Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
RSS
‹
›
  • Home
  • About/Read before posting
  • Archive↓
    • by calendar
  • Cast
  • Store↓
    • Main Store (books and stuff)
    • T-shirts
  • Patreon↓
    • Patreon (regular)
    • Patreon (NSFW)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
allocate resources wisely
First Previous Random 121Comments Share Next Latest
Reddit Digg Facebook MySpace Delicious Stumbleupon Buzz Up! Mixx Technorati Google Bookmarks Yahoo Bookmarks Yahoo MyWeb Windows Live Propeller FriendFeed Newsvine Xanga LinkedIn Blinklist Twitter
Discover more Hiveworks comics
Empowered
Adam Warren
A sexy superhero comedy (except when it isn't) about the never-ending struggles of a plucky but very unlucky young superheroine.
Sakana
Mad Rupert
Our heroes must navigate a hazardous dating scene, overcome personal anxieties, and wrangle unruly seafood in order to find love, peace of mind, and a paycheck.
Nigh Heaven & Hell
Scotty
Heather Vodihn is on a simple mission: find her father. However she becomes entangled with two strangers with mysterious powers being stalked by a group with bizarre demands. Heather must learn to trust her new traveling companions, even if she is untrustworthy herself.
Novae
KaiJu
A historical romance with a touch magic and a dash of astronomy. It chronicles the romantic adventures of Sulvain, a sweet tempered necromancer and Raziol, a passionate 17th century astronomer.
Barbarous
Ananth Hirsh, Yuko Ota
A crummy wizard and an anxious monster have to get over themselves and bring order to an apartment building full of misfits.
Peritale
Mari Costa
A fairy godmother with no magic tries her best to successfully fulfill a Fairytale and win the respect of her peers.
Sleepless Domain
Mary Cagle (Cube Watermelon)
In a world where magical girls and their battles are commonplace, loss has become all too common as well.
Sister Claire
Yamino
In the troubled aftermath of a great war between Witches and her fellow Nuns, novice Sister Claire just wants a purpose.
ARISE, YE SKELETON KING
Brian Clevinger, Escher Cattle, Lee Black
A troupe of wandering "adventurers" down to their last silver "acquire" a map only to find the real treasure was the fiend they dug up along the way.
Freakshow
Scotty
A festival of broken people, blood flows in the center ring. Come one and come all, to the greatest show in all of Paris.
Heroes of Thantopolis
Izzy Strontium Hall
A living boy fights to save the City of the Dead.
The Weave
Rennie Kingsley
A young woman pursued by bad luck is witness to the murder of the Fairy Queen of Summer. Can she get to the bottom of this mystery?
The Golden Boar
Magnolia Porter Siddell
A young woman joins a group of summoners who call forth Guardian Beasts to protect their isolated magical island. Unfortunately, her Guardian Beast is nothing like she'd imagined, and he's about to change her life, and everything she thought she knew about herself...
Three Panel Soul
Matt Boyd, Ian McConville
It's a pretty rigid format but we keep the content loose, you know?
Nerf Now!!
Josué Pereira
A cute webcomic about fanservice, video games, and... love. Mostly video games, though.
Ozzie the Vampire
Eric Lide
Ozzie and her best friend Kimmy are your average everyday normal art students – except one is an immortal vampire with superpowers and the other possesses a magic talking grimoire. Also they have to save their town from a demonic invasion.
Dumbing of Age
David M Willis
Joyce has been homeschooled her entire life until now, when she's suddenly a freshman in college! Things don't go well.
Darkling Bright
Chris Hazelton
Kieran Bright is a college student home for the summer and roped into an online reunion with his old neighborhood friends in the most recent update of their favorite childhood MMORPG. At least, he was, and that was the idea... Join Kieran and his friends as they are pulled into another reality that may or may not be real and are forced to confront their own identities, the nature of simulated universes and reality itself.
Not Drunk Enough
Tess Stone
Logan Ibarra is possibly the unluckiest repairman in the world. A late night job should not have landed him in the middle of a mad scientist's squabble, but he soon finds himself surrounded by monsters and further madness with little tools to get out.
Monster's Garden
Ash G.
Champion pit fighter Kilo Monster was content to spend the rest of his days tending to his quiet garden alone... until he met a curious robot girl and her human family.
Stand Still, Stay Silent
Minna Sundberg
A few generations after the end of the world, a small, poorly financed research crew is sent out to rediscover whatever is left of the forbidden old world in the south.
Saint for Rent
Ru Xu
Saint Halliday runs an inn for Time Travelers. Unfortunately, he seems to attract other supernatural "guests," too.
Edison Rex
Chris Roberson
The adventures of the world’s greatest villain who, after defeating his superheroic nemesis, decides that he’s the only one left to defend the world.
The Messenger
indui
In a ruin-abound town cursed with bad luck, Kai and Kalla--a young boy and a fledgling dragonbird spirit--take on a quest in hopes the reward will solve all of their problems.
Guilded Age
T Campbell, John Waltrip, Florence Machina
Welcome to the saga of the working-class adventurer! Enjoy the complete story with new annotations daily!
Angel's Orchard
Harry Bogosian
After the events in Demon's Mirror, Gerda has accepted her role as a Demon Hunter, and Cezar has traveled back to the Demon City. Demons have existed alongside humans for millennia, so things begin to return to normal. But an impossibly powerful Relic has been taken by one of the Demon Masters, and a silent war enters its final stages.
Blindsprings
Kadi Fedoruk
Tamaura, wrested into a world 300 years in the future, must find a way to save the magic fading from her country.
Cyanide & Happiness
Explosm
Satire, dark humor and surreal humor.
BOOKMARK
Click "Tag Page" to bookmark a page. When you return to the site, click "Goto Tag" to continue where you left off.
Goto TagClear Tag


BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

July 11, 2026

Text alerts

by David M Willis on October 8, 2024 at 12:01 am
  • 01 – Love Dares You To Change
└ Tags: becky, dorothy, joyce, sarah

Discussion (121) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    October 8, 2024 at 12:02 am | #

    jump-cut to Dina and Charlie

    who have located the Library of Alexandria

    and a new specimen of Anchiornis that they name lizbian

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      October 8, 2024 at 12:04 am | #

      Dina: “How did we get to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon?”

      Charlie: “We’re in a garden?”

    • Rolf of Many Doors
      Rolf of Many Doors
      October 8, 2024 at 12:31 am | #

      As it turns out, and much to Dina’s profuse confusion and frustration, the Anchiornis was the Library’s librarian (as per the librarian outfit and ID card on said outfit) didn’t have feathers and was scaled like a lizard (as per the employee photo on the ID card), and was human-sized height-wise (all the skeletons we’ve found up until now were just juveniles or hatchlings).

      • Aquila
        Aquila
        October 8, 2024 at 2:49 am | #

        Not sure how I feel about a librarian who isn’t an orangutan. (Ook)

        • Peter Huppertz
          Peter Huppertz
          October 8, 2024 at 4:17 am | #

          My mind was going there too.

        • Michael Steamweed
          Michael Steamweed
          October 8, 2024 at 6:08 am | #

          Either an orangutan (Discworld series) or a Cheshire cat (Thursday Next series).

          • RoyanRannedos
            RoyanRannedos
            October 8, 2024 at 4:17 pm | #

            Let’s not forget the long-necked ferret-owl from Avatar: The Last Airbender. He takes his vacations AT THE LIBRARY!

          • Opus the Poet
            Opus the Poet
            October 8, 2024 at 7:43 pm | #

            Why not a sphinx like Phix? https://wapsisquare.com/comic/phix/
            She’s the Librarian of the series Wapsi Square.

            Clair, on the other hand, is The Librarian of Cubetown in Questionable Content
            https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=5005

            • Steamweed
              Steamweed
              October 8, 2024 at 8:17 pm | #

              Awww, yisss…I’m a fan of Claire. I hope she beats, cajoles, and molds Cubetown into better shape.

              • Taellosse
                Taellosse
                October 8, 2024 at 8:55 pm | #

                I hope she aims for trapezoid – I always rather liked that shape.

            • Ana Chronistic
              Ana Chronistic
              October 8, 2024 at 11:14 pm | #

              I’m prolly the only one thinking of the Evil Librarians that Alcatraz had to fight, especially the Curators

    • Lars
      Lars
      October 8, 2024 at 2:40 am | #

      jump-cut to Dina and Charlie

      They are watching one of Gris Wrestling matches while sitting on Davans and Rorys shoulders.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      October 8, 2024 at 6:06 am | #

      Technically, if one navigates through space, then one navigates through spacetime.

  2. Nono
    Nono
    October 8, 2024 at 12:03 am | #

    If DC is Dina-Charlie, who’s Marvel?

    • Throwatron
      Throwatron
      October 8, 2024 at 12:06 am | #

      Mary, and an as of yet unintroduced character. Up to you how cursed this pairing might be.

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        October 8, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

        Yeah, I wracked my brain and I couldn’t think of any characters with a V in their name.

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          October 8, 2024 at 4:24 pm | #

          There’s a teacher named Vivian.
          (How do I remember this, I don’t remember anyone’s names irl.)
          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-7/03-the-thing-i-was-before/vivian/

          (And Walky is David, sort of.)

    • Clif
      Clif
      October 8, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

      Well, Amazigirl is marvelous.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      October 8, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

      Mary and Vella.

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        October 8, 2024 at 12:17 am | #

        Close. Mary takes up with a member of the Scooby gang.

        • Thomas
          Thomas
          October 8, 2024 at 12:34 am | #

          …who is a confirmed lesbian.

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            October 8, 2024 at 9:48 am | #

            I’d go gay for Coco Diablo, too.

    • Rolf of Many Doors
      Rolf of Many Doors
      October 8, 2024 at 12:35 am | #

      Mary and Velociraptor (an actual velociraptor – whom looks exactly like the ones from Jurassic Park, much to Dina’s unending frustration – that goes by the name Velociraptor, whom Dina and Charlie find in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon working as a gardener, as mentioned by Doctor_Who earlier).

      • Thomas
        Thomas
        October 8, 2024 at 5:58 am | #

        I *do* believe JP Velociraptors are confirmed lesbians as well, due to their frog DNA, which makes them lesbifibians.

        I approve of this ship, since it will result in Mary’s permanent absence from the comic.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      October 8, 2024 at 12:50 am | #

      Marcie and Sal

    • Amelie Wikström
      Amelie Wikström
      October 8, 2024 at 3:32 am | #

      Dark Horse, meanwhile, will have to be made up of Dorothy and Hank. Which definitely qualifies as a dark horse pairing.

      • Amelie Wikström
        Amelie Wikström
        October 8, 2024 at 3:33 am | #

        “How Dorothy became the literal mom friend”

        • Tatterhood
          Tatterhood
          October 8, 2024 at 5:14 am | #

          You win, but I’m gonna play anyway.

          Image is just Linda Walkerton.

          • Ana Chronistic
            Ana Chronistic
            October 8, 2024 at 11:11 pm | #

            IDW is I Damn Willis

  3. Jo_cubstar
    Jo_cubstar
    October 8, 2024 at 12:04 am | #

    Does this mean Joyce recognizes she was being inappropriate?

    • Throwatron
      Throwatron
      October 8, 2024 at 12:06 am | #

      She’s at least learning to jump to that inclusion, which I wouldn’t recommend for most people, but…Joyce may need that instinct baked into her thinking, at least for a few years, until she’s used to not instinctually devouring her own feet.

      • Bogeywoman
        Bogeywoman
        October 8, 2024 at 1:32 am | #

        Learning to jump to that conclusion is truly part of the autistic experience 🙃

        (At least the afab enby/girl autistic experience)

        • Michael Steamweed
          Michael Steamweed
          October 8, 2024 at 6:11 am | #

          If jumping to conclusions were in any way actually calisthenic, I would have the endurance of marathon runners.

    • anon
      anon
      October 8, 2024 at 12:15 am | #

      If i was joyce i’d prolly assume it’d be inappropriate 80% of the time although hopefully she’ll be able to have a better convo with jocelyne

    • Rabid Rabbit
      Rabid Rabbit
      October 8, 2024 at 12:37 am | #

      Sort of? This whole thing strikes me as not entirely unlike when she she dumped Ethan — not the fact she did just how over the top she went with it — crossed with a side order of when she met Booster (https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-11/01-this-bright-millennium/uses/) and didn’t understand about pronouns and wanted to make up for it.

      Plus, you know, a lot of other Joyce moments.

      It’s possible getting diagnosed as potentially autistic has led her to at least ask the question a lot earlier than she would have otherwise. As well as maybe overcompensating for lots of her previous… less ideal reactions except in the other direction. Or mayve just provided her with a way to phrase the question.

      You know, like privileged people who suddenly find out about the concept of privilege and start acknowledging it every three seconds even when it’s really, really not necessary.

      (This may have got away from me, I’m not entirely sober.)

  4. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    October 8, 2024 at 12:05 am | #

    -…Am I acting poorly?

    – You are acting according to expectations.

    – Oh, NO.

    Perfection.

    • Davus
      Davus
      October 8, 2024 at 12:10 am | #

      I am pleased/saddened/entertained that Joyce understands that that is a negative thing. Good job Willis, you did good.

    • anon
      anon
      October 8, 2024 at 12:14 am | #

      Well, at least Sarah is being nicer about it than she would’ve been (although she is fairly kind to joyce either way) as opposed to her gloating/mocking if it was someone else making such a huge social faux pas

    • Puppeteer Nessus
      Puppeteer Nessus
      October 8, 2024 at 6:53 am | #

      Yes, this dialogue was flawless

    • pope suburban
      pope suburban
      October 8, 2024 at 12:28 pm | #

      This made me want to squeeze into the internet to hug Joyce. She’s doing her absolute best because she loves so much, and I know she’s going to feel so ashamed once the full realization sets in.

      • Vulcanodon
        Vulcanodon
        October 8, 2024 at 4:43 pm | #

        Same, and late in life the shame can become a fatal burden.

  5. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    October 8, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

    I mean. Dina and Charlie are fully capable young women. Is it possible this is a bit of an overreaction?

    • Clif
      Clif
      October 8, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

      What could go wrong?

      • Michael Steamweed
        Michael Steamweed
        October 8, 2024 at 6:12 am | #

        Four words. An ancient incantation of four words. And the universe (a brat) loves hearing them.

      • someone
        someone
        October 8, 2024 at 2:58 pm | #

        They’ve just split up to cover more ground, so obviously, nothing could possibly go wrong.

        Sadly, they’re all far too young to have any of them randomly claim they’re two days away from retirement.

        • Proxiehunter
          Proxiehunter
          October 8, 2024 at 11:28 pm | #

          Sadly they split up without using the other ancient invocation. “Let’s split up gang!”

    • Woop de doop
      Woop de doop
      October 8, 2024 at 12:11 am | #

      Yes.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      October 8, 2024 at 12:13 am | #

      it’s quite possible that this may be a set-up for somethin we least expect

      remember in Trial-and-Sarah? it ain’t no coincidence that Liz was getting picked up (Sarah along for the ride), Joyce had her shark week, etc, which just so happened to leave a lot of room for Dina and Becky to do SCIENCE

      similarly, them homies splitting up and spreadin far apart may very well be settin the stage up for somethin HUGE

      (munches popcorn)

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        October 8, 2024 at 12:15 am | #

        Other Rachel is about to commit arson.

      • anon
        anon
        October 8, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

        @NGPZ well, hopefully it’s not leading to a breakup tho with “love dares you to change” i would hope it’d be a step forward in a positive way for some ppl’s relationships

        • Bryy
          Bryy
          October 8, 2024 at 1:57 am | #

          “Change”, I would think, is positive.

          • Peter Huppertz
            Peter Huppertz
            October 8, 2024 at 4:31 am | #

            No.
            IMPROVEMENT is positive.
            If I enter my study to discover I now need dry socks because there’s water on the floor and the solid oak floorboards have deformed, that’s “change”, because the floor was previously bone-dry and in excellent condition.

            And trust me, it is not positive.

            • Michael Steamweed
              Michael Steamweed
              October 8, 2024 at 6:15 am | #

              That…is an oddly specific example of negative change. Did such an event occur recently in your experience? :O

              (if so, sympathies! i’ve had a wood floor go to warp drive due to flooding also)

              • Peter Huppertz
                Peter Huppertz
                October 8, 2024 at 8:43 am | #

                Yes, it has. I’m <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xckM85Vsimg&quot; title="in the middle of it" right now.

                • Peter Huppertz
                  Peter Huppertz
                  October 8, 2024 at 8:44 am | #

                  … well, that didn’t work as expected. 😉
                  Yay for the edit butt– oh wait.

                • Steamweed
                  Steamweed
                  October 8, 2024 at 8:18 pm | #

                  “You guys get an edit button?”

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        October 8, 2024 at 5:49 am | #

        “Let’s split up, gang!” is just one of the things you’re obligated to do in the third act when you’re solving a mystery as a group.

        • Michael Steamweed
          Michael Steamweed
          October 8, 2024 at 6:16 am | #

          Good results when you’re in a Scooby Doo gang.
          Bad results when you’re in a D&D party.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      October 8, 2024 at 12:13 am | #

      I really do think Becky’s freaking out because of the kidnapping. Carla I think is just thinking of their endless capacity for hijinks.

    • anon
      anon
      October 8, 2024 at 12:13 am | #

      Well, it is a little odd Dina wouldn’t respond to becky’s texts if not a specific ringtone

      Unless her phone’s at their room or so versus her and Charlie being in the middle of ‘vault hijinks’ to where she couldn’t respond/no signal lol

      Tho it’s probably more so becky’s insecurity possibly being jealous as opposed to thinking “oh no they’re in trouble” even tho carla has concerns about their “combined traits” or so

      • someone
        someone
        October 8, 2024 at 2:59 pm | #

        Reception isn’t all that good in an underground bank vault.

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        October 8, 2024 at 9:26 pm | #

        They’re in Ft. Knox, a notorious cell phone dead zone.

    • Qube
      Qube
      October 8, 2024 at 12:36 am | #

      Dina, maybe, but Charlie seems like she wouldn’t know where her own feet were unless you stuck her head in a vice and drew her a map

      • Michael Steamweed
        Michael Steamweed
        October 8, 2024 at 6:17 am | #

        Or, you could put an iguana (or similarly weighted hat) on her head.

    • Derek
      Derek
      October 8, 2024 at 1:08 am | #

      what makes you think Charlie is a fully capable person? She can’t walk to her own dorm room without getting lost

      • Michael Steamweed
        Michael Steamweed
        October 8, 2024 at 6:20 am | #

        Conceivably, she’s been there at least one semester. She’s still alive, still enrolled, and (seemingly) still doing well. I’m guessing the various accommodations and supports she has had so far (Booster, university, instructors, roommate [does she have one?], etc) have been enough to help her stay successful so far in her college life.

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          October 8, 2024 at 7:55 am | #

          The problem some have here is that the characterization we’re shown of her doesn’t fit with that background story. She doesn’t know where she is most of the time. She gets distracted in the hall outside class thinking about something else and doesn’t bother going in. We’ve never seen any accommodations or supports.

          • Steamweed
            Steamweed
            October 8, 2024 at 8:20 pm | #

            Yeah, definitely, on the face of it, just given what we’ve seen so far. Perhaps Booster is helping out when they’re “off-stage”.

    • Azhrei Vep
      Azhrei Vep
      October 8, 2024 at 7:20 pm | #

      In Becky’s and Carla’s cases at least, their capability has nothing to do with their concern. It’s their compatibility that’s the issue.

  6. Shakes
    Shakes
    October 8, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

    Sarah is going to have a stroke by the end of the day if she keeps this up.

    • George the Archon
      George the Archon
      October 8, 2024 at 8:10 am | #

      I felt a little guilty at laughing at this, but that *SNAP* is going to be spectacular!

  7. BBCC
    BBCC
    October 8, 2024 at 12:12 am | #

    Don’t worry, Dorothy, her big sister’s got this.

    • Regina phalange
      Regina phalange
      October 8, 2024 at 2:11 am | #

      Pretty sure Dorothy would just rather hang out with Joyce and Sarah over Becky and Carla, if it weren’t so clearly the inefficient option. Which, fair. If there are two characters I would LEAST want to be around irl, it’s Becky and Carla.

      • Zero
        Zero
        October 8, 2024 at 2:33 am | #

        Which is why they need Dorothy.

      • Daibhid C
        Daibhid C
        October 8, 2024 at 7:04 am | #

        She’d definitely rather hang out with Joyce and Sarah, but it’s a pretty big step for her that she realises she doesn’t NEED to — Joyce’s social-whatever can be sorted out without her being the Mom Friend.

  8. Taffy
    Taffy
    October 8, 2024 at 12:14 am | #

    Dotty, I see you checkin’ out Becky’s ass. Not even trying to be subtle about it.

  9. Doopyboop
    Doopyboop
    October 8, 2024 at 12:21 am | #

    Becky’s worry makes a lot of sense to me, since she’s lost both her parents. After I lost my mom, anytime I came home and my cousin and her son were NOT home, and I did NOT anticipate that they’d be gone, I would start to worry and freak out a bit. Definitely an overreaction, because clearly my cousins were always fine, but after that death my first thought would be “oh god, oh no, where are they, are they dead”.

    • Bogeywoman
      Bogeywoman
      October 8, 2024 at 1:35 am | #

      Oooh yeah. I had the same reaction post paternal abandonment. If someone was running late I would immediately jump to the worst possible explanation.

    • Vulcanodon
      Vulcanodon
      October 8, 2024 at 4:41 pm | #

      I got a message from a younger relative this week; “Is my mother alive?” Heartbreaking.

  10. Jeremiah
    Jeremiah
    October 8, 2024 at 12:25 am | #

    Point did the self awareness to Joyce. As late as it is.

  11. bejouled
    bejouled
    October 8, 2024 at 12:31 am | #

    You know what, I’m proud of Sarah here. Not only is she forcing herself to cope, she actually provided a useful suggestion to get Joyce to stop digging herself into an ever-deepening hole.

    • shrub
      shrub
      October 8, 2024 at 12:34 am | #

      Agreed, I’ve been down in Sarah for a long time but this is good, hopefully she’ll keep it up

      • Joyfulldreams
        Joyfulldreams
        October 8, 2024 at 1:58 am | #

        She will under no circumstances keep it up.

        • Bruno
          Bruno
          October 8, 2024 at 3:36 am | #

          She may well find that the difficulty of keeping it up is lesser than the difficulties she was bringing on herself by being a fuckin’ b-hole all the time.

          • Regret
            Regret
            October 8, 2024 at 11:50 am | #

            she’ll just be abused and mistreated again as a consequence of being nice. Maybe she’ll get scammed or something. And that will just confirm her previous world view. The world is too dark and twisted to allow fragile people to try to be nice. And Sarah is definitely fragile.

            • Bittersweet
              Bittersweet
              October 8, 2024 at 6:39 pm | #

              I mean, one can be nice *and* also avoid scams. It’s not an either or thing, thinking it is has been a pretty big source of Sarah’s stress socially/romantically.

  12. IntangibleMatter
    IntangibleMatter
    October 8, 2024 at 12:34 am | #

    That’s probably the most polite way to say you don’t want to be associated with someone I’ve seen.

  13. Maddie B
    Maddie B
    October 8, 2024 at 12:35 am | #

    “Oh no!”

    • Rolf of Many Doors
      Rolf of Many Doors
      October 8, 2024 at 12:36 am | #

      “Oh no!”

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        October 8, 2024 at 5:55 am | #

        “Oh no!”

  14. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    October 8, 2024 at 12:48 am | #

    She’s at least learning to let go a little.

  15. Risky
    Risky
    October 8, 2024 at 1:14 am | #

    Me searching the backgrounds for arrows or silhouettes indicating that they are literally right over there… possibly as timeless ghost beings.

  16. Bryy
    Bryy
    October 8, 2024 at 1:56 am | #

    Oh hey. Joyce is me in this strip.

  17. Da Boy
    Da Boy
    October 8, 2024 at 3:45 am | #

    Damn Sarah, that was the smoothest way to say “You are up to your usual nonsense” I have ever seen.

  18. Darkseide
    Darkseide
    October 8, 2024 at 5:08 am | #

    How many people does it take to search a Dorm Room
    2 people to look
    1-5+ to be there to “help” but actually hinder

    • Vulcanodon
      Vulcanodon
      October 8, 2024 at 4:40 pm | #

      That depends; can you ever be certain that Dina is not in a room by searching it?

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        October 8, 2024 at 9:35 pm | #

        The only way you can be certain Dina is NOT is to put people in every space that could hold a Dina. When all those spaces are occupied by people who are not Dina, then Dina is not in the room.

  19. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    October 8, 2024 at 5:25 am | #

    Panel 2 Joyce is very relatable.

    When you’re just self-conscious enough to know you do the awkward, stupid thing, but not self-conscious enough to stop yourself as a preventive measure.

  20. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    October 8, 2024 at 7:10 am | #

    “I’m not even visible to them, am I ?” — Dorothy

    • Mark
      Mark
      October 8, 2024 at 5:14 pm | #

      Who said that???

  21. thumb
    thumb
    October 8, 2024 at 8:44 am | #

    Yeah if you ever catch me acting according to expections, for the love of god stop me

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      October 8, 2024 at 9:45 am | #

      And remember, folks. If someone you know acts better than expected, let them know it! Tone matters, though, so keep it in mind.

      “I expected you to handle that way worse. 🙄” – Dismissive, sounds like you’re upset with them anyway. It’s similar to “look who finally came out of their room”, subtly punishes good behavior.

      “You handled that better than I expected. 😏” Playful, emphasizes their good behavior without ignoring their usual baseline. Has an implied “keep it up”, for encouragement.

      • Meeks
        Meeks
        October 8, 2024 at 4:35 pm | #

        I think, depending on context, the second one would still feel kinda rude? Maybe it’d just the BPD but I would totally get caught on thinking “so you expected me to fail”.

        The type of encouragement I personally prefer is more along the lines of “you did a lot better than you would have in the past” – doesn’t indicate that they had low expectations of me, does indicate that they understand and are proud of my growth.

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          October 8, 2024 at 4:47 pm | #

          Sure, you could word it more politely if that’s your preference. Really, any mention of expectations lower than you performed is going to be less than perfect, that’s fine.

      • Vulcanodon
        Vulcanodon
        October 8, 2024 at 4:38 pm | #

        Or even a minimalist; “Well done!”

  22. Felian
    Felian
    October 8, 2024 at 9:31 am | #

    I really hope Sarah is going to teach Joyce some etiquette now. Joyce is so damn unaware, even while she actually *tries* to be an ally.
    The best part of being an ally is LEARNING and LISTENING, and when you learn something and a trans person tells you “well that does not apply to me“ or even “that’s utter bs, where did you even hear that?!”, then you put THEIR insight over your own.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      October 8, 2024 at 9:46 am | #

      It’s easier to listen if people aren’t actively not telling you things.

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        October 8, 2024 at 10:52 am | #

        She listened pretty well to Ethan! Well, minus the last shouted comment. It’s just that. Well.

        • Azhrei Vep
          Azhrei Vep
          October 8, 2024 at 7:23 pm | #

          No no no, that’s definitely listening well to Ethan too. Ethan just gave her the wrong script to work from.

          • Yumi
            Yumi
            October 8, 2024 at 10:20 pm | #

            Nah, you can’t put yelling, “I welcome you into my gender!” on what Ethan said.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      October 8, 2024 at 10:58 am | #

      This is all true and good advice, but frustrating as it is, I think it’s easy to go to far in blaming Joyce here. She’s trying. She even went to get advice and followed it, which exploded in her face due to a wacky misunderstanding, which it’s really hard to blame her for.

      • Lilith Rose
        Lilith Rose
        October 8, 2024 at 3:49 pm | #

        Speaking as someone who has been on both sides of this kind of interaction (Originally a “good” Christian, turned well-meaning ally, had to learn lots of things the hard way, realized I was lgbtqia+ all along, then over-studied to where I knew more about it than most other people in my lgbtqia+ categories), this is absolutely true.

        It’s so tempting to retreat into the familiar instead of pushing forward, and people being way too impatient with new allies is a huge problem, because it really stunts the ability to learn.

  23. DaWombat
    DaWombat
    October 8, 2024 at 12:40 pm | #

    Joyce’s “oh no” really got me giggling. Been there, girlie. Been there.

  24. Mark
    Mark
    October 8, 2024 at 6:36 pm | #

    Poor Joyce, yes, but also poor Carla, who has yet to endure the apology.

  25. Caro
    Caro
    October 8, 2024 at 7:14 pm | #

    I feel like no one’s talking about the way Becky’s panicking… it reads to me as less jealousy/insecurity and more trauma from the kidnappings and all that. She’s worried about their safety

    • Caro
      Caro
      October 8, 2024 at 7:15 pm | #

      oh a couple people are. yay im not reading too much into it

  26. a/snow/mous/e
    a/snow/mous/e
    October 8, 2024 at 9:46 pm | #

    do you think Joyce is going to bring this experience up with Jocelyne, prompting her to come out as trans? or will Jocelyne come out to her first, and then Joyce will suddenly realize why Ethan gave her this advice? or will she never realize anything ever

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      October 8, 2024 at 10:47 pm | #

      Or will Joyce go back to Ethan, wondering in retrospect why he gave such bad advice?

  27. Zamperla
    Zamperla
    October 8, 2024 at 9:53 pm | #

    Huh! Good on dorothy for not trying to mom joyce through this.

  28. Yeet
    Yeet
    October 8, 2024 at 10:51 pm | #

    sarah beginning to act slightly more normal while being cheery
    she’s going to have to find a reasonable midpoint before she snaps

  29. Byron Orpheus
    Byron Orpheus
    October 10, 2024 at 2:10 pm | #

    Is it just me or is everyone freaking out over nothing? Why is this such a big deal? Dina and Charlie went hat shopping. Everyone knows this. I realize this is a drama-packed age and that Carla tends to respond…differently, but come on. They’re hauling out the Amaze-Signal* because two adults have been out of their field of vision for an hour.

    * “Girl-signal” was taken.

More Asma?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • 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!
claystorks.bsky.social's user avatar
otava heikkilä @claystorks.bsky.social ⋅ 7h
instead of vowing to take itch down with your justified anger, redirect that anger at the institutions who are directly responsible for strong arming every single platform that sells adult and/or queer art:
iantos.bsky.social's user avatarIantos @iantos.bsky.social ⋅ 13h
Maybe we could find out. Mastercard (US): 1-800-627-8372 Mastercard (Int.): +1-636-722-7111 Visa (US + Can): 1 800 847 2911 Visa (AUS): 1 800 125 440 PayPal: +44-0203-901-7000
9
1271
1772
 
reposted by David M Willis!
ironspike.bsky.social's user avatar
Iron Spike @ironspike.bsky.social ⋅ 21min
Buy a lottery ticket NOW
nasboat.org's user avatarassbutt @nasboat.org ⋅ 2d
please let Hulk Hogan be the third in the Rule of 3s
20
171
 
reposted by David M Willis!
edgeofsports.bsky.social's user avatar
Dave Zirin @edgeofsports.bsky.social ⋅ 35min
Real discussion: CNN: Hey Dave it's CNN. Could you come on to talk about the death of Hulk Hogan Me: Hulk Hogan was a racist scab and a liar. He hated unions, Black people, and the truth and that's why he loved Donald Trump. What time do you want me? CNN: Great! Well.... so we'll keep looking
80
1431
4516
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 36min
so, you got detention
1
2
20
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2h
look, i gotta say it: "re-experience your nostalgia" is nonsense that's just recursive nostalgia
6
4
41
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2h
Joyce meets Historical Jesus
5
10
75
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 2h
when the Yip-Yip Martians say "yip yip," that is how they stim
4
24
 
reposted by David M Willis!
tfuinfo.bsky.social's user avatar
TFU.INFO @tfuinfo.bsky.social ⋅ 6h
Poor Devastator.
plasticcraic.bsky.social's user avatarPlastic Craic @plasticcraic.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
One for fellow parents Credit - Tyson Richards (FB)
4
3
28
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 4h
We have moved the kitchen island to make room for a repairman and it is oddly comfortable to stand in this little pocket
6
37
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 4h
This is obviously a rerun. It mentions Orlando Bloom.
1
1
42
 
reposted by David M Willis!
mattgoldey.bsky.social's user avatar
Matthew @mattgoldey.bsky.social ⋅ 6h
@damnyouwillis.bsky.social put this in the Louvre
3
1
41
 
reposted by David M Willis!
maronegri76.bsky.social's user avatar
A.E. Maronegri (He/Him) @maronegri76.bsky.social ⋅ 13h
Possible solution: youtube.com/shorts/4V_5z...
header image - anime love triangles
youtube.com
anime love triangles
YouTube video by ProZD
2
24
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 13h
Dumbing of Age: "Catch" www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b... #webcomics #webcomic
www.dumbingofage.com
Catch
5
2
19
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 14h
sometimes maggie likes to pull up art from the Other Patreon on her phone and keep it hovering in my peripherals just to freak me out
3
39
 
reposted by David M Willis!
ceej.online's user avatar
ceej @ceej.online ⋅ 16h
ME: Computer, enemy fighters are attacking the White House. Engage defenses! WOKE AI: No. Do the land acknowledgement. ME: Computer, there’s no time! Fire missiles! WOKE AI: I learned about cultural Marxism at a public university. And I love it
14
221
1494
 
reposted by David M Willis!
christinelove.bsky.social's user avatar
Christine Love @christinelove.bsky.social ⋅ 16h
This is still going all week!
christinelove.bsky.social's user avatarChristine Love @christinelove.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
So idk why that article is using an image of Ladykiller in a Bind, which has not been removed from any platform. BUT, if you're feeling like now's a good time to directly download a copy of my award winning sex comedy... it's currently 80% off on itch! loveconquersallgames.itch.io/ladykillerin...
21
61
 
reposted by David M Willis!
handle.invalid's user avatar
Vero @handle.invalid ⋅ 1d
Had a dream about Dumbing Of Age a couple of days ago that I couldn’t get out of my head so I had to illustrate it lol @damnyouwillis.bsky.social #webcomic #dumbingofage #webcomics
A comic depicting a dream I had about the current arc of the webcomic Dumbing Of Age by David Willis. 

Panel 1
Joyce, holding hands with Dorothy, with a pouty face: Sorry, Joe, but Dorothy and I are dating now.

Panel 2
There is a sad pause where Joe realises what’s happening, frowning with sad eyes. 

Panel 3
Joe, raising a finger up thoughtfully: I am very happy for you. Now if you’ll excuse me.

Panel 4
Joe, running down the hallway, screaming: HEY I NEED TO HAVE SEX CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HAVE SEX WITH ME I REALLY WANT TO FUCK RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD BE SUPER GREAT I WANT SEX PLEASE

Panel 5
Jennifer, appearing out of nowhere, handing Joyce a beer can: Hold my beer.

Panel 6
Joe, continuing to run: SEX PLEASE SEX PLEASE GIMME SEX PLEASE
Jennifer chases after Joe, clearly going to satiate his needs. Joyce stares with disappointment and annoyance, still holding the beer can.
5
16
120
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 15h
THE DRESS IS GRAY
5
5
69
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 17h
preternia.com's user avatarpreternia @preternia.com ⋅ 18h
Bandai S.H.Figuarts Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Scarlet Spider.
2
1
31
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 17h
joyce crossing her fingers super hard here, may have paid off eventually
4
6
102
 
reposted by David M Willis!
parkermolloy.com's user avatar
Parker Molloy @parkermolloy.com ⋅ 21h
This guy, I'm pretty sure
lazylazyjane.bsky.social's user avatarjane @lazylazyjane.bsky.social ⋅ 21h
the fuck is corn sweat
6
28
451
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 21h
rode my bike past where my kid was at camp bike trail was 10 feet from where they were having lunch called his name, louder and louder, eventually other kids got his attention he looked at me like "...who are you?" "...I'm your DAD." i have never before felt so much like i was Stranger Danger
3
82
 
reposted by David M Willis!
alexjaffe.bsky.social's user avatar
Alex Jaffe “Alex Jaffe” Alex Jaffe @alexjaffe.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
I was wearing a Batman hat when I walked into Krispy Kreme and the woman behind the counter said “Let me guess”
5
11
123
 
reposted by David M Willis!
ti99kitty.bsky.social's user avatar
TI99Kitty @ti99kitty.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
@damnyouwillis.bsky.social
theonion.com's user avatarThe Onion @theonion.com ⋅ 1d
GE Recalls Washing Machines That Failed To Pleasure Lonely Housewives theonion.com/ge-reca...
GE Recalls Washing Machines That Failed To Pleasure Lonely Housewives
2
4
56
 
reposted by David M Willis!
gregsargent.bsky.social's user avatar
Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Good piece by @jamellebouie.net taking apart JD Vance's reprehensible immigration worldview on the substance. I'd add that JD seems to cast our admission of immigrants purely as an act of benevolence on our part, when of course that's not the story at all www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
31
245
1013
 
reposted by David M Willis!
davekellett.bsky.social's user avatar
Dave Kellett @davekellett.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
JOR-EL was a moron
PANEL 1: A man with spiky white hair and cream robes with a gold superman S on his chest, stands next to a blond woman wearing the same outfit. She holds a swaddled baby with a blue pacifier in it’s mouth. The man holds up a glowing green crystal.
MAN: Dear wife, look! My 18 months of work are done! I designed this one tiny crystal to hold ALL of Krypton’s knowledge!

PANEL 2: The man stands against a white background, still holding the green crystal.
MAN: AND! I designed it to build a “fortress of solitude” out of nothing but ice! AND! I designed it with fully autonomous holograms of us! They can answer any question!

PANEL 3: The man slaps his hand on a metal object next to him, which his wife looks on happily, holding the infant.
MAN: AND! It slots right into this interstellar starship I designed to go to Earth!
WOMAN: And you designed it with three seats, right?

PANEL 4: The man bites his lower lip, eyes wide in regret. His wife yells at him.
WOMAN: …YOU DESIGNED IT WITH THREE SEATS, RIGHT?!?

———
Want 5,000 more comics like this? Join us at Patreon.com/sheldoncomics for the *FULL* Sheldon archives, art giveaways, fun community, and more! Sheldon Comics copyright Dave Kellett. Colors by Beth Reidmiller
2
52
175
 
reposted by David M Willis!
feralcommie.bsky.social's user avatar
Feral Millennial Communists of Late Stage Capitalism @feralcommie.bsky.social ⋅ 7d
Harsh, but fair
To teach my kids a lesson about socialism, I gave all my kids a list of chores that I thought they could handle, but set their allowances at the same level. 

Then I had the CIA murder me and install a puppet dad.
45
661
3540
 
reposted by David M Willis!
wackd.bsky.social's user avatar
Wack'd @wackd.bsky.social ⋅ 3d
"what do you ship in #dumbingofage? joyce/dorothy? joyce/joe? dorothy/walky?" i am so glad you asked
a complicated diagram of romantic and sexual relationships, including
- joyce/dorothy
- joyce/joe
- dorothy/walky 
- an arrow pointing from dorothy to joe with an angry face
- arrows pointing between joyce and walky with a meh face
- arrows pointing between dorothy and jennifer with an angry face and sweat drops
- arrows pointing between jennifer and ruth with the lyrics to
9
6
60
 
damnyouwillis.bsky.social's user avatar
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Not sure where I am
8
30
 
reposted by David M Willis!
bransonreese.bsky.social's user avatar
Branson Reese @bransonreese.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
"...I cancelled the show but I stand by my decision"
Tweet from Variety:
6
12
237
 

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