Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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July 9, 2026

It keeps happening

by David M Willis on June 22, 2023 at 12:01 am
  • 04 – But Don't Give Yourself Away
└ Tags: asher, ethan

Discussion (297) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    June 22, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

    Ethan: I feel seen.

    Asher: …

    Ethan: *looks down* Oh, I *am* seen.

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      June 22, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

      “Can we ship it?”
      “YES WE CAN”

      • hastur
        hastur
        June 22, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

        🎵Ana the Shipper . . .🎵

        • NGPZ
          NGPZ
          June 22, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

          To what tune should this be sung, earthling? 🙃

          • Bogeywoman
            Bogeywoman
            June 22, 2023 at 1:06 am | #

            Boooob the builder!

            • Miri
              Miri
              June 22, 2023 at 4:42 am | #

              I was going with Boris the Spider

              • Miri
                Miri
                June 22, 2023 at 4:43 am | #

                But I was doing Ana the Shipper rather than Can we Ship it, Yes we can

              • Van Jealous
                Van Jealous
                June 22, 2023 at 11:50 am | #

                That last panel is a bit “creepy, crawly, creepy, crawly, creepy creepy, crawly, creepy creepy, crawly crawly.”

            • Anna
              Anna
              June 22, 2023 at 5:11 pm | #

              Boob the builder?

              • Opus the Poet
                Opus the Poet
                June 22, 2023 at 7:48 pm | #

                Genderswapped AU.

      • FaerwenOfValenwood
        FaerwenOfValenwood
        June 22, 2023 at 12:12 am | #

        I’m not Not into it

        • Risky
          Risky
          June 22, 2023 at 2:15 am | #

          No Ashthan for you?

          • FaerwenOfValenwood
            FaerwenOfValenwood
            June 22, 2023 at 2:48 am | #

            what I meant was I’m not “not into it,” like I’m into it but in a slightly uncertain tone, haha

          • J
            J
            June 22, 2023 at 3:19 am | #

            Not “Ether”?

            • Lysbeth
              Lysbeth
              June 22, 2023 at 3:41 am | #

              the Crows

            • Dante
              Dante
              June 22, 2023 at 3:43 am | #

              I’ll campaign for Ether until it sticks |DDD

            • BarerMender
              BarerMender
              June 22, 2023 at 3:49 pm | #

              Ashen?

          • Shade
            Shade
            June 23, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

            Double negative.

      • Nicoleandmaggie
        Nicoleandmaggie
        June 22, 2023 at 7:26 am | #

        Ship ship ship!

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

        Sure we can. But is Asher ready to handle that level of Emothan-al damage?

        • nicoleandmaggie
          nicoleandmaggie
          June 22, 2023 at 12:27 pm | #

          *insert pun appreciation here*

  2. NGPZ
    NGPZ
    June 22, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

    It seems that Jennifer’s trash may very well become Ethan’s treasure!!! 😀

    SO EXCITED!!!!

    • Bryy
      Bryy
      June 22, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

      WELP.

  3. Nono
    Nono
    June 22, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

    Yessss new ship.

    I’m already on board.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      June 22, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

      Appropriate avatar, too.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      June 22, 2023 at 1:19 am | #

      This is a goddamn twist. Very excited

    • Theluxland
      Theluxland
      June 22, 2023 at 3:58 pm | #

      Oh no…

      I like this…

      • Jodka
        Jodka
        June 22, 2023 at 4:15 pm | #

        Even more appropriate avatar.

  4. Yumi
    Yumi
    June 22, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    *high fiving everyone who got bi vibes from Asher*

    • GholaHalleck
      GholaHalleck
      June 22, 2023 at 12:56 am | #

      Not gonna lie, I was getting “Oh dear” vibes when he was messing around with Walky.

      … Oh dear, I feel like I can already see how Ethan/Asher would explode relationship-wise though…

      • Dante
        Dante
        June 22, 2023 at 1:12 am | #

        Yeah, the vibes with Walky were insane. I was like “oh, if they get together that would be a dramatic, delicious trainwreck”, considering what connects them and all

        Somehow. SOMEHOW! This is worse. I love it.

        • MisterJinKC
          MisterJinKC
          June 22, 2023 at 1:33 am | #

          Imagine the aneurysm Jennifer would have if Asher left her for Walky.

          • Miri
            Miri
            June 22, 2023 at 4:44 am | #

            I don’t think Sal would be very impressed either. Or Lucy…

            • Miri
              Miri
              June 22, 2023 at 4:45 am | #

              Oooh… Which do you think would bother Linda more? Lucy or Asher, as a partner for Walky?

              • Pergola
                Pergola
                June 22, 2023 at 7:33 am | #

                pourquoi pas tous les deux?

                • milu
                  milu
                  June 22, 2023 at 8:50 am | #

                  为什么不是两个都? (…maybe =)

              • GholaHalleck
                GholaHalleck
                June 22, 2023 at 12:01 pm | #

                Asher is still brown, but less brown.

                however Asher was with Sal, which forever tainted him via contact with the abhorrent. Add in the lack of genetic grandchildren, and Lucy squeaks out for the win.

                • Yeet
                  Yeet
                  June 22, 2023 at 3:21 pm | #

                  does linda actually know who asher is or was she just generally assuming everyone sal was hanging out with is a “hoodlum” though? I doubt sal would’ve told her about him

    • Angel
      Angel
      June 22, 2023 at 2:14 am | #

      “be gay do crimes”

      • milu
        milu
        June 22, 2023 at 8:51 am | #

        XD

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        June 22, 2023 at 3:11 pm | #

        Asher: “I came here to be gay and do crime, and I’m all out of crime.”

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          June 22, 2023 at 7:52 pm | #

          >chuckles<

  5. shadowcell
    shadowcell
    June 22, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 13:

    …wait a minute

    • milu
      milu
      June 22, 2023 at 8:55 am | #

      Dumbing of Age Book 13: 😤😒😳

  6. Shitbird
    Shitbird
    June 22, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    Could Asher be similar to Ethan where he has had to pretend to be straight

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      June 22, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

      Seems unlikely. Why would he have put up with Jennifer’s nonsense if he wasn’t at all attracted to her? I tend to get bi vibes, instead.

      That said, Ethan isn’t looking hot in that last panel. He just looks mopey and possibly ill. Maybe Asher would ask his advice on how to darken up enough to attract Jennifer again, that would be funny.

      • Proxiehunter
        Proxiehunter
        June 22, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

        I mean, just because they can be attracted to people of the opposite gender as well doesn’t mean bi people don’t have to pretend to be straight around homophobes. Not admitting that you find guys hot is still not admitting that you find guys hot whether you’re a gay guy or a bi guy.

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          June 22, 2023 at 12:44 am | #

          Oh, I see, yes, I thought “be similar to Ethan” specifically meant heavily pressured not to be gay — but this commenter surely meant pressured not to be anything at all except for straight.

      • Samniel
        Samniel
        June 22, 2023 at 12:48 am | #

        I think Ethan looks like the “Hot Mopey Emo Pretty-Boy” from the mid-00s that REALLY took off in tumblr. So there’s certainly a market for thata look.

      • brumagem
        brumagem
        June 22, 2023 at 1:33 am | #

        Honey I’ve personally met many gay men who exactly that.
        But same, I think as for where this scene is going you’re spot on.

    • GholaHalleck
      GholaHalleck
      June 22, 2023 at 1:02 am | #

      Considering he’s got ties to organized crime, he’s probably kept his bisexuality on the down low.

      If you meant like “Is Asher actually Gay” then… Yeah no.

      • Angel
        Angel
        June 22, 2023 at 1:33 am | #

        i mean, other than someone keeping a close eye on him on campus i’d think the occasional discreet fling/hookup would be diff than him just making out with dudes in front of his grandpa lol.

        but i mean if it’s the stereotypical thing, seems like he’d be ‘accepted’ if ‘family is family’ or so. or if it’s enough to have him kicked out, either way win win for him i’d expect

      • milu
        milu
        June 22, 2023 at 8:58 am | #

        sounds like a non sequitur to me, please enlighten?

        • GholaHalleck
          GholaHalleck
          June 22, 2023 at 2:19 pm | #

          The crime thing? Most are manly-men type deals. Being into men would be seen as either weakness or “dishonorable.” Probably one of the reasons he wants out of that life and those people.

          If you meant the gay thing? bi-erasure.

          • milu
            milu
            June 22, 2023 at 3:10 pm | #

            yeah the crime thing i meant.
            sure i guess 🤷‍♀️
            i mean.. i wouldn’t know whether gang types are more gender-police-y than just regularly people who are, on the whole, pretty gender-police-y to begin with

            so that’s why i was like “um ok why”

            but also, 🤷‍♀️sure

            • BBCC
              BBCC
              June 22, 2023 at 5:45 pm | #

              The Italian mob are often raised in the Catholic Church. I have no idea if other mobs are similarly religious or what religions they would be so I have no clue what the situation would be for Asher and the Korean mob though.

              • Freemage
                Freemage
                June 22, 2023 at 9:25 pm | #

                In general, criminal organizations tend to be on the conservative end of their culture on sex issues. And S. Korea is still massively homophobic in comparison even to the US as a whole (though probably equal to some specific states).

                For example, this year, a gay Korean couple was granted the right to have one man put his partner on the official health registry. Like in the US, marriage conveys a host of rights, privileges and so forth to the couple; this very narrow decision granted exactly one of those rights. And even that ruling is still potentially vulnerable to review by their Supreme Court.

                And yes, in most criminal organizations, being gay would be seen as a massive sign of ‘weakness’. Social pressure against homosexuality in SK is considerably stronger than in US, too, so it would still be considered a point of potential blackmail–which criminal gangs usually prefer to be on the other side of.

                • BBCC
                  BBCC
                  June 22, 2023 at 11:53 pm | #

                  Interesting! Thanks for the info.

            • Yumi
              Yumi
              June 22, 2023 at 8:36 pm | #

              There’s probably a lot of variations in it among gangs, but I do agree with the overall sense that they promote the idea of being “tough,” and that good ol’ homophobia tells that guys who like guys aren’t “tough.”

  7. Bittersweet
    Bittersweet
    June 22, 2023 at 12:03 am | #

    This is a horrible idea yet I immediately support this ship and am looking forward to riding it off of a waterfall.

    Like I have no earthly clue where it’s gonna lead, but I wanna see it go lol.

    • Dante
      Dante
      June 22, 2023 at 1:21 am | #

      The SS. Ether is most def headed for turbulent waters, and probably a waterfall indeed, but safety jackets exist for a reason. Let’s buckle up 8)

    • Angel
      Angel
      June 22, 2023 at 1:22 am | #

      i mean, they say college is the ideal time to experiment with relationships, straight or not. tho i imagine if it was something that got serious, ethan might spiral more if he finds out though i’d think amber would’ve at least given him a heads upabout asher

  8. Amara
    Amara
    June 22, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

    Somehow I think Jennifer would be even more offended if she gets dumped for a guy than if Asher wound dump her for another girl.

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      June 22, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

      Absolutely.

    • Nono
      Nono
      June 22, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

      Or she’d want to watch them make out.

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        June 22, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

        Don’t know if Jennifer would want to see her failure rubbed in her face (well, Ethan’s face) but I bet Amber would watch.

        …Oh wait, Amber and Ethan have a complicated personal history.

        …Nah, she’d still watch.

        • Zach
          Zach
          June 22, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

          I thought she told Danny they should have fucked instead of using their patronizing concern for her as an excuse to run from their fears. And also that it’d have been super hot.

          • Dante
            Dante
            June 22, 2023 at 1:13 am | #

            She also straight up pictured Danny and Mike making out, if memory serves

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            June 22, 2023 at 8:05 am | #

            Months later, iirc. After she’d had time to get some distance from her breakup with Danny. And after Mike’s death, which changes everything.

            But she likely would have said the same right away, which doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have devastated her. Like she was messed up by Ethan coming out as gay and breaking up with her. You can support something and it can still hurt.

            Nor is it somehow a bad thing to be concerned about your friend’s feelings.

    • Doopyboop
      Doopyboop
      June 22, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

      “NO ASHER YOU CAN’T JUST GO THROUGH A GAY PHASE BECAUSE I DUMPED YOU”

      “It’s not a phase, I’m bi”

      “You can’t be bi! Bi isn’t real!! Just because I dated and repeatedly had mind blowing and tender sex with two women at this rate while also feeling attraction towards men, doesn’t mean I’m bi!!”

      “…”

      • GholaHalleck
        GholaHalleck
        June 22, 2023 at 1:04 am | #

        Silly Doopy. Only women can be Bi.

        Ask me how I know this. Ask me how many times I’ve been told this.

        I’m not bitter.

        Nope.

        • Doopyboop
          Doopyboop
          June 22, 2023 at 1:58 am | #

          Oh Ghola, I’m so very sorry that that’s happened to you. Also, sadly not surprised. We bi folk get a bad wrap in a lot of ways, and that’s definitely one of them. Only women can be bi and only because it’s super hot and makes for a cool threesome when it’s two girls and a guy, naturally.

          But nah, I’m truly sorry you’ve experienced that. The shitty assumptions of others is truly annoying. Because I’m biromantic ace, I’ve been told that I’m not ‘oppressed’ enough to be a part of the LGBT+ community, so I know how you feel.

          • Yumi
            Yumi
            June 22, 2023 at 2:48 am | #

            I don’t identify as bi or a girl these days, but I did at one point, and when I first went to an LGBTQ+ summer camp as a teenager (across the country from where I lived), on my first night a girl in my cabin made a comment about how she got frustrated with bi girls because they were “doing it for attention.” The camp got a lot better and ended up being one of my favorite places ever, but holy shit that was a rough comment to hear there.

            • Miri
              Miri
              June 22, 2023 at 5:00 am | #

              Eesh 😒 I’m glad it got better.

              I sometimes feel vaguely guilty coz I’m demi and bi and like 95% of the people I find attractive are women but then I’m also married to a man who I am massively attracted to and still crazy in love with 18 years after we moved from friends to coupledom and I’m adding to bi-erasure and this is a bad thing but also he is literally the third person in my life I’ve been properly attracted to and the first one who wasn’t a massive prick (see for instance the friend who found out I had a crush on her and made out with me sometimes pretty much to manipulate me into doing pretty much anything for her… That was kinda painful and heartbreaking…)

              • Devin
                Devin
                June 22, 2023 at 12:05 pm | #

                I strongly disagree with the idea that who you love and are choosing to spend your life with contributes to bi erasure. By that logic settling down with any one person contributes to bi erasure and I just can’t accept that. Polyamory and bisexuality are different things and I can’t accept the former as a requirement for the latter. It doesn’t make any sense at all to me.

                Also, you’re publicly talking about you being bi, that’s the opposite of bi erasure. If you were saying that you used to think you were bi and then you married a man so you weren’t actually bi, that might contribute to bi erasure. But you’re not.

                I applaud you being in a relationship that makes you happy. You are valid and I celebrate your relationship.

          • Miri
            Miri
            June 22, 2023 at 4:51 am | #

            … No, that sounds like the sort of attraction spectrum area that gets all sorts of unpleasant crud thrown in its direction… Usually from people who you have no interest in whatsoever and who therefore you would THINK had no say in who you get to be attracted to, but 🤷🏻‍♀️ People suck.

          • GholaHalleck
            GholaHalleck
            June 22, 2023 at 12:12 pm | #

            There’s a loooot of community based baggage on my end.

            Figured out “hey, I like the dudes sexually, guess I’m gay.”

            Was out as gay for about two years. Built a decent little friend network for an introvert.

            Then oh damn, found out I’m still into the ladies.

            Guess I’m bi.

            Guess I’m shunned by 95% of the friend group for being “a liar” and “Never actually into men to begin with.”

            And that was ages ago, worked past it. Trying my damnedest to not paint with a wide brush when it comes to “the community” and it’s hypocrisy.

            Now I feel like I have to fend off terfs trying to turn bisexual into a trans exclusive label, when it’s been trans and NB inclusive since it was created as a term.

    • Bryy
      Bryy
      June 22, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

      Oh, 1000%, especially since she had a fit over Ruth dating a guy (and her internalized homophobia in general).

      • Angel
        Angel
        June 22, 2023 at 1:23 am | #

        i thought the fit was more because she specifically set her up with her boss/daisy as opposed to just taking her to a gay/lesbian bar and her choosing some ‘regular white guy’ or so lol

        • Doopyboop
          Doopyboop
          June 22, 2023 at 2:00 am | #

          It’s probably a bit of both, but the fact that Jennifer first assumed Ruth hooked up with the female bartender, then raised her voice even more because the bartender was a guy definitely leans towards Jennifer being upset because her preconceived notions were that Ruth was a lesbian so the idea that Ruth could date a guy? Well, it’s a lot like Joyce’s reaction.

    • Dara
      Dara
      June 22, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

      Honestly I think the opposite in this case. “Eh, I never actually had a shot.”

    • Angel
      Angel
      June 22, 2023 at 1:46 am | #

      well she did mention a brief attraction to ethan/’impressed’ that he was joyce’s ‘bf’ even tho it ended up being a fake relationship in the end

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      June 22, 2023 at 2:08 am | #

      that, and she’d milk this opportunity for “being in an affair” 😳

      oh shit

    • BarerMender
      BarerMender
      June 22, 2023 at 3:56 pm | #

      Asher: Listen, Babe, your ex was a girl. Now my ex is a girl. What’s the problem?

  9. Serendipity
    Serendipity
    June 22, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

    bi asher bi asher bi asher bi asher!!!!

    • Bo
      Bo
      June 22, 2023 at 2:03 am | #

      hi Asher hi Asher hi Asher hi Ash

      • k
        k
        June 22, 2023 at 8:54 am | #

        hi bi asher hi bi asher hi bi asher hi bi asher!!!!

      • Clif
        Clif
        June 22, 2023 at 10:14 am | #

        lo Asher etc.

  10. Just an Armadillo
    Just an Armadillo
    June 22, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

    It’s not Jennifer, so I ship it.

  11. Bryy
    Bryy
    June 22, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

    WELL I WAS HALF-RIGHT ABOUT THE TRAUMA HOOK-UP.

    • Angel
      Angel
      June 22, 2023 at 1:43 am | #

      just like with amber and walky, ethan getting a version of his trauma he can f*ck lol

  12. Doopyboop
    Doopyboop
    June 22, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    Okay so before people in the comments spitballed the idea of Asher and Dorothy and I was like ‘man that would definitely be the worst case scenario because of all the hostage stuff and everything’ and uh

    actually I was wrong. Ash and Ethan is a very messy dynamic because Asher is at least partially responsible for what happened to Mike, due to his actions to help Amber’s dad. Granted that Mike was definitely injured way before he ever pulled a fire alarm, he was still part of that whole plan, and perhaps if he wasn’t blackmailed into helping Amber’s dad, that entire attack wouldn’t have happened.

    …*readies a bucket of popcorn*

    • RassilonTDavros
      RassilonTDavros
      June 22, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

      Asher had some role in virtually every one of Ethan’s major traumas and at some point that bombshell is going to drop and it is gonna be delicious

      • Nono
        Nono
        June 22, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

        I mean I don’t think Asher was responsible for whatever new horrible Transformers thing was on the forums… or was he?

        • Bryy
          Bryy
          June 22, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

          Asher is a master of 4D Chess.

          • Clif
            Clif
            June 22, 2023 at 10:16 am | #

            Willis is a master of 4D chess.

            Fixed that for you.

        • Vanessa
          Vanessa
          June 22, 2023 at 12:20 am | #

          Lol very nice it just might turn out that Asher is ALSO unsound on Decepticon or something. More likely he will be fascinated by Ethan’s genuine enthusiasm and love for the subject.

          • Clif
            Clif
            June 22, 2023 at 10:19 am | #

            I would wear a Tshirt that said “Unsound on Decepticons.”

        • Bo
          Bo
          June 22, 2023 at 2:04 am | #

          “It was ME, Barry…”

    • Alanari
      Alanari
      June 22, 2023 at 12:44 am | #

      Wondering whether this is attraction or guilt in ashers face. He might be aware who ethan is. He most likely is aware that he worked with those who killed mike.

      • Angel
        Angel
        June 22, 2023 at 1:36 am | #

        it would be quite the interesting reaction to see if sal/amber finds out and tries to stop it

      • cbwroses
        cbwroses
        June 22, 2023 at 5:14 am | #

        Asher hasn’t expressed guilt towards anyone else involved, so I’m going with attraction.
        That he’d be (seemingly as there was a time skip) just fine being around Walky, Joyce, and Sarah (and possibly any of the others who were kidnapped that he knows), but suddenly feels guilt for Ethan would, at the very least, imply Asher paid a lot more attention to Ethan’s feelings regarding Mike than he would be expected to.

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        June 22, 2023 at 12:53 pm | #

        It’s probably attraction, and today’s strip title “It Keeps Happening” is probably a reference to Danny realizing he was bi when he was attracted to Ethan.

    • GholaHalleck
      GholaHalleck
      June 22, 2023 at 1:06 am | #

      “t least I had the guy who killed your boyfriend murdered in his hospital room, that should count for something right?!”

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        June 22, 2023 at 8:11 pm | #

        Maybe, maybe not so much.

    • Aslan
      Aslan
      June 22, 2023 at 6:55 am | #

      I’m trying to see Sal’s reaction. Just imagine. “Please don’t date him, Apples; I know he’s hot but he’s going to hurt you…
      Okay, I mean he’s going to hurt you WORSE than I did when I took you hostage, just trust me on this.”

    • EnerPrime
      EnerPrime
      June 22, 2023 at 1:47 pm | #

      Honestly I think Ethan might be one of the few to be okay with it if the full details of Asher’s involvement came out. Because Asher was blackmailed and not a willing participant, and Ethan’s in a dark enough place that his reaction to finding out Blaine what killed by the mob he worked for would probably just be that he deserved it.

  13. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    June 22, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS

  14. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    June 22, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    I gotta be with him! He’s Hurtin’ inside.

    • milu
      milu
      June 22, 2023 at 9:08 am | #

      i wanna stroke you where it hurts <3

      • Clif
        Clif
        June 22, 2023 at 10:24 am | #

        It doesn’t hurt? Let me fix that for you. – Mike

      • BarerMender
        BarerMender
        June 22, 2023 at 4:01 pm | #

        I mind me of Pibgorn:
        Drusilla: Let me check you for broken bones.
        Geoff: Hey! There are no bones there.
        Dru: Patience.

  15. Golden Yak
    Golden Yak
    June 22, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    “God damn, but he looks depressed… I must have him.”

    • Dante
      Dante
      June 22, 2023 at 1:22 am | #

      Asher likes them troubled

  16. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    June 22, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    C’mon, I’m still dealing with Ethan and Danny ship.

  17. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    June 22, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    …BRUH

    • DarkoNeko
      DarkoNeko
      June 22, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

      This is a terrible, terrible idea and I want to watch the trainwreck

  18. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    June 22, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

    Oh I like where this is going, Asher’s mafia connections aside.

    Although he did use them to do away with Mike’s killer. But they were partially funded by those connections in the first place.

    I’m thinking too hard about this. Ship first, consequences later.

    • ANeM
      ANeM
      June 22, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

      That was less about him seeking justice and more about him getting rid of a witness who could tie him to the whole kidnapping and murder thing.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        June 22, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

        Right, that too. This comic is a lot to keep up with.

      • DrunkenNordmann
        DrunkenNordmann
        June 22, 2023 at 3:44 am | #

        Also, Blaine was blackmailing him with… something.

        • cbwroses
          cbwroses
          June 22, 2023 at 5:15 am | #

          With stealing mob money.

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            June 22, 2023 at 11:43 am | #

            Which can very easily result in Asher dead in a ditch somewhere.

    • YordleJay
      YordleJay
      June 22, 2023 at 1:03 am | #

      Connecti9ns I’d like to remind people he’s trying to ditch

      • GholaHalleck
        GholaHalleck
        June 22, 2023 at 1:07 am | #

        It didn’t work for Michel Corelone, it probably won;t work for Asher.

  19. Warcodered
    Warcodered
    June 22, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

    Like a beautiful piece of emo art.

  20. Jo_cubstar
    Jo_cubstar
    June 22, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

    Yes yes yes yes I like this very much :3

  21. CrazyJ
    CrazyJ
    June 22, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

    Everyone seems to be on the bi ship but I think it would just as funny for Asher to get lessons from Ethan on how to become a brooding emo to get Jennifer back (not that Asher can’t do better but still).

    • audkitten
      audkitten
      June 22, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

      This is funny 🙂

    • Angel
      Angel
      June 22, 2023 at 1:38 am | #

      lol wallowing in depression and skipping showers probably wouldn’t be more appealing to jen, tho trauma aside i’d think ethan would also be pretty similar to walky as well

      • cbwroses
        cbwroses
        June 22, 2023 at 5:16 am | #

        Why not?
        It was appealing to her when Ruth did it.

    • a/snow/mous/e
      a/snow/mous/e
      June 22, 2023 at 2:04 am | #

      Yeah that was definitely my first thought: “O Muse of Cool! Teach me thy ways!”

  22. audkitten
    audkitten
    June 22, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

    No! Down Asher! You can’t have this one!

    Ugh this is going to be a train wreck. I’m sorry for whatever Asher was forced to do, but this would be so unhealthy for Ethan. Someone else already mentioned Asher is linked to all of Ethan’s major trauma.

    • audkitten
      audkitten
      June 22, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

      Jennifer avatar ftw

      • Clif
        Clif
        June 22, 2023 at 3:44 am | #

        Asher may be linked to all of Ethan’s major traumas, but it will be a situation with a very long fuse.

  23. BBCC
    BBCC
    June 22, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

    A version of your trauma you can fuck, as Amber once put it.

    • BarerMender
      BarerMender
      June 22, 2023 at 4:04 pm | #

      Ethan put it.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        June 22, 2023 at 11:54 pm | #

        Even better.

  24. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    June 22, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

    Ethan hitting the Rei Asaka stage of self-destructive behavior that still attracts people.

    I know that this is likely leading to something, but part of me would also love if there is NEVER a follow up, that Asher just kept walking.

  25. newlland(Henryvolt)
    newlland(Henryvolt)
    June 22, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

    Oooooh boy, this I got to see.

  26. UrsulaDavina
    UrsulaDavina
    June 22, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

    🎶 🎵 (Dream Weaver by Gary Wright plays) 🎶 🎵

  27. Joe Moose
    Joe Moose
    June 22, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

    [Careless Whisper blares on hijacked college loudspeakers]

    • milu
      milu
      June 22, 2023 at 9:12 am | #

      [Amazi-girl saw this interaction from the roof and immediately hacked into the PA system]

  28. Dante
    Dante
    June 22, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

    Oh, I am CACKLING. This has fixed ny mood tonight. Bi Asher! Bi Asher! Truly Pride month has been generous in an otherwise shitty year so far.

    This is the most anime first-look we’ve gotten since… Fam, I can’t even remember. Thank you, Willis!! Inject it into my veins!!

    I DUB THIS SHIP ETHER!!

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      June 22, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

      YEE!!!!! Great ship name BTW 😄

    • sakamism
      sakamism
      June 22, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

      With a name like that there is no choice but to support it

    • Nono
      Nono
      June 22, 2023 at 1:23 am | #

      Ashan/Ashen also works.

      • a/snow/mous/e
        a/snow/mous/e
        June 22, 2023 at 2:05 am | #

        ethan is looking pretty ashen these days

      • Dante
        Dante
        June 22, 2023 at 3:48 am | #

        Ashen is good but it kinda makes the Ethan side disappear and this is already be going to be terrible for him :’33

    • milu
      milu
      June 22, 2023 at 9:15 am | #

      it has an element of brooding nineteenth-century addiction to it 👍

  29. Abdomino
    Abdomino
    June 22, 2023 at 12:16 am | #

    Ethan: If I had a nickel every time I gave a guy his bi awakening, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice, right?

    • Abdomino
      Abdomino
      June 22, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

      I would like a new avatar. Jennifer has been frustrating for… god, a long while now.

      • Dante
        Dante
        June 22, 2023 at 12:25 am | #

        You can change any letter in your gravatar email address into uppercase to roulette for another one :3

        example@mail.com —} exAmple@mail.com

        • NGPZ
          NGPZ
          June 22, 2023 at 1:07 am | #

          yee. there’s a 50% chance of getting any specific avatar after rolling the dice 20 times 😉

          • Clif
            Clif
            June 22, 2023 at 3:46 am | #

            Your assuming uniform distribution which is empirically not true.

            • NGPZ
              NGPZ
              June 22, 2023 at 4:02 am | #

              Empirically? How many tests have you done? 😮

              • Clif
                Clif
                June 22, 2023 at 10:38 am | #

                At this point, I’m not sure. The entire history of the comment section is available and avitars from the current set are propagated back through time. Whenever someone shifts to a new avatar from the set or there is a general reset as evidenced by comments, it counts as a new trial. I looked at it enough to convince me Sal was less frequent than some of the others.

                • Clif
                  Clif
                  June 22, 2023 at 10:52 am | #

                  In fairness, I looked at that after the switch that was previous to this and not the current set. To be certain it’s still the case, I’d need to go back and check. I just assumed that since Sal took around 30 trials for me this time, the skewed distribution was still the case.
                  I’ll report again after I have some time to recheck.

                • HueSatLight
                  HueSatLight
                  June 22, 2023 at 2:36 pm | #

                  30 trials is not unusually high for a uniform distribution.

      • chuckroast
        chuckroast
        June 22, 2023 at 12:27 am | #

        Jennifer has always been frustrating. Long live Billie.

      • Dante
        Dante
        June 22, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

        I just changed mine this way! (Loving Ruth, I’m really glad I tried so, thank you :33)

    • Proxiehunter
      Proxiehunter
      June 22, 2023 at 12:21 am | #

      That’s enough nickles for Mike to have fucked two moms.

      If you want a different avatar change the capitalization of you email.

  30. reed
    reed
    June 22, 2023 at 12:16 am | #

    YES! I don’t care if this is a bad idea, I support Ethan + Any Man.

  31. Mehe
    Mehe
    June 22, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

    Oh I just want to see Asher help Ethan out of this spiral. Ethan is NOT in a healthy place for a relationship right now, but a friendship that isn’t tied to home would be good for him.

    • cbwroses
      cbwroses
      June 22, 2023 at 5:21 am | #

      He just got one with Booster.

      Which reminds me: wouldn’t it be crazy if Booster meets Asher through Ethan and immediately clocks that Asher is somehow connected to some big group trauma (without automatically realizing what the trauma is as that would just be another random super power in this no powers story).

  32. Regalli
    Regalli
    June 22, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

    This is a disaster waiting to happen and I want popcorn.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      June 22, 2023 at 12:55 am | #

      😊🍿🥤

  33. Lia
    Lia
    June 22, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

    we got another one lads

  34. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    June 22, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

    Is Ethan just the closet key for everyone?

    • Dante
      Dante
      June 22, 2023 at 1:16 am | #

      It’s impressive for a guy who went back into the closet twice sffhdj

      • a/snow/mous/e
        a/snow/mous/e
        June 22, 2023 at 2:11 am | #

        “Twice”? Obviously there was the period where he was dating Joyce, but was there another time he re-entered the closet? Or are you counting that as two times because he came out to Joyce in the middle of that?

        • Mr. Random
          Mr. Random
          June 22, 2023 at 2:47 am | #

          At the start of the comic he was “back in the closet” because it was a new school where no one knew him.
          Second time was Joyce.

          • Nono
            Nono
            June 22, 2023 at 4:15 am | #

            Eh, feels like just the one time.

            At the start of the semester he was just happy to be the weirdo Transformers guy, without letting his sexuality define him. He was gay, but wasn’t actively looking or advertising.

            Joyce was an active attempt to try to be straight.

  35. Rabid Rabbit
    Rabid Rabbit
    June 22, 2023 at 12:19 am | #

    Asher cheek blush = suggested attraction.

    Ethan? Well, we know that when Ethan’s not depressed, he’s a bit of a slut (which is fine! It’s just a thing), so I suppose the absence of blushes could indicate a lack of emotional commitment but simple reawakening to the fact that things are possible, but I honestly prefer the idea that somehow he knows a lot more about Asher than Asher would be comfortable with.

    If only because it would torpedo the shippers from the start, and that would make me cackle.

    (Okay, fine, nothing torpedoes shippers. It would just make things more complicated and dramatic for them. But still.)

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      June 22, 2023 at 12:22 am | #

      I feel like Ethan just flat-out doesn’t notice Asher here.

      • Rabid Rabbit
        Rabid Rabbit
        June 22, 2023 at 2:54 am | #

        That would be an equally excellent blow to the shippers. I like it.

        • cbwroses
          cbwroses
          June 22, 2023 at 5:25 am | #

          It’s not a blow to the shippers for Ethan not to notice a stranger walking by, especially with the depression he has.
          But sure, grab any victory you can.

  36. Paradoxius
    Paradoxius
    June 22, 2023 at 12:20 am | #

    My glance at this comic, I mistook Asher’s look up at Ethan as a desperate search for approval from someone who looks cool and dejected after being burned in the last strip, and thought the final panel was a detailed close-up on Ethan doing a big eye-roll.

    This is very much not what’s happening, and it would not have really made sense, but it would be very funny.

  37. Axel
    Axel
    June 22, 2023 at 12:22 am | #

    put all my chips on bi asher

    • Miri
      Miri
      June 22, 2023 at 5:06 am | #

      … does he have dips set up in his abs?

      • milu
        milu
        June 22, 2023 at 9:18 am | #

        until proven otherwise, Asher definitely has cumgutters

        • BarerMender
          BarerMender
          June 22, 2023 at 4:10 pm | #

          We saw Asher in his undershorts. He didn’t look fit.

          • Miri
            Miri
            June 22, 2023 at 6:35 pm | #

            Sorry, I meant like tzatziki or salsa – things to dunk crisps in…

      • Axel
        Axel
        June 22, 2023 at 10:05 pm | #

        I more mean that I’m all in but that sounds fun too.

  38. LIGHTWEIGHT BAYBEE
    LIGHTWEIGHT BAYBEE
    June 22, 2023 at 12:25 am | #

    on one hand ethan slipshine
    on the other asher is mob related
    basically a degree a way from the people that killed amber’s father

    • Dante
      Dante
      June 22, 2023 at 12:27 am | #

      … but consider. That also means he’s kinda responsible for avenging Mike

      • adam Black
        adam Black
        June 22, 2023 at 12:37 am | #

        Unless Mike was murdered in the hospital

        • Clif
          Clif
          June 22, 2023 at 10:58 am | #

          Or in witness protection.

  39. Hazel
    Hazel
    June 22, 2023 at 12:26 am | #

    The art in this strip is just… I mean, we knew that Ethan was depressed and doing badly, what with the bangs and pushing away his friends and the rest of it. But his face in that last panel is just…

    Oh yeah, and Asher is clearly into him, but I’m not sure if that’s a good sign.

    • I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams
      I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams
      June 22, 2023 at 12:43 am | #

      Triple E (Emancipated Emo Ethan) and his sadboy charm strikes again, lol. But in all seriousness this strip has some really excellent movement + paneling work, and that in combination with Willis’ usual distinct visual cues (the eye shines man, i love love love how you can wordlessly gauge Asher’s emotional state panel by panel just by looking at them) really helps to build this almost cinematic feeling in just a few panels. It’s honestly really great.

      • Clif
        Clif
        June 22, 2023 at 3:49 am | #

        Agreed.

  40. Cmasta1992
    Cmasta1992
    June 22, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

    Nooooooo

  41. I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams
    I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams
    June 22, 2023 at 12:29 am | #

    These last few strips call for a thematically appropriate Elliott Smith song and that song “Easy Way Out” from Figure 8 (Something that i WOULD link if Gravatar didn’t have personal beef with me and didn’t auto-delete any comments i make that has a link of any kind but w/e i digress).

    Anyways, Asher and Post-Timeskip Ethan has been some of the more dramatic characters when it comes to “raising the stakes/shaking up the status quo”, so i can’t wait to see how this interaction shakes out.

  42. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    June 22, 2023 at 12:29 am | #

    Absolutely nothing could possibly go wrong with this development, and I unreservedly endorse it.

    • milu
      milu
      June 22, 2023 at 9:21 am | #

      there’s a virtual guarantee things will go terribly with this development, and I unreservedly endorse it.

      • Clif
        Clif
        June 22, 2023 at 10:59 am | #

        That’s the spirit,

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        June 22, 2023 at 11:45 am | #

        This.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        June 22, 2023 at 6:51 pm | #

        To-may-to, to-mah-to.

  43. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    June 22, 2023 at 12:45 am | #

    I vaguely recall Ethan being likened to Batman. And Asher is described as radiating Oscar Isaac vibes. So together they’re DarkMoon Knight.

    • a/snow/mous/e
      a/snow/mous/e
      June 22, 2023 at 2:15 am | #

      Now they just need to form a Pink Floyd cover band so they can be “Dark side of the Moon Knight”

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        June 22, 2023 at 11:42 am | #

        That can be the title of their Slipshine.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      June 23, 2023 at 5:36 pm | #

      So if Amber tries to speedrun Dark Souls, would they be the Dark Knight of the Soul?

  44. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    June 22, 2023 at 12:47 am | #

    I like the pose and lighting in panel 2.

  45. woobie
    woobie
    June 22, 2023 at 12:51 am | #

    Ethan looks awful. Still.

  46. YordleJay
    YordleJay
    June 22, 2023 at 1:01 am | #

    Asher please leave billie, you deserve ao much better

  47. Mollyscribbles
    Mollyscribbles
    June 22, 2023 at 1:06 am | #

    . . . was this a “sad girl in snow” joke.

  48. Angel
    Angel
    June 22, 2023 at 1:09 am | #

    is he blushing because ethan’s attractive or suddenly flustered because he knows he’s partially responsible for mike’s death?

    • cbwroses
      cbwroses
      June 22, 2023 at 5:30 am | #

      I highly doubt Asher paid that much attention to how badly Mike’s death affected Ethan, especially considering we have no idea he even knows who Ethan is or what he looks like.
      So the simplest answer is the most likely answer by a wide margin (not the only answer, tho, so it’s not 100% certain).

  49. IniquitousKing
    IniquitousKing
    June 22, 2023 at 1:11 am | #

    You can fix him, Asher.

    • Angel
      Angel
      June 22, 2023 at 1:42 am | #

      and then shatter him again once he finds out who asher really is lol

      • milu
        milu
        June 22, 2023 at 9:22 am | #

        lol!

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        June 22, 2023 at 11:15 am | #

        Asher ships have circled around from being bad news to “Yes … ha ha ha … YES!” This makes me feel like when Wilbur fell off the boat.

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          June 22, 2023 at 11:16 am | #

          … suspense wise. Not hoping Ethan’s eaten by fish.

  50. Chaucer59
    Chaucer59
    June 22, 2023 at 1:12 am | #

    As a bi man, I do not feel the least bit of guilt in saying, Ethan deserves better.

    • Angel
      Angel
      June 22, 2023 at 1:27 am | #

      it’d be interesting to know what booster would think/advise him on although other than knowing anything about asher i don’t think booster would necessarily discourage it becuase they don’t know anything too detailed about asher

  51. Suet
    Suet
    June 22, 2023 at 1:14 am | #

    Ethan has that something, I dunno what, but it’s something. Why? Because Danny.

    From smoking to ✨ smoking ✨

  52. Taffy
    Taffy
    June 22, 2023 at 1:19 am | #

    I can’t believe Asher is cheating on Jennifer like this. How incredibly shitty of him.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      June 22, 2023 at 1:22 am | #

      come to think of it, being part of an affair might just be what really gets her hot and bothered 😮

      • NGPZ
        NGPZ
        June 22, 2023 at 1:32 am | #

        also a possible three-way, i hope

    • Nono
      Nono
      June 22, 2023 at 1:24 am | #

      I can’t tell if serious.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        June 22, 2023 at 1:38 am | #

        Wouldn’t you like to know.

    • Angel
      Angel
      June 22, 2023 at 1:25 am | #

      lol i knew some acquaintainces of friends that was like “it’s not cheating if ur bi/makeout with the same gender” but it was just simply the guys fetishing bi gfs/lesbians more so than actually respecting/wanting an ‘open relationship’

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        June 22, 2023 at 8:14 am | #

        I briefly dated a girl whose boyfriend apparently meant that when they agreed on an open relationship.

  53. VinzKlortho
    VinzKlortho
    June 22, 2023 at 1:34 am | #

    ALL AROUND ME ARE FAMILIAR FACES
    WORN OUT PLACES, WORN OUT FACES

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      June 22, 2023 at 2:17 am | #

      [Early 2000s Newgrounds flashbacks]

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      June 22, 2023 at 2:36 am | #

      Bright and early filling up their feel good
      No one birthday, no expression

  54. Tim
    Tim
    June 22, 2023 at 2:13 am | #

    Get over yourself Ethan.
    Transformers 6 was that bad.

    • Decidedly Orthogonal
      Decidedly Orthogonal
      June 22, 2023 at 10:47 am | #

      Which one was ‘6’. I fell asleep during number 3. In the theatre. After that watching more didn’t make any sense.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        June 22, 2023 at 11:18 am | #

        Look, what you need to know is that one shall rise, one shall fall, and he is Optimus Prime. That’s the series, SPOILER ALERT FOR A 100,000,000,000 YEAR OLD MOVIE SERIES

    • EnerPrime
      EnerPrime
      June 22, 2023 at 1:49 pm | #

      6 was Bumblebee, the one that is widely agreed to be Actually Good, though?

  55. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    June 22, 2023 at 2:17 am | #

    Dang, when was the last time Ethan ate and slept properly?

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      June 22, 2023 at 2:37 am | #

      On-panel?

  56. LaGrosseLegume
    LaGrosseLegume
    June 22, 2023 at 2:21 am | #

    i’ma feeling good vibrations here

  57. Rachel
    Rachel
    June 22, 2023 at 2:24 am | #

    I was just thinking “oh man a reckoning for Ethan is coming, this poor boy” and oh boyyyy

  58. foducool
    foducool
    June 22, 2023 at 2:25 am | #

    don’t open, dead inside

    • AGV
      AGV
      June 22, 2023 at 4:38 am | #

      Don’t dead open inside

  59. Lars
    Lars
    June 22, 2023 at 2:30 am | #

    Is it just me or does Ethan look stoned?

    • AGV
      AGV
      June 22, 2023 at 4:39 am | #

      Depression can look like that

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      June 22, 2023 at 2:48 pm | #

      opium vibes.

  60. Now
    Now
    June 22, 2023 at 2:34 am | #

    WHAT IS THIS CRACKSHIP-ASS SHIP I’m dying of laughter, never stop what you’re doing Willis, you’re the greatest

  61. Lamppost
    Lamppost
    June 22, 2023 at 2:45 am | #

    Ahahahaha this is trash I love it

  62. Clif
    Clif
    June 22, 2023 at 3:53 am | #

    Gaze upon the Ethan and Dispare.

  63. Allison Branford
    Allison Branford
    June 22, 2023 at 4:07 am | #

    My deepest hope is that aside from his mob connections, Asher is also deeply into Transformers. That would add a metaphorical busload of puppies to the oncoming trainwreck. Or to be more precise, shipwreck.

  64. Icalasari
    Icalasari
    June 22, 2023 at 4:37 am | #

    I keep expecting Spider-Man 2 Tobey McGuire to suddenly appear

    • cbwroses
      cbwroses
      June 22, 2023 at 5:34 am | #

      Do you mean Spider-Man 3?
      That’s the one with Emo Pete aka Bully Maguire.

  65. AGV
    AGV
    June 22, 2023 at 4:42 am | #

    *a few weeks into this relationship when Ethan is starting to look up*

    Asher: Why are you a dork? You used to be cool!

  66. Bash
    Bash
    June 22, 2023 at 5:58 am | #

    Oh god yes I’m so here for this.

  67. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    June 22, 2023 at 6:25 am | #

    I hope this leads to some Asher/Booster interaction.

    • Dante
      Dante
      June 22, 2023 at 11:08 pm | #

      I’d ship that too :3c

  68. Aslan
    Aslan
    June 22, 2023 at 6:48 am | #

    Someone’s gonna get mad at me for this I just know it but
    Make👏him👏worse👏
    Make👏him👏worse👏
    Make👏him👏worse👏

  69. Mark
    Mark
    June 22, 2023 at 7:02 am | #

    I’m going to defy the DoA Shipping Company and suggest that Asher’s reaction is “misery loves company.” It seems implausible in this feature, but I’m saying it anyway!

  70. Zaxares
    Zaxares
    June 22, 2023 at 7:38 am | #

    I’m just sitting here cackling at this twist and knowing the shippers will love it and going “I don’t believe it, that son of a bongo Willis actually DID IT!” XD

  71. Chasey
    Chasey
    June 22, 2023 at 7:42 am | #

    Ehhhhh… I guess I ship it.
    A little.
    If I have to.

  72. Joy
    Joy
    June 22, 2023 at 8:42 am | #

    This is so dramatic 😭

  73. spriteless aunty
    spriteless aunty
    June 22, 2023 at 8:46 am | #

    On the bad side, he is involved with the crime family that killed Mike. But on the bright side he was involved with Mike’s killer’s death.

    • Clif
      Clif
      June 22, 2023 at 11:14 am | #

      On the bad side, he was responsible for setting Sal up so she would take a hostage. On the good side, his family hired and empowered the one who eliminated the person responsible for Ethan and Amber being there.

      On the bad side, he helped with the kidnapping. On the good side he helped Jennifer get something Sal wanted.

      • spriteless aunty
        spriteless aunty
        June 22, 2023 at 6:14 pm | #

        Bah, Ethan doesn’t care about anything except Mike anymore.

  74. Plonker
    Plonker
    June 22, 2023 at 8:53 am | #

    Yeah, I’m not feeling it. At all.

    It’s a mismatch of epic proportions, and I see the narrative possibilities of it, but it feels forced and unrealistic based on the people involved.

    So, I guess I’m looking forward to hate-reading all about it.

  75. goggleman64
    goggleman64
    June 22, 2023 at 8:55 am | #

    Oh hell yeah, a romance storyline between Asher and Ethan has *tons* of potential!! I hope you go for it / went for it, Willis!

    Also, I would love for that to somehow wind up with Booster and Jennifer trapped in an elevator where Booster ruthlessly hurls Freshman Psychology at her X)

  76. codycola
    codycola
    June 22, 2023 at 8:57 am | #

    woah I love this

  77. kater
    kater
    June 22, 2023 at 9:01 am | #

    “You make dudes realize they’re bi just by walking past, like Pepe Le Pew for boners.”

  78. Dov
    Dov
    June 22, 2023 at 9:08 am | #

    Emooothaaaan -Homer Simpson drooling over a donut noise-

  79. Woof McGee
    Woof McGee
    June 22, 2023 at 9:18 am | #

    Oh noes! Be careful, Ethan! He does magical mass kidnappings!

  80. milu
    milu
    June 22, 2023 at 9:32 am | #

    (Five minutes later)

    Asher: look, i have to come clean so it doesn’t bite me in the ass, i was involved in the robbery of a gas station when i was thirteen, also i have mob connections and i organized the assassination of one of our guys gone rogue last semester.

    Ethan: goddammit. …listen they say if you wanna die, try changing your life first just to make sure. Sooo… wanna do a Bonnie & Clyde?

    (they high-five)

    (story takes a bit of a swerve)

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      June 22, 2023 at 2:54 pm | #

      Ethan: Funny thing, I got held at knife point during the robbery of a gas station when I was 13.

      • milu
        milu
        June 22, 2023 at 3:06 pm | #

        “wow! we have so much in common!”

  81. General Tekno
    General Tekno
    June 22, 2023 at 10:27 am | #

    oh nooooo this is going to end badly the MINUTE Asher’s involvement, however peripherally, in Mike’s death becomes clear.

    Flip side is it might NOT end badly the minute later when his involvement in killing the man responsible for Mike’s death becomes clear.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      June 22, 2023 at 6:44 pm | #

      If Mike had survived, Asher’s dirty cops would have killed him too. Maybe they did. Mike had evidence of Blaine’s work for the mob, which included payouts to cops.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        June 22, 2023 at 10:49 pm | #

        But did anyone other than Blaine know that?
        Blaine wasn’t going to tell the mob, because that gets him in trouble for letting Mike find out.

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          June 22, 2023 at 11:35 pm | #

          Mike was shouting and there were bystanders. We saw at least some of it on panel. https://www.dumbingofage.com/stooge/

          • HueSatLight
            HueSatLight
            June 22, 2023 at 11:42 pm | #

            Even if my speculation is wrong, and they never had any suspicions about Mike or Amazi-girl, and the cop was just making idle conversation before he shot Blaine…

            Killing Blaine wasn’t an act of justice. Just because a murder victim is a piece of shit doesn’t sanctify the murderers.

          • HueSatLight
            HueSatLight
            June 22, 2023 at 11:53 pm | #

            Mike thinking the mob cops were a danger to them: https://www.dumbingofage.com/ninest/
            Amber and Dorothy thinking the mob cops were a danger to Mike:
            https://www.dumbingofage.com/evacuated/

  82. Valerie
    Valerie
    June 22, 2023 at 11:06 am | #

    Oh GOD, they’re gonna figure it out post-coitus. Bad bad bad

  83. Adept
    Adept
    June 22, 2023 at 11:16 am | #

    Brood, brood, brood…

  84. Raja
    Raja
    June 22, 2023 at 11:34 am | #

    unexpected. probably not a good idea. so much drama could happen out of this

    please happen k thanks

  85. LiterallyJustSomeGuy
    LiterallyJustSomeGuy
    June 22, 2023 at 12:05 pm | #

    Speaking of “aloof and severe” . . .

  86. poyo
    poyo
    June 22, 2023 at 12:27 pm | #

    OH WORM ?????

  87. Pocky
    Pocky
    June 22, 2023 at 12:58 pm | #

    Really trying to get me to sympathize with Asher lol

  88. Sibre
    Sibre
    June 22, 2023 at 1:11 pm | #

    The strip’s title doesn’t make sense. No one’s falling down stairs.

    • BOOSTER SHOT
      BOOSTER SHOT
      June 22, 2023 at 1:12 pm | #

      It’s because they were all properly warned.

    • Dara
      Dara
      June 23, 2023 at 12:02 am | #

      It’s because the space robots have not yet arrived to protect us from the terrible secret of space.

  89. Throwatron
    Throwatron
    June 22, 2023 at 2:13 pm | #

    goddamn ya boi has a type, huh

  90. Synnerman
    Synnerman
    June 22, 2023 at 2:17 pm | #

    Yes, I want this ship and all related reading materials.

  91. milu
    milu
    June 22, 2023 at 2:54 pm | #

    Made a thing, y’all

    (NSFW)

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      June 22, 2023 at 3:08 pm | #

      WOW!!! 😍🏳️‍🌈 Awesome work Milu!

    • milu
      milu
      June 22, 2023 at 3:47 pm | #

      Dammit

      forgot the snow

      new link

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        June 22, 2023 at 8:31 pm | #

        Feel like they should go inside before that last panel.

        • milu
          milu
          June 22, 2023 at 9:22 pm | #

          Yeah! Porn logic smh

    • Dante
      Dante
      June 22, 2023 at 9:55 pm | #

      It says page not found ;AAA; May I see it, please?

  92. Willoughby Chase
    Willoughby Chase
    June 22, 2023 at 3:44 pm | #

    Have the swinging christmas yule

  93. TrueVCU
    TrueVCU
    June 22, 2023 at 4:40 pm | #

    Ethan: the public universal man crush

  94. DaisyFM
    DaisyFM
    June 22, 2023 at 6:07 pm | #

    Yeah, I get it.

  95. Steelbright
    Steelbright
    June 22, 2023 at 11:10 pm | #

    Asher’s vibes can’t go up against the true ruler of emo, he is defeated and that turns him on

  96. cobragardens
    cobragardens
    June 24, 2023 at 7:03 am | #

    Oh us too, Asher. Us too.

  97. Plain Marie
    Plain Marie
    June 24, 2023 at 12:06 pm | #

    When two sad grumpy people meet…

  98. Darkseide
    Darkseide
    June 26, 2023 at 3:13 am | #

    it’s Friday, the Dumbing of Ageith, 14th of 200th, right?
    (i think it is, for my mental health!)

  99. JohnnyO
    JohnnyO
    June 28, 2023 at 10:02 am | #

    How many bisexual awakenings can Ethan be responsible for?

CHOOSE A SIDE, NO COWARDS

View Results

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  • Polls Archive
CONVENTION APPEARANCES


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

David M Willis! avatar
David M Willis!
@damnyouwillis.bsky.social
reposted by David M Willis!
drivaaar.bsky.social's user avatar
Drivaaar @drivaaar.bsky.social ⋅ 4h
I want YOU to transform Autobot City (with generous green spaces, affordable public transport and amenities, and plentiful social initiatives)
2
4
33
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 35min
welp back to drawing comics featuring a character you can't see yet for like 11 months
3
28
 
reposted by David M Willis!
thewritertype.bsky.social's user avatar
Paul Bassett Davies @thewritertype.bsky.social ⋅ 6h
Then they came for the sarcastic people and I was like oh great that's exactly what we need right now well done to all concerned.
7
128
571
 
reposted by David M Willis!
cassmoney.bsky.social's user avatar
Cass 🪻 @cassmoney.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
Comic of a man peering through a window.
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
1
2
21
 
reposted by David M Willis!
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The Nerdy Lawyer @nerdylawyer.bsky.social ⋅ 4h
Dorothy: You can't just follow me into fire! Joyce: You don't want me following you into fire? Then don't run into fire!
1
30
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 10h
today in #9chickweedlane i learned i apparently gotta go see if "correlate" has an archaic definition that means something nonsense
11
1
43
 
reposted by David M Willis!
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Virginia Barksdale @virginiabarksdale.bsky.social ⋅ 10h
screaming, crying, throwing up, Pete the Peacock is real, I feel lesbian God in this chili's tonight
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
2
28
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 11h
Dumbing of Age: "Can’t leave you if I stay" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Can’t leave you if I stay
jesus christ tomorrow's strip early on patreon oh my god...
13
10
75
 
reposted by David M Willis!
riotgrlerin.bsky.social's user avatar
RiotGrlErin @riotgrlerin.bsky.social ⋅ 13h
pam bondi as porta potties: thread
Pam bondi and he side profile wearing a dark yellow coat.
A yellow porta potty probably less shitty than Pam.
201
1126
5638
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 12h
header image - a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
media.tenor.com
a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
ALT: a man in a blue plaid shirt sits next to another man in a gray jacket
2
21
 
reposted by David M Willis!
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Brigid Keely She/Her @brigid.bsky.social ⋅ 20h
Joyce is absolutely totally straight and just wants to hang out with her best friend, who happens to be another lady. This is normal behavior and a normal biblical quote to use that has no other context. GAL PALS
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
joyce walks down an aisle
1
9
82
 
reposted by David M Willis!
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Paul Southworth ☢️ 🐟 @southworth.bsky.social ⋅ 16h
A lot of songs are lowkey about being horny
2
7
41
 
reposted by David M Willis!
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Stuart Webb @inflatabledalek.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
OK, I said I was going to a thread of receipts together on the guy who runs Kapow, in odder to explain why I personally would recommend not giving him your business at TFN. Starting with the original post, revealing the guy loves sharing right wing fascist stuff on LinkedIn.
xjmaw.bsky.social's user avatarAlex Maw @xjmaw.bsky.social ⋅ 6m
Since you might think it's weird you got a like on this over a year after the fact, the director of Kapow just shared this on LinkedIn; i.imgur.com/hqQYWgO.png
4
61
91
 
reposted by David M Willis!
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Ro Salarian @rosalarian.bsky.social ⋅ 20h
This is the best review I've ever gotten on my clothes. They will make you hot and popular. Find em at rosalarian.com/shop
Text conversation that reads: 
Pink text: i just wore my pervert shirt from your site to a party last night and it was possibly the funniest conversation starter OVER AND OVER. i could have full conversations with someoen about it and then the person literally sitting on the other side of me would look over and go HEY YOUR SHIRT SAYS PERVERT?! just immaculate, best design I've ever gotten and it also scores me a whole subway bench on the train.
Black text: This is exactly the reaction I was aiming for, both at the party and on the subway
Pink text: 100% crit rate
Pink text: i was extremely popular all of a sudden
A photo of a short sleeve button up skirt that is black with the word PERVERT scrawled all over it in white handwriting
3
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 18h
Bold new hero Steve Lombard
1
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 19h
another one of those "this food is delicious and i would absolutely eat all of it, but i have very little appetite" days
1
23
 
reposted by David M Willis!
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Adam16bit @adam16bit.bsky.social ⋅ 20h
Transformers Cyberworld is up on YouTube. For a short show to sell toys to kids, they did a good job with it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLVh...
header image - Transformers: CYBERWORLD | Episode 01 | Optimus Prime Crash Lands On CYBERWORLD
www.youtube.com
Transformers: CYBERWORLD | Episode 01 | Optimus Prime Crash Lands On CYBERWORLD
YouTube video by TRANSFORMERS OFFICIAL
1
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
www.instagram.com/p/DMAtlXHsyrO/ Took this as a challenge
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
finally done it, created a strip that defies instagram more than any strip ever before
19
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
not that giant of an axe actually a pretty modestly-sized axe
1
1
27
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
joyce walks down an aisle
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "Panorama" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomic #webcomics
www.dumbingofage.com
Panorama
i promise multiple panels in tomorrow's strip, which you can see early on patreon...
7
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
tfw you have things to do
10
10
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Dumbing of Age: "Panorama" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomic #webcomics
www.dumbingofage.com
Panorama
i promise multiple panels in tomorrow's strip, which you can see early on patreon...
11
9
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
yep James Gunn made a Superman film
2
38
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Happy 8th anniversary to just tweeting it out
5
32
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
so i got photos of the makeship dina plushie proto and honestly it looks 100% perfect except sidebar the hood can pull off the head, like a real hoodie which is something i didn't even consider should i leave that as an option, or tell them to sew the hood to the top of the head
10
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
let me tell you about this head i got
4
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
LOOK OUT GUYS!!! ELMO'S IN LEX LUTHOR COLORS!!!!!
9
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
And then there were four
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatarDavid M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
daylight
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3
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damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
okay let's go see how many extra tricerahoodie dina magnets i gotta order for kickstarter add-ons A HUNDRED AND THIRTY???
1
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David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Ahh, the elusive Yacht Brother
video thumbnail
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