Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

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May 12, 2026

Indecisiveness

by David M Willis on January 3, 2022 at 12:01 am
  • 02 – I'll Leave You A Phantom
└ Tags: amber, joe

Discussion (119) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    January 3, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    look at what comes from drink indecision and late-stage Mikeosis

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      January 3, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

      Mikeosis? Isn’t that when a cell divides and then fucks your mom?

      • Drew
        Drew
        January 3, 2022 at 1:37 am | #

        Omg

      • june gloom
        june gloom
        January 3, 2022 at 3:31 am | #

        This was actually even funnier than the strip today, and the strip was pretty amazing.

      • Clif
        Clif
        January 3, 2022 at 4:25 am | #

        I like this regeneration.

      • Felix
        Felix
        January 3, 2022 at 9:15 am | #

        nice?

      • Fnord
        Fnord
        January 3, 2022 at 10:01 am | #

        Yes, and it’s catalyzed by nickel.

      • Lys
        Lys
        January 3, 2022 at 12:39 pm | #

        It two-teams your mum, by itselves.

  2. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    January 3, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    …so is this restricted to “worst brother of Amber specifically” or “worst brother of anyone”?

    • Dana
      Dana
      January 3, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

      Yes.

    • Dark_T_Zeratul
      Dark_T_Zeratul
      January 3, 2022 at 12:16 am | #

      Realistically, I think Faz actually beats Joe in both categories.

      • RassilonTDavros
        RassilonTDavros
        January 3, 2022 at 12:31 am | #

        But in the latter category, either one of them pales in comparison to Jonathan Brown.

      • Carla's #2 Fan
        Carla's #2 Fan
        January 3, 2022 at 12:40 am | #

        I hadn’t really thought about the fact that Joe is now kind of Faz’s brother too. 😮

        • Yumi
          Yumi
          January 3, 2022 at 12:49 am | #

          Well…not really? Amber’s relation to Faz is through her dad, while her relation Joe is through her mom… idk, I guess it depends on the person, but if, say, my half-sister’s mom had another kid or step-kid unrelated to my dad, I wouldn’t consider that person my sibling of any kind.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          January 3, 2022 at 12:54 am | #

          Well, they’ve all displayed a common tendency of creepy objectifying behavior to varying degrees.

    • Francoinblanco
      Francoinblanco
      January 3, 2022 at 2:10 am | #

      He is Brother so he is the worst no matter what he does

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        January 3, 2022 at 3:58 pm | #

        Am Brother, can confirm.

  3. The Wellerman
    The Wellerman
    January 3, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    😳

    That coping mechanism…

    That feeling of walking on eggshells…

    That posture…

    This resonates so well with me.

    Feels creepy, but so assuring, cuddly even, seeing this reflected so well in Amber.

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      January 3, 2022 at 12:11 am | #

      Willis, you’ve had these same anxieties and thought patterns too, haven’t you?

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      January 3, 2022 at 12:45 am | #

      😰 Oh!

      I didn’t mean to call anyone out, and I’m SO SORRY if I caused anyone here any stress! 😣

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        January 3, 2022 at 2:56 am | #

        Don’t worry. Have you a hug.

  4. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    January 3, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

    Kinda curious how this is going to go. Still not sure what Liz’s deal is at this point.

    • Huehuetotl
      Huehuetotl
      January 3, 2022 at 12:11 am | #

      The plan to eliminate awkwardness is about to go swimmingly.

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        January 3, 2022 at 12:14 am | #

        “Excuse me, Vinegar? I have this baking soda I need you to take a look at”

  5. Suet
    Suet
    January 3, 2022 at 12:11 am | #

    I smell a bad case of Dé-Joe Vu.

    At this point, I’d just nab a Mello Yello.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      January 3, 2022 at 12:25 am | #

      Nothing “Mello” about Amber right now.

      Maybe a Jolt would suit her.

    • powerpowerpow
      powerpowerpow
      January 3, 2022 at 5:31 am | #

      I don’t know why but your comment made me wonder “Hmm… What do the DoA cast smell like?” and now I can’t stop thinking about this, please make it stop

      • milu
        milu
        January 3, 2022 at 6:01 am | #

        We know Robin smells like skittles.

      • Arawn
        Arawn
        January 3, 2022 at 12:39 pm | #

        Sal smells like awesome with a whiff of leather jacket and cigarettes.

  6. Schpoonman
    Schpoonman
    January 3, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

    Oh, Joe, no.

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 3, 2022 at 4:46 am | #

      Come on. The train wrecks in slow motion are exactly why we keep coming back, day after day.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      January 3, 2022 at 8:28 am | #

      He doesn’t know it’s Liz yet.

      YET. Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

  7. Yumi
    Yumi
    January 3, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

    Feel like this store is bigger than I was picturing. But is it big enough to hold all the coming drama?

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      January 3, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

      It doesn’t have to be that big, the shelving blocks your vision and it’s not like Liz is tall. Probably about average for a convenience store.

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        January 3, 2022 at 12:19 am | #

        So not big enough for what’s coming?

        • Clif
          Clif
          January 3, 2022 at 4:32 am | #

          Not nearly.

  8. Cattleprod
    Cattleprod
    January 3, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

    “She’s not the abyss.” I’m glad to see that Joe is rejecting Dave Sim’s ideology.

    • Ray Radlein
      Ray Radlein
      January 3, 2022 at 3:31 am | #

      It’s the sort of thing one should a void

      • Clif
        Clif
        January 3, 2022 at 4:44 am | #

        Nothing is a voidible.

        • milu
          milu
          January 3, 2022 at 6:32 am | #

          That is true in a vacuum.

          In reality some things might have been avoided, like, say, the assassination of Chasm Soleimani.

          • milu
            milu
            January 3, 2022 at 6:55 am | #

            sorry that was a pit too dark for this sort of holesome thread. It was that or admitting that i’d come up empty.

  9. Bunny
    Bunny
    January 3, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

    And off goes Joe, to stare into the Abyss.

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 3, 2022 at 4:43 am | #

      Latest science on black holes reported in the Annals of Physics indicates that 3 minutes and 47 seconds is the amount of time you can stare into the abyss before the abyss stares into you.

      • NickG
        NickG
        January 3, 2022 at 6:32 am | #

        In a paper submitted by Yuna Williams.

        • Axel_Grease
          Axel_Grease
          January 3, 2022 at 4:47 pm | #

          Nice crossover.

  10. Agemegos
    Agemegos
    January 3, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

    Defuse.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      January 3, 2022 at 12:20 am | #

      Diffuse would probably also be metaphorically acceptable but it is considerably more uncommon and more of a stretch.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        January 3, 2022 at 12:25 am | #

        Also, things that need defused but don’t get defused have a tendency to get extremely diffused.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          January 3, 2022 at 12:29 am | #

          I prefer using “Dispersed” as my euphemism for that, but “Diffused” does work.

      • Agemegos
        Agemegos
        January 3, 2022 at 12:28 am | #

        Diffusing this would be spreading it around evenly over the whole place. Which is what he is going to do, not what he is setting out to do.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          January 3, 2022 at 12:30 am | #

          In some instances that’s a viable method of neutralizing a toxic substance. Like I said, it’s more of a stretch but you can make it work.

    • StClair
      StClair
      January 3, 2022 at 12:21 am | #

      Thank you.

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      January 3, 2022 at 12:30 am | #

      Another spelling error on a Joe strip.

      I also noticed a shading error on a Joe strip.

      Coincidence?

      • Sprite less Auntie
        Sprite less Auntie
        January 3, 2022 at 5:40 am | #

        Joe is secretly also a mind ghost. Eventually we will find out the entire strip is in Amber’s head. Or Willis’s head.

  11. Sporky
    Sporky
    January 3, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

    Isn’t it “defuse”?

    Anyway, this is not going to go as well for Joe as he’s expecting LOL

  12. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    January 3, 2022 at 12:18 am | #

    The first time Joe’s ever Joe’d a girl for the greater good.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      January 3, 2022 at 12:20 am | #

      Fun Fact I actually hadn’t read yesterday’s strip so I didn’t know the girl in question was Liz but y’know what. I stand by my post.

  13. Dara
    Dara
    January 3, 2022 at 12:19 am | #

    Nah, she’s not the abyss. Abyss and I are best buds, looks nothing like her.

  14. newlland(Henryvolt)
    newlland(Henryvolt)
    January 3, 2022 at 12:25 am | #

    Hey if anything Amber should be thanking the guy for confronting Liz for the second time that day and putting himself in another awkward situation just so she doesn’t haft to.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      January 3, 2022 at 12:30 am | #

      He doesn’t seem to know it’s Liz yet.

      • Daibhid C
        Daibhid C
        January 3, 2022 at 5:34 am | #

        And Amber literally has no idea who Liz is or any drama she may have had with Joe.

    • crow
      crow
      January 3, 2022 at 11:50 am | #

      Nobody has to, lol. She’s not mad, they can just wait for her to buy her drink and leave.

  15. BBCC
    BBCC
    January 3, 2022 at 12:27 am | #

    Ahhhh, memories are fun, eh, Amber?

  16. Rani
    Rani
    January 3, 2022 at 12:34 am | #

    She’s going to fucking run off, isn’t she.

  17. Ivy
    Ivy
    January 3, 2022 at 12:37 am | #

    Joe really took off running with this brother role, didn’t he? He’s just very intent on brothering, it’s very cute.

    • Carms
      Carms
      January 3, 2022 at 2:52 am | #

      He just KNOWS he’s got buckets of siblings out there, this is the first one he’s actually gotten to interact with. He’s gotta be able to Be There for all the kids his dad left hanging

      • Regalli
        Regalli
        January 3, 2022 at 5:18 am | #

        Eh, I suspect Richard is an ass, but in addition to not being an abusive shitstain he is genuinely less of a philandering creep than SP!Blaine, who canonically fathered a LOT more kids in SP than we found out about and had several de-kidded in DoA (Rose and Zaph are the two we know of, and Faz was originally not Amber’s half-sibling until Willis forgot he’d said that and honestly, making him at least seriously think Blaine is his bio-dad as well has made for better stories.) In light of that, I tend to believe Richard screws around, but he screws around while ensuring birth control is involved because he WOULD feel responsible if he found out about a pregnancy and strikes me as the type to look up his exes when he’s sad and alone after an inevitable breakup. … I basically think Richard is start-of-series Joe, in short. Respects a very explicit no but not implied ones, really objectifying but without the guilt now-Joe has, and yeah, practices safe sex.

        (For reference, a sequence where SP!Robin talks about her father’s cheating and then considers him in relation to Blaine. I think Richard’s the same. https://www.shortpacked.com/comic/adus )

    • Heather
      Heather
      January 3, 2022 at 5:56 am | #

      It really is. Honestly wonder how Dan would consider this side of Joe if he got to witness it more.

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      January 3, 2022 at 7:49 am | #

      This is how dudes act when they get to sidestep toxic masculinity for like five seconds.

      Like, imagine if we could just do that all the time and there wasn’t some societal expectation of it being a failure.

  18. whatevsman
    whatevsman
    January 3, 2022 at 12:42 am | #

    Man, I kinda forgot Joe was here.

  19. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    January 3, 2022 at 12:56 am | #

    That’s STEP-brother, Amber.

  20. AGV
    AGV
    January 3, 2022 at 1:38 am | #

    “What could possibly go wrong?” – Joe

  21. Bruceski
    Bruceski
    January 3, 2022 at 1:59 am | #

    So would this be a repeat-cute?

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      January 3, 2022 at 2:39 am | #

      Solid pun

  22. Bagge
    Bagge
    January 3, 2022 at 2:04 am | #

    I’m so glad Joe will sort this out and not add to the drama.

    • DarkoNeko
      DarkoNeko
      January 3, 2022 at 2:42 am | #

      HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA it’s her of all people, tho

  23. Carms
    Carms
    January 3, 2022 at 2:51 am | #

    So Liz takes him hostage like, emotionally?
    And then Amber TOTALLY destroys Liz’s whole schtick by channelling Mike and Liz gets deported to a TExan finishing school or conversion camp or something

  24. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    January 3, 2022 at 2:59 am | #

    Is the same convenience store that happened the Sal’s robbery Incident, right?

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 3, 2022 at 4:20 am | #

      No.

      • Clif
        Clif
        January 3, 2022 at 4:23 am | #

        oddly enough, the state has more than one convenience store.

        • adam Black
          adam Black
          January 3, 2022 at 4:53 am | #

          that is something i would type

    • Bicycle Bill
      Bicycle Bill
      January 3, 2022 at 4:32 am | #

      Probably not.  I’m assuming this one is in Bloomington, and while we never were told for certain, I believe the holdup took place in or near Sal’s hometown of Evansville and Amber, Ethan, and Blaine were just passing through while on a field trip.

      • Regalli
        Regalli
        January 3, 2022 at 5:25 am | #

        I’m pretty sure neither Amber nor Joe have cars on-campus, which limits this one to Bloomington or maybe within regular bussing distance (since the establishing shot also saw them reaching there on foot). And yeah, the implication with Sal’s holdup was ‘pretty close to Evansville,’ with Amber and Ethan explicitly stopping for a break on a long field trip return drive.

      • Bicycle Bill
        Bicycle Bill
        January 4, 2022 at 1:13 am | #

        I’ve pinned down this particular convenience store as the Village Pantry at the corner of S. Jordan and 3rd Street, about a block west of Galasso’s/Mama Bear’s.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      January 3, 2022 at 6:57 am | #

      Nope, we have establishing shots of both ([1] [2]) and they clearly don’t match.

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        January 3, 2022 at 6:58 am | #

        [2]

  25. Daibhid C
    Daibhid C
    January 3, 2022 at 5:30 am | #

    It’s true, Liz isn’t the Abbess! In fact, having become an atheist, she’s unlikely to achieve any ecclesiastical rank.

    • Rainhat
      Rainhat
      January 3, 2022 at 6:17 am | #

      So, she’s nun of the above.

      • milu
        milu
        January 3, 2022 at 6:43 am | #

        Sure, but Amber does not novice.

  26. Juanoku
    Juanoku
    January 3, 2022 at 5:42 am | #

    The ultimate power move

  27. Heather
    Heather
    January 3, 2022 at 5:53 am | #

    This is kind of adorable despite my concern for both Amber and Liz and their well being.

    • Arawn
      Arawn
      January 3, 2022 at 12:58 pm | #

      TBH, I’m more concerned about Joe in the next comic.

  28. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    January 3, 2022 at 5:55 am | #

    Joyce: I need some special drinks for my little dinner party. Let’s see if I can find them in a convenience store…

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      January 3, 2022 at 9:17 am | #

      Becky: I think I’ve been real mean to Joyce, even if I don’t know how to handle talking about this atheism thing. I gotta start making up for that, so I’ll just grab her favourite pop at the convenience store.

      • Sombrero
        Sombrero
        January 3, 2022 at 2:28 pm | #

        Danny: I feel a strange urge to go looking for brand new ukulele strings to the convenience store.

        • Heather
          Heather
          January 3, 2022 at 6:16 pm | #

          Sal: That sounds dumb but whatever I’ll join ya.

          Ethan: Because of my raging depression I only go out in the cover of darkness to gain what little sustenance I get from convenience store snacks as my singular daily meal.

          • Spencer
            Spencer
            January 3, 2022 at 6:49 pm | #

            The cashier: I have to stop psyching myself out. What’s the worst that could happen on my first day at a new place?

            • thejeff
              thejeff
              January 3, 2022 at 7:52 pm | #

              Also the cashier: This is a much better area. Won’t be as bad as that attempted hold up 5 years back.

  29. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    January 3, 2022 at 6:56 am | #

    Awwwww. The first time she call him “The worst brother” and he reply with a sharp “Yes”… this is so moving♡ !!! I just hope their parents don’t break up just to make them stay legally step siblings forever. This strip is so sweet and fun!

  30. J. Gawain
    J. Gawain
    January 3, 2022 at 7:33 am | #

    Yesterday I posited that Liz would go to Sarah in a meltdown. It appears Joe is going to see (and if she is really worried, comfort) her first. Still doesn’t entirely disprove my theory, but it at least throws a nail in the coffin.

  31. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    January 3, 2022 at 8:24 am | #

    This is going to go well…

    [Michael Jackson eating popcorn dot gif, but at double speed]

  32. C.T. Phipps
    C.T. Phipps
    January 3, 2022 at 9:00 am | #

    Joe is a poor Ethan because he actually tries to help.

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      January 3, 2022 at 9:15 am | #

      why does this sound like a Jaden Smith tweet in my head

  33. Stevonnie
    Stevonnie
    January 3, 2022 at 9:34 am | #

    Is Amber stuttering, or is “just just” accidental?

  34. Keulen
    Keulen
    January 3, 2022 at 9:38 am | #

    I swear every time DoA makes me think about the issues I have with social interaction, Amber manages to have even worse issues with it than me.

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      January 3, 2022 at 9:40 am | #

      Maybe I’ve just gotten used to my interactions with most people being super awkward so I don’t end up overthinking them as much as Amber is in this strip.

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        January 3, 2022 at 3:19 pm | #

        What about the anxiety? For me, in spite of doing “less” or “no” overthinking, the anxiety is still there. Maybe the relative frequency of the thinking becomes so high that I don’t notice, like a dog-whistle kind of deal? I dunno.

        • The Wellerman
          The Wellerman
          January 3, 2022 at 8:15 pm | #

          On second thought, it’s more like a hose you repress as long as you need to when you need it only to completely overwhelm you with anxiety-obsession radiation if you’re not careful.

          What’s it like for you?

          • The Wellerman
            The Wellerman
            January 3, 2022 at 8:17 pm | #

            To specify, the hose thing for now does the best to describe what it’s like for me.

            And once again I feel awkward as fuck 😪

  35. Vinter Nacht
    Vinter Nacht
    January 3, 2022 at 11:38 am | #

    Not gonna lie, groovin’ on the abstractish art-style going on in those coolers. Was just kind of admiring the detailed lack of detail involved. Nicely done.

    • not someone else
      not someone else
      January 3, 2022 at 1:32 pm | #

      It’s always great seeing the little improvements in a comics artist’s style given everything has to be on-model and non-experimental and (for daily newspaper strip formats) not take six hours per when at all possible.

  36. raultsi
    raultsi
    January 3, 2022 at 1:25 pm | #

    why is Liz still in town? Is she bailing on Ball?

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      January 3, 2022 at 3:17 pm | #

      It’s still the weekend, but something does seem to be up with her.

      Wonder when she’ll see her sister again.

  37. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    January 3, 2022 at 2:13 pm | #

    What I like about this page is that despite their parents basically getting together some months ago, she’s already fully thinking of him as a brother ?

    • Axel_Grease
      Axel_Grease
      January 3, 2022 at 4:43 pm | #

      I think they’re both only children (apart from Faz) so they’ve really leaned into the step-siblings dynamic.

    • Tan
      Tan
      January 3, 2022 at 4:57 pm | #

      I think it helps that prior to their parents together they knew each other well enough to not be ‘total stranger thrust into my life’ but also not well enough to be ‘an established relationship dynamic resistant to change’

    • Rikunda
      Rikunda
      January 3, 2022 at 11:44 pm | #

      I think over the break of months the parents got married.

  38. Ragingagnostic
    Ragingagnostic
    January 4, 2022 at 5:44 pm | #

    Did Joe just make a Nietzschean reference? Good for him!

    • Taellosse
      Taellosse
      January 9, 2022 at 2:45 am | #

      I know right? Look who’s been paying attention in Philosophy 101!

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