      Glad to get ethans confirmation that he has pretty much dealt with his past though.

      • not someone else
        not someone else
        October 21, 2018 at 12:21 am | #

        It… kind of depends on how relateable and sexy-type-of-danger it is. Like, “I was in a holdup and almost got injured” I can totes see. “Let me tell you all about my history of childhood abuse”? Thaaaaat doesn’t pick up anyone you’d want to date…

        • Alanari
          Alanari
          October 21, 2018 at 12:45 am | #

          I was raped as a teenager. There literally was one person so far who backed off when I told him. And he knew more than the average person about damaged minds and what they can do to people close to you.
          It’s not limited to love interest though. Sal described it once pretty well.

          • Alanari
            Alanari
            October 21, 2018 at 12:59 am | #

            Edit, found the strip:
            http://www.dumbingofage.com/2016/comic/book-6/03-when-god-closes-the-door/pissybaby/

          • not someone else
            not someone else
            October 21, 2018 at 2:05 am | #

            Huh. Different experiences, I guess!

            • Terry
              Terry
              October 21, 2018 at 11:16 am | #

              Lots of different experiences. Admittedly lots of people respond to vulnerability. It’s related to our desires to protect and nurture. But it can also backfire. I’m a mental health therapist. I usually cringe when people decide to immediately share all their insecurities and traumatic past. I deal with this stuff every day. I’m really turned off by the thought of having a relationship that feels like my job. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want a partner that doesn’t have any problems, but when it is one of the first meetings and they decide to just share everything, it’s really off-putting.

              • Rowen Morland
                Rowen Morland
                October 21, 2018 at 11:34 am | #

                I’m imagining you on a blind date with an otherwise perfect someone, who had a totally un-traumatic life, and you are just sitting there with a super frown.

              • Alanari
                Alanari
                October 21, 2018 at 1:02 pm | #

                Oh I’d never, ever make myself vulnerable in front of people I don’t know. There’s a difference between things that make me vulnerable and things others think make me vulnerable. People often confuse those two.
                That’s another thing that annoys me. I’m not a child, I’m a grown woman. I need neither protection nor nurtue. I’m perfectly able to take care of myself. Why do people often assume otherwise, just because they know some bad stuff happened in my past. My past doesn’t define who I am.

        • Sunny
          Sunny
          October 21, 2018 at 7:25 pm | #

          I don’t really know how to respond when someone opens up to me so I’ve mostly started to default to variations of “that must really suck”. It seems to work, though.

    • CJ
      CJ
      October 21, 2018 at 6:40 am | #

      You know, amongst the famed 36 questions to make the two asking each other these questions there is “what was the worst thing that ever happened to you?”.
      Anyone asking that kind of question on a first date is definitely out.
      (Mandy Ann Catron mentions in her book that she had known the guy she did that with – and eventually became a couple with – for some time when they did the thing with the questions. )

      • CJ
        CJ
        October 21, 2018 at 6:43 am | #

        Inserts ‘ to fall in love’ into the first sentence.

      • Alanari
        Alanari
        October 21, 2018 at 2:19 pm | #

        You know, for most people, the worst thing they experienced is something they are embarrassed about. The average person isn’t traumatised. That’s what this question is about.
        I don’t do dates though. I’ve literally no idea about first date etiquette.

        • CJ
          CJ
          October 21, 2018 at 4:32 pm | #

          I’m not sure about the statistics, but at least every third women has something worse to tell, not to mention all other kinds of desasters than can befall a person and be too much for smalltalk.

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            October 21, 2018 at 8:30 pm | #

            Besides, even if it’s ‘only embarrassing’ people still may not want to share.

          • Alanari
            Alanari
            October 21, 2018 at 11:59 pm | #

            Every third is a bit high for western countries. And there is a thing like not answering a question..

            • Knayt
              Knayt
              October 22, 2018 at 12:30 am | #

              If anything every third is low – “not traumatized” is a broad term that can apply to a large variety of different traumas, there’s some generally good reasons to believe that there’s a loose negative correlation between severity and frequency. Add in being able to get up to 1/6 to 1/4 the female population on literally one specific severe trauma and that 1/3 seems optimistic.

  8. butts
    butts
    October 21, 2018 at 12:07 am | #

    THAD THAD THAD THAD THAD THAD THAD THAD

    (do it for Evan)

    • Emperor Norton II
      Emperor Norton II
      October 21, 2018 at 12:20 am | #

      Are you saying that you want to have him visiting your THARDIS?

      (I’m sure we all know what this reply is a callback to.)

  9. TrueVCU
    TrueVCU
    October 21, 2018 at 12:07 am | #

    BACK OFF THAD DANNY HAS DIBS

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      October 21, 2018 at 12:08 am | #

      I love how nobody in this thread even considers Mike a factor Ethan should consider.

      Nor should they, get it, Ethan.

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        October 21, 2018 at 12:27 am | #

        Mike framed himself as someone to fool around with, not as a relationship. He really isn’t a factor.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          October 21, 2018 at 9:02 am | #

          He even explicitly said so. We know he wanted to hook up with either Ethan or Danny to turn the other into a sniveling wreck, but they drifted apart on their own.

          • Meagan
            Meagan
            October 21, 2018 at 12:57 pm | #

            I think in this continuity we have been shown that while Mike has a hard facade he actually does have feelings for Ethan, so I predict fallout from this.

            • Nelly Dreadful
              Nelly Dreadful
              October 21, 2018 at 5:31 pm | #

              Fallout which will be all Mike’s own fault. He entered the relationship intending to break hearts to prove some kind of weird point, and explicitly framed it as meaningless hookup sex, but then gets taken at his word and as a result gets his own heart broken? (Insert “Congratulations, you played yourself” gif here.)

              • Inahc
                Inahc
                October 21, 2018 at 7:19 pm | #

                If it was a movie, Mike would then have a moment of decency and thus the girl Ethan would have no choice but to date him.

              • Regalli
                Regalli
                October 21, 2018 at 9:10 pm | #

                Also, even Ethan was aware and not disputing that an actual relationship with Mike would be terrible for him, because Mike is so genuinely unpleasant to anyone he spends long periods of time with.

                I mean, dude elaborately fakes websites to make his roommate cry and record it. What the actual fuck.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 21, 2018 at 1:12 am | #

      Danny’s only love these days is his music

      • Emperor Norton II
        Emperor Norton II
        October 21, 2018 at 1:29 am | #

        And even if he should get knocked down by this, he’ll get up again.

        You will never gonna keep Danny down.

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          October 21, 2018 at 1:38 am | #

          Heh, good one, Emperor

          • Emperor Norton II
            Emperor Norton II
            October 21, 2018 at 1:54 am | #

            I’m basically all about callbacks in my comments today.

      • Sunny
        Sunny
        October 21, 2018 at 7:28 pm | #

        Don’t forget about his dapper hat.

        • TrueVCU
          TrueVCU
          October 21, 2018 at 8:15 pm | #

          Dapper Hat has already agreed to an open relationship with Danny and Ethan

  10. purblebirb
    purblebirb
    October 21, 2018 at 12:08 am | #

    YEAH

  11. Shiro
    Shiro
    October 21, 2018 at 12:08 am | #

    !!!!

    D’awwwwww! Yes, this is good, I like this ending

  12. BlackScarabZ
    BlackScarabZ
    October 21, 2018 at 12:09 am | #

    Nice to see the position of the moon and stars have once again converged to give them another chance.

  13. Roger
    Roger
    October 21, 2018 at 12:09 am | #

    Damn thad got game

  14. Benjy
    Benjy
    October 21, 2018 at 12:10 am | #

    Oh. Um. Hello random love interest I’m apparently supposed to have remembered

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      October 21, 2018 at 12:18 am | #

      They haven’t hooked up in DoA. They almost had a thing in Walkyverse, but that’s not really relevant, story wise, here. You’re good.

      • Benjy
        Benjy
        October 21, 2018 at 12:28 am | #

        Ah, thanks

  15. ShinyNeen
    ShinyNeen
    October 21, 2018 at 12:11 am | #

    It’s like Willis wrapped up this whole sequence with a nice little bow and gifted it to Ethan.

    Woo, second shot at Ethan/Thad! Shortpacked revenge! Wooo!

  16. adjudicus
    adjudicus
    October 21, 2018 at 12:12 am | #

    Awwwwww!!

  17. JepMZ
    JepMZ
    October 21, 2018 at 12:15 am | #

    It’s nice the comic promotes even bald people can get beautiful people!

  18. Irredentist
    Irredentist
    October 21, 2018 at 12:16 am | #

    Thad looks like a potato to me. But I guess we all have different tastes. Though personally I wouldn’t just grab someone’s hand immediately after hearing about a traumatic thing that happened to them. But I guess Ethan is ok with it, so I’m happy for him.

    • not someone else
      not someone else
      October 21, 2018 at 12:18 am | #

      He is clearly a fluffy bear and it is wonderful.

    • kitty
      kitty
      October 21, 2018 at 12:21 am | #

      are potatos not neat

      • Irredentist
        Irredentist
        October 21, 2018 at 12:23 am | #

        He is the sexiest and smoothest of all potatoes

      • Dean
        Dean
        October 21, 2018 at 5:41 am | #

        Potatoes are the best vegetable.

    • JepMZ
      JepMZ
      October 21, 2018 at 12:31 am | #

      He seems to be a sweet potato from all the stuff so far (tho I could have sworn he had more appearances than what the tags are showing me)

      And same!

  19. not someone else
    not someone else
    October 21, 2018 at 12:17 am | #

    …Shipping ended with Danethan. Now Ethad is OTP.

    (That man needs another chance.)

    • JepMZ
      JepMZ
      October 21, 2018 at 12:34 am | #

      I’m still kinda hoping Danethan happening, or maybe Mike finally breaking down his walls to keep him

  20. Kamino Neko
    Kamino Neko
    October 21, 2018 at 12:19 am | #

    Thad’s a bit forward, but anyone other than Mike is an improvement, so, go Thad!

  21. abysswatcher1993
    abysswatcher1993
    October 21, 2018 at 12:21 am | #

    Certain morally ambiguous blonde isn’t going to like this… unless he is a swinger. How long before Mike uses this for a future scheme.

    Also, Ethan, you wasted your chance of explaining Amber’s condition because of Transformers!

    • Terry
      Terry
      October 21, 2018 at 11:25 am | #

      I’m glad he didn’t. It’s not his place to out Amber like that. Actually, I’m thinking this could have rippling good effects if things go the right way (which I know, it’ dumbing of age, that’s not going to happen) But Sal hangs out with Amazigirl. She can mention her conversation with Ethan when they get together to beat up nasty rape-boys as an admission that she is a bit thrown off by it. Then Amazigirl can have a shock to the system that may let her connect with Amber. This could open up the opportunity for Amber and Sal to talk. Totally not going to happen, but a guy can dream.

  22. kitty
    kitty
    October 21, 2018 at 12:21 am | #

    thad looks like some minor american celebrity i dont know the name of

    • Deadjolras
      Deadjolras
      October 21, 2018 at 12:25 am | #

      He reminds me of that one guy who makes really cool cakes.

      • Geneseepaws
        Geneseepaws
        October 21, 2018 at 6:37 am | #

        Comment about Ace of Cakes tastefully deleted.

  23. Goki
    Goki
    October 21, 2018 at 12:22 am | #

    Ya know… Ethan has always been one of my fave characters in this series and Shortpacked, and I was always sad when life treated him rough. It is nice to see he is getting some goodness in his life here. I hope it lasts for a while.

  24. Deadjolras
    Deadjolras
    October 21, 2018 at 12:25 am | #

    Well… Thad’s no Mike, so I guess I’m okay with this.

  25. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    October 21, 2018 at 12:25 am | #

    I was hoping for Ethvan but hey at least it beats Mike.

  26. lilyliv
    lilyliv
    October 21, 2018 at 12:29 am | #

    Oh my gosh………. this one made me smile from beginning to end. 🙂

  27. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    October 21, 2018 at 12:29 am | #

    This ought to be interesting.

  28. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    October 21, 2018 at 12:30 am | #

    You know, is this the first Sal smile in a while? It becomes her.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      October 21, 2018 at 12:43 am | #

      She’s been smiling with Ethan this time and I had a long list of her smiles previously but I don’t recall if it ever posted.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        October 21, 2018 at 12:45 am | #

        This is the last smile before she and Ethan were talking: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2018/comic/book-8/02-this-is-the-way-that-we-love/rusty-2/

        • DailyBrad
          DailyBrad
          October 21, 2018 at 4:37 am | #

          I forgot how fucking adorable that was.

        • RicardtheDragoon
          RicardtheDragoon
          October 21, 2018 at 11:24 pm | #

          Somehow, I cannot remember ever seeing that panel before this. Wow. Thanks for the link.

  29. Tacos
    Tacos
    October 21, 2018 at 12:35 am | #

    I’m totally cool with this development.

  30. Meta
    Meta
    October 21, 2018 at 12:35 am | #

    AYYYY

    This was confusing to me at first bc I was like… why would he just grab his hand? But it makes sense as a comforting gesture — not quite as much as like, a hand on the back or shoulder, but a lot more visually clear.

  31. Andr3wtime
    Andr3wtime
    October 21, 2018 at 12:38 am | #

    Two years down the road I’m gonna be crying myself dry over some development/dissolvement between Ethan and Thad aren’t I?

    • Aletheia
      Aletheia
      October 21, 2018 at 3:13 am | #

      Nah, that’ll just be a day away, tops, in comic time… 😛

  32. Derek
    Derek
    October 21, 2018 at 12:41 am | #

    have we met this guy before?

    • Rikunda
      Rikunda
      October 21, 2018 at 12:44 am | #

      He has been in three other comics according to the tag.

  33. William Leonard Reese Jr.
    William Leonard Reese Jr.
    October 21, 2018 at 12:50 am | #

    Thad. . . Thad. . . Wasn’t Thad the stand-up comedian guy that Ethan dated for a while in Shortpacked? I can swear that Ethan dated someone that looked exactly like that.

    • Mollyscribbles
      Mollyscribbles
      October 21, 2018 at 12:54 am | #

      Thad’s name came like Leslie’s, in that everyone referred to him as That Guy for ages.

  34. brionl
    brionl
    October 21, 2018 at 12:56 am | #

    So maybe Ethan gets a happy ending after all.

  35. Emperor Norton II
    Emperor Norton II
    October 21, 2018 at 1:04 am | #

    So everyone is shipping Ethad now…

    But wait! There might be a victim here!

    See, in the previous strip Thad appeared, he was walking very close to a different nameless fella; and while it’s hard to say conclusively, they might even have been holding hands.

    And now this random nameless guy with a red shirt may have his heart broken by Thad.

    But I guess that’s always the fate of a redshirt: To end up as a victim so that the more important characters may thrive.

    (On a side note, I’m almost starting to worry about my brain for coming up with this kind of thing.)

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 21, 2018 at 1:15 am | #

      In my headcanon, that redshirt was a jerk.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      October 21, 2018 at 9:39 am | #

      Wasn’t “redshirt guy” Evan?
      Of prosthetic arm fame.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        October 21, 2018 at 11:14 am | #

        So… the exact opposite of a jerk, then.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      October 21, 2018 at 12:11 pm | #

      Ethan says Evan gets lots of attention from the boys on their floor, so I’d assume they’re not exclusive.

  36. Bagge
    Bagge
    October 21, 2018 at 1:07 am | #

    Not the most conventional opening line, but hey, whatever works.

    • Stoodmuffin
      Stoodmuffin
      October 21, 2018 at 1:15 am | #

      Really

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        October 21, 2018 at 5:55 am | #

        I mean, not exactly SMOOTH, but it got the message across.

  37. Stoodmuffin
    Stoodmuffin
    October 21, 2018 at 1:16 am | #

    Wow. That’s a big deal for Sal.

    But shit’s really coming up Ethan! If he, uh, goes through with this guy.

    Wow.

    Willis, this is really fucking wholesome. I appreciate, dude.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      October 21, 2018 at 1:19 am | #

      Now for the other shoe to drop.

      • Emperor Norton II
        Emperor Norton II
        October 21, 2018 at 1:28 am | #

        Or being foot-thrown* along the hallway until the R.A. opens her door, notices what is going on, then confiscates it.

        *”Kicked” doesn’t really apply when you’re sort of semi-wearing it and just swinging your foot until it flies off.

        • Stoodmuffin
          Stoodmuffin
          October 22, 2018 at 12:21 am | #

          Either way, point well made.

          Here’s hoping it’ll be. Not. The worst.

  38. Keulen
    Keulen
    October 21, 2018 at 1:19 am | #

    Thad’s moving fast. He barely knows Ethan and already he’s jumped to handholding? At least ask him on a date first.

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      October 21, 2018 at 4:43 am | #

      I kinda assume they’ve been talking offscreen, given the support group thing

  39. Kaunisenkeli
    Kaunisenkeli
    October 21, 2018 at 1:28 am | #

    Interesting way to meet someone. o-o

  40. Jay
    Jay
    October 21, 2018 at 2:00 am | #

    SO CUTE AAAAAAAAAAAAAH SAWBABADABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA PRECIOUS.. DA . ABA….ERROR 404: Jay has crashed, rebooting systems.

  41. Someguy
    Someguy
    October 21, 2018 at 2:03 am | #

    Ethan is at the highest point right now. Accepting his sexuality and getting busy, and confronting the person who once held him hostage, and making his peace with her. Everything is really looking up…. oh god, it’s coming. The brick that shatters the happy dream. The Blaine, the Toe Head dad, the thing that wakes you up. The storm is approaching and we all know it…..

    • carms
      carms
      October 21, 2018 at 3:08 am | #

      It’s Ethan’s mum this time- Willis is an equal opportunities employer of ruiners!

      • DailyBrad
        DailyBrad
        October 21, 2018 at 4:45 am | #

        Oh god, that’s probably exactly it. She DID pop up in the flashbacks of Mike/Amber/Ethan. Naomi was his biggest problem shoving him back into the closet. That’s likely to be the other shoe to drop.

  42. A
    A
    October 21, 2018 at 2:19 am | #

    Handholding?! How lewd!

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 21, 2018 at 6:01 am | #

      And here’s Ethan, all without wearing his T-rex hat.

      • ValdVin
        ValdVin
        October 21, 2018 at 6:59 pm | #

        Wait, is seeing him without the dino hat considered second base?

  43. Eldritch Gentleman
    Eldritch Gentleman
    October 21, 2018 at 2:36 am | #

    Mike was right, Ethan has so many options to chose from.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      October 21, 2018 at 4:20 am | #

      The gay-bi university population is Ethan’s oyster.

      • Eldritch Gentleman
        Eldritch Gentleman
        October 21, 2018 at 5:50 am | #

        More like an Oktoberfest with all the sausages but yeah.

        • CJ
          CJ
          October 21, 2018 at 6:30 am | #

          Na, the October fest sausages are all white and short.

          • Eldritch Gentleman
            Eldritch Gentleman
            October 21, 2018 at 7:39 am | #

            Maybe some Polish sausage then, long and brown.

  44. Eldritch Gentleman
    Eldritch Gentleman
    October 21, 2018 at 2:38 am | #

    Also I’m tempted to scream “Begone That!

  45. CianM1301
    CianM1301
    October 21, 2018 at 3:31 am | #

    Everything’s coming up Ethan!

  46. Darkoneko
    Darkoneko
    October 21, 2018 at 4:49 am | #

    OH MY

  47. chris73
    chris73
    October 21, 2018 at 5:24 am | #

    I’ve always found hand holding to be quite personal so that last panel is looking a little red flag to me, a bit too rushed

    Mind you I’ve been wrong before and will no doubt be wrong again in the future

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 21, 2018 at 6:00 am | #

      I mean, that’s the entire point. Thad crosses into Ethan’s personal sphere to get a message across.

      It was most certainly rushed!

      Now, how intrusive it was lies entirely in the execution, and we don’t really see that. A slow, tentative tap of the fingers on Ethan’s hand – a tactile asking for permissions – would be one thing. A quick grab another.

      Either way, now it up to Thad to be sensitive to Ethan’s signals. Further interaction in Ethan’s personal sphere* will require communicated consent and a clear respect to Ethan’s right to back out.

      Compare and contrast Dorothy kissing Walky for someone doing it right, and Ruth kissing Billie for someone doing it wrong.

      TLDR: It certainly was a flag. I’m not sure it was or wasn’t red.

      *) You know what I mean

      • Zaxares
        Zaxares
        October 21, 2018 at 8:43 am | #

        Yeah, I’m one of the people who, on seeing the last panel, raised an eyebrow and went “WOOOOOAAAAAHH!” Not just because it’s a sudden intrusion of personal space, but also because of the “You have trauma? I CAN FIX IT WITH MY PENIS!” implication. If Ethan was a girl, I bet there would be a lot of people up in arms about it; I’m pretty sure there’s a whole trope about this.

        I mean, this COULD work out OK for Ethan considering how starved he is for romantic attention, but I just want to point out that this sort of behaviour would normally be considered VERY VERY CREEPY in real life.

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          October 21, 2018 at 11:18 am | #

          There is certainly different dynamics at work depending on the gender. But there is also difference in the kind of signal you send with different ways of crossing into someone’s personal sphere.

          Compare Thad’s gentle holding of Ethan’s hand here with… whatever Joe think he is doing here:
          http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-5/01-when-somebody-loved-me/snarrghl/

  48. Farmer_10
    Farmer_10
    October 21, 2018 at 6:07 am | #

    I bet this is gonna be completely drama-free. In fact I’m so confident, I’m gonna taunt the Almighty himself……David Willis. There is absolutely nothing you can do now that will ruin this. I’m invincible and nothing can ever go wrong ever.

  49. OnyxIdol
    OnyxIdol
    October 21, 2018 at 6:29 am | #

    Whoah dude, personal space.

  50. CJ
    CJ
    October 21, 2018 at 6:33 am | #

    It’s not like Thad didn’t show an interest before: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2018/comic/book-8/04-of-mike-and-men/guys/

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 21, 2018 at 11:24 am | #

      The rather aggressive way he drags Ethan into the conversation there, and the way he grabs his hand here, makes me think he soon will say something on the line “Hey, I’ve been trying to flirt with you for a month! Wanna fuck or not?”

      • ValdVin
        ValdVin
        October 21, 2018 at 11:37 am | #

        And Thad already knows Ethan has way too much Batman and Transformers on the mind, so Thad won’t be scared off.

  51. Raen
    Raen
    October 21, 2018 at 6:48 am | #

    Hmm. I’ve just noticed that Willis em-spaces. I would have expected him to acquiesce to the 2010-ish Illuminati campaign to convince all of us that what was born of a technical limitation had always been the standard.

  52. Roger Sterling
    Roger Sterling
    October 21, 2018 at 8:12 am | #

    YOU DON’T GOT THE BALLS THE DRAMA THIS UP WILLIS.

    BETCHA THE NEXT STRIP IS PATHOS-FREE.

  53. Regalli
    Regalli
    October 21, 2018 at 8:48 am | #

    Oh hey, guess Thad is single? Or tends to get very close in your physical space?

    Either way I’m willing to see how this goes.

  54. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    October 21, 2018 at 9:32 am | #

    *Scene: Ethan and Thad making out in some private location. About 5 seconds into a passionate kiss, Ethan’s face twists*

    Thad: *breaks off kiss* Sorry, man. Did I.. hurt you, somehow?

    Ethan: No… *face relaxes a little* You… seriously weren’t about to punch me, just then?

    Thad: …No… *indignantly* No! *angrily* No, dude! Why would I want to punch you??

    Ethan: It’s… just… *sigh* I guess my last two relationships gave me some… unhealthy expectations… about expressing affection…

    Thad: *smiles gently, places hand on Ethan’s cheek* Allow me to realign your expectations…

    *MAKEOUTS INTENSIFY*

  55. Mojo
    Mojo
    October 21, 2018 at 9:56 am | #

    Is it me, or is that guy’s head on upside down?

  56. Pidgey
    Pidgey
    October 21, 2018 at 10:04 am | #

    Ethan being a nerd yet a playa warms the cockles of my heart.

    … what are cockles?

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      October 21, 2018 at 10:48 am | #

      “small, edible, marine bivalve molluscs”

      Happy to help. 🙂

      • McBogue
        McBogue
        October 21, 2018 at 11:12 am | #

        Note: If you actually have small molluscs in your heart, please see a cardiologist and/or marine biologist.

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          October 21, 2018 at 11:19 am | #

          “Mussles and coccles, alive, alive-oh”

  57. 3-I
    3-I
    October 21, 2018 at 11:31 am | #

    Shortpacked readers already do not trust this.

    • tekjr
      tekjr
      October 21, 2018 at 12:29 pm | #

      idk, they’ve already gotten further than they ever did in Shortpacked

  58. MatsuoTanuki
    MatsuoTanuki
    October 21, 2018 at 12:11 pm | #

    Yay! More queer guys for our homeboy to be awkward with! 😀

  59. Elsendor
    Elsendor
    October 21, 2018 at 1:12 pm | #

    i’m crying, both sal and ethan’s close-up smiles are so comforting and real and good ;u;

  60. Meamoi
    Meamoi
    October 21, 2018 at 1:40 pm | #

    Is this Ethan pan?

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      October 21, 2018 at 2:03 pm | #

      No.

    • Kamino Neko
      Kamino Neko
      October 21, 2018 at 2:23 pm | #

      No, Ethan is perfectly willing to grow up.

      • 1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals
        1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals
        October 21, 2018 at 2:43 pm | #

        Wait is that a pun im not gettin or an insult to pan ppl

        • Lingo
          Lingo
          October 21, 2018 at 2:59 pm | #

          It’s a Peter Pan joke.

        • Kamino Neko
          Kamino Neko
          October 21, 2018 at 4:43 pm | #

          Gods below. Do kids today not know Peter Pan?

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            October 21, 2018 at 4:50 pm | #

            We do, but it’s not QUITE so ubiquitous we immediately get the reference. It sometimes takes us a second.

            • ischemgeek
              ischemgeek
              October 21, 2018 at 6:42 pm | #

              Also pan is also a sexuality, soo….

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      October 21, 2018 at 3:25 pm | #

      Sexualities cross-universe are constant. Walkyverse Danny is retroactively bi, Carla is trans, homoromantic, and sex-repulsed ace even as significant pieces of her backstory were changed to make her exist here, Becky is a lesbian in both universes, Walkyverse Dina is smooching her while fighting the Soggies, and while DOA Joyce lost a couple siblings in transition Jocelyne has a Walkyverse counterpart as of the last batch or so of J&W paid strips. (That Carol apparently accepts her trans daughter, so great on that Carol.)

      This is also how we know a decent chunk of characters are bi even when they’ve only expressed interest so far in one person or a couple people of the same gender – Grace, Mandy, and Marcie were all bi in the Walkyverse, and that carries over here even if we don’t have in-strip confirmation like we do with Sierra over in Patreon. (As is Dina, most likely.)

    • StClair
      StClair
      October 21, 2018 at 8:35 pm | #

      *checks panel 1*
      He’s wearing trousers, so no goat legs; nor is he carrying a set of pipes.
      I would say “no.”

  61. 1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals
    1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals
    October 21, 2018 at 2:42 pm | #

    Makes sense that the guy flirting with ethan looks and has a similar name to a tf toy reviewer

  62. Jago
    Jago
    October 21, 2018 at 2:50 pm | #

    Ooooooh Ethaaaan! <3

  63. JediMB
    JediMB
    October 21, 2018 at 4:57 pm | #

    Okay, all things considered, this isn’t a bad point in the comic to get caught up.

    I’ve had the comic bookmarked… probably for years? Can’t remember how long or why, but maybe because of Hiveworks ads? (Also, jeez, I just realized I’d forgotten to whitelist the site on my laptop, so I’m doing that now!) Anyway, finally started reading less than a week ago, and kinda spent a few nights reading way past midnight, which definitely wasn’t good for me, but now I’m here!

    Not sure how I feel about Amber and Walky, but glad to see Ethan actually decided to confront Sal about their shared past. As nice as it is to see the Amazi-Sal team-ups, I wish Amber could have done the same already. Guess it’s just a matter of time, though.

    So many thoughts going around after reading the entirety of the archive here, but this’ll have to be enough for now. Loving the comic so far, and looking forward to it being a part of my regular webcomic routine!

  64. mister gray
    mister gray
    October 21, 2018 at 6:34 pm | #

    are mike and ethan still together or did mike say go out there and find someone but in his usual mike way?

    • Liquid Len
      Liquid Len
      October 21, 2018 at 6:43 pm | #

      I don’t think they were “together” so much as they were “casually banging.” But Mike is definitely trying to get Ethan to . (I hope that link comes out right!)

      • Liquid Len
        Liquid Len
        October 21, 2018 at 6:46 pm | #

        Hmm, not exactly as planned, but it sorta worked? “Broaden his horizons” is what should have ended that comment. And hey, Mindy!

  65. Brian K. Pittman
    Brian K. Pittman
    October 21, 2018 at 8:57 pm | #

    Ah, that old ship has set sail once more!

  66. Luke74
    Luke74
    October 21, 2018 at 10:00 pm | #

    Feels a little rushed. I can’t help but think it would’ve been MUCH more interesting to get to know Thad as a character (either through someone else’s storyline, or by having him befriend Ethan) before we get to know him as a love interest, this whole interaction feels kinda forced to me, like Willis couldn’t find anywhere else to have these two characters interact with each other, and instead opted to have Thad come out of nowhere and pretty much just state his interest without any prior knowledge of Ethan’s existence.

  67. Gojira
    Gojira
    October 21, 2018 at 11:26 pm | #

    Thad is totally a bottom.

  68. Mr D
    Mr D
    October 22, 2018 at 12:59 am | #

    Huh. Thad seems REALLY certain of his gaydar.
    Like, sure, WE know ethan’s gay. But Thad took a huge risk assuming Ethan was non-hetero there and grabbing his hand.

    • Liz
      Liz
      October 22, 2018 at 3:24 am | #

      I thought so at first, but the last strip Thad was in, he walked past when Ethan was talking to Amber about finally letting himself casually date men: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2018/comic/book-8/04-of-mike-and-men/crushed/
      I didn’t notice Thad in the background looking interested the first time, but there he is!

  69. FacelessDeviant
    FacelessDeviant
    October 22, 2018 at 5:34 am | #

    I dunno, this seems a bit risky. I’ll stick to cautious optimism.

    Also, WHOOOHOOO partial conflict resolution!
    Can’t wait for Amber to find out and talk to Sal about this!

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