Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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May 5, 2026

Repeatedly

by David M Willis on January 25, 2024 at 12:01 am
  • 02 – It's The Love I Haven't Got
└ Tags: sal, walky

Discussion (154) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Schpoonman
    Schpoonman
    January 25, 2024 at 12:02 am | #

    Yoooooo, she’s playing guitar!

    • Dante
      Dante
      January 25, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

      OH YOU’RE SO RIGHT. She mentioned bass because the fretting was gentler on her stabbed hand, right?

      • Bruno
        Bruno
        January 25, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

        I don’t think that’s true. I’ve usually heard that guitar’s easier to fret, though as a uke player I haven’t really tried either.

        Guitar sounds good with ukulele, though.

        • ThomasQuinn
          ThomasQuinn
          January 25, 2024 at 12:49 am | #

          As a guitarist and bassist for a long, long time – definitely. Bass takes more strength in your hands, and usually also more stretching.

          • Dante
            Dante
            January 25, 2024 at 1:37 am | #

            (Agreed tho – I tried to learn bass as a young adult, after doing passably with the guitar as a teen and then stopping. I discovered then my tendency for tendinitis by then had gone bad enough to discourage it TwT)

        • Dante
          Dante
          January 25, 2024 at 1:31 am | #

          sdjghsk I think I forgot the guitar had appeared before……. But weirdly enough, did remember when she told Danny about the bass like, six years ago.

          ~Just ADHD Things~ =w=

      • Aura
        Aura
        January 25, 2024 at 12:19 am | #

        We’ve seen her playing this one before, such as in this strip where she mentions getting it for Christmas: https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-11/01-this-bright-millennium/fret/
        (Incidentally, this is not a bass guitar, and she also mentions the cold helping her stab hand fret better.)

        • Aura
          Aura
          January 25, 2024 at 12:22 am | #

          Ooh interesting detail! She’s holding the guitar the other way around here to then. Nice.

          • Dean
            Dean
            January 25, 2024 at 12:30 am | #

            Wouldn’t she need to restring the guitar to play it left-handed, though?

            • ThomasQuinn
              ThomasQuinn
              January 25, 2024 at 12:55 am | #

              She *could*, but it’s not a must – you can play a right-handed guitar left-handed. Some notable guitarists did so famously – blues legend Albert King for instance. I’ve played right-handed guitars and basses left handed for years and years, and it works very well for me. I’ve yet to come across anything I can’t play simply because I’m a lefty on a right handed instrument. Now stuff I can’t play because it’s just too difficult, that’s another story.

              • Opus the Poet
                Opus the Poet
                January 25, 2024 at 11:41 pm | #

                Jimi Hendrix played a right hand guitar left-handed all his life. don’t ask me how as I was just a kid and never knew Jimi personally.

            • mneme
              mneme
              January 25, 2024 at 1:00 am | #

              Yes. Also probably bring it to a guitar shop to have it set up leftie; it’s likely more than just changing out the strings (particularly since it’s an acoustic guitar (probably a Martin); I don’t know guitars well, but violins have a sound peg somewhere in the body to set up the sound right, unless she, while learning guitar, motorcycle, etc also happened to learn how to set up guitars.

              The guitar looks like it’s a leftie model and in the above pic she’s had it reset rightie. If you look at the Martin site (https://www.martinguitar.com/) you’ll see that a “regular” guitar has the black detail to the right of the hole, not the left (“regular”/rightie stringed insturments have you fretting with your off hand and strumming/playing with your right).

              Also, re bass vs guitar fretting, at least at a beginner/moderate level, the fretting is -much- less involved on a bass, because a bass is usually only playing one note at a time, not a chord. as such, instead of making all sorts of odd hand shapes, you’re generally holding down one fret at a time–maybe two for a fast progression.

              • Roborat
                Roborat
                January 25, 2024 at 3:02 pm | #

                Kinda hope it is not a Martin, they are overpriced and you are mainly paying for the name. You can get a much better guitar for cheaper by buying a different brand.

                • Roborat
                  Roborat
                  January 25, 2024 at 3:03 pm | #

                  Just noticed, headstock looks wrong for a Martin.

            • All-Purpose Guru
              All-Purpose Guru
              January 25, 2024 at 2:12 am | #

              There’s more to it than that.Yyou need to flip the nut and the bridge over on an acoustic guitar because the notches in the nut and bridge are sized to fit the strings. The notches are bigger for the lower strings. If you just restring it the low E string won’t fit in the notch for the high E string and it will eventually slip off.

          • ValdVin
            ValdVin
            January 25, 2024 at 8:01 am | #

            Is she trying to learn RH-strung guitar simply because they’re more common?

      • milu
        milu
        January 25, 2024 at 7:36 am | #

        It’s different. I think depending on the injury bass could be better. Also you can play the bass without stretching your hand like crazy, depending how you play seeing as it’s generally only played in single notes. whereas guitar is typically more chords based, which involves some level of agility in your fretting hand (These are generalizations but it works for the sort of alt-rock and pop Sal swems to be into)

        • milu
          milu
          January 25, 2024 at 7:39 am | #

          Woops, @mneme made the same point. Forgot to refresh before commenting

          • Clif
            Clif
            January 25, 2024 at 11:24 am | #

            Yeah, that happens to me way too often. Except it”s usually in a different location in the comments. Then later I’ll read it and go, “hey that’s what I said!,” maybe worded a little differently. Then I’ll look at the time stamp and realize that they made their comment first.

    • anon
      anon
      January 26, 2024 at 4:43 am | #

      she and danny can have guitar/ukelele duets lol

      and that last panel would be for a great reaction meme

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    January 25, 2024 at 12:02 am | #

    “I went through character development for nothing?!”

    • TerribleTransit
      TerribleTransit
      January 25, 2024 at 12:06 am | #

      Less than nothing! He got negative future birthday money for his trouble!

    • Dante
      Dante
      January 25, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

      One could argue it costed him dearly

      • Coatl
        Coatl
        January 25, 2024 at 12:43 am | #

        At least he recognizes that there will be consequences, that will also give him points and more character development…and he’s going to need a lot.

        • Mark
          Mark
          January 25, 2024 at 6:38 am | #

          “Adversity prepares us for…more adversity!” — Lucy van Pelt

    • DashWallkick
      DashWallkick
      January 25, 2024 at 3:29 am | #

      It was in that moment that Walky knew he screwed up.

      • Bryy
        Bryy
        January 25, 2024 at 12:56 pm | #

        Did he, though?

    • jeffepp
      jeffepp
      January 25, 2024 at 4:15 am | #

      Longest Day reference for the win.

      Don’t worry. The evil parents set up their hate cannons nearby, so that character development will still allow you to take them out.

    • Rook
      Rook
      January 25, 2024 at 9:26 am | #

      I have to disagree. He didn’t go thru a character development. He still the same Walky as always. He has to be the center of attention, when it comes to serious issues, he didn’t lecture his mother like he should have, instead he squeaks at her, and couldn’t even respond to the “I voted for Obama” comment. All he did was get people mad at him because he still trying to be everyone favorite so he really doesn’t state what need to be said. Same thing happened at Joyce Halloween party, he insisted on attention by angryly stating how much he miss Mike, that Joyce saw right thru it and got mad at him and shoved him to the ground. Walky really needs to grow up, but then again, if he did, he wouldn’t be Walky anymore. Heh

      • Username Taken
        Username Taken
        January 25, 2024 at 1:42 pm | #

        He didn’t overcome his fear and confront his abusive mom on her racism the way he “should have”?

        You might have forgotten the lesson Sal learned: There’s no winning with Linda. You confront her reality and she gets defensive and refuses to listen to reason, or you just go with her flow (like Charles).

        There was no argument Walky could have presented that would have made Linda reflect critically on her own behavior.

        • Rook
          Rook
          January 26, 2024 at 10:25 am | #

          True with that with Linda, but at least he did it, stood his ground, told her what she is outright, and can say he did even if the outcome failed. Sometimes we fight the fight that was going to fail even before it started but you have the satisfaction that you did your best and you can look at yourself in the mirror in the morning. Linda’s mirror probably cracks in pieces the moment she looks at it.

  3. pyrock_mania
    pyrock_mania
    January 25, 2024 at 12:02 am | #

    “Well…I guess I made sure it would STAY your turn?”

  4. shadowcell
    shadowcell
    January 25, 2024 at 12:03 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 14: Ahh Shit

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 25, 2024 at 11:32 am | #

      Tell the alt-text we could have been watching karaoke.

  5. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    January 25, 2024 at 12:03 am | #

    Don’t worry Walky. I’m still proud of you!

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      January 25, 2024 at 12:05 am | #

      Honestly same 😎☺️

    • RassilonTDavros
      RassilonTDavros
      January 25, 2024 at 12:12 am | #

      Hear hear!

  6. Dante
    Dante
    January 25, 2024 at 12:05 am | #

    Omg Sal acknowledge it was at the very least cool. Will Have Consequences like basically all cool shit, but glsdkjg

    (Or commiserate together. That works too :’DD)

    • Illjwamh
      Illjwamh
      January 25, 2024 at 2:44 am | #

      Right? I’m sittin’ here thinkin’, “Let him have this one, Sal.”

    • Mturtle7
      Mturtle7
      January 25, 2024 at 12:52 pm | #

      “Yes, what I did was stupid and worse than pointless, but can you at LEAST tell me you admire the sheer amount of EFFORT I put into it?! I’ve never spent this much effort on ANYTHING in my LIFE, and I’d just like a little positive reinforcement to make sure it sticks.”

  7. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    January 25, 2024 at 12:05 am | #

    Maybe Linda will reflect internally and actually work on being a better person to subvert the established trait of most parents being awful in this comic? Just to change things up.

  8. shrub
    shrub
    January 25, 2024 at 12:05 am | #

    Yep that’s right Walky, no point in doing a good thing if no one knows you did it

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      January 25, 2024 at 2:46 am | #

      Linda knows.

      [Ominous music swell]

  9. Nono
    Nono
    January 25, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

    Y’know, just a thought, but…

    Walky never told Dorothy that his parents have treated Sal unfairly because of their racism.

    Maybe he tells her at some point, and in her manic “I need to fix something!” state, she decided that together, they can fix racism! Yes, this white girl can do it!

    Cue a collective clenching of anuses.

    • Coatl
      Coatl
      January 25, 2024 at 12:17 am | #

      After the last interaction they both had, it will seem somewhat complicated and I think in these moments that Dorothy is in now, she will not feel inclined to want to help.

      Although there is something that intrigues me, if Dorothy had sought something simple instead of being president, would Linda have accepted her?

      • Nono
        Nono
        January 25, 2024 at 12:24 am | #

        They already accepted Dorothy, Linda and Charles had no issue with her.

        She and Walky broke up for different reasons.

        • Coatl
          Coatl
          January 25, 2024 at 12:26 am | #

          I mentioned it, because Linda, in addition to her obvious racism, loves the top and the glory, so that’s why that thought came to mind.

          • Dante
            Dante
            January 25, 2024 at 12:56 am | #

            I think it made Linda like Dorothy more because of it? It was something she could respect. But Linda still treated Sal better than in her entire life, just because Danny existed.

            I adore Danny btw. Just, yeahhh, feels like dudes don’t have to work so hard to impress her T_T

            • Coatl
              Coatl
              January 25, 2024 at 1:00 am | #

              Good point

            • TulipKitten
              TulipKitten
              January 25, 2024 at 1:13 am | #

              But it’s nice for Danny, to be honest. Even if they are being racist shits, he deserves the tiny feeling of parental approval. Considering his parents are very much not approving figures.

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        January 25, 2024 at 12:30 am | #

        I mean, assuming that aspiring librarian Dorothy still behaves recognizably like Dorothy, I don’t see why she wouldn’t.

        • Coatl
          Coatl
          January 25, 2024 at 12:35 am | #

          Actually yes.
          But I mentioned it because we are talking about Linda and her peculiar way of seeing the world.

  10. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    January 25, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

    Walky shoes are untied – which fits him perfectly. I really all the tiny details that go into these strips – its how you can tell they are made with love.

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      January 25, 2024 at 12:12 am | #

      Darn it, I forgot the apostrophe before the possessive ‘s’ and the word ‘enjoy’ after ‘really’. Its the tiny details like these that really let you know that I make my comments while very tired.

      • adam Black
        adam Black
        January 25, 2024 at 1:35 am | #

        I really.
        That’s how you know

        • milu
          milu
          January 25, 2024 at 7:43 am | #

          I! That’s.

          • Clif
            Clif
            January 25, 2024 at 11:34 am | #

            I know. Right?

    • Dean
      Dean
      January 25, 2024 at 12:25 am | #

      Wally’s shoes are always untied.

      • Dean
        Dean
        January 25, 2024 at 12:26 am | #

        Walky, stupid autocorrect.

      • jflb96
        jflb96
        January 25, 2024 at 1:17 am | #

        That’s why he’s so hard to find, he’s always sprawled on the ground behind everyone’s legs

        • ktbear
          ktbear
          January 25, 2024 at 1:58 am | #

          I dont know about EVERYone but hes welcome to sprawl between…oh wait, that says BEHIND doesnt it? Nevermind.

    • anon
      anon
      January 26, 2024 at 4:55 am | #

      lol i know it’s in his chara model a lot tho i’m surprised he wouldn’t rly trip over them style choices aside, i haven’t had too many issues but it bothers me when one’s even a little loose/keeps getting untied to where i wish i had more laceless sneakrs

  11. Archieve
    Archieve
    January 25, 2024 at 12:10 am | #

    You have to think of calling Linda out as an exercise in unity Walky. Unity in you and Sals equal dread whenever your parents pay a surprise visit now that Linda probably won’t bother sending you warning messages.

  12. Grimey
    Grimey
    January 25, 2024 at 12:11 am | #

    I would love Sal to give Walky a little dub for finally finishing the race but I get her not giving him this one. It’s very ‘Took you long enough, champ’.

    • Archieve
      Archieve
      January 25, 2024 at 12:22 am | #

      Yeah as nice as it was to see Walky taking the step forward can’t blame Sals reaction here. He’s kind of acting like hes just made this genius gambit and here’s Sal with all her previous experience thinking God bless your soul bro.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      January 25, 2024 at 12:32 am | #

      Also it’s not like pissing off their parents is a particularly productive use of his newfound awareness.

  13. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    January 25, 2024 at 12:12 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 14: Aah. Shit.

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 25, 2024 at 3:56 am | #

      DOA 14: As has Been Repeatedly Implied

  14. Wraithy2773
    Wraithy2773
    January 25, 2024 at 12:12 am | #

    Honestly, I kinda wish “WASP” was retired as a term. It mostly just means “very white and not blatantly non-Christian”, which is really frustrating when people describe you, an agnostic, as a WASP, when you know quite well what that P stands for.

    Like, yeah, on the scale of “common parlance terms that should be retired”, this is real low on the list, but at the same time, unless I’m mistaken Danny’s never shown any inclination that he’s religious at all in the DOA-verse.

    And why the fuck would anyone that’s not a Protestant want to be lumped in with them?

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      January 25, 2024 at 12:33 am | #

      Yeah, not uncommon to see people use WASP when they really just mean the “W” part

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        January 25, 2024 at 1:24 am | #

        Even if the Anglo-Saxon and Protestant parts aren’t literal anymore, it does imply class too, a class that for a long time was dominated by Anglo-Saxon Protestants. The class that’s been over-represented in power. The class that the proverbial Karen is a member of. Lucky on King of the Hill is not.

        • Bash
          Bash
          January 25, 2024 at 1:31 am | #

          Agreed. Nowadays it means white, middle class, and decently well educated.

          • elebenty
            elebenty
            January 25, 2024 at 1:59 am | #

            White, middle class, and enormously antihumanitarian despite having some college.

        • PedanticJerkass
          PedanticJerkass
          January 25, 2024 at 2:26 am | #

          While we’re on the subject of terms that should be retired, can we retire “Karen” as an insult, as well?

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            January 25, 2024 at 2:51 am | #

            I feel like that should be even lower on the list, because it’s in rebuttal to someone’s behavior (something they can change) rather than attacking their inherent traits (which they can’t change).

            Sorry to all the Karens in the world; just know you’re not Karens by default.

            • Songbird
              Songbird
              January 25, 2024 at 6:30 am | #

              I don’t know, I think there are probably better insults to use to describe that behavior, even if we have to make it up. I just think it’s kind of messed up to make an insult out of somebody’s *name*. Like, that’s a very important part of somebody’s identity and to turn it into a social brand of shame is a pretty shitty thing to do.

              • Taffy
                Taffy
                January 25, 2024 at 8:31 am | #

                Okay then stop calling people Chads and Melvins too.

                • Li
                  Li
                  January 25, 2024 at 6:43 pm | #

                  I think most of the objections to “Karen” aren’t coming from people who use “Chad” or “Melvin”.

                • Li
                  Li
                  January 25, 2024 at 6:46 pm | #

                  Like Chad and Melvin are 4chan manosphere terms. Plenty of those people are happy to use “Karen” for its potential as a misogynistic weapon, and I’d say only a few of them are really willing to pretend to care enough about misogyny to use it as a specific example of “racism against white people”.

                • Songbird
                  Songbird
                  January 26, 2024 at 7:54 am | #

                  I mean, I don’t call people that? I’m not really sure what point you’re trying to get across here. Is it that you apparently think I’m ideologically inconsistent, in spite of the fact that you know absolutely nothing about me?

                  Using people’s actual names as epithets is cruel. There is nothing about your rebuttal which contradicts my assertion.

                • Mr D
                  Mr D
                  January 27, 2024 at 2:08 am | #

                  What’s a Melvin??

          • Mark
            Mark
            January 25, 2024 at 6:46 am | #

            Indeed: I know several Karens and none of them is a karen.

          • zee
            zee
            January 25, 2024 at 9:43 am | #

            Nah. It’s a good word for that specific brand of entitled middle class white behavior. usually white women bc they’re in a weird specific class of their own on the intersect of oppression and privilege that racist ones like to turn to their benefit to punish poc. Sure it gets misused, but every word does

          • Mturtle7
            Mturtle7
            January 25, 2024 at 12:05 pm | #

            Eh, the “Karen” thing is annoying, but it’s also unabashedly stupid and jokey enough that I don’t really think it’s worth the effort to try and fight against. It’s generational slang, so I expect it’ll fall (mostly) out of use eventually.

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          January 25, 2024 at 1:43 pm | #

          Think of Protestant as someone who thinks “Protestant work ethic” is real and that they have it, even if they don’t have it, and it’s why they’re better off than someone who works for a living.

    • Random832
      Random832
      January 25, 2024 at 12:59 am | #

      The more *traditional* meaning is “Not visibly an ethnicity associated with catholicism” [e.g. Irish, Italian, Polish]. But that’s, like, some *vintage* racism. And still technically redundant with the AS part.

      • Proxiehunter
        Proxiehunter
        January 25, 2024 at 1:05 am | #

        Also “not Jewish”.

    • Nono
      Nono
      January 25, 2024 at 1:21 am | #

      There was a strip between Danny and Joe where they basically called each other out on not going to church/temple respectively.

      So Danny’s family is probably Christian/Catholic.

    • GUIGUI
      GUIGUI
      January 25, 2024 at 4:38 am | #

      for me, Wasp defacto include being Protestant, and is strongly tied to the mentality that exist within white Protestant families. So I don’t consider Catholics to be Wasp. So you can be white and Christian and still not be Wasp.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        January 25, 2024 at 8:04 am | #

        Interesting and I’ve never really thought about this before since WASP isn’t really a common term anymore, but it’s no longer what I associate with Protestant. It definitely excludes Catholics, as you say, but for me it also implies mainline Protestant and thus wouldn’t be used for fundamentalists. Who are what I would now think of first for Protestants.
        Joyce wouldn’t be a WASP – her family’s church was far too culty to fit in.

    • Da Boy
      Da Boy
      January 25, 2024 at 5:29 am | #

      Oh so that’s what she meant by Waspy, I was not familiar with this term.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        January 25, 2024 at 9:04 pm | #

        What, you didn’t notice Danny buzzing around, trying to sting Walky?

        • Da Boy
          Da Boy
          January 26, 2024 at 3:09 am | #

          I thought it was a new form of self-expression and that he was going to get a new hat for that

      • anon
        anon
        January 26, 2024 at 4:53 am | #

        lol i know waspy also refers to a religious thing tho i just thought she was calling him scrawny at first (which isn’t untrue lol)

    • Arian
      Arian
      January 25, 2024 at 9:37 am | #

      Even *as* a Protestant, there’s a lot of Protestants I’d rather not be lumped in with.

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 25, 2024 at 11:30 am | #

      2025 – WASP is replaced by WAAAP. White Anglo Atheists And Protestants.
      Nothing else changes.

      • Da Boy
        Da Boy
        January 25, 2024 at 11:40 am | #

        Now that’s a grouping guaranteed to cause fist fights.

    • Mturtle7
      Mturtle7
      January 25, 2024 at 12:46 pm | #

      I mean, speaking as someone with WASP grandparents, I can say with some confidence that it’s still, like, a notable CULTURE which EXISTS in America! It’s just not as DOMINANT a culture as it used to be, because young people have been leaving it in droves for several generations in a row now in order to become athiest or agnostic or whatnot. The remnants of its symbols of power have sort of been swallowed up by the “anti-woke” brand that a lot of politicians, corporations, and media have been trying to sell people on lately, but that seems to have happened entirely independently of any actual WASP families on the ground. So I think it’s okay to use it when you’re actually referring to that particular subculture, but you’re right that people need to stop using it like a synonym for “looks kinda generically white.”
      That being said, I think Sal is correct in using it to refer to Danny. I’m not sure how to articulate why he has such a specifically “waspy” vibe, but he just does, ok?

  15. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    January 25, 2024 at 12:14 am | #

    breaking the bravery seal is good in at least one way. Next time he’s less likely to wait a day.

  16. Icalasari
    Icalasari
    January 25, 2024 at 12:14 am | #

    Still be proud of yourself, Walky. You stood up to her for once

  17. Bobcat2022
    Bobcat2022
    January 25, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

    Did Sal’s tattoo change since before the time jump, or have I not been paying attention?

    • Coatl
      Coatl
      January 25, 2024 at 12:19 am | #

      Indeed, she added more details to her spider.

    • dalniente
      dalniente
      January 25, 2024 at 12:22 am | #

      I first noticed it on this strip, as well. Glad I’m not alone.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      January 25, 2024 at 12:58 am | #

      It was during the timeskip, it’s first visible in https://www.dumbingofage.com/juke/ but it was still the original version in This Was Halloween. it’s easy to miss, there’s not a lot of scenes with it visible in January because of coldness I assume.

      full image

      • Schpoonman
        Schpoonman
        January 25, 2024 at 6:08 pm | #

        That’s fucking sick.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      January 25, 2024 at 1:37 am | #

      She added more over the time jump. She said last semester she wanted to add to it and eventually she wants a full sleeve.

    • Mturtle7
      Mturtle7
      January 25, 2024 at 12:20 pm | #

      I also just noticed and went digging through the tags in response! Here’s the strip where she mentions wanting to add to it, back before the time jump: https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/04-is-a-song-forever/parental/

  18. Regalli
    Regalli
    January 25, 2024 at 12:18 am | #

    Yeaaaaaah, while I respect Walky taking a stand? I can’t say I would’ve recommended it as long as he’s financially dependent on Linda and Charles. (Nor would I have recommended it to Sal… and while we don’t know the details of the fights she’s had with Linda except the big one, I suspect by this point it’s a thing she doesn’t bring up by name to try and avoid escalating.) The onus is not on the abused kids to call their abuser out, and doing what they need to to keep themselves safe until they can get themselves independent of her is priority one.

    Fortunately, Walky exists on a very different timescale than we do, and as such, Linda probably won’t be a problem any time soon. So this can stand as “he did a character development” and not “this is going to make things SO MUCH WORSE when they’re home for the summer at LATEST.”

    • sakamism
      sakamism
      January 25, 2024 at 12:25 am | #

      I don’t think she’ll stop him funding his education. She still wants him to be a doctor, or at least not to be a dropout. That would reflect badly on her, after all. But she’ll definitely rear her ugly head again somehow.

      • TulipKitten
        TulipKitten
        January 25, 2024 at 1:09 am | #

        That would have to be very much a joint decision (or at least presented as one) on her and Charles’ part, as well. It depends on him being able to stand up against her. Charles isn’t the hammer of judgment Linda is, but he is kind of spineless when it comes to Linda. We don’t know if he’s the kind of guy who will prioritize his kids over Linda’s crazy.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        January 25, 2024 at 8:06 am | #

        I could see her threatening it, expecting him to cave rather than have to go through with it.

      • Uly
        Uly
        January 25, 2024 at 10:33 am | #

        I said it last thread and I’ll say it again today – she’s going to get back at Walky by threatening Sal’s tuition. After all, Sally is the one who put those mean thoughts in David’s head, right?

        • Bryy
          Bryy
          January 25, 2024 at 11:55 pm | #

          Linda is 10000% a Conditional Racist, so I see it going either way.

  19. Coatl
    Coatl
    January 25, 2024 at 12:30 am | #

    Well, he didn’t get a big hurray from his sister, but at least here it can be seen that with everything and fear, he faced her… but yes, Walky, think carefully about what you will do from now on.

  20. LiterallyJustSomeGuy
    LiterallyJustSomeGuy
    January 25, 2024 at 12:31 am | #

    I do hope Linda starts treating Sal (when Danny is not standing next to her) better, even if the only reason is because Linda wouldn’t want to prove Walky right. Really, though, if the result is that Linda doesn’t decide to visit her children on the weekend on a whim? That still sounds like a win to me.

    • Coatl
      Coatl
      January 25, 2024 at 12:37 am | #

      This fight has gotten intense, all that remains is to see Linda’s response

    • Archieve
      Archieve
      January 25, 2024 at 12:38 am | #

      From their last encounter I think Sal is over false parental love, she probably wouldn’t appreciate Linda treating her better just to look good. Best case is no more surprise visits and tuition keeps getting paid.

    • DashWallkick
      DashWallkick
      January 25, 2024 at 1:22 am | #

      So long as they’re dating, she’s probably going to show up again just to see Danny and Jennifer. Which is going to be really great for her continued relationship to both her kids.

      • Bryy
        Bryy
        January 25, 2024 at 11:56 pm | #

        I’m seriously afraid that Linda’s retaliation is going to be to weaponize Jennifer.

    • C.T. Phipps
      C.T. Phipps
      January 25, 2024 at 8:19 am | #

      Linda treating Sal better makes Sal’s relationship with Danny worse.

  21. FlamestAndLight
    FlamestAndLight
    January 25, 2024 at 12:52 am | #

    has that tattoo always been there?

    • AGV
      AGV
      January 25, 2024 at 12:57 am | #

      The spider one? Yep. The music sheet? I’m not quite sure.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        January 25, 2024 at 2:38 am | #

        Sal’s had the Tarantugun since the beginning of the comic. (It’s from the old continuity where the main cast were all alien-augmented superheroes.)

        She added the music staff over winter break.

    • Dday
      Dday
      January 25, 2024 at 1:28 am | #

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-1/06-yesterday-was-thursday/trainer/
      Looks like her martian invasion ship got more baroque since the first time we saw it.

  22. Francoinblanco
    Francoinblanco
    January 25, 2024 at 1:07 am | #

    Finnally somebody visit Sal without goddamn Malaya sketch

    • Coatl
      Coatl
      January 25, 2024 at 1:10 am | #

      A refreshing moment for Sal

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      January 25, 2024 at 2:39 am | #

      I expect a “goddammit, Malaya” from you if she appears tomorrow.

  23. BBCC
    BBCC
    January 25, 2024 at 1:35 am | #

    Shit is right, yeah.

  24. Amelie Wikström
    Amelie Wikström
    January 25, 2024 at 2:30 am | #

    As Astrid Lindgren put it in The Brothers Lionheart, sometimes there’s a thing you have to do or else you’re not a person at all, but just a speck of dirt.
    She’s talking about standing up to tyranny, even if it’s not smart, even if it can only get you hurt, just so you can live with yourself.

  25. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    January 25, 2024 at 5:05 am | #

    are you really, tho ?

  26. eh, whatever
    eh, whatever
    January 25, 2024 at 6:50 am | #

    What – he did all this so that people wouldn’t think he’s a coward?

    What next? Seppuku?

    • C.T. Phipps
      C.T. Phipps
      January 25, 2024 at 8:17 am | #

      I mean, yeah.

      Walky doesn’t believe in big moral principled stands. He hasn’t gotten there yet philosophically speaking.

    • Mturtle7
      Mturtle7
      January 25, 2024 at 12:10 pm | #

      In fairness, he also did it because his parents’ visit is what set off the chain of events which got him dumped by his girlfriend.

      But yes, essentially.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      January 25, 2024 at 1:30 pm | #

      Nah, Seppuku would be more equivocal to what he DID.

      Within Bushido, surrender and the entailed dishonor is a fate worse than death, the very point of Seppuku is to show that you’re innocent.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      January 25, 2024 at 1:35 pm | #

      What happens next is the next time someone is bigoted to someone he cares about to their face, he’s more likely to side with his friend in that moment instead of taking a day to summon the courage.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      January 25, 2024 at 2:39 pm | #

      I think it’s more so he doesn’t think they’re right.

  27. Taffy
    Taffy
    January 25, 2024 at 8:32 am | #

    Fuck it, give the kid a cookie for trying.

  28. Yeet
    Yeet
    January 25, 2024 at 9:10 am | #

    the risk he took was calculated but he only thought he was good at math

    • Mturtle7
      Mturtle7
      January 25, 2024 at 12:07 pm | #

      Ooh, nice combined reference/callback!

      • NGPZ
        NGPZ
        January 25, 2024 at 1:15 pm | #

        Yee!

  29. Nicoleandmaggie
    Nicoleandmaggie
    January 25, 2024 at 10:08 am | #

    I wonder if she’s going to get Amber expelled for hacking the grade system. (Also jail time?)

  30. Robert
    Robert
    January 25, 2024 at 12:03 pm | #

    Walky might seem distressed now, but due to the fact that he’s kind of a slow-cooker, I have a feeling he’ll only be able to decipher only 10% of these ramifications once he’s well into his golden years.

  31. Roborat
    Roborat
    January 25, 2024 at 2:54 pm | #

    That guitar just doesn’t fit my mental picture of Sal, it should be electric, and a badass model. Also wondering why she is playing a leftie guitar right handed.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      January 25, 2024 at 3:08 pm | #

      She might have gotten a left-handed guitar because its easier with her injury, but she playing it (and restrung it?) right handed to work on her left-hand’s dexterity. … sinisterity?

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        January 25, 2024 at 5:52 pm | #

        also, she’s holding it in today’s strip, not playing it. so my previous comment is kind of moot.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      January 25, 2024 at 4:34 pm | #

      Sal’s overall character arc is rediscovering herself, and subverting expectations others have of her is a big part of that.

    • CrazyJ
      CrazyJ
      January 25, 2024 at 9:01 pm | #

      Sal is more of a singer, the guitar is secondary to that, more for accompanying her singing. If she came into music through guitar or similar instrument, then yeah she would have an electric instead.

  32. CianM1301
    CianM1301
    January 25, 2024 at 3:28 pm | #

    Well, we know Walky’s heart is in the right place, at least. Too bad his brain isn’t.

  33. The Jighole Man
    The Jighole Man
    January 25, 2024 at 3:38 pm | #

    doing the right thing often comes with no reward.
    sometimes doing the right thing makes life worse for you in the short run.
    sometimes doing the right thing isn’t about making things better, it may just be about stopping things from getting worse.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      January 25, 2024 at 8:21 pm | #

      Have an upvote earthling ^^

  34. Suet
    Suet
    January 25, 2024 at 9:30 pm | #

    Just to even be more of a David Downer, I think Danny may be the Walkerton’s new favorite “child”.

    Well, 2nd ranked if Jenny’s still the perennial fave, while Walky’s pinned down to a #4 at best.

  35. Hof1991
    Hof1991
    January 25, 2024 at 10:55 pm | #

    If he did this for Sal and not Lucy then he danned this up.

  36. Smooti
    Smooti
    January 25, 2024 at 11:22 pm | #

    While I get why Sal is being cynical here, I hope she also is touched at how he’s changed.

    I also hope he sticks to his guns with this, as the only way I see Linda or Charles (more Charles here) ever seeing any sort of light is through Walky continuing to call out their shitty behavior.. We already have seen how they don’t listen to Sal no matter how calmly she tries to make the point.

  37. poyo
    poyo
    January 26, 2024 at 12:53 pm | #

    walky’s about to learn the very valuable lesson that doing the right thing does not always reap rewards 😔😔

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