Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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her feigned dismay was a... sister act
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BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

May 22, 2026

Deadname

by David M Willis on November 13, 2024 at 12:01 am
  • 02 – The One Where Jocelyne Returns
└ Tags: jocelyne, joe, joyce

Discussion (176) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    November 13, 2024 at 12:01 am | #

    yeah, almost called it

    (it’s an obvious set-up hahaha)

    • IntangibleMatter
      IntangibleMatter
      November 13, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

      Ana Chronistic traveling through time to be anachronistic

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        November 13, 2024 at 12:19 am | #

        *hit imaginary Like button*

      • DJTsurugi
        DJTsurugi
        November 13, 2024 at 1:46 am | #

        WHERE IS THE UPVOTE BUTTON!? ~<3

        • NGPZ
          NGPZ
          November 13, 2024 at 2:46 am | #

          here I wondering how hard that’d actually be to do on a WordPress-powered comments section like this

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            November 13, 2024 at 3:08 am | #

            There’s probably a plugin, but the usual play is to integrate Disqus and that’s just bleh.

            I like this simplicity.

  2. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    November 13, 2024 at 12:02 am | #

    “Wait! And Mom is living in a one-room apartment over a bowling alley, and under another bowling alley?”

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      November 13, 2024 at 12:04 am | #

      In a bowling alley. She’s employed as one of the goblins who live behind each lane and set the pins back up.

      You get paid in cheese fries and can play the Simpsons arcade game every bowling alley is required to have for free, so it’s a pretty good gig.

      • Baroncognito
        Baroncognito
        November 13, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

        On a bowling alley. Lane 10. It’s usually pretty calm.

      • Devin
        Devin
        November 13, 2024 at 1:02 am | #

        In a bowling alley that’s above another bowling alley and also below a third bowling alley.

        The set of bowling alleys was built by mistake.

        It was an alley oops.

        • Lokitsu
          Lokitsu
          November 13, 2024 at 6:47 am | #

          #Angryupvote

        • keithcurtis
          keithcurtis
          November 13, 2024 at 11:48 am | #

          It’s bowling alleys all the way down.

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            November 13, 2024 at 2:49 pm | #

            An infinite series of bowling alleys, stretching across the multiverse.

        • eruonna
          eruonna
          November 13, 2024 at 2:19 pm | #

          It was meant to be thirty bowling alleys side-by-side, but the builder held the blueprints sideways.

          • Ana Chronistic
            Ana Chronistic
            November 13, 2024 at 11:09 pm | #

            Sideways Bowling from Wayside Lanes

        • S.R.
          S.R.
          November 14, 2024 at 8:53 am | #

          Downvote.

      • Casi
        Casi
        November 13, 2024 at 1:09 am | #

        sometimes they don’t have the simpsons game, but instead they have the x-men game

        • NGPZ
          NGPZ
          November 13, 2024 at 2:51 am | #

          I LOOOVE the Simpsons Arcade game

          alongside TMNT Turtles in Time, that literally my fav arcade game growing up ^^ <3

        • mindbleach
          mindbleach
          November 13, 2024 at 12:55 pm | #

          If the best they have is a Neo Geo, don’t eat the food.

      • raker
        raker
        November 13, 2024 at 2:19 am | #

        you get paid cheese fries!?! they’re only paying me regular fries!

        • Michael Steamweed
          Michael Steamweed
          November 13, 2024 at 5:49 am | #

          You guys get paid???

        • Rook
          Rook
          November 13, 2024 at 11:14 am | #

          It’s left over cheese fries.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 13, 2024 at 3:09 am | #

      One is candlepin, the other is duckpin. She only plays regular 10-pin.

      • Dana W
        Dana W
        November 13, 2024 at 7:29 pm | #

        I wish the nearest candlepin wasn’t half a country away.

      • Van Jealous
        Van Jealous
        November 13, 2024 at 9:41 pm | #

        What about Canadian 5-pin bowling?

  3. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    November 13, 2024 at 12:02 am | #

    Yeah, that’s sibling energy alright.

    Names, gender expressions, and parental marital statuses may change, but fucking with those you love the most is forever.

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      November 13, 2024 at 12:18 am | #

      +1👍🏻

  4. NGPZ
    NGPZ
    November 13, 2024 at 12:02 am | #

    sisters teasin each other just like old times 🥹

    *plays “Circle of Life” on hacked muzak*

    • anon
      anon
      November 13, 2024 at 4:21 pm | #

      LOL it’s nice she has one sibling she can get along with (the others are probably going to be a bit more distant but i can imagine some not bothering to check in /keep up and be legit surprised there was a divorced like the married guy [well they got married in india but idk if he actually lives there/his wife is like indian/mixed race versus them justh aving a destination wedding])

  5. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    November 13, 2024 at 12:04 am | #

    I fucking adore Jocelyn’s teasing.

    Also, I hope Jocelyn sees Becky when she’s here, too. She’s part of the family, too, after all.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      November 13, 2024 at 12:08 am | #

      Yes, Becky 100% needs to be involved in this storyline.

      • Bryy
        Bryy
        November 13, 2024 at 4:42 pm | #

        Twist: Becky is the one who flips out.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      November 13, 2024 at 6:43 am | #

      I want her to meet Becky’s girlfriend so badly, she’d probably reappy like Dina

      • Chris Phoenix
        Chris Phoenix
        November 13, 2024 at 12:06 pm | #

        For some reason, I intuit that Jocelyne and Dina wouldn’t quite get along. Not that they’d hate each other, but I don’t think they’d have much to say to each other, or find much enjoyment in each other’s company.

        I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s that they’re both very down to earth, but in very different ways.

        • GholaHalleck
          GholaHalleck
          November 13, 2024 at 4:41 pm | #

          Jocelyne’s favorite prehistoric animals are giant sloths.

          Two houses, both alike in dignity…

  6. Synnerman
    Synnerman
    November 13, 2024 at 12:04 am | #

    Yay! Happy times and laughs!

  7. butts
    butts
    November 13, 2024 at 12:04 am | #

    yeah i would 100% do that to my sibling in this scenario as well

    • Clif
      Clif
      November 13, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

      I mean it’s almost a requirement.

  8. pope suburban
    pope suburban
    November 13, 2024 at 12:05 am | #

    Yeah, that tracks with her last visit to campus, when she made Joyce drag her off the fountain. I hope she really gets to revel in her sense of mischief now that she can be her authentic self. Like I’m sure it was always fun, but having all that weight and pressure off has to help everything.

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      November 13, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

      Jocelyne is also the one who proposed breaking into Becky’s house to retrieve documents.

      Hijinks is definitely her thing.

      • Throwatron
        Throwatron
        November 13, 2024 at 2:05 pm | #

        Some girls take “be gay, do crime” as a personal challenge, and we stan that.

        • Nymph
          Nymph
          November 13, 2024 at 7:56 pm | #

          The sign says Be Gay AND Do Crimes, not OR

  9. Alongcameaspider
    Alongcameaspider
    November 13, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

    Not to be dramatic but I would kill and/or die for Jocelyne

    • Clif
      Clif
      November 13, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

      You say that, but I don’t see any bodies.

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        November 13, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

        Well, maybe if you just come with me down to this dark bog…

        • Clif
          Clif
          November 13, 2024 at 10:53 pm | #

          <3

      • Queezle
        Queezle
        November 13, 2024 at 2:07 am | #

        Maybe they are just good at disposing of the evidence.

      • Shade
        Shade
        November 13, 2024 at 6:35 am | #

        To be fair someone else got to Toedad first.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      November 13, 2024 at 12:43 am | #

      I notice that you didn’t attach a qualifier like “if it was necessary” to that statement.

      ….

      *slowly edges away*

      • Miri
        Miri
        November 13, 2024 at 2:15 am | #

        Or even “if she’d appreciate it” 😬

    • FlamestAndLight
      FlamestAndLight
      November 14, 2024 at 10:02 am | #

      same. love at first joke <3 Literally perfect

  10. Cassie
    Cassie
    November 13, 2024 at 12:07 am | #

    Jocelyne is the perfect big sister this is the precise shit I would pull on my younger siblings (though my deadname doesn’t lend itself so well for wordplay)

    • Casi
      Casi
      November 13, 2024 at 1:57 am | #

      A fellow Cassie!!! I love seeing someone else who chose a similar name to mine! Is yours short for Cassidy, Cassandra, or is it just Cassie? (Mine is technically short for Cassidy, but it’s also actually short for Casibylena my spacegoat shaman from WoW)

      • Cassie
        Cassie
        November 13, 2024 at 8:51 pm | #

        Cassiopeia, actually! And I share the love for my fellow Cassies (and all similar spellings) 🩷

    • Dana W
      Dana W
      November 13, 2024 at 7:31 pm | #

      It took ten years before I stopped flinching every time I heard my deadname.

      • Nymph
        Nymph
        November 13, 2024 at 7:55 pm | #

        I’m three years in and still flinching (thankfully my deadname is incredibly uncommon) but good to know that it might still ease up at some point!

        • Dana W
          Dana W
          November 13, 2024 at 8:41 pm | #

          I’m nearly 60 and thankfully its one of those names that has fallen out of style. Its one of the ones you never see on theme park novelties, so that helps. I changed it October 31st 2000. And Now if I try to say it it just sounds like weird sounds.

        • Laura
          Laura
          November 13, 2024 at 11:38 pm | #

          What’s weird is family members who won’t stop using it…

          • Dana W
            Dana W
            November 14, 2024 at 8:29 am | #

            People who won’t stop using it, simply stop replying to the dedname. Or leave if they do. Not been a problem for me for a long time, but do this, if they use the wrong name for you use the wrong name for them. It works I heard of one person used an air horn every time they did, wish I had had the idea. heh.

  11. Stevonnie
    Stevonnie
    November 13, 2024 at 12:08 am | #

    I just want a solid month of Jocelyne and Joyce hanging out. 💖

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      November 13, 2024 at 12:13 am | #

      Yes!
      My latin ass is not able to understand this costume of lost contact with our siblings because distance.
      I’m loving these sisters even more.

  12. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    November 13, 2024 at 12:09 am | #

    Never mess with a writer.
    Specially if she’s your twin sister.

  13. Suet
    Suet
    November 13, 2024 at 12:10 am | #

    I really wanna get Willis for that alt-text, but the buffer’s now up until September, so I’ll never forget this.

    This is what Carol gets for intermingling Joyce’s art with Jocelyne’s.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 13, 2024 at 3:11 am | #

      I still stand by my “Jocelyne hid her stuff with Joyce’s for plausible deniability reasons” theory.

      • Michael Steamweed
        Michael Steamweed
        November 13, 2024 at 5:53 am | #

        Honestly, I can see either being equally likely. Perhaps even both happened. Jocelyne hid her artwork in with Joyce’s, and Carol saw it and accepted it because she didn’t look closely.

        • Morleuca
          Morleuca
          November 13, 2024 at 8:54 am | #

          looking closely would have require an overt act of caring, and Carol and her ilk are only interested in performative acts within their own clique. Her brain said childish drawings = Joyce, that’s it. She wouldn’t have even called it art in her own head.

  14. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    November 13, 2024 at 12:10 am | #

    Notably, their older brother isn’t doing anything to help their mother or father financially despite being rich.

    Because there’s no hate like fundamentalist love.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      November 13, 2024 at 12:14 am | #

      Putting prayer in schools but fuck a free lunch

      • Charles Phipps
        Charles Phipps
        November 13, 2024 at 12:19 am | #

        While all indications are that he’s a POS, I would also speculate that older brother may not like his mother much either.

        After all, I can’t imagine she approved of him marrying a non-white “foreign” woman. Christian or not.

        • Nymphie
          Nymphie
          November 13, 2024 at 12:56 am | #

          Their wedding was in India, but it was never stated that she is from India herself. I just assumed she was part of the missionary group.

          Carol did however gush about how she was gonna brag about Joyce not being racist after learning her roommate is black. I know it’s different than marrying a POC into the family, but there is at least that speaking for her not being vocally against such a relationship.

          • Yumi
            Yumi
            November 13, 2024 at 2:26 am | #

            I agree with this; it seems like John and Christi go on mission trips together. Also, “Christi” isn’t a particularly Indian name– not that it can’t be, but it doesn’t point in that direction.

          • Shade
            Shade
            November 13, 2024 at 6:40 am | #

            Yeah… I can definitely see her being the “Not in my family” type though. Some racists are extremely worried about their grandkids not being white.

            And honestly that statement indicates she’s definitely some flavour of racist.

          • Thag Simmons
            Thag Simmons
            November 13, 2024 at 10:08 pm | #

            I do like the idea that even the brother who stayed in the Church is on the rocks with their parents though, but yeah, it’s not the most parsimonius reading

    • StClair
      StClair
      November 13, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

      “God helps those who help themselves.”

      if you were really a good person, you would be prosperous; guess you’re not, hm?

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      November 13, 2024 at 12:30 am | #

      Lol. I wonder how the church nearly going under to bail out Ross hurts his skimming off the top? Or was he part of a different church? I don’t remember. Or even really give a shit.

      • Casi
        Casi
        November 13, 2024 at 1:13 am | #

        i think he may have been higher up in the church heirarchy. Like the equivalent of a deacon or bishop or something. someone who oversees multiple churches.

        • Jon
          Jon
          November 13, 2024 at 1:39 am | #

          I got the impression he wasn’t necessarily a leader, just a missionary. Possibly not even affiliated directly with the church. Maybe that’s wrong though.

          Lots of missionary operations are independent-ish but get support from numerous churches, even across denominations. Plenty of donations to skim off the top still, but no leadership of a congregation.

          In my experience (see: my entire childhood), evangelical Protestant institutions are very decentralized, but still support each other significantly. As long as you’re even close to the “right” kind of Christian, you can get a chance to pitch your mission work to a congregation and solicit donations.

          • yak
            yak
            November 13, 2024 at 3:58 am | #

            Yeah my distant relatives were “missionaries” in Austria, they would travel back to the states every once in a while and ask various churches for donations. As far as I know they barely had any other contact with the churches, or us for that matter.

  15. AbacusWizard
    AbacusWizard
    November 13, 2024 at 12:13 am | #

    Jocelyne’s sense of humor is my new favorite character.

    I mean, really, “just been joshin’ ya”? Perfect. No notes. Comedy gold. My only question is how long she’s been saving that one up.

    • Adam Black
      Adam Black
      November 13, 2024 at 12:20 am | #

      But … jostling was RIGHT there.

      • sultryglebe
        sultryglebe
        November 13, 2024 at 12:36 am | #

        Or when she was Joce-leaning on Joyce on Parents Weekend.

      • Mark
        Mark
        November 13, 2024 at 7:20 am | #

        She’s saving that one for Christmas.

      • Bysmerian
        Bysmerian
        November 13, 2024 at 7:38 pm | #

        Jostling doesn’t work as cleanly in meaning IMHO, especially written instead of spoken

  16. IntangibleMatter
    IntangibleMatter
    November 13, 2024 at 12:15 am | #

    Jocelyne can really sell a bit, good on her.

  17. Opus the Poet
    Opus the Poet
    November 13, 2024 at 12:16 am | #

    Some of us had to actually get killed to have a deadname 👿🤬.

    • Felian
      Felian
      November 13, 2024 at 12:57 pm | #

      uh, some of us (trans people) *also* got killed on top of having a deadname. *Because* we have a deadname.

    • Nymph
      Nymph
      November 13, 2024 at 7:53 pm | #

      This is a super weird thing to say and I’m not sure what your deal is.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        November 13, 2024 at 8:19 pm | #

        Opus once got hit by a truck and died, as I recall.

        • Clif
          Clif
          November 13, 2024 at 10:58 pm | #

          Oddly enough, Taffy is being serious here.

  18. EtchJetty
    EtchJetty
    November 13, 2024 at 12:24 am | #

    god im so smiling right now. i had such a bad night but this is so great

    • Laura
      Laura
      November 13, 2024 at 11:41 pm | #

      Glad to hear you smile. Sorry it was a bad night.

  19. temporaryobsessor
    temporaryobsessor
    November 13, 2024 at 12:29 am | #

    Can’t tell if she knew about the divorce or not.

    • KM
      KM
      November 13, 2024 at 12:35 am | #

      Pretty sure that’s feigned ignorance judging by the last panel XD

    • Queezle
      Queezle
      November 13, 2024 at 2:19 am | #

      After reading the hover-text, I am pretty sure she is just messing with Joyce. And I love her for it.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 13, 2024 at 5:57 am | #

      Mighty bold of you to use that cursed image for your gravatar! :O

      • Clif
        Clif
        November 13, 2024 at 11:00 pm | #

        I can’t tell who you are replying to. There are several candidates.

    • Shade
      Shade
      November 13, 2024 at 6:42 am | #

      Really? I thought it was pretty clear she knew by the way she’s giggling.

      • Shade
        Shade
        November 13, 2024 at 6:52 am | #

        Plus Joe’s comment at the end saying this part was accurate. Implying he’s talking about her shenanigans.

  20. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    November 13, 2024 at 12:31 am | #

    The Brown family reunion should be interesting.

    • tim gueguen
      tim gueguen
      November 13, 2024 at 12:42 am | #

      I’m still hoping for a Jordan appearance. But it’s just as likely he’ll be like the Furlings on Stargate: SG1, mentioned but never seen.

      • drs
        drs
        November 13, 2024 at 2:41 am | #

        well there’s an analogy I didn’t expect today

      • tbf
        tbf
        November 13, 2024 at 5:45 am | #

        I suspect Jordan’s story is on hold due to (a) Willis’s knowledge that they’re not done learning and growing, so Jordan is a placeholder to explore a future phase of their life or (b) a character that Willis is waiting to introduce until they don’t have to explain it to their parents.

        • Sirksome
          Sirksome
          November 13, 2024 at 8:03 am | #

          Considering one child is atheist, and another is a trans woman, I can’t imagine what’s going on with Jordan that we haven’t seen them yet. Jordan “I’m so non traditional my mere presence would send my mom into cardiac arrest” Brown. What are you? I bet they just have a cool tattoo in an obvious place and occasionally like kissing people that share their gender.

          • Sillygoose
            Sillygoose
            November 13, 2024 at 8:22 am | #

            I’m going with a very tame “joined the Satanic Temple and became a stay-at-home dad. Possibly with a partner who is not white and/or is an elected representative for the Dems”

            • Felian
              Felian
              November 13, 2024 at 1:02 pm | #

              Yeah, somehow my theory is that he married a woman of color or even *gasp* a person of a different religion. Reminds me of the Youtube Series Out With Dad: the older brother of one of the protagonists got abandoned by their conservative christian family because he married a muslim woman. Still straight, still married, still living that super normal life the parents wanted for their children, but with the “wrong kind” of partner (according to their faith).

              And i suppose whatever Jordan did isn’t worse than what Joyce or Jocelyne did, it just was *the first child acting up* so the parents/mom had the most disproportionate response to it.

              • thejeff
                thejeff
                November 13, 2024 at 2:46 pm | #

                My longtime crack theory is that he joined a Christian church that’s way too right wing and culty even for Carol.

                What actually weirds me out is how young he must have been, if he’s between Joyce and Jocelyne and Joyce was young enough to not know what it was all about.

    • Bryy
      Bryy
      November 13, 2024 at 4:44 pm | #

      I highly doubt Carol would be invited. Or go.

  21. staszu13
    staszu13
    November 13, 2024 at 12:39 am | #

    At last a good Joyce Face

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 13, 2024 at 5:58 am | #

      Not quite the full silent scream we have seen before, but close enough. Our fix is received. Relief is at hand.

  22. Taffy
    Taffy
    November 13, 2024 at 12:39 am | #

    His hands are fucking enormous. He could encase Joyce’s entire torso with them easily.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 13, 2024 at 3:21 am | #

      Firmly, but gently.

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/hands-3/

      • Schpoonman
        Schpoonman
        November 13, 2024 at 8:26 am | #

        “Firmly grasp it. Them. Me.”

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          November 13, 2024 at 5:10 pm | #

          Firmly grasp it!

  23. Chaucer59
    Chaucer59
    November 13, 2024 at 12:45 am | #

    Yep. Definitely siblings.

  24. Armadillo
    Armadillo
    November 13, 2024 at 12:54 am | #

    Joe’s reaction to this feels very similar to my reaction when my sister announced her girlfriend (boyfriend at the time) was transitioning. Just a lot of confusion and treading very lightly. For me it went something along the lines of: “You’re… okay with this? Going to therapy, okay, that’s probably good. Still… committed? Okay, good for you, let’s just carry on then.” Followed by time spent mentally reprogramming: ‘girlfriend. It’s girlfriend now. Not boyfriend. And we don’t use that name anymore.’

  25. Queen Anthai
    Queen Anthai
    November 13, 2024 at 1:03 am | #

    I love it I love it I love it

  26. Throwatron
    Throwatron
    November 13, 2024 at 1:12 am | #

    im not going to survive this storyline

  27. DJTsurugi
    DJTsurugi
    November 13, 2024 at 1:47 am | #

    everything about this page is great, including the alt-text. Jocelyn is great… that is all. ~<3

  28. Rabid Rabbit
    Rabid Rabbit
    November 13, 2024 at 1:47 am | #

    I like that’s it’s been established from the start that Jocelyn likes teasing Joyce. Well, as of their 17th appearance, at least. https://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/chattin/

    It’s just a nice touch among all the ways Willis is making sure this goes as smoothly as possible. (Because man, if you start tallying up all the Hands of God in this…)

    • Rabid Rabbit
      Rabid Rabbit
      November 13, 2024 at 1:54 am | #

      *her* 17th appearance. Gah, sorry, not sure why I did that.

      • Smallmoon
        Smallmoon
        November 13, 2024 at 3:39 am | #

        In your defense, that particular scene was

        1: before we knew she was ‘she’ and not ‘he’
        2: She’s currently in “boy mode” because she’s not out to her family

        so some would argue that your slip of the fingers (rather than tongue) is actually in keeping with best practices for ‘don’t out people to their families.

        • Throwatron
          Throwatron
          November 13, 2024 at 2:01 pm | #

          Yeah, it can be very weird when someone who you’ve known as one gender for genuinely decades transitions; it’s accurate that they’ve always been their actual gender, but there’s also this entire period of your life, where the context is inescapably that they are the wrong gender for that period of your life. It makes it difficult to share stories about your shared past, in certain contexts, because, do you vaguely dead-gender them to share the story, or do you unintentionally out them by sharing the story with their real gender…but now the story comes out kind of weird, because “wait you were rough-housing at a sleepover with one of your girl friends when you were 14? and you broke her nose? what the fuck, dude?”

          Getting all the details of someone you love’s gender correct, isn’t going to always be easy or immediate, because you care about them, and you have a strong concept of who you thought they were inside you; but, with a little practice, it comes naturally faster than anybody ever thinks it will. But little slips and mistakes in the initial phase, are practically inevitable.

          If you want a real nightmare, try having a friend transition only in some spaces, and then you gotta interact with them in two different spaces, with two different genders, even though one of those is a fake one. It’s really mind-bending to switch pronouns 2-3 times a day, for a person who you know, really hates being referred to as one of those two genders. It’s stressful, and it hurts. But you gotta do what you gotta do for your loved ones!

      • DJTsurugi
        DJTsurugi
        November 13, 2024 at 7:41 pm | #

        it’s also perfectly acceptable to you they/them if you are unsure of someone’s pronouns. so I think you’re good either way. ~<3

        • DJTsurugi
          DJTsurugi
          November 13, 2024 at 7:45 pm | #

          to use… I swear my fingers recently have betrayed me so much. ~<3

    • Queezle
      Queezle
      November 13, 2024 at 2:16 am | #

      Wow, seeing those side by side, it is crazy how much the art style changed since then.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 13, 2024 at 6:01 am | #

      No problem with the “their”. The word is useful as a generic pronoun.
      If you don’t know a more specific pronoun, “their” can be used as a placeholder (likewise “them”).

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        November 13, 2024 at 9:44 am | #

        On the other hand, if you do know the person’s pronoun(s) and those don’t include “they/them,” there actually *is* a problem with “their.” Some people will use they/them instead of a trans person’s correct pronouns; I especially hear about this from trans women. If you know someone’s a “she/her,” use her correct pronouns.

        It’s not a big deal here, but I think Rabid Rabbit was right to make the correction.

    • PedanticJerkass
      PedanticJerkass
      November 13, 2024 at 6:23 am | #

      Joyce should wear that Monkey Master shirt again sometime.

      (I wonder why he wasn’t tagged in that one. He’s just as “there” in that one as he was in the “Monkey Master socks” one, possibly even more so.)

  29. Aquila
    Aquila
    November 13, 2024 at 2:13 am | #

    Kind of … unexpected that Joyce didn’t ask what a deadname is.
    Now I have to wonder, is it because she already knew, because she inferred from context, or is she gonna run back upstairs to ask Carla.

    • Miri
      Miri
      November 13, 2024 at 2:28 am | #

      She did do Gender Studies 101 so she probably knows?

      • Icalasari
        Icalasari
        November 13, 2024 at 4:39 am | #

        Oh right, not all of the Gender Studies classes are on screen. I forgot

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 13, 2024 at 5:14 pm | #

      She probably learned from Leslie at some point.

  30. GUIGUI
    GUIGUI
    November 13, 2024 at 2:42 am | #

    Siblings at the heart.

  31. ADLegend21
    ADLegend21
    November 13, 2024 at 2:59 am | #

    Ha, fuckin got ‘er!

  32. CianM1301
    CianM1301
    November 13, 2024 at 3:42 am | #

    See, now if Joyce tells Jocelyne that Mom sold their house, she won’t be able to tell if the reaction is genuine or not.

  33. Zamperla
    Zamperla
    November 13, 2024 at 4:07 am | #

    Incredibly high grade Big Sibling Nonsense. Also great use of a one time life event (parents divorce) you only get one shot at that one.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 13, 2024 at 6:03 am | #

      And one-time-only brilliance at the use of “I’ve just been Joshin’ ya.”

  34. Jodka
    Jodka
    November 13, 2024 at 5:20 am | #

    So is it pronounced Jah-seh-lin, Joe-seh-lin, or Josh-seh-lin?

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 13, 2024 at 6:04 am | #

      I know a “Jocelyn”. (without the second ‘e’). That one pronounces the name as “Jahs/uh/lin”.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 13, 2024 at 5:23 pm | #

      I mentally read it with a soft C, “joh-suh-lynn” because the C is followed by an E. A hard C would make it sound closer to “Jacqueline”.

      Unless it’s one of those “Celtic” vs “Boston Celtics” pronunciation things.

  35. Michael Steamweed
    Michael Steamweed
    November 13, 2024 at 5:48 am | #

    Ahhh, yesss…proceeding exactly as hoped for. 😀

  36. Zaxares
    Zaxares
    November 13, 2024 at 5:52 am | #

    OK, I’m liking Jocelyne. 🙂 Her brand of humour is right up my alley.

  37. RocketRelm
    RocketRelm
    November 13, 2024 at 6:23 am | #

    I’m increasingly noticing that Joe seems… emotionally muted? Not smiling, not doing any expressions. An undertone of worry.

    • Charles Phipps
      Charles Phipps
      November 13, 2024 at 6:37 am | #

      I imagine Joe feels like he’s been dropped into the deep end of a big family revelation.

      • Shade
        Shade
        November 13, 2024 at 6:47 am | #

        Yeah, he’s not doing too badly though. I imagine Jocelyne liked that last joke at least,

        I think he’s letting Joyce take the lead because after all its her family.

    • Arianod
      Arianod
      November 13, 2024 at 6:54 am | #

      He’s being *very* careful in an extremely delicate situation that he’s completely unprepared for. I suspect I’d be the same.

    • Mark
      Mark
      November 13, 2024 at 7:27 am | #

      That would be me. “I have no idea what to do here, so do nothing until someone tells me.”

    • thumb
      thumb
      November 13, 2024 at 11:35 am | #

      eh, he’s third wheeling it. Not really a situation that has anything to do with him right now. Just family drama. Just chip in every now and then to say “I’m also here.”

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        November 13, 2024 at 10:10 pm | #

        Also avoiding putting his foot in his mouth in front of someone he’d like to make a good first impression with.

  38. Shade
    Shade
    November 13, 2024 at 6:49 am | #

    Jocelyne wrote a whole stand up routine for this didn’t she?

  39. Schpoonman
    Schpoonman
    November 13, 2024 at 8:29 am | #

    Get wrecked, Joyce.

  40. Willow
    Willow
    November 13, 2024 at 8:44 am | #

    I’m tearing up right now. This page is so SO awesome. And yay Joyce for handling it this way.

    • Lanie
      Lanie
      November 13, 2024 at 12:29 pm | #

      I feel the same way! Like, I love the sibling bond they’ve got, and I love how quickly they seem to have just stepped right back into it with almost no delay. I did not expect to tear up, but here we are!

  41. Xine Fury
    Xine Fury
    November 13, 2024 at 9:23 am | #

    I think I have a new favorite character now.

  42. Matrix
    Matrix
    November 13, 2024 at 10:33 am | #

    Perfect. This is perfect.

  43. Tesset
    Tesset
    November 13, 2024 at 10:56 am | #

    Last few pages have been so fun that it’s almost certainly going to be encouragement for everyone to vote Jocelyne in all the patreon comics every other month lol

    I fear we’re about to enter a dark time of alternating Dina/Jocelyne comics for a good while

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      November 13, 2024 at 11:50 am | #

      Feel like the Patreon has been clamoring for more Jocelyne for a while now.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        November 13, 2024 at 2:31 pm | #

        Which one?

      • Tesset
        Tesset
        November 13, 2024 at 4:04 pm | #

        Oh yeah, and wow is this not going to discourage that lol

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        November 13, 2024 at 10:11 pm | #

        You guys haven’t been able to vote for her for five years, gotta make up for lost time

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      November 13, 2024 at 8:21 pm | #

      Hope Jocelyne appears more than this storyline.

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        November 13, 2024 at 10:12 pm | #

        I assume she’s more of a Liz than a Becky, but we’ll probably have her around for a bit. The next chapter title sounds like something to do with her, if nothing else

  44. Felian
    Felian
    November 13, 2024 at 12:55 pm | #

    I AM SO PROUD OF YOU JOYCE!
    This is how you react to a trans coming out.
    Everyone, take notes!

    “Joe, this ist my sister, Jocelyne”.
    Everything will be okay <3

  45. BorkBorkBork
    BorkBorkBork
    November 13, 2024 at 12:56 pm | #

    This has “OMG my legs appear to have stopped working for some unknown reason” vibes all over it.

  46. thakoru
    thakoru
    November 13, 2024 at 1:23 pm | #

    I have known a non-zero number of trans people whose name is fully a pun on their deadname.

  47. Terah
    Terah
    November 13, 2024 at 1:50 pm | #

    Had a friend discover she was trans after a very traumatic incident that she needed therapy to get over. It opened up a lot of things about herself she’d found uncomfy, but she’s good now! When she was trying to figure out her new name, she knew she didn’t want her deadname to have any part of it, so she was asking for names. She took the one I picked, and it’s still something I’m very proud of, that I got to name my friend.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      November 13, 2024 at 11:39 pm | #

      Very cute! Sometimes my friends get comments about how people like their name, and they’ll be like, “Thanks, I chose it myself!” (My name is more common but not for “girls,” so sometimes I get comments about “girls having that name,” and I’m just like, “Yeah, girls can have that name, and also that’s not what’s happening here.”)

  48. Waffliesinyoface
    Waffliesinyoface
    November 13, 2024 at 2:33 pm | #

    i cant believe jocelyne is already the best character, incredible

  49. Call Me Deacon Blues
    Call Me Deacon Blues
    November 13, 2024 at 3:46 pm | #

    Welp, it’s official, I am definitely definitely in love with Jocelyn. I always knew I liked her, but this has taken her over the top.

  50. Bryy
    Bryy
    November 13, 2024 at 4:45 pm | #

    Calling it right now: Jordan didn’t do anything especially bad.

    He’s just an atheist.

    • Dana W
      Dana W
      November 13, 2024 at 7:35 pm | #

      Nothing wrong with us atheists. But we are a sneaky bunch, we have all day Sunday to plot and plan.

    • Mr. Random
      Mr. Random
      November 13, 2024 at 11:44 pm | #

      I’m not really sure.
      When Joyce’s parents learned Dorothy was an atheist they just sorta told her parents they thought it was a rebellious phase.
      They didn’t become uncomfortable until after the whole thing became clear she really was.
      I think their initial reaction would’ve been as blase, if they had essentially disowned one kid for atheism already. They’d have been much more protective of Joyce.

  51. Ash
    Ash
    November 13, 2024 at 7:30 pm | #

    I need a gay Joe.

  52. a/snow/mous/e
    a/snow/mous/e
    November 13, 2024 at 8:30 pm | #

    they’re all so cute TwT

  53. FlamestAndLight
    FlamestAndLight
    November 14, 2024 at 8:58 am | #

    Oh no Jocelyne is perfect and I’m in love D:

  54. JasonAW3
    JasonAW3
    November 16, 2024 at 10:11 pm | #

    Welll… I gotta admit, that’s a hell of a way to defuse what could have become a very uncomfortable situation…

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