Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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ross macintyre didn't kill himself
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May 12, 2026

Required

by David M Willis on February 18, 2020 at 12:01 am
  • 02 - To Remind You of My Love
└ Tags: dorothy, joyce, sarah

Discussion (163) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    February 18, 2020 at 12:03 am | #

    I’d say bail on this discussion, that escalated quickly

    • Michael Chandra
      Michael Chandra
      February 18, 2020 at 12:15 am | #

      I’ll be the judge of that.

      • Screwball
        Screwball
        February 18, 2020 at 12:36 am | #

        I don’t know, Jury is still out on that one…

        • Lokitsu
          Lokitsu
          February 18, 2020 at 12:44 am | #

          Joyce certainly raised the bar.

          • Slartibeast Button, BIA
            Slartibeast Button, BIA
            February 18, 2020 at 12:48 am | #

            Just take a brief recess.

            • Geneseepaws
              Geneseepaws
              February 18, 2020 at 1:15 am | #

              I can’t release those documents without a sub-peener.

              • Needfuldoer
                Needfuldoer
                February 18, 2020 at 2:10 am | #

                ‘sa peener! ‘sa peener!

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      February 18, 2020 at 5:41 am | #

      Nah, see, ROSS brought a gun.

      Joyce essentially threatening to shiv him is her DE-escalating by bringing a knife to a gun-fight.

      • TrueVCU
        TrueVCU
        February 18, 2020 at 9:35 pm | #

        But the constitution doesn’t say anything about knives so

        • Agemegos
          Agemegos
          February 18, 2020 at 10:49 pm | #

          The US Constitution doesn’t mention hands, either. Presumably Congress can make gloves compulsory, but not sleeves.

  2. Suet
    Suet
    February 18, 2020 at 12:03 am | #

    Nah yeah, you should tell.

  3. shadowcell
    shadowcell
    February 18, 2020 at 12:04 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 10: This Is Indiana, So…

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      February 18, 2020 at 3:24 am | #

      DoA Book 10: Somebody Doesn’t Want To Be Eligible For Bail

  4. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    February 18, 2020 at 12:05 am | #

    Does this mean that Ross is yesterday’s noose?

    • Nono
      Nono
      February 18, 2020 at 12:06 am | #

      His relevancy is really hanging by a thread.

      • LeslieBean4shizzle
        LeslieBean4shizzle
        February 18, 2020 at 12:12 am | #

        … huh?
        The alt text and this (and another similar) discussion have me very confused. Did I miss a thing?

        • Jamie
          Jamie
          February 18, 2020 at 12:21 am | #

          They’re murder puns.

        • Marsh Maryrose
          Marsh Maryrose
          February 18, 2020 at 12:35 am | #

          The alt text references a popular conspiracy theory. The thread is just puns, and no noose is good noose.

          • Screwball
            Screwball
            February 18, 2020 at 12:39 am | #

            So you’re saying if you get the reference, you’re killing it, but if you’re like me and don’t, you’re basically left to drown?

            • Marsh Maryrose
              Marsh Maryrose
              February 18, 2020 at 1:05 am | #

              Eh, it’s a dead letter.

            • BrokenEye, the True False Prophet
              BrokenEye, the True False Prophet
              February 18, 2020 at 1:15 am | #

              Epstein can’t melt steel beams

          • Chris Phoenix
            Chris Phoenix
            February 18, 2020 at 1:31 am | #

            It’s not a conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theories have a lot more structure to them. This is simply the observation that dozens, if not hundreds, of rich powerful people had the means, motive(!), and opportunity to kill Epstein, and that there were some funny things about the way he died.

            • Greebs
              Greebs
              February 18, 2020 at 1:54 am | #

              So… it’s a conspiracy hypothesis?

              • SpaceshipPilot
                SpaceshipPilot
                February 18, 2020 at 3:48 am | #

                More like a conspiracy fact. I’m pretty sure it’s an open secret at this point.

                • clif
                  clif
                  February 18, 2020 at 4:33 am | #

                  The real question is which of the many candidates was behind it.

                • Sombrero
                  Sombrero
                  February 18, 2020 at 7:06 am | #

                  A conspiracy. Full stop.

            • Zaxares
              Zaxares
              February 18, 2020 at 4:38 am | #

              I normally don’t put a lot of stock in conspiracy theories, but I have to agree that Epstein’s death seems VERY suspicious. Leaving aside the fact that the two guards who were supposed to check on him didn’t, this simply isn’t the typical M.O. of these rich white-collar types. What people like Epstein usually do is drag out the case through the courts so long that their accusers have to drop out due to lack of funding (and Epstein certainly had the financial means to do this).

        • Wizard
          Wizard
          February 18, 2020 at 12:37 am | #

          I think it’s a reference to suspicious deaths while in police custody. Jeffrey Epstein would be a recent high profile example.

      • Lokitsu
        Lokitsu
        February 18, 2020 at 12:46 am | #

        Joyce wants to throw Ross a party…
        A necktie party.

        • Tacos
          Tacos
          February 18, 2020 at 12:53 am | #

          She wants to see how well he does the Hemp Fandango.

        • Bicycle Bill
          Bicycle Bill
          February 18, 2020 at 1:29 am | #

          Another term is the “Spandau ballet”.

  5. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    February 18, 2020 at 12:05 am | #

    If anything could make Joyce finally drop an F-Bomb, it’s probably Ross.

  6. Dana
    Dana
    February 18, 2020 at 12:05 am | #

    The fact that she still calls him Mr. McIntyre in that context amuses me for some reason.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      February 18, 2020 at 2:17 am | #

      A lifetime of “Mr./Ms. Surname” inertia doesn’t go away overnight. Hell, I’m in my thirties and I still refer to longtime family friends as such.

      • Touchfuzzy
        Touchfuzzy
        February 18, 2020 at 6:44 am | #

        One of my teachers in high school had been teaching there for like 20+ years. One of the other teachers went to that high school 10 years previous.

        He still referred that teacher as “Mr. ___” despite calling every other teacher by their first name.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        February 18, 2020 at 7:54 am | #

        When it’s not just “so and so’s dad”.

  7. Jude Deluca
    Jude Deluca
    February 18, 2020 at 12:05 am | #

    Joyce I’m liking your enthusiasm but start smaller than a warden.

    • Geneseepaws
      Geneseepaws
      February 18, 2020 at 1:05 am | #

      Like maybe start out with a littler subject, maybe like a little warden, …yeah, a Mini-warden. I’ll bet even a mini-warden could take Toe-Dad. Take him out with one hand tied behind his back.

  8. Nono
    Nono
    February 18, 2020 at 12:06 am | #

    Dorothy is all ‘ugh I bet I wouldn’t have to deal with this kind of stuff if I was in Yale right now.’.

    • Chris Phoenix
      Chris Phoenix
      February 18, 2020 at 1:11 am | #

      Yeah. She could just tell someone with a rich parent who had a discreet employee who could fix the problem.

      • Dean
        Dean
        February 18, 2020 at 6:18 pm | #

        Yale graduates get three free murders a year, it’s in the Constitution.

  9. Tacos
    Tacos
    February 18, 2020 at 12:06 am | #

    Jeez that escalated quickly. Going from not wanting to tell Becky to thinking about bribing a warden to shiv Toedad.

  10. Dunedon
    Dunedon
    February 18, 2020 at 12:06 am | #

    So wait … if he didn’t kill himself, then who did? This gets potentially even more twisted.

    • ktbear
      ktbear
      February 18, 2020 at 12:10 am | #

      It was a really well known political family, obviously. And we don’t know too many of those in this reality.

    • brumagem
      brumagem
      February 18, 2020 at 12:12 am | #

      Wait is Ross dead? How did I miss that?

      • Tacos
        Tacos
        February 18, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

        He was dead all along.

        • ktbear
          ktbear
          February 18, 2020 at 12:18 am | #

          Schrodingers cat anyone?

        • Slartibeast Button, BIA
          Slartibeast Button, BIA
          February 18, 2020 at 12:51 am | #

          McIntyre was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.

          • Arian
            Arian
            February 18, 2020 at 10:30 pm | #

            The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk and the undertaker, but not the chief mourner because there were none.

            • Slartibeast Button, BIA
              Slartibeast Button, BIA
              February 19, 2020 at 12:02 am | #

              Carol, surely, would be there.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          February 18, 2020 at 2:19 am | #

          He was replaced by a doppelganger back in the 60s.

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            February 18, 2020 at 8:02 am | #

            There never was a Ross McIntyre. It was always a cheap Alien robot infiltrator.

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          February 18, 2020 at 3:27 am | #

          He died when he pulled the trigger on the gun when he was trying to kidnap Becky the first time, he’s just too stupid to fall down right.

      • Agemegos
        Agemegos
        February 18, 2020 at 12:18 am | #

        It’s a bluff. Ross is being held in durance at the bottom of a dry well in an abandonded house. Mike is making him put lotion on his skin.

      • MLE
        MLE
        February 18, 2020 at 1:01 am | #

        It’s a joke about Epstein and the way the phrase got memed

  11. BBCC
    BBCC
    February 18, 2020 at 12:08 am | #

    Joyce, honey, I understand and sympathize, but Becky needs to know or this could end up a really unpleasant surprise really quickly, especially since you can’t be with Becky 24/7. She works full time and you’re a student. If you’re with her all the time, she’ll realize SOMETHING is up.

  12. Mollyscribbles
    Mollyscribbles
    February 18, 2020 at 12:10 am | #

    Nah, if you want it to be a shiv you bribe the cellmate. If the warden’s bribed, there are other murder options.

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      February 18, 2020 at 12:16 am | #

      Failure to communicate, frinstance.

      • Geneseepaws
        Geneseepaws
        February 18, 2020 at 1:10 am | #

        Are you saying that Ross – here won’t need a third sat of chains?

        • Agemegos
          Agemegos
          February 18, 2020 at 1:22 am | #

          He’s gonna get his mind right.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      February 18, 2020 at 12:54 am | #

      Then again, if the guy gets shived, no one suspects the warden.

      • Bicycle Bill
        Bicycle Bill
        February 18, 2020 at 1:22 am | #

        There are two ‘V’s in “shivved”.

        • FacelessDeviant
          FacelessDeviant
          February 18, 2020 at 1:51 am | #

          He’s gonna get chived. Its gonna be delicious.

          • Reltzik
            Reltzik
            February 18, 2020 at 10:10 am | #

            He’s going to get sour creamed.

        • Kamino Neko
          Kamino Neko
          February 18, 2020 at 10:54 am | #

          Getting shived wouldn’t be bad as a punishment, though.

          Getting Shived, on the other hand, would be awesome beyond belief, and thus should not be used on him.

          • Freemage
            Freemage
            February 18, 2020 at 8:09 pm | #

            You’ve had that as an avatar for all this time just so you could make that joke when the opportunity finally arrived, haven’t you?

            • Kamino Neko
              Kamino Neko
              February 19, 2020 at 11:15 am | #

              Heh heh heh.

          • Reltzik
            Reltzik
            February 18, 2020 at 11:31 pm | #

            I dunno. That was one cartoonist who always struck me as something of a goon. Well, kinda a goon. Goonish.

  13. Reaver
    Reaver
    February 18, 2020 at 12:11 am | #

    NVM, not a flashback, just a dumb decision…

    Jeezus Joyce she DESERVES TO PROTECT HERSELF.

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      February 18, 2020 at 12:25 am | #

      She does, and I think the last panel is frustration that yeah, she knows Dorothy is right. Doesn’t mean she’s any happier to subject Becky to that knowledge, though.

      • Reaver
        Reaver
        February 18, 2020 at 12:27 am | #

        NOT telling her subjects her to even MORE danger, what’s worse? The Danger you can know is coming, or the danger nobody wanted to tell you about? X.X

        • Adam Black
          Adam Black
          February 18, 2020 at 1:10 am | #

          if Joyce answered the phone a few days ago she could have told Robin

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            February 18, 2020 at 2:43 am | #

            If Hank had called her a few days ago, that would be a viable option. He didn’t call her until yesterday.

            • Reaver
              Reaver
              February 18, 2020 at 12:21 pm | #

              Joyce said she’s been IGNORING her phone though.

              • BBCC
                BBCC
                February 18, 2020 at 12:29 pm | #

                She said that yesterday, comic time. Specifically, she said she was ignoring her dad because 1) She didn’t feel like answering and 2) (and these are connected) part of her will always live in mortal fear of her father’s judgement.

  14. Agemegos
    Agemegos
    February 18, 2020 at 12:15 am | #

    I wonder whether Amazi-Girl did it, or Blaine. Is Mike in jail facing arraignment for double murder? Is he the fall guy for Asher?

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      February 18, 2020 at 2:21 am | #

      Oh, Mike’s the fall guy alright.

      • clif
        clif
        February 18, 2020 at 4:36 am | #

        One story after another.

  15. Kelli
    Kelli
    February 18, 2020 at 12:16 am | #

    Alt text is best use of this meme.

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      February 18, 2020 at 12:24 am | #

      …I feel uncomfortable with the idea of trying to google this meme. Help?

      • Tacos
        Tacos
        February 18, 2020 at 12:30 am | #

        The uh… “Epstein didn’t kill himself” meme.

  16. Fart Captor
    Fart Captor
    February 18, 2020 at 12:19 am | #

    Sarah, this where you excuse yourself and/or insist you don’t want to hear any details, so you can maintain plausible deniability! This is like lawyering 101 stuff, you should know it already!

    • CJ
      CJ
      February 18, 2020 at 6:34 am | #

      Joyce is only venting. She has neither the ability nor the intention to actually arrange for Toedad to be killed. Though part of her would for a moment enjoy the idea.

      When someone goes from venting to actually planning, that’s a different kind of story.

  17. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    February 18, 2020 at 12:21 am | #

    “I should be advising you to not commit murder for hire. But I’m not allowed to give legal advice. So…?”

  18. Walky_Talky
    Walky_Talky
    February 18, 2020 at 12:22 am | #

    Zero to sixty in six panels. The new 2020 model Joyce can really get you where you need to go.

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      February 18, 2020 at 12:24 am | #

      Are we talking Murderville or Maximum Security Town?

      • Tacos
        Tacos
        February 18, 2020 at 12:28 am | #

        No. To Burger King.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        February 18, 2020 at 12:55 am | #

        Now picturing “Julia Gray: Fury Road.”

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          February 18, 2020 at 5:39 am | #

          Oh.
          My.
          God.
          YES!

  19. Romanticide
    Romanticide
    February 18, 2020 at 12:37 am | #

    I honestly wonder if Toedad cellmate didn’t consider shiving him just to be rid of his insuferable self… because unless he got roomed with another “born again” type as equally hipocritical I would feel for the cellmate.

  20. Slartibeast Button, BIA
    Slartibeast Button, BIA
    February 18, 2020 at 12:54 am | #

    I think she is picturing Becky seeing everyone as Ross anytime she goes out, like her and whats-his-scar in that comic I am too lazy to dig up.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      February 18, 2020 at 2:07 am | #

      This one?

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/02-threes-a-crowd/trauma/

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      February 18, 2020 at 3:32 am | #

      What’s-his-scar’s name is Ryan, may he rot in Hell Tartarus after Amber stabbed him with his own knife.

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      February 18, 2020 at 7:22 am | #

      Yeah that’s who/which I meant. Thanks, both of you.

  21. EvilMidnightLurker
    EvilMidnightLurker
    February 18, 2020 at 1:06 am | #

    damn, joyce

  22. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    February 18, 2020 at 1:07 am | #

    …. well, the alt text’s not wrong…

  23. Adam Black
    Adam Black
    February 18, 2020 at 1:08 am | #

    OMG Text Becky Immediately so Robin can intervene
    ( is the right answer )

  24. Shane
    Shane
    February 18, 2020 at 1:21 am | #

    The whole “if someone doesn’t know about a problem, that problem doesn’t exist” mentality feels weirdly like toddler object impermanence.

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      February 18, 2020 at 3:34 am | #

      More bugblatter beast of Traal (I think I spelled the name of the planet right, but with Adams you can never be sure)

    • abysswatcher1993
      abysswatcher1993
      February 18, 2020 at 12:48 pm | #

      Joyce has the problem of thinking of other people her age as teens. She thought Dina looked like a child, implying Becky kissing Dina would be problematic, and Dina rightfully said she isn’t a child.

      Joyce is basically doing the same sin as her brother John: thinking young people can’t be responsible of their own actions.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        February 18, 2020 at 1:31 pm | #

        There’s a difference between ‘Oh, they CAN’T deal with this, I have to protect them’ and ‘They shouldn’t have to deal with this bullshit anymore’. Joyce definitely needs to talk to Becky because this could get really bad if she doesn’t, but her reasons have nothing to do with thinking Becky can’t take care of herself.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        February 18, 2020 at 2:45 pm | #

        Dina’s a separate case. That’s a thing many people have shared with Joyce and was paralleled early on by Dina identifying with Roz’s little sister.

        What Joyce is doing here is a parallel to Dorothy not wanting to hurt Joyce by telling her about Ryan when AG had found him – which what Dorothy is referencing. Joyce is doing it more dramatically, but that’s just who she is. Doesn’t change the basic intent, which is good, but still misguided.

        And why shouldn’t she be thinking of people her age as teens? They are teens. Like her. Not that that has anything to do with what she’s doing as I understand it, but it seems a weird way to put it.

  25. Solenoid
    Solenoid
    February 18, 2020 at 3:20 am | #

    Not to worry, Joyce. When they catch Ross again, he won’t be eligible for bail! Because of Mike. RIP Mike.

  26. Keulen
    Keulen
    February 18, 2020 at 3:23 am | #

    Maybe Ross is already back in jail, but we still don’t know what happened to him yet. And Blaine. And if Mike’s alive or dead.

    • clif
      clif
      February 18, 2020 at 4:44 am | #

      If Ross was back in jail, it would have been news. People would have heard about it. If Mikes body had been found, it would have been news. Some possibilities we can eliminate.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      February 18, 2020 at 6:21 pm | #

      But that would mean we miss out on the Protagonists vs. Toedad and the Blaine showdown the recent round of character models is hinting at…

  27. BenRG
    BenRG
    February 18, 2020 at 4:17 am | #

    Just in case anyone forgot: The revelation of Ross’s real nature (and the uncritical approval that nature receives from the former authority figures in her life) impacted Joyce far more strongly than it did Becky.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      February 18, 2020 at 5:38 am | #

      Yup. He was an Adult she was meant to Trust by the decree of God.

      …and he turned out to be not trustyworthy at all.

      (Becky knew since she was little that all that stuff about honoring your father was handled best by not letting him find out about stuff)

  28. Kaz
    Kaz
    February 18, 2020 at 5:12 am | #

    *shitty new jersey accent* So, what you’re sayin’ is…you want me to clip the toe. Maybe even stub it.

  29. Bagge
    Bagge
    February 18, 2020 at 5:37 am | #

    Let the goddamn Dingdong bandit anywhere near the building and she will scope out Ross’ eye with a rusty spoon.

    I also love the fact that Joyce doesn’t neglect to call him Mr as she discusses knifing him. There is no need to be rude

  30. Bagge
    Bagge
    February 18, 2020 at 5:42 am | #

    I love how Dorothy immediately see the parallel to her and Becky’s discussion and draws the hard conclusion. Stuff like that is why Dorothy is the best.

  31. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    February 18, 2020 at 6:34 am | #

    In last panel Joyce’s homicidal maniac personality start her journey into the world. But I love how protective she is with Becky.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      February 18, 2020 at 8:23 am | #

      Well, she is an atheist now and thus not constrained by Fear of God, so why not be a homicidal maniac.

      But really, Joyce has sort of a warped idea of prison, so this is just sort of how she expects it to work.

  32. Delicious Taffy
    Delicious Taffy
    February 18, 2020 at 6:34 am | #

    Joyce is gonna get the Darkness.

  33. motorfirebox
    motorfirebox
    February 18, 2020 at 6:50 am | #

    *didn’t stub himself

  34. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    February 18, 2020 at 7:13 am | #

    Panel 6 Joyce: The Wrath of God

    • abysswatcher1993
      abysswatcher1993
      February 18, 2020 at 12:17 pm | #

      More like wrath of a psycho. Joyce’s faith is dubious.

      • Sombrero
        Sombrero
        February 18, 2020 at 5:37 pm | #

        God’s faith in God is also dubious.

  35. passing lagomorph
    passing lagomorph
    February 18, 2020 at 7:48 am | #

    I know this is fiction and everything but I feel a little bummed out by how jail, etc is getting represented. Obviously it’s complicated because in this case someone being released is a Bad Situation, but in general, cash bail is awful precisely because people with money get out while people without money are jailed for weeks or even months awaiting trial. Bail for misdemeanors (like disobeying a traffic order) can be in the hundreds or low thousands, and the majority of Americans cannot afford a $500 emergency without going into debt. Bail for felonies (like assaulting an officer, with which people are charged for something as petty as going limp during arrest) is usually in the thousands. (I think the most recent data showed that the average bail is around $55,000, while the median HOUSEHOLD income in the US in 2017 was $59,000.

    The situation here portrays essentially a perpetrator of domestic violence being released, who is likely to reoffend. That’s a real danger. But it’s also worth noting that often police arrest victims of domestic violence rather than perpetrators because the kinds of injuries victims leave in resisting violence (bites, scratches, etc) are more immediately visible than the kinds of injuries perpetrators (especially experienced perpetrators) do. (This is much more true in states with mandatory arrest laws for DV calls, which Indiana does not have.) Also, victims may be afraid to tell police they are being abused, whereas perpetrators have no qualms doing something that will create a record of arrest for their partner, giving them more power. Here’s where the pretrial detention thing becomes even worse: person being held for pretrial detention risks losing their job. On top of this, many jails charge people for being held there (like the The Clinton County Jail in Indiana, which charges $30/night). So a DV victim who is arrested will end up with a debt and may lose their job, giving the perpetrator even more control.

    And all of this is for people who have been CHARGED with something, not convicted. Which means that you can do nothing at all — you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time, or driving while black — and end up behind bars for weeks or months, losing your job.

    So like… seeing this kind of “oh no! they post bail for anything?! that’s so ridiculous!” plotline is a little frustrating because this isn’t a comic that regularly deals with the justice system so this one-time representation feels like it holds more weight.

    • Sam
      Sam
      February 18, 2020 at 9:55 am | #

      This wasn’t domestic violence, this was just a straight up kidnapping. I think a lot of people can both agree that 1) it is messed up the way bail is handled but also 2) that if your crime was witnessed by multiple people and it was a crime you could try to commit again that is of a very serious nature such as say… kidnapping someone with a gun, you shouldn’t be allowed bail.

      These are not mutually exclusive ideas – you can accept bail as a concept is ruined by not accounting for wages of the accused properly and tends to be too high for the poor but not high enough for the rich and also accept that bail shouldn’t be offered for certain types of offences at all even if they weren’t literal murder and that it is kind of ridiculous that someone who did what Ross did could be allowed to walk around unhindered.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        February 18, 2020 at 10:56 am | #

        It’s kind of domestic violence though – he was kidnapping his daughter, not some random target. Not legally in the sense that’s what he’s charged with, but the motivation is control of a family member. The point of “perpetrator of domestic violence” here is that’s a kind of violent crime where the perpetrator is very likely to reoffend.

    • CJ
      CJ
      February 18, 2020 at 3:06 pm | #

      There is a law that states someone has to be arrested following a domestic violence call?

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        February 18, 2020 at 8:35 pm | #

        In some states, yes. Generally put into place back in the 80s after a long history of police basically ignoring domestic violence complaints. Thurman vs Torrington was the landmark case that led to a lot of the changes.

  36. Tirachokko
    Tirachokko
    February 18, 2020 at 8:20 am | #

    Dang, okay Joy

    • Tirachokko
      Tirachokko
      February 18, 2020 at 8:24 am | #

      ah gross it’s malaya

      • Tirachokko
        Tirachokko
        February 18, 2020 at 8:25 am | #

        god why

        • Tirachokko
          Tirachokko
          February 18, 2020 at 8:26 am | #

          okay, marginally better b.c i can’t remember this one but i keep getting the sinking feeli- oh shit it’s that practically sociopathic dude with mary isn’t it?

          • Diane
            Diane
            February 18, 2020 at 9:32 am | #

            It is.

  37. Makkabee
    Makkabee
    February 18, 2020 at 9:13 am | #

    Gotta give Joyce credit for thinking outside the box.

  38. Diane
    Diane
    February 18, 2020 at 10:16 am | #

    Can someone advise the conversation Dorothy seems to be implying? Is it the whole “should I tell Joyce we have this grainy picture or not” convo?

    Also, I may have missed it, but is there anything that by law, if someone who tried to hurt you is released on bail, is it required to notify the person who is victim to that person be notified they’ve been released? You’d think it necessary, but I could see it not being a thing. Especially since Becky didn’t have a phone at that point.

    Also Joyce needs to stop babying Becky like she’s a fragile birdy and treat her like a semi-adult at minimum.

    • abysswatcher1993
      abysswatcher1993
      February 18, 2020 at 12:17 pm | #

      I think Joyce is projecting on Becky. Becky is working through her own problems in her own sarcastic and black humor way. Joyce is the one that needs help, but doesn’t want to admit, so she passes all her insecurities to other people because her assholishness is a way to cope with being “weak”.

      • Diane
        Diane
        February 18, 2020 at 1:07 pm | #

        Not sure on the projecting, and I wouldn’t say it’s assholishness. Joyce has been hurt by so many people she once trusted with all her heart. Including her own mother. It’s painful to be so betrayed. But she does need help, she needs to speak with a professional with all the trauma she’s been put through (being roofied, having a gun pointed at her by a family friend, being oust by her community/church). Unfortunately, her advise with speaking with any professional has been from someone she doesn’t entirely trust or approve of (Roz) or was advised they’re worth jack shit and shouldn’t be trusted (Sal). I can only hope Dorothy encourages her to talk the right person.

        • abysswatcher1993
          abysswatcher1993
          February 18, 2020 at 2:48 pm | #

          Roz is right, but sounds cruel. Sal is wrong, but she looks cool. Dorothy is the voice of reason, but Joyce barely pays attention to her when she talks about something important.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      February 18, 2020 at 12:25 pm | #

      I think it’s less Becky can’t handle it and more she feels she shouldn’t HAVE to handle it.

      • Diane
        Diane
        February 18, 2020 at 12:58 pm | #

        It’s still something that’s possible and Becky needs to be aware, whether she should have to or not. Life’s about dealing with a lot of things you don’t want to deal with, whether we want to or not. And right now, they all, including Becky and Dina, need to deal with the real possibility that Ross is going to get out of jail and they need to be safe. Because Becky and Dina are very large targets, both for kidnapping and someone to be murdered, because I wouldn’t put it pass Ross to kill her to remove temptation from his daughter.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          February 18, 2020 at 1:28 pm | #

          You’re right, she does need to tell Becky. I’m just trying to clarify her motives.

  39. Juanoku
    Juanoku
    February 18, 2020 at 11:15 am | #

    Joyce went sicko mode

    • abysswatcher1993
      abysswatcher1993
      February 18, 2020 at 12:12 pm | #

      She went Walkyverse Joyce psycho mode.

  40. abysswatcher1993
    abysswatcher1993
    February 18, 2020 at 12:11 pm | #

    Joyce, you idiot. If a serial killer or rapist wanted to attack you you would want to know to be prepared, contact non corrupt authorities and get allies that can deal with the assholes. You are just a selfish edgelord that is distrustful of authorities like Sal in her most jaded day. Have a godo day dumbass.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      February 18, 2020 at 12:24 pm | #

      That’s not what she said at all. This has jackshit to do with trusting authorities and everything to do with feeling like Becky’s been through enough and shouldn’t have to lift a finger to deal with Toedad again.

      Even if she were distrustful of authorities, that’s not an edge lord thing. That’s a ‘recognizing how often they don’t have your back’ thing.

      Seriously, you’re just determined to call Joyce an edge lord aren’t you?

      • abysswatcher1993
        abysswatcher1993
        February 18, 2020 at 12:40 pm | #

        Yes, because I know what it is to be a raging jerk to other people. I have been there and I know what it is to think you are always right. Then you make a mistake and rage against the heaven because you can’t change your own negative traits. I am still a jerk, but I am trying to change.

        I am sure that by the end of the year Joyce will realize religion isn’t the only problem in her life, but also the awful things she did, like trying to break a couple, slut shaming people, her attempt at a relationship with Ethan, hiring Mike to punch Joe, trying to separate Dorothy and Walky.

        I rage against must of the bullshit of Joyce because she is relatable. She is human. She is like each of us when we fuck up and learn to stop fucking up.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          February 18, 2020 at 1:28 pm | #

          Joyce is ALREADY aware that those were crappy things to do. She was upset her community sold her bullshit about the way the world works. Again, the things she specifically mentioned at the party (that atheism is some ‘get out of morality’ card and sexual purity) ARE bullshit and she’s right to be angry her community pushed it on her. Saying sexual purity is bullshit upset Becky but she isn’t a jerk for saying it. She isn’t being a jerk here either.

          “Thinking she’s always right” is the opposite of Joyce’s problem.She thinks she can’t do anything right. She tried to do the thing that her community told her would mean she can do what she wants without consequence and discovered that wasn’t true – because people still have feelings and she still cares. She’s angry her community gave her MORE bullshit, not that she still cares about other people.

          • abysswatcher1993
            abysswatcher1993
            February 18, 2020 at 2:41 pm | #

            Becky was rightfully angry at Joyce, because even if sexuaal purity is bullshit, Becky thought Dina was someone special and didn’t want to mess up their first time being intimate. Just because sexual purity is bullshit doesn’t mean you have to mock people that want to wait for marriage or just have sex with their loved ones.

            Joyce did all the breaking Jacob and Radiah apart after that atheist epiphany. Even if oyce broke free from fundie beliefs, she still can do awful things and doesn’t seem to try to change besides her “woe me I am evil and ca’t change!” mentality.

            • abysswatcher1993
              abysswatcher1993
              February 18, 2020 at 2:44 pm | #

              Once Joyce cuts ties with her church and toxic family member, the only devil to hate would be herself unless she learns to stop trying to control everything and take a hold of herself.

            • thejeff
              thejeff
              February 18, 2020 at 2:54 pm | #

              She didn’t do that after that atheist epiphany, that was the cause of her epiphany. She did that in the crux of her crisis of faith, because she believed what her faith said about atheists – that without the fear of God they could do anything with remorse. It was afterwards at the party that she talked about realizing that wasn’t true because people still have feelings and she still cares.

              Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a shitty thing to do – I’ve long criticized her for the whole Jacob affair – but it does help explain why she did it and that she’s learned from it.

            • BBCC
              BBCC
              February 18, 2020 at 4:29 pm | #

              Becky was asking Joyce for reassurance on sexual purity. Waiting until marriage is important to Becky and that’s fine but Joyce is right that the sexual purity she’s basing it on is bullshit.

  41. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    February 18, 2020 at 12:20 pm | #

    hello Nega-Joyce

    • abysswatcher1993
      abysswatcher1993
      February 18, 2020 at 12:41 pm | #

      Anti-Joyce.

  42. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    February 18, 2020 at 12:33 pm | #

    Woah slow down, Satan

  43. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    February 18, 2020 at 12:53 pm | #

    Finally found it. Link for reference:

    “Becky and I have had this discussion.“

    • Diane
      Diane
      February 18, 2020 at 1:10 pm | #

      Thank you, I thought that’s what it was, but couldn’t dig and wasn’t 100% sure.

  44. Ray
    Ray
    February 18, 2020 at 12:59 pm | #

    Maybe like Murder on the Orient Express, we can have EVERYBODY get in at least one stabby-stab

  45. Hielario
    Hielario
    February 18, 2020 at 1:09 pm | #

    Hell yeah I love Sarah being all law student-y and throwing relevant knowledge around.

  46. Victor Riley
    Victor Riley
    February 18, 2020 at 4:45 pm | #

    Warden’s don’t do the shivving. They just look the other way.

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      February 18, 2020 at 10:43 pm | #

      Is Joyce confusing wardens with warders?

  47. brian
    brian
    February 18, 2020 at 5:03 pm | #

    BUT MIKEEEEEEE

  48. TheFlamingonator
    TheFlamingonator
    February 18, 2020 at 5:31 pm | #

    JOYCE where did you learn “shiv”! that is not from the Bible, is it?

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      February 18, 2020 at 8:38 pm | #

      Joyce’s apparently managed to watch some bad prison movies. See also her bit about scooping eyeballs out with a rusty spoon back when they were breaking into Becky’s house.

      • TheFlamingonator
        TheFlamingonator
        February 19, 2020 at 10:28 am | #

        I am suddenly very interested in finding out the list of “permitted” movies; Frozen is not permitted but prison movies are?

    • Felian
      Felian
      February 21, 2020 at 6:53 pm | #

      Well, “shiv“ was not in my vocabulary until now and therefore not in the bible version i read like 5 times when i was a teen.
      There is, however, the story of Jael:
      “But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.“ (Judges 4:21, NIV)

      Can’t say that there aren’t good biblical female role models if you aspire to be a murderer for a good cause.

  49. Also Becky
    Also Becky
    February 18, 2020 at 5:52 pm | #

    Alt txt: “ross macintyre didn’t kill himself”

    Well with that attitude he didn’t

  50. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    February 18, 2020 at 7:06 pm | #

    “I would die for you Becky.”

  51. Felian
    Felian
    February 21, 2020 at 6:55 pm | #

    Am i a horrible person if i TOTALLY get Joyces sentiment in the last panel? 😉

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