Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

June 14, 2026

Towel

by David M Willis on January 24, 2020 at 12:01 am
  • 02 - To Remind You of My Love
└ Tags: jacob, joe

Discussion (83) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    January 24, 2020 at 12:01 am | #

    oh thank FUCK he came back to do that or I woulda beat him myself

    like I wanna beat that guy who drops the weights

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      January 24, 2020 at 12:02 am | #

      what was the random one for today, alt-text =o

      • Clif
        Clif
        January 24, 2020 at 1:06 am | #

        How come no one asks the important questions? Where is a mom with a nickel supposed to go to now for a good time?

        • Felix
          Felix
          January 25, 2020 at 12:58 am | #

          To the Hospital/Cemetery. It’s probably one of those two.

      • Clif
        Clif
        January 24, 2020 at 1:13 am | #

        But to answer your question, I vote for the curse of having sweat asses.

    • abysswatcher1993
      abysswatcher1993
      January 24, 2020 at 12:05 am | #

      Homer Simpson didn’t clean his sweat once and the actor of McBain got a rash.

      • Cholma
        Cholma
        January 24, 2020 at 12:10 am | #

        “Hello! I’m Troy McClure. You probably recognize me from popular Workout Videos such as: ‘Towel Off Your Station’, ‘Don’t Drop the Weights’, and, of course, ‘Don’t Hog a Station’ . . . .

    • Arawn
      Arawn
      January 24, 2020 at 12:51 am | #

      Joe is decent folk… he can be guilted into doing the right thing. Sometimes that’s all it takes. My bar has been set fairly low in the last 3-4 years.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      January 24, 2020 at 12:57 am | #

      “I lift things up and put them down.”

  2. King Daniel
    King Daniel
    January 24, 2020 at 12:03 am | #

    He’s FINE

    • Cholma
      Cholma
      January 24, 2020 at 12:06 am | #

      Freaked out
      Insecure
      Neurotic
      Emotional 😀

    • Stephen Bierce
      Stephen Bierce
      January 24, 2020 at 12:07 am | #

      Next week he’ll declare his conversion to Linenism.
      “–raise the absorbent standard high
      Beneath its folds we’ll live and die
      Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer
      We’ll keep the cleaning rag flying here!”

      • Jon Rich
        Jon Rich
        January 24, 2020 at 12:11 am | #

        Is that song a reference to something, or did you just make it up out of whole cloth?

        (I do recognize the reference to Leninism, naturally.)

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          January 24, 2020 at 12:21 am | #

          Linenism is always whole cloth.

          • Clif
            Clif
            January 24, 2020 at 2:29 am | #

            My Marks beats your Linenism. (Unless you draw over my Marks with a dry-errase marker.)

        • Agemegos
          Agemegos
          January 24, 2020 at 12:22 am | #

          It’s a parody of the refrain of the Socialist anthem The Red Flag.

          Then raise the scarlet standard high
          Within its shade we’ll live and die!
          Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer
          We’ll keep the red flag flying here!

          • Agemegos
            Agemegos
            January 24, 2020 at 12:36 am | #

            Socialist Victory Choir rendition on YouTube. Unfortunately this is not the Sheffield Socialist Choir’s version, which is the schnitz IMHO.

            That’s sung to the tune of O Tannenbaum, as has been usual for a century or so. You would not be alone if you preferred the original tune, as sung here by Billy Bragg.

            • Agemegos
              Agemegos
              January 24, 2020 at 12:37 am | #

              Corrected link, I hope.

              • Jon Rich
                Jon Rich
                January 24, 2020 at 6:24 am | #

                Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it.

    • Geneseepaws
      Geneseepaws
      January 24, 2020 at 12:40 am | #

      I’m fine!
      Wanna buy a bridge?… If you believe that: I have the deed to the Pulaski Skyway right up stairs in my room, …

  3. abysswatcher1993
    abysswatcher1993
    January 24, 2020 at 12:04 am | #

    When you want a dramatic walk off, but then you are forced to get back out of a sense of mundane accepted behaviors.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      January 24, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

      If you’re going to dramatically quit your job, do some prep first.

      Don’t be like my former co-worker who cursed out everyone in the office, then had to sheepishly clean out his desk in front of them for 15 minutes.

      • Khno
        Khno
        January 24, 2020 at 4:37 pm | #

        Or just launch everything on the desk at random. Of course it will lead to an audience somehow. But eh, who said drama had an happy end?

  4. Blanche Quizno
    Blanche Quizno
    January 24, 2020 at 12:05 am | #

    If you’re going to storm off, make sure you stick the flounce.

    • davidbreslin101
      davidbreslin101
      January 24, 2020 at 8:02 am | #

      My favourite version of this is Fran in “Black Books.” [sticks head round door] “Forgot my bag.”

  5. BBCC
    BBCC
    January 24, 2020 at 12:06 am | #

    Stupid social conventions ruining a dramatic storm off.

  6. Terry
    Terry
    January 24, 2020 at 12:06 am | #

    Joe has STANDARDS.

  7. carl320
    carl320
    January 24, 2020 at 12:09 am | #

    Good thing he didn’t forget his towel.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      January 24, 2020 at 12:14 am | #

      He’s a hoopy frood.

      • Clif
        Clif
        January 24, 2020 at 1:22 am | #

        Doesn’t Panic.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      January 24, 2020 at 1:08 am | #

      But can he play the melody to Funkytown on a touch-tone keypad?

  8. Shane
    Shane
    January 24, 2020 at 12:09 am | #

    So I wonder if they are breaking Mike’s fingers one at a time with a ball peen hammer as torture, or if he feels nothing because he just snapped his neck on impact and is dead.

    Oh and a machine almost went untoweled, close one. Glass that tension got resolved in the last panel.

    • Madock345
      Madock345
      January 24, 2020 at 12:12 am | #

      C’mon Jacob, he sat down for like five sentences, no way he was sweating already. Don’t be so neurotic.

      • Madock345
        Madock345
        January 24, 2020 at 12:12 am | #

        This was not supposed to be a reply XD

    • Alanari
      Alanari
      January 24, 2020 at 12:15 am | #

      I think we’ll find out in February. 2021. And I think it’s on purpose, just to torture me.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        January 24, 2020 at 12:24 am | #

        Calling it now. Somehow word of Mike’s crush on Ethan will get out post-mortem. The reveal will be 2-4 days after we have his death confirmed. The alt-text of that comic will read “Happy Valentine’s Day”.

        • Clif
          Clif
          January 24, 2020 at 1:19 am | #

          True, but in a surprise twist, Mike will be alive and Ethan will be dead.

      • Alex Boston
        Alex Boston
        January 24, 2020 at 12:25 am | #

        I assume Mike will feature through his absence from the midterms.

      • David
        David
        January 24, 2020 at 6:13 am | #

        Comic time or real time?

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      January 24, 2020 at 3:14 am | #

      I’m not gonna assume that Mike’s dead or alive until Willis actually shows us what happened to him already.

      • BarerMender
        BarerMender
        January 24, 2020 at 5:29 am | #

        Willis always has something up his sleeve. That’s why we keep reading.

        • Geneseepaws
          Geneseepaws
          January 24, 2020 at 7:43 am | #

          You mean besides his arms, right? He’s not a gun toting card carrying maniac, or anything, …he’s just a normal cartoonist, only sadistic and funny. Right? ….I mean right???

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        January 24, 2020 at 9:03 pm | #

        Shroedinger’s comic character, neither alive nor dead until revealed in the story.

  9. Loki
    Loki
    January 24, 2020 at 12:16 am | #

    David, re alt text: I assume you have found out by now, but if you are on a computer, you can press the down key and then the Del key (not backspace) to delete the suggestions one by one

  10. PHNX
    PHNX
    January 24, 2020 at 12:16 am | #

    Totally not a storm-off.
    Joe just had to get some AIR!

  11. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    January 24, 2020 at 12:18 am | #

    Good on you, Jacob and Joe, for not letting etiquette die in the face of interpersonal drama. We’re civilized here.

  12. Suet
    Suet
    January 24, 2020 at 12:25 am | #

    A dry machine is a happy machine.

  13. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    January 24, 2020 at 12:28 am | #

    Joe value his good musculation manners more than his pride \o/

  14. Bagge
    Bagge
    January 24, 2020 at 12:42 am | #

    Is this a storm-off? Oooh, Oooh! I know that one. It IS a storm-off, right?!

    • BarerMender
      BarerMender
      January 24, 2020 at 5:29 am | #

      Yes, Agatha, thank you.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        January 24, 2020 at 9:28 am | #

        Heh, nice catch

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/2016/comic/book-7/01-glower-vacuum/considering/

  15. C.
    C.
    January 24, 2020 at 12:45 am | #

    Toweling of Age

  16. Xccj
    Xccj
    January 24, 2020 at 12:46 am | #

    Yeah, maybe he was doing more lifts off panel, but it didn’t look like Joe even utilized the weight machine, just sat back there to talk. Plus, we’ve only seen Jacob do about one rep. Must’ve caught him on a cool down break.

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 24, 2020 at 1:03 am | #

      You didn’t see all the reps he was doing between panels.

  17. Nono
    Nono
    January 24, 2020 at 1:27 am | #

    Did Joe even do a single rep?

  18. Tacos
    Tacos
    January 24, 2020 at 1:57 am | #

    Out of curiosity what were the autocomplete options for the alt-text?

    • Jhon
      Jhon
      January 24, 2020 at 7:08 pm | #

      Sven is not a mooch.

  19. BenRG
    BenRG
    January 24, 2020 at 1:58 am | #

    JACOB: “Why am I always the adult in the room? I hate having to be the adult in the room!”

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      January 24, 2020 at 4:29 am | #

      Except in the presence of his brother of course, where he feels like he should be more of an adult

  20. Keulen
    Keulen
    January 24, 2020 at 3:13 am | #

    DoA Book 10: Is This A Storm-off?

  21. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    January 24, 2020 at 4:52 am | #

    Don’t know why, but this strip brought me a flash image of Joe playing Danny’s ukulele, and now I cannot unsee it

  22. lis
    lis
    January 24, 2020 at 7:17 am | #

    Is there a way to see the alt text on mobile? Back in the day you could tap at the blank space on the right side below the pic but that doesn’t seem to work anymore

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 24, 2020 at 11:21 am | #

      Still works for me.

    • Stanistani
      Stanistani
      January 24, 2020 at 9:52 pm | #

      Long press works for me on Apple iOS.

    • Jo Giggles
      Jo Giggles
      January 24, 2020 at 10:25 pm | #

      I press and hold underneath the 2nd last panel image on androud

  23. Josh Spicer
    Josh Spicer
    January 24, 2020 at 7:59 am | #

    Joe might be a beacon of toxic-masculinity who is suffering through a modicum of emotions he has personally never felt, but at least he’s considerate enough to wipe down the machine when he’s done.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      January 24, 2020 at 8:22 am | #

      Hey, jock itch is a real problem! It’s everyone’s responsibility!

  24. MutantSentry
    MutantSentry
    January 24, 2020 at 10:16 am | #

    Ok, good joke… but now it really feels like the Mike situation is being needlessly drawn out.

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 24, 2020 at 11:22 am | #

      What was the phrase about sweet summer child?

  25. SillyGoose
    SillyGoose
    January 24, 2020 at 12:39 pm | #

    It is now an Established Fact(TM) that Joe is, in fact, a Good Guy(TM).

    • StClair
      StClair
      January 24, 2020 at 1:19 pm | #

      There are several people in this comic who are, but who loudly insist that they are terrible, as a defense mechanism. Look how much they don’t care!

      … and then, of course, you have the ones (parents, mostly) who really are.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        January 24, 2020 at 2:46 pm | #

        But, as we’ve established in the past with Joe, despite his basic intent being good, the presentation was still harmful.

        The same applies to some, but not all, of the others.

  26. c
    c
    January 24, 2020 at 1:44 pm | #

    Just… how long are we gonna be on the hook for what happened to Mike? It’s hard to muster any emotional energy for any of this fluff when we didn’t get a climax to the last build up.

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      January 24, 2020 at 9:08 pm | #

      You must be new here. Willis calls himself! @damnyouwillis.

  27. Happilychaotic
    Happilychaotic
    January 24, 2020 at 2:00 pm | #

    The longer the Mike cliffhanger takes, the more I feel that he is actually alive and possibly quite OK. Stalling the revelation so much wouldn’t make sense narrative-wise if he wasn’t.

    • Jhon
      Jhon
      January 24, 2020 at 7:11 pm | #

      Mike + nickel + Blaine’s mom.

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        January 24, 2020 at 9:10 pm | #

        For that to work Mike is either in Hell and this is somebody’s punishment, or mike dug up Blaine’s mom and is a practicing necrophiliac.

  28. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    January 24, 2020 at 3:13 pm | #

    Now that this is kind of quiet, it’s as good moment as any other to play with predictions about Mike’s fate. Here are mine:

    1. The subplot telling what happened to Mike is already in the buffer.
    2. We will know around April 1st.
    3. Mike won’t die, he’s the most irreplaceable secondary character in this strip (but maybe he’s badly damaged).
    4. Archer will be somehow involved in what happened (and maybe also Sal).
    5. As a result of what happened, Amazi-Girl will stop her activities (at least temporarily).
    6. In 2021 or 2022 we will have a plot about Amazi-Girl sightings and Willis will have us wondering if it’s the real one or an impostor.

    I hope I’ll get at least a couple of them right. I won’t say anything about Blaine or Ross because I don’t really care about them, they’re thrash.

    • Sombrero
      Sombrero
      January 24, 2020 at 5:59 pm | #

      Uh, too many h’s. Trash, that’s what Blaine and Ross are.

  29. Diane
    Diane
    January 24, 2020 at 4:17 pm | #

    So…Has anyone else noticed Willis changed Mike’s profile info to “Mike is(was???) roommates with Walky.” Just, you know, more kindling to everyone’s burning question of stuff.

    • Sombrero
      Sombrero
      January 24, 2020 at 6:04 pm | #

      He still “is” an asshole, though.

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        January 24, 2020 at 9:11 pm | #

        Beyond death Mike will remain an asshole.

  30. LibertyRazor
    LibertyRazor
    January 24, 2020 at 7:20 pm | #

    So, Joe still won’t admit that he kind of likes Joyce?

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