Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

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May 5, 2026

Exasperated

by David M Willis on September 25, 2024 at 12:01 am
  • 01 – Love Dares You To Change
└ Tags: asher, ethan, naomi

Discussion (148) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. NGPZ
    NGPZ
    September 25, 2024 at 12:01 am | #

    dammit why Naomi gotta be spoken
    them bongo more plastic than the toy packs never open

    • eh, whatever
      eh, whatever
      September 25, 2024 at 4:09 am | #

      I don’t think you can see that from this picture. She’s, like, too far away.

    • Dday
      Dday
      September 25, 2024 at 10:03 pm | #

      This closet metaphor is heavy handed
      Just so your gayness don’t get reprimanded

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      September 26, 2024 at 12:14 am | #

      You’re sitting on a pile of toys

      Do your best to make no noise

  2. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    September 25, 2024 at 12:03 am | #

    Dear Lord, Ethan is already suffering everything. I forgot he still got Naomi to deal with

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      September 25, 2024 at 2:14 am | #

      She can’t make him toe the line!
      His lover gotz them rainbow shine,
      They gonna do the sixty-nine!

    • anon
      anon
      September 25, 2024 at 4:03 pm | #

      well he’s got enough will(?) in him to just not burn that bridge at least or so , versus just cutting her off completely

  3. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    September 25, 2024 at 12:04 am | #

    It’s good that you’ve noticed that he’s clearly not treating himself very well but it would be nice if you could seem a little more concerned about that?

    • TrueVCU
      TrueVCU
      September 25, 2024 at 12:06 am | #

      If you expected good parenting you came to the wrong webcomic

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      September 25, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

      The down side to comics is we only get one facial expression per panel. Maybe that is just her face upon opening the door and it would become more downcast as she truly sees her son? That would likely take too many panels to illustrate however, and break the flow of the comic. I mean, I assume. Mr. Willis is the veteran professional. I’m just some random person on the internet.

    • Bash
      Bash
      September 25, 2024 at 1:58 am | #

      I’m guessing she’s the kind of parent who shows “concern” by nagging and lecturing. And then later on insists that she was such a good parent because she always cared.

    • Throwatron
      Throwatron
      September 25, 2024 at 2:25 am | #

      how can she be concerned? she has no time or energy, from being so disappointed.

  4. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    September 25, 2024 at 12:04 am | #

    Been too long since a terrible parent showed up said no one ever.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      September 25, 2024 at 12:06 am | #

      when’s the last time we had a nice parent in this comic

      is it pre-timeskip?

      • Proxiehunter
        Proxiehunter
        September 25, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

        Dina’s parents. And Hank has improved since splitting with Joyce’s mother. Pretty sure we’ve seen him since the time skip but I could be wrong.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          September 25, 2024 at 12:13 am | #

          I don’t think we’ve actually seen Hank since the timeskip, and Dina’s parents haven’t shown up in the comic proper for like an actual real time decade.

          • Andrew Kippenhan
            Andrew Kippenhan
            September 25, 2024 at 7:23 am | #

            Funny enough, neither has Naomi, it’s been about a decade!

        • True Survivor
          True Survivor
          September 25, 2024 at 12:18 am | #

          Hank was seen in a flashback strip posted in February of this year. So he has been put to ink (to pixel?) after the time skip, but only as a version of himself which existed many years before the period of time skipped.

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            September 25, 2024 at 3:33 am | #

            Time temporarily skipped backwards.

      • DailyBrad
        DailyBrad
        September 25, 2024 at 12:15 am | #

        Richard’s being decent right now, he just sucked in the past and there remains the concern he’ll fuck it up again. Amber’s mom is fine, though.

        • jeffepp
          jeffepp
          September 25, 2024 at 2:13 am | #

          Quite fine. One might say that she, Stacey, a mom, has got it going on.

          • Michael Steamweed
            Michael Steamweed
            September 25, 2024 at 7:58 am | #

            That’s what Jenny told us, anyway.

    • anon
      anon
      September 25, 2024 at 4:27 pm | #

      Could be worse, better than him being complimented b/c it’s ‘better than being too chubby’ unless she doesn’t want him to be ‘lanky’ b/c he should be ‘bulky’/musclely instead but while it’s not /impossible/ i imagine someone ‘nerdy’ like ethan wouldn’t rly focus on that (although it would be interesting/practical to see in a lighthearted gag comic/bonus stuff like , i run 2 hours a day so i can beat ppl to the line/release date of some merch, tho online orders kinda cut out some stuff like that )

  5. Matty
    Matty
    September 25, 2024 at 12:05 am | #

    I know those kind of eyes well

  6. Coatl
    Coatl
    September 25, 2024 at 12:05 am | #

    And the tension begins

  7. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    September 25, 2024 at 12:06 am | #

    Is Naomi a good mom? Who knows? Lets find out?

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      September 25, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

      You already know the answer to that question.

      • Armadillo
        Armadillo
        September 25, 2024 at 12:08 am | #

        To be fair, this is the first time she’s shown up since 2018.

      • Sirksome
        Sirksome
        September 25, 2024 at 12:11 am | #

        It would be a nice change of pace if maybe one or two parents that were bad actively changed for the better. Even if only a little bit. Y’know as a treat for being good readers.

        • Yumi
          Yumi
          September 25, 2024 at 12:15 am | #

          We have Hank. We’ll see about Joe’s dad. Blaine got better via dying.

          • Sirksome
            Sirksome
            September 25, 2024 at 12:31 am | #

            Meh. To me at least Hank and Richard never got to that level and initiated that emotional level of hatred some of the worst parents get in this comic. Don’t get me wrong, Hank has his problems sure, but he’s no Blaine. His ex-wife outclassed him, it’s just hard to get excited that he’s trying to be better. And Richard is kind of similar except I feel like I know even less about him.

            • thejeff
              thejeff
              September 25, 2024 at 8:55 am | #

              Certainly not to the Blaine/Ross level, but we only saw Carol outclass him when he started actively changing for the better. From their early parent’s weekend appearance, they seemed pretty much on the same page. Hank was even the one with the “Hitler was maybe partly Jewish” comment.
              When he showed up again after Toedad’s happy fun gun times on campus, there was a lot of concern he was fully in line with Carol’s take and Joyce was being brought home to be “saved” from the lesbians.
              He defused that quickly by accepting Becky and that’s when we really saw him differentiate himself from Carol.

            • Yumi
              Yumi
              September 25, 2024 at 12:54 pm | #

              I think it’s great that Hank’s trying to be better, find it very easy to be excited about. Agree that I don’t care that much about Richard, though.

              It seems extremely unlikely that the worst offenders are going to improve that much because, well… they’re the worst. But to be more descriptive about it, I think it’s a lot more likely that someone who’s kinda bad and struggles with being what their children need might improve than someone who is really bad, blames and faults their children for everything, and believes they’re always right.

              • thejeff
                thejeff
                September 25, 2024 at 2:53 pm | #

                There’s been no real conflict with Richard. We can judge him mostly by his effect on Joe’s development, but he hasn’t really caused conflict when he’s come on stage. Wouldn’t surprise me if he got more at some point, tying into Joe’s arc, but we haven’t seen it yet.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          September 25, 2024 at 12:15 am | #

          I mean, Naomi usually doesn’t rank as the worst mom. Mostly because the competition’s hard to beat, and I think she and Ethan did eventually mend fences on Shortpacked!, so I guess it’s possible?

          I wouldn’t put money on it though.

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            September 25, 2024 at 8:56 am | #

            She doesn’t usually rank that high because we haven’t seen enough of her.

            Maybe this is her time to shine.

        • Dday
          Dday
          September 25, 2024 at 12:22 am | #

          Yeah, a story about growth and acceptance would be refreshing vs another Bad Guy Parents episode.

          • AlexanderHammil
            AlexanderHammil
            September 25, 2024 at 3:28 am | #

            Hard to get much in the way of parental change in a webcomic that spans less than a year of in-universe time, barring something truly shattering like a death or a divorce. The main cast changes a lot, because they’re all college first years, but their parents are pretty settled in their personalities as middle-aged adults.

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            September 25, 2024 at 3:35 am | #

            It would contrast her with the likes of Carol and Linda.

        • Dday
          Dday
          September 25, 2024 at 12:24 am | #

          (Also sorry i accidentally flagged your comment, its riiight next to the reply button and the UI for the comment system could use improvement.)

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            September 25, 2024 at 12:37 am | #

            Murderer. 😡

            • clif
              clif
              September 25, 2024 at 10:11 am | #

              Sh! Maybe they won’t notice.

          • Thag Simmons
            Thag Simmons
            September 25, 2024 at 2:17 am | #

            Don’t worry about it. Unless the system’s changed, the threshold for comment removal is high enough to account for a few accidental flaggings.

          • Sirksome
            Sirksome
            September 25, 2024 at 6:12 am | #

            DAAAHH! IT HURTS USSSS!

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      September 25, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

      Oh, I know!

      No.

    • Queezle
      Queezle
      September 25, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

      She is homophobic, so I doubt it.

      • Bryy
        Bryy
        September 25, 2024 at 9:44 am | #

        I’m conflicted. yet another bigot mom would be realistic yet narrative overkill.

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      September 25, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

      Linda’s a better mom, and I say that with zero hesitation. Well, hesitation choosing her, I mean, I do hesitate even giving her faint praise.

      • Lex
        Lex
        September 25, 2024 at 8:59 am | #

        Linda’s a better mom than Carol, but that’s a pretty low bar to clear. All that really means was she was appropriately appalled by Carol’s church paying bail money for a man who had been arrested for showing up on campus with a gun to kidnap his daughter.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      September 25, 2024 at 12:19 am | #

      you’d hope

      I’m afraid that’s a solid NOPE

    • Throwatron
      Throwatron
      September 25, 2024 at 2:26 am | #

      she’s currently still alive, so no, she has not yet reached her maximum parenting potential

  8. Icalasari
    Icalasari
    September 25, 2024 at 12:06 am | #

    He literally shoved his boyfriend back in the closet. My lord

    • AY
      AY
      September 25, 2024 at 12:18 am | #

      Oh no lmao you’re right 😩

      • clif
        clif
        September 25, 2024 at 10:14 am | #

        It’s a good thing she isn’t wearing an outer garment because it’s cold.

        One which would need to be taken off and hung up.

        In the closet.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      September 25, 2024 at 12:42 am | #

      he gotta throw his love into the black,
      cuz the “no homo” bongo’s back

      D:<

  9. Armadillo
    Armadillo
    September 25, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

    No sudden movements! The demon has returned!

  10. Ray Radlein
    Ray Radlein
    September 25, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

    I understand the panic, but, like, there’s no actual reason to shove Asher in the closet. He’s a friend who’s visiting, that’s all.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      September 25, 2024 at 12:10 am | #

      Naomi freaked out because Ethan looked at during Amber’s party when they were kids, I don’t think she’d have any chill about a hot guy just happening to be hanging out in Ethan’s room.

      • sultryglebe
        sultryglebe
        September 25, 2024 at 1:09 am | #

        But I kind of would love to see Asher glibly replying, “Actually, I’m bisexual.”

    • Armadillo
      Armadillo
      September 25, 2024 at 12:10 am | #

      Naomi is very much paranoid and hateful enough to find that suspicious. Hell, she probably reacts with suspicion any time Ethan is seen alone with a man.

      • NGPZ
        NGPZ
        September 25, 2024 at 1:30 am | #

        she forced his love back into the closet
        and deserves a damn cold epithet

        D:<

      • anon
        anon
        September 25, 2024 at 4:28 pm | #

        Considering he has a ‘hunky’ roommate idk if she’d really care even if asher was straight/single

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      September 25, 2024 at 12:12 am | #

      Naomi has uncommonly powerful gaydar. She’ll know immediately.

  11. Nono
    Nono
    September 25, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

    Did she dye her hair? I thought she was grey.

    • eh, whatever
      eh, whatever
      September 25, 2024 at 4:31 am | #

      Exact same colors as in the link below.

  12. Yumi
    Yumi
    September 25, 2024 at 12:08 am | #

    Gonna have one of those conversations that parents try not to have in front of others because Naomi thinks they’re alone, so Asher gets to hear all of that.

  13. Vukodlak
    Vukodlak
    September 25, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

    To be fair, Ethan probably isn’t eating enough. Also to be fair Naomi is an insufferable bongo.

  14. Taffy
    Taffy
    September 25, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

    Oh yeah, the loser who got second-hand gay panic or whatever because her son looked in the same direction as another boy, from an angle where she couldn’t even see it.

    • Newlland(Henryvolt)
      Newlland(Henryvolt)
      September 25, 2024 at 12:51 am | #

      And years later ends up blaming her sons best friend for “turning him gay” by not dating him properly when she knew he was gay from the fucking start! 😡

  15. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    September 25, 2024 at 12:10 am | #

    Oh hey Naomi.
    This is gonna be a weirdly healthy visit I predict.
    Where she does care and help… yet also pushes Ethan to express negative emotions that shocks him out of the repressive nothing he’s currently in.

    • Dday
      Dday
      September 25, 2024 at 12:29 am | #

      Sigh I just hope we don’t have to sit through her telling him to fuck ladies again, that will be so damn depressing

      • Newlland(Henryvolt)
        Newlland(Henryvolt)
        September 25, 2024 at 1:04 am | #

        “Just fuck the pain away son, that’ll help you forget about Mitch or Mark or whatever his name was.”

        • mindbleach
          mindbleach
          September 25, 2024 at 2:25 pm | #

          “What else is in the tongos of bongooos?

    • Joyfulldreams
      Joyfulldreams
      September 25, 2024 at 1:57 am | #

      HAHAHAHAHAHA.

      I predict she’ll tell him that he ought to be glad Mike is dead because it’s totally Mike’s fault that Ethan ended up gay.

      • Throwatron
        Throwatron
        September 25, 2024 at 2:27 am | #

        really wish more parents in this comics died in horrible car accidents

  16. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    September 25, 2024 at 12:18 am | #

    I like the updated character design.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      September 25, 2024 at 12:39 am | #

      “You fuck her, Ethan.” Why doesn’t she just fuck women herself, if she wants it to happen so badly? What a coward. She will not survive the winter.

      • StClair
        StClair
        September 25, 2024 at 1:53 am | #

        That won’t get her grandchildren.
        (or make Ethan less gay. if you’re a guy and you fuck women you can’t be gay, that’s just a fact.)

  17. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    September 25, 2024 at 12:18 am | #

    Ah shit, here we go again.

  18. InboxNinja
    InboxNinja
    September 25, 2024 at 12:19 am | #

    Oh yes. this person

  19. Slartibeast Button, BIA
    Slartibeast Button, BIA
    September 25, 2024 at 12:20 am | #

    She’s handed him the perfect way to cover up Asher. “OK, Mom, let’s GO DOWN TO THE CAFETERIA AND HAVE LUNCH.”

    Then close the door *hard*, so Asher knows to wait 2 minutes and then sneak out.

  20. IntangibleMatter
    IntangibleMatter
    September 25, 2024 at 12:20 am | #

    Why do I feel Asher is the first character in the comic in a relationship who’s sane enough to see their partner having a bad interaction with a parent and not do something rash?

    • anonymsly
      anonymsly
      September 25, 2024 at 7:00 am | #

      I feel like Asher has some good reasons to think through and be very deliberate with engagement in bad interactions with parents. Given his family.

  21. Dara
    Dara
    September 25, 2024 at 12:22 am | #

    woah parents

    i tend to assume everyone is a war orphan until informed otherwise and i know we’ve met naomi before but i completely blocked that unfortunate memory

    sorry ethan

    good luck

    • Effie
      Effie
      September 25, 2024 at 10:39 am | #

      warphan

  22. BBCC
    BBCC
    September 25, 2024 at 12:25 am | #

    Hi, Naomi! Give your son a sandwich.

  23. Dday
    Dday
    September 25, 2024 at 12:26 am | #

    What are they FEEDING you? You’re all skin and bones!

    • anon
      anon
      September 25, 2024 at 4:32 pm | #

      it’s interesting/mildly hypocritical of parents /concerned saying that when they never rly seem to be fond if you actually start looking chubby or so (unless they’re chubby too but i guess there should be a nuance between “eating well” and “unbalanced diet”/excessive overindulgence), tho other than Jen (and maybe briefly sarah mentioning a ‘freshman 15’ way back), idk how many ppl have change too noticeably for that either

      tho given the ‘stress’ of college even without DOA”s drama and such, other than “pure force of ‘youth'”, i’m surprised there arent’ ppl who graduated with a ‘beer gut’ and greying/salt&pepper hair , tho that’s a bit of a tangent

  24. Newlland(Henryvolt)
    Newlland(Henryvolt)
    September 25, 2024 at 12:41 am | #

    Naomi, Carol and Linda sucked more than any other currently living parent in DoA. But for her I have a special type of disdain for it.

    It’s just speculation but I can’t shake the feeling that despite the shit Ethans been going through lately I bet she did not make things better. Of course she’s shows up right when he’s getting back on his feet for what feels like a week in their time.

  25. d-money
    d-money
    September 25, 2024 at 12:41 am | #

    For some reason I thought Naomi had a walker and was partially disabled. Was that not something that happened?

    • Laura
      Laura
      September 25, 2024 at 1:24 am | #

      Not as far as I recall.

      • ZerglingOne
        ZerglingOne
        September 25, 2024 at 1:34 am | #

        Aww, avatar twinsies!

    • eh, whatever
      eh, whatever
      September 25, 2024 at 4:28 am | #

      No.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      September 25, 2024 at 4:57 pm | #

      That was Kyle.

  26. EtchJetty
    EtchJetty
    September 25, 2024 at 12:54 am | #

    this mom has homophobia in her eyes <3 (/ref)

  27. fishamaphone
    fishamaphone
    September 25, 2024 at 1:01 am | #

    I think… I think Ethan’s mom is Carla from Cheers.

  28. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    September 25, 2024 at 1:43 am | #

    …. so where does Naomi rank on the least-popular-mom list, vis-a-vis Carol and Linda? Or is there a fourth unpopular mom that I’m forgetting?

    • Joyfulldreams
      Joyfulldreams
      September 25, 2024 at 1:56 am | #

      I imagine she’s probably third in the running. After Carol, and then Linda.

      • Da Boy
        Da Boy
        September 25, 2024 at 4:28 am | #

        And now she gets a chance to up her ranking, let’s see what stuff comes out of her mouth.

        • anon
          anon
          September 25, 2024 at 4:33 pm | #

          i imagine once she said she’s glad mike’s dead i’m sure ethan will go off on her and ppl will hate her more (tho is ethan’s dad in the pic? not that it makes it ok, but i wouldn’t be surprised if she’s extra sour about it if it’s like “my husband left me for another man” adding a layer to that kinda thing)

          • Reltzik
            Reltzik
            September 25, 2024 at 9:06 pm | #

            He was in the picture back during Freshman Family Weekend, when he was very much on the “go back to being straight, son” bandwagon.

  29. Bash
    Bash
    September 25, 2024 at 1:52 am | #

    “THAT kind of mom”. Poor Asher thought he was going to get to meet the parents.

    • anon
      anon
      September 25, 2024 at 4:35 pm | #

      i mean even in a more supportive situation i can imagine some gay ppl would avoid introducing their partners to their parents unless they’re also in the queer community

      But while it’d be annoying either way i can see some rom com moments being like “that’s great hun, when’s the wedding?” and still pushing like that (i do remember seeing a tweet? from like someone’s nephew asking why they don’t have a wife and said “actually i’m gay” “…so why don’t you have a husband?”)

  30. Prior Semblance
    Prior Semblance
    September 25, 2024 at 2:01 am | #

    It’s a good thing those doors are apparently a lot more soundproof than any of my doors ever are.

  31. General Tekno
    General Tekno
    September 25, 2024 at 2:29 am | #

    You know, much as we’re all going “oh no, Naomi”, objectively she’s not wrong to be concerned about Ethan. Odds are that he is, in fact, not eating. And he’s probably not kept her in the loop re: his mental headspace.

    • anonymsly
      anonymsly
      September 25, 2024 at 6:56 am | #

      I would have either, if I were Ethan. She’d only exacerbate the problem(s).

      • anonymsly
        anonymsly
        September 25, 2024 at 6:57 am | #

        Wouldn’t, I meant.

  32. Dana W
    Dana W
    September 25, 2024 at 2:35 am | #

    Done. Just read the whole thing!

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      September 25, 2024 at 2:54 am | #

      Congrats, welcome back to the eternal present. You will now experience time in linear fashion again.

      • Nathan
        Nathan
        September 25, 2024 at 11:28 am | #

        Given Dana W’s avatar today (Charlie) that is a very fitting comment!

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          September 25, 2024 at 1:18 pm | #

          Today? Do people change their avatars?

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            September 25, 2024 at 2:50 pm | #

            Only those who exist in linear time.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      September 25, 2024 at 8:03 am | #

      Like, from start to today? How long did that take you? 🙂

    • Newlland(Henryvolt)
      Newlland(Henryvolt)
      September 25, 2024 at 4:38 pm | #

      Welcome to the main club.

  33. Carla's #2 Fan
    Carla's #2 Fan
    September 25, 2024 at 4:07 am | #

    Naomi is my mom’s name! Although she’s absolutely cool with all queer identities. I am obligated to provide this fun fact in case anyone in the audience has it wrong: Naomi is pronounced “Nay-oh-me”, not “Nye-oh-me”. There simply aren’t the letters for the second one.

    • eh, whatever
      eh, whatever
      September 25, 2024 at 4:30 am | #

      Oh, somebody made a compromise of “nay-oh-me” and “nah-oh-me” and forgot to look at the letters because in English they’re just vague suggestions anyway.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        September 25, 2024 at 11:29 am | #

        Looks like the replies aren’t letting me post in Hebrew. I was gonna say, it’s spelled/pronounced nun ayin mem yud.‎

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          September 25, 2024 at 1:17 pm | #

          Nunayinmemyud Watts

  34. C.T. Phipps
    C.T. Phipps
    September 25, 2024 at 4:18 am | #

    The weird thing is that homophobic as she may be, she and her husband (who was gay himself I believe) accepted Ethan was gay and had moved on. Then Ethan tried to claim he was straight.

    Was that where she last was?

    • C.T. Phipps
      C.T. Phipps
      September 25, 2024 at 4:23 am | #

      Note I say “accepted” in the sense that they acknowledged it and hadn’t disowned him.

      Which is a terrible terrible low bar to pass.

      • Colin McKenzie
        Colin McKenzie
        September 25, 2024 at 9:30 am | #

        *Sudden realization* Hey, MY family was like that!

    • Chubseus
      Chubseus
      September 25, 2024 at 10:41 am | #

      Eh, accepted might be too strong a word considering she outright called Ethan a disappointment to his face, and told Amber that Ethan was confused and just thinks he’s gay. She also blamed Amber for confusing him. I’d say she was in denial and willing to hurt/blame anyone else in order to have her son be straight.

      • C.T. Phipps
        C.T. Phipps
        September 25, 2024 at 4:34 pm | #

        Good point.

  35. Suet
    Suet
    September 25, 2024 at 4:31 am | #

    There goes the toys’ mint condition

    • Nathan
      Nathan
      September 25, 2024 at 11:30 am | #

      Thats what I thought too, but it sounds like Ethan was planning to open them but just too depressed

  36. Martin Smith
    Martin Smith
    September 25, 2024 at 4:53 am | #

    It’s been so long since Naomi appeared, I’d forgotten that she even had, so I checked her previous appearances through the tag. Obviously Willis’ art has changed through the years, but I hadn’t appreciated before how much the lettering has improved.

  37. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    September 25, 2024 at 5:22 am | #

    Literally in the closet!

    Then again its probably safer that Asher hanging out the window.

    Hey, can we make Hanging out the window a metaphor for something?

    • clif
      clif
      September 26, 2024 at 10:48 am | #

      We’ll run it up the flag pole and see who salutes.

  38. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    September 25, 2024 at 5:49 am | #

    …he look thin ?

    • Jeremiah
      Jeremiah
      September 25, 2024 at 8:06 am | #

      I mean yeah, many people made that observation when he showed up post time skip for the first time.

  39. Josh Spicer
    Josh Spicer
    September 25, 2024 at 7:32 am | #

    “A surprise for sure, and an unwelcome one.”

  40. Theluxland
    Theluxland
    September 25, 2024 at 8:10 am | #

    I’m not ready for what insue. I can only hope che got better.

    But calling her son a dissapointment is pretty damning in my perspective. It’s hard to get back from that.

  41. Hof1991
    Hof1991
    September 25, 2024 at 9:51 am | #

    I fully expected Naomi to neg Ethan in rhyme.

    You sure look thin
    What kinda trouble you in

    If you just ate better
    Your life wouldn’t be so meta.

  42. Yeet
    Yeet
    September 25, 2024 at 9:58 am | #

    ethan I know you’re a mess and panicking but you could’ve sent him out through the half-bath and your neighbour’s room

  43. Dana W
    Dana W
    September 25, 2024 at 10:44 am | #

    Don’t date closeted people, it never ends well.

    • Nathan
      Nathan
      September 25, 2024 at 11:32 am | #

      Ethan’s pretty out, his mom is just terrible

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        September 25, 2024 at 2:49 pm | #

        You’re misreading the strip. It’s Asher who’s in the closet.

        • Dana W
          Dana W
          September 26, 2024 at 2:32 am | #

          I understand that, I was just speaking in general.

  44. Adept
    Adept
    September 25, 2024 at 11:19 am | #

    Ethan’s mum is surprisingly short.

  45. Yakumo
    Yakumo
    September 25, 2024 at 3:44 pm | #

    In fairness, I think it’s been objectively established that he’s gotten thinner.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      September 25, 2024 at 4:10 pm | #

      as we have seen in her past appearances, she’s attempting to justify her homophobia by first establishing a narrative where she’s coming from a place of “concern” (-_-)

      • C.T. Phipps
        C.T. Phipps
        September 25, 2024 at 7:01 pm | #

        I feel like Naomi is a bit less one-note than that. Which is to say she actually can be concerned about Ethan looking like a vampire while being a homophobe.

        • NGPZ
          NGPZ
          September 25, 2024 at 7:53 pm | #

          believe me, she is no stranger to conflating allyship and caring with unsolicited “””helping”””

          she’s been invasive as hell about her son ever since her first appearance, she thinks that “helping” her son means that violating boundaries is justified 👀

  46. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    September 25, 2024 at 5:14 pm | #

    Did she not see him over winter break?

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      September 25, 2024 at 6:40 pm | #

      That’s a good point. I suppose it could be ongoing commentary from her, where she lectured him about needing to eat because he was getting thin over winter break, and now she sees that he clearly hasn’t improved on that. Or maybe they didn’t see each other over break, which would be interesting.

  47. DJTsurugi
    DJTsurugi
    September 25, 2024 at 11:26 pm | #

    it is just a fact that parents in this comic mostly suck. please don’t at me about that one, you know which one… ~<3

    • anon
      anon
      September 26, 2024 at 4:24 pm | #

      we need dina’s parents to show up and have dinner together with her and becky for balance <3

  48. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    September 26, 2024 at 12:08 am | #

    Naomi: You look thin. You’re not eating enough. This is because of the gays, isn’t it? They’ve brainwashed you into having sympathy AIDS.

    Ethan: Mom, what a HORRIBLE surprise.

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