Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
RSS
‹
›
  • Home
  • About/Read before posting
  • Archive↓
    • by calendar
  • Cast
  • Store↓
    • Main Store (books and stuff)
    • T-shirts
  • Patreon↓
    • Patreon (regular)
    • Patreon (NSFW)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
nice to meet you
First Previous Random 223Comments Share Next Latest
Reddit Digg Facebook MySpace Delicious Stumbleupon Buzz Up! Mixx Technorati Google Bookmarks Yahoo Bookmarks Yahoo MyWeb Windows Live Propeller FriendFeed Newsvine Xanga LinkedIn Blinklist Twitter
Discover more Hiveworks comics
Guilded Age
T Campbell, John Waltrip, Florence Machina
Welcome to the saga of the working-class adventurer! Enjoy the complete story with new annotations daily!
Paint the Town Red
Windy, Winter Jay Kiakas
Winona runs a werewolf shelter with partner in crime, Odile in the Gothic city of Merlot. One day they take in an injured vampire, and soon unravels many of the dark secrets of Merlot.
Cyanide & Happiness
Explosm
Satire, dark humor and surreal humor.
No End
Erli, Kromi
A queer romance about people attempting to build lives in a cold, post-apocalyptic world ravaged by hordes of undead.
Hemlock
Josceline Fenton
A witch accidentally marries a monster, and now she and her familiar has to navigate life around her monstrous husband and her even more terrifying in-laws.
All Known Alternatives
Karolina 'Kajotko' Jankiewicz
Akane has only one way to get back home: collect the 42 keys to parallel worlds. Eri and Ben are just trying to get through the summer before university. When a magical key turns up in an old spare set, all three are forced to change their plans and fast.
Dumbing of Age
David M Willis
Joyce has been homeschooled her entire life until now, when she's suddenly a freshman in college! Things don't go well.
BOOKMARK
Click "Tag Page" to bookmark a page. When you return to the site, click "Goto Tag" to continue where you left off.
Goto TagClear Tag


BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

June 14, 2026

Charlie

by David M Willis on April 27, 2023 at 12:01 am
  • 03 – Joementum
└ Tags: becky, booster, carla, charlie, jennifer, ruth

Discussion (223) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    April 27, 2023 at 12:01 am | #

    half surprised Carla remembers Jennifer

    • Joe Helfrich
      Joe Helfrich
      April 27, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

      Only as long as she wants something from her.

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      April 27, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

      She had to briefly be one of Ruth and Billie/Jennifer’s secret keepers, so it makes sense.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      April 27, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

      I’m surprised she remembers to call her Jennifer, but the “outing her relationship with the RA to the entire dorm” is one of those incidents that you’re going to remember for the rest of your life.

      • tim gueguen
        tim gueguen
        April 27, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

        I suspect Carla is pretty attentive to calling people what they want to be called given she would have been deadnamed more than once when she began to transition. Unless of course she thinks they’re a real creep, like Mary.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          April 27, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

          That’s a really good connection I hadn’t thought about

        • Matthew Davis
          Matthew Davis
          April 27, 2023 at 2:35 am | #

          Yeah, I was just thinking this as I read the final two panels. At first it seemed out of character for Carla, but then I reconsidered.

    • JBento
      JBento
      April 27, 2023 at 6:10 am | #

      Well, she used to be Billie, and girls with boy names are hot.

      • Ana Chronistic
        Ana Chronistic
        April 27, 2023 at 8:21 am | #

        Yeah, but Jennifer’s not a “boy” name 🤷🏻‍♀️

    • Fetch85
      Fetch85
      April 27, 2023 at 11:46 pm | #

      Jennifer used to be Billie. She thinks Girls with boys names are hot, I hear.

      • Ana Chronistic
        Ana Chronistic
        April 27, 2023 at 11:58 pm | #

        funny thing is I just realised I’ve read this comic for so long that I’d forgotten “Billy” is (also) a boy’s name XD

  2. TrueVCU
    TrueVCU
    April 27, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

    Ok Jennifer gets points for that one

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      April 27, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

      Right? Carla walked into it after having it explained to her. The troll gets trolled.

      • James
        James
        April 27, 2023 at 12:45 am | #

        But- but why would anyone ever wish to spurn Carla??

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          April 27, 2023 at 1:28 am | #

          Maybe Jennifer’s still holding a grudge at Carla for outing Ruth?

        • Taellosse
          Taellosse
          April 27, 2023 at 1:50 am | #

          Entertainment value?

        • Swissaboo
          Swissaboo
          April 27, 2023 at 2:50 am | #

          Because they’ve met her :v

      • BadRoad
        BadRoad
        April 27, 2023 at 7:01 pm | #

        To be fair, the only way Carla could have anticipated this outcome is by trying to imagine what someone else is thinking.

  3. NGPZ
    NGPZ
    April 27, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

    Carla is literally Willis’s cat!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

  4. Anastasia
    Anastasia
    April 27, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

    Oooo finally Booster and Charlie in the same room on-screen!

  5. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    April 27, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    This is Carla’s villain origin story.

    • Angel
      Angel
      April 27, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

      i mean surprised she wouldn’t have more of a villain origin story earlier from getting dragged into ruth & jen/billie’s ‘suicide pact’ lol

    • Rognik
      Rognik
      April 27, 2023 at 12:21 am | #

      She’s not a villain already?

      • Angel
        Angel
        April 27, 2023 at 12:36 am | #

        more-so a shit stirrer or just someone chaotic. tho she seems to wnat more attention than just causing chaos for the heck of it

      • Ophidiophile
        Ophidiophile
        April 27, 2023 at 2:25 am | #

        Yeah, I thought her villain origin story was that she was from a rich and famous family.

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          April 27, 2023 at 12:43 pm | #

          And the government tried to keep her from being. https://www.dumbingofage.com/ding/
          Carla making herself known is a middle-finger to the people who don’t want her to exist. It is a habit that’s backed by having wealthy parents who support her (and pay for lawyers). It also tends to keep people at arm’s length.
          And, this is just a suspicion, Carla might be face blind, and being egocentric has functioned as a handy cover when she doesn’t recognize people or gets them mixed up.

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          April 27, 2023 at 12:49 pm | #

          sorry, couldn’t suppress etymology nerdery. Villain comes from a word meaning peasant or serf, who was obligated to work the land in a Villa. The opposite of rich and famous.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        April 27, 2023 at 2:23 pm | #

        Villain is when loud

        • Aura
          Aura
          April 27, 2023 at 8:59 pm | #

          Yeah that checks out

  6. ADLegend21
    ADLegend21
    April 27, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    haha, got ‘er. Nice one Jennifer Billingsworth

  7. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    April 27, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

    Alright, that’s probably the longest it’s taken for a character to get tags, since she first appeared… Back in 2021 apparently. Huh.

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      April 27, 2023 at 8:22 am | #

      idk, “Sue” took a while to show up, even after getting named

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        April 27, 2023 at 12:51 pm | #

        … And who is Sue, again?
        😉

        • milu
          milu
          April 27, 2023 at 5:35 pm | #

          a T-Rex.

  8. BBCC
    BBCC
    April 27, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    Oh come on, Carla, you’re a troll extraordinaire, you must realize you GAVE her that one.

    • Taellosse
      Taellosse
      April 27, 2023 at 1:53 am | #

      Why do you think she looks so annoyed to have to introduce herself?

  9. Erica
    Erica
    April 27, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    Anyone else find Jennifer super condescending here? Charlie is responsible for herself and doesn’t need to be treated like a baby because she’s neurodivergent, she doesn’t need to be “looked after”

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      April 27, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

      Thank goodness, I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought so

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      April 27, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

      Yeah that was my first thought too. Did Charlie ask for help?

    • Angel
      Angel
      April 27, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

      at the very least, a college campus should be a safe place to ‘wander’, i tend to zone out too, try not to be airheaded when i’m crossing teh street but sometimes i do need friends to help me focus or cling onto/hold their hand lol. she seems unaffected though. guess we’ll have to wait til next strip to see if booster says anything about it

      • Erica
        Erica
        April 27, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

        Totally, and the key word here is friends. If I was Charlie I imagine I might ask a close friend to help me with things I struggle with after disclosing my neurodivergence to them, but I certainly wouldn’t want classmates who I barely even know and I’m not friends with treating me like a little kid

        • Mark
          Mark
          April 27, 2023 at 7:14 am | #

          “Hey, Charlie, class is starting.” Oh! the indignity!

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            April 27, 2023 at 12:43 pm | #

            There’s a difference between giving her a heads up class is starting and ‘don’t let her wander around on her own’ like you’re her minder.

      • Doxkid
        Doxkid
        April 27, 2023 at 12:22 am | #

        If I’m remembering correctly within the last year someone tried to roofie Joyce, Beckie was kidnapped (several people were kidnapped, but Beckie is in the room so we’ll go with her), and Mike was pushed off a building.

        Sounds perfectly safe! No bad people to worry about ’round these parts!

        • Angel
          Angel
          April 27, 2023 at 12:41 am | #

          well if jennifer was concerned for those reasons, that’d be valid but it just seems so far like another day to day life of classes, unless charlie’s gotten caught up with something off screen we weren’t aware about (tho booster didn’t think she needed any special attention for now even if theywere having trouble tracking her down)

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      April 27, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

      It’s a mix for me. Jen’s also the only one who bothered to learn her name which shows a level of caring no one else here displayed. Condescending and caring is kind of her thing.

    • Caro
      Caro
      April 27, 2023 at 12:25 am | #

      it’s worth noting that jennifer has done that to, like, half the cast.

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      April 27, 2023 at 3:17 am | #

      It’s nice that she helps people when others don’t, but yeah I definitely find Jennifer really condescending at times.

    • Regina phalange
      Regina phalange
      April 27, 2023 at 4:23 am | #

      Jennifer’s condescending to everyone. Her first comment here pretty much sums up her “ugh, woe is me, having to be responsible for everyone, hellllllooooo all you others, get on my level of role-model-goddess” shtick. But aside from that, based on that last strip, she literally caught Charlie walking AWAY from their class moments before it was going to start. So it actually does seem like Charlie *does* need some kind of help?

      I’ve been holding back on commenting on Charlie until we know how exactly she is neurodivergent. Many have been assuming ADHD, but I don’t want to assume either way—I have ADHD, but would not want to comment on anything besides the disorder I actually have, and often times ADHD partners up with similar conditions.

      That said, if she has ADHD and nothing else? From what we’re seen, she needs help. (Not Jennifer’s help, mind, but a professional’s.)

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        April 27, 2023 at 8:42 am | #

        Yeah, we haven’t seen a lot of her yet, so it’s hard to say, but given what we’ve seen, it’s not unreasonable to think she needs some help.

    • Sombrero
      Sombrero
      April 27, 2023 at 6:21 am | #

      Cheerleader, problem solver, … just Billie’s old schtick in new Jennifer form.

      • Angel
        Angel
        April 27, 2023 at 10:24 pm | #

        Well, she’s not as ‘social climbing’ as Raidah(?) but given the ‘head cheerleader’ vibes, other than it making her look better, you’d think she wouldn’t even bother unless charlie was known to be popular herself versus her helping out/befriending joyce because she (joyce) was gushing over how ‘cool’ jennifer was

        • drs
          drs
          April 28, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

          I think Jen is actually more compassionate than just doing it for points.

    • Bryy
      Bryy
      April 27, 2023 at 9:37 am | #

      Jennifer’s super ableist, so this tracks.

    • RassilonTDavros
      RassilonTDavros
      April 27, 2023 at 12:35 pm | #

      I mean, super condescending is pretty much how Jennifer always acts, so this didn’t strike me as particularly odd for her.

    • Drew Hargrave
      Drew Hargrave
      April 27, 2023 at 5:28 pm | #

      Jennifer has always been like that, for better and for worse. She’s the one who best handles serious shit because she’s always expecting it, and HAS been there for people in that way, but she is also incredibly condescending as though everyone but her is so stupid that they’ll be assaulted at any time. It’s a very interesting mixture imo, and one of the only somewhat redeeming qualities she has.

      Her strength/virtue is being protective, but she does it even if unwanted, and she acts as though it makes her superior and mature.

  10. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    April 27, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    DOCTOR SCOTT!

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      April 27, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

      Now I’m picturing a young Carla watching that movie and just shouting her name between every other name in the scene.

  11. Segnosaur
    Segnosaur
    April 27, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    Interesting… now that she’s tagged we can see how far back she made her first appearance. (Including in the background of one of Leslie’s classes.)

    • Bicycle Bill
      Bicycle Bill
      April 27, 2023 at 12:54 am | #

      It looks like Willis missed tagging her for last Sunday (4/23/2023).

  12. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    April 27, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    Hmm, so Jennifer not only knows Charlie’s name, but also evidently knows enough about her as a to be concerned when she’s left alone. Interesting.

    Also WOW was her very first retroactively-tagged appearance a lot earlier than the one I was expecting. Kudos for that slipping under everyone’s noses.

    • Cattleprod
      Cattleprod
      April 27, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

      I’m curious if anyone noticed before now.

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        April 27, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

        Doesn’t seem like it.

    • RassilonTDavros
      RassilonTDavros
      April 27, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

      Also that “default doodle for Book 12” poll really needs a Liz option. Frankly I would’ve thought she was a shoo-in!

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      April 27, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

      I guess it partially helps that it’s clearly a different design than the final one, but even then she still very obviously resembles Booster. Surprised nobody caught it.

      • Ana Chronistic
        Ana Chronistic
        April 27, 2023 at 8:24 am | #

        Willis has traditionally done that… remember Sal?

  13. Dr. T
    Dr. T
    April 27, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    Why can’t Charlie be left to wander by herself?

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      April 27, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

      Insidious ableism. 😑

      • Bryy
        Bryy
        April 27, 2023 at 9:39 am | #

        Jennifer is incredibly ableist, but this is honestly one of those times where we need more information.

        Or maybe we don’t, because Jennifer is incredibly ableist.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      April 27, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

      Interferes with scheduled events like classes and affects her overall performance? Some people need a little extra wrangling, it’s cool.

      • Angel
        Angel
        April 27, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

        maybe she’s brought her into the class before? but assuming she’s grabbing her by the arm (hidden/can’t see so can’t tell for sure) hopefully she asked if it was ok before literally dragging her back

        • TerribleTransit
          TerribleTransit
          April 27, 2023 at 11:44 am | #

          Looks more like hand behind the back to me, but there’s definitely some form of physical contact/guidance going on. “Literally dragging” is probably a little harsh for what’s going on.

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            April 27, 2023 at 1:08 pm | #

            Yeah but all forms of physical contact are against the law in the comic’s setting. Billie is committing a felony.

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        April 27, 2023 at 2:44 am | #

        that was a pretty and sick burn

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          April 27, 2023 at 3:28 am | #

          Was it?

    • Erica
      Erica
      April 27, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

      Because Jennifer is a busy body who feels morally superior from helping people while being unintentionally ableist and infantilizing

    • C.T. Phipps
      C.T. Phipps
      April 27, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

      It would be abelist but I point out there was a rapist knife-killer, a school shooting fundamentalist, and a goddamn supervillain gangster in recent months. Plus a doxxing bunch of fratbros.

      All in like two months.

      • Angel
        Angel
        April 27, 2023 at 12:44 am | #

        i don’t know how much leslie has done but hopefully she’s set stuff up to accommodate more anxious students/others to feel safer within her class as well

        though still some kinda ‘college’ version of a ‘buddy system’ might be helpful

      • Bryy
        Bryy
        April 27, 2023 at 10:54 am | #

        Still abelism, because we know Jennifer has really shitty views on the disabled not mattering.

    • Alongcameaspider
      Alongcameaspider
      April 27, 2023 at 1:08 am | #

      I mean presumably if not for Jennifer she would have missed class

      Plus given everything that’s happened in a short period on campus I’d be concerned letting someone who appears to be at the very least not very aware of their surroundings and easily distracted wander around alone

      • Erica
        Erica
        April 27, 2023 at 2:12 pm | #

        I don’t think anyone’s saying Jennifer shouldn’t have nudged her to come to class, it’s the part where she tells everyone else to watch after her in third person as if she’s a child that’s the issue. That’s where it goes from being helpful to being ableist

      • Wack'd
        Wack'd
        April 27, 2023 at 4:40 pm | #

        Why presumably? She’s made every class so far.

    • Darasara
      Darasara
      April 27, 2023 at 4:50 pm | #

      Or she’s not actually registered student, and while Leslie might let that be, some one else might not.
      Just a possible alternative

  14. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    April 27, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

    No Cheetos though. That’s a mission fail.

  15. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    April 27, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

    This CARLA runs over your dogma

  16. UrsulaDavina
    UrsulaDavina
    April 27, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

    Jennifer you have made a powerful enemy today.

    • Angel
      Angel
      April 27, 2023 at 12:23 am | #

      pretty sure she would’ve already considered them enemies if not bothering to talk to her otherwise after ruths intial hospitalization

  17. miz
    miz
    April 27, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

    “so i can finally return home” why are they phrasing it like they need her to break the curse that a witch placed on them

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      April 27, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

      I’m interested in that line too. It’s pretty cryptic.

    • AGV
      AGV
      April 27, 2023 at 12:21 am | #

      The switch is like a genie bottle, it bounds them to this realm against their will

    • Angel
      Angel
      April 27, 2023 at 12:23 am | #

      maybe they are taking time off if they mean literally home and not the shared dorm room with walky, unless booster has a ‘busy day’ with getting involved with ethan again

      (sorry accidentally posted this as its own comment instead of a reply lol)

    • StClair
      StClair
      April 27, 2023 at 12:25 am | #

      my thoughts exactly.

    • Proxiehunter
      Proxiehunter
      April 27, 2023 at 1:11 am | #

      Because Booster.

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      April 27, 2023 at 1:46 am | #

      Siblings can tend to be overdramatic about how much they’re being inconvenienced.

      • miz
        miz
        April 27, 2023 at 1:48 am | #

        that’s when i just start throwing the thing at my brother’s head, tbh

    • Ray Radlein
      Ray Radlein
      April 27, 2023 at 2:20 am | #

      MUST GO MY PLANET NEEDS ME

    • Chris (the other one)
      Chris (the other one)
      April 27, 2023 at 4:54 am | #

      I was wondering reading down through, if anyone caught that. The way I read it is that Booster isn’t a student and simply brought the Nintendo to Charlie, and now they can go home!!

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        April 27, 2023 at 11:37 am | #

        If Booster isn’t a student, why would they be sharing a room with Walky?

    • Azhrei Vep
      Azhrei Vep
      April 28, 2023 at 3:50 am | #

      I’m not sure what’s so interesting about the phrasing. Booster was meeting their sister to return the Nintendo Handheld, and felt like they couldn’t just bail without getting it done. Seems pretty straightforward.

  18. Dana
    Dana
    April 27, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

    First thing Jennifer’s done in a long time to remind me why I love her.

  19. Rognik
    Rognik
    April 27, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

    Has she been there this entire time?

  20. Angel
    Angel
    April 27, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

    maybe they are taking time off if they mean literally home and not the shared dorm room with walky, unless booster has a ‘busy day’ with getting involved with ethan again

  21. newlland(Henryvolt)
    newlland(Henryvolt)
    April 27, 2023 at 12:16 am | #

    It must really say something about the rest of this circle of companions if Jennifer is the most considerate one among them to be the only one remembering a acquaintances name.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      April 27, 2023 at 8:45 am | #

      Don’t think it’s really a matter of remembering – no reason to think any of the others have ever heard it.

  22. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    April 27, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

    mission-2 still missing charlie’s tag

  23. Reincarnivorous
    Reincarnivorous
    April 27, 2023 at 12:19 am | #

    Jeez. Somebody should start calling Jennifer “Billie”, just so she gets how that sort of thing feels!
    Y’know, for ‘spurning purposes’!

    Also, “Hello Charlie! Welcome to the asylum!”

  24. Owlmirror
    Owlmirror
    April 27, 2023 at 12:20 am | #

    I note a missing retrotag …

    https://www.dumbingofage.com/mission-2/

  25. Ionic
    Ionic
    April 27, 2023 at 12:24 am | #

    Reminder that this campus (and many irl college campuses!) has repeatedly been shown to be unsafe. Letting someone who isn’t aware of their surroundings just wander is risky at best.

    • Uly
      Uly
      April 27, 2023 at 8:52 pm | #

      Charlie is an adult who takes college classes. You do not “let” adults wander or “not let” them wander. Because adults are adults.

  26. C.T. Phipps
    C.T. Phipps
    April 27, 2023 at 12:26 am | #

    Note that Carla is one of the billionaire contacts that Jennifer and raidah actually SHOULD be making.

    • UrsulaDavina
      UrsulaDavina
      April 27, 2023 at 12:34 pm | #

      I mean with Carla either she see through it right away unless she getting tons of attention I don’t think Radiah would be willing to let Carla be the center of the attention.

  27. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    April 27, 2023 at 12:33 am | #

    Add a few censor bars for strong cusses and Jennifer is basically Julie Powers here.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      April 27, 2023 at 12:35 am | #

      HOLY CRAP YOU’RE RIGHT 🤣🤣🤣

  28. Koms
    Koms
    April 27, 2023 at 12:34 am | #

    Hacked muzak: “You know my name”-Chris Cornell… am I doing this right?

  29. Kmoore305409
    Kmoore305409
    April 27, 2023 at 12:37 am | #

    But why is familial banishment tied to who may or may not possess the Nintendo?

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      April 27, 2023 at 12:24 pm | #

      Their dorm room is their home. They have to return the Nintendo because Charlie asked for it back early.

  30. Owlmirror
    Owlmirror
    April 27, 2023 at 12:37 am | #

    I find myself wondering what use class, or even college itself is to someone with such severe attention problems. But maybe Charlie usually takes medications that help her keep up, and has forgotten to do so today.

    Also, the name Charlie reminds me of Flowers of Algernon.

    • Laura
      Laura
      April 27, 2023 at 2:01 am | #

      It’s fine. One just gets a notetaker, records one’s classes, and replays the lectures at one’s own speed, afterward. Maybe several times, with lots of pause/rewind to make sure one has got the gist. Maybe one forms a very patient study group, to talk everything through, afterwards, once the conversation part of one’s brain warms up, once one is relaxed and comfortable with no time pressure.

      One can even get untimed or take-home exams. One can dictate one’s exam answers, when necessary. One can have the exam questions presented to one in multiple formats — e.g., both as text and as speech — to assist with language processing and comprehension.

      So long as one can eventually do the reading and write the papers, it’s perfectly cromulent to attend classes with a sensory processing delay.

      School is for everyone who wants to use it. Everyone has a right to an education.

      • Laura
        Laura
        April 27, 2023 at 2:02 am | #

        I graduated, with similar difficulties.

    • eh, whatever
      eh, whatever
      April 27, 2023 at 5:48 am | #

      That’s one reason why, over here, attendance is not mandatory at lecture-type university courses. 100% of your grade comes from the exam; how you learn for the exam is your business, you’re an adult (because you suddenly magically became one when you left highschool).

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      April 27, 2023 at 7:05 am | #

      Flowers for Algernon!!

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        April 27, 2023 at 2:46 pm | #

        I haven’t seen that one, does Algernon ever get the flowers?

        • NickG
          NickG
          April 27, 2023 at 3:04 pm | #

          After a fashion.

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            April 27, 2023 at 3:26 pm | #

            Algernon gets a fashion, too? Good gravy, how many things are they givin’ this Algernon person?

            • Mark
              Mark
              April 27, 2023 at 10:22 pm | #

              Or you could read the book. The movie was named _Charly_.

    • EA West
      EA West
      April 27, 2023 at 7:37 am | #

      If she does have ADHD, she very well may be able to hyper focus on the course content itself if she finds it interesting. This level of inattentive ADHD is basically my spouse’s life, and he’s just finishing up his doctorate. Spacy doesn’t mean unable to be a very effective academic. 🙂

  31. IniquitousKing
    IniquitousKing
    April 27, 2023 at 12:41 am | #

    Oh. Goody. Jennifer and Ruth are within interacting distance again. Yay 😡

    And poor Booster, getting dragged into -antics-. They’re going to spend the rest of their days walking around with that Nintendo under their arm. Cursed to roam forevermore.

    • drs
      drs
      April 28, 2023 at 12:12 am | #

      “And did she ever return? No she never returned, and her fate is still unlearned”

  32. BOOSTER SHOT
    BOOSTER SHOT
    April 27, 2023 at 12:53 am | #

    Booster wants to return home to their dormitory after their quick task of returning Charlie’s (or possibly The Shared) Switch took longer than expected

  33. Reed
    Reed
    April 27, 2023 at 1:07 am | #

    When did it become everyone else’s responsibility to babysit Booster’s sibling they’ve literally never known about until now?

    • Alongcameaspider
      Alongcameaspider
      April 27, 2023 at 1:10 am | #

      I mean they’ve shared a class since the start of the current semester, they have to have been at least vaguely aware of Charlie

      And Jennifer’s dialogue implies something like this has happened at least once before

      • anonymsly
        anonymsly
        April 27, 2023 at 10:50 pm | #

        I thin it’s possible that Charlie lives in the same hall as Jennifer, too – Charlie may be a known quantity outside of class, too.

      • Azhrei Vep
        Azhrei Vep
        April 28, 2023 at 3:55 am | #

        Do they have to be vaguely aware of Charlie just because they shared a class? It’s easy enough to not notice someone if they don’t make themselves notable.

        And honestly, from the look of it, Charlie probably keeps to herself and doesn’t do much to stand out. So she’s be particularly easy to not notice.

  34. Derek
    Derek
    April 27, 2023 at 1:09 am | #

    I’ve seen a few comments saying that it’s ableist to insinuate Charlie can’t be left by herself, but I don’t know man, she was so distracted that she missed people yelling at her and waving their hands in her face (mostly Carla). What happens to Charlie when there’s a real emergency and someone yells at her “you need to leave the building right now!” but she doesn’t parse it because she’s distracted?

    And I say this as a distracted neurodivergent person myself. I have missed people talking to me when they’re in front of me. I have missed people saying my name until they repeat it louder several times. I have not seen very obvious objects in my path because they were not the thing I was focusing on. But it’s never been so bad that I miss a person waving their hands in my face.

    • Dday
      Dday
      April 27, 2023 at 1:18 am | #

      These things come in degrees. It’s hard to tell if Jen is just being her usual insensitive self or happens to actually know Charlie’s situation pretty well. When I was much younger, I remember incidents where I would space out, find out I’d followed some random people, and barely remember how I got somewhere. It was like emerging from underwater and realizing I was in the wrong pool.

      • Laura
        Laura
        April 27, 2023 at 1:51 am | #

        Oh, sure. Me, too. Like there were blank spaces in my perception of time. Folks would say I would just “disappear”. I didn’t disappear — I was just interested in something and didn’t notice that the group of people had continued on without me. Folks said I was wandering off. Who knows — perhaps I was.

        The blank spaces still happen sometimes, but I use sense memory to piece together what’s recently happened even if I can’t actually recollect it happening. (E.G., “My hands ache, so I know I must have used them to close the garage door when I left.”) Often the memory of sound is a bit easier to piece together than visual recollection.

        Like a tape with a time lag before the replay. Like a perceptual delay. It’s like being a detective into one’s own recent past, in the absence of reliable short-term memory. Figuring out what happened in one’s “absence”.

        Seems like Dina might have had a similar situation, earlier in the strip, when she would follow along with a group of people, without fully grasping what was going on, and turn up in their company before they realized that she had accompanied them.

        In a situation like this, it might be very helpful to have a “buddy” keeping tabs on a person and making sure that one gets to one’s classes. I think Jennifer might just be acting the “mom friend” because that’s what she does, not because of any particular type of assumption. Taking charge is just how Jennifer shows caring.

        It’s good to have a buddy. Without one, it’s very easy to get lost. If Charlie acknowledges and accepts Jennifer’s “mother hen” wing-tucking, then I see no trouble.

        In a situation like Charlie’s I’d probably want to get as many accommodations as possible. I got some pretty amazing academic help and accommodations, during my last few years of school. Almost felt like a cheat, to have so much support and leeway. But when life throws disadvantages and challenges at us, it is so important to take advantage of whatever access we can get.

        • NGPZ
          NGPZ
          April 27, 2023 at 2:01 am | #

          Valid points. For the most part at least. I’m not too fond of the buddy thing myself, having negative experiences where it was used to constantly deny my autonomy. Not fun. 😢

          • Laura
            Laura
            April 27, 2023 at 2:11 am | #

            I am so sorry that happened to you, NG.
            S*** sucks sometimes, yo.

            Hey, I shot you a link for Djamaste on the last page. Sorry it came late.

            • NGPZ
              NGPZ
              April 27, 2023 at 2:18 am | #

              No worries perfect timing actually, also thank you for being so supportive! 🥲

              Right after a long walk to be enjoyed with one of my fav comfort foods — curry burger with toasted bun, caramelized onion, wasabi and mustard. 😋

              • Laura
                Laura
                April 27, 2023 at 9:04 am | #

                Yum, that burger sounds wonderful! :-9

                So glad the “djam” was useful to you.

                Hope you have a great day!

            • NGPZ
              NGPZ
              April 27, 2023 at 2:47 am | #

              Also this Djamaste mix sounds absolutely wonderful, perfect and serene 🥰

              (also hey, it includes “Maenam” by Jami Sieber, also one of my all time favorite songs. huh. small world)

    • Charlie
      Charlie
      April 27, 2023 at 1:20 am | #

      i agrée it’s odd for people to be assuming ableism. for some people, it is dangerous to leave them wandering alone.

    • a/snow/mous/e
      a/snow/mous/e
      April 27, 2023 at 1:58 am | #

      Yeah, agreed. It’s not ableist to give someone help in an area that they obviously need it. If Jennifer hadn’t shepherded Charlie in there, she’d still be wandering and getting distracted with thoughts about marine wildlife and whatnot.

    • EA West
      EA West
      April 27, 2023 at 7:44 am | #

      I have literally had to wake my spouse up during the middle of the night because he was happily sleeping through the fire alarm that I find pain-inducing-ly loud. And like, yeah, he’s my spouse, so it’s different, but if I saw another random person clearly in need of assistance, I wouldn’t leave ’em. Obviously, it’s better to wait until someone asks for assistance, but (as with this example) that’s simply not always possible. With inattentive types, they frequently can’t ask for help, because they aren’t attentive to the fact that things are going/about to go wrong. Reciprocally, (I have AuDHD), my spouse stopped me from walking directly into the path of an oncoming bicycle. So it goes both ways. XD

    • Doopyboop
      Doopyboop
      April 27, 2023 at 12:41 pm | #

      I think the main reason people (including myself) are thinking it’s ableism is because aside from knowing Charlie’s name, we have no idea what the relationship is between Charlie and Jennifer. Have they been acquainted somehow? Are they like, friends in the classroom? Or is Jennifer just assuming Charlie is an invalid because she found her spacing out in the hallway?

      Especially keeping in mind some of the language Jennifer used when talking to Joyce about autism ( https://www.dumbingofage.com/comics/2022-06-23-prettysolidevidence.png ) ( https://www.dumbingofage.com/comics/2022-06-24-lessreal.png ) then I think it’s pretty likely that Jennifer is a little ableist. In a very well-meaning way, but still kinda… you know? Especially with the language here, talking about Charlie in that first panel as if she is a wayward child or pet. We’ll see what happens but eh, that’s my reasoning for why when I read Jennifer’s lines in this strip, my nose crinkled.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      April 27, 2023 at 2:55 pm | #

      There might be some underlying crumminess, but maybe if we see more of the scene, we’ll get a better understanding of Jennifer’s intentions here (we literally only have one panel of information about Billie and Charlie’s relationship to each other (Billie found Charlie outside and seems to know she (Charlie) wanders)).

      That said, I sure coulda used more wrangling as a youth. Might have actually gotten someplace by now, even. Maybe Charlie appreciates it, we don’t know.

    • Wack'd
      Wack'd
      April 27, 2023 at 4:45 pm | #

      I love everyone going “but what about x situation? Would it be okay to treat Charlie like this then?”

      And, I dunno, maybe, but I note a current lack of deadly fires or rampaging dads. What’s okay in an extreme situation doesn’t need to be the default.

      And Charlie as far as we can tell has gotten herself to class fine up til now, so.

      • Derek
        Derek
        April 27, 2023 at 7:08 pm | #

        at this point we don’t know if Charlie needs the sort of accommodation of needing an escort between classes. I don’t blame people for jumping to “ableism” conclusion since our source is Billie; it just wasn’t my first thought

  35. brionl
    brionl
    April 27, 2023 at 1:15 am | #

    It’s only been a couple of weeks for this semester so far, right? Most of my college classes I didn’t learn everybody’s name. For instance my Calculus class I hardly knew anybody because the professor would just stand in front of the class and drone on and on. Chem 101 I knew everybody in my lab section, but the only people in the lecture section that I knew were the ones in my lab. The Chem teacher was one of the fun professors though, he was a lot like TV Dad, Reginald VelJohnson. No puppies though.

    • brionl
      brionl
      April 27, 2023 at 1:17 am | #

      Man, I took Chem 101 in 1979, ten years before Family Matters came out. I’M NOT OLD, YOU GUYS ARE TOO YOUNG!!!

    • a/snow/mous/e
      a/snow/mous/e
      April 27, 2023 at 2:03 am | #

      Yeah, it’s not really weird to be unaware of classmates’ names, although it is perhaps weird that nobody who saw Charlie connected the dots when Booster brought her up. (but then that might’ve happened mostly as a punchline for the previous comic)

    • Mark
      Mark
      April 27, 2023 at 7:31 am | #

      There’s upward of 30,000 students at IU in Bloomington alone. Nobody is going to know everybody.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        April 27, 2023 at 8:53 am | #

        No, but we’re not talking the whole school, we’re talking the handful of students in Leslie’s class. It’s not a big class and it’s discussion focused, so you interact with the other students.
        OTOH, Charlie may well not participate a lot, if she’s normally like what we’ve seen of her. If Leslie’s aware of that and doesn’t push to get her attention and make her respond, she’s probably less likely to be known than others in the class.

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          April 27, 2023 at 12:48 pm | #

          I couldn’t tell you the names of anyone I ever shared a class with who wasn’t already at least an acquaintance before the school year started. They may as well have been grey blobs, for how little they registered.

          And like, all three of these redheads are fairly self-absorbed, what with them all being t**ns.

  36. foducool
    foducool
    April 27, 2023 at 1:17 am | #

    #spurned lol

  37. shrub
    shrub
    April 27, 2023 at 1:18 am | #

    Just fuck off Carla, I’m so tired of her bullshit schtick

    • Amelie Wikström
      Amelie Wikström
      April 27, 2023 at 2:29 am | #

      If you let her know that, you think the answer will be anything other than “I will fucking increase the fucking thing .jpg”?
      Carla has shown repeatedly she doesn’t mind driving a hundred people away by annoying them as much as possible to find one who would up with her. Indeed, that she enjoys it.

      • shrub
        shrub
        April 27, 2023 at 3:05 am | #

        I’m just done with rich, entitled assholes who think because they’re wealthy they’re entitled to everything they want even your attention

        Its not cute and its not funny

        • Regina phalange
          Regina phalange
          April 27, 2023 at 4:29 am | #

          Ngl, I very much enjoy this take. As much as I like Carla’s crisis over Charlie’s absolute ambivalence, I feel bad for Charlie because she probably doesn’t mean it and Carla is a vindictive asshole. I want someone to *intentionally* tear Carla down with her own selfishness and entitlement.

          Although maybe that’s Charlie’s long-game. That could be fun.

        • Kaiyalai
          Kaiyalai
          April 27, 2023 at 8:20 am | #

          Agreed. I want to like Carla since she’s our only frequently appearing trans representation, but she really doesn’t make that easy.

          (Jocelyn has never appeared often enough for my preference but she’s not an IU student AFAIK so it makes sense that she doesn’t.)

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      April 27, 2023 at 4:24 am | #

      Carla and Walky should date.

      • shrub
        shrub
        April 27, 2023 at 1:09 pm | #

        I don’t dislike Walky that much

  38. Steelbright
    Steelbright
    April 27, 2023 at 1:43 am | #

    I actually really love how much Booster & Charlie look both pretty similar and pretty different. They’re easy to tell apart if you’re paying attention, but they do, in fact, have very similar features. It has that weird realism of twins.

  39. Bobcat
    Bobcat
    April 27, 2023 at 1:55 am | #

    A bit louder for those in the back, please

  40. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    April 27, 2023 at 2:10 am | #

    Charlie’s first appearance was 4 months before her official first appearance. (https://www.dumbingofage.com/tag/charlie/)
    I wonder how long Willis has though about insert a new character in history.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      April 27, 2023 at 8:55 am | #

      Pretty sure that was after Booster’s reference to being a twin – which was in their introduction sequence, iirc.

  41. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    April 27, 2023 at 2:26 am | #

    “The Nintendo”? Booster, are you secretly a parent in the 1980s?

    • Kyrik Michalowski
      Kyrik Michalowski
      April 27, 2023 at 8:11 am | #

      They have to keep it vague so that the game system can be the Switch, or whatever Nintendo console comes out next, and still be relevant. They’re already working on their next system, so sooner or later calling it a “Switch” will be outdated.

      • Derek
        Derek
        April 27, 2023 at 7:08 pm | #

        it still sounds clunky as hell

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          April 27, 2023 at 11:51 pm | #

          Also, they think it’s funny that it sounds clunky.

    • Angel
      Angel
      April 27, 2023 at 10:49 pm | #

      “you’re the one who said ‘the internet’ instead of ‘google'”

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2023/comic/book-13/02-turning-saints-into-the-sea/inquisitiveness/

  42. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    April 27, 2023 at 2:37 am | #

    Carla tries hard. But she’ll never be a complete asshole, like Jennifer.
    She destroyed the mood in one speech.

  43. GUIGUI
    GUIGUI
    April 27, 2023 at 2:55 am | #

    Perfect demonstration, no notes.

  44. Acher4
    Acher4
    April 27, 2023 at 2:57 am | #

    oh my, I did not get that Carla’s feud with Charlie goes way back…

    https://www.dumbingofage.com/2022/comic/book-13/01-bring-me-to-life-drawing/supremacy/

    And Charlie made a small appearance from back in 2021?
    Sneaaaaaaky Willis. 😛

    • Blue
      Blue
      April 27, 2023 at 1:29 pm | #

      Way back for us, but I think that was the previous meeting of this class or quite close to it.

  45. Suet
    Suet
    April 27, 2023 at 3:42 am | #

    Jenny, that’s a very Rutten move against her Carla-centrism.

    Bravo.

  46. AndysDrawings
    AndysDrawings
    April 27, 2023 at 5:55 am | #

    Classic cheerleader move.

  47. JBento
    JBento
    April 27, 2023 at 6:10 am | #

    *spurning intensifies*

  48. zaratustra
    zaratustra
    April 27, 2023 at 6:25 am | #

    lots of glasses huh

    • egg egg
      egg egg
      April 27, 2023 at 9:44 am | #

      This comment made me try to remember if we ever get any cis male characters who wear glasses. I can’t think of one.

      • JBento
        JBento
        April 27, 2023 at 9:55 am | #

        Whatshisname, Ruth’s brother.

        • Schpoonman
          Schpoonman
          April 27, 2023 at 10:15 am | #

          Howard.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        April 27, 2023 at 10:19 am | #

        Jacob – though we haven’t seen him this semester.

        Lyle, in his brief appearance.

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          April 27, 2023 at 11:33 am | #

          Doesn’t Jacob wear them?

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      April 27, 2023 at 10:49 am | #

      Glasses is a basic need, like coffe and underwears.

  49. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    April 27, 2023 at 7:09 am | #

    Remembering someone’s name so you don’t mistakenly forget it and can spurn them on purpose? I don’t know if that’s in any etiquette manual.

    • Kaiyalai
      Kaiyalai
      April 27, 2023 at 8:16 am | #

      It’s in the “Do Not Do This” chapter exclusive to the Deluxe Edition etiquette manual.

    • JBento
      JBento
      April 27, 2023 at 8:20 am | #

      Look, you don’t want to ACCIDENTALLY be courteous to somebody, down that way lies madness.

    • GLaDOS
      GLaDOS
      April 27, 2023 at 4:24 pm | #

      It’s in Douglas Sutherland’s “The English Gentleman” – stated something along the lines of “a gentleman always takes care to get an acquaintance’s name right – unless he wishes to insult him, in which case he will always get it wrong.”

    • Angel
      Angel
      April 27, 2023 at 11:07 pm | #

      It’s a very “Mean Girl” kinda tactic

      https://pixietrixcomix.com/magick-chicks/think-again

      Tho maybe more insulting to not remember at all lol

      (but a shame ppl take it personally when not on purpose, one time i moved and a former classmate of mine happened to go to the same school again and i didn’t remember his name but he was a dick to me for the rest of the year because of it)

  50. vulcanodon
    vulcanodon
    April 27, 2023 at 8:19 am | #

    OK Carla there is a time to dial it back a little
    Also Jennifer maybe you too

  51. Plaaaa
    Plaaaa
    April 27, 2023 at 8:23 am | #

    So what’s the deal with Booster not allowed home because if an NES?

    • Amelie Wikström
      Amelie Wikström
      April 27, 2023 at 10:19 am | #

      I’m almost sure it’s just because it was Charlie’s turn to have the Nintendo and they’ve been looking for her all day (maybe more like 30 minutes) in order to hand it over and they want back to the dorm.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      April 27, 2023 at 2:21 pm | #

      Usually a courier doesn’t leave their package undelivered.

      • StClair
        StClair
        April 27, 2023 at 10:16 pm | #

        The truth is, the game was rigged from the start.

  52. sdrainbow
    sdrainbow
    April 27, 2023 at 8:45 am | #

    yaaaaas jennifer yaaaas

  53. Josh Spicer
    Josh Spicer
    April 27, 2023 at 10:51 am | #

    I mean at least Carla remembered to call her Jennifer?

    Not that I’m particularly a fan of this string of Carla, but I am a fan of comedic timing.

    • Blue
      Blue
      April 27, 2023 at 1:27 pm | #

      Well played by Jennifer

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      April 27, 2023 at 2:46 pm | #

      Trans folks do tend to get more practice with handling name changes than some others do. One of my friends has changed names three times to find something that really fits him, though this current one seems to be doing the trick.

      • Joy
        Joy
        April 27, 2023 at 3:28 pm | #

        Been there, done that. Relatable. I hope you and your friend have some nice days 💜

      • StClair
        StClair
        April 27, 2023 at 10:21 pm | #

        The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
        It isn’t just one of your holiday games;
        You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter
        When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

  54. TulipKitten
    TulipKitten
    April 27, 2023 at 11:51 am | #

    A thought occurred… Is Charlie a trans woman?

    Booster is implied to be AMAB, based on roommate assignments and Joyce’s ignorance. Charlie and Booster look almost completely alike, including traits such as:

    Hair color
    Height
    Similar face shape

    Their differences:

    Charlie has a more rounded face (this can happen with HRT)
    Charlie has boobs, Booster does not (Booster may have had top surgery or wear a binder, though)

    • Blue
      Blue
      April 27, 2023 at 1:26 pm | #

      I notice Booster didn’t confirm or deny thar they’re fraternal twins. You lost me on that last part, though. If they’re identical twins and Charlie is a trans woman then they’re both amab. Booster never had boobs, Charlie has them because of HRT.

      • TulipKitten
        TulipKitten
        April 28, 2023 at 2:02 am | #

        Well, I’m saying if they’re both identical and Charlie is a cis woman, Booster would have yeeted their mammaries or is binding. I think that’s the more likely scenario, but I’m honestly not sure.

    • Ravian
      Ravian
      April 27, 2023 at 3:15 pm | #

      Carla’s on the girls’ side of the dorm though, the university clearly acknowledges gender identity in room assignments. Granted as Booster is non-binary it is plausible that they defaulted to their birth-assigned gender when it came to roommates, but it doesn’t seem like conclusive evidence on the subject.

      • Joy
        Joy
        April 27, 2023 at 3:27 pm | #

        It’s possible that they were going to let booster decide which dorm and booster wasn’t really sure what to go with.

      • TulipKitten
        TulipKitten
        April 28, 2023 at 2:07 am | #

        Especially since Booster has a roommate. I think their old roommate was probably one of the famous douches. Mary isn’t in the contending since her roommate was Roz. But Peter or Ryan definitely are in the contending since we don’t know who their roommates are. It’s possible the roommate could be a side note or be introduced later as douche bazooka #4.

        • TulipKitten
          TulipKitten
          April 28, 2023 at 2:09 am | #

          (The relevance of Booster having a roommate is that Carla doesn’t have one and it’s implied that it’s because she is trans. They probably put it as a suggestion and Carla was probably on board because she’d be like “fuck yeah I get my own room”.)

          • Azhrei Vep
            Azhrei Vep
            April 28, 2023 at 4:05 am | #

            I just assumed the real reason Carla has her own room is because her rich parents hooked her up, with her being Trans as a convenient excuse for what she wanted anyway.

  55. Smooti
    Smooti
    April 27, 2023 at 12:22 pm | #

    I’m wondering if we’re gonna get more detail into what Charlie’s deal is, because so far she’s… incredibly relatable to me.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      April 27, 2023 at 12:51 pm | #

      You’re also a murderer who’s in a band?

    • Angel
      Angel
      April 27, 2023 at 11:37 pm | #

      maybe booster got into psycho in order to help them

      Half expect the next strip to be a joke of charlie taking the switch and playing it and tuning everyone else out even more

  56. Daibhid C
    Daibhid C
    April 27, 2023 at 1:23 pm | #

    Well, Carla walked straight into that one.

    “I pretend to forget people’s names to make a point.”
    “I need you to make it clear that everyone should remember my name at all times!”

  57. EA West
    EA West
    April 27, 2023 at 1:24 pm | #

    So were these two confirmed fraternal twins? They look really, really similar.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      April 27, 2023 at 2:19 pm | #

      Nobody has tapdanced on-panel in a little straw hat, twirled a cane, sang the phrase “Booster and Charlie are fraternal twins”, and then danced back off-panel while extending their arms and wiggling their fingers really fast, no. Booster said they’re twins yesterday and the word “fraternal” was spoken, and that’s about as far as that’s gone at the moment.

      • EA West
        EA West
        April 28, 2023 at 6:51 am | #

        I find the fact that fraternal was spoken yesterday, but then Booster neither confirmed nor denied that a strong indication that they are perhaps identical.

    • Blue
      Blue
      April 27, 2023 at 4:39 pm | #

      They’re certainly twins but it hasn’t been confirmed that they’re fraternal twins. They appear to have different agab but one or both of them may have medically transitioned, as someone above points out.

  58. Taffy
    Taffy
    April 27, 2023 at 2:35 pm | #

    For those who can’t be arsed to read the previous two strips Booster’s been in, one of which is from yesterday, they’re returning a Nintendo console (timeline blah blah blah) to their twin sister, Charlie. You can tell they’re twins because they look the fucking same and Booster has repeatedly referred to her with the words “my twin sister”.

    The reason Booster is here (and not in their room) is that Charlie asked for her Nintendo back, and they’re giving it to her. We know this because it was stated explicitly, via the sentence “My sister wants the Nintendo back early”. They also appear to be looking directly at Charlie when they address her by name and ask her to take back the Nintendo.

    All in all, this situation seems incredibly ambiguous to me. It’s really hard to tell what’s going on, but I think I have a plausible theory going, here.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      April 27, 2023 at 5:03 pm | #

      Yeah, it’s confusing. I’m currently guessing that Charlie has been a ghost this whole time.

    • milu
      milu
      April 27, 2023 at 5:45 pm | #

      oh wow, that actually explains a lot, tysm

      But that leaves us with this “Jennifer” character showing up??!? is she anyone, do you have an explanation or are we supposed to take wild guesses here, this whole scene is so obscure and random

  59. Joy
    Joy
    April 27, 2023 at 3:26 pm | #

    Jennifer is so funny :3

  60. The Jighole Man
    The Jighole Man
    April 27, 2023 at 7:41 pm | #

    Harken, cur! Tis you I spurn! Now feel the burn!

  61. Alan Lafond
    Alan Lafond
    April 27, 2023 at 9:35 pm | #

    Alt-text on Apr 25 no longer makes sense for those reading the comic in the future! LOL!

CHOOSE A SIDE, NO COWARDS

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
CONVENTION APPEARANCES


May 3, 2025 - FCBD @ Laughing Ogre Comics in Columbus, Ohio

David M Willis! avatar
David M Willis!
@damnyouwillis.bsky.social
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1h
who wore it better
2
7
16
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1h
1
13
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1h
Dumbing of Age: "Pervasively" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Pervasively
1
5
26
 
reposted by David M Willis!
indigo-k.com's user avatar
-indy ✨ (he/him) @indigo-k.com ⋅ 4h
WIP: Taking a break for dinner, and then back to finish this later tonight:
5
8
61
 
reposted by David M Willis!
gwensnyder.bsky.social's user avatar
Gwen Snyder is uncivil @gwensnyder.bsky.social ⋅ 5h
I will say for the umpteenth time that the Democratic establishment is terrible at understanding enthusiasm math. An energized base is crucial to winning fights-- electoral and otherwise-- because they will drag the low info folks out to vote and protest and engage. You NEED that energy.
gwensnyder.bsky.social's user avatarGwen Snyder is uncivil @gwensnyder.bsky.social ⋅ 5h
It's not just that he and his policies are unpopular, there's a clear and demonstrated enthusiasm differential now. His base is energetically absent, ours is livid and out in the streets.
10
206
858
 
reposted by David M Willis!
fakeeyes.bsky.social's user avatar
FakeEyes @fakeeyes.bsky.social ⋅ 7h
Pretty good Spider-Man figure, I don’t care what they say.
Spider-Man doing that thing you expect. It’s the butt thing. Why have I done this to myself? Is this my life? Yes.
9
23
157
 
reposted by David M Willis!
zaratustra.bsky.social's user avatar
zaratustra @zaratustra.bsky.social ⋅ 8h
@damnyouwillis.bsky.social adjacent to your interests
adashtra.bsky.social's user avatarAsh Parrish @adashtra.bsky.social ⋅ 10h
Turns out the guy was Chuck Ayers, a nationally recognized cartoonist and creator of Crankshaft. He had a lot to say but the thing that struck me was that when he talked about whats going on now, I could see he was holding back emotion. All this still hurts him to see 55 (!!) years later.
2
27
 
reposted by David M Willis!
katiestp.bsky.social's user avatar
Katie @katiestp.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
Right now, these sweet kids have no clue how impactful this period in history will be for them, but I hope they will be proud of the time they made the best protest sign ever: The green one that says “Trump eats boogers” #NoKings
Kids and adults standing on a pedestrian bridge over the highway with protest signs that say fascists out and no Trump no ice. The best one is green and says Trump eats boogers.
katiestp.bsky.social's user avatarKatie @katiestp.bsky.social ⋅ 15h
We can’t make the actual event at the capitol today, so you’ll find us with the kids on University with our signs (and I might bring the megaphone too). Even if you can’t make it to the capitol - come out in your own neighborhoods, even if it’s for a few minutes. Be seen. Be heard. #nokings
1
88
501
 
reposted by David M Willis!
anguirus.bsky.social's user avatar
Anguirus @anguirus.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
rude of you to call me out like this @damnyouwillis.bsky.social
2
6
74
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 15h
www.ebay.com/itm/23614371... five hours left on this weirdo in the box weirdo not in the box is not for sale
2
1
13
 
reposted by David M Willis!
charliejane.bsky.social's user avatar
Charlie Jane "Lessons in Magic and Disaster" Anders 🏳️‍⚧ @charliejane.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
At Comic-Con 2009 I was getting misgendered a fair bit and feeling anxious AF about it. Robert Downey Jr. was doing a press conf for Sherlock Holmes. I wanted to shout out a question but hated drawing attn to myself. I did it anyway. He gestured at me: "the lady in the blue shirt." I was so happy.
bolt451.bsky.social's user avatarHunter S Schafer @bolt451.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
41
255
3313
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
dawn these are not the same things you had an abusive boyfriend wilbur had a live-in sex stranger who he chose over your safety because he was getting laid, until the moment something almost happened to HIS GOLDFISH
3
2
65
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "Counter-protest" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Counter-protest
4
5
32
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
(June 19, 2026)
It's Joyce!  Directing our attention leftwards!
4
2
86
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
yeah maybe joyce switching to paramore from dc talk last storyline was a good move variety.com/2025/music/n...
header image - Hayley Williams Hopes Christian Music Industry ‘Crumbles’ Amid Michael Tait Scandal: ‘F— All of You Who Knew and Didn’t Say Anything’
variety.com
Hayley Williams Hopes Christian Music Industry ‘Crumbles’ Amid Michael Tait Scandal: ‘F— All of You Who Knew and Didn’t Say Anything’
Paramore singer Hayley Williams has reacted angrily to news of accusations against Christian music star Michael Tait, saying, 'I hope the CCM industry crumbles.'
8
23
182
 
reposted by David M Willis!
daisyfm.net's user avatar
DaisyFM ✒︎ @daisyfm.net ⋅ 1d
I think it's been long enough that we should all be able to agree that Charles Martinet sounds nothing like what Mario is supposed to sound like.
4
2
36
 
reposted by David M Willis!
davidmalki.com's user avatar
david malki ! 🔩 New game! BOLTED 🔩 @davidmalki.com ⋅ 1d
The universe told me "Stop obsessively collecting 19th century illustrations. Here. Now you have plenty. You are done now. Go do the second half of your deal, where you make more things out of them"
video thumbnail
6
8
78
 
reposted by David M Willis!
wackd.bsky.social's user avatar
Wack'd @wackd.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
oh this is a hot take and i'm extremely here for it
daisyfm.net's user avatarDaisyFM ✒︎ @daisyfm.net ⋅ 1d
I think it's been long enough that we should all be able to agree that Charles Martinet sounds nothing like what Mario is supposed to sound like.
2
19
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
www.ebay.com/itm/23614976... bid on my HFTD Leader Class Starscream!
header image - Transformers Hunt for the Decepticons Leader Class ROTF Starscream, complete 653569490937| eBay
www.ebay.com
Transformers Hunt for the Decepticons Leader Class ROTF Starscream, complete 653569490937| eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Transformers Hunt for the Decepticons Leader Class ROTF Starscream, complete at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many pro...
1
2
6
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!!!!1
preternia.com's user avatarpreternia @preternia.com ⋅ 2d
Lava surfing action!
1
15
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
that's not why i go to taco bell, taco bell
1
6
78
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
www.ebay.com/itm/23614937... selling my dotm voyager megatron $15 BIN, just to get it outta here
3
3
12
 
reposted by David M Willis!
teaberryblue.net's user avatar
Tea Berry-Blue @teaberryblue.net ⋅ 2d
Okay so people apparently love this one so I’ll tell it again: I was walking down the street in Hell’s Kitchen back when Daniel Radcliffe was performing in Equus on Broadway, when I see him on the street. The thing is, I recognize him, remember his name is Dan, COMPLETELY blank on why I know him.
bolt451.bsky.social's user avatarHunter S Schafer @bolt451.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
3
24
123
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
today in #9chickweedlane i learned that by god we are going to rewrite and rewrite and rewrite amos/edda's courtship until they are holding each others' hands directly out of their respective wombs
11
50
 
reposted by David M Willis!
tylerjameshill.com's user avatar
Tyler, from the Internet @tylerjameshill.com ⋅ 2d
Republicans: WE NOMINATE SKELETOR Democrats: We dislike Skeletor but we will vote to confirm him. Please give us between 5 and 50 dollars. Democrats: I stand before you to condemn the actions of Skeletor. He should have never been given this power. Please give me between 5 and 50 dollars.
61
1455
4741
 
reposted by David M Willis!
shenanigansen.bsky.social's user avatar
Shen Comix @shenanigansen.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
01: Shen is happily showing a dark brown haired guy a comic that he's holding in his hands. He says
106
695
5987
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
crankshaft doing important public work showing us how staff picks happen, blowing this nepotistic corruption right the fuck open
3
1
37
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
"...fuck no"
6
4
52
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Dumbing of Age: "Remake" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Remake
4
5
36
 
reposted by David M Willis!
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 6d
www.makeship.com/petitions/tr... Wanna Tricerahoodie Dina plush? GO PLEDGE FOR ONE! We need 200 people to make it happen! Pledge period will end in 10 days!
header image - Tricerahoodie Dina Plushie
www.makeship.com
Tricerahoodie Dina Plushie
Dina is so small and quiet that she goes completely unnoticed by most people for long stretches of time. She doesn’t talk much — she prefers to observe. People and how they interact is a puzzle to Din...
4
12
47
 

©2010-2025 Dumbing of Age | Powered by WordPress with ComicPress | Subscribe: RSS | Privacy Policy | Back to Top ↑