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
i'm sure it's nothing
First Previous Random 114Comments 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
Monster Pulse
Magnolia Porter Siddell
Four kids run afoul of a creepy secret organization's experiments, which turn their body parts into fighting monsters. Part sentimental coming-of-age story, part monster-training shonen manga, with just a bit of sci-fi body horror.
How to be a Werewolf
Shawn Lenore
Malaya Walters was bitten by a werewolf as a child. After being raised by her human family, she faces the chance to learn what being a werewolf is really like as an adult.
Paint the Town Red
Windy, Winter Jay Kiakas
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.
Go Get a Roomie
Clover
Experience the queer journey of an upbeat hippie and the friendships she makes along the way! A tale of self-discovery and love of many forms.
Demon Studies
Miyuli
Four students summon and study potentially dangerous demons within the walls of the mysterious Summerland University.
The Otherknown
Lorian Merriman
Chandra is a 12-year-old accidental time traveler with a reluctant new dad, who happens to be a member of a feared galactic crime syndicate.
Goblins
Ellipsis
A fantasy RPG as told through the eyes of the low-level monsters.
No End
Erli, Kromi
A queer romance about people attempting to build lives in a cold, post-apocalyptic world ravaged by hordes of undead.
Demon's Mirror
Harry Bogosian
Based loosely off of "The Snow Queen", a story by Hans Christian Andersen, we see things take a different turn as the demons become central characters, and the side characters stick around. Yup, that's the only differences. Enjoy!
El Goonish Shive
Dan Shive
WARNING: This comic often ignores the Laws of Physics
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!
Real Science Adventures
Brian Clevinger
Spin off stories and other adventures from the world of Atomic Robo!
Killjoys
Flatw00ds
When two disgraced ex-feds fall backwards into trouble with the clown mafia, getting out in one piece is gonna be no joke!
Drugs & Wires
Mary Safro, Io Black
Dan used to be a VR operator until his brain got fried by malware. Now he's stuck delivering packages in a post-Soviet hellhole all while trying to adjust to his new life and find some answers.
Spinnerette
Krazy Krow, Rocio Zucchi, Pablo Rey
When a lab accident gives Heather Brown spider powers and six arms, she does what any midwest comic geek would do: Become Ohio's #3 superhero!
Anacrine Complex
Sae Cotton
A superhuman heist involving probably too many pigeons than entirely necessary.
Lighter Than Heir
Melissa Albino
A young Volant woman joins the military in an effort to upstage her war-hero father.
Wilde Life
Pascalle Lepas
Oscar decided to rent an old haunted house, and that's when things got weird...
Obelisk
Ashley McCammon
In 1908 New York, a young woman struggles to put her life back together in the wake of her father's death - until she discovers a vampire in the shambles of her inheritance.
Whomp!
Ronnie
A depressed, portly, hirsute anime fan stumbles through life in the ever-pursuit of chicken nuggets and other life-shortening indulgences.
[un]Divine
Ayme
A highschool senior thought giving up his soul for a demon was a good idea. It wasn't.
Cyanide & Happiness
Explosm
Satire, dark humor and surreal humor.
Come Hell or High Water
Jenny/Star, Mori
Prince Gladimir was never meant to fall for a pirate. Swearing off love for duty, the threat of war propels him back into the Captain’s world of high seas and high stakes. Their relationship could be the thing to save the kingdom of Yvoire - or destroy it.
Knights Errant
J.R. Doyle
Wilfrid's humble quest for revenge becomes bigger and bloodier by the day.
Sam & Fuzzy
Sam Logan
Troubled by gangster rodents, lovesick vampire stalkers, or confused ninja assassins? Don't panic! Sam and Fuzzy are here to help. (For a reasonable fee.)
Sunshine Boy
Moosopp
New-kid Kelly is sweet but naive. Luckily, he's got his outgoing neighbor Grey in his corner.
Wychwood
Varethane
When Tiara's pyrokinesis is finally noticed, she is captured by a magical research organization for study. If she cooperates, she could be helping to save humanity from a dire threat - but can she trust them?
Fairmeadow
Kendra P. / KP
A wayward soldier finds herself in a pacifist commune deep in the wilderness of a war-weary land. Living in isolation brings her closer to those she was sworn to kill than she could ever imagine - but also threatens to tear the place apart.
Far to the North
Allison Shaw
Kelu turns to the monsters of her remote mountain home when her family is held hostage by outsiders.
Clockwork
Chikuto
Cog Kleinschmidt is a diligent, quiet worker at the Mercia Fortress, the world power's leading stronghold. His orderly life is thrown into chaos when an enemy kingdom sends a diplomat for peace talks. This diplomat needs something from Cog - whether he agrees to their terms or not!
MASKLESS
kickingshoes
In a world where people can wield the magic of elemental Masks, all Ashe wants to do is help. Maskless and useless, with dreams of fire and smoke on the back of his tongue, he finds himself on a strange, dangerous path to uncovering the secrets of these incredible objects, and the source of the monsters plaguing his home.
The Witch Door
Anni K.
Katariina Lehto discovers her neighbor is a witch called Jousia Muotka. Jousia introduces Katariina to the strange people and places beyond the witch door...
Patrik the Vampire
Bree Paulsen
Patrik loves to knit, bake, and help his friends while dealing with his own demons... like his thirst for blood because, oh yeah--he's a vampire.
2 Slices
RJ Morel
After a case of mistaken identity, will awkward Daisuke find help from excitable Mamo, or will his love life be thrown completely off track?
Heart of Gold
Eliot Baum, Viv Tanner
A pianist with failing eyesight seeks out a priest with a miraculous healing touch, drawing him deeper into a world of miracles and curses.
Hazy London
Scotty
A story about messy relationships. From friendly foes to crazy families. Nothing is black and white, just full of color. But, all colors can get a little hazy...
Lunar Blight
Studio CARTRIDGE, Laura Lee
Lunar Blight is a gothic horror story about an elite knight serving a moon cult who must choose between upholding his honoured duty or condemning everything he’s grown to know.
Nerf Now!!
Josué Pereira
A cute webcomic about fanservice, video games, and... love. Mostly video games, though.
The Lonely Vincent Bellingham
Diana Huh
Vincent is an unkind man looking to disappear, and finds himself in the care of a vampire and her two wicked children.
Folklore
Adam Ma, Colin Tan Wei
A superhuman horror story focused on a small band of survivors trying to navigate a war-torn world in the aftermath of the Federation’s collapse.
Star Trip
Gisele Weaver
Jas is a human taken from her home planet on a trip across the galaxy she will never forget.
Tove
Severin
The end of the world is coming, and Tove doesn't want to be a hero, but SOMEONE has to look after her little brother.
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.
Solstoria
Angelica Maria
After her brother goes missing, Samantha vows to become a Knight and help those around her in the Kingdom of St. Helena.
Atomic Robo
Brian Clevinger, Scott Wegener
The robot punches monsters and bad robots and one time he was a cowboy.
Between Failures
Jackie Wohlenhaus
The low stakes adventures of an assorted group of 20 somethings trapped in the declining years of American retail. They are naughty and say lots of swears.
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.
Girl Genius
Phil Foglio, Kaja Foglio
In a time when the Industrial Revolution has become an all-out war, Mad Science rules the World...with mixed success.
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:

June 14, 2026

Epithet

by David M Willis on August 4, 2023 at 12:01 am
  • 04 – But Don't Give Yourself Away
└ Tags: amber, ethan

Discussion (114) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    August 4, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    ♪Mama, I was born a ramblin’ Amb♫

    (stupid political correctness turning a perfectly good two-syllable word into eight!)

    • Laura
      Laura
      August 4, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

      Happy birthday, Ana! Did I read your subtext right?

    • Stephen Bierce
      Stephen Bierce
      August 4, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

      *plays Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” over the hacked Muzak*

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 4, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

        Followed on the hacked muzak by “Rambling Boy”, by Tom Paxton

        • Psychie
          Psychie
          August 4, 2023 at 3:44 am | #

          Followed on the hacked muzak by “Ramblin’ Rover” by Silly Wizard

          • Eric
            Eric
            August 4, 2023 at 8:39 am | #

            . . . and who can forget “Ramblin’, ramplin’, ramblin’, R-A-M-B-L-I-N . . . ‘postrophe”

    • Psychie
      Psychie
      August 4, 2023 at 3:45 am | #

      What two syllable word was turned into 8 by political correctness here?

      • Alaric
        Alaric
        August 4, 2023 at 6:17 am | #

        “Garbage”.

    • TrueVCU
      TrueVCU
      August 4, 2023 at 11:54 pm | #

      ♪Ramble on my wayward Amb♫ [/Kansas]

    • Kelibath
      Kelibath
      August 5, 2023 at 11:52 am | #

      Bday!!!

  2. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    August 4, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    Your ramblings are impressive too.

    • milu
      milu
      August 4, 2023 at 11:29 am | #

      You know Amber? The girl with the impressive…
      – ramblings?
      – sure, those too

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        August 4, 2023 at 7:34 pm | #

        Ohh, is this the new “tracts of land”?

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        August 4, 2023 at 7:52 pm | #

        I mean, well, okay, if we’re going to use descriptors I can’t affirm without involving human resources.

  3. UrsulaDavina
    UrsulaDavina
    August 4, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    Ramble on Amber!

  4. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    August 4, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    I’ll push back on that. Ambler spends most of her time seated in front of a screen. She doesn’t ramble much at all.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      August 4, 2023 at 1:07 am | #

      Speaking from experience here, you can absolutely spend most of your time in front of a screen and still ramble a lot

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        August 4, 2023 at 1:08 am | #

        …. oh, right, she plays Pokemon Go. Yeah, okay, she rambles.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          August 4, 2023 at 3:52 pm | #

          (Disclaimer: Reltzik may not be using the definition of “ramble” that you think he is.)

  5. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    August 4, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    What boys? What boys are saying this? Amber only talks to one, maybe two boys. Joe? Joe never said that.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 4, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

      Walky did, last scene

      • clif
        clif
        August 4, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

        First Walky, now Ethan. Hence boys.

      • Sirksome
        Sirksome
        August 4, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

        Oh yeah, he did say that. Is two boys enough to form a consensus? I feel like we need one more boy for Amber’s statement to be proven true.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          August 4, 2023 at 1:05 am | #

          Two is enough to make a plurality.

        • Tan
          Tan
          August 4, 2023 at 8:33 am | #

          While Amber isn’t currently aware of it, Charles certainly seemed to imply his agreement to Walky in yesterday’s final panel

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        August 4, 2023 at 12:26 am | #

        Walky, as we know, is multiple boys. A gaggle of boys live within that boy.

        • Dante
          Dante
          August 4, 2023 at 1:56 am | #

          He contains multitudes

        • Jay
          Jay
          August 4, 2023 at 9:34 pm | #

          Well, there’s at least two women in Amber, so at least they’d match?

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        August 4, 2023 at 1:04 am | #

        Walky is legally two boys, for tax purposes

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      August 4, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

      Danny and her talk from time to time these days, so that’s three, I guess.

      • clif
        clif
        August 4, 2023 at 12:16 am | #

        Without looking, I feel the odds are high that Danny said something similar, but the odds are also he was talking about Amazigirl whom he was dating, and hence technically shouldn’t count.

        • DailyBrad
          DailyBrad
          August 4, 2023 at 5:24 pm | #

          He’s complimented Amber as Amber before, too, even if he was moreso dating Amber.

          I will say it’s kind of funny that Amber is/was attracted to Walky as Amber, but as Amazi-Girl, she seemed entirely unimpressed. Both of them liked Danny, though.

    • milu
      milu
      August 4, 2023 at 11:32 am | #

      Charles seemed impressed too

  6. Yumi
    Yumi
    August 4, 2023 at 12:06 am | #

    Ah, the two settings: Not talking and not shutting up

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      August 4, 2023 at 2:14 am | #

      If you toggle between the two at the right times, they average out to typical expectations. It’s like pulse-width modulation, or a thermostat.

  7. pope suburban
    pope suburban
    August 4, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

    Boys, plural? Did I miss something? I remember Booster hitting on her, but they wouldn’t count toward the boys quota, I don’t think (from what we’ve seen of their self-description, not as a blanket rule or anything). Walky did defend her, but Danny I think was quiet, understandably. Now I just want to know more.

    • Diane
      Diane
      August 4, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

      To save everyone the trouble: Amber was called “Unimpressive Rambly Nothing” by Linda. Walky refuted her being unimpressive immediately. So yes, boys seem to be calling her that as now both Walky and Ethan have told her others.

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2023/comic/book-13/04-but-dont-give-yourself-away/unimpressive/

      • Diane
        Diane
        August 4, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

        otherwise* because it is past my bedtime but I kept refreshing cause I wanted to know what happens next. I miss when this updated at midnight on the dot.

    • Angel
      Angel
      August 4, 2023 at 10:28 pm | #

      maybe walky’s dad counts? lol

  8. Jo_cubstar
    Jo_cubstar
    August 4, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

    Same, amber. Same.

  9. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    August 4, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

    …what do ya wanna bet she’s here to fill him in on Asher’s backstory?

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      August 4, 2023 at 1:06 am | #

      Well, obviously.

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      August 4, 2023 at 2:09 am | #

      I don’t think she knows about Asher yet? But she might want to see how Booster did.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        August 4, 2023 at 2:17 am | #

        She knows Booster reintroduced Asher to Ethan.

        https://www.dumbingofage.com/snagged/

  10. Nathan
    Nathan
    August 4, 2023 at 12:08 am | #

    What’s her expression in the last panel?

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 4, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

      I see it as mostly a bemused “wellp”

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 4, 2023 at 1:10 am | #

        Kind of a: “Huh.”

    • Council
      Council
      August 4, 2023 at 2:32 am | #

      I see it as the sinking realization that some of her internalized faults are unfounded, But not all of them.

      ‘Gee, it’s real nice of you guys to help me climb outta these holes. No, by all means, throw me head first into the Correct ones.’

    • Andrews
      Andrews
      August 4, 2023 at 4:52 am | #

      Rueful with some good-humoured resignation, I think

  11. Kyoulkoa
    Kyoulkoa
    August 4, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

    Clearly Rambly is good

  12. cbwroses
    cbwroses
    August 4, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

    I wonder what she was wanting to be garbage about.

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      August 4, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

      Probably unintentionally humiliating Walky when spiting Linda, and revealing she had kept him in the dark about what she’d done.

      • cbwroses
        cbwroses
        August 4, 2023 at 12:14 am | #

        Good point.
        I was thinking about her continued attraction to Walky and her not wanting to act on it.
        But I kind of like yours better.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 4, 2023 at 12:19 am | #

      Rambly isn’t so bad. I’d be more stung by being miles below her ex, miles below Walky specifically, and about being a “nothing”.

      Also she might feel guilty about blowing up Walky’s Golden Child spot and awakening spiky dragon Linda, though Linda shouldn’t have been a spiky dragon with favourites to begin with.

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 4, 2023 at 1:11 am | #

        Might also feel bad for putting a damper on Danny’s meet-the-parents date

        • Laura
          Laura
          August 4, 2023 at 1:13 am | #

          Or for somewhat derailing Sal’s dinner with her parents.

          Or for being reminded about stabbing Sal and having traumatic memories of the holdup in the convenience store.

  13. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    August 4, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

    Their dynamic is quite an unusual one, but it feels… better than where it was?

  14. Diane
    Diane
    August 4, 2023 at 12:11 am | #

    We should not refute the rambly because the rambly is cute and shouldn’t see it as an insult.

  15. Michael Steamweed
    Michael Steamweed
    August 4, 2023 at 12:12 am | #

    Much talking. Very wandering.

  16. BBCC
    BBCC
    August 4, 2023 at 12:17 am | #

    Sorry sweetie, you gotta own it if you wanna be lengthy.

    • Laura
      Laura
      August 4, 2023 at 1:14 am | #

      Ethan would like to meet someone “lengthy”, hur hur hur…

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        August 4, 2023 at 3:35 am | #

        Haha, I get it! Like a tall guy!

        • Laura
          Laura
          August 4, 2023 at 5:22 am | #

          Exactly!

          • milu
            milu
            August 4, 2023 at 11:26 am | #

            oh or like, Slenderman! Cos he’s all goth an’ all that!

            • Moon
              Moon
              August 4, 2023 at 1:11 pm | #

              i wish slenderman was my boyfriend tbh

            • NGPZ
              NGPZ
              August 4, 2023 at 7:06 pm | #

              hahaha LOL 😂 ngl this made me chuckle

              on that note maybe he can also teleport and scare the hell outta Mary 😈

  17. GholaHalleck
    GholaHalleck
    August 4, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

    Whats the over/under on Booster being in there wearing a… *Spins the wheel of perversion* …Jazz mask and nothing else?

    • Steelbright
      Steelbright
      August 4, 2023 at 12:22 am | #

      I wouldn’t have guessed that, but now it’s in my mind… i hope for Booster, but I’d bet on Asher

    • Derek
      Derek
      August 4, 2023 at 4:49 am | #

      what the heck is a jazz mask?

      • GholaHalleck
        GholaHalleck
        August 4, 2023 at 1:01 pm | #

        I didn’t think I’d have to explain a transformers sex joke on a david willis site, but here we are…

    • Rose by Any Other Name
      Rose by Any Other Name
      August 4, 2023 at 9:18 am | #

      Ethan is wearing too many layers for that to be overly likely. Sadly. Nor Asher either.

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        August 4, 2023 at 11:24 am | #

        Maybe Booster and/or Asher is in there wearing only a jazz mask (???), and Ethan has just been too busy brooding to notice.

  18. Chaucer59
    Chaucer59
    August 4, 2023 at 12:19 am | #

    Interesting how Amber is bathed in bright fluorescent light while, right beside her, Ethan is cloaked in emo darkness. Wait—are these guys the two sides of The Force?

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 4, 2023 at 12:22 am | #

      She’s in the bright hallway, he’s sitting in his darkened emo bedroom, contemplating his broken kyber crystal.

      • StClair
        StClair
        August 4, 2023 at 12:48 am | #

        this reference fits so well, I hate it.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 4, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

      This is their last conversation as friends.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        August 4, 2023 at 2:19 am | #

        oh no :c

  19. bagge
    bagge
    August 4, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

    It’s a feature not a bug

  20. Bo
    Bo
    August 4, 2023 at 12:53 am | #

    oh something is up she’s going for *BONUS* socializing!

  21. Laura
    Laura
    August 4, 2023 at 1:08 am | #

    Ok, I have a serious question tonight, not a silly one:

    What is that expression Ethan always has on his face when he’s talking to Amber, since Mike passed?

    Contempt? Loathing? Self-Loathing? Numbness? Jadedness? Sleep deprivation? Hunger? Pity? Despair? Hostility? Detachment?

    I just can’t parse it. It’s something. Not sure what.

    • Laura
      Laura
      August 4, 2023 at 1:08 am | #

      Cold, maybe?

      • NGPZ
        NGPZ
        August 4, 2023 at 1:14 am | #

        That’s the expression he always has?

        It’s depression.

        • Laura
          Laura
          August 4, 2023 at 1:58 am | #

          Oh, OK. That makes sense. Thanks!

          • Laura
            Laura
            August 4, 2023 at 2:00 am | #

            I don’t… really read people all that well.

            Which is odd, considering that my entire job is reading people. That’s part of why video conferences are so tough.

            • NGPZ
              NGPZ
              August 4, 2023 at 2:10 am | #

              Yeah I get that. It’s not inability so much lack of natural intuition for it, at least for me.

    • Mano308gts
      Mano308gts
      August 4, 2023 at 1:22 am | #

      He has three clearly distinct expressions in this page, but I think you are talking about the middle one?

      I think that he is growing tired of Amber seemingly always ‘pulling him down’ each time he starts to feel better about himself. It can be extremely tiring if you’re in a negative headspace, to have friends who are also in a negative headspace, because they’re quite frequently not at the same point in the cycle as you are, so if you’re trying (successfully or not) to get into a better frame of mind, and you are in a fragile sense of feeling good, they’re apt to bring you right down again with them (And vice versa).

      Well, that and the fact that he towers over (most cast members, but especially Amber), making him always *literally look down on her*.

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 4, 2023 at 1:57 am | #

        Ok, wow, that helps. Thank you! I would NOT have gathered 3 distinct expressions in this strip. The eyes all look the same to me.

        I need to brush up on my face reading skills!

        • Mano308gts
          Mano308gts
          August 4, 2023 at 3:34 am | #

          Panel 1 he looks pleasantly surprised, panel 3 he looks annoyed, and panel 5 he looks bemused but also no longer displeased.

          This also makes sense given the info we get from Amber’s actions/words- panel 1: sudden social visit, panel 2: guess what… I want to be a bummer but it’s cold outside, panel 4: this weird experience just happened to me.

          • Laura
            Laura
            August 4, 2023 at 5:26 am | #

            Oh, wow… Fascinating! You lay it all out so clearly… when you explain it like that, I can see it now too! Thank you!

    • Bash
      Bash
      August 4, 2023 at 3:01 am | #

      To me it always seemed like annoyance. He doesn’t have the bandwidth for friendly banter, and often she comes to him for reassurance and support that he no longer wants to give.

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 4, 2023 at 5:28 am | #

        Oh, yes that makes sense too. Much appreciated!

    • Erk
      Erk
      August 4, 2023 at 6:43 pm | #

      Yeah, his expressions are so mild compared to before. Panel 1 in particular reads to me as just blank. He gives a little irritation in panel 3, and something I can’t parse in panel five, but nowhere close to how he would act early in the strip. That could just be the ol depression, but maybe he’s intentionally holding back. Early Ethan was so open, and that let him get walked all over by Amber and Jilted by Danny. My money’s on he’s either happy to see her or still mad at her, but we won’t find out for a little while.

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 4, 2023 at 11:49 pm | #

        Good point!

  22. eskimolos
    eskimolos
    August 4, 2023 at 2:10 am | #

    Oh honey, the kids are talking again, my heart swells

  23. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    August 4, 2023 at 3:08 am | #

    depend on the topic, i guess

  24. Taffy
    Taffy
    August 4, 2023 at 3:38 am | #

    For fuck’s sake, somebody give that boy some nutrition. He’s not long for this world.

    • Laura
      Laura
      August 4, 2023 at 5:29 am | #

      A protein shake at least!

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        August 4, 2023 at 5:34 am | #

        Sneak in some spinach and blueberries or somethin’! He’s gonna get scurvy!

        • NGPZ
          NGPZ
          August 4, 2023 at 6:06 pm | #

          I will literally cook him the meal of his choice, whatever it may be.

          (sorry I don’t mean to tease anyone around here, just that cooking is one of my special interests)

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          August 4, 2023 at 9:28 pm | #

          He’ll be strong to the finitch if he eats his spinach.

  25. Aviator
    Aviator
    August 4, 2023 at 4:25 am | #

    So Impressively Rambly?

  26. Derek
    Derek
    August 4, 2023 at 4:54 am | #

    is she here to apologize to Ethan for loudly and uncomfortably making him the subject of her sexual fantasy when he was grieving? for literally shouting it at his door after he had made it painfully clear he was in a low mood and the last thing he wanted to hear was about how she wanted to know about him having sex with Mike so she can masturbate to it?
    probably not, but one can dream

    • Laura
      Laura
      August 4, 2023 at 5:31 am | #

      Yeah, she was really leaning into the garbage, there.

    • Angel
      Angel
      August 4, 2023 at 10:10 pm | #

      i imagine she’d either be like “it’s going to be a mistake/bad but you might as well indulge and hook up with asher” versus “asher is dangerous it’s probably best to stay away from him”

  27. eskimolos
    eskimolos
    August 4, 2023 at 5:17 am | #

    I feel amber’s final line in my bones

  28. PB
    PB
    August 4, 2023 at 11:10 am | #

    Ethan looks a LITTLE less unhappy in panel 1. Just a tad. c:

    • Da Boy
      Da Boy
      August 4, 2023 at 3:59 pm | #

      Booster boosted him up a bit.

    • Angel
      Angel
      August 4, 2023 at 10:10 pm | #

      other than being numb/neutral expression, even with booster dragging him out to get fresh air or whatnot/distract him with a movie instead of going to class, i don’t think we’d see any beaming from him anytime soon or self deprecating chuckling either

  29. Juanoku
    Juanoku
    August 4, 2023 at 11:16 am | #

    She’s fought many people, but she cannot fight her rambling

  30. Wraithy2773
    Wraithy2773
    August 4, 2023 at 1:22 pm | #

    Yeah, I get that Amber. Folks call me rambly, and yeah, I can talk for a bit, or type for a bit, really either, maybe I use commas a bit too liberally but sometimes I just have things that I really want to say and prefer to be precise about all the details, it really is just so much easier to write something long than short, ya know, just a real pain in the ass any time I want to get something concise and cohesive out there, and yet everyone just says that I ramble a lot as though I’m not saying things that are actually important there!

    Ya know?

    • Erk
      Erk
      August 4, 2023 at 6:17 pm | #

      Yup.

    • Angel
      Angel
      August 4, 2023 at 10:09 pm | #

      being rambly with friends can be fun/endearing versus like a stranger. unless you’re doing a min wage job or so and u can more or less ‘vent/rant’ to pass the time if ur on an hourly pay or so (that usually happens on the opposite ends tho)

  31. Angel
    Angel
    August 4, 2023 at 10:08 pm | #

    God, I miss the cold (100+ all week in the south/tx)

    Guess amber’s gonna try to push him towars asher maybe?

  32. Rectilinear Propagation
    Rectilinear Propagation
    August 4, 2023 at 10:13 pm | #

    And not even Amber pushes back on the “nothing”.

    🙁

CHOOSE A SIDE, NO COWARDS

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
CONVENTION APPEARANCES


September 13/14, 2025 - Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland

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