Winona runs a werewolf shelter with partner in crime, Odile in the Gothic city of Merlot. One day they take in an injured vampire, and soon unravels many of the dark secrets of Merlot.
Cyanide & Happiness
Explosm
Satire, dark humor and surreal humor.
Hemlock
Josceline Fenton
A witch accidentally marries a monster, and now she and her familiar has to navigate life around her monstrous husband and her even more terrifying in-laws.
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.
Shaderunners
Alex Assan, Lin Darrow
A ragtag band of bootleggers open a speakeasy for bottled colour in the greyscale city of Ironwell.
No End
Erli, Kromi
A queer romance about people attempting to build lives in a cold, post-apocalyptic world ravaged by hordes of undead.
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!
All Known Alternatives
Karolina 'Kajotko' Jankiewicz
Akane has only one way to get back home: collect the 42 keys to parallel worlds. Eri and Ben are just trying to get through the summer before university. When a magical key turns up in an old spare set, all three are forced to change their plans and fast.
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Alright apparently he’s had a full suit for a while but in my defense the previous strips with him in this suit were partially shadowed and from behind
Dean McHenry has been way more laid back than most IRL deans, but I feel like by now even he has to be getting pretty done with having a campus lousy with masked vigilantes.
I don’t mean he is physically incapable; I mean I don’t know if Walky has it in him to fight this dude. He might be able to get him to leave, but the only reason he hit Asher was because Asher was partially responsible for fucking the Walkerton family up.
Pointing and laughing, calling 12 friends to come and help point and laugh until the guy’s face melts off.
It would really be the ideal outcome here if half the campus shows up to laugh at Incelerator and the other half to go “dude what the fuck are you doing?” And if Walky calls Lucy, Asher, Dorothy, maybe Carla. . .
Walky’s powers of annoyance and sarcasm are devastating. I’m sure he can talk the Incelerator into a rage, which will cause him to wind up crashing into a wall or doing a face plant.
You know, I grew up in the 80s and 90s hearing adds for “The Today Show” all my childhood. My parents even have a VHS with a taped-from TV bit where a clip of me was featured on the Today show when I was a child.
Even for all that… I still have no clue what the fuck the Today Show actually is.
Today is accessible journalism, followed by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush saying things in unison, then a celebrity interview and maybe a concert. Every half-hour you get to hear what’s happening in your neck of the woods. Once in a while something fun happens, like Cher casually dropping the F-bomb at 9:30 AM on broadcast TV.
I want walky to trip and fall right in front of this asshole, causing the guy to trip as well, creating a situation that both gives consequences to the guy and leaves walky free from blame. (Extra points if they then escort him to the nurse.)
I got a few questions actually. Like how Incelerator got so comfortable on skates? Like dude is maybe overlooking his own talents to look down on women or whatever his goal is.
Is there like a costume store in town doing good business or something?
Would a battle between Nightguy and Incelerator count as performance art?
Obviously there is someone on Etsy selling custom, realistic cosplay.
And as to “how did he get so comfortable on skates” thing, i’m pretty sure it’s the heelies guy that Malaya was telling the cop about after Toe Dad got hammered.
Click his name in the tags and you’ll get all his past appearances, including those from before he took on the worst moniker in villain history, and I’m including Grrl Power’s For Whom The Bell Tolls in that list.
Incelerator is just looking for attention and he’s getting it. I do think he’s totally being recorded and hoping to become internet famous. His physical danger is nonexistent.
I don’t know; I think he must be dangerous. He can apparently skate and even strike a somewhat intimidating pose while doing so. I refuse to believe anybody can do that without the benefit of black magic. Roller Derby is full of Witches I tell you! I’m not uncoordinated, ROLLER SKATES ARE THE TOOLS OF SATAN!
Walky could actually fight in the other comic.
It would be interesting if he can fight in this one, too, but is just too nice, timid, snarky, or whatever to seriously throw hands.
Sal and Amber always had fighting skills in the other comic, as did Joyce.
I don’t think Danny ever did.
Joe had super strength, because all the abductees did to some degree, but I don’t think he was that big of a fighter.
Walky didn’t like to fight, but he was almost as good at it as Sal, especially when he was pissed off.
So this comic already matches that one in regards to the women, pretty much.
And it mostly matches the men.
Yeah if you take Walky aside, their best male fighter was basically… Mike? Or Tony, but he was unreliable at the best of times. Beef didn’t get much attention (heh) but he was formidable just for his size, not fighting ability.
I mean there was a guy in a colorful costume on roller skates yelling and causing a scene. Even if Walky wasn’t notified or nearby this was definitely posted to social media within five seconds of happening.
It’s fine if a guy shuts down an misogynist. It’s good for guys to shut down misogynists because they’re more likely to get the misogynist to wonder if they’re wrong.
I admit this dude and the comment section the past few days is bringing up a long-standing question of mine, maybe I can get opinions here:
Do normal women need a reason to want to date a guy?
I was under the impression that I am ‘demi’ since I am not interested in someone unless I actively have reasons to like them, and that is not how normal people work?
I’ve met a number of guys who demanded I give a good enough reason NOT to date them. The (admittedly male) therapist I eventually went to outright said they were right – dating is about sex and attention. It was my issue that I don’t enjoy those expectations, but I just don’t see the appeal of “attention” (spending all my time on forced small talk, going out for dinner or walks in silence, sending empty “poke” messages all day, etc.), and then being expected to pay with my body for the experience.
I was outright told by that therapist that me needing to have deeper reasons to like them first – finding them fun, comfortable to be around, supportive, space to do other things I enjoy or just relax, feeling good about our relationship and that they are a partner, not a warden – is not normal (or a reasonable expectation in the first few years). Ergo concluding that I am demi. Is that not so abnormal if dudes are complaining that women aren’t just accepting normal (baseline, 0 effort) men nowadays?
Don’t let Incelerator’s rhetoric confuse you. He’s speaking from his own insecurities and common bad faith talking points that don’t accurately reflect reality. The truth is always more nuanced. No one person is the same and there is no standardized rules of attraction or how to interact when seeking whatever type of companionship a person desires. Women only have higher standards now because they have more independence than ever which is a good thing. What Incelerator thinks he desires is an era where women were essentially property and would be served to him because they had no other realistic choice at the time for their very survival, because he doesn’t possess proper social skills or self esteem. Welcome to the club dude. He’s the one who needs therapy.
… okay besides your therapist being kind of an idiot about aro/ace spectrum stuff, you don’t need to give a “good” reason to not date someone. The only reason you need is “I don’t want to”. If they can’t accept that, they can take a long walk off a short pier.
Also like… even non aro/ace people sometimes need more than just “I think they’re hot” to date someone. Attraction is just attraction, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything more than that.
Demi is TOTALLY normal. I’ve only just been told what demi means, and my mouth dropped open because the predominant mode is usually the one to get named last. At least, it is predominant outside the USA.
You get to know people, have friends, sometimes become attracted to them romantically, sometimes explore with them how mutual that is, sometimes not. Now and then I might see someone “hot” and think maybe I’d like them too. But unlikely I’d want to have sex with a stranger just because my mind objectified their body.
Most people only date people they are attracted to. The difference between ‘normal’ and ‘demi’, as I understand it, is whether you need to already have a relationship with someone before you find them attractive, not whether you need to be attracted to someone instead of just not unattracted to them. People who go out with people they aren’t attracted to are either desperate or have low self esteem.
I don’t think most women *ever* accepted “baseline, 0 effort” men — or at least, the women that aren’t also putting in 0 effort didn’t. These man are just complaining because they feel emasculated — the traditional ways to attract a mate (have good looks, be gregarious and likeable, be able to provide for a family, etc.) feel closed off to them for one reason or another. The only way for them to externalize their self-hatred is to blame women.
On the one side: if you have never felt attraction to another person without first forming an emotional bond with them, then it is entirely likely that you are demisexual.
On the other side: your therapist is garbage and you should definitely find a new one. If someone demands that you give them a good reason not to date them, you tell them that that IS your good reason, their weird narcissistic expectation that you owe them your time and emotional energy by default when you don’t even know them is a huge red flag.
I agree with Tan on both sides. No is a complete sentence. You don’t owe someone an explanation for not wanting to date them, because it is your choice. And if you decide you don’t wanna date anyone and remain single, that’s a perfectly healthy and valid choice! I myself am turning 32 in a couple months, consider myself biromantic ace, and have been single for about a decade. What I’ve usually run into when it comes to men expecting an answer for why not has typically been them assuming I’m a lesbian. There’s clearly no other reason why I’d want to date them except that I’m just not into men at all! /sarcasm
Normal is an interesting word here. Everyone is different. Some people do love at first sight, some people really only start feeling it once they’re closer to others, and regardless of how common they might be, both are perfectly valid. The question should be what works for you.
How is that therapist still in business. There is always a spectrum for why people are attracted to someone. Some people are attracted physically while others are attracted to actions (or are put off by someone’s personality). Even what someone finds physically attractive can vary very widely (and has throughout the years and different cultures).
Back in the day (though not far enough back imo) you needed to have a husband to even have things like a cresit card. Since women don’t need men for things like that anymore, they can be a bit picky over the relationship.
Since the person that asked to date you is demanding that you give a reason that they find adequate, they are making it their own personal issue, not their own. If you were going to the therapist and saying that you wanted to be in a relationship but are having trouble because you don’t find anyone attractive, that is your personsl issue. There is such a difference. You shouldn’t have to explain to anyone why you don’t want to be in a relationship, as just saying that you don’t want to should be good enough. The fact that women, speaking from personal experience as well, get pressured to say things like they already have a boyfriend or something else because someone doesn’t take no for an answer is crazy and frustrating. I admit that I made a stupid mistake once and gave someone (probably about 10 years younger than me) my phone number on a train ride because they were traveling cross country by themselves and I was a bit worried about their safety (no internet on the train, so ability to look up directions or other things would have been very hard). I immediately regretted my actions as they took that it meant that I wanted to date them and didn’t want to take no for an answer. I learned that no matter how much I feel like an old grandmother to someone, they aren’t going to treat me that way if I don’t look like it. I also partially blame exhaustion since it was around 2am when I got off and they asked me for my number. I do know that it was very stupid to give out my number and will never do it again. I do wonder if I had refused, how pushy he would have gotten over it.
In any case, find a better therapist that isn’t trash.
… That sounds sketch as hell, the therapist telling you that, not you, mind.
Granted, I’m also somewhere in the ace-demi zone, but speaking at least as a guy (… PROBABLY a cis guy. Maybe.), I, uh, no, those all seem like normal things to want from a partner?
No one is fucking owed your attention or time, whether for a relationship or otherwise.
That “therapist” is insane. He believes American culture of the last few decades is human nature.
Incels are attracted to everybody of “the opposite sex”; they believe that’s mutual (because they’re so stupid all they can do is project), so every woman who doesn’t act like she’s attracted to them must be lying for some nefarious reason.
I am not going to do a job interview to see if I might fall in love with someone later, thankyouverymuch. Be friends, then fall in love, then figure out if that’s mutual.
Demanding is over the line, but there have been cases when I would have liked to know if there was some specific reason I fell short. Maybe I have an unrecognized opportunity to grow.
I think that “I’d prefer to know you better in a different context first, then we’ll see” is a good enough reason.
Lots of comments already rightfully trashing that therapist, but just for a slightly different angle: For some people, going on a date can be a way to find those deeper reasons to like someone, to see if you’re interested in an actual relationship, but this therapist seems to think that phase should go on for years? With sex as an obligatory part of it?
That’s not even just not understanding demi people, that’s not even understanding normal dating. It’s awful.
Yeah, that part made me raise an eyebrow. Pleasantries and generic conversation are the first steps of the “getting to know you” stage. The fuck is that therapist talking about?
One of the problems with guys like Incelerator is that they believe they’re owed sex as a reward for doing the bare minimum. They think pleasantries and generic conversation are how you buy a ticket to get into someone’s pants. (They’re also looking for a bangmaid to mommy them, not an equal partner, so their expectations are askew from the get-go.)
Saria, what you describe as your process is a normal process of romantic attraction. You should find a new therapist. I happen to *be* a therapist who works with individuals and couples, and “I’m just not feeling it” is a 100% legit reason not to date someone.
I wonder how good Walky is at fighting people. He punched Asher that one time, but that was different circumstances and Asher seemed more annoyed than anything. Assuming Walky doesn’t stop this guy some other way, of course.
Maybe she didn’t mean to text Walky. Maybe she mis-clicked the recepient again. At least this time it (probably) wasn’t with a blurry photo of her bra.
“Walkerton, David” and “O’Malley, Amber” aren’t very close together in the alphabet like “Rosenthal, Joe” and “Roll, Perfect Cinnamon” are, though. Plus it’s painfully obvious this guy wants Amazi-Girl to show up, since she’s humiliated him before. So maybe NightGuy! Daytime Edition! is the actual one she did intend to summon.
Am I the only one surprised Becky is just standing there blankly after that? I know she’s usually pretty laid back but I can’t think of much that would make her angrier than watching somebody bully Dina.
Honestly Becky is kind of a schemer and understates her intelligence and ability to manipulate. Instead of throwing a punch or something I’d expect after this encounter for Incelerator’s life to slowly become increasingly more miserable for unknown reasons.
At this point, I’m hoping we get an increasingly silly string of costumed people with ridiculous names, all showing up and announcing themselves, but nobody gets around to actually doing anything. By the end, they’re all just confused and forgot why they were showing up at all.
This…. is probably my last comment for this arc. I get what Willis is going for with the repeating theme of ‘Dina is so cool and talented and awesome’ then immediately kinda dunking on Joyce, but I think it’s gonna be best consumed (for me) all at once so I can get to that inevitable moment of Joyce remember Ethan’s advice and then later saying it in a heartwarming moment with Joss.
For now though, I can’t handle the constant subtle dunks on Joyce/making her insecure repetitively. That’s my baby fr. See y’all in like two months.
And Joyce is clearly trying to protect her from the douche, either from what he might do or trouble Dina might get into if she goes Jurassic on his ugly mug.
only back here cuz i got a notif but- if you genuinely think the panel with joe delayed saying ‘she draws cartoons and knows the epistles” thats immediately dismissed as ‘not being good enough to rate on this dudes scale of ‘being good at things” is the same as multiple people telling dina how cool and awesome she is repeatedly followed by joyce looking insecure isn’t meant to be making a point/building to something then okay.
then again its you, taffy. You take the piss out of anything.
I guess they’re better than no help. This is pretty much, “Batman: The Brave and the Bold’s” Batman, stepping up, so that Frank Miller’s Batman doesn’t have to get involved.
My first thought was, Aw shit. Then I realized this bit is going deeper than just “Amazi-Girl or Dina give us catharsis by punching a heel jobber”. This is COMEDY!
It took a few strips to click, but I’m genuinely really compelled by Incelerator. He’s got a lot of range for a promoted mook – the comedy of his patheticness, the re-establishment of his anger, the braggadocio in his skating movements in this comic being a really fun and subtle indicator of Willis’ capacity as a comic artist and scene stager – it all comes together to genuinely sell him as a threat who could hypothetically keep up with Amazi-Girl.
…which has me fearful he could totally outclass Nightguy, who has no established physical skills beyond being kinda hot!
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*plays “Battle Which Summons Death” from Dragon Ball Z CD on hacked muzak*
Battle Without Honor or Humanity
https://youtu.be/gw5vAd5icAg?si=Y5HFx1E4iicdjvRv
Needs an appropriate video track tho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnumHaAl4LE
as Mary kindly demonstrated, they luckily just need some glue
You made a big mistake. Well, one more in a serie of big mistakes, going by the tag
Yes! Nightguy! Now we’re all saved!
Seriously, all the men are the least threatening to Incelerator’s life.
Which is part of the joke I’m sure.
Where is NightGirl?
( and her chest window )
HE HAS AN ACTUAL SUIT NOW
this is actually really cool good for Walky
Alright apparently he’s had a full suit for a while but in my defense the previous strips with him in this suit were partially shadowed and from behind
still cool
Daisy needs to put a lot more people on the “find out who [costumed person] is” detail.
If we leave Billie/Jennifer on the case we can be sure they will keep their alter egos safely hidden.
Also I’m sorry, I accidentally reported your comment when I was replying.
Well, reporting is the subtopic here, after all.
she could be standing there seeing the entire group and say “nightguy is obviously joe”
Daisy: Why would I want pictures of a dude?
Dean McHenry has been way more laid back than most IRL deans, but I feel like by now even he has to be getting pretty done with having a campus lousy with masked vigilantes.
But…they -need- the masked vigilantes to deal with all the masked villains cropping up.
Right?
…right?
Unfortunately, that does seem to be correct.
Does it? Would Walky – sorr,y I mean “Nightguy” – be more effective at ending this conflict than even the most lax Campus Security Officer?
White vigilantes are an American tradition. They get invited to the White House.
And occasionally, elected
And this applies to Walky, how?
He could try doing something about all the bad guys freely roaming the campus.
As much as I appreciate what Walky is doing; how is he going to help?
I’m not sure Walky is capable of decking anyone other than Asher.
I mean, this guy is far less threatening than Asher, so I’m sure Walky’s got this.
I don’t mean he is physically incapable; I mean I don’t know if Walky has it in him to fight this dude. He might be able to get him to leave, but the only reason he hit Asher was because Asher was partially responsible for fucking the Walkerton family up.
And it wasn’t very effective then, either.
That said, I’m 99% sure Asher is tougher than this guy.
Asher doesn’t show any sign of being violent.
Sadly, his phone skills ruin lives.
Asher didn’t fight back since he knew he deserved it; Asher may be stronger, but is Walky prepared for a fist fight with this asshat?
Is this asshat prepared for a fistfight with anyone? His first move was against the smallest by mass person in the group.
Always bring a kick to a fistfight.
Unless this fellow also plays roller derby, I feel like any solid impact is likely to topple him considering he’s on skates.
Walky can annoy him to death.
Pointing and laughing, calling 12 friends to come and help point and laugh until the guy’s face melts off.
It would really be the ideal outcome here if half the campus shows up to laugh at Incelerator and the other half to go “dude what the fuck are you doing?” And if Walky calls Lucy, Asher, Dorothy, maybe Carla. . .
No, first Nightguy kicks incelerator in the groin.
THEN the next person along comes to point and laugh.
Walky’s powers of annoyance and sarcasm are devastating. I’m sure he can talk the Incelerator into a rage, which will cause him to wind up crashing into a wall or doing a face plant.
Joyce gets a skill check in “dino-wrangling.”
Jennifer: oh my god! DANNY IS NIGHTGUY!
Please let her be that dumb; it sustains me in case of holiday blues.
Underrated comment hahaha
“Night Guy, Daytime Edition!” sounds like the umpteenth hour of The Today Show; I think it’s on at 1pm ET.
You know, I grew up in the 80s and 90s hearing adds for “The Today Show” all my childhood. My parents even have a VHS with a taped-from TV bit where a clip of me was featured on the Today show when I was a child.
Even for all that… I still have no clue what the fuck the Today Show actually is.
That’s cool. I’ve watched it. They have no idea what they are, either.
It’s Late Night TV like The Late Show with Steven Colbert, or Late Night with Seth Meyers, but in the daytime. Just a talk show
Today is accessible journalism, followed by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush saying things in unison, then a celebrity interview and maybe a concert. Every half-hour you get to hear what’s happening in your neck of the woods. Once in a while something fun happens, like Cher casually dropping the F-bomb at 9:30 AM on broadcast TV.
I want walky to trip and fall right in front of this asshole, causing the guy to trip as well, creating a situation that both gives consequences to the guy and leaves walky free from blame. (Extra points if they then escort him to the nurse.)
I got a few questions actually. Like how Incelerator got so comfortable on skates? Like dude is maybe overlooking his own talents to look down on women or whatever his goal is.
Is there like a costume store in town doing good business or something?
Would a battle between Nightguy and Incelerator count as performance art?
I imagine it would look a lot like Adam West’s Batman show.
Obviously there is someone on Etsy selling custom, realistic cosplay.
And as to “how did he get so comfortable on skates” thing, i’m pretty sure it’s the heelies guy that Malaya was telling the cop about after Toe Dad got hammered.
I’ve been trying to remember who this tool is
Click his name in the tags and you’ll get all his past appearances, including those from before he took on the worst moniker in villain history, and I’m including Grrl Power’s For Whom The Bell Tolls in that list.
They wouldn’t let him roller derby and he’s still sore about it.
Incelerator is just looking for attention and he’s getting it. I do think he’s totally being recorded and hoping to become internet famous. His physical danger is nonexistent.
Carla could end his entire bloodline if she shows.
I don’t know; I think he must be dangerous. He can apparently skate and even strike a somewhat intimidating pose while doing so. I refuse to believe anybody can do that without the benefit of black magic. Roller Derby is full of Witches I tell you! I’m not uncoordinated, ROLLER SKATES ARE THE TOOLS OF SATAN!
So he’s basically the incel version of Johnny Somali. That actually makes a lot of sense.
Walky could actually fight in the other comic.
It would be interesting if he can fight in this one, too, but is just too nice, timid, snarky, or whatever to seriously throw hands.
He did hit Asher that one time. Let’s see if he can surprise us again.
I actually liked the idea that Joe, Danny, and Walky have no fighting skills.
Sal and Amber do.
It’s a way the comic is quietly progressive.
Sal and Amber always had fighting skills in the other comic, as did Joyce.
I don’t think Danny ever did.
Joe had super strength, because all the abductees did to some degree, but I don’t think he was that big of a fighter.
Walky didn’t like to fight, but he was almost as good at it as Sal, especially when he was pissed off.
So this comic already matches that one in regards to the women, pretty much.
And it mostly matches the men.
Yeah if you take Walky aside, their best male fighter was basically… Mike? Or Tony, but he was unreliable at the best of times. Beef didn’t get much attention (heh) but he was formidable just for his size, not fighting ability.
Jason did well for having no actual powers.
I wonder how Walky learned about this incident because I’m struggling to imagine Joyce contacting him instead of AG.
Isn’t AG retired?
Oh duh, right – a lot happens in this comic. So Joyce knows about Nightguy?
Incelerator already knows about Nightguy. Walky was Nightguy during the kidnapping.
I mean there was a guy in a colorful costume on roller skates yelling and causing a scene. Even if Walky wasn’t notified or nearby this was definitely posted to social media within five seconds of happening.
He has one of those control central rooms with guys in chairs talking to him through an earpiece.
The next arc is Amber as Oracle.
Okay so if Peter Parker’s guy in the chair is Ned, then that must mean Walky (who is basically just as nerdy as Ned) has as his guy in the chair…
It would make sense if that was who Joyce texted. After all who better to decelerate a roller-skater than a Walky?
Maybe they have an SOS kinda group chat where you just post a location and the next free superhero shows up?
heckin AG or Amber could make an app or app integration for that XD
It isn’t the hero that Incelerator needs, but instead the hero he deserves.
This made my night, thank you.
It made your nightguy?
+1
Don’t simmer down, Dina. Tear him to shreds!
yeah I think Dina should get to bite this guy
Hmm.
Not sure about the optics of ‘it’s okay, Dina! A man is here to save you from other incel men, don’t stand up for yourself!’.
I don’t think Walky was the one she was expecting to come.
It’s fine if a guy shuts down an misogynist. It’s good for guys to shut down misogynists because they’re more likely to get the misogynist to wonder if they’re wrong.
I’ll definitely do my best to shut down misogynists and racists.
Hopefully the heroine this plotline really needs, Carla, will show up. Carla and her pie throwing machine.
We always need more Carla. Carla is a genius
She should have let Dina go for his jugular.
They should just trip him since he’s skating backwards around them.
Nightguy is here? *sees tray* I wish Nightguy slipped on the tray.
She’s got that Joyce-coded rage face
I admit this dude and the comment section the past few days is bringing up a long-standing question of mine, maybe I can get opinions here:
Do normal women need a reason to want to date a guy?
I was under the impression that I am ‘demi’ since I am not interested in someone unless I actively have reasons to like them, and that is not how normal people work?
I’ve met a number of guys who demanded I give a good enough reason NOT to date them. The (admittedly male) therapist I eventually went to outright said they were right – dating is about sex and attention. It was my issue that I don’t enjoy those expectations, but I just don’t see the appeal of “attention” (spending all my time on forced small talk, going out for dinner or walks in silence, sending empty “poke” messages all day, etc.), and then being expected to pay with my body for the experience.
I was outright told by that therapist that me needing to have deeper reasons to like them first – finding them fun, comfortable to be around, supportive, space to do other things I enjoy or just relax, feeling good about our relationship and that they are a partner, not a warden – is not normal (or a reasonable expectation in the first few years). Ergo concluding that I am demi. Is that not so abnormal if dudes are complaining that women aren’t just accepting normal (baseline, 0 effort) men nowadays?
Don’t let Incelerator’s rhetoric confuse you. He’s speaking from his own insecurities and common bad faith talking points that don’t accurately reflect reality. The truth is always more nuanced. No one person is the same and there is no standardized rules of attraction or how to interact when seeking whatever type of companionship a person desires. Women only have higher standards now because they have more independence than ever which is a good thing. What Incelerator thinks he desires is an era where women were essentially property and would be served to him because they had no other realistic choice at the time for their very survival, because he doesn’t possess proper social skills or self esteem. Welcome to the club dude. He’s the one who needs therapy.
… okay besides your therapist being kind of an idiot about aro/ace spectrum stuff, you don’t need to give a “good” reason to not date someone. The only reason you need is “I don’t want to”. If they can’t accept that, they can take a long walk off a short pier.
Also like… even non aro/ace people sometimes need more than just “I think they’re hot” to date someone. Attraction is just attraction, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything more than that.
Demi is TOTALLY normal. I’ve only just been told what demi means, and my mouth dropped open because the predominant mode is usually the one to get named last. At least, it is predominant outside the USA.
You get to know people, have friends, sometimes become attracted to them romantically, sometimes explore with them how mutual that is, sometimes not. Now and then I might see someone “hot” and think maybe I’d like them too. But unlikely I’d want to have sex with a stranger just because my mind objectified their body.
Most people only date people they are attracted to. The difference between ‘normal’ and ‘demi’, as I understand it, is whether you need to already have a relationship with someone before you find them attractive, not whether you need to be attracted to someone instead of just not unattracted to them. People who go out with people they aren’t attracted to are either desperate or have low self esteem.
I don’t think most women *ever* accepted “baseline, 0 effort” men — or at least, the women that aren’t also putting in 0 effort didn’t. These man are just complaining because they feel emasculated — the traditional ways to attract a mate (have good looks, be gregarious and likeable, be able to provide for a family, etc.) feel closed off to them for one reason or another. The only way for them to externalize their self-hatred is to blame women.
Hey Saria? Your therapist was a fucking asshole.
On the one side: if you have never felt attraction to another person without first forming an emotional bond with them, then it is entirely likely that you are demisexual.
On the other side: your therapist is garbage and you should definitely find a new one. If someone demands that you give them a good reason not to date them, you tell them that that IS your good reason, their weird narcissistic expectation that you owe them your time and emotional energy by default when you don’t even know them is a huge red flag.
I agree with Tan on both sides. No is a complete sentence. You don’t owe someone an explanation for not wanting to date them, because it is your choice. And if you decide you don’t wanna date anyone and remain single, that’s a perfectly healthy and valid choice! I myself am turning 32 in a couple months, consider myself biromantic ace, and have been single for about a decade. What I’ve usually run into when it comes to men expecting an answer for why not has typically been them assuming I’m a lesbian. There’s clearly no other reason why I’d want to date them except that I’m just not into men at all! /sarcasm
Normal is an interesting word here. Everyone is different. Some people do love at first sight, some people really only start feeling it once they’re closer to others, and regardless of how common they might be, both are perfectly valid. The question should be what works for you.
(And for the record, men can be demi too.)
How is that therapist still in business. There is always a spectrum for why people are attracted to someone. Some people are attracted physically while others are attracted to actions (or are put off by someone’s personality). Even what someone finds physically attractive can vary very widely (and has throughout the years and different cultures).
Back in the day (though not far enough back imo) you needed to have a husband to even have things like a cresit card. Since women don’t need men for things like that anymore, they can be a bit picky over the relationship.
Since the person that asked to date you is demanding that you give a reason that they find adequate, they are making it their own personal issue, not their own. If you were going to the therapist and saying that you wanted to be in a relationship but are having trouble because you don’t find anyone attractive, that is your personsl issue. There is such a difference. You shouldn’t have to explain to anyone why you don’t want to be in a relationship, as just saying that you don’t want to should be good enough. The fact that women, speaking from personal experience as well, get pressured to say things like they already have a boyfriend or something else because someone doesn’t take no for an answer is crazy and frustrating. I admit that I made a stupid mistake once and gave someone (probably about 10 years younger than me) my phone number on a train ride because they were traveling cross country by themselves and I was a bit worried about their safety (no internet on the train, so ability to look up directions or other things would have been very hard). I immediately regretted my actions as they took that it meant that I wanted to date them and didn’t want to take no for an answer. I learned that no matter how much I feel like an old grandmother to someone, they aren’t going to treat me that way if I don’t look like it. I also partially blame exhaustion since it was around 2am when I got off and they asked me for my number. I do know that it was very stupid to give out my number and will never do it again. I do wonder if I had refused, how pushy he would have gotten over it.
In any case, find a better therapist that isn’t trash.
… That sounds sketch as hell, the therapist telling you that, not you, mind.
Granted, I’m also somewhere in the ace-demi zone, but speaking at least as a guy (… PROBABLY a cis guy. Maybe.), I, uh, no, those all seem like normal things to want from a partner?
No one is fucking owed your attention or time, whether for a relationship or otherwise.
That “therapist” is insane. He believes American culture of the last few decades is human nature.
Incels are attracted to everybody of “the opposite sex”; they believe that’s mutual (because they’re so stupid all they can do is project), so every woman who doesn’t act like she’s attracted to them must be lying for some nefarious reason.
I am not going to do a job interview to see if I might fall in love with someone later, thankyouverymuch. Be friends, then fall in love, then figure out if that’s mutual.
Demanding is over the line, but there have been cases when I would have liked to know if there was some specific reason I fell short. Maybe I have an unrecognized opportunity to grow.
I think that “I’d prefer to know you better in a different context first, then we’ll see” is a good enough reason.
Lots of comments already rightfully trashing that therapist, but just for a slightly different angle: For some people, going on a date can be a way to find those deeper reasons to like someone, to see if you’re interested in an actual relationship, but this therapist seems to think that phase should go on for years? With sex as an obligatory part of it?
That’s not even just not understanding demi people, that’s not even understanding normal dating. It’s awful.
Yeah, that part made me raise an eyebrow. Pleasantries and generic conversation are the first steps of the “getting to know you” stage. The fuck is that therapist talking about?
One of the problems with guys like Incelerator is that they believe they’re owed sex as a reward for doing the bare minimum. They think pleasantries and generic conversation are how you buy a ticket to get into someone’s pants. (They’re also looking for a bangmaid to mommy them, not an equal partner, so their expectations are askew from the get-go.)
Saria, what you describe as your process is a normal process of romantic attraction. You should find a new therapist. I happen to *be* a therapist who works with individuals and couples, and “I’m just not feeling it” is a 100% legit reason not to date someone.
Your therapist sounds like a misogynistic nutjob. What a bizarre thing to claim.
I mean, flipping the tray is probably a crime and you could just call campus PD.
Weird problems require weird solutions.
Would that be vandalism, or malicious mischief?
how about a “really dude I’m on coffee break, we’re here for Real Emergencies™
Campus Security ain’t gonna be of much help to them (if any), especially in a red state university (-_-)
Assault.
Actually, wouldn’t Booster be the best person for letting the air out of his tires?
yes, for perhaps Normal Type Attacks are not the course to go, but gradual Psychic Damage instead?
It would be funny for Booster to just stare at him like “yeah, well… This one, I have no idea whats going on in his head”
Nightguy here to prove that being a nice guy actually helps instead of being an incel
Incellerator is lucky Nightguy showed up, or Dina would have eaten him alive.
LMAO NOOOOO
well even if he messes up we know walky’s grown a bit enough to not be sucked into his ideals
these people are all dorks and I’m surprised normal strangers haven’t stepped in to harass/put down the incellerator. should just let Joe beat him up
appropriate avatar
I bet they are all on the edge of their seats trying to see how this will end up
Not-Faz and Tall Lucy for the next bonus strip!
(But seriously, I’d love to see a bonus strip where it’s just uninvolved extras commenting on how strange the lives of our protagonists are.)
To the rescue!
I wonder how good Walky is at fighting people. He punched Asher that one time, but that was different circumstances and Asher seemed more annoyed than anything. Assuming Walky doesn’t stop this guy some other way, of course.
My vote’s on tripping him.
Nah. I think Joyce should have let Dina have him.
Walky is gonna slip on that tray Looney Toons style.
He’s gunna slide and skid into Incelerator, who being on rollerskates, slides off even harder and crashes through a window.
This is even more humiliating, this guy’s doesn’t deserve to be bring down by the actually cool superhero
I can’t believe the Incelerator isn’t fucking dead.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Well this is going to get very silly
This is how I learn that Nightguy! has an inbuilt exclamation mark, like Yahoo! used to.
…and this is how I learn he’s NightGuy! with CamelCase.
It’s
Walky!NightGuy!Okay now this is just getting silly. She should’ve asked Walky for help.
I don’t get it. Joe is the Brawny Paper Towel Guy on the early edge of maturity. Why isn’t he more intimidating?
Is he just a big softy?
His girlfriend just sorta told him not to?
I wonder if Amber or Amazi-girl texted Walky instead of coming there herself.
Just to be clear like Amazi-girl got Joyce’s text then she texted Walky.
Maybe she didn’t mean to text Walky. Maybe she mis-clicked the recepient again. At least this time it (probably) wasn’t with a blurry photo of her bra.
“Walkerton, David” and “O’Malley, Amber” aren’t very close together in the alphabet like “Rosenthal, Joe” and “Roll, Perfect Cinnamon” are, though. Plus it’s painfully obvious this guy wants Amazi-Girl to show up, since she’s humiliated him before. So maybe NightGuy! Daytime Edition! is the actual one she did intend to summon.
Amazi-Girl still doesn’t have her costume; it’s with Dorothy, who I’m expecting to pop in any day now.
Meanwhile AG is tossing the whole room looking for the suit.
Am I the only one surprised Becky is just standing there blankly after that? I know she’s usually pretty laid back but I can’t think of much that would make her angrier than watching somebody bully Dina.
Second that.
I mean, she put herself in front of Dina and they are circling to keep him away from Dina… or Dina away from him.
Dina’s the dangerous one in that pair.
Or at least the one more likely to attack. She hasn’t really proven that effective.
But I don’t think Becky’s tried to fight at all?
Honestly Becky is kind of a schemer and understates her intelligence and ability to manipulate. Instead of throwing a punch or something I’d expect after this encounter for Incelerator’s life to slowly become increasingly more miserable for unknown reasons.
She was Robin’s PR Manager, the Social media will be her army of blades subtly cutting into her enemies
“And I will cast your way abominable filth,
and I will humiliate you,
and I will make you a public spectacle.”
— Nahum 6:3
Walky: It’sa me, Nightguy!
Joyce: Hey, Walky.
W: Sssh! Joyce, I’m wearing the mask!
J: Whatever, we all know who you are.
AG (out of the shadows): I am the terror that stalks the dining hall…
J: OMG A mysterious figure! WHO COULD SHE BE??
W: … c’mon, seriously?
J (really hamming it up): SOOOO MYSTEEEEEERIOUS…
Why would Nightguy not get separate tags? He’s obviously Danny.
OK, uh, why?
I want to see Walky become the crouching dumbass hidden badass he was always meant to be.
I fear you might die waiting.
i feel like joe just needs to throw one good punch and we’ll be okay
At this point, I’m hoping we get an increasingly silly string of costumed people with ridiculous names, all showing up and announcing themselves, but nobody gets around to actually doing anything. By the end, they’re all just confused and forgot why they were showing up at all.
S lot of conflict in comics
Could be avoided with that.
Maybe she should’ve let Joe fight.
This…. is probably my last comment for this arc. I get what Willis is going for with the repeating theme of ‘Dina is so cool and talented and awesome’ then immediately kinda dunking on Joyce, but I think it’s gonna be best consumed (for me) all at once so I can get to that inevitable moment of Joyce remember Ethan’s advice and then later saying it in a heartwarming moment with Joss.
For now though, I can’t handle the constant subtle dunks on Joyce/making her insecure repetitively. That’s my baby fr. See y’all in like two months.
There was literally a whole strip about how cool and talented and awesome Joyce was and then Dina got her food slapped out of her hands, but okay.
And Joyce is clearly trying to protect her from the douche, either from what he might do or trouble Dina might get into if she goes Jurassic on his ugly mug.
only back here cuz i got a notif but- if you genuinely think the panel with joe delayed saying ‘she draws cartoons and knows the epistles” thats immediately dismissed as ‘not being good enough to rate on this dudes scale of ‘being good at things” is the same as multiple people telling dina how cool and awesome she is repeatedly followed by joyce looking insecure isn’t meant to be making a point/building to something then okay.
then again its you, taffy. You take the piss out of anything.
Adam West Batman just saved this guy from Spawn
I guess they’re better than no help. This is pretty much, “Batman: The Brave and the Bold’s” Batman, stepping up, so that Frank Miller’s Batman doesn’t have to get involved.
No, this is Herbie Poppenecker of HERBIE fame, stepping in for Batman.
You keep the goat out your mouth!
My first thought was, Aw shit. Then I realized this bit is going deeper than just “Amazi-Girl or Dina give us catharsis by punching a heel jobber”. This is COMEDY!
It’s probably been brought up before but…
Does Joyce have Walky’s number? Or did Amber just forward the message?
I assume Incelerator will kill Nightguy to “The Kids Aint Alright” and then Danny will have to go back in time to recruit the heroes.
No wait, that was AMVs set to Dragonball Z.
Say no to outsourcing: take justice by your own hands and not by some other hero.
well, the law is that the opposite reaction has to be equal so that checks out.
Everything about this is so dumb.
I love dumb things.
well if so, according to the very name of the comic, you’ve come to the right place! XD
It took a few strips to click, but I’m genuinely really compelled by Incelerator. He’s got a lot of range for a promoted mook – the comedy of his patheticness, the re-establishment of his anger, the braggadocio in his skating movements in this comic being a really fun and subtle indicator of Willis’ capacity as a comic artist and scene stager – it all comes together to genuinely sell him as a threat who could hypothetically keep up with Amazi-Girl.
…which has me fearful he could totally outclass Nightguy, who has no established physical skills beyond being kinda hot!
i know its not unique to this strip but i love the split between the 3rd and 4th panels, it makes it way funnier
Nightguy gets no tag?
Damn son.
Best case scenario right now: Asshole falls, and his identity is discovered leading him to shame and ridicule.
Can you imagine if Walky had Amber’s rage and tendency towards violence?
I was expecting Carly.
Nightguy my hero!