The legendary early-aughts webcomic that inspired a wave of webcomic creators.
Slightly Damned
Chu
Rhea Snaketail returns from the dead, befriending a Demon who falls in love with an Angel. The afterlife ain't what it used to be!
Blindsprings
Kadi Fedoruk
Tamaura, wrested into a world 300 years in the future, must find a way to save the magic fading from her country.
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.
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?
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.
Countdown to Countdown
Velinxi
Iris Black is a self-proclaimed inventor with the curious ability to bring his drawings to life, and yearns to find a space where he can use his powers freely.
Namesake
Isa, Meg
There's ghosts at your heels and fairy tale worlds ahead. What do you do? Jump down the rabbit hole!
Fantomestein
Beka Duke
Desperate for companionship, Frankenstein's Monster pretends to be the Opera Ghost. A grave mistake.
Cyanide & Happiness
Explosm
Satire, dark humor and surreal humor.
Beeserker
TJ Cordes
This comic is about a robot powered by bees, but it's also about the kind of people who think filling a robot with bees is a good idea, and why they're wrong.
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.
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!
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this would be absolutely the funniest reversal of joyce’s earlier expectations. “oh, shit, turns out big sis didn’t know everything related to the divorce”
I like to think that Joyce pointing out her wearing glasses now was more less about showing her own development, and more about showing that she doesn’t want to make a big deal about Jocelyne’s transition – she’s just happy to have her sister there.
I think it wasn’t that thought-through, i think it was “well anything i say now might be wrong because i don’t have a clue what to say….. OH SAFE REPLACEMENT TOPIC”.
Which is already progress compared to blurting out something thoughtless.
So even if Joyce doesn’t have the skills yet to actually understand how to react to a transition, at least she knows one way how not to, and manages! Joyce has definitely grown!
Mobile submission, and an OS or keyboard that auto-completes emoticons into emoji. I know whatsapp(mobile) turns <3 into , but others are a mystery too me.
They’ve put an empty bold tag between the characters. Any tag would do: it’s just preventing the simple text replacement code from matching the smiley.
Migraine. For a moment I was imagining making popcorn balls and using them like bath bombs and bathing in soggy popcorn and that sounded bad, and then I realised they were separate suggestions and you weren’t suggesting ruining popcorn like that…
That smile is the smile we all needed for coming out. It’s not about what Joyce should have said, this smile says enough for a positive first reaction.
I would imagine touching a penis seems less huge to somebody who had to handle one to wee for probably the best part of two decades assuming limited bathroom privacy and questions about sitting to do it…
OTOH Joe will need to convince a THIRD big sister, who has plausibly spent time in actual locker rooms overhearing people talk misogynist crap and may, therefore, have even more reservations about straight men than Sarah, that he is a safe person to be around little sis…
Questions about sitting? I have known several guys of various ages that say that they prefer sitting to pee, so I always thought that it was just a personal preference. My dad used to prefer sitting, but as he has gotten older, his knees got more cranky and less cooperative on that front. I don’t have any personal experience on the pros and cons though.
Peeing standing up is gross and unhygienic. There will be urine splatters all over due to fluid dynamics of the stream hitting either porceline or water.
And then people don’t close the lid before they flush, sending aerosol into the aid. People don’t understand hygiene.
As a normal person who pisses standing up without making the giant mess y’all are talking about, this seems outlandish and kind of insane. Splatters everywhere, an aerosol piss mist, it all sounds like absolute nonsense.
fffffffffffudging THANK YOU. You know what kind of barbarian? My bloody WIFE. One of the few things that actually gets us full-blown arguing. She just doesn’t get why it bothers me! Even when I show her the stuff about particulate ejecta in a room where we keep our toothbrushes!
Jocelyne probably won’t have any problems with Joe or at least not more than any other boy.
People’s issues with Joe don’t come from him just being a straight boy, but from his own reputation.
touching one that isn’t attached to you is a totally different experience. the heat of it, the different textures, the interplay between the skin and the inside of it.
I don’t see the conversation between Jocelyne and Joe being a difficult one. The former Joshua (the guy) and the new Jocelyne (the girl) should have some openness toward seeing how good people are for each other. Joyce smiles at Joe; that should be the best cue for Jocelyne.
@ miri well idk if jocylene was dating anyone , male/female other even when she was closeted but i think it’s also more about the ‘girltalk’/sister bonding thing even tho it’s a little bit appropriate to tell your sibling about sexual details versus “Oh yeah things are going well between me and my partner”
Um – pretty sure Jocelyne is a lesbian based on her comments to Ethan.
(This is a response to the comment about Joyce beating Jocelyne to touching a penis).
well i imagine they could still open up more about their personal relationships but i guess it would be awkward if it’s like “i got to 2nd base with my partner” versus just t’things are going well’
“Immediately accepting”, sure. “Immediately accepting and not inadvertently making it weird, and then realising she’s making it weird and somehow making it weirder” I was less confident about. I should have had more faith.
Nice and understated, I love it. Joyce completely misreading situations is fun, sure, but it’s really heartwarming to see her (and Jocelyne, while we’re at it) just immediately slip into groove here.
Maybe. Comfort with a new situation can be deceptive. I find that when I’m driving a new road for the third or fourth time, and think I know it now, that’s when I’m most likely to make a mistake.
It kinda makes sense. If you meet someone who’s trans, but you’ve only known them as who they are now, “being trans” can be kind of this nebulous thing.
But when someone you know transitions, especially a family member you’ve known literally your entire life, it becomes more concrete. It’s easier to grasp the route a life is taken when you are deeply familiar with where it started.
its been a while (“been a while!”) since Willis made me happy cry. this is so good. that smile has a “this makes sense, and everything is as it should be” quality to it.
Took Joyce a second but I think at this point, she’s used to major change and will ask a bunch of questions to understand but knows not to mess it up like she did with Carla.
It’s a Simpson’s reference from the episode where Homer was a Krusty impersonator.
The joke was you think the guy is going “I’m seeing double.” because there’s two people that look like Krusty, but then he says four meaning he actually was seing double.
When Krusty was introduced, the intention was that he was going to BE Homer. Like, Homer had a secret second job that he was hiding from his family in shame.
At some point, the writers gave up on that idea and did the episode about Homer being Krusty’s double to pay off the setup they had built.
Holy Fuck, Its been over a year since Joyce and Joe started dating, that post was in october of 2023, it feels like its only been like 4-5 months tops! Time really flies.
It’s better than any of us dared hope! Their dynamic is unchanged and it’s so sweet. I wonder if Jocelyne will forget how to walk again, for old times’ sake…
Not too long ago, I was reading some of the comments from when the audience was first learning about characters being trans (Jocelyne and Carla), and oh gee, that was a mistake on my part.
I vaguely remember some people being weird the first time we saw Joe in only his underwear too. Not sure why that came back to mind, but my brain felt it was important to remember so there you go.
honestly, when someone you’re really close to/you know really well transitions, it often is like “…huh, yeah, literally all of their behavior up until now actually makes way more sense, actually.”
It’s not so annoying to be teased by your sibling, once they aren’t a dumb stinky boy XD
I was a leathery hairy bearded biker looking person. I thought I was super butch, super stealth, and was so closeted, I was amazed when more than one person told me “Its about time!” I thought I was GREAT at hiding it.
Joyce should be thinking that all of that “Joyce Lyne” artwork makes SO much more sense now. Especially since it all had eyeglasses then and she did not have glasses then nor imagined herself with them.
Carla walks in a few steps behind them, takes this in, and just has a moment of “…oh, that explains some shit.” (and then interrupts the sweet moment by announcing her arrival)
I think you are right. The gorgeous blue comes from Hank, while the defective myopia comes from Carol. And, wow, if that’s not a good metaphor for those two.
Omg Joyce baby girl you’re doing so good. Willis, I’m having a TERRIBLE night and this just made me cry and I feel a little better about things now. Thank you so much
Haha damn it, Joyce’s smile in the second to last panel is just making me cry harder. She didn’t actually need any new help with this, she just accepts her sister immediately I’m so happy for them
Okay but seriously this is so perfect. The surprise, the pause as she recalibrates, Joe’s quiet figuring out that’s probably barely loud enough for her to hear, and then that smile that perfect beautiful smile, and the moment where she’s connecting as sisters.
Dorothy was about to wave-collapse herself right into the situation with a slow motion “Nooooo”. But she saw the Jocelyne and Joyce smiles at the last planck instant and noped herself right out of the scene. (thus the multiverse is saved.)
This is esp funny for Dorothy right now. She receives two nudes from her gf and immediately barrels out the door because that means her sister’s in town.
It’s 2 AM, I set my alarm to wake me up now, because I was afraid of situation went not so well.
But I’m happy for Joyce and Jocelyne, thanks Joe. I can rest now
Now that this has went perfectly back to fun part. Discussing how Joe will likely cheat on Joyce with her older sister. The Brown woman have a weakness for tall, muscular, Jewish men! This outcome is inevitable!
But what if Joe likes short partners? Can’t wait for Joyce to realize she can geek out about her hot boyfriend with the one sister who won’t try to sideeye him into orbit.
Wait, how cool has Becky been about JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure? Sarah’s contribution to the storyline fizzled without any resolution and Dorothy’s working on her caramel filling.
From what I remember Becky is eager for JoJo to hurry up and fuck so she can talk to her bestie about how cool sex is and how much cooler lesbian sex is.
she’s so pretty, I know I said this already but y’all… if I had one thing I wanted all my life, it’s to be able to be pretty and seeing characters get there makes me happy even if I wont ever get there. ~<3
You have my sympathy, back in 02 I paid Toby Meltzer sixteen grand to carve up and reassemble my jaw mandible and nose, and the best I got was semi normal and not Lurch, keep moderate goals and keep up the fight. You may never get the whole cake, but you can get some. Its better than none at all.
I went for him facework, wish I’d gone to him for everything, took him 12 hours. I had to pay cash. I lost my house. back then insurance never paid for it, they just laughed. This was 2002.
Yeah, oof, I posted that and was like “what a damn lucky thing to be able to say!” I’m glad you were able to find a surgeon that you liked though, and that the results have at least been workable for you. On the horribledream results scale that’s about where I am too, but it’s wild how much even that makes a difference.
Given the current goings on, I don’t think my heart could have taken it if this had gone south. So this is genuinely a delightful reaction and I’m semi-optimistic for the rest of the conversation!
I figured Joyce would handle this rather clumsily from the off, and then get to a good place by the end of the chapter. There’s still time for clumsiness, but this is a really good way to react, and that first reaction is a big deal! Incredibly wholesome and happy-making. <3
You could always go to a trade meet. It’s common practice to exchange contact info when you find a good trade, so if you find your new sister isn’t quite to your liking, it should be fairly simple to trade back. Just make sure you’re keeping all trial periods under 6 weeks, it’s common courtesy.
But suppose you’re happy with the trade and the other person isn’t. Are you obligated to trade back anyway. Or is the secret to give them burner contact info that can be abandoned?
I think Joyce reacting to this new development with kindness and acceptance is gonna do a lot for making her more like the kind of person she wants to be, not to mention less cuckoo bananas overall
Oh thank goodness, she got all the kneejerk stuff out when talking to/about Carla, now there’s room for sisterfeels. She handled Becky’s coming out so well, I was a little worried that this wouldn’t live up to that.
To an extent, the ladies with the chests who are with the guys, yeah? I’m not a lady, and I’m not 100% a guy, so I can’t say for sure what those hypothetical people want, but I don’t think I’d personally wanna be with someone who was after someone who didn’t look like me. Is that weird, or am I making sense? Like, I wouldn’t even wanna hook up with a guy who was more interested in (just as an example of difference) a Black woman, because I’m not her and it’d feel weird to be the second choice. As a human, I assume there are other humans who at least care that little tiny bit, right?
Plus, I also feel it’s important for people to know that, just because they don’t fit the conventional markers for “attractiveness” doesn’t mean they ARE unattractive. (For the flip side, this also applies to short guys, “short” guys etc.) Human attraction is broad (and often very weird) so no matter what you have or what you look like, there is definitely SOMEONE out there who is into that. (Finding said person could be a great deal more difficult, though.)
The fist being closed the whole time is absolutely brutal and shows how hard this must be for Jocelyne. She’s TERRIFIED, but she’s doing it regardless. She has to. It’s such a good, small detail \<3
Best possible way this could have gone. I love that Joyce’s first response is essentially “aha, so we have both had a change that shouldn’t be a big deal to others but is vastly improving our lives! High five!” It’s really sweet. And Joe remembering the drawings and immediately connecting the dots but making an effort to not interrupt their moment is a really nice touch, too.
Joe definitely helped a lot. His deduction changed this from “weird outside world intrusions into what remains of my family” to “this is deep My Family lore actually”.
I’m so glad she got all the stupid awkward out of her system with Carla. I cringed hard at that storyline but now also see why it could lead to this development.
Is this the ending of Dumbing of Age? Like, this is the good ending of all Jocelyne plot, built since here
We get Joyce losing her virginty, Joe in peace with his demons, Amber making peace with Amazi-Girl, Becky almost engaging with Dina, Ruth with a big britain, Ethan making peace with his mom, and finding love again, Sarah being more friendly, Lucy with Jacob, Dorothy returning with the love of her life, Walky…
Looks like we are in the ending game. Wonder how Willis will finish it…
(PS: Don’t need to remember me there’s almost 1 year of buffer, I just made a joke).
Didn’t realize this storyline had been building for over a decade, damn…
Anyway, I always thought the natural place for the comic to finish would be the end of freshman year. Which could take a really long time, or just a regular long time depending on if we get another timeskip
You know, I was just wondering that same question!
She certainly experienced A sexual debut, although by no means the ONLY one. “We are vast. We contain multitudes” of potential sexual debuts. (To paraphrase Walt Whitman.)
…On a more personal note, many of us (myself included) have been massively struggling, recently (not just since November 6) and I just wanted to tell you folks how very glad and grateful I am to see you still here. Thank you for being here in this weird little community. I couldn’t imagine a nicer Internet home to nest and be comfy in.
I feel you. I deleted ALL my social media right after the election “My Blusky is still just suspended” and this is all I have right now. I’m glad its here.
Sorry this is OT, but if anyone has any advice on how to get one’s brain back on track after it shuts down due to a PTSD episode, I would REALLY appreciate it. I’ve been in a fog and becoming progressively less able to think since a bad scare early September. Took a few weeks off work but the brain’s just not coming back.
…I know I’m resource guy, but I don’t seem to have the answers for this one.
Any of my fellow ADHD-neurodivergent peeps got strategies for rebooting the noncooperative brain?
I’d really recommend seeing if there’s anyone who can do Written Exposure Therapy around. It’s just as effective in testing as EMDR for getting rid of or reducing PTSD symptoms but works way quicker with fewer side effects (and no slightly delusional founder making wild claims). From my experience it works just the same with people who have ADHD as well.
In the short term, it’s about finding practices that establish a sense of safety and confidence in your body/self. Try looking up some somatic exercises on youtube and experimenting until you find one that clicks with you.
I want it to be known that i joined the 5$ Patreon tier because of this storyline. I was not about to sit around through elevator jokes after waiting for this for so long
That’s what I was thinking. She’s like, “Oh, cool.” There will be no meltdowns or ranting, etc. I think the whole thing with Carla the week before last sort of set this up.
Aww, good to hear
Hey, pro tip, read the comment section on this one. It is the most supportive AND funny comment section i’ve ever seen on a video <3 (i sure hope nothing has changed there)
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=D =D =D =D =D =D =D
“BTW I have your art I think”
“Oh? Why?”
“Mom dumped it all on me after she sold the house”
“MOM SOLD THE HOUSE?!”
Bravo Joyce!
this would be absolutely the funniest reversal of joyce’s earlier expectations. “oh, shit, turns out big sis didn’t know everything related to the divorce”
“Mom and Dad are getting DIVORCED??!!”
“We have parents???”
Ouch, I was drinking…
Ouch, I had a HERNIA operation yesterday!
Hey, I hope it went as well as mine did.
( the swelling and discoloration is only temporary )
I like to think that Joyce pointing out her wearing glasses now was more less about showing her own development, and more about showing that she doesn’t want to make a big deal about Jocelyne’s transition – she’s just happy to have her sister there.
Yup. Bravo for Joyce.
That was my interpretation as well. Go Joyce, way to grow as a person <3
I think it wasn’t that thought-through, i think it was “well anything i say now might be wrong because i don’t have a clue what to say….. OH SAFE REPLACEMENT TOPIC”.
Which is already progress compared to blurting out something thoughtless.
So even if Joyce doesn’t have the skills yet to actually understand how to react to a transition, at least she knows one way how not to, and manages! Joyce has definitely grown!
aw
If I wanted an
I would’ve typed an 
, give me back my :D
how did you even do that? :0
Witchcraft
It’s a Sorcery coding thing. I think. Let me be sure.
:DNo, that’s different. Some other branch of magic then.
Hmmm.
Yeah, it’s this comment box doing it, not autocomplete by the browser.
:D
Mobile submission, and an OS or keyboard that auto-completes emoticons into emoji. I know whatsapp(mobile) turns <3 into
, but others are a mystery too me.
They’ve put an empty bold tag between the characters. Any tag would do: it’s just preventing the simple text replacement code from matching the smiley.
Testing. :D
Open and close it between the characters.
Why you could get around the bongo filter with that.
( dont lest you bring down the wrath of dyw )
do it like this:
:D
;D
goddammit
i tried to show you using the code tag
basically between : and D there’s a bold opening and closing tag with no character in it
:[b][/b]D but pretend the brackets are
:D
hmmm didn’t work for me
“you clever girl” :D
🦕
I love that the little dino is looking adorably up at your swan.
Adoringly.
both are true!
she’s her sister
her HOMIE
the connection is INSTANT
just like it should be
🥹
⚧️🩷
*plays “Dreams Come True” from Sailor Moon CD on hacked muzak*
that big sister fond smile… aww…
that panel 5 smile is EVERYTHING.
I think it’s all gonna be ok.
*plays “Miracle Tears” from Pokemon Movie Music CD*
Set my heart on warm squee
But what am I going to do with all this popcorn I had prepared?
make popcorn balls,
bathe in it,
or use it to make caramel kettle corn
AKA the heroin of the farmer’s market XD
Migraine. For a moment I was imagining making popcorn balls and using them like bath bombs and bathing in soggy popcorn and that sounded bad, and then I realised they were separate suggestions and you weren’t suggesting ruining popcorn like that…
funny enough i haven’t eaten popcorn for movies or anything in YEARS, i more likely to get stuff like soft pretzels, hotdogs and candy XD
That smile is the smile we all needed for coming out. It’s not about what Joyce should have said, this smile says enough for a positive first reaction.
Best possible way for this to go.
Yeah, that was just about perfect. Joyce’s smile is everything.
It’s very sweet
“I also got a bf who lets me touch his penis!” “darn, you beat me to it”
lol i do half expect carla to show up soon again tho
I would imagine touching a penis seems less huge to somebody who had to handle one to wee for probably the best part of two decades assuming limited bathroom privacy and questions about sitting to do it…
OTOH Joe will need to convince a THIRD big sister, who has plausibly spent time in actual locker rooms overhearing people talk misogynist crap and may, therefore, have even more reservations about straight men than Sarah, that he is a safe person to be around little sis…
Questions about sitting? I have known several guys of various ages that say that they prefer sitting to pee, so I always thought that it was just a personal preference. My dad used to prefer sitting, but as he has gotten older, his knees got more cranky and less cooperative on that front. I don’t have any personal experience on the pros and cons though.
As a guy, when you clean the bathroom yourself you damn well start sitting.
Some guys can aim
And many guys think they can aim.
A few guys think it’s gay to aim, so they deliberately don’t.
(They’d have to touch their dick, which means they’re touching a guy’s dick and since they’re guys it also means a guy is touching their dick.)
Peeing standing up is gross and unhygienic. There will be urine splatters all over due to fluid dynamics of the stream hitting either porceline or water.
And then people don’t close the lid before they flush, sending aerosol into the aid. People don’t understand hygiene.
As a normal person who pisses standing up without making the giant mess y’all are talking about, this seems outlandish and kind of insane. Splatters everywhere, an aerosol piss mist, it all sounds like absolute nonsense.
Look up ‘fecal bloom’. It’ll explain the ‘aerosol piss mist’ fairly well.
I’m definitely not looking that up, that’s immoral to suggest. You’re grounded for at least two months.
I’m always baffled by the “seat up/seat down” debate, because what kind of filthy barbarian flushes without putting the lid down?
fffffffffffudging THANK YOU. You know what kind of barbarian? My bloody WIFE. One of the few things that actually gets us full-blown arguing. She just doesn’t get why it bothers me! Even when I show her the stuff about particulate ejecta in a room where we keep our toothbrushes!
Mom picks on me for closing the lid, even after the litany of other reason (kids and cats knocking things in…) to close it.
When she swore hers didn’t “throw water” into the air. I said “Fine. Sit down and flush. Let me know if your butt gets wet.”
She didn’t say, but I’m sure it did. She still leaves her seat up.
The Germans have a word for them (of course): sitzpinklers.
Without the -s (of course), because -er words don’t change in the plural.
It’s a situational preference.
I sit unless I’m in a rush/crowd **and** have a urinal available. Sitting is a lot less likely to miss or otherwise make a mess.
Just always beware both the artic tea-bag, or … the witch’s kiss. 🥶
Jocelyne probably won’t have any problems with Joe or at least not more than any other boy.
People’s issues with Joe don’t come from him just being a straight boy, but from his own reputation.
touching one that isn’t attached to you is a totally different experience. the heat of it, the different textures, the interplay between the skin and the inside of it.
I don’t see the conversation between Jocelyne and Joe being a difficult one. The former Joshua (the guy) and the new Jocelyne (the girl) should have some openness toward seeing how good people are for each other. Joyce smiles at Joe; that should be the best cue for Jocelyne.
@ miri well idk if jocylene was dating anyone , male/female other even when she was closeted but i think it’s also more about the ‘girltalk’/sister bonding thing even tho it’s a little bit appropriate to tell your sibling about sexual details versus “Oh yeah things are going well between me and my partner”
Um – pretty sure Jocelyne is a lesbian based on her comments to Ethan.
(This is a response to the comment about Joyce beating Jocelyne to touching a penis).
Which comments? This one seems to suggest she’s straight (in a devastating blow to many of us): https://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/nope/
well i imagine they could still open up more about their personal relationships but i guess it would be awkward if it’s like “i got to 2nd base with my partner” versus just t’things are going well’
Who in the comments expected current Joyce to be anything but immediately accepting? That’s just what she does!
“Immediately accepting”, sure. “Immediately accepting and not inadvertently making it weird, and then realising she’s making it weird and somehow making it weirder” I was less confident about. I should have had more faith.
When Joyce has to think about it, that’s when she makes it weird. As with Becky back in the day, when she goes all heart she nails it.
Man, if I had a nickel for every time I made it weird by overthinking it.
I’m not sure how many nickels I’d have, but I’d definitely have a lot.
Sometimes Joyce’s “immediately accepting” comes out as a stream of freaking out babbling.
That said, for all of Ethan’s (I think?) awkward coaching, she fucking nailed it.
SHE’S DOING SO GOOD!!!
Both of them!
That is perfect.
Now do the solidarity power fist!
+1
+1
AWWWWWW
That smile is so sweet.
Nice and understated, I love it. Joyce completely misreading situations is fun, sure, but it’s really heartwarming to see her (and Jocelyne, while we’re at it) just immediately slip into groove here.
She got all the awkwardness out of the way with Carla
That’s so sweet!
This wasn’t supposed to be a reply but whatevs
It works, so it’s OK.
Along, thats great, perfect. She got all of the cringe out of her system! Probably we will see more though, two steps forward one back and all.
Maybe. Comfort with a new situation can be deceptive. I find that when I’m driving a new road for the third or fourth time, and think I know it now, that’s when I’m most likely to make a mistake.
There’s still room for casual awkwardness.
Joyce is more likely to ask all the questions to Jocelyne than she was with Carla. Carla’s not family, but she grew up with Jocelyne.
Ethan’s line would have worked with her actual sister
Life conspired to make Joyce ready. Snacking Mary should be fun
It kinda makes sense. If you meet someone who’s trans, but you’ve only known them as who they are now, “being trans” can be kind of this nebulous thing.
But when someone you know transitions, especially a family member you’ve known literally your entire life, it becomes more concrete. It’s easier to grasp the route a life is taken when you are deeply familiar with where it started.
It definitely helps that Joyce found her drawings earlier. This is an answer to an actual question she already had.
It also helps that Jocelyne’s being completely straightforward about it, because Joyce doesn’t always pick up on subtext or nuance.
“This is me.”
“K.”
This right here. A lot of awkwardness is caused by having incomplete information in some social setting. But Joyce knows Jocelyne.
its been a while (“been a while!”) since Willis made me happy cry. this is so good. that smile has a “this makes sense, and everything is as it should be” quality to it.
She’s come so far
In the end, it mattered.
guys i think joyce figured it out
Or Joe did.
I mean she was quick on the uptake given the cue.
okay excuse me while i go cry in the corner
Took Joyce a second but I think at this point, she’s used to major change and will ask a bunch of questions to understand but knows not to mess it up like she did with Carla.
I’m half expecting Carla to skate by now, Joyce continue the awkward, “SISTER POWER!” stuff, and both Jocelyne and Joe to wtf over what Joyce is doing
Carla just stops in utter bewilderment.
“I’m seeing double here. FOUR Joyces?!”
OK, I’m not getting it. Is one of Carla’s lenses off-axis or something? There are two people in the room who look like Joyce — why “four”?
It’s a Simpsons reference.
It’s a Simpson’s reference from the episode where Homer was a Krusty impersonator.
The joke was you think the guy is going “I’m seeing double.” because there’s two people that look like Krusty, but then he says four meaning he actually was seing double.
The funniest part is Krusty and Homer literally share the same VA
XD
When Krusty was introduced, the intention was that he was going to BE Homer. Like, Homer had a secret second job that he was hiding from his family in shame.
At some point, the writers gave up on that idea and did the episode about Homer being Krusty’s double to pay off the setup they had built.
The two Browns shall now henceforth be known as “Shorter Jugs” and “Taller Jugs”. Which means Carla has to make some shower jugs for the taller one.
The titles describe the shower shoes, not the people. Jocelyne’s are shorter than Joyce’s, so they’re closer to height parity.
Hm…so Joyce will be Taller Jugs and Jocelyne will be Shorter Jugs?
Okay, yeah, I can work with that.
this is so good i love this!
This is so adorably sweet.
It was a bit of a lead up, but this is perfect. I love it.
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
This is so dang cute! YAY!
Joe recognizing Jocelyn from Joyce’s old art that she was confused about, and Joyce’s reaction lol
For anyone needing it: “Joyce Lynn” appeared starting here
Thank you for this because I had no idea what that was supposed to be a refernce to
Seconded.
Thirded
Thank you! Oh my gosh I was so confused. I almost choose #3 on the poll because you all are the only reason I remembered Jocelyn at all.
Holy Fuck, Its been over a year since Joyce and Joe started dating, that post was in october of 2023, it feels like its only been like 4-5 months tops! Time really flies.
Holy hell, I had the same reaction as you did. It’s been a year?!
Thank you, I thought Joe was trying to break the walls of reality and reference the Walky-verse. Cause she was a clone(?) of Joyce there.
You’re thinking of Anti-Joyce.
(And her middle name in that continuity is Nicole.)
It’s better than any of us dared hope! Their dynamic is unchanged and it’s so sweet. I wonder if Jocelyne will forget how to walk again, for old times’ sake…
What?
nvm I found the comic this references: https://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/chattin/
interesting how the comments under that comic are kind of a different world. 11 years ago and the attitudes have evolved a bit since.
Not too long ago, I was reading some of the comments from when the audience was first learning about characters being trans (Jocelyne and Carla), and oh gee, that was a mistake on my part.
I vaguely remember some people being weird the first time we saw Joe in only his underwear too. Not sure why that came back to mind, but my brain felt it was important to remember so there you go.
Aww this is so sweet. I’m proud of Joyce. Also, I love how playfully Jocelyne teases her.
honestly, when someone you’re really close to/you know really well transitions, it often is like “…huh, yeah, literally all of their behavior up until now actually makes way more sense, actually.”
It’s not so annoying to be teased by your sibling, once they aren’t a dumb stinky boy XD
I was a leathery hairy bearded biker looking person. I thought I was super butch, super stealth, and was so closeted, I was amazed when more than one person told me “Its about time!” I thought I was GREAT at hiding it.
God, I wish someone would have said something like that to me. I mostly just got very careful “Thank you for telling me” responses.
Its been 25+years and I still can’t quite believe that happened. The only person to go bugfuck nuts was my mom……
Joyce should be thinking that all of that “Joyce Lyne” artwork makes SO much more sense now. Especially since it all had eyeglasses then and she did not have glasses then nor imagined herself with them.
I like the way they just slip right back into their sibling dynamic. It’s like Jocelyne’s saying “yeah this part’s different but I’m still me”.
Well, huh.
What’s the opposite of a DamnYouWillis?
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
I like to think of “Damn You, Willis!” as a compliment.
Oh yes, the very highest.
… Bless You Willis?
Is it Bless You Willis? I’m really not sure.
I came here to say Bless You Willis.
thank you, Willis 🥹
Merci Willie?
I’m still sending him a bill for all the popcorn I bought in preparation.
If you use the popcorn for packing protection for the bill, then the popcorn won’t go to waste!
I am crying. Legitimately. I needed this.
“Damn, you Willis“?
Same words, different cadence?
Now I’m imagining two yellow Minions arguing with each other:
“You Willis.”
“No YOU Willis.”
“No, YOU Willis.”
So… the
comments sectionpeanut gallery.Y’know, I think they’re gonna be all right.
D’aww
Anyone got the link to the issue/arc with the artwork?
Joyce Lynn: https://www.dumbingofage.com/2023/comic/book-14/01-everybodys-looking-for-nothing/selfportraits/
I’m still not ruling out that secret Canadian family.
Thank you. I knew Joe’s comment was in relation to something, but I couldn’t quite remember what.
I literally clapped and did the autism hand flap when I saw that (am autistic btw). I almost never do that, this was just so fuckin’ good.
This may be my new favorite strip. My own autism insists I ramble about it but there are no words.
Mine has too many words, can’t sort them out.
I AM STIMMING SO MUUUUCH EEEEEEK <3
i dont have words to convey the feels
This is legitimately adorable and I don’t think it could’ve gone any better.
Anyways I’m kinda wanting Carla here now. Not because she’s related to trans stuff, I just fucking love Carla.
okay maybe a little because trans stuff
Carla walks in a few steps behind them, takes this in, and just has a moment of “…oh, that explains some shit.” (and then interrupts the sweet moment by announcing her arrival)
+1
D’awww.
Agreed, I love the smile Joyce makes here.
I lost a bet on seeing Dina eating cereal here.
Or Steve. The bet wasn’t that rigid.
Cereal just hadda be involved.
There’s the sibling banter.
Yeah, it just proves that Carol’s eye genes are substandard.
I think you are right. The gorgeous blue comes from Hank, while the defective myopia comes from Carol. And, wow, if that’s not a good metaphor for those two.
Yes! YES! THE SISTERS!!
Oneupwomanship.
I’m actually curious how Joyce will handle later finding out that Ethan knew before she did.
“Well, of course Ethan knew first. Gays and lesbians and queers and transes all are experts on this and know each other on sight, right?”
“Now excuse me, I’m going to go make out with Dorothy in a completely heterosexual manner.”
CHEERING YELLING RIPPING MY SHIRT OFF SCREAMING INTO THE SKY LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Omg Joyce baby girl you’re doing so good. Willis, I’m having a TERRIBLE night and this just made me cry and I feel a little better about things now. Thank you so much
Haha damn it, Joyce’s smile in the second to last panel is just making me cry harder. She didn’t actually need any new help with this, she just accepts her sister immediately
I’m so happy for them
Sobbing into my curry now lol. I’ll show myself out
Yes, this is so lovely!
I really feel you here, after the several weeks i also needed this
🫂
hm i could use some curry too, what kind you got?
goddammit willis no fair making me cry
Okay but seriously this is so perfect. The surprise, the pause as she recalibrates, Joe’s quiet figuring out that’s probably barely loud enough for her to hear, and then that smile that perfect beautiful smile, and the moment where she’s connecting as sisters.
This is my favorite DOA strip forever.
🩷🤍🩷
I needed this.
Hehehe, she’s bein’ a bratty little sister about it. That’s fun.
Oh my god, those last two panels are too fucking cute. they are SO sisters <3
I can already imagine Dorothy or Sarah realizing what’s going on and moving to do damage control before realizing it’s not needed at all
Dorothy was about to wave-collapse herself right into the situation with a slow motion “Nooooo”. But she saw the Jocelyne and Joyce smiles at the last planck instant and noped herself right out of the scene. (thus the multiverse is saved.)
This is esp funny for Dorothy right now. She receives two nudes from her gf and immediately barrels out the door because that means her sister’s in town.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
It’s 2 AM, I set my alarm to wake me up now, because I was afraid of situation went not so well.
But I’m happy for Joyce and Jocelyne, thanks Joe. I can rest now
Sorry, I was waiting for 5 years
Now that this has went perfectly back to fun part. Discussing how Joe will likely cheat on Joyce with her older sister. The Brown woman have a weakness for tall, muscular, Jewish men! This outcome is inevitable!
But what if Joe likes short partners? Can’t wait for Joyce to realize she can geek out about her hot boyfriend with the one sister who won’t try to sideeye him into orbit.
Wait, how cool has Becky been about JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure? Sarah’s contribution to the storyline fizzled without any resolution and Dorothy’s working on her caramel filling.
From what I remember Becky is eager for JoJo to hurry up and fuck so she can talk to her bestie about how cool sex is and how much cooler lesbian sex is.
Aww! What a wonderful start to this conversation!
This is hitting me so much harder than I expected.
Well done Joyce. I’m sure there will be awkwardness later, but this perfect for her.
What do you know? Joe remains unexpectedly smart in this universe as well.
He’s relieved that it’s not the “secret Canadian family” angle.
Yay! Joyce didn’t freak and took it in stride!
Oh my god this went so much better than I’d dared to hope
THANK YOU
she’s so pretty, I know I said this already but y’all… if I had one thing I wanted all my life, it’s to be able to be pretty and seeing characters get there makes me happy even if I wont ever get there. ~<3
You have my sympathy, back in 02 I paid Toby Meltzer sixteen grand to carve up and reassemble my jaw mandible and nose, and the best I got was semi normal and not Lurch, keep moderate goals and keep up the fight. You may never get the whole cake, but you can get some. Its better than none at all.
I would have gone with him but he didn’t take my insurance.
I went for him facework, wish I’d gone to him for everything, took him 12 hours. I had to pay cash. I lost my house. back then insurance never paid for it, they just laughed. This was 2002.
Yeah, oof, I posted that and was like “what a damn lucky thing to be able to say!” I’m glad you were able to find a surgeon that you liked though, and that the results have at least been workable for you.
On the horribledream results scale that’s about where I am too, but it’s wild how much even that makes a difference.
Horrible TO dream results scale. I tried to make an arrow and it read it as botched HTML and removed it, whoops.
Nice. Bit disappointed by the low key Joyce Face though
that smile is insufficiently triangular!
This is so adorable and is just what I need right now. Thank you, Willis.
IM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW
I’m so relieved to be wrong. Good for Joyce.
This is really sweet.
I sincerely wonder if it’ll get fucked up in the next two strips.
Jocelyne is always so much fun, when interacting with joyce =)
And here’s Joyce’s well earned A+.
Given the current goings on, I don’t think my heart could have taken it if this had gone south. So this is genuinely a delightful reaction and I’m semi-optimistic for the rest of the conversation!
An adorable form of sibling rivalry, if you can call it that, in the last panel to defuse awkwardness.
My God, that fourth panel smile. <3<3
It is like balsam for the soul. I just needed this wholesomeness.
I figured Joyce would handle this rather clumsily from the off, and then get to a good place by the end of the chapter. There’s still time for clumsiness, but this is a really good way to react, and that first reaction is a big deal! Incredibly wholesome and happy-making. <3
This is a brilliant strip. Love it!
Joyce might not know how to deal with a stranger who she finds out is transgender — but she absolutely knows how to antagonize her own siblings.
I think my blood sugar just took a serious hit, That was really sweet!
I wish I had had a sister instead of my jackass jock brother…………
You could always go to a trade meet. It’s common practice to exchange contact info when you find a good trade, so if you find your new sister isn’t quite to your liking, it should be fairly simple to trade back. Just make sure you’re keeping all trial periods under 6 weeks, it’s common courtesy.
But suppose you’re happy with the trade and the other person isn’t. Are you obligated to trade back anyway. Or is the secret to give them burner contact info that can be abandoned?
If only there was a sibling trade mart. I’d let him go cheap.
Not going to lie, I did shed a tear… I have been anxiously awaiting this moment, and it is just so wonderfully sweet.
Oh thank goodness. I was so worried!!
You’re doing good Joyce!!!
Damn Joyce is a freaking champ!
I think Joyce reacting to this new development with kindness and acceptance is gonna do a lot for making her more like the kind of person she wants to be, not to mention less cuckoo bananas overall
Oh thank goodness, she got all the kneejerk stuff out when talking to/about Carla, now there’s room for sisterfeels. She handled Becky’s coming out so well, I was a little worried that this wouldn’t live up to that.
Also Jocelyne you won’t be overshadowing ANYTHING of Joyce’s with those itty-bitty A-cups AYYYYYYOOOOO
FFS give it time! It does not happen overnight!
Hey now, some of us guys prefer the smaller chested ladies. ;P Everybody has their admirers!
who cares what the guys want?
This thread feels very weird
To an extent, the ladies with the chests who are with the guys, yeah? I’m not a lady, and I’m not 100% a guy, so I can’t say for sure what those hypothetical people want, but I don’t think I’d personally wanna be with someone who was after someone who didn’t look like me. Is that weird, or am I making sense? Like, I wouldn’t even wanna hook up with a guy who was more interested in (just as an example of difference) a Black woman, because I’m not her and it’d feel weird to be the second choice. As a human, I assume there are other humans who at least care that little tiny bit, right?
Makes sense to me.
Plus, I also feel it’s important for people to know that, just because they don’t fit the conventional markers for “attractiveness” doesn’t mean they ARE unattractive. (For the flip side, this also applies to short guys, “short” guys etc.) Human attraction is broad (and often very weird) so no matter what you have or what you look like, there is definitely SOMEONE out there who is into that. (Finding said person could be a great deal more difficult, though.)
Jocelyne is taller though, so her literal shadow is usually gonna be over Joyce’s.
Well, at least there’s a universe where things are going well.
yeah
at least that
Faces are appropriate.
How is this the most wholesome thing EVER aaah
The fist being closed the whole time is absolutely brutal and shows how hard this must be for Jocelyne. She’s TERRIFIED, but she’s doing it regardless. She has to. It’s such a good, small detail \<3
Aww, Willis, what an incredibly heartwarming payoff to all that buildup :3
Really proud of Joyce right now ^^ She’s not freaking out even a little bit.
I guess Ethan’s advices kicked back in her head and are finally making sense.
That smile is the awesomest, most heartwarming and wholesome thing ever!
Hell yeah, that’s our Joyce
THIS IS SO CUTE
So sweet!
Oh thank god that’s adorable
Freaking finally! I’m happy to finally see it happen.
[Worlds biggest PHEW]
the stressed clenched fist in panels 1 & 3 tho
AAAGGHHHH it’s so intense!!! I know the exact feeling and god it’s so stressful and terrifying
Jocelyne and Joyce shows stress with their right hands.
Best possible way this could have gone. I love that Joyce’s first response is essentially “aha, so we have both had a change that shouldn’t be a big deal to others but is vastly improving our lives! High five!” It’s really sweet. And Joe remembering the drawings and immediately connecting the dots but making an effort to not interrupt their moment is a really nice touch, too.
Joe definitely helped a lot. His deduction changed this from “weird outside world intrusions into what remains of my family” to “this is deep My Family lore actually”.
[surprise]
[processing]
[smile]
They’re so cuuuuute! (Even Joe, in his own way.)
And together they’re JoJoJo.
And their Bizarre Adventure!
Hmm… Mary Brando?
Mary doesn’t deserve a spot as a background extra, let alone a Brando role.
There’s something endearing about Joe just lurking in the back like “i don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing here”
It’s so cute how they are basically Big Joyce and Little Joyce
Yay!
That’s it, just “Yay!”
*Shia LeBouf clapping gif*
OH MY GOD THAT’S SO CUTE
“Oh, Curzon, my beloved old friend!”
“I’m Jadzia now.”
“Oh, well, Jadzia, my beloved old friend!”
Possibly the warmest scene with a Klingon ever.
Right after:
“Spock…”
“Please, Captain, not in front of the Klingons…” ;-}
I remember that! HA!
Wow! Joyce took new and shocking info like a pro.
OFF: Happy for Willis gave the middle finger to Twitter, by setting a BlueSky in its place.
In the last few days, about 30 of my FB friends have gone BS. So I went in too.
YES YES YES HEAL MY HEART
JOYCE!!! YOU DONE DID IT!!!!
That little grin on Joyce’s face really restores my faith. Thank you, Willis.
This is so sweet I teared up a bit.
I’m so glad she got all the stupid awkward out of her system with Carla. I cringed hard at that storyline but now also see why it could lead to this development.
Thank goodness.
It was all used up on someone who didn’t care so she wouldn’t hurt someone she cares about.
I am so very proud of Joyce right now!
Well done, girls!
And now, let’s get to know Jordan.
This has the potential to win the award for most heartwarming and wholesome strip
Triangle smiles abound!!! <3<3<3
Loved.
Is this the ending of Dumbing of Age? Like, this is the good ending of all Jocelyne plot, built since here
We get Joyce losing her virginty, Joe in peace with his demons, Amber making peace with Amazi-Girl, Becky almost engaging with Dina, Ruth with a big britain, Ethan making peace with his mom, and finding love again, Sarah being more friendly, Lucy with Jacob, Dorothy returning with the love of her life, Walky…
Looks like we are in the ending game. Wonder how Willis will finish it…
(PS: Don’t need to remember me there’s almost 1 year of buffer, I just made a joke).
Didn’t realize this storyline had been building for over a decade, damn…
Anyway, I always thought the natural place for the comic to finish would be the end of freshman year. Which could take a really long time, or just a regular long time depending on if we get another timeskip
Why it should end in freshman year?
Pretty sure Joyce didn’t “lose her virginity” but I guess that depends how strictly you define that arbitrary and imaginary construct.
You know, I was just wondering that same question!
She certainly experienced A sexual debut, although by no means the ONLY one. “We are vast. We contain multitudes” of potential sexual debuts. (To paraphrase Walt Whitman.)
I thought you were quoting Roz!
Eh. Same diff. ;-D
Oh, dangit, all my November 28, 2024 community resource posting got erased. D’oh!
Anyway, to keep eyes peeled for community connections this month:
awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/unthanksgiving-day-national-day-of-mourning-2024
211.org or call 2-1-1 for local volunteer opportunities and community gatherings
mealsonwheelsamerica.org
National Museum of the American Indian
americanindian.si.edu/calendar
Pow Wow Calendar
calendar.powwows.com
United American Indians of New England
http://www.uaine.org
International Indian Treaty Council
iitc.org/upcoming-events
Native American Heritage Month
bia.gov/NNAHM
Indian Country Today
ictnews.org
Native News Online
nativenewsonline.net
Ways to watch the documentary “Sugarcane” (MASSIVE Trigger Warning for genocide)
sugarcanefilm.com
International Conference on Genocide:
csus.edu/college/social-sciences-interdisciplinary-studies/genocide-conference
Food justice news in general:
civileats.com
…On a more personal note, many of us (myself included) have been massively struggling, recently (not just since November 6) and I just wanted to tell you folks how very glad and grateful I am to see you still here. Thank you for being here in this weird little community. I couldn’t imagine a nicer Internet home to nest and be comfy in.
I feel you. I deleted ALL my social media right after the election “My Blusky is still just suspended” and this is all I have right now. I’m glad its here.
I’m so glad you are here, Dana. I really am.
Thank you for being here!
<3 it's a great place with great folks like you in it
D’awww!!! <3
Sorry this is OT, but if anyone has any advice on how to get one’s brain back on track after it shuts down due to a PTSD episode, I would REALLY appreciate it. I’ve been in a fog and becoming progressively less able to think since a bad scare early September. Took a few weeks off work but the brain’s just not coming back.
…I know I’m resource guy, but I don’t seem to have the answers for this one.
Any of my fellow ADHD-neurodivergent peeps got strategies for rebooting the noncooperative brain?
Oh, and, for them as wants it, have some fresh Dopamine on the hacked brainwaves:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhm_zxNNGws
I’d really recommend seeing if there’s anyone who can do Written Exposure Therapy around. It’s just as effective in testing as EMDR for getting rid of or reducing PTSD symptoms but works way quicker with fewer side effects (and no slightly delusional founder making wild claims). From my experience it works just the same with people who have ADHD as well.
In the short term, it’s about finding practices that establish a sense of safety and confidence in your body/self. Try looking up some somatic exercises on youtube and experimenting until you find one that clicks with you.
Wow, cool! Thank you! Checking it out now!
I actually own my own EMDR light, though self guided EMDR is a lot harder than it sounds.
I can imagine! I think I tried that with a website once. Odd sensation.
I’m not crying you’re crying
I want it to be known that i joined the 5$ Patreon tier because of this storyline. I was not about to sit around through elevator jokes after waiting for this for so long
Proud of ya Joyce, ya did good
aww, this is so sweet
Nice to see Joyce accept it, and not in a “stumbling around making a fool of herself” way, but genuinely accept it.
Also love that sibling banter about overshadowing her development
huh, I called it. I guess even I can be right twice a day.
this storyline is a fucking gift.
I expected drama… Thank God, I’m wrong
i love that their dynamic is the exact same
“You stole my name?! What’s wrong with ‘Joshlyn’?”
“You copy my gender, I copy your eyesight”
Get Ethan down here to see this.
He knew before anyone this was coming.
Joe doing the math
Man, Jocelyne is really benefiting from Carla having been Joyce’s “practice trans” right now.
Oh my Cheese both of their responses are perfect.
I’m getting emotional
Oh, c’mon Joce, the fact that she processed and took it in stride so quickly has to be better than expectations.
That’s what I was thinking. She’s like, “Oh, cool.” There will be no meltdowns or ranting, etc. I think the whole thing with Carla the week before last sort of set this up.
This strip definitely has me thinking of this conversation Jocelyne and Joyce had, and that this is probably how she thought of Joyce as well (except Joyce actually does do the right thing when it comes down to it)
https://www.dumbingofage.com/category/comic/book-9-comic/03-sometimes-the-sky-was-so-far-away/
Goddamit that wasn’t even the right link
https://www.dumbingofage.com/2019/comic/book-9-comic/03-sometimes-the-sky-was-so-far-away/shortsighted/
This is, compared with everything Joyce has said about and even to Carla, a really good response!
TODAY IS THE FITTING DAY to post
<3
today is not the day i’ll understand formatting
The Axis of Awesome – The Elephant in the room
That vid made my day!!!
Aww, good to hear
Hey, pro tip, read the comment section on this one. It is the most supportive AND funny comment section i’ve ever seen on a video <3 (i sure hope nothing has changed there)
Yay, Joyce! Ya done good!
Ok after looking at this comic all day I finally get why Jocelyne is looking more like Joyce here than any of the past pages, she is smiling!
Aww. The fact she smiled and went on like nothing new… It is precious. Trans supporter!
“I’m more like you now~”
“oh yea? well joke’s on you because I’m more like you now!”
Eyes on your six, there’s some sort of same-gender clone of you behind you.
Every once in a while Joyce exceeds expectations!
I just keep looking at that smile.
That’s love! That’s love! That’s! Love!!!!!
I’m so proud of Joyce for handling it like this.