Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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July 11, 2026

Presentableness

by David M Willis on September 8, 2021 at 12:01 am
  • 01 – Sister, Christian
└ Tags: joyce, liz, lucy, sarah, walky

Discussion (85) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    September 8, 2021 at 12:03 am | #

    Joyce.exe has performed an unexpected function

    ABORT/RETRY/FAIL?

    • King Daniel
      King Daniel
      September 8, 2021 at 12:05 am | #

      Fission mailed

      • Common sense
        Common sense
        September 8, 2021 at 5:33 am | #

        Pobodys Nerfect

      • H3xx
        H3xx
        September 8, 2021 at 9:11 am | #

        Fission is not a process that is safe for the postal system to handle…

    • Clif
      Clif
      September 8, 2021 at 12:56 am | #

      She’s playing three dimensional chess and doesn’t know it.

      • milu
        milu
        September 8, 2021 at 6:03 am | #

        Hi there Clif, howdy, say have we seen Demoted Oblivious lately?

        (i havent paid as much attention for a couple weeks on account of i wasnt home & my phone is infuriatingly slow, but i get the feeling they’ve been gone a minute?)

        yeah Demo if you read this, i hope you’re having too much fun irl; just nod if you can hear me? <3

        • Decidedly Orthogonal
          Decidedly Orthogonal
          September 8, 2021 at 6:08 pm | #

          It’s a mystery.

          • milu
            milu
            September 8, 2021 at 7:36 pm | #

            ooooh say no more ^w^

            • Clif
              Clif
              September 8, 2021 at 8:52 pm | #

              Quantum 3-D chess.

              • milu
                milu
                September 8, 2021 at 9:42 pm | #

                blindsidin’ bombshells.

              • Wagstaff
                Wagstaff
                September 8, 2021 at 10:13 pm | #

                Speaking of “quantum” (besides what’s become of the adjective in common usage), what’s your occupation?

                I’m guessing that it’s at least somewhat physics-related, but I could be wrong.

              • Decidedly Orthogonal
                Decidedly Orthogonal
                September 9, 2021 at 12:43 am | #

                That’s the one with the really _tiny_ pieces right?

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    September 8, 2021 at 12:05 am | #

    Second John Mulaney reference from Walky during this story.

    Foreshadowing that we will soon see a horse loose in a hospital?

    • Robert Thompson
      Robert Thompson
      September 8, 2021 at 12:17 am | #

      I saw a bird in an airport once!

      • Abel Undercity
        Abel Undercity
        September 8, 2021 at 10:40 am | #

        I saw a pigeon in a bus station.

        • I am Nothing
          I am Nothing
          September 8, 2021 at 11:55 am | #

          I saw a pigeon at the zoo.

          • Wagstaff
            Wagstaff
            September 8, 2021 at 2:04 pm | #

            I saw a wild turkey wandering around my neighborhood on more than one occasion!

            • Ana Chronistic
              Ana Chronistic
              September 8, 2021 at 4:45 pm | #

              I saw a squirrel.

              He was doin’ like THIS! *chomp chomp*

    • Renadt
      Renadt
      September 8, 2021 at 8:15 pm | #

      Just get Rayne Summers, He’ll get the horse a prostitute. And we’ll love him for it.

  3. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    September 8, 2021 at 12:05 am | #

    Wow she’s in his head!

    • Clif
      Clif
      September 8, 2021 at 1:05 am | #

      If being in his head doesn’t throw her off balance, nothing will.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      September 8, 2021 at 2:21 am | #

      The inside of Walky’s mind probably looks like an obstacle course full of tantalizing distractions. Every so often a thought makes it all the way through to the end.

      • Geneseepaws
        Geneseepaws
        September 8, 2021 at 7:10 am | #

        Welcome to ADD land, where once is a while a thought that one has, makes it all the way to the end, … WITHOUT dying. Once in a, OH! Squirrel!

      • Wagstaff
        Wagstaff
        September 8, 2021 at 10:06 pm | #

        Well as with all other mazes, perhaps some retrograde analysis would help?

        Note that this is not to be confused with retrograde amnesia .

      • Steelbright
        Steelbright
        September 8, 2021 at 10:22 pm | #

        Ugh this is an excellent description of my life

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      September 8, 2021 at 11:10 am | #

      Well, there’s plenty of room in there.

  4. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    September 8, 2021 at 12:06 am | #

    The other problem with the plan is that Walky’s presentableness has precedent from back when he was dating Dorothy.

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      September 8, 2021 at 12:08 am | #

      I mean the mind game aspect is just a manipulation from Lucy to get Walky to dress nice anyway. There’s no saying whether Joyce would care either way.

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        September 8, 2021 at 12:11 am | #

        Yes, I probably should have put “the plan” in airquotes. Lucy’s plan has gone off without a hitch, but Walky has failed to realize the game being played.

  5. NinjaNick
    NinjaNick
    September 8, 2021 at 12:10 am | #

    Flipping the script!

  6. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    September 8, 2021 at 12:11 am | #

    Whoa! Take it take it take it YEAH! *saxophone solo*

  7. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    September 8, 2021 at 12:15 am | #

    So in this universe, we have Walky trying and failing miserably to throw off Joyce’s presentation of a comic where thinly-veiled versions of herself and Dorothy have oodles of subtext

    While in the other universe, we have Dorothy (posessed, but still) trying to throw off Joyce and Walky’s wedding with an army of crack pairing fankids (plus a couple of canon ones)

    The dissonance is hysterical, and I love it.

    • justin8448
      justin8448
      September 8, 2021 at 1:02 am | #

      I tried reading through the Walkyverese once from the beginning, and couldn’t do it. But this section looks like a fun read, and I’m glad I know it exists now so I can follow along. Thanks Rassilon!

  8. Reed
    Reed
    September 8, 2021 at 12:17 am | #

    strong offensive maneuver, i take it joyce read sun tzu in bible study? …or whatever the christian version is? did they cover fighting tactics in veggie tales?

    • milu
      milu
      September 8, 2021 at 7:33 am | #

      as i recall there’s a fair amount of war in the bible itself,

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        September 8, 2021 at 9:30 am | #

        If she breaks out a horn and starts marching around in circles, watch out.

      • Wagstaff
        Wagstaff
        September 8, 2021 at 11:51 am | #

        The constant calls for war and genocide in the bible isn’t really surprising, considering that Yahweh is basically an over-glorified WAR god.

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          September 8, 2021 at 4:55 pm | #

          God is an everything god, it’s highly unusual!
          Harvest, justice, ethics, sheep, mountains, protection, war… you name it, God’s the first one-stop shop in the middle east.

          • Decidedly Orthogonal
            Decidedly Orthogonal
            September 8, 2021 at 6:17 pm | #

            Pretty sure that’s a side effect of dispatching holy troops to wander around converting or killing the other gods’ followers and stealing the cool bits from their religions.

          • Wagstaff
            Wagstaff
            September 8, 2021 at 8:06 pm | #

            Yahweh *officially* became all-powerful (or an “everything god”, as you describe him), only after the Babylonian captivity, for the sole purpose of the military leaders of the Kingdom of Israel saving face.

            Specifically, these absolutist rulers rationalized that Yahweh was all-powerful and controlled all their enemies including the Babylonians (“stiffened their hearts”) to overpower their kingdom as punishment for breaking their covenant.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      September 8, 2021 at 12:21 pm | #

      I don’t think Veggie Tales covered Sun Tzu or Clausewitz or anything, but I wouldn’t know and frankly if they did it wouldn’t surprise me

    • Steelbright
      Steelbright
      September 8, 2021 at 10:23 pm | #

      only when discussed by French peas

  9. BBCC
    BBCC
    September 8, 2021 at 12:18 am | #

    OOF, off kilter volley has been spiked!

  10. Tawnee
    Tawnee
    September 8, 2021 at 12:21 am | #

    The turns have tabled, and now the foot is on the other shoe!

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      September 8, 2021 at 2:22 am | #

      Well, well, how the turntables…

  11. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    September 8, 2021 at 12:21 am | #

    And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done?
    And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me… (Genesis 3:13)

    • Wagstaff
      Wagstaff
      September 8, 2021 at 12:45 am | #

      And this god who created everything in the universe is somehow not responsible for creating the Serpent or the magic trees that needlessly jeopardized the human innocence HE wanted to preserve.

      How predictable.

      • King Daniel
        King Daniel
        September 8, 2021 at 2:25 am | #

        Pretty sure God actually explicitly created both of those things? Where did you get the idea there wasn’t any responsibility for making them?

        • Wagstaff
          Wagstaff
          September 8, 2021 at 2:31 am | #

          Oh, I didn’t. But by the looks of it, this god did, and punished Adam and Eve for failing a test that they were designed to fail.

          • Delicious Taffy
            Delicious Taffy
            September 8, 2021 at 2:49 am | #

            Yep, he’s an asshole. In other news, bears eat bees.

            • Wagstaff
              Wagstaff
              September 8, 2021 at 2:55 am | #

              Seriously though, I kinda feel bad for those bees.

              I mean, can you think of a more gruesome fate than having your home collapse with you in it, only to give way to total darkness, a horrible stench, and get slowly burned to death by stomach acid?

              • King Daniel
                King Daniel
                September 8, 2021 at 4:26 am | #

                …is that a challenge?

              • MrSmith
                MrSmith
                September 8, 2021 at 4:24 pm | #

                I’m guessing theres a few people in Afghanistan right now that are experiencing worse (Thanks Biden)

                • milu
                  milu
                  September 8, 2021 at 5:29 pm | #

                  please don’t.

                • Decidedly Orthogonal
                  Decidedly Orthogonal
                  September 8, 2021 at 6:19 pm | #

                  Seconded. If I wanted that I’d saunter over to r/politics.

                • Wagstaff
                  Wagstaff
                  September 8, 2021 at 7:50 pm | #

                  Same here. Even I’m not willing to head into THAT turbulent territory.

                  (no pun intended)

              • Decidedly Orthogonal
                Decidedly Orthogonal
                September 9, 2021 at 10:15 am | #

                More on this, I’m kinda disappointed in Jurassic World for exactly that reason. I mean, I get that there likely isn’t good reception, and it’s a trope and all that, but I feel like the security forces what got ate and stomped by the indominous wouldn’t have _all_ just gone to static. Like, we should have been left with some active Blair Witch or Cam style cams still broadcasting, possibly (see aforementioned signal strength) from inside her Indomitable self. And yes it would be horrible, and it was tragic, but I’m utterly unconvinced that things are always *dead* before they’re swallowed. Especially not bite size morsels like lawyers and guards. Like, yeah, they’re not gonna survive, but death is often pretty messy and can take a little bit.

              • Decidedly Orthogonal
                Decidedly Orthogonal
                September 9, 2021 at 10:18 am | #

                Oh and they’d suffocate first I think.

  12. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    September 8, 2021 at 12:25 am | #

    All according to keikaku…

    • Kyrik Michalowski
      Kyrik Michalowski
      September 8, 2021 at 12:54 am | #

      I prefer cake.

      • Fist_of_Life
        Fist_of_Life
        September 8, 2021 at 7:48 am | #

        Specifically for Aku?

      • Spencer
        Spencer
        September 8, 2021 at 11:24 am | #

        I understood that reference.

  13. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    September 8, 2021 at 12:28 am | #

    It’s very important to keep your rhythm while you’re skipping.

  14. Atrius
    Atrius
    September 8, 2021 at 12:46 am | #

    3rd panel is the epitome of New Joyce.

  15. Tan
    Tan
    September 8, 2021 at 1:04 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 12: I’m Thrown Off My Rhythm

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      September 8, 2021 at 7:24 am | #

      DoA Book 12: We’re Flippin’ the Script!

      “I’m Thrown Off My Rhythm” is better though.

  16. Vukodlak
    Vukodlak
    September 8, 2021 at 1:08 am | #

    Joyce skipping class, we’ve broken through the central finite curve here

  17. Bagge
    Bagge
    September 8, 2021 at 1:17 am | #

    SCHOOL MISSER!

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      September 8, 2021 at 1:20 am | #

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/02-i-was-a-teenage-churchmouse/intent/

  18. StClair
    StClair
    September 8, 2021 at 1:30 am | #

    I guess Kuzco Walky will have to find a new groove.

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      September 8, 2021 at 7:22 am | #

      If Walky is Kuzco, I’m not sure if I want to know who’s Yzma.

      • Username Taken
        Username Taken
        September 8, 2021 at 2:47 pm | #

        Linda?

        • Schpoonman
          Schpoonman
          September 8, 2021 at 8:20 pm | #

          Ooh, good one.

          • King Daniel
            King Daniel
            September 8, 2021 at 8:41 pm | #

            Does that make Charles Kronk?

            • Decidedly Orthogonal
              Decidedly Orthogonal
              September 9, 2021 at 10:25 am | #

              He’s not big, but he’s sure seems dumb enough to not see his wife’s bigotry. So… yeah? Like maybe his version of the “check what I can do” shoulder angel/devil argument is Linda’s blow jobs or something.

              Also, what the hell were Christian angels and devils doing on Kronks shoulders? Surely there was _some_ kind of Incan spirit types that should have stepped in?

  19. BenRG
    BenRG
    September 8, 2021 at 1:58 am | #

    Poor Walky! Still, you can’t blame him for his confusion. I mean, Joyce is the one you’d least expect to spontaneously rebel, isn’t she?

  20. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    September 8, 2021 at 3:13 am | #

    Diabolical Joyce! Her accurate plan made for destroy Walky’s self estem is working! He will become a nervous mess orribile to see!!! Luckily, coach Lucy is here for him, she will knows what to do.

  21. pararell spade
    pararell spade
    September 8, 2021 at 4:08 am | #

    This what happens when good people try to use their brains for evil.

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      September 8, 2021 at 1:22 pm | #

      I know I’m in too deep when I see a perfectly innocuous joke strip and then try to go “ah yes here is the dark secret motivating Lucy, I’ve cracked the code.”

  22. CJ
    CJ
    September 8, 2021 at 4:18 am | #

    The moment you realize that someone has playing power games with you and you just never noticed …

  23. carms
    carms
    September 8, 2021 at 4:33 am | #

    STREET SMARTS!!

  24. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    September 8, 2021 at 7:32 am | #

    Walky had the opportunity for his JAWsome moment in Panel 2. Looks like he will regret not taking it.

    OTOH maybe Liz will make Joyce forget everything about the comic strip job.

  25. ziggy78eog
    ziggy78eog
    September 8, 2021 at 11:48 am | #

    Walky: “I’m gonna wear nicer clothes; Joyce won’t know what hit her!”
    Joyce: “I am not going to class today, bye!”
    Walky: “….WHAT!?”

  26. BlackScarabFilmZ
    BlackScarabFilmZ
    September 8, 2021 at 12:20 pm | #

    Oh no, Joyce has street smarts, we didn’t plan for that eventuality!

  27. zee
    zee
    September 8, 2021 at 1:15 pm | #

    I’m appreciating these John Mulaney references

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