Dumbing of Age Book Eleven

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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September 20, 2023

Trying

by David M Willis on February 23, 2023 at 12:01 am
  • 03 – Joementum

└ Tags: asher, carl, jennifer, lucy, raidah, walky

Discussion (281) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    February 23, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

    honestly, the odds of dudes who shop at the same places wearing the same outfit are pretty high tho

    especially when they “try”

    (found someone who looked like a friend cosplaying in nearly the SAME COSTUME as said friend, a little different but still somehow the same thing) [and it wasn’t like “two Asian girls cosplaying Kaitlyn Ka” either]

    • Clif
      Clif
      February 23, 2023 at 12:39 am | #

      All cosplayers look alike, confirmed.

      • Ana Chronistic
        Ana Chronistic
        February 23, 2023 at 11:56 pm | #

        no wonder more people talked to me when I wore a tissue box on my head than when I actually dressed up

  2. sdrainbow
    sdrainbow
    February 23, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

    It’s always weird when I find myself identifying with Jennifer.

    • Stephen Bierce
      Stephen Bierce
      February 23, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

      As you should.

    • Aura
      Aura
      February 23, 2023 at 3:23 am | #

      Sharing a favourite semi-obscure Star Wars character with her really threw me for a loop!

      • newlland(Henryvolt)
        newlland(Henryvolt)
        February 23, 2023 at 4:14 am | #

        Sorry I accidentally flagged your comment

        • Decidedly Orthogonal
          Decidedly Orthogonal
          February 23, 2023 at 8:22 am | #

          It’s nothing to worry about. I mean, Willis will probably hunt down and slaughter Aura publicly as an example to others, but /sometimes/ they skip a day.

          • Opus the Poet
            Opus the Poet
            February 23, 2023 at 4:53 pm | #

            You don’t have to use slashes for emphasis with this comment system. It understands some basic HTML commands.

      • FlamestAndLight
        FlamestAndLight
        February 23, 2023 at 7:31 am | #

        wait which is her favourite star wars blorbo? There’s so many good ones. I think my favourite is Asajj Ventress. (New soft spot for Merrin from Fallen Order because I apparently just love Dathomirans since Maul is also a fav of mine)

        • Rabbit
          Rabbit
          February 23, 2023 at 7:38 am | #

          Kit Fisto

      • zee
        zee
        February 23, 2023 at 1:26 pm | #

        I mean clone wars (2003 and 2008) fisto can get it. Man’s fine as hell in animation. And he’s voiced by phil lamar

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          February 23, 2023 at 4:54 pm | #

          And Lamar has a voice like warm caramel sauce over vanilla ice cream.

  3. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    February 23, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    Jennifer.com has encountered an error and unexpectedly crashed

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      February 23, 2023 at 12:39 am | #

      So Asher need to turn her off and then turn her on?

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        February 23, 2023 at 1:29 am | #

        Yes, but it’s Jennifer.com, not Jennifer.exe.

        So, as we’re talking about a website, it will be different, I suppose. hehe

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          February 23, 2023 at 2:21 am | #

          ….no, we’re not talking about a website here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COM_file

          • DarkoNeko
            DarkoNeko
            February 23, 2023 at 2:21 am | #

            (but, man, i really showed my age with that joke ^^; )

            • Amós Batista
              Amós Batista
              February 23, 2023 at 11:51 am | #

              I’m happy you got the point.

            • Opus the Poet
              Opus the Poet
              February 23, 2023 at 4:55 pm | #

              I understood that reference dot gif

          • Decidedly Orthogonal
            Decidedly Orthogonal
            February 23, 2023 at 8:25 am | #

            Hey, I’m glad *someone* pointed it out.

    • Tan
      Tan
      February 23, 2023 at 12:47 am | #

      The look of ultimate betrayal in the last panel

      • Archieve
        Archieve
        February 23, 2023 at 6:58 am | #

        I’d say it’s mortification.

  4. Caro
    Caro
    February 23, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    a new emote!

  5. Cmasta1992
    Cmasta1992
    February 23, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    Jennifer is just worried she has a type that includes Walky

    • cbwroses
      cbwroses
      February 23, 2023 at 12:36 am | #

      He did teach her how to kiss in the other reality, if I’m not mistaken.

      • Ana Chronistic
        Ana Chronistic
        February 24, 2023 at 12:00 am | #

        that seems VERY mistaken, as they were very much also like siblings THERE, too, but I don’t have the brainpower to look it up

        • cbwroses
          cbwroses
          February 24, 2023 at 12:57 am | #

          It was mentioned that he taught her how to fight and how to kiss.
          That’s why she didn’t immediately get stomped by Sal when they fought over Danny (though I’m sure that’s not the time both were mentioned as she mentioned the fighting specifically at that time).

    • Proxiehunter
      Proxiehunter
      February 23, 2023 at 1:29 am | #

      Her type has always included Walky, she just doesn’t want to admit it. Like how she tries to pretend to not be a Star Wars fan.

    • Yeet
      Yeet
      February 23, 2023 at 7:46 am | #

      honestly Asher is coming off as manlier, paler, Walky right now

  6. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    February 23, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

    I’ve seen that look Jennifer’s wearing. That’s the look of someone who’s frantically trying to suppress a memory while it’s still happening.

    • Nono
      Nono
      February 23, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

      Stop the core memory!

  7. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    February 23, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    I mean you’re all just going to breakfast. How nice do you have to look for that anyway? Also it’s kind of sad that putting on a jacket counts as trying.

    • Norah
      Norah
      February 23, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

      It doesn’t seem bad if the look nice wearing it

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      February 23, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

      Depends on the Breakfast I guess

    • anon
      anon
      February 23, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

      i’d assume other than a ‘nicer’ undershirt, if ur putting a jacket over a hoodie just to go to breakfast than that state/city must be cold but i assume a ‘fancy’ place would have decent ac/heating if it’s not some weird “cold food” kinda serving

    • zee
      zee
      February 23, 2023 at 1:27 pm | #

      It’s trying for a lot of 19 year old guys

  8. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    February 23, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    I LOVE Walky. I’d marry him if I could.

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      February 23, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

      He’s the most lovable screwball ever, huh? 🥰

    • barswanian
      barswanian
      February 23, 2023 at 12:42 am | #

      I saw this comic, and immediately thought: Yotomoe is going to be in the comments with this one.

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      February 23, 2023 at 1:32 am | #

      Walky is, like, my target of life.
      I wish to be so lucky and snarky like him.

  9. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    February 23, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    Honestly I feel like there’s some real potential in these two developing a weird friendship

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      February 23, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

      If he keeps his participation in the kidnap and murder attempt secret.

    • tim gueguen
      tim gueguen
      February 23, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

      I suspect Asher and Walky have more chance of a relationship that outlasts the month(in comic time) than Asher has with Raidah.

      • Archieve
        Archieve
        February 23, 2023 at 6:52 am | #

        Given Radiah seems to replaces friends she looses as opposed to gaining more you might be on to something.

    • cbwroses
      cbwroses
      February 23, 2023 at 12:34 am | #

      Walky could do to expand his friend group.
      But it’s Asher.
      Then again, Asher is definitely the preferred person to hang out with given the other two people.

    • newlland(Henryvolt)
      newlland(Henryvolt)
      February 23, 2023 at 12:51 am | #

      I can see it now, Since Asher seems to be a big eater they bond over their favorite food chains, debate over what what restaurants are the best like “Taco Bell vs Del Taco” or “Popeyes vs KFC”.

      It would be a beautiful bromance, like two peas in a pod.

      • 80-watt Hamster
        80-watt Hamster
        February 23, 2023 at 9:20 am | #

        There are enough people who prefer KFC over Popeye’s for that debate to have any legs? o_O

        • newlland(Henryvolt)
          newlland(Henryvolt)
          February 23, 2023 at 9:46 am | #

          You’d be surprised. I mean I’m not one of them but still.

      • Psychie
        Psychie
        February 23, 2023 at 5:17 pm | #

        There aren’t popeyes or del taco locations anywhere near Bloomington as far as I know, so unless those two are from further away than I thought, or there are locations nearer that I’m unaware of, that wouldn’t be much of a debate.

        • newlland(Henryvolt)
          newlland(Henryvolt)
          February 23, 2023 at 5:43 pm | #

          What popular fast food chains do they have in Indiana?

    • justin8448
      justin8448
      February 23, 2023 at 1:53 am | #

      They have a similarly relaxed attitude to everyday life and social interaction. I expect it could go pretty well, as long as nothing serious comes up.

  10. bejouled
    bejouled
    February 23, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    Really love Walky’s reaction in panel 3. He’s right, it would sound disingenuous!

    • PirateTawnee
      PirateTawnee
      February 23, 2023 at 1:32 am | #

      Agreed. I really don’t love Lucy in panel 3. C’mon girl, you have value in yourself, not as a Walky accessory.

      • Bryy
        Bryy
        February 23, 2023 at 3:04 am | #

        Lucy is the wildcard here. Walky is aware that these people are at the very least phonies. Lucy seems actually invested in this.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        February 23, 2023 at 9:01 am | #

        At first glance, I read that as a diss of Walky. “I look good because I’m standing next to you” – as in “by contrast with you”.

        Completely out of character for Lucy of course, so I know it’s not what she meant.

      • Blakey
        Blakey
        February 23, 2023 at 5:43 pm | #

        I think that’s a little unkind, she’s just still in compliment mode

    • Mark
      Mark
      February 23, 2023 at 7:03 am | #

      Nah, it’s an opportunity to double-dip. Lucy looks well in that jacket. Say so. Then, when she takes it off, he has a chance to say, “ooh, I like that outfit.”

      • Psychie
        Psychie
        February 23, 2023 at 5:22 pm | #

        Frankly, I think the stealth complement of “she always looks good” is better than forcing it in the moment. Genuine reactions in the moment will always be more impactful than sucking up due to social convention.

        • Liliet
          Liliet
          February 24, 2023 at 8:57 am | #

          Yeah.

  11. AbacusWizard
    AbacusWizard
    February 23, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    In my mind, I am, of course, pronouncing the “e” in “Broclones” as if it were the name of an ancient Greek philosopher.

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      February 23, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

      Is that an flute or a piccolo the Wizard is playing?

      • John Campbell
        John Campbell
        February 23, 2023 at 12:12 am | #

        It’s clearly an abacus.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        February 23, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

        It’s an abacus, learn to read.

        • True Survivor
          True Survivor
          February 23, 2023 at 12:16 am | #

          I always assumed it was, but I zoomed in tonight and it looks like a wind instrument of some kind and not an abacus. Am I going crazy?

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            February 23, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

            An abacus is a wind instrument.

            • cbwroses
              cbwroses
              February 23, 2023 at 12:31 am | #

              Is this a joke I’m just not getting or is there a definition for abacus that I’m unaware of?
              Because the only abacus I know is old tool people used for counting.

              • cbwroses
                cbwroses
                February 23, 2023 at 12:42 am | #

                Never mind.
                I get it now.

              • Taffy
                Taffy
                February 23, 2023 at 12:42 am | #

                The joke is that I’m blatantly lying. It already wasn’t funny, and now it’s even less funny since I’ve explained it.

                • adam Black
                  adam Black
                  February 23, 2023 at 4:38 am | #

                  You got that wrong. It’s getting funnier with
                  Each level.

                  Just try telling more lies then tediously explaining them.

                  Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion!

              • Clif
                Clif
                February 23, 2023 at 12:45 am | #

                If there were an abacus that were a wind instrument, it wouldn’t really count.

                • Aura
                  Aura
                  February 23, 2023 at 3:26 am | #

                  That took me a moment!

                • adam Black
                  adam Black
                  February 23, 2023 at 4:42 am | #

                  Dayumm
                  Count Cliffula with wind harp wins Eurovision

      • SeanR
        SeanR
        February 23, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

        It’s a flut-ee.
        You have to pronounce the ‘e’ as its own syllable.

        • Clif
          Clif
          February 23, 2023 at 12:56 am | #

          The e is pronounced cus.

          You’ll never guess how the flut is pronounced.

          • Jeff K!
            Jeff K!
            February 23, 2023 at 1:16 am | #

            However it’s pronounced, I bet it could rock “Dancing Queen” and “Take a Chance on Me”

          • adam Black
            adam Black
            February 23, 2023 at 4:47 am | #

            I just put the flut in my 👄 and blow, and let nature take care of the sounds.

            That counts for someone

      • Mark
        Mark
        February 23, 2023 at 7:07 am | #

        No. Flutes and piccolos are held transversely. Could be a pennywhistle. It looks too short for a recorder.

      • AbacusWizard
        AbacusWizard
        February 23, 2023 at 11:59 pm | #

        It is in fact a pennywhistle. Photo is of me performing at a Ren Faire about 15 years ago. I used it as a “gravatar” for some reason a long time ago and it carried over to this discussion forum.

    • Deviant
      Deviant
      February 23, 2023 at 2:55 am | #

      Is that Broclones, the famous Broccoli-philosopher?

      • AbacusWizard
        AbacusWizard
        February 23, 2023 at 11:59 pm | #

        or “broccolosopher” as they say

    • Dr. Sharks
      Dr. Sharks
      February 23, 2023 at 8:56 am | #

      I stared at that word and couldn’t get it not to sound sorta like “broccoli” in my head. BROCK-luh-nees. I was like, “Is this a clothing brand? A nickname for Asher that I wasn’t aware of? Some sort of greeting or thanks in another language?” I did eventually figure out that it was bro-clones, but maybe the hyphen is necessary?

  12. Axel
    Axel
    February 23, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

    yes I love it

  13. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    February 23, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

    I actually super agree with what walky said about “just saying it to say it.” In so much that I hate generic pleasantries if you don’t mean it. If you ask me “how are you?” I’ll tell you. If you don’t care, don’t ask. I know it’s rude but I feel like I’m just reciting my lines in a script.

    • Shorduie
      Shorduie
      February 23, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

      Yup. People being nice just as a conversation filler is really obnoxious sometimes

    • anon
      anon
      February 23, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

      it’s prolly also him not accidentally wanting to say “i love you” again to lucy til he’s ready/means it for real as well. tho he can still compliment our outer jacket

      and yeah small talk can be awkward or so but i imagine it’s prolly part of interacting with a group compared to being on guard if a stranger just starts talking to you

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      February 23, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

      I saw a mudcrab the other day.

      • Clif
        Clif
        February 23, 2023 at 12:59 am | #

        Was it wearing a jacket on top of a hoodie?

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          February 23, 2023 at 1:57 pm | #

          No, but now I wanna mod that into every single video game.

    • adam Black
      adam Black
      February 23, 2023 at 4:55 am | #

      I agree but we need to strike it entirely from first l & 2nd evel conversation and replace it with better Shibboleths.

      I hate lying. Or bothering people. But it’s stifling to self silence.

      The reason for these things is Neurotypical to gauge people while acknowledging with minimal effort.

    • Mark
      Mark
      February 23, 2023 at 7:10 am | #

      Think of it as deference. “I don’t have anything to say, do you? I’ll play off of your lead.”

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      February 23, 2023 at 12:51 pm | #

      The thing that bothers me most about people asking “How are you?” is that most of them don’t want an honest answer. So even if you’ve been having a crappy day you’re still expected to respond “Good” or something similar. Pointless small talk and pleasantries annoy me too.

      • anon
        anon
        February 24, 2023 at 9:49 pm | #

        Captain Holt: When people say, “Good morning,” they mean, “Hello.” When people say, “How are you?” they mean, “Hello.” When people say, “What’s up?” they mean, “I am a person not worth talking to.”

    • thakoru
      thakoru
      February 23, 2023 at 2:22 pm | #

      I just say “hi” or “hello” back and most people are fine with that, but sometimes they push for an actual answer and act like I’m the rude one for not technically following the expected script. The good news is, those people generally aren’t worth talking to anyway.

  14. FadingMemory
    FadingMemory
    February 23, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

    Willis has been killing it with the distinctive react faces as of these past few weeks of comics.

  15. Sajuuk-Khar
    Sajuuk-Khar
    February 23, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

    FUCK YES

    WE STAN A MAGNIFICENT K-MAFIA HIMBO

    • milu
      milu
      February 23, 2023 at 4:16 am | #

      HE’S SUCH A SMOLDERING FUCKBOY

      I WANT HIS DICK IN MY Mwait whaaat

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        February 23, 2023 at 1:00 pm | #

        Are you sure? I heard a rumor that Asher’s dick is shaped like a skeleton key, complete with a ring in the middle somehow. And it only gets hard when you discard one card from your hand to Special Summon it.

        • milu
          milu
          February 23, 2023 at 1:14 pm | #

          i have no idea what you’re talking about but sure, that still sounds hot

          • zee
            zee
            February 23, 2023 at 1:33 pm | #

            Can probably find something like it on bad dragon

            • Taffy
              Taffy
              February 23, 2023 at 1:41 pm | #

              If you know where to buy a silicone skeleton keynis, I will gladly accept a link.

              • milu
                milu
                February 23, 2023 at 1:48 pm | #

                WHY

                • Taffy
                  Taffy
                  February 23, 2023 at 1:56 pm | #

                  BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE COOL TO HAVE ONE

                • milu
                  milu
                  February 23, 2023 at 1:58 pm | #

                  OH I SEE, ALRIGHT THEN

                • Opus the Poet
                  Opus the Poet
                  February 23, 2023 at 5:20 pm | #

                  Because it might cause pleasurable sensations inside for some women.

              • Rabbit
                Rabbit
                February 23, 2023 at 7:09 pm | #

                The term Skeleton Keynis fucking took me out. I want one soley because that sounds hilarious.

  16. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    February 23, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

    Why you such a HATER, Jennifer. Stop hatin’.

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      February 23, 2023 at 12:12 am | #

      She’s desperate to prove to herself (and others?) she’s back on top in the cool clique like she was in high school. Also, that she has moved up in the world is definitely, never, under no circumstances having regrets about how her relationship with the members of a certain dorm hall and its RA ended.

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      February 23, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

      I don’t think she’s hating here. I think they’re both kinda right. It is a decent enough look for their outing, but just throwing a jacket on doesn’t count as trying. It’s cold out, of course you’re gonna throw on a jacket. Everyone is wearing jackets.

      • Bittersweet
        Bittersweet
        February 23, 2023 at 12:41 am | #

        I mean, it’s trying for Walky.

        I don’t wear makeup. If I put any on, it’s just foundation and a bit of lip gloss (or just mascara and lip gloss). That’s me trying. If my husband complimented me and my friend was like “PLEASE. You didn’t even follow a tutorial or anything, it’s just lip gloss” I’d feel pretty awful. Not gonna put on any more makeup because I like my face, but I’d be pretty cross with that friend.

        That being said, I know this is Billie’s thing and she’s gonna work through it. The punchline on this page got a good laugh out of me.

        • adam Black
          adam Black
          February 23, 2023 at 5:06 am | #

          Some people don’t even need much makeup.
          Full complexion rosy lips& cheeks smoky eye, thick lashes.

          You do you.

          I wish my eyeballs were whiter. Huge problem. No makeup will fix that.

          • khn0
            khn0
            February 23, 2023 at 11:27 am | #

            well it will, but you’d have to keep the lids closed.

          • Zero
            Zero
            March 2, 2023 at 2:30 am | #

            Nobody needs any makeup.

  17. Axel
    Axel
    February 23, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

    also, love that Walky seems to be genuinely saying this, not scrambling for an excuse for not having said she looked good already

    • Axel
      Axel
      February 23, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

      though I think an ideal response to Lucy’s second comment would have been ‘that’s not true, I can’t even see myself’ or similar

  18. Nono
    Nono
    February 23, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

    I can’t decide if Walky somehow stalked Asher to wear the same outfit, the other way round or they just happen to shop in the same places.

    (Also, I’m impressed with how much variety these guys have in their wardrobe. When I was a student I had maybe two weeks’ worth of outfits before I had to start recycling.)

    • Tan
      Tan
      February 23, 2023 at 12:45 am | #

      I want to believe Asher looked in his closet, thought to himself (perhaps consciously, perhaps subconsciously) ‘What is the most Walky-like outfit I own?’ and just fucking nailed it in one.

      • Archieve
        Archieve
        February 23, 2023 at 6:55 am | #

        Radiah and Carl plan to pretend to like his humor so could definitely be Asher is in on it. If so that would make Jennifer the odd on out in the group.

        • Tan
          Tan
          February 23, 2023 at 4:59 pm | #

          To be clear, I’m saying this from the view that I believe Asher is genuinely wanting Walky to like him. (as yet uncertain whether in a het way or a bi way)

  19. Chaucer59
    Chaucer59
    February 23, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

    Sweet burn, Walkster.

  20. Taffy
    Taffy
    February 23, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

    It’s not often I have an audible reaction to this (or any) comic. Well played, Willis.

    • zee
      zee
      February 23, 2023 at 1:35 pm | #

      Literally had to say out loud “oh God that’s so funny. That’s so fucking funny.”

  21. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    February 23, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

    Carl looks like he can’t tell which one is which and it’s blowing his mind.

  22. anon
    anon
    February 23, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

    lol her shocked eyes at the end. XD; guess everyone’s shopping at the same local mall/asher got his hood at the same place lucy bought walky his shirt

    But yeah other than something ‘unique’/fancy suits or maybe some ‘alternative’ brand clothing and stuff, not as much variety for ‘male’ clothes, hoodies/jeans can look nice/easy to draw as well as some hoodies being ‘nicer’ than others lol (personally i like a plain pullover in a nice color as opposed to obnoxious logo or at least a cool pattern or some kinda ‘inspirational quote’/words as opposed to the brand name)

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      February 23, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

      IU district’s Casual Male must be raking it in with their off the rack salmon hoodies! It’s the kind of look that says. I’m a dude between the ages of 8 and 88, it’s cold out, and I need something to wear, but I’m also feeling just bold enough to wear something more colorful than black or grey! Buy one now as a perfectly acceptable gift for you bf that’s just cheap enough it doesn’t make you seem desperate and just expensive enough it looks like you didn’t buy it last minute even if you did.

      • adam Black
        adam Black
        February 23, 2023 at 5:09 am | #

        Does Casual Male still exist?
        It wasu goto in the 1980s. They rebranded as big&tall and haven’t seen once since.

  23. Taffy
    Taffy
    February 23, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

    Also, I think I pointed this out yesterday, but literally everyone else is consistently calling him Walky, as they should, while Raidah keeps calling him David. She’s like addicted to being wrong, and it’s truly impressive how far she can fit her head up her own ass. If it gets any further up there, you’ll be able to see her looking at you from within when she opens her mouth.

    • Rabisch
      Rabisch
      February 23, 2023 at 11:08 am | #

      Yep. Here’s another aspect that makes me think more and more how Raidah is actually very childish.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      February 23, 2023 at 4:02 pm | #

      I don’t think she’s addicted to being wrong so much as she wants to change people to fit her mold. I suspect it worked on Jennifer.

      • Archieve
        Archieve
        February 23, 2023 at 5:13 pm | #

        It definatly worked on Jennifer but she already wanted to be somebody different. Unfortunately for Radiah, Walky doesn’t desire escape from his past self and it looks like she’s setting herself up to be the odd one who only calls him David.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        February 23, 2023 at 6:07 pm | #

        This might be a weird thing to say, but I don’t think there’s much practical difference between being a control freak and having an addiction to being wrong. In both cases, the person is going out of their way to find people who aren’t like them in some way, and subjecting themselves to whatever distress and upset comes with those interactions. And it’s not like there’s ever going to be enough to keep them satisfied, so they’ll just go hunt down the next hit when it’s been long enough without needless confrontation.

  24. Barf Ninjason
    Barf Ninjason
    February 23, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

    See, I’d respect Comrade Billingsworth demands to be called “Jennifer” instead of “Billie” if I didn’t suspect it was all part and parcel of this insidious desire to distance herself from her actual friends and personality in a transparent attempt at social climbing with snooty people she’s deemed more important.

    • anon
      anon
      February 23, 2023 at 12:23 am | #

      Jennifer is already her legal first name, i think it’d be even more of a distancing thing if it was a completely new name too

    • Wraithy2773
      Wraithy2773
      February 23, 2023 at 12:26 am | #

      Before the time skip, she was occasionally suicidal, forcing a relationship on a partner that wanted to break it off, and engaging in her worst impulses more often than not.

      Sure, she seems to have traded one set of bad traits for another, but its important to acknowledge that there’s more than social climbing at work here. Jennifer might be more of a snooty asshole than Billie was, but she also seems, well, healthier too.

    • milu
      milu
      February 23, 2023 at 4:12 am | #

      Yyyeah rule of thumb though, maybe just call people what they ask to be called.

      Unless they’re a 5-year-old saying you shall now refer to them as “Fartpotato”. Actually, scratch that, especially if they’re a 5-year-old wanting to be referred to as “Fartpotato”.

      • JBento
        JBento
        February 23, 2023 at 5:59 am | #

        You should definitely start calling them ‘fartpotato’… and then never stop. For decades.

      • adam Black
        adam Black
        February 23, 2023 at 10:24 am | #

        I broke this rule once no regrets.
        I have a mentally ill friend who invented a new Heterosexual Persona “Chet” at the behest of his Evangelical brother & mother trying to get him back in the closet
        ( It blew up as I expected it would.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      February 23, 2023 at 8:16 am | #

      Given Raidah’s insistence on calling Walky “David”, it seems very likely that the return to “Jennifer” was prompted by Raidah.

      • Archieve
        Archieve
        February 23, 2023 at 5:15 pm | #

        It was, in her flashback she initially corrected Radiah that she was Billie but then Radiah introduced her as Jennifer.

  25. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    February 23, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

    That’s gonna hurt her soul.

  26. anonymsly
    anonymsly
    February 23, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

    Have we ever seen that particular usually-Joyce-face on Jennifer before? I don’t think so.

    I do like that, probably boosted by the advice from Dorothy, Walky is leaning on his genuine charm and it’s working. It hasn’t even started and Walky is the star of breakfast.

  27. TemporalShrew
    TemporalShrew
    February 23, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

    Oh, now that’s *very* good.

  28. StClair
    StClair
    February 23, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

    Okay, one of you is going to have to change.

    • anon
      anon
      February 23, 2023 at 12:16 am | #

      i wouldn’t be surprised if walky or lucy packed some ‘backup shirt’ in case he does make a mess on himself or so lol

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      February 23, 2023 at 12:21 am | #

      Last time I went to some friends’ house for DND, I was wearing the same shirt as the friend who answered the door– a t-shirt another friend in the group had made. So he greeted me with, “Well, one of us is going to have to change.” I pointed out that it was his house, where his clothes were, so it would have to be him.

      (Neither of us actually felt the need to change, by the way.)

      • anon
        anon
        February 23, 2023 at 12:24 am | #

        matching t-shirts /a ‘team/group’ kinda shirt to wear to dnd sessions would be fun tho

  29. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    February 23, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

    Mr. Willis really went all out on the backgrounds this strip. I wonder what that tall sky-scraper looking building is?

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      February 23, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

      That’s the Chrysler Building.

      • Clif
        Clif
        February 23, 2023 at 1:08 am | #

        The Chysler Building is in New York, but it’s a natural mistake. It’s actually the Dodge Building.

        • Devin
          Devin
          February 23, 2023 at 1:34 am | #

          Sure failed to Dodge being in this strip though!

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          February 23, 2023 at 3:14 am | #

          New York isn’t real, they made it up for those Marvel comic books. No real city has dozens of unrelated superheroes who seemingly patrol like one city block apiece and never interfere with each other’s problems.

  30. The Wellerman
    The Wellerman
    February 23, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

    Who’s that Pokémon?

    It’s BROCLONE!!!!

    “Broclone! Broclone!”

  31. AGV
    AGV
    February 23, 2023 at 12:20 am | #

    Congratulations, Jennifer, you played yourself

  32. Sajuuk-Khar
    Sajuuk-Khar
    February 23, 2023 at 12:21 am | #

    Also Lucy and Walky are cute. They’re probably gonna blow up later this month, but they’re cute.

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      February 23, 2023 at 12:24 am | #

      Yeah, I do actually like their dynamic, and I feel like he’s being totally sincere here, that he wants to not say it just to say it.

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        February 23, 2023 at 12:35 am | #

        Wonder if that’s going to connect to him maybe going along (or trying to?) with saying “I love you”…

      • 80-watt Hamster
        80-watt Hamster
        February 23, 2023 at 9:27 am | #

        Lucy’s way too invested, and it’s giving me both heebies and jeebies.

        • zee
          zee
          February 23, 2023 at 1:39 pm | #

          It’s her first relationship, let her be

  33. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    February 23, 2023 at 12:23 am | #

    I love when Walky gets a good dunk on someone, especially when it’s Jennifer or Sal.

  34. newlland(Henryvolt)
    newlland(Henryvolt)
    February 23, 2023 at 12:25 am | #

    Great minds think alike.

  35. Yumi
    Yumi
    February 23, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

    “Trying” with clothes/appearance has always been weird to me. In part just not knowing what will register to others as having done so… and in part knowing and disagreeing.

    Like, there’d be times when I’d put a decent amount of effort into my appearance for the day, and I’d think I’d really look good, and no one would comment on it. Then there’d be days when I barely did anything, and I’d get compliments from different people throughout the day. In the cases of this I’m thinking of now, I did know one factor– in the “effort” days, I’d be going for a more androgynous-to-masculine look. In the days I’d get compliments, I’d be wearing a dress.

    Okay, let’s try to loop this back around to the comic… Walky and Asher in matching dresses. Yeah.

    • Dinajoyce
      Dinajoyce
      February 23, 2023 at 12:52 am | #

      Same! I don’t think I look great in most dresses. And I’m pretty much always uncomfortable in them. I think I look really good in jeans and well-fitting t-shirts. They make me feel confident and I think they accentuate the things I like about my figure too! But everybody comments on the dresses, never the jeans and t-shirts. It’s lame.

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        February 23, 2023 at 12:58 am | #

        I remember one day where I put on a dress literally because I could not make the effort to put on two pieces of clothing… it was really annoying to have that apparently be “better” than my usual or days I tried. Now, though, I’m more likely to be around people who appreciate various aesthetics one might be going for, so that’s nice.

        • Steelbright
          Steelbright
          February 23, 2023 at 1:09 am | #

          I’ve definitely had days of “[being a woman-shaped person and] getting only compliments from straight boys when you are trying your hardest to look bi,” hah. maybe kinda the opposite problem, but it’s sad when no one is around who can appreciate an androgynous look. Glad it sounds like you found some people who do! I’d definitely be among them, I love an androgynous look (and appreciate how hard it can be to achieve!)

      • Masumi
        Masumi
        February 23, 2023 at 2:59 am | #

        I do wonder if dresses are just something people are more comfortable complimenting because it’s more likely the person is trying to look nice? Like, not coming from an actual opinion but from a perceived expectation to say something?

        Personally, I’m somehow weirdly uncomfortable with looking like I made an effort. I’d like to look good, but not like I spent any amount of energy on that. I dunno what that’s all about, it’s kinda dumb XD

        • milu
          milu
          February 23, 2023 at 3:40 am | #

          Yeah plus under traditional heteronormative values, commenting on men’s appearance is kind of not done, or certainly very optional, because men don’t really gain much value by looking good, while women’s value traditionally is entirely in looking good. Maybe that tends to carry over reflexively to specific gender presentation styles?

          Now this works in my favour (sort of) because im amab and people praising my appearance does tend to line up with me presenting more feminine, which as it happens i do typically spend more thought on (and desperately crave the validation to hack back at my internalized queerphobia lololol).

          But also i think like Yumi i just have nicely queer friends who appreciate gender-fuckery for ots own sake generally ^^

      • Zach
        Zach
        February 23, 2023 at 10:27 am | #

        Dresses are seen as more acceptable to complement, and you don’t have to comment on the persons body to do it. You can’t talk about the cut of a T-shirt like you can a dress.

        It’s just a safer comment to make with more conversational potential.

        • milu
          milu
          February 23, 2023 at 1:20 pm | #

          oh sure, silly me. nothing to do with gender roles after all, whew

        • anon
          anon
          February 24, 2023 at 9:58 pm | #

          Casual dresses are more comfy than jeans (esp if you gain weight after graduation oof) and can look nice without it being too ‘overly dressy’ but i imagine ppl might still compliment those more, other than a unique pattern or cool look/’ripped’ jeans, i assume some generic blue/black jeans that ppl get complimented on saying “nice jeans” ppl might take that as them indirectly hitting on you/complimenting ur ass probably

          tho jeans ‘not looking unique’ might work in ur favor/you can get away with wearing the same pair two days in a row as long as ur top is diff since for some ppl they might own like 5 pairs of the same brand to where no one would notice anyways lol. as long as you don’t show up in sweatpants or look homeless/l ike you’re about to beg/panhandle most ppl/places wouldn’t care tho given that it’s college , walky has plenty of freedom afterwards to go back to his pjs and doritos when he’s away from lucy

    • zee
      zee
      February 23, 2023 at 1:47 pm | #

      I’ve been “trying” more since i moved back to campus which to me just means being intentional. Selecting pieces that complement each other and jewelry that’ll highlight certain aspects. Wearing clothes that are on paper very basic (most of my outfits are just a crop top jeans/joggers and sneakers/boots) but with a unique pattern or cut or fabric. I get mostly complimented by other women so i guess I’m doing something right.

      There was this one time though where i just wanted a hotdog from the commissary and couldn’t bother dress up just for that so i put on some muddy basketball shoes and went out in my pajamas and got a compliment on my “outfit” along the way. That’ll stick with me forever lol

  36. Tan
    Tan
    February 23, 2023 at 12:30 am | #

    This strip is so delicious I could eat it and be too full to attend breakfast. Amazing.

  37. Qube
    Qube
    February 23, 2023 at 12:31 am | #

    tried a little harder to do what? be a complete asshole? two of them definitely are, yeah

  38. newlland(Henryvolt)
    newlland(Henryvolt)
    February 23, 2023 at 12:33 am | #

    Asher just continues to charm the pants off of me more and more every scene he’s in. I’m really starting to like this guy.

  39. Twig
    Twig
    February 23, 2023 at 12:34 am | #

    I love everything about this page so much jglksdhagkljsahkjlghsdljkgh

  40. Reed
    Reed
    February 23, 2023 at 12:35 am | #

    oh billie you really haven’t changed.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      February 23, 2023 at 12:37 am | #

      She actually did. She met up with Raidah before Raidah and Walky met up, but she was wearing the exact same outfit as Raidah and so had to go change clothes.

      • Clif
        Clif
        February 23, 2023 at 1:11 am | #

        What did she change them into?

        • Devin
          Devin
          February 23, 2023 at 1:36 am | #

          Ashes. She burned them because it’s deeply uncool to even own the same clothes as one of your social climber friends. It was the only way.

  41. Slartibeast Button, BIA
    Slartibeast Button, BIA
    February 23, 2023 at 12:38 am | #

    Plays “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” on hacked Muzak.

  42. Jamie
    Jamie
    February 23, 2023 at 12:54 am | #

    Perfection.

  43. Tan
    Tan
    February 23, 2023 at 12:55 am | #

    I know a lot of people were on Dorothy about her advice, but here is Walky owning his loveable goofballness, edging into cockiness about it, and it looks damn good on him

    • Steelbright
      Steelbright
      February 23, 2023 at 1:02 am | #

      Gotta agree here, it’s working for him

  44. Jodka
    Jodka
    February 23, 2023 at 12:56 am | #

    Billie is such a fucking conga.

    • Kyrik Michalowski
      Kyrik Michalowski
      February 23, 2023 at 1:00 am | #

      She certainly can be; more so now that she goes by Jennifer. This little breakfast gathering ends poorly in my predictions.

      • Jodka
        Jodka
        February 23, 2023 at 1:05 am | #

        I hope it ends badly for her and Raidah. Lucy doesn’t deserve it.

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      February 23, 2023 at 1:01 am | #

      What is a conga 😅

      • Jodka
        Jodka
        February 23, 2023 at 1:06 am | #

        I wrote c*u*n*t*, but it seems that word gets replaced with conga.

        • The Wellerman
          The Wellerman
          February 23, 2023 at 1:21 am | #

          Ha ha, I love a well placed “c_nt”, execution is tricky but well worth it! Like in this aussie comedy skit (hope someone tells this to Billy / Raidah at the breakfast):

          https://youtu.be/x5ksyqgfYI4

    • Jodka
      Jodka
      February 23, 2023 at 1:04 am | #

      Lol, censorship is funny

      • Clif
        Clif
        February 23, 2023 at 1:14 am | #

        And life’s a bongo.

        • Jodka
          Jodka
          February 23, 2023 at 1:21 am | #

          *Rimshot but with bongos*

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      February 23, 2023 at 3:15 am | #

      Like the dance thing with he lines and the touching of the shoulders and whatnot I bet she’d look extra hot doing a conga line.

  45. Steelbright
    Steelbright
    February 23, 2023 at 1:01 am | #

    If this is gonna be a storyline where Jennifer gets pissed off at Walky for effortlessly stealing her new friends that she social climbed worked really hard to get, I am SO here for that drama

    • Jodka
      Jodka
      February 23, 2023 at 1:07 am | #

      It’s what she deserves.gif

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      February 23, 2023 at 2:27 am | #

      She was in the right place at the right time, for Raidah to weaponize her in her little one-sided war against Joyce and Sarah.

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      February 23, 2023 at 6:36 am | #

      Maybe, though I could see it being something where Jennifer says fuck it and goes back to being Billie, particularly if Raidah overplays her hand and Jennifer gets protective of her sorta brother?/quasi-love interest according to Joyce and one time Walky joking about it.

  46. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    February 23, 2023 at 1:34 am | #

    And remember: Walky throw a punch in Asher’s face some time ago…
    Now, they are combining clothes bros.

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      February 23, 2023 at 1:35 am | #

      *threw

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        February 23, 2023 at 1:39 am | #

        Woah! Good callback!!

        And if Billy knows, this must hurt all the more 😮

        • DailyBrad
          DailyBrad
          February 23, 2023 at 6:37 am | #

          I honestly kind of doubt she knows anything about Asher/Walky/Sal drama, though she may have. Obviously, she was around, but I wonder if she was already cheerleading and being a teenage lush.

  47. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    February 23, 2023 at 1:35 am | #

    It’s kind of weird how “social climbing” is seen as worse than participating in a murder.

    • Devin
      Devin
      February 23, 2023 at 1:44 am | #

      Is it? Or is it just tiring to have to state how much you’re against someone in every strip they appear in regardless of whether or not they’re actively engaging in the thing for which you dislike/distrust them to make sure it’s always properly visible and known how strongly you feel about them?

      Or maybe some folks find murder/complicity compelling in a fictional character and this doesn’t reflect people’s actual values.

      Or maybe he gets off easy because he’s male.

      Or maybe it’s some combination of all of these and more that I don’t particularly feel like typing out because I’m tired and I’m not entirely sure how I got this far into this. My fingers have taken over. help

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      February 23, 2023 at 2:14 am | #

      Point out an example.

    • Sam
      Sam
      February 23, 2023 at 2:41 am | #

      Asher isn’t a real person, most people don’t know an Asher in real life so it is a lot easier to stay detached.

      But plenty of people have known Raidahs or similar people that have very little interest in you, and only want to talk about people you know like X, Y and Z. Which isn’t exactly comfortable or fun conversation.

      Everyone knows murder is worse than social climbing. But it doesn’t mean the social climber is necessarily more fun or likeable – someone can be more likeable without being more moral. Likeability isn’t tied strictly to morality.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        February 23, 2023 at 3:17 am | #

        Asher is too real! You just don’t understand, Dad! *runs upstairs and slams their bedroom door*

        • adam Black
          adam Black
          February 23, 2023 at 5:01 am | #

          This was not funny 😹.

          ( The joke is I’m lying. You were very very funny. Keep in & carry on.

          But by explaining it I’ve ruined the joke. But not yours. I think your icon is doing a lot of the work! Sort of a bemused sexy librarian. I don’t recognize her, but I’m ready to laugh. )

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            February 23, 2023 at 1:28 pm | #

            I’ll take any vague opportunity to Swozpost. The character in my (current) icon is Swozwall Haeredzwyn (good luck pronouncing that), a Sea Wolf Roegadyn from the Cieldalaes islands. She’s/They’re my character in Final Fantasy XIV. I appreciate the “sexy librarian” bit especially, because their main combat class is Summoner, a cool wizard class that uses the arcane geometries in their grimoires to summon the stolen essences of the realm’s tribal gods. She’s also 7’3″ tall and stacked, with mild nearsightedness that doesn’t necessarily require glasses, but she looks cuter in them and they help keep things clear.

            I may or may not have an extensive birth-to-present lore document on them that’s constantly being updated.

            • Pergola
              Pergola
              February 23, 2023 at 6:19 pm | #

              But can you breathe in space?

              ( sorry, sorry. level caps happen to us all. )

              • Taffy
                Taffy
                February 23, 2023 at 7:59 pm | #

                Is the space thing a reference to something else? Because I don’t get it

    • Bryy
      Bryy
      February 23, 2023 at 3:06 am | #

      …… um what?

      Like what exactly are you trying to get at here?

    • milu
      milu
      February 23, 2023 at 3:47 am | #

      Social climbing is worse than murdering Blaine, tbh

      • milu
        milu
        February 23, 2023 at 3:53 am | #

        Also, hello? Your avatar signals support for the attempted murder of what’s-his-face by Moy and Brigman. These two situations are entirely equivalent. Now sit back and enjoy hot murderboy

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          February 23, 2023 at 1:17 pm | #

          I cannot tell if you are joking.

          • milu
            milu
            February 23, 2023 at 1:26 pm | #

            no i’m not joking! (yes i am)

            (also i’m very pleased with my calling Asher hot murderboy)

            • HueSatLight
              HueSatLight
              February 23, 2023 at 10:38 pm | #

              He is both affable and eff-able. Also still an actual danger.

              I’ll give you that my avatar is weird, not that other stuff about it. The PG-13 version is better/worse, but DoA.com defaults to the G version.

      • JBento
        JBento
        February 23, 2023 at 6:02 am | #

        Lots of things are worse than murdering Blaine, like knowing what Blaine does and NOT trying to murder him.

    • oh no
      oh no
      February 23, 2023 at 7:35 am | #

      To be fair, Baine was a terrible person. 😉

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      February 23, 2023 at 8:56 am | #

      There’s also the part where the social climbing is also a major focus of this story, while the murder isn’t. It’ll come up again, but it’s not today’s story.

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        February 23, 2023 at 10:42 am | #

        I recall Raidah getting shit for being a [future] mob lawyer because she was friends with Asher, but Asher himself doesn’t get any of that stink on him because reasons.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          February 23, 2023 at 2:23 pm | #

          Mostly because Asher isn’t openly malicious. He’s been pretty chill thus far in the story. Raidah walked up to Dorothy and called her a future war criminal to her face, unprompted. People are more likely to point out the hypocrisy of someone who does that than a guy who wears the same jacket as another guy.

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          February 23, 2023 at 3:57 pm | #

          I’ve suggested that, though not more than half seriously, but I’ve also never had anything good to say about Asher, that I can recall.
          I don’t usually bother bashing him if he’s just making random comments in a scene or not there at all

    • Francoinblanco
      Francoinblanco
      February 23, 2023 at 10:27 am | #

      The same way Umbrige is more hated character than Voldemort

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        February 23, 2023 at 1:34 pm | #

        I recently rewatched those movies*, and goddamn if Umbridge wasn’t hard to sit through. The entire chat was relentlessly shitting on her every single time she was even briefly on screen.

        *don’t worry, it was in a Discord stream, from somebody’s personal stash of what I can only assume were pirated movies, so not a single red cent was generated for the wretched hag

        • milu
          milu
          February 23, 2023 at 1:39 pm | #

          preemptive sorries about doing an #discourse but she-who-shall-not-be-named isn’t the only one who contributed/ benefits from the sale of movies.

          that said, the HP franchise has made way too much money for anyone’s good as it is, and also pirating movies is based.

          carry on

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            February 23, 2023 at 1:54 pm | #

            It’s sad, really. All she had to do was write her children’s fantasy books, keep her idiot mouth shut, and roll in the dough. The books and movies would still have some problems, but at least we wouldn’t have to hear from her nonstop.

            • BOOSTER SHOT
              BOOSTER SHOT
              February 23, 2023 at 5:01 pm | #

              It’s my fault, really. I said I wanted her to tweet more. Over a decade ago. I accept my responsibility in what transpired.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      February 23, 2023 at 10:36 am | #

      I did not intend to give the impression that it would be possible to convince me not to feel that it’s weird.

      • milu
        milu
        February 23, 2023 at 1:17 pm | #

        and yet here we are

        • milu
          milu
          February 23, 2023 at 1:27 pm | #

          ok yeah that sounded hostile. my bad. take 2:

          and yet here we are =D

      • Devin
        Devin
        February 23, 2023 at 6:31 pm | #

        Well I don’t know about anybody else thinking you could be convinced of anything, but these days I try to avoid drawing too many conclusions about that of anyone I encounter on The Internet.

        You sure did invite comment though. You did that by publicly commenting on The Internet, especially in a place where reply comments are a feature.

    • Joyfulldreams
      Joyfulldreams
      February 23, 2023 at 12:30 pm | #

      Because fictional characters aren’t real, and the worst thing they can do to US, the readers, who ARE real, is be unlikeable. Which means we don’t enjoy reading about them, and being read about is their entire reason for existing.

      • Joyfulldreams
        Joyfulldreams
        February 23, 2023 at 12:33 pm | #

        I personally feel that being both unlikeable and uninteresting is the greatest sin of all for any fictional character. A character can be unlikeable or brash or even evil so long as they are interesting enough to be engaging to watch or read. Asher has the benefit of being mostly likeable, and somewhat interesting. Raidah is extremely unlikeable, and barely interesting.

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          February 23, 2023 at 4:14 pm | #

          Funny because for me, while neither of them are particularly likable, Raidah’s more interesting. She’s got conflict and plots going on, while Asher’s just sort of hanging out being hot and being Jennifer’s boyfriend. There’s potential interest there, but nothing’s really happening with it at the moment.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      February 23, 2023 at 12:54 pm | #

      If he participated in Blaine’s murder, all it does is make me wanna buy him cookies and beer.

  48. BOOSTER SHOT
    BOOSTER SHOT
    February 23, 2023 at 1:47 am | #

    It’s because one is more relevant to more people in real life than the other. And people just like to get mad about fictional characters behaving in ways they would find socially unacceptable if it happened to them, I guess.

    • Songbird
      Songbird
      February 23, 2023 at 3:40 am | #

      Was this meant to be a reply to someone else?

      • milu
        milu
        February 23, 2023 at 3:45 am | #

        The thread just above, clearly

        • BOOSTER SHOT
          BOOSTER SHOT
          February 23, 2023 at 4:57 pm | #

          Internet is hard

          • milu
            milu
            February 24, 2023 at 9:20 am | #

            Phrasing

  49. Icalasari
    Icalasari
    February 23, 2023 at 1:52 am | #

    I love how hard that blew up in Jennifer’s face

  50. Bryy
    Bryy
    February 23, 2023 at 2:14 am | #

    Oh, yeah, this storyline is gonna be 100% Walky deconstructing this group.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      February 23, 2023 at 2:25 am | #

      Walky is going to effortlessly upstage Jennifer as she scrambles to find something, anything, to act superior about.

    • Icalasari
      Icalasari
      February 23, 2023 at 2:51 am | #

      I was so worried Dorothy’s advice would backfire, but it looks like it’s going to instead demolish Jennifer

  51. Carms
    Carms
    February 23, 2023 at 2:33 am | #

    This is very satisfying

  52. Lars
    Lars
    February 23, 2023 at 2:43 am | #

    They came a long way. From wanting to punch Asher to broclones. Waht will be next? Masturbating together?

    • Masumi
      Masumi
      February 23, 2023 at 5:50 am | #

      That would neveOh wait

      • milu
        milu
        February 23, 2023 at 1:28 pm | #

        chuckle!

      • shoopdawhoop
        shoopdawhoop
        February 23, 2023 at 5:05 pm | #

        “Ok, we’re sitting on the dryers, what now?”
        “I dunno, just whip it out I guess.”

  53. goggleman64
    goggleman64
    February 23, 2023 at 3:06 am | #

    Aaaahahahahahahaha

  54. The Oracle
    The Oracle
    February 23, 2023 at 3:11 am | #

    Goddamn it, I can’t believe Asher is getting all Walky-stalky and stealing Walky’s copyrighted outfits like this. Dude is parasocial as fuck and needs to log off.

  55. Lysbeth
    Lysbeth
    February 23, 2023 at 3:45 am | #

    I wish “Broclones, m’man!” would enter my vocabulary but there’s legit not a reason in my entire life it would

    • milu
      milu
      February 23, 2023 at 4:00 am | #

      Just use it when you would normally say “great minds think alike” (because that phrase is overdue for retirement)

      Being bros, or talking to a man, or actually looking similar are not required for this sentence to be understood. Indeed, it will probably sound even funnier

      • egg egg
        egg egg
        February 23, 2023 at 9:49 am | #

        I thought that phrase had been replaced by “same hat!” from that one comic.

        • milu
          milu
          February 23, 2023 at 1:33 pm | #

          i just realised literally in this comment section someone said it.

          sorry henry volt newlland, didn’t mean to single you out or this perfectly fine phrase which i actually don’t have an issue with

          you may flag my comment, if it makes you feel better

          :shame-monkey-emoji:

      • Lysbeth
        Lysbeth
        February 24, 2023 at 6:14 am | #

        I’m not even a man myself and I’d probably end up dysphoric about it if I got into the habit of calling myself a bro lmao

  56. Lone Duck
    Lone Duck
    February 23, 2023 at 4:10 am | #

    My impression is that Asher is more genuine the rest of Jennifer’s cadre. Grammatically speaking, he is not completely genuine, hiding his criminal connections, but I think he genuinely wants to mend things with Walky and Sal. He’s more likeable than Raidah and her boo, but that’s a low bar.

    • Zaxares
      Zaxares
      February 23, 2023 at 5:10 am | #

      Agreed. My read on him is that he genuinely does want to distance himself from his past, but at the same time, he’s too afraid/unwilling to cut off his connections completely, either because he’s afraid of the repercussions, or because deep down he still values having underworld connections he can turn to when things get tough. But, if he lies low enough, and things continue to go well and smoothly that he doesn’t need to turn to his connections, he may very well turn out to be one of those people where “that day never came.”

    • JBento
      JBento
      February 23, 2023 at 6:04 am | #

      He’s not hiding his criminal connections. The only person in this group that DOESN’T know he’s a mob kid is Lucy.

  57. CianM1301
    CianM1301
    February 23, 2023 at 4:54 am | #

    Oh, this has to be a new circle of hell for Jennifer.

  58. Dot
    Dot
    February 23, 2023 at 6:06 am | #

    Calling it now, this interaction ends with Billie getting dumped and cut out of this friend group.

    • CianM1301
      CianM1301
      February 23, 2023 at 7:00 am | #

      And to add further insult to injury, replaced by Walky.

    • Daibhid C
      Daibhid C
      February 23, 2023 at 7:56 am | #

      Why, is she going to stop having rich parents?

      It’s important to remember that nobody in this group except Asher actually likes her in the first place.

      • Daibhid C
        Daibhid C
        February 23, 2023 at 8:01 am | #

        Oh, wait, I’ve just noticed you said dumped and cut out. So I guess the latter would depend on whether Raidah finds Asher’s connections more useful than Jennifer’s.

        • GholaHalleck
          GholaHalleck
          February 23, 2023 at 12:00 pm | #

          100% depends on how much she knows about Asher. But considering he was probably her *in* to the group, Radish will be fine dropping her over keeping him.

  59. Bob
    Bob
    February 23, 2023 at 8:28 am | #

    I hate Walky with a burning passion, but this strip made me chuckle. I feel dirty.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      February 23, 2023 at 1:36 pm | #

      Heartbreaking: Most Annoying Person You Know Just Made You Laugh

      • milu
        milu
        February 23, 2023 at 1:47 pm | #

        photo illustration: Hide the pain Harold

    • BOOSTER SHOT
      BOOSTER SHOT
      February 23, 2023 at 4:56 pm | #

      So when people ask who your least favorite character is, your response is “It’s Walky!”?

  60. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    February 23, 2023 at 12:52 pm | #

    Poor Jennifer will go down kicking and screaming.

  61. mrnoidea
    mrnoidea
    February 23, 2023 at 1:33 pm | #

    i’m fuckin dying on that last panel XD

  62. Alex
    Alex
    February 23, 2023 at 4:54 pm | #

    This is already hilarious.

  63. C.T. Phipps
    C.T. Phipps
    February 23, 2023 at 5:03 pm | #

    I’ll be honest, I know more than a few people who would still hate Raidah more than Asher as a social climbing manipulator versus a MURDERER in RL.

    Why? Because the victim was Blaine and a lot of those people were victims of child abuse.

    • not someone else
      not someone else
      February 23, 2023 at 5:55 pm | #

      Co-signed.

      (Outside of that I feel like it’s deliberately unclear to what extent Asher 1) knew what he was doing and 2) was or was not under duress or threat over it. But even with that…)

  64. Adept
    Adept
    February 23, 2023 at 5:46 pm | #

    Haha! In your face Jennifer.

  65. Pergola
    Pergola
    February 23, 2023 at 6:37 pm | #

    Broccolies!

    Lucy looking nice is a constant in a chaotic universe.

  66. ADLegend21
    ADLegend21
    February 23, 2023 at 6:43 pm | #

    HA got her. Man Jennifer can be so full of shit and it’s nice that she instantly got an L for it here.

  67. Devin
    Devin
    February 23, 2023 at 7:44 pm | #

    This only just occurred to me, but Jennifer also made a point about this group trying harder in a group with Carl, who I don’t think we’ve ever seen without a backwards baseball cap.

    Whoops.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      February 23, 2023 at 10:49 pm | #

      Carl and undercover cop confirmed.

  68. elfroyalty
    elfroyalty
    February 23, 2023 at 9:34 pm | #

    y’know i think i’m really warmin’ up to asher. he’s just a guy. a real dude

  69. crys
    crys
    February 23, 2023 at 11:28 pm | #

    agree that lucy always looks nice. her coat looks nice too! lucy rocks bright colors! 🥰

  70. Bruce
    Bruce
    February 24, 2023 at 12:59 am | #

    This is one of my favorite strips ever. I’m still laughing as I’m typing.

Who's that guy over there?

  • Crap, has he really been sitting there the whole time? (48%, 1,694 Votes)
  • I want to say... Kevin? (40%, 1,412 Votes)
  • No idea (12%, 425 Votes)

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