Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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July 9, 2026

Getting started

by David M Willis on November 29, 2022 at 12:01 am
  • 02 – Turning Saints Into the Sea
└ Tags: jason, ruth

Discussion (152) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    November 29, 2022 at 12:01 am | #

    *spent a good chunk of time trying to decide if Ruth would be on F1 or J1 or managed to get GC/naturalisation in order to maybe do a quickie wedding and apply for F2 or other for Jason*

    *suddenly thought of G1 visa: GALASSO VISA, PROBLEM SOLVED FOREVER*

    • Raen
      Raen
      November 29, 2022 at 7:34 am | #

      I thought it was a plot point that Ruth was naturalized, presumably as a minor, and hates that fact?

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        November 29, 2022 at 12:12 pm | #

        I don’t think it’s ever been a plot point, but there’s no reason to think Ruth isn’t an American citizen by birth. My understanding is that Clint’s a citizen and that her mom married and moved to Canada. Ruth was born there, but as the daughter of an American citizen, she’s one also.

        It’s a character trait that she hates having had to move to the US, but I don’t remember citizenship coming up.

        • Raen
          Raen
          November 29, 2022 at 6:06 pm | #

          I thought it was said at some point that she and Howard can’t go back to Canada permanently, even after they graduate, which is what made me think they were naturalized.

        • Ana Chronistic
          Ana Chronistic
          November 29, 2022 at 10:50 pm | #

          “relocated to another country”

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/lesbian/

          • Ana Chronistic
            Ana Chronistic
            November 29, 2022 at 10:52 pm | #

            next comic has Ruth suggest Howard was too young to miss their parents, so guess it’s been a while

            British Import Spouse mentioned having to go through naturalisation at ~16 otherwise it would’ve been harder later, so I suppose there’s that

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            November 30, 2022 at 7:53 am | #

            “Relocated” certainly, but that’s not citizenship.
            She was born and raised in Canada, but her mother at least would have been an American citizen so she would have inherited citizenship from her.
            Unless there’s a lot more to the story that we don’t know. Clint could have been Canadian and only moved to the US and naturalized after his daughter’s birth? Ruth’s mom could have renounced American citizenship before Ruth was born?

            None of that very likely though.

            • Inahc
              Inahc
              December 1, 2022 at 5:39 pm | #

              I googled naturalization, and… it seems to just mean getting citizenship? I don’t see the big deal, unless the US is a real jerk about dual citizenship. my parents brought me from england to canada as a kid, after 4 years they did a citizenship test and I just signed my name very cutely (the signature is on my citizenship card and the i has a star for a dot).
              we’re citizens of both countries, they both moved back to england after I’d grown up. I had a british passport for a while too, mainly to stay in Berlin for half a year, but then fucking brexit happened so I didn’t bother renewing it.

  2. Nathan
    Nathan
    November 29, 2022 at 12:02 am | #

    Wait, did they break up between strips or am I just forgetting something?

    • Audkitten
      Audkitten
      November 29, 2022 at 12:03 am | #

      That’s what I was wondering, too

    • Scruffy looking nerfherder
      Scruffy looking nerfherder
      November 29, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

      She made it known that she was still very much not over Billie during their physical spat and told him that it was his choice to do with that info as he pleases, expecting him to leave her out of mistrust.

    • Yeet
      Yeet
      November 29, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

      Ruth pretty explicitly Ruthed about Jennifer in front of him, and seemingly assumed the worst

    • RassilonTDavros
      RassilonTDavros
      November 29, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

      Their last interaction was… kind of ambiguous.

    • Moon
      Moon
      November 29, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2022/comic/book-12/04-dont-stop-billie-ving/yourex/
      Easy to forget when we spent the entire following chapter in the blue-screen flashback hell, but I think the linked strip only happened like 2 days ago in universe, and presumably this is the follow-up to that conversation.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      November 29, 2022 at 7:37 am | #

      Yeah, we kind of glossed over it in our excitement over halloween, but looking back it seems more obvious.

  3. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    November 29, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    I too would prefer to have Ruth as a Girlfriend than not as a girlfriend, if given the option.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      November 29, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

      And to have central heating over not having central heating, so really it’s win-win.

      • Segnosaur
        Segnosaur
        November 29, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

        He’s from England. I’m surprised he knows what central heating is.

        • Doctor_Who
          Doctor_Who
          November 29, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

          He does since Mr. Scrooge learned the true meaning of Christmas and started providing a whole shovel-full of coal a day!

        • Bobbi
          Bobbi
          November 29, 2022 at 12:22 am | #

          Oh, we have plenty of central heating; it’s air con that we don’t have!

          • ValdVin
            ValdVin
            November 29, 2022 at 1:36 pm | #

            The mere fact you call it “air con” makes me believe you’re from the British Isles.

            • Ymbrael
              Ymbrael
              November 29, 2022 at 9:12 pm | #

              “Ye wan’ sum bloody air con, innit, gov’na?”

            • Bobbi
              Bobbi
              November 30, 2022 at 3:38 am | #

              I’d assumed that it was obvious from the context of the comment that I’m from there 😂
              I have British and Irish citizenship, so your observation is even more accurate than you could have guessed

              • ValdVin
                ValdVin
                November 30, 2022 at 7:20 am | #

                But thats the thing-put on an accent, drop a few Britishisms about lifting the bonnet and going in with a spanner, and a good chunk of Americans (including me) will believe whatever you tell them.

        • Andrews
          Andrews
          November 29, 2022 at 2:10 am | #

          You wot mate?

        • Daibhid C
          Daibhid C
          November 29, 2022 at 4:26 am | #

          We got electric lighting recently too! There’s some talk of indoor plumbing by 2030.

          • davidbreslin101
            davidbreslin101
            November 29, 2022 at 8:25 am | #

            I heard a rumour we’re getting some kind of home telegraph system next year – time to brush up on me Morse code!

        • Psi Baka Onna
          Psi Baka Onna
          November 29, 2022 at 7:17 am | #

          England is pretty far up North, pretty sure we’d have all frozen to death by now without it.

          Saying that though, every family has that one member that insists that just putting a jumper on will suffice even during freak snow storms…

          • Miri
            Miri
            November 29, 2022 at 9:51 am | #

            I married one of those! However, he buys me various USB portable warmers etc (and electric blankets/throws, footwarmers, etc… I don’t really care if I look a little bit like a convict with wires going down both legs to connect my electric sole heaters to the power pack – if I don’t have purple toenails this is a total win when I have to leave the house…) so we compromise and keep the house under 19°C (but over 18°C – thank you neighbours providing heating and insulation) when he’s home and he can sleep and I’m not in pain with the cold! Win win!

            • Segnosaur
              Segnosaur
              November 29, 2022 at 10:25 am | #

              With all those USB wires, you are one step closer to being a cyborg.

              • milu
                milu
                November 29, 2022 at 12:52 pm | #

                We are all cyborgs already!

      • Sirksome
        Sirksome
        November 29, 2022 at 12:11 am | #

        Yeah but Asher is dating Jennifer, has central heating, and has a cool motorcycle. That’s a win-win-win. So I think Jason isn’t as on top as some other people who came out well from the Ruthless split.

        • BowlerHatGuy
          BowlerHatGuy
          November 29, 2022 at 6:44 am | #

          Pretty sure Asher is in on Raidah’s plan to pull Sarah and Joyces friends away from them.

          Either way, when Raidahs plan becomes plain to Jennifer, she’ll crash hard, and run back to Ruth. Messy three way hijinx ensues.

          Jason will probably bolt at that point. Cause those two onky pull each other down into the worst behaviors. And then cut to a scene of alarm clock rolling over to 7 am.

          They say we’re young and we don’t know
          We won’t find out until we grow
          Well, I don’t know if all that’s true
          ‘Cause you got me, and baby, I got you

          Babe
          I got you, babe
          I got you, babe

        • Liara
          Liara
          November 29, 2022 at 9:24 am | #

          I don’t know if I count dating a (allegedly ex-)mafioso any kind of win

          • Sirksome
            Sirksome
            November 29, 2022 at 12:04 pm | #

            Asher actually seems to genuinely like Jennifer and be a good boyfriend. His mob ties are a red flag not to trust him but Jennifer does seem very happy with him. I doubt he’s willingly drag her into any criminal mess if that ever comes up again which is about a coin flip to me.

            • BowlerHatGuy
              BowlerHatGuy
              November 29, 2022 at 2:25 pm | #

              As slow as the timeline moves, we might not see Raidahs endgame for a year or two.

            • BowlerHatGuy
              BowlerHatGuy
              November 29, 2022 at 2:41 pm | #

              Asher is evil. He stole money from the mob/grandfather before “leaving” the mob.

              Ambers father threatened to rat out asher to mob/grandad if asher didnt help ambers dad kidnap the kids.

              Asher pulls fire alarm when the goons are all in place to kidnap the cast.

              Ambers father ends up in ER.

              And if i am not mistaken, Asher used some of that mob money, and some old mob connections, to convince a dirty cop to murder ambers dad.

              Jennifer is dating a cold ass killer and is WAY over her head. If she pisses off Asher enough, she would “disappear” no body ever found.

              Sal was trying to warn people about Asher, but sal is basically Cassandra, she knows the truth, but shes black, poor, and no one wants to believe her.

              Depending on how dark willis wants to take this, Jennifer could end up dead like Mike.

              • Sirksome
                Sirksome
                November 29, 2022 at 2:57 pm | #

                I actually used to agree with you but I’ve actually come around a bit on Asher, mainly because he does seem to genuinely like Jennifer unlike the rest of his “friend” group who are much more obviously manipulative.

                I think Asher is just a selfish scumbag who made dumb decisions as a kid he’s paying for now. Him stealing his grandpa’s money is the reason he’s back in contact with his criminal family even if only slightly from what we’ve seen. A vague text message doesn’t mean he planned the hit just that he had to report that it happened. He lied to Sal about splitting with his family. You can’t trust him and he’s multiple times now proven he values himself over others…..but that doesn’t make him evil.

                I think he really likes Jennifer and that is gonna lead to problems if the position he’s in with his family ever causes conflict in Jennifer’s life.

                • BowlerHatGuy
                  BowlerHatGuy
                  November 29, 2022 at 5:51 pm | #

                  https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/03-when-it-crumbles/gone-too/

                  https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/04-is-a-song-forever/blammo/

                  The texts are on different sides of ashers phone.

                  Asher SENT message after he pulled the fire alarm and helped kidnap the cast.

                  Asher RECIEVED the text from the cop after he murdered ambers dad.

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      November 29, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

      even if she BDSMed you with even more locks then she did on Jason? 😆

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        November 29, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

        Especially if.

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          November 29, 2022 at 12:59 am | #

          Yeah, like, is that even a question?

          • The Wellerman
            The Wellerman
            November 29, 2022 at 3:27 am | #

            I imagine one of those locks would possibly be on a chastity belt 😗

            • Taffy
              Taffy
              November 29, 2022 at 4:27 am | #

              You and your belts. That’s more of a German Christmas activity, or at least it was when I was a little girl in the 60s.

              • Liara
                Liara
                November 29, 2022 at 9:25 am | #

                Man, my country sure as shit (apparently) changed since then

                • Taffy
                  Taffy
                  November 29, 2022 at 3:03 pm | #

                  Well, it was a different time. Reagan was our President, they’d just started airing Sun Vulcan on the BBC, and it was still 7 years until we’d get WiFi. Had to do something with our time, didn’t we?

                • a/snow/mous/e
                  a/snow/mous/e
                  November 29, 2022 at 4:22 pm | #

                  When you said the 60s, did you mean the 80s?

                • Taffy
                  Taffy
                  November 29, 2022 at 11:13 pm | #

                  I was trying to spread the anachronisms around a little more, but accidentally picked the wrong toku show. Funny enough Sun Vulcan did air on a BBC, but it was one in the Philippines.

                  I don’t think there was WiFi in either decade, though. Also I was never a little girl. Or German. Just a real cascade of untruthfulness.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 29, 2022 at 4:34 am | #

      I don’t disagree.

  4. Francoinblanco
    Francoinblanco
    November 29, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Well, Json has a weakness for hot women and warm rooms

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      November 29, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

      In my experience, Json’s big weakness is that it doesn’t allow comments or attribute tags like Xml does, but it is easier to read and takes up less space.

      (Sorry, I’ll go be a wiseass somewhere else now)

      • StClair
        StClair
        November 29, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

        That box lets you be a wiseass across all of time and space… and from what I’ve seen, you take full advantage of that.

        • BowlerHatGuy
          BowlerHatGuy
          November 29, 2022 at 2:48 pm | #

          Cursed with immortality, they decide to insult everyone in the universe.

      • Mark
        Mark
        November 29, 2022 at 6:38 am | #

        Somebody had to say it.

  5. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    November 29, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Ugh. Having trouble typing my name correctly on my phone. Stupid fat fingers. Jason is being okay. I had to type this three times!

  6. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    November 29, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    Hearts Afi~i~ire…

  7. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    November 29, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

    Theirs is a dynamic I wasn’t originally into, but it’s growing on me.

    • Erik
      Erik
      November 29, 2022 at 7:39 am | #

      It definitely beats watching Ruth and Jennifer reenact Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (or eventually War of the Roses)…

  8. BBCC
    BBCC
    November 29, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

    That’s fair and also unexpectedly sweet.

  9. Nono
    Nono
    November 29, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

    Gotta say, if I was in Jason’s shoes I would be a rolling ball of stress. Visa statuses are no joke.

    • AeromechanicalAce
      AeromechanicalAce
      November 30, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

      I’m pretty sure Jason IS a rolling ball of stress. I’m just as sure he’s too big of a believer in the “Stiff upper lip” trope to ever show it to anyone.

  10. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    November 29, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

    good a reason as any i suppose

  11. Slartibeast Button, BIA
    Slartibeast Button, BIA
    November 29, 2022 at 12:20 am | #

    In my dorm in college the heating was messed up. Room near the center were horribly over heated, such that we had to keep the window cracked all through the upstate New York winter. And the windows in the bathroom were open, which was handy for all the squirrels who stole toilet paper to build their nests in the ivy on the walls.

    I was told it had to be that way, or the rooms at the end of the building wouldn’t get any heat at all.

    That said, the excessive heat never did me any good on the romance front.

    • Lexi
      Lexi
      November 29, 2022 at 12:45 am | #

      Hey, my dorm room was also constantly overheated. Always blazing hot, to the point where I left the balcony door open all winter in a Canadian city.

      Eventually, I got maintence to come in, at which point they informed me that the person who had written “hot” and “cold” on the temperature dial had it wrong, and I’d just had the dial cranked to the hottest possible setting, because it said “cold”.

      • darkoneko
        darkoneko
        November 29, 2022 at 8:27 am | #

        hahahahahahahahaha

      • Just_IDD
        Just_IDD
        November 29, 2022 at 9:58 am | #

        I’m so going to have to do that the next time I have the opportunity. Dislike cold much below 0c

  12. Slartibeast Button, BIA
    Slartibeast Button, BIA
    November 29, 2022 at 12:22 am | #

    Of course, the visa problem may not ever come up given how slowly the in-strip time advances. Like in Megatokyo.

  13. Dana
    Dana
    November 29, 2022 at 12:24 am | #

    Jason is quite the pragmatist.

  14. JepMZ
    JepMZ
    November 29, 2022 at 12:31 am | #

    Wouldn’t she know if they broke up?

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      November 29, 2022 at 12:33 am | #

      Not if she doesn’t read her text messages…

    • StClair
      StClair
      November 29, 2022 at 12:36 am | #

      Just the other day, it was noted that lots of people’s response to hearing of Lucy dating Walky was “does he know?”

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        November 29, 2022 at 4:35 am | #

        “It IS Walky!”

        “Yeah, but does he know?

  15. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    November 29, 2022 at 12:37 am | #

    You make a compelling argument

  16. Taffy
    Taffy
    November 29, 2022 at 1:06 am | #

    Fuck him, Ruth. Right there behind the bar. He complimented your central heating, that’s man-speak for eternal devotion. Source: I’ve met lots of men.

    • Daibhid C
      Daibhid C
      November 29, 2022 at 4:25 am | #

      It took me two goes to realise you were saying “F**k him” literally, because I’m so used to people in this commentariat hating everyone.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        November 29, 2022 at 5:16 am | #

        The only character I hate in this comic is Ryan. He’s not fun or interesting to me in any capacity. Everyone else I’m just loud about sometimes.

  17. Ari
    Ari
    November 29, 2022 at 1:46 am | #

    please break up please break up please break up…

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      November 29, 2022 at 2:33 am | #

      Does nobody want anybody to date in this comic? Every time there’s two characters on-panel, somebody has to say something about a breakup.

      • Clif
        Clif
        November 29, 2022 at 4:18 am | #

        By now they should know that it only happens on Valentines day, Halloween or other special occasions.

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        November 29, 2022 at 4:25 am | #

        Dating is hard and expensive nowadays…

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        November 29, 2022 at 5:23 am | #

        To paraphrase Jason, “how much misanthropy do these people run on?”

        • BowlerHatGuy
          BowlerHatGuy
          November 29, 2022 at 6:57 am | #

          Ruth and Jennifer are the two most disfunctional people in this strip. Of course they’re pulled to each other. No one else would put up with their shit.

          Experiejce has given me a zero tolerance policy for battery, little respect for anyone who stays with a physically abusive partner, and rage to anyone who thinks physical violence is acceptable. Ruth and Jennifer are just toxic bullshit.

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            November 29, 2022 at 3:06 pm | #

            “Little respect for anyone who stays with a physically abusive partner” 🤡

            Might be a reason they’d stay (couldn’t possibly imagine what), but sure, blame the victim. Like, it’s not illegal to do that, I guess.

            • Taffy
              Taffy
              November 29, 2022 at 3:07 pm | #

              Damn it, I closed the b with /I again

          • David M Willis
            David M Willis
            November 29, 2022 at 3:25 pm | #

            “little respect for anyone who stays with a physically abusive partner”

            oh c’mon man, jesus

            there’s literally articles written for people like you: https://www.joinonelove.org/learn/why_leaving_abuse_is_hard/

            “And while seeking help to get out of these relationships is the most important thing, blaming someone in an abusive relationship is never okay. There is a big difference between judgment and responsibility. While someone might have used bad judgment by staying in an unhealthy or dangerous situation, it does not mean that they are responsible, or asking, for the abuse perpetrated against them.”

            • BowlerHatGuy
              BowlerHatGuy
              November 29, 2022 at 5:34 pm | #

              Children cant easily leave abusive parents. Financially strapped adults cant easily leave abusive partners. When a person is stranded with their abuser in some way, they cant just leave.

              For people who are stranded with their abuser, my heart breaks for them and i wish them stregth.

              Jennifer was not stranded with Ruth.
              Ruth was not stranded with Jennifer.
              And that was part of the point of moving jennifer to a different building. To keep them from stranding themselves with each other.

              And sure, Ruth has dead parents, an asshole grandfather, and needs meds. And Billy has shit parents, was top of her apparently fake world when she had the accident and everyone made clear they only cared about appearances, turned on her, and she hit bottom.

              But i’ve lost track of all the physical violence between them, both have initiated violence at one point or another. They are both abusers when it gets to the worst point of their relationship.

              Switch either of these two assholes to a male characteter and they’d wear a wife beater tshirt, be alcoholic, beat their partner, lose their job, nearly get thrown out of school. And blame his partner for his own decisions. And i should have any respect for that?

              They are clinically DEPRESSED. they need PROFESSIONAL HELP. they make each other WORSE. they are ENABLING the worst characteristics of each other. Yes they deserve the space to be human and be flawed, no they arent asking for abuse, but jesus fucking christ, these two were how close to double suicide? Hours?

              This isnt a simple victim blaming thing. Because both of these assholes are also the perpetrators. Both are the abuser of the other. I dont have any respect for that and the fact that they keep going back to each other, that ruth still isnt “over” her abuser and that ruth isnt over abusing jennifer, makes me think both these idiots thinks the abuse was ok.

              And so then im like hey, Ruth, Jenn, fuck both of ya’s you assault and barttery shitheads.

              There are 11 reasons for not leaving an abusive relationship in that article you linked. None of them apply to either of these two at this point in time. Not a single one.

              The closest one might be #2. But both of these two had no self esteem BEFORE the relationship started. And the spiral of physical abusive and near suicide should make clear they cant give the other self esteem, but instead make the other worse.

              And to be clear those 11 reasons for staying are nearly all unhealthy choices. Not leaving because your partner might kill you is the healthiest choice from a shitty list of options. But that one doesnt apply to ruth/jenn. And the rest are just unhealthy. Staying because of societal pressure? Unhealthy. Staying because your abusive partner has great apology sex? Unhealthy. Staying because abusive partner is gaslighting? Unhealthy. Staying because you “love” the person constantly abusing you for months? Unhealthy.

              No they might not be “asking for” tge abuse. But the way out of their abuse is to stoo any unhealthy behavior that is keeping them in an abusive relationship.

              There is no healthy reason for Ruth to still be pining for Jennifer. Their relationship was abusive enabling abusers enabling low self esteem driving them both damn close to suicide.

              If this is romeo and juiliet tragedy, then fine. Theyre tragic lovers circling the fucking drain of shakespearean romanticized death.

              But you’ve written them as real people who are just shit together. Theres nothing healthy about their relationship on any real level. Theres nothing loving about them being together. There is nothing healthy about Ruth pining for some romanticized version of what she thinks she and jennifer had. Odds are getting them back together will get somebody killed. If thats the plot line you are heading too, fine. If its a plot on rails then fine, ride the rail. But i dont have to respect these two moths to their deadly flames. Amd i sure as shit aint buying whatever romanticized bullshit Ruth is selling about why shes pining for the woman she repeatedly beat the shit out of for months. If they “loved” each other, then how is that different from a husband in a wife beater shirt standing over his wife whith a black eye telling her that he “loves” her?

              How is ruth any different than a wife beater husband? How is that not Ruth thinking physical abuse ok?

              Im not blaming the victim here, i am furious at the abusers that are ruth and jennifer who think their casual violence is ok or maybe some expression of their love.

              • Taffy
                Taffy
                November 29, 2022 at 6:33 pm | #

                TL;DR
                Blah blah blah, any excuse in the world.

                • WizardPantaloon
                  WizardPantaloon
                  November 29, 2022 at 11:56 pm | #

                  This is exactly why I flipped my shit the other day.

              • The Oracle
                The Oracle
                November 29, 2022 at 6:45 pm | #

                “Healthy” this, “unhealthy” that. Whatever. You can just say you don’t like a character without saying weird shit about “respect” and physical abuse.

                • BowlerHatGuy
                  BowlerHatGuy
                  November 29, 2022 at 7:49 pm | #

                  ““Healthy” this, “unhealthy” that.”

                  Willis linked to an article that talked about people in unhealthy relationships and why they might not leave. “Healthy” or “unhealthy” occurs in the article 10 times. Its kinda a key point of the article that a relationship isnt “healthy” for one reason or another, and discusses several unhealthy reasons for staying.

                  “without saying weird shit about “respect” and physical abuse.”

                  Whats weird about saying i dont respect Ruth for pining for someone she repeatedly abused?

                  Whats weird about watching Ruth tell her victim “just let me play the victim here. Let me blame you for not rushing back to me for more abuse” and me go wtf?

                  If next week Asher shoves Jennifer against a wall, slams her to the ground, kicks her out of his place, then a week later berates her for not trying hard enough to come back to him, do you expect anyone to say “aw, theyre cute. I hope they work it out”? Cause that is seriously messed up shit.

                  Does it make any difference if its then followed by a flashback showing Ashers terrible childhood in the mafia and we find out he is suicidal? Are we supposed to sympathize with abusers? Are we making excuses for abusers?

                  Wtf

                • Yumi
                  Yumi
                  November 29, 2022 at 8:31 pm | #

                  It seems like you really struggle to understand what people say here. I don’t think you’re a bad person or that you mean to come off so unpleasantly, but sometimes it is rather… oof.

                  The part of your post that people were objecting to was “little respect for anyone who stays with a physically abusive partner.” Then you go into all this rambling about Ruth and Jennifer– but that wasn’t the issue! The way you tie the comic and your reactions to it to statements about big, real life groups of people in such damaging ways is the issue. Don’t have respect for Ruth? Whatever. Don’t have respect for Jennifer? Okay. At the end of the day, who really cares, they’re fictional characters.

                  But maybe someone on here has a mom or dad or other family member who stayed with an abusive partner. Maybe someone on here stayed with an abusive partner themself. And you’re just hear announcing that you have little respect for those people.

                  Also, really feel like you missed the key point of the article– to help people understand why leaving can be complicated and help promote empathy in people who might say shitty things like how they don’t respect people who don’t leave.

                • The Oracle
                  The Oracle
                  November 29, 2022 at 8:37 pm | #

                  “Are we making excuses for abusers?”

                  Oh, shut up. 🙄

                • Joy
                  Joy
                  November 29, 2022 at 11:04 pm | #

                  As expected from the fake dali lama quote guy…

                • BowlerHatGuy
                  BowlerHatGuy
                  November 30, 2022 at 9:16 am | #

                  “part of your post that people were objecting to was “little respect for anyone who stays with a physically abusive partner.” Then you go into all this rambling about Ruth and Jennifer”

                  Because it was in reference to Ruth and Jennifer. I specifically name Ruth/Jennifer in the sentence beforr and i specifically name Ruth/Jennifer in the sentence after.

                  Theyre not children trapped by an abusive parent. Theyre not a victim trapped by an abusive spouse who threatens to kill them if they leave. They are not a victim financially trapped by an abusive partner who controls all the money. Ruth/Jennifer could have left the other at any time. I lost respect for them when they both stayed.

                  And its impossible to look at their relationship without seeing them both as abusers. Somehow their violence got normalized though. Ruth parents died and gramps is an asshole so its ok she hits Jennifer? Jennifer “loves” Ruth so the hitting is just an expression of that love? Its ok because they both hit each other? Or something? Fuck if i know. How are these two any different than some guy who had a shitty day at work, then comes home, and beats his wife? The wife sobs for an hour, and eventually the guy says “look, its just that i love you so so much, ok?”

                  I should believe this gaslighting bullshit that ruth or jennifer “loves” the other? Why? Because we saw Ruth do a nice thing for Jennifer? Because we saw Jennifer try to help Ruth with her meds? Seriously? The guy in the wife beater shirt will on rare occaision bring home flowers for his victim. The guy in the wife beater shirt will, on rare occaission, try to take his victim out on a “nice date”. If the wife got sick and ends uo in the hospital, the guy wearing the wife beater shirt might remind her to take her meds when they get home.

                  Can anyone explain how ruth/jennifer are any different than a guy in the wife beater shirt? Is it because ruth/jennifer “really” love each other? Give me a break. This is highly romanticized “love” bullshit indistinguishable from gaslighting, enabling, and normalizing abuse.

                  This comic sees right through the bullshit when someone goes to church and then uses that to justify gaslighting, enabling and justifying abuse. But for sone reason, Ruth/Jennifer get presented sympathetically for doing the same thing.

                  If Jennifer went to church, sang hymns about love, and praised the lord for his love, then came home and body slammed ruth, i imagine that behavior would get presented differently.

                  I thought maybe ruth/jennifer path was eventually going to have them see what they were doing to each othsr without the gaslighting that tried to normalize abuse, and they would try to deal with their horribleness. I thought this recent nonsense was them heading the wrong way. But, apparently not. Apparently Ruth still “loves” her victim. Ugh.

                  Back to the abuse normalization it is then….

                • Yumi
                  Yumi
                  November 30, 2022 at 11:19 am | #

                  You’re creating arguments that people are not making while ignoring what people are actually trying to say to you. It’s exhausting, honestly.

                • BowlerHatGuy
                  BowlerHatGuy
                  November 30, 2022 at 1:49 pm | #

                  “You’re creating arguments that people are not making while ignoring what people are actually trying to say”

                  Im sorry i caused upset around this. If i had a time machne i would definitely go back and worded this differently. I wasnt saying victims were “asking for abuse”. I apologize for not being well versed in this stuff. I apologize for being shitty at putting things into words. And i apologize for what i thought was from the dalai lama. I tried to think of the words that have helped me, but i didnt know those words were so widely abused. I apologize for any hurt that caused. It wasnt my intent to abuse or be abusive.

                  I dont know how to say this clearly and probably part of the reason is i have a strong gut reaction to Ruth and Jennifer that i feel but dont know how to put into clear words where it lands with everyone exactly how i intended, but i see Ruth and Jennifer have beat on each other so many fucking times, guilt tripped each other so many fucking times, gaslit each other so many fucking times, and i dont understand why I should not hold them in the same dis-regard as some guy in a wife beater shirt doing the exact same shit to someone, or some guy invoking jesus to justify doing the exact same shit to someone?

                  Thats probably the closest i can get to the feeling and put into words. Actually, the feeling is pretty pissed off, so throw in a bunch more fucking fuckity fucks. And it might be accurate.

                  And I dont know if there is a legit answer to this. I dont know if Im just missing something about these two that would make me go “oh i get it” or if they’ve crossed a line for me that no amount of explanation and backstory will ever allow me to see them in any other light that doesnt involve a wife beater shirt.

                  Cause feelings are dumb and make no fucking sense.

                • Yumi
                  Yumi
                  November 30, 2022 at 4:16 pm | #

                  That’s honestly fine, and not, at all, an out-there perspective on here. (Though I don’t know about the repeated invoking of the “wife beater shirt”… like, why? I mean, I get it as a stereotype image, but like most stereotypes it’s messy at best.)

                  You do not have to like Ruth and Jennifer or their relationship. Many here don’t. People who have different feelings and different ways of reacting to fiction does not mean you have to “get it.”

                  “The relationship between Ruth and Billie was toxic and built on abuse”– yeah, many of us feel that way. It’s not, like, a hot take. It’s the other stuff that you threw in that was the issue, and the doubling down without understanding when people objected.

                • BowlerHatGuy
                  BowlerHatGuy
                  November 30, 2022 at 8:11 pm | #

                  ” “wife beater shirt”… like, why?”

                  Because wife beating characters wearing wife beater shirts are seldom presented in a sympathetic light. But it feels like Ruth and Jennifer have repeatedly committed violence but are presented sympathetically. A terrible childhood. Being ostracized. What have you. And because Ruth/Jennifer and none of the main characters suffers consequences for initiating violence.

                  Joe had a sex list and did a donut apology tour. Joyce lied about being jacobs girlfriend, and lost Jacob as a friend. Joyce went militant atheist on becky and dorothy called her on jt and joyce eventually apologized for it.

                  In ten ish years of comics i dont recall a single main character initiating violence and then suffering any consequences for it. Other than another character is violent back, maybe. The closest i can think of is when Sal figured out Amber was the girl who stabbed her, at some point Sal went to Amber and said “I forgive you” with no apology from Amber. Ruth and Jennifer? Have beat thr crap out of each other more than i can count. No apologies. No acknowledgment that it was wrong. No consequences. Nothing.

                  So many of these characters deal with real world consequences of all sorts of different kinds of bad behavior, but violence is a joke (Ruth gonna rip out femurs) or comicbook vigilanteism or domestic violence with no consequences. Walky doesnt say “i love you” correctly to Dorothy and she breaks up with him. Ruth beats the shit out of Jennifer on their first floor meeting, and zip. More shoves and body slams over time. And then we hear Ruths parents were killed by a drunk driver so i guess we sympathize with Ruth for that and forget the violence? Its never addressed or acknowledged.

                  Even weirder, all the main characters who commit violence are women and its generally portrayed sympathetically. Joyce gives gash face s scar. Ruth body slams Jennifer. Jennifer is violent to Ruth. Amber is a vigilante against thugs. Sal and Amber have pbysical fights, chokeholds, etc. Sal takes a bat to gash face. Amber stabs gash face 60 times. Its a disturbing relationship to casual violence.

                  Joe? Danny? Ethan? Mike? Walky? Nope. Mike tackles Ambers dad, but that was literal life and death self defense. And he died as a result. Imagine Danny suplex Dorothy for dumping him on day 1? Would not be funny. Would not be acceptable.

                  The men who initiate violence are all portrayed clearly in non sympathetic light. Ambers dad murders beckys dad. Beckys dad fires a gun on campus and kidnaps becky. Gash face roofies joyce. Asher helps with kidnapping and orders a hit on Ambers dad.

                  I dont know whats going on. But it feels like this comic reoeatedly asks people to overlook and sympathize with violent women. But its still violence. Ruth and Jennifer are still abusing each other. But it gets a weird presentation that downplays what it is. Like its ok.

                  The wife beater guy was a character i know wouldnt get the same symoathetic treatment. But i also just realized its some kind of gender thing in DoA.

                  I dunno. I just know Danny supplexing dorothy would not get the sweep-under-the-rug treatment that Ruth gets for all the supplexing shes done. And it just weirds me out.

                • Yumi
                  Yumi
                  November 30, 2022 at 8:43 pm | #

                  You give really long answers for things that miss the point of what you’re replying to. Not that you don’t necessarily have a different, if separate, point in what you’re saying, but… oof.

              • Nova
                Nova
                November 29, 2022 at 7:23 pm | #

                Must be nice to be this fucking self-involved and unempathetic. Otherwise I can’t imagine why people like you stick to it so aggressively.

                Not reading that mountain of victim blaming horseshit, but I hope you grow up and learn to give a shit about people who aren’t carbon copies of yourself.

                • Taffy
                  Taffy
                  November 29, 2022 at 8:38 pm | #

                  Must be fuckin’ nice.

              • Alan Lafond
                Alan Lafond
                November 29, 2022 at 8:33 pm | #

                So, let me get this straight….

                YOU say: “Experiejce (sic) has given me a zero tolerance policy for battery, little respect for anyone who stays with a physically abusive partner, and rage to anyone who thinks physical violence is acceptable. Ruth and Jennifer are just toxic bullshit.”

                David posted an article in response to the part of your comment where you state “little respect for anyone who stays with a physically abusive partner” without in any way addressing your final sentence in his response to you.

                You then argue against David’s response, trying to apply the article he posted to your final sentence “Ruth and Jennifer are just toxic bullshit.”

                Congratulations! You just won the Completely-Sidestep-The-Actual-Point award!

        • The Wellerman
          The Wellerman
          November 29, 2022 at 9:03 pm | #

          I am so glad I slept through this shitstorm. 😵‍💫

          Sorry if I caused it in any way with my initial comment.

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            November 29, 2022 at 9:09 pm | #

            You definitely didn’t. Humans, y’know?

            • The Wellerman
              The Wellerman
              November 29, 2022 at 9:30 pm | #

              😌☺️

      • Raen
        Raen
        November 29, 2022 at 5:36 am | #

        If any couple in this comic were remotely healthy…

        • BowlerHatGuy
          BowlerHatGuy
          November 29, 2022 at 7:45 am | #

          It pains me to say this, but Joe and Joyce are in the running for remotely healthiest couple. Joe expressed real feelings and joyce acknowledged him while managing her menstrual pain. It helps that joe is slightly cardboardish character. We know less about him than other characters and much of his dialogue is comedic relief(telling two arguing women they should make out, or “i like sex, isnt that funny!”, etc). And we practically have a world atlas of joyces internal machinations and she’s mostly trying to do right. Stealing Jacob was low. Her militant atheism towards becky was low. But she is, for the most part, trying to do right.

          Danny and Sal, maybe? Danny seems so… tentative? Or something? He keeps saying he’s trying to.figure himself out so many times that i cant tell if he has real feelings for Sal or if she’s magic marker tatoo sleeves to him. And Sal has improved. She used to play cool to supress her anger, and resolved a bunch of her anger. But she has something going on where she views a gift as ownership, even if she wants the gift. She paid danny for the bike gift. And she refused the flowers and then had ro “steal” one to maintain her “badass” facade. They both have some figuring out to do.

          Dina has a really healthy relationship towards Becky. Becky has the standard sex-is-evil programming to unlearn, but is currently turned up to 11. But otherwise has a good relationshio towards Dina. Sometimes Becky gives off a vibe that her whole happy-all-the-tine shtick is just an act. Like its a little too manic. And its maybe a way to avoid her sadness. Cause when Becky is sad, hooboy, she does nothing halfass.

          Walky and lucy act like middle school kids.

          Asher is probably in on Raidahs revenge plot and doesnt actually care about jennifer. Jennifer is so, so, broken.

          Ruth and Jason cone in last place for healthiest couple. Ruth is an abusive gaslighting alcoholic who beats her partners. If she were a male trope, she’d wear a wife beater shirt, be drunk all the time, and beat the shit of of her girlfriend. Shes the worst. Yes she has a tragic backstory. But shes still an asshole. And jennifer is just so, so broken that she still wants ruth. And jason is pretty flat compared to the others. Had sex with student, but at least takes ownership of his mistake. Rich evil father thing going on, but no details.

          • Blume
            Blume
            November 29, 2022 at 9:34 am | #

            Did you mix up Danny and Sal? Sal is the one who’s tentative, and not sure if she’s okay with the label girlfriend. And Danny is totally accepting of that, and says they can be whatever she wants- he just likes hanging out with her. They’re a couple, but not labeled as such yet.

            • Joy
              Joy
              November 29, 2022 at 10:22 am | #

              Bowler hat guy is the fake dali lama quote guy, you can ignore a lot of what he says.

              • BowlerHatGuy
                BowlerHatGuy
                November 29, 2022 at 1:55 pm | #

                “Bowler hat guy is the fake dali lama quote”

                He’s nothing but a low-down, double-dealing, backstabbing, larcenous perverted worm! Hanging’s too good for him. Burning’s too good for him! He should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive!

                • Taffy
                  Taffy
                  November 29, 2022 at 2:55 pm | #

                  I remember that quote from Nausicaä.

                • Daniel M Ball
                  Daniel M Ball
                  November 29, 2022 at 5:30 pm | #

                  ahem, “STERRRRNNNNNNN!!!!”

                • BowlerHatGuy
                  BowlerHatGuy
                  November 29, 2022 at 5:39 pm | #

                  STERRRRNNNNNNN

                  Hah!

            • BowlerHatGuy
              BowlerHatGuy
              November 29, 2022 at 10:23 am | #

              I dont know what the best word for danny is, but he is always “trying to figure out who i am”. His magic marker tattoo sleaves kinda captures the feeling.

              Dont know, maybe im a tattoo guy. Lemme try some total body cover temporart tattoos to see how it feels. Maybe im a hat guy. Maybe im a ukelele guy.

              Given all that, i dont know if he feels about sal like he feels about whatever his current experimentation is, or what.

              Sal wasnt so much “tentative” of girlfriend label as she was used to being the “side chick” or the “hookup babe” or whatever terms but her into both a “bad girl” category, but also a “not worthy of a serious relationship” category.

              She asked Joe if Dannys parents would like her. He answered slightly negativly, and with that info Sal felt better about the “girlfriend” label.

              • cbwroses
                cbwroses
                November 29, 2022 at 10:23 pm | #

                Not sure you’ll ever see this, and I’ll probably not see anyone’s reply to this, but I hope you realize that searching in one aspect of life by no means equals searching in all aspects of life.
                People can be unsure of their goals in life, yet unsure of their relationships, and vice versa.
                He’s not even being indecisive. He’s not wobbling back and forth.
                He’s trying new things, which is pretty much the college life stereotype.
                And he’s also pretty much stuck with everything he’s tried.
                Had a hat, kept the hat until it blew away, then was given a new hat.
                Started playing the ukulele, still plays the ukulele months later on an almost daily basis.
                Even with his romantic relationships, he’s not the one who ends it.
                And he has been friends with Joe his whole life despite disapproving of Joe’s in behavior in a couple different areas.
                Writing this makes me realize that the guy is pretty steadfast in his decisions once he’s made them.

                • BowlerHatGuy
                  BowlerHatGuy
                  November 30, 2022 at 10:51 am | #

                  “searching in one aspect of life by no means equals searching in all aspects of life.”

                  I get that.

                  “Even with his romantic relationships, he’s not the one who ends it.”

                  But isnt that how he ended up following Dorothy to a college he didnt want to attend?

        • BowlerHatGuy
          BowlerHatGuy
          November 29, 2022 at 7:52 am | #

          Forgot Leslie and her girlfriend. Leslie is as nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rabid pitbulls.

          Sarah and “other jacob” might get second place for remotely healthiest couple. Then Danny/Sal.

      • Ari
        Ari
        November 30, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

        this ship does not particularly spark joy and i would rather see them with other people. it’s not that deep.

  18. The Oracle
    The Oracle
    November 29, 2022 at 4:24 am | #

    Who’s this guy? Is this his first appearance?

    • BowlerHatGuy
      BowlerHatGuy
      November 29, 2022 at 10:27 am | #

      Thats Mr Bean, Walky knows him.

      • a/snow/mous/e
        a/snow/mous/e
        November 29, 2022 at 4:57 pm | #

        So Jason is Leslie’s dad?

    • vulcanodon
      vulcanodon
      November 29, 2022 at 3:38 pm | #

      Click on his name in the character tag under the strip, and you will be able to see all his previous appearances

    • a/snow/mous/e
      a/snow/mous/e
      November 29, 2022 at 5:04 pm | #

      Jason used to be the calculus TA, but then he got fired for romancing a student (although the accusation was actually a lucky guess). Walky got him a job at the bar through bowtie-based gaslighting. He has a new haircut since the timeskip, and he’s been dating Ruth ever since she aborted her date with Daisy the newspaper editor.

  19. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    November 29, 2022 at 4:24 am | #

    my goal in relationships is to be cool as Jason is

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      November 29, 2022 at 3:09 pm | #

      He’s a little flaky, though. Like, where’s he go when all those monsters are attacking the town? And then he suddenly reappears when the attack is over? Little strange.

  20. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    November 29, 2022 at 4:28 am | #

    I really like Jason. He’s a sweet man, wants to be in a stable relationship, clearly has an open mind, ge really likes Ruth and he’s probably the best thing that’s happened to her in months. I think they are really compatible. I hope now Ruth can be happy and think seriously about this new relationship.

    • Dr. T
      Dr. T
      November 29, 2022 at 4:44 am | #

      I mean, I like the Jason character and feel as though he has the potential for growth, but I do have mixed feelings about him. While I don’t feel he deserves the vitriol Sal holds for him (she initiated things and then expected him to fix her grades), but he also was not a good TA (not to mention the whole sleeping-with-a-student thing) and was obscenely self-absorbed.

      • Joy
        Joy
        November 29, 2022 at 8:46 am | #

        I get the impression that season 2 jason is less self absorbed.i think he totally deserves vitriol from sal though.

      • BowlerHatGuy
        BowlerHatGuy
        November 29, 2022 at 2:51 pm | #

        He’s flawed, but seems to be trying.

    • WizardPantaloon
      WizardPantaloon
      November 29, 2022 at 2:48 pm | #

      If Willis can actually show some intimacy, or at least some more depth to the relationship in the same way as Ruth was with Billie (minus the toxicity) then I wouldn’t mind them getting together. As of now though I’m still holding out that Ruth and Billie will manage to work things out.

  21. Thomas
    Thomas
    November 29, 2022 at 8:17 am | #

    Is Jason fired from Galasso’s and now working in another bar?

    • Liara
      Liara
      November 29, 2022 at 9:30 am | #

      That is Gallasso’s Bar. Exact same background as during Ruth and Daisy’s date

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2021/comic/book-11/04-hompk/nood/

    • vulcanodon
      vulcanodon
      November 29, 2022 at 1:39 pm | #

      He was fired from his grad student/teaching associate gig for sleeping with a student IIRC

      • anon
        anon
        November 30, 2022 at 3:14 am | #

        yep he hooked up with sal, and another teacher got fired for doing the same thign with others tho she “ratted him out” and didn’t actually know but yeah

  22. vulcanodon
    vulcanodon
    November 29, 2022 at 1:38 pm | #

    Ahh, the warmth of relationships…

  23. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    November 29, 2022 at 1:55 pm | #

    Foghorn Leghorn once took interest in a hen for warmth in winter.

    (Fighting Legion is what my autocorrect wants to make it.)

    • BowlerHatGuy
      BowlerHatGuy
      November 29, 2022 at 2:52 pm | #

      I gaht… i say i say i gaht my vandages to keep me warm…

      • ValdVin
        ValdVin
        November 29, 2022 at 7:42 pm | #

        A well-spent youth for many of us Americans means not having to have to look up that line.

  24. BowlerHatGuy
    BowlerHatGuy
    November 29, 2022 at 3:51 pm | #

    Asher standing outside dorm rooms after he pulls fire alarn and helps goon squad kidnap the cast

    https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/03-when-it-crumbles/gone-too/

    Asher standing outside hospital when dirty cop murders ambers father.

    https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/04-is-a-song-forever/blammo/

    Here’s the important detail: the texts are on opposite sides of the screen. Meaning the first one was FROM ASHER, telling ambers dad Asher pulled the alarm. And someobe texted TO ASHER right after the cop murdered ambers dad.

    Ambers dad knew asher stole money from mob/grandad and used that to blackmail asher into helping kidnap the cast. Asher had the cop murder dad so he wouldnt be able to keep blackmailing him.

    Asher paid to have ambers dad murdered.

    • BowlerHatGuy
      BowlerHatGuy
      November 29, 2022 at 4:00 pm | #

      This means Jennifer is dating someone who helps kidnappers and pays for murders. And Jennifer is stuck in Raidahs web of lies to extract revenge from Sarah and Joyce. Jennifer is waaaaaaaaayyyyy over her head.

      If asher is part if raidahs plot, then when the truth explodes out, it will go towards jennifer, and maybe Ruth or Jason are collateral.

      If asher is not in on the plot, the truth will probably explode towards raidah too, and who know where it bounces to. Maybe Jenn sees Asher as her hero for raidah getting hurt.

      Either way, Asher is a bad news

      • Joy
        Joy
        November 29, 2022 at 11:07 pm | #

        I have decided that I like asher.

  25. Wendy
    Wendy
    November 29, 2022 at 4:07 pm | #

    I don’t get these two at all, as a couple. I’m baffled. But it seems less toxic than Ruth and Billie were, so more power to them I guess?

    • a/snow/mous/e
      a/snow/mous/e
      November 29, 2022 at 5:13 pm | #

      They seem to be taking it slow. …Although I’m not sure what the handcuff stuff was about. But as far as emotional attraction, they don’t seem to have a deep connection yet, just enough to want to explore. They do seem to enjoy each other’s company, at least.

      • a/snow/mous/e
        a/snow/mous/e
        November 29, 2022 at 5:15 pm | #

        That’s my take, anyway. Probably not the best at reading people, lol

    • Daniel M Ball
      Daniel M Ball
      November 29, 2022 at 5:35 pm | #

      Please keep in mind something: none of the main cast have matured to the point that they can distinguish between “Love” (which is messy, complex, and enduring) and “Being In Love” (which is a hormone-driven endorphin rush that wears off over time because nature wants bodies making babies…but sometimes gets the address and port wrong.) a “mature” relationship at this point ain’t-gonna-happen before I hit retirement.

      • BowlerHatGuy
        BowlerHatGuy
        November 29, 2022 at 6:23 pm | #

        “sometimes gets the address and port wrong.”

        Have you tried a power cycle?

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        November 29, 2022 at 8:53 pm | #

        “sometimes gets the address and port wrong.”

        *Intelligent Design* my ass.

  26. Johan
    Johan
    November 29, 2022 at 5:21 pm | #

    This is a messy relationship but it’s got some boundaries and the opportunity to grow.

    Well at the very least there hasn’t been literal bloodshed. Looking forward to the messy rebound relationship.

  27. CardinalFan
    CardinalFan
    November 29, 2022 at 6:33 pm | #

    In the immortal words of “The Dude” “It’s my lady friend man!”

  28. David Doty
    David Doty
    November 29, 2022 at 10:59 pm | #

    Sometimes it’s okay to just date casually with both of you knowing it isn’t going to be a long-term thing. That may be what’s happening here. And I think they could both use some non-drama pleasant time.

  29. Meagan
    Meagan
    November 30, 2022 at 1:21 am | #

    I still ship these too.

  30. Beef
    Beef
    December 2, 2022 at 7:16 pm | #

    I hate this relationship so much

CHOOSE A SIDE, NO COWARDS

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  • Polls Archive
CONVENTION APPEARANCES


September 13/14, 2025 - Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland

David M Willis! avatar
David M Willis!
@damnyouwillis.bsky.social
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1h
so i got photos of the makeship dina plushie proto and honestly it looks 100% perfect except sidebar the hood can pull off the head, like a real hoodie which is something i didn't even consider should i leave that as an option, or tell them to sew the hood to the top of the head
7
1
18
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 4h
let me tell you about this head i got
3
3
37
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 5h
LOOK OUT GUYS!!! ELMO'S IN LEX LUTHOR COLORS!!!!!
8
8
64
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 6h
And then there were four
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 6h
daylight
5
3
71
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 7h
okay let's go see how many extra tricerahoodie dina magnets i gotta order for kickstarter add-ons A HUNDRED AND THIRTY???
1
20
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 9h
Ahh, the elusive Yacht Brother
video thumbnail
3
2
25
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 18h
"for example, both olive and i are dedicated to negging women into dating wilbur"
1
1
24
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 18h
Dumbing of Age: "Evacuating" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Evacuating
tomorrow's strip, up early on patreon, is pretty big...
4
4
40
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 18h
trying to figure out why i have these weird shoulder pains these last few days am i dying is it indigestion am i sleeping wrong no it turns out i just have terrible fucking posture when i paint things
2
1
57
 
reposted by David M Willis!
katietiedrich.bsky.social's user avatar
Katie Tiedrich @katietiedrich.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
steak loft
a red building adorned with the words STEAK LOFT
14
29
225
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
forbiddenqt.bsky.social's user avatarQT 🔞 @forbiddenqt.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
I now better understand many of Dorothy's choices as a character
3
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73
 
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infinata.bsky.social's user avatar
Pablo Hidalgo @infinata.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Cobra Commander and his wife, Debra Commander
7
22
197
 
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magdalene visaggio 🏳️‍⚧️ @magsvisaggio.com ⋅ 1d
#mutualaid
magsvisaggio.com's user avatarmagdalene visaggio 🏳️‍⚧️ @magsvisaggio.com ⋅ 1d
Hey! I'm incredibly humiliated to be doing this again in such a short span of time. I need to raise $5k to make a down payment on my rental arrears. We are paying our monthly rent, but we still owe a lot, and if we dont get it settled soon we're gonna lose our place. Venmo magdalene-visaggio
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14
 
reposted by David M Willis!
danlehner.bsky.social's user avatar
paul khruangbin (Dan Lehner) @danlehner.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
@smilingnodding.bsky.social

every new restaurant in every major city is either called Thistle+Thorn and thinks adding turmeric to brussel sprouts makes them worth $30 or is called
Burger Bitch and has a neon sign in the window that says
cole1.bsky.social's user avatarCole @cole1.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
the worst genre of burger place is now available on uber eats in our area
124
1816
8243
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Carlas and Joyces!
2
1
62
 
reposted by David M Willis!
rphutch1975.bsky.social's user avatar
X-Men Don't Need Britches 💙💛 @rphutch1975.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Anyways, it is SUPERMAN week!
9
327
986
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
For June's second bonus strip, we see an AMAZI-GIRL moment concurrent with today's strip! Read this bonus strip and hundreds of previous at the Dumbing of Age Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/second... and remember you can always pledge up to read tomorrow's strip 👀
amazi-girl tackles a riot cop right behind asma
2
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David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
If I have to learn Ditto is a foot tickling fetishist, then so do you
2
37
 
reposted by David M Willis!
embienbi.bsky.social's user avatar
Em @embienbi.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
You fifteen years ago: I know, I'll start a college comic. That's an experience that never changes. Classes, parties, relationships, it'll be easy. You now: well I guess I have to address that police brutality is part of the college experience. That's uh... Not great
1
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David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Dumbing of Age: "Cuffed" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Cuffed
uh oh!  tomorrow's comic is viewable early on patreon!...
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9
51
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
package grandpa-simpsoning in and out of and in and out of and in and out of and in and out of schiller park
2
23
 
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David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Mario Kart World hits my attention span just right. Why do I want to do the same lap 3 times in a row? Why can't all three-to-five laps be all different things who wants to drive in a circle mario kart world takes me places
5
3
62
 
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Dan Schkade @danschkade.bsky.social ⋅ 1y
Check out my new original character, Guy Around the Office Who's 100% Noticed That Clark Kent Is Superman
45
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
1
4
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David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Asking an elderly person to identify Yosemite Sam is a real dementia check question, especially if they respond with his voice actor.
7
5
68
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
stop copying my story beats, luann!!!!!
4
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90
 
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David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
thinking about how that one gijoe message board site is called hisstank, for some reason
techcrunch.com's user avatarTechCrunch @techcrunch.com ⋅ 4d
Jack Dorsey working on Bluetooth messaging app, Bitchat
header image - Jack Dorsey working on Bluetooth messaging app, Bitchat | TechCrunch
techcrunch.com
Jack Dorsey working on Bluetooth messaging app, Bitchat | TechCrunch
Block CEO and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey wrote in an X post on Sunday night that he spent his weekend creating an app called Bitchat (presumably a
7
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
Dumbing of Age: "More trouble" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
More trouble
you can read tomorrow's strip now on patreon, if you want...
4
7
51
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
i know the second patreon bonus strip of the month tends to drop on the 6th day of the following month, and it's now the 9th, but i gotta hold on to this one for at least one more day, for reasons
23
 
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benrosen.bsky.social's user avatar
Ben Rosen @benrosen.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
1977: why would the bartender in star wars even care if some robots with artificial intelligence came into his bar 2025: ohhh ok
199
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20214
 

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