Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

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May 19, 2026

A few words

by David M Willis on August 10, 2022 at 12:01 am
  • 05 – This Was Halloween
└ Tags: dorothy, sarah

Discussion (92) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    August 10, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    “UNOFFICIALLY… tell them I AM NOT ENJOYING THIS”

  2. BBCC
    BBCC
    August 10, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    Yay, Dorothy gets the nerdy speech she so craves and Sarah doesn’t have to admit that she’s enjoying a social gathering! Win-win.

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 10, 2022 at 1:05 am | #

      And we get to enjoy it. Win-win-win.

  3. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    August 10, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Dorothy/Sarah interactions are one of the unsung heroes of DoA comedy.

    • Pylgrim
      Pylgrim
      August 11, 2022 at 6:59 am | #

      Honestly, I think that it’s slowly developing towards a real hostility/rivalry.

  4. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    August 10, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    …everyone’s doing their things and having fun, why the hell do you want to call people’s attention to make a speech

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      August 10, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

      Well, Dorothy wants to do it because she’s Dorothy, AKA Leslie Knope without the breakfast food obsession.

      And Sarah wants her to do it because making everyone awkward and uncomfortable for a couple of minutes is hilarious.

    • anon
      anon
      August 10, 2022 at 4:39 pm | #

      i mean it’s a little bit awkward other than a specific celebration or so for someone but i can imagine a college aged person doing a toast/cheers, tho prolly something more walky-esque in word choice than whatever dorothy would talk aboutl ol

  5. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    August 10, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Do people really need to “say words” at a Halloween party? That feels like a more formal gathering type deal.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      August 10, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

      Dorothy doesn’t do informal anything

    • King Daniel
      King Daniel
      August 10, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

      “Lend me your ears.”

      “Like…our costume ears?”

      • milu
        milu
        August 10, 2022 at 6:51 am | #

        Person who came as the dancer from Crimes of the Future:
        “This might take a moment”

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 10, 2022 at 12:30 am | #

      “It’s time for the costume judging contest!”

      “Wait, now? We’ve BEEN judgey about everyone else’s costumes since we all got here!”

    • The Oracle
      The Oracle
      August 10, 2022 at 5:12 am | #

      Yeah, like what the actual hell is she even on about right now? Is she drunk again? I’ve never once seen somebody Address The Room at a small get-together.

      • Sirksome
        Sirksome
        August 10, 2022 at 5:38 pm | #

        I think Dorothy’s just bored and socially awkward.

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      August 10, 2022 at 4:35 pm | #

      I haven’t been to a lot of Halloween parties, but I definitely feel like this event isn’t nearly formal enough for a speech.

  6. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    August 10, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    Sarah’s really got Dorothy’s number.

    …she should pass it along to Joyce.

    • Nicoleandmaggie
      Nicoleandmaggie
      August 10, 2022 at 9:14 am | #

      ROFL

  7. butts
    butts
    August 10, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    it only took one panel

    • milu
      milu
      August 10, 2022 at 8:09 am | #

      Not even leaving time for a silent panel. Amateur hour

  8. Caro
    Caro
    August 10, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    Dorothy has been somewhat dislikeable for the past two arcs and I can’t put my tongue on why but I am enjoying that

    idk i like this strip’s ability to bounce people around between ‘beloved blorbo’ and ‘Villain. Jail’ within the span of like two strips

    • C.T. Phipps
      C.T. Phipps
      August 10, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

      There’s a lot of humor that Dorothy is an incredibly nice girl and a really good, if someone overbearing, friend.

      But her story becomes increasingly funnier the more you realize she’s got terrible social skills and couldn’t win RA in an election let alone a political office.

      • darkoneko
        darkoneko
        August 10, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

        We know someone else with as terrible social skills that somehow got elected, too. mostly thanks for her aides tho 😀

      • Black
        Black
        August 10, 2022 at 12:22 am | #

        Yeah, that’s absolutely true. Honestly, Dorothy may know a lot about how the political system works, but actually BEING a politician… No. Not going to happen.

        Her going in front of a crowd to try winning their vote would essentially start with “Greetings, fellow humans!”

        • Slartibeast Button, BIA
          Slartibeast Button, BIA
          August 10, 2022 at 12:42 am | #

          I’m seeing her ending up a policy wonk in the background of someone more charismatic.

          • Clif
            Clif
            August 10, 2022 at 1:07 am | #

            Becky, you say.

            • C.T. Phipps
              C.T. Phipps
              August 10, 2022 at 1:25 am | #

              I mean that would be pretty ideal as a pairing, I think.

              🙂

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          August 10, 2022 at 8:23 am | #

          Maybe. There are a lot of quite successful politicians who aren’t charismatic.

          Her route is more likely the building a reputation, slow rise through the ranks approach rather than sweeping to victory out of nowhere. She’s also got time to build social skills – they are skills after all.

          • C.T. Phipps
            C.T. Phipps
            August 10, 2022 at 3:23 pm | #

            I’m not sure of any Presidents who haven’t been charismatic.

            • thejeff
              thejeff
              August 10, 2022 at 5:40 pm | #

              Guess it depends on what you mean – how charismatic you have to be?

              Just for recent ones – Neither Bush was in the Obama/Clinton league. Biden isn’t particularly charismatic, from my pov.

            • milu
              milu
              August 10, 2022 at 6:10 pm | #

              Or a man. Or some shade of Christian. At some point you gotta try.

              …then again this is such a weird conversation. I’m sure even Dorothy herself, for all her unironic ambition, knows she’s likely not gonna end up prez. Girl wants to be in politics, and she’s a pretty decent person. How is that a bad thing? Why are people constantly pointing out how unfit for the job she is?

              Unless everyone giving her a hard time is a committed anarchist or free-market fundamentalist (aka libertarian, don’t @ me) we all essentially accept political institutions are a fact of life. Wouldnt you have a few try-hard but sincere Dorothies amid the scores of cynical trust-fund jerkwads and slimy fascist ghouls???

              • thejeff
                thejeff
                August 10, 2022 at 10:27 pm | #

                The thing that’s weird to me about Dorothy is that she does always frame it in terms of being President, not about going into politics. Makes it seem a childish idea of ambition, rather than something more serious.

                • milu
                  milu
                  August 10, 2022 at 11:07 pm | #

                  Yeah, I think the point is to portray her as kind of naive and conceited, and represent a certain kind of well-meaning white entitlement. but she’s also shown as extremely driven and determined and ultimately pretty grounded so i feel like she’d naturally grow out of it. (Especially as she learns enough history and geopolitics to realize how cringe its sounds to say you want to be “leader of the free world” LOL)

                  I guess we’ll see, maybe she’s like the Paul Dano character in Little Miss Sunshine and has a total meltdown when she realizes she’ll never become president

              • Taellosse
                Taellosse
                August 15, 2022 at 9:00 am | #

                Because art imitates life imitating art imitating life? Fan reaction to Dorothy is basically a remix of the 2008 primary and the 2016 election seasons.

  9. The Wellerman
    The Wellerman
    August 10, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    So like Dorothy.

    I sure hope she will be humbled as soon as possible.

    Best to set off that sadness avalanche now before it does any serious damage.

  10. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    August 10, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    More Than Words/Is all you have to do to make it real…

  11. Nono
    Nono
    August 10, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    Sarah got caught having fun, and she would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for that meddling Dotty.

    • Bratty Roger
      Bratty Roger
      August 10, 2022 at 10:23 am | #

      🥴😏🤣🤣🤣😏❗

  12. C.T. Phipps
    C.T. Phipps
    August 10, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    Dorothy: Good news, everyone! I’VE GOT INTO YALE! I’m leaving next week!

    Joyce: :stare of unmitigated horror:

  13. StClair
    StClair
    August 10, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    “Do the thing.”
    “Oh no, I’m too busy pretending to not have fun. You do the thing.”
    “Oh no, I’m too busy pretending to not be an attention-seeker.”

  14. Francoinblanco
    Francoinblanco
    August 10, 2022 at 12:13 am | #

    Loopholes, loopholes everywhere

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 10, 2022 at 1:22 am | #

      An essential political skill.

  15. epitome of incomprehensibility
    epitome of incomprehensibility
    August 10, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

    “Unofficial capacity” 😛 Because a Halloween party needs an official chair, you see. And treasurer, and secretary, and social media manager…

    Oh yes, and I just read the last few strips. The whole “queer debauchery” set-up made me giggle. Some strong “No fighting in the war room” energy. Go queer debauchery!

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      August 10, 2022 at 12:19 am | #

      Go queer debauchery!

      • Rose by Any Other Name
        Rose by Any Other Name
        August 10, 2022 at 1:19 am | #

        Yes Ma’am!
        **salutes**
        **departs to partake in queer debauchery**

        • The Wellerman
          The Wellerman
          August 10, 2022 at 3:16 am | #

          😊

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 10, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

      Of course a good Halloween party needs all those things. But none of those positions are the “say a few words” position. THAT belongs to the Master of Ceremonies.

      • milu
        milu
        August 10, 2022 at 8:05 am | #

        A good Halloween party also has an official misanthrope, a role that requires a lot of dedication. Thank Cthulu Sarah’s taking her position seriously.

  16. Johan
    Johan
    August 10, 2022 at 12:24 am | #

    Yeah I think Dorothy plays a hand in both breakups. Not on purpose or anything.

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 10, 2022 at 1:26 am | #

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2022/comic/book-12/05-this-was-halloween/deepdarkhole/ was completely on purpose.

      • milu
        milu
        August 10, 2022 at 7:56 am | #

        I’m sorry — did you see Walky’s impression of Dexter? Did you see which hand he was making a claw with? what else could Dorothy even do, I ask you

  17. Stifyn Baker
    Stifyn Baker
    August 10, 2022 at 12:54 am | #

    Dorothy will make a perfect politician. She has exactly the right combination of well-meaning and arsehole.

  18. Clif
    Clif
    August 10, 2022 at 1:15 am | #

    Gotta say, I am loving these Halloween costumes. Willis is good to us.

    I mean, this is all a set up to rip our hearts out so he can feast on our tears, but still.

  19. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    August 10, 2022 at 2:14 am | #

    “Here, twist my arm.”
    Sarah barely touches it.
    “Hold on there … you tryin’ to break it?”

  20. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    August 10, 2022 at 2:24 am | #

    Speaker of the House Dorm, Dorothy Keener

    • Eldritchy
      Eldritchy
      August 10, 2022 at 4:21 pm | #

      Well at least this is less likely to trigger a war with China

  21. Minibit
    Minibit
    August 10, 2022 at 3:27 am | #

    So she’s definitely going to have a breakdown during this speech, right?

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 10, 2022 at 4:17 am | #

      Have or Cause?

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        August 10, 2022 at 11:32 am | #

        ¿Por qué no los dos?

  22. The Oracle
    The Oracle
    August 10, 2022 at 4:39 am | #

    “Say a few words”? About what, ya little weirdo? Let people just hang out and do their thing, nobody needs a speech or eulogy right now. Why’s everything gotta be An Event with this girl?

    • Eldritchy
      Eldritchy
      August 10, 2022 at 4:20 pm | #

      Gotta practice being annoying for that Presidential gig.

      • The Oracle
        The Oracle
        August 10, 2022 at 5:39 pm | #

        You’re not wrong. Every time I see a politician doing basically anything that’s not fixing a problem that matters, I get very annoyed. Intellectually, I understand that they probably have working hours like any other job, but also screw ’em.

        • Eldritchy
          Eldritchy
          August 10, 2022 at 6:23 pm | #

          Wait politicians solve problems and not just create them to justify their existence O_o ?

  23. Tarkara
    Tarkara
    August 10, 2022 at 4:58 am | #

    Is “Halloween” gonna turn out to be code for “Dorothy Had a breakdown and spilled everyones secrets in public”

    • milu
      milu
      August 10, 2022 at 7:48 am | #

      What secrets?

  24. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    August 10, 2022 at 5:37 am | #

    I’m gonna praise how Sarah’s draw are more and more cutie. Nice job, Willis!

  25. motorfirebox
    motorfirebox
    August 10, 2022 at 7:15 am | #

    This is going to end well. There will be no drama and zero tears.

    • milu
      milu
      August 10, 2022 at 7:50 am | #

      I love how that is not ever true in a Willis comment section normally, but in this case is even more desperate than usual because we know for a fact things *have* to go very wrong, very fast

  26. Username Taken
    Username Taken
    August 10, 2022 at 9:43 am | #

    I’m glad to see that I’m not the only reader whose reaction was “Why do you need to give a speech at a Halloween party?”

    • The Oracle
      The Oracle
      August 10, 2022 at 12:10 pm | #

      I’m at a complete loss as to what she even wants a speech about. Even just “a few words” is baffling to me, unless those words are “Hey, I’m putting on a movie! Do we want Nightmare or Friday?”

      • Alex
        Alex
        August 10, 2022 at 2:19 pm | #

        Possibly it’s related to the kidnapping that took place recently?

        • The Oracle
          The Oracle
          August 10, 2022 at 2:58 pm | #

          Yeah I’m sure that’s exactly what these kids wanna think about right now.

        • Username Taken
          Username Taken
          August 10, 2022 at 11:26 pm | #

          Please no hahaha

  27. Sporky
    Sporky
    August 10, 2022 at 10:39 am | #

    is this the only way dorothy knows how to get attention, or

  28. maarvarq
    maarvarq
    August 10, 2022 at 11:20 am | #

    That’s a kind of Questionable Content expression on Sarah’s face in the first panel, as when one of Jeph’s more tsundere characters like May is likewise called out on not being as antisocial as they pretend.

  29. Wendy
    Wendy
    August 10, 2022 at 2:30 pm | #

    Ahahaha I love Sarah.

  30. Derek
    Derek
    August 10, 2022 at 3:30 pm | #

    who the hell gives a speech at a Halloween party??

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      August 10, 2022 at 4:32 pm | #

      Dorothy, apparently.

      • JBento
        JBento
        August 10, 2022 at 7:56 pm | #

        Truly, the scariest thing about Halloween.

  31. Keulen
    Keulen
    August 10, 2022 at 4:32 pm | #

    This isn’t Sarah’s 111th birthday party, nobody needs to give a speech.

    • Eldritchy
      Eldritchy
      August 10, 2022 at 5:01 pm | #

      She would probably have a thing or two to say about knowing some people more than she would like to.

  32. milu
    milu
    August 10, 2022 at 5:35 pm | #

    Hi this is your resident contrarian and I think giving speeches at random friendly gatherings is a fine idea! Speeches are weird to begin with, why would it be more appropriate to give a speech at a wedding or retirement event than at a halloween party?

    Its good when stuff happens at parties. If Dorothy was a magician no one would make a fuss about her getting up and doing card tricks. Why not a speech? Maybe people will heckle you and you’ll decide to stop giving a speech. Heckling speech-givers is a fine idea also and will only contribute to the party being non-boring! Yay for speeches! And heckling! And magic tricks! I have spoken.

    • Bicycle Bill
      Bicycle Bill
      August 10, 2022 at 7:48 pm | #

      Been meaning to ask … just who or what is your avatar supposed to be?  It bears a strong resemblance to Millie Tant, a British cartoon character from the 1980s as a satirical caricature of an outspoken radical feminist, but she was always shown with a closely-shaved head and wearing a version of a traditional Zulu basket hat.

      • milu
        milu
        August 10, 2022 at 8:04 pm | #

        my avatar is an artistic rendition of what i actually look like, courtesy of The Wellerman, based on a hand-drawn self-portrait =)

        i looked up that character, aaand… ew. it doesn’t seem like my kind of comic anyway, but the couple strips i checked out featuring Millie Tant (as well as the summary of her character on wikipedia) make the artist sound like a total shitlord. ah, the 80’s, its saturated fashion, its sick club beats, its virulent antifeminist backlash…

        i do kind of appreciate the idea that i might have tried to rehabilitate a feminist caricature, but no.

  33. Mr D
    Mr D
    August 10, 2022 at 8:50 pm | #

    only 72 comments on a comic?
    Did I miss out on an argument blowup or something?

    • milu
      milu
      August 10, 2022 at 9:49 pm | #

      eh, i think people are just on holiday ^^

      besides i think when comments are deleted the counter doesn’t go down, so that wouldn’t be the reason. the only way you’d notice is by checking the actual number of comments on the page. (say, by ctrl-F’ing something like “August 10, 2022”)

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        August 10, 2022 at 10:12 pm | #

        i just ctrl-F “10,” in this case

        and i though i was the only one that did that

        • a/snow/mous/e
          a/snow/mous/e
          August 10, 2022 at 10:50 pm | #

          seems like “10” could appear in a comment, though… eg as a substring of “100%”, or even the time of day. you could get a general estimate, but it would be more accurate with a larger search phrase

        • milu
          milu
          August 10, 2022 at 10:51 pm | #

          Now why would you think that ^^

          I’ve actually found a Firefox extension that allows you to do regex searches, that way I can search only for comments posted after a certain time, the formula is just obscene it’s something like,

          at ((([]|1[01])….am)|(([1-9]2?|[01])….pm))

          Its been a while since I’ve used it, so i’m not sure I got it right.

          …of COURSE this is the only place I’ve ever needed a regex search tool, because other websites have normal comment sections lol. DYW.

          • The Wellerman
            The Wellerman
            August 10, 2022 at 11:12 pm | #

            welp, if im ever gonna get far as a programmer, imma need to learn Regex eventually. :0

            • milu
              milu
              August 10, 2022 at 11:26 pm | #

              I mean.. will you? I don’t know that’s its super useful outside of, like, maybe copy-editing, and linguistic corpus research and a few idiosyncratic situations like this one. Also there really isn’t much to learn, there’s like 10 symbols which you just combine to make weirdly specific searches. I can’t even remember how I learned it, probably fooling around on excel as a teen (I had an excel obsession for a minute, listen)

              • The Wellerman
                The Wellerman
                August 10, 2022 at 11:27 pm | #

                Hey now, Regex can save the day 🙂

                https://xkcd.com/208/

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