Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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man that was a longer cliffhanger than i thought it'd be, but we're finally back to sal again
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May 12, 2026

Appointment

by David M Willis on August 23, 2013 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - Just Hangin' Out With My Family
└ Tags: charles, linda, sal, walky

Discussion (271) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Jen Aside
    Jen Aside
    August 23, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    a hair appointment with MY MOTORCYCLE

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 23, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

      The plan is to go so fast it straightens itself.

      • Tachyon
        Tachyon
        August 23, 2013 at 2:34 am | #

        Wonder if that requires ludicrous speed?

        • Ocbrad1
          Ocbrad1
          August 23, 2013 at 9:20 am | #

          As long as she doesn’t go to plaid…that would simply clash!

          • N0083rP00F
            N0083rP00F
            August 23, 2013 at 10:37 am | #

            And lint is just … ewwww

            • Voidarcher
              Voidarcher
              August 24, 2013 at 6:53 am | #

              DO you think her brains would go into her feet?

        • Bill
          Bill
          September 4, 2013 at 4:01 pm | #

          No, it just requires a Trojan Twister™.

    • Dorky
      Dorky
      August 23, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

      she looks way better with curly hair anyway.
      at least that’s my opinion. sal can keep her hair however she wants to keep her hair.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        August 23, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

        Maybe she likes how her raven straight hair shimmers in the sunlight??

        • Arkadi
          Arkadi
          August 23, 2013 at 3:26 am | #

          Joyce sure does.

          • Khrene Cleaver
            Khrene Cleaver
            August 23, 2013 at 11:19 am | #

            <__>

            With her penis.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        August 23, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

        Everyone looks better with curly hair. Except for those chosen few who look awesome in dreadlocks, like me.

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          August 23, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

          I prefer straight myself. Curly hair reminds me of clowns, which I am deathly afraid of, and dreadlocks, to me, looked silly.

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            August 23, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

            Them’s fightin’ words.

            • saltchocolate
              saltchocolate
              August 23, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

              I got your back, Yo.

              • N0083rP00F
                N0083rP00F
                August 23, 2013 at 10:40 am | #

                Dreadlocks on their back? …. I am confused and awestruck and just a little eckked.

            • Aizat
              Aizat
              August 23, 2013 at 12:27 am | #

              Hey, I’m sorry for that. It’s just that it does looked a tad silly but at least it’s not ridiculous like those weird punk hair whatchamacallit?

              • dethtoll
                dethtoll
                August 23, 2013 at 3:28 am | #

                Them’s fightin’ words.

                • Batman
                  Batman
                  August 23, 2013 at 3:58 am | #

                  TAKE HIM DOWN DETHTOLL. I’m batman.

                • zoabeast
                  zoabeast
                  August 23, 2013 at 4:13 am | #

                  * twaps with a foam bat *
                  SNEAK ATTACK!

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 23, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

          I dun seen a tall blonde gee ober in Sweedun det had Dreadlocks.

        • andmangrewproud
          andmangrewproud
          August 23, 2013 at 12:51 am | #

          Whereas I, when I don’t buzz it all off, becomes a curly jewfro that makes me look like the unholy love child of Kelsey Grammer and Richard Simmons.

          • Dorky
            Dorky
            August 23, 2013 at 4:36 am | #

            every man i’ve ever been attracted to has had a jewfro. frankly, i find it sexy.

        • TheSuicidalGiraffe
          TheSuicidalGiraffe
          August 25, 2013 at 4:00 am | #

          WEAR DREDLOCKS MY BOY, YOU ARE ONE OF THE CHOSEN!
          IT IS YOUR DESTINEY!!!!

      • Far
        Far
        August 23, 2013 at 10:43 pm | #

        And remember:
        “One Word. One Word an’ y’all die.”

  2. Geminia999
    Geminia999
    August 23, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    Jeepers? That’s a bit odd for walky.

    • Seerow
      Seerow
      August 23, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

      I read it and the first thing I think of is the scene in the Hercules animated movie with Pain/Panic. “Jeepers? Mister?”

      • Super Duper
        Super Duper
        August 23, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

        Jeepers went Post op. Its “Miss Jeepers” now.

    • Shobo
      Shobo
      August 23, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

      I bet he was about to go more in the direction of holy saviors.

      • David Willis
        David M Willis
        August 23, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

        Ding ding!

    • David Willis
      David M Willis
      August 23, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

      Walky tries not to swear in front of his parents. He just barely caught himself.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        August 23, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

        He overcorrected. Shoulda settled for Jeez.

        • Joe
          Joe
          August 23, 2013 at 8:54 am | #

          Jinkies would also have been a winner.

          • Yotomoe
            Yotomoe
            August 23, 2013 at 10:05 am | #

            http://youtu.be/cpPR–SBJME?t=32s

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        August 23, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

        I used to do the same thing. Throughout my teenage years, I was allowed to rent horror movies and watch South Park so long as I didn’t start copying the bad language. (I assume I wasn’t supposed to copy all the killing and sex as well, but it never came up).

        I spent a lot of time either cursing in British (“Bloody”, “Bugger”, “Bollocks”, and other lovely terms my parents didn’t recognize as swears), or using fictional cursewords (“Smeg!”, “Zark!” “Frell!”)

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 23, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

          Jeepers Creepers!

          • Aizat
            Aizat
            August 23, 2013 at 12:21 am | #

            Jeepers, Mr. Kent!

            • Icalasari
              Icalasari
              August 23, 2013 at 12:35 am | #

              “I’D HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT TOO IF IT WEREN’T FOR YOU MEDDLING KIDS AND YOUR LOUSY ULTRA CAR!”

          • LookingIn
            LookingIn
            August 23, 2013 at 1:50 am | #

            Where’s you get those peepers!

        • Undrave
          Undrave
          August 23, 2013 at 12:48 am | #

          “Frell” is an awesome made up swear word.

          • Volkai
            Volkai
            August 23, 2013 at 7:42 am | #

            Don’t forget ‘frak!’

            • Ocbrad1
              Ocbrad1
              August 23, 2013 at 9:22 am | #

              Beat me to it.

            • N0083rP00F
              N0083rP00F
              August 23, 2013 at 10:44 am | #

              But what about “Feldercarb”?

              • TheRealAllPurposeGuru
                TheRealAllPurposeGuru
                August 24, 2013 at 12:51 am | #

                That’s “Felgercarb.” Don’t forget “Golmonging”, as long as we’re fleeing the Cylons.

        • Logician
          Logician
          August 23, 2013 at 5:42 am | #

          Gordon Bennet!

          • Notebooked
            Notebooked
            August 23, 2013 at 5:51 am | #

            Mr. and Mrs. Bennett-look-at-the-size-of-that-crab and their son Gordon Bennett-look-at-the-size-of-that-crab…

            • Logician
              Logician
              August 23, 2013 at 9:10 am | #

              BRING ME THE HAIR-DO OF ALFREDO GARCIA!

              • Ocbrad1
                Ocbrad1
                August 23, 2013 at 9:23 am | #

                And the Beatles’ White Album!

              • Notebooked
                Notebooked
                August 23, 2013 at 4:12 pm | #

                Bring me the shed of Alfredo Garcia!

        • Jackson
          Jackson
          August 23, 2013 at 7:06 am | #

          There was a period of my life where my go-to words were the Japanese “chikusho” and “kuso.”

          • Volkai
            Volkai
            August 23, 2013 at 7:43 am | #

            I’m going to guess this period of your life was concurrent with either high school or college.

            • Jackson
              Jackson
              August 23, 2013 at 1:49 pm | #

              Bam. Nailed it.

        • sundriedrainbow
          sundriedrainbow
          August 23, 2013 at 10:57 am | #

          True story: there was a time in my life where I “swore” using “ack!” from Cathy, and my dad leapt down my throat because I was just substituting “ack!” for “damn” or “jesus christ”

          • Somebody
            Somebody
            August 24, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

            That’s pretty strict. My parents actually used expressions like “Sam Hill”, (which got me in trouble on a school bus) or more often “gosh darn” to avoid swearing.

        • Roborat
          Roborat
          August 23, 2013 at 3:48 pm | #

          I thought smeg was a real curse word.

          • Somebody
            Somebody
            August 24, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

            Do you mean “smeg” as in…smegma?

        • Notebooked
          Notebooked
          August 23, 2013 at 4:16 pm | #

          I remember when I was young and didn’t want to offend people so I invented a god just to swear by him. I think his name was Khakk.

      • John
        John
        August 23, 2013 at 3:13 am | #

        It’s kind of weird seeing Walky not swearing by the Cheese.

      • Josh
        Josh
        August 23, 2013 at 5:48 am | #

        I may just be blanking, but I can’t think of any swear words that begin with J?

        • TheRealAllPurposeGuru
          TheRealAllPurposeGuru
          August 24, 2013 at 12:52 am | #

          Jeebus!

      • Riku
        Riku
        August 23, 2013 at 1:42 pm | #

        Was he about to say “Jesus”? I don’t think I’ve heard anybody refer to that as swearing except for super Christians

        • xKiv
          xKiv
          August 23, 2013 at 8:44 pm | #

          Counts as taking the name in vain …

    • Yusaku777
      Yusaku777
      August 23, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

      Well, I’m getting the feeling he stopped himself from saying “Jeeze, Mom.”

      • Yusaku777
        Yusaku777
        August 23, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

        Oh, sonofa… In the space between seeing his comment, and hitting reply, there’s like 5 other replies with my answer.

        I’M JUST SLOW, FOLKS. -_-

      • Batman
        Batman
        August 23, 2013 at 4:00 am | #

        I think it would be more of “JESUS CHRIST!”

    • Jehosaphat
      Jehosaphat
      August 23, 2013 at 1:46 am | #

      Golly gee!

  3. MrMercury
    MrMercury
    August 23, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    CLEVER
    and am I?
    omg

    • MrMercury
      MrMercury
      August 23, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

      Damn

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        August 23, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

        The random gravatar gods didn’t roll in your favour this time it seems.

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 23, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

          Shoulda been Captain Jack riding a bomb.

          • The Candyman
            The Candyman
            August 23, 2013 at 9:41 am | #

            It should always be Captain Jack riding a bomb.

            • Squall
              Squall
              August 24, 2013 at 12:43 am | #

              I wish everyone would change their gravatars to Captain Jack riding a bomb

  4. AHR
    AHR
    August 23, 2013 at 12:02 am | #

    Smooth, Sal.

  5. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    August 23, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    I like to think that these comics don’t take place concurrently, and during the whole time the drama with Amber and her dad was going on, the Walkertons were just staring at Sal in silence.

    Also, it’s nice to see Linda not crazy. She is not crazy, right? Or is she just a lot better at hiding it than most of these parents have been?

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 23, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

      She wants to find Dorothy because only an Alien would date her son.

      • AgentKeen
        AgentKeen
        August 23, 2013 at 12:48 am | #

        “NO, you promised! Keep that duct tape and Sound of Music away from my son!!”

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      August 23, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

      I don’t think she’s the same kind of crazy, at least.

    • Chubsius
      Chubsius
      August 23, 2013 at 8:59 am | #

      Only in that she’s more interested in the girl her son is dating than her actual daughter who showed up on the scene. So, I guess just the usual sort of parental crazy.

      • Hoboturtle
        Hoboturtle
        August 23, 2013 at 11:46 pm | #

        It’s the type off crazy that wants grand kids….

        I hope at least one person does that by the end, so far Joyce’s mom has been disappointing me.

  6. Wonder Wig
    Wonder Wig
    August 23, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    Sal with curly hair makes me feel that her name should be… Brianna.

  7. MarcinMN
    MarcinMN
    August 23, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    Am I the only one who thinks Mrs. Walkerton looks like an older Joyce, but without the blue eyes?

    • idan586
      idan586
      August 23, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

      I 100% agree! Instantly thought of this when I first saw her…

    • David Herbert
      David Herbert
      August 23, 2013 at 9:43 am | #

      That’s getting kind of oedipal.

      • The Candyman
        The Candyman
        August 23, 2013 at 1:43 pm | #

        Only if Walky hooks up with Joyce.

  8. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    August 23, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    She really REALLY doesn’t want to be around them any longer than she has to.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 23, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

      I wouldn’t blame her. Last time they had a kid that was around them all the time it turned into Walky.

      • Aizat
        Aizat
        August 23, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

        I don’t see the problem here.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        August 23, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

        …andd having Walky around = less McNuggets for her.

        • Squall
          Squall
          August 23, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

          McNuggets killed America.

          • Aizat
            Aizat
            August 23, 2013 at 12:33 am | #

            I thought Corporate Douchbagery killed America.

            • Squall
              Squall
              August 23, 2013 at 12:36 am | #

              McNuggets caused 9/11!

              • Opus the Poet
                Opus the Poet
                August 23, 2013 at 12:43 am | #

                And Iran/Contra, too, but nobody remembers that.

                • LookingIn
                  LookingIn
                  August 23, 2013 at 1:52 am | #

                  I thought they caused Teapot Dome?!?!

                • Chronos
                  Chronos
                  August 23, 2013 at 4:27 am | #

                  The Nullification Crisis as well, but that only comes up on AP US History tests.

  9. Animal
    Animal
    August 23, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    I like the bow on Sal’s old school uniform.

    It’s like the bow on a present.

    The bow you take off just before unwrapping the present.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 23, 2013 at 12:11 am | #

      …and underneath that ‘wrapping’ is a ‘box’ full of ‘goodies’. 😀

      • The Candyman
        The Candyman
        August 23, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

        ….Oh! I get it!

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          August 23, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

          You can blame my humour on the diet of 60s & 70s British sitcoms I was raised on.

          • Squall
            Squall
            August 23, 2013 at 12:21 am | #

            And Saturday Night Live I presume.

            • Plasma Mongoose
              Plasma Mongoose
              August 23, 2013 at 12:35 am | #

              Except for the odd video clip, I have never watched a single episode of SNL, mainly because they never played it on free-to-air Australian networks.

    • Volkai
      Volkai
      August 23, 2013 at 7:44 am | #

      You animal, you!

      Wait.

    • TheRealAllPurposeGuru
      TheRealAllPurposeGuru
      August 24, 2013 at 12:54 am | #

      Down, boy. Down.

      Your DOMitage is showing.

      (not that I’m not lusting after her myself…)

  10. Super Duper
    Super Duper
    August 23, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

    So, Sal is NOT Walky’s girlfriend? Aw man… /sarcasm

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 23, 2013 at 12:13 am | #

      I bet their parents will be dissappointed by the lack of two-headed, flipper-toed grandbabies in that particular future then. 😛

      • The Candyman
        The Candyman
        August 23, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

        Adoption is a thing. But there are still a lot more reasons why Walky and Sal probably shouldn’t get together.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          August 23, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

          Yeah. They’re not very compatible.

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          August 23, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

          Like the fact that Sal doesn’t share his love for Monkey Master for example.

          • Super Duper
            Super Duper
            August 23, 2013 at 1:17 am | #

            And you know this how? I bet she watches it, just like she blares One Direction.

          • Heimdall
            Heimdall
            August 24, 2013 at 5:30 am | #

            But, does she love fifty McNuggets?

      • Ancestral Hamster
        Ancestral Hamster
        August 23, 2013 at 2:02 am | #

        But if they don’t mate with each other, the divine blood of the Pharoahs will be lost when mingled with that of mere mortals!

      • Chronos
        Chronos
        August 23, 2013 at 4:29 am | #

        They call him Flipper! Flipper! Faster than lightning…

        • Chronos
          Chronos
          August 23, 2013 at 4:30 am | #

          … and it gets posted further down than I expected.

          • Jackson
            Jackson
            August 23, 2013 at 7:08 am | #

            No worries. Now it’s a brick joke.

          • David
            David
            August 23, 2013 at 10:27 am | #

            Burger flipper? Too hot to stay put?

    • LiamAldam
      LiamAldam
      August 23, 2013 at 1:17 am | #

      Now I’m imagining their two children look exactly like their parents as if their gene pool is some sort of crazy river that loops into itself.

      • The Candyman
        The Candyman
        August 23, 2013 at 1:44 pm | #

        Nah, you’re thinking of the Rosenthals.

    • Josh
      Josh
      August 23, 2013 at 5:52 am | #

      OTP

  11. Gram91
    Gram91
    August 23, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

    Clever girl, but knowing Willis not clever enough, not clever enough at all.

    • Jon P
      Jon P
      August 23, 2013 at 2:06 am | #

      The inherent ability of parents to see through bullshit will be revealed with the piercing comment, “Great, Sal, we’ll give you a ride.”

      • Rokk
        Rokk
        August 23, 2013 at 3:04 am | #

        I think Charles might, Linda’s all ‘rar get the girlfriend’ but Charles seems kinda disappointed that Sal’s leaving so quickly. Walky is definitely Linda’s favourite, but I think Charles still cares for both his kids.

        • begbert2
          begbert2
          August 23, 2013 at 10:53 am | #

          It’s not that Walky’s her favorite, it’s that she can’t come to grips with the laws of the universe changing so quickly. She needs visual confirmation.

  12. Aizat
    Aizat
    August 23, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

    Well, the Walkertons is taking Sal pretty well.

  13. Pizzathehutt
    Pizzathehutt
    August 23, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

    Don’t do it Sal!
    Curly hair is very Sexy. 🙂

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      August 23, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      Well, Sal is good either curly or straight.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        August 23, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

        But curly enhances her already potent sexiness.

      • Pizzathehutt
        Pizzathehutt
        August 23, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

        I just like curly haired Sal better, so shoot me.

        (Don’t shoot me 🙁 )

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          August 23, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

          Hey, I like’em both. So, no shooting required. Besides, I’m saving ammo for when the rage comes.

        • The Candyman
          The Candyman
          August 23, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

          Huh. I honestly prefer the straight look myself. Mainly because I have a weird urge to touch her hair when it’s straight.

          • The Candyman
            The Candyman
            August 23, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

            It probably looks awesome in the wind too. And when wet.

        • Doctor_Who
          Doctor_Who
          August 23, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

          The curls suit her, but the ultra-long straight hair is even better.

          In HS I had a thing for a girl who hadn’t gotten a haircut since the 4th grade, and had a ponytail down past her knees. It was pretty hot.

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            August 23, 2013 at 12:21 am | #

            Long straight with drill-curls is pretty awesome looking in its own right.

          • Roborat
            Roborat
            August 23, 2013 at 3:53 pm | #

            I was so sad when my daughter finally got tired of long hair and cut it short. It was almost long enough to do in the Sailor Moon meatballs and pony tails

  14. timemonkey
    timemonkey
    August 23, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

    Way to completely blow off your daughter that you haven’t seen in years, bongo.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 23, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      Well sal hasn’t told them she’s got a boyfriend(?)

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        August 23, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

        Jason is less of a BF and more of a fuck-buddy.

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          August 23, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

          So….friends then?

          • The Candyman
            The Candyman
            August 23, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

            The best kind of friends.

            • Doctor_Who
              Doctor_Who
              August 23, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

              Friends with benefits!

              Unfortunately, the benefits don’t include good grades.

              • Squall
                Squall
                August 23, 2013 at 12:23 am | #

                Friends with Benefactors!

                • Squall
                  Squall
                  August 23, 2013 at 12:38 am | #

                  I apologize profusely as I realize that this joke involves necrophilia. I’m sorry.

                  Also you’re welcome.

                • Rheinman
                  Rheinman
                  August 23, 2013 at 7:04 am | #

                  Wait, what? How is that a necrophile comment? Inquiring minds want to know.

                • Squall
                  Squall
                  August 24, 2013 at 12:42 am | #

                  I thought it was a funny play on words. But friends with benefactors are people who give special services to their friends after they are deceased.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          August 23, 2013 at 12:26 am | #

          More like a Fuck-douchebag.

          • Aizat
            Aizat
            August 23, 2013 at 12:41 am | #

            Or a fuck-acquaintance.

        • Jack Finch
          Jack Finch
          August 23, 2013 at 4:28 am | #

          A hate-fuck buddy.

  15. Lavaticmay
    Lavaticmay
    August 23, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

    Oh good, I was kinda hoping we would get to have straight haired Sal back, I agree with her dad she does look much better.

  16. nothri
    nothri
    August 23, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

    I hate to be that guy, but I can honestly say that Sal’s problems are pretty much the thing I am currently least interested in right now.

    No seriously. I’m more concerned about Danny and his awkward “I broke up” conversations than this.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 23, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

      >Being even the slightest bit interested in Danny.
      DANNY IS ALWAYS NEGATIVE INTERESTING. HE IS A BLACK HOLE FROM WHICH NO INTEREST CAN ESCAPE.

      • Aizat
        Aizat
        August 23, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

        Oh c’mon, that’s just being mean. Besides, I thought Kevin Costner was the black hole of interest.

        • saltchocolate
          saltchocolate
          August 23, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

          Yes. Kevin Costner would play Danny in the movie.

      • AsimovSideburns
        AsimovSideburns
        August 23, 2013 at 2:06 am | #

        Wait, if no interest can escape, doesn’t that mean that he has ALL of our interest?

        I think he’s more like the ever-replenishing anti-matter of interest. Whenever he comes into contact with it, it ceases to exist.

        • N0083rP00F
          N0083rP00F
          August 23, 2013 at 10:56 am | #

          TL:DNR …. spinning black holes eventually evaporate.

    • You guys...
      You guys...
      August 23, 2013 at 12:35 am | #

      Are you high? Our two most badass heroines (Amber and Sal) are now experiencing the family trauma that made them who they are. This is hype!

      • Varangian
        Varangian
        August 23, 2013 at 3:09 am | #

        …Sal doesn’t have family trauma in the Dumbiverse, Sal has bad decisions that she made (i.e. being part of armed robbery) refuses to own, and a bottomless well of resentment towards parents who, in this universe, are probably a little scared both of and for her. Because she’s their daughter, whom they love, but she also committed a violent crime, which is hard to reconcile.

        Her attempt at making things better is this self-aggrandizing Little Miss I Have My Shit Together Now routine, and it’s sad because its self-inflicted.

        • Logician
          Logician
          August 23, 2013 at 5:50 am | #

          I disagree totally. Her Dad has been loving and welcoming, but her mum just totally ignored her, after sending her away to a prison-like school for years. I think all her problems are her mother’s fault, because she makes it so obvious that she prefers Walky.

          • Varangian
            Varangian
            August 23, 2013 at 6:55 am | #

            I somehow don’t think Linda made the decision to send their daughter away to Catholic school in a vacuum. And, like, call me crazy, but I think the “prison” aspect was largely created by Sal’s own attitude towards the school!

            Because she was sent to that school why again? Oh, right, because she decided to commit two armed robberies. As in, she pointed a lethal weapon at another human being and threatened their life.

            I kiiiinda think maybe that’s the reason her mother can’t really find a way to talk to her just yet.

            • Logician
              Logician
              August 23, 2013 at 8:49 am | #

              A thirteen-year-old kid doesn’t commit armed robbery as the result of a rational decision, she does it because she can’t see how life could get any worse. By sending her away to boarding school, her parents are clearly saying: “We’re not going to help you sort out your problems.”

              If you think the prison aspect was all in her mind, I suspect you got your idea of boarding school from Harry Potter.

              • AgentKeen
                AgentKeen
                August 23, 2013 at 9:59 am | #

                So, unless I missed it, we don’t know the details of the robberies, right? I happened to be reading back some of the archive, the morning after The Party while everyone was deciding what to do about Joyce being roofied, and Sal’s input makes it seem like there may be more to the story with the robbery.

                As far as how Linda is treating Sal right now, Walky having a girlfriend is pretty huge news because, well, Walky is Walky, but Linda doesn’t even stop to say ‘Hi’ to her daughter or give her a hug or anything.

                • Logician
                  Logician
                  August 23, 2013 at 10:49 am | #

                  We know very little about it. I based the guess of Sal’s age on Walky saying he hadn’t seen her for five years, and assuming she’s eighteen. From the bit you mention after the party, I get the impression she feels she didn’t get a fair hearing from the authorities, but how much weight can you put on that? Walky said their parents sent her away, implying it wasn’t a court order, so maybe her role in the crimes was fairly minor. There are lots of possibilities.

                  To me the lack of greeting from Linda makes her a bad parent, no matter what Sal did. Love and support is what parents are for.

              • Varangian
                Varangian
                August 23, 2013 at 12:54 pm | #

                …Maybe a thirteen-year-old’s reasons for becoming involved with an armed robbery aren’t entirely rational, but they’re still a decision she consciously made. This isn’t like Amber’s situation. Committing an armed robbery, unlike abuse, is not something that happens to you. It’s something you do, of your own volition–even if it’s the tiniest amount of your own volition, it’s still something you’re actively doing, and that you could choose not to do.

                Also, wtf? I didn’t say the prison aspect was exclusively in her mind, I said that the fact it was like prison was largely created by her own attitude. I’m sure it wasn’t fucking Hogwarts, it was probably strict as hell and unpleasant to be at, because I imagine its goal was to reform kids on a moral level, which Sal completely resisted. Which is what made it like prison, you see.

                Now, granted, we don’t know all the details, and maybe she was just an accomplice. But, like, if I were in Linda’s shoes, and my kid had just been charged as an accomplice to armed robbery? I might turn to the idea of sending her off to a reform school, because what the fuck, the child who I love just was part of an armed robbery; this is something that needs to be fixed, and I’m not sure as a parent I could fix it.

                Also I think it’s kind of ridiculous to assign this kind of weight and extrapolate this much from the single fixed point of Linda not saying “hello” to her daughter, but I’m extrapolating from the fixed point of Sal being part of armed robbery, so I guess I don’t have much room to talk.

                • Logician
                  Logician
                  August 23, 2013 at 2:07 pm | #

                  I agree that we’re both extrapolating from far too little evidence, but on almost everything else, we can only agree to disagree. Of course she bears responsibility for what she did, but if you’ve never done anything you’ve later regretted after being swept along by the enthusiasm of others, I’m amazed.

                  Saying it was like prison only because of her own attitude is bullshit. People with positive attitudes have done great things in prison: made friends, written books, got degrees, but it’s still prison. They don’t have any choice about being there, and the opportunities are very limited. Sal could have had a great time if she had a vocation to become a nun.

                  Expecting five years of “strict as hell and unpleasant” life to reform a rebellious teenager is also bullshit. Parents send their children away because they can’t or don’t want to deal with them any more, not because they really think the place will magically turn them into well-adjusted adults. If anything, they hope it will terrify them into obedience, which is a strange definition of “moral reform”.

                  The robberies happened five years ago (according to Walky). If Linda hasn’t forgiven her daughter by now, she’s never going to. I don’t think she loves her at all.

                • AgentKeen
                  AgentKeen
                  August 23, 2013 at 5:16 pm | #

                  Only thing I’m going to add is that Sal does seem to have a strong distrust of police/public officials. That could just be because of being involved with an armed robbery or her being a rebel, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole robbery issue wasn’t an instance of profiling or an officer with a grudge and it turns out Sal was wrongfully accused.

                  But, like has been said, we don’t know everything yet, so it’s hard to say.

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      August 23, 2013 at 1:01 am | #

      Yeah, I agree. Out of everything that’s going on the above barely registers as an event. This family just isn’t all that interesting on their own without the aliens and explosions. They work best when playing off interesting people.

  17. Pyr05
    Pyr05
    August 23, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

    And just like that, Willis is trying to get Sal back out the door.

    • Ryune
      Ryune
      August 23, 2013 at 12:26 am | #

      Or the window, as it were.

    • Volkai
      Volkai
      August 23, 2013 at 7:50 am | #

      Maybe it’s just me but I don’t see how, given the current circumstances, Sal could be doing anything other than trying to get out the door away from her parents without being written poorly.

  18. Greg
    Greg
    August 23, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

    All I can see in that first panel is Sal eating the airplane in the poster on the wall.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      August 23, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

      Kinda looks like she’s smoking it to me.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 23, 2013 at 12:22 am | #

      Thanks a lot, now I cannot unsee it. 😀

  19. Shawn T
    Shawn T
    August 23, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

    It’s remarks like that.
    My brother and sister stopped talking to Mom a long time ago. I’m now certain that Mom didn’t understand what she sounded like.

  20. You guys...
    You guys...
    August 23, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

    While awkward, this seems like an accurate comic on many levels.

  21. ridtom
    ridtom
    August 23, 2013 at 12:20 am | #

    Walky looks absolutely horrified.

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      August 23, 2013 at 12:22 am | #

      Seeing his sister like that is a terrifying prospect for Walky.

  22. Shawn T
    Shawn T
    August 23, 2013 at 12:21 am | #

    Huh, I have a gravatar, and that ain’t it. What’ll happen now, with this post.

  23. Sensedog
    Sensedog
    August 23, 2013 at 12:21 am | #

    In a nutshell, I feel bad for Sal.

  24. Shawn T
    Shawn T
    August 23, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

    ‘K, bugger all happens. I prefer my gravatar icon, but I gotta say I like this one.

  25. THEBOONDOCKS
    THEBOONDOCKS
    August 23, 2013 at 12:25 am | #

    NO SAL. KEEP YOUR HAIR CURLY. EMBRACE THE NAPPINESS. http://nappyme.files.wordpress.com/2006/12/boondocks-hueys-hair-intervention2.JPG?w=517&h=201

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      August 23, 2013 at 12:30 am | #

      Love the Boondocks!!!

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      August 23, 2013 at 10:07 am | #

      YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS

  26. You guys...
    You guys...
    August 23, 2013 at 12:30 am | #

    All in all, Sal may always be a badass, but this adds a ton of dimension to her character. She’s even more likeable now.

  27. CarlaGriffin
    CarlaGriffin
    August 23, 2013 at 12:31 am | #

    Gah, I hate it when people go on about how great I look with straight hair. It’s fine for sometimes, but it takes forever to do, is bad for my hair, and it’s such a pain having to avoid getting it wet. It took me ages to get to a point where I was comfortable and confident with having lots of curly hair and now whenever people tell me that it looks bad and I should change it I feel like punching them in the face!

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 23, 2013 at 1:26 am | #

      Does that mean that you wouldn’t mind their comments so much if keeping your hair staight was no trouble at all then?

    • John Cabot
      John Cabot
      August 23, 2013 at 1:48 am | #

      gah, I can imagine.

      In any case, all hair types are awesome, from curly to straight. Your hair is in all probability totally excellent.

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      August 23, 2013 at 3:59 pm | #

      I will never understand girls/women. The ones with straight hair spend all their time trying to make it curly, and the ones with curly hair spend all their time trying to make it straight.

    • joeyo
      joeyo
      September 13, 2013 at 10:13 am | #

      I know I’m late, but: FAAAAAACE!

  28. Ace
    Ace
    August 23, 2013 at 12:46 am | #

    Why was it that Sal dislikes her parents? I don’t remember, and they don’t seem like completely awful human beings (*cough* Blaine *cough*).

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      August 23, 2013 at 12:59 am | #

      She robbed two convenience stores so they sent her away the school whose uniform she’s currently wearing. This also resulted in Walky basically becoming their favorite, for obvious reasons.

      • Logician
        Logician
        August 23, 2013 at 5:54 am | #

        We have no reason to believe that the favouritism was the result of the robberies. It seems much more likely to me that it was the other way round.

        • Volkai
          Volkai
          August 23, 2013 at 7:52 am | #

          Seems most likely that perceived-but-not-actual favoritism might have been a causal factor, with any actual favoritism not occurring until afterwards.

          • Logician
            Logician
            August 23, 2013 at 8:51 am | #

            Maybe, but it seems more likely to me that the favouritism was real, which is why they sent her away instead of trying to sort out her problems.

            • Yotomoe
              Yotomoe
              August 23, 2013 at 10:09 am | #

              Or maybe they just make bad decisions and handle situations badly. That doesn’t imply favoratism. They hadn’t raised kids before and none of them have held up two convenience stores. You can’t expect all people to know how best to fix this situation.

  29. Thor
    Thor
    August 23, 2013 at 12:52 am | #

    No, do not let Sal escape so easily! She needs to spend more time in her family’s watchful eye. If for no other reason than she is going to start having nicotine cravings sometime in the very near future and she will be totally unable to do anything about it.

    That and she looks best with this wavy mane. The hairstyle complements her giant ears.

  30. Wensleydale
    Wensleydale
    August 23, 2013 at 12:56 am | #

    No, Sal don’t go! We need you!

    …Wait. If she leaves, she might run into Blaine. Go Sal! Be the Batman we all know you are! Become Amazi-Girl!

    • Jade
      Jade
      August 23, 2013 at 1:20 am | #

      Be the Hero Indiana University needs, not the Hero it deserves 😛

      Also, is what Sal’s father said offensive, or is that just me?

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        August 23, 2013 at 1:23 am | #

        Only if you believe his perference for Sal to have straight hair is based on racism rather than personal aesthetics.

        • Thomas
          Thomas
          August 23, 2013 at 5:16 am | #

          @ PM: Yours is probably the best answer.

          Also, the result is that he’s supportive of her own preference, which is probably what David wants to convey here. Charles is the easy parent & Linda the difficult one. I suppose Charles’ would have reacted differently if Sal’s answer in panel 3 had been: “Yes! Do you like it?”

        • nothri
          nothri
          March 29, 2014 at 7:24 pm | #

          In retrospect the racism angle has been given more credence.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        August 23, 2013 at 1:31 am | #

        Not really offensive…no. He just liked her hair better straight, that’s all.

      • Wensleydale
        Wensleydale
        August 23, 2013 at 1:34 am | #

        Nonsense. He’s just trying to establish a connection. He has curly hair. She has curly hair. They can Father-Daughter bond over their collective curliness.

        • Wensleydale
          Wensleydale
          August 23, 2013 at 1:35 am | #

          Wait. He prefers it straight. Dang it, reading skills, you ruined another joke.

      • John Cabot
        John Cabot
        August 23, 2013 at 1:45 am | #

        it certainly is laden with baggage

      • AgentKeen
        AgentKeen
        August 23, 2013 at 5:22 pm | #

        I was getting the feeling it was, at least, not something he probably should say, but I kinda passed it over as I feel it’s overshadowed by Sal’s mother’s almost complete dismissal of Sal even being there.

        My grandma always used to go off on me because of my long hair, and me and my cousin because of having piercings, with her main contention being that ‘only women have long hair and wear earrings’ and that, because of having long hair, girls would never like me. So I think I might be slightly desensitized to hair criticism, but can definitely see it as being offensive (especially if there’s racial undertone?).

  31. newllend
    newllend
    August 23, 2013 at 1:24 am | #

    Oh ya back to this LIE!

  32. John Cabot
    John Cabot
    August 23, 2013 at 1:45 am | #

    Suddenly I am so glad of the relationship I have with my parents.

  33. james
    james
    August 23, 2013 at 1:49 am | #

    Sooo why is she cosplaying as asuka?

    • Wensleydale
      Wensleydale
      August 23, 2013 at 2:30 am | #

      What? Who wouldn’t want to cosplay as Asuka…James?

      Actually, if we’re talking about Asuka Langley-Soryu, then the uniform is blue with a red, thin, twisty-tie.

      • james
        james
        August 23, 2013 at 3:11 pm | #

        I never said it was a good cosplay of her.

    • John
      John
      August 23, 2013 at 3:12 am | #

      She’s not. She’s cosplaying as Ceilidh MacFarlane.

      • Volkai
        Volkai
        August 23, 2013 at 7:53 am | #

        Check my website link if you don’t know who that is.

        • Roborat
          Roborat
          August 23, 2013 at 4:01 pm | #

          I suspect most of the posters here know who she is. That webcomic holds legendary status to many.

          • Jason
            Jason
            August 24, 2013 at 2:27 pm | #

            Never heard of it.

            • Roborat
              Roborat
              August 26, 2013 at 3:31 pm | #

              Apparently you are not one of the many then. But seriously, if you are interested, follow the link in Volkai’s post.

  34. Ancestral Hamster
    Ancestral Hamster
    August 23, 2013 at 2:05 am | #

    You imply when her hair is natural she is not pretty. Way to go Charles. Make sure your daughter cannot be comfortable with her natural hair.

    • Varangian
      Varangian
      August 23, 2013 at 3:14 am | #

      I’m pretty sure he’s just used to her hair being straight and honestly thought his daughter was pretty that way. And it sounds hypercritical because Sal is putting on a fucking martyrdom song and dance routine of “how hard must I work to please my parents???”

      I like Sal, a lot, but I’m not on her side in this.

      • MLEst1
        MLEst1
        August 23, 2013 at 3:23 am | #

        Personally, I thought she scheduled the appointment mostly so she’d have a legitimate excuse to avoid her parents. Not because she doesn’t love them, but because she doesn’t know how to interact with them.

        • Thor
          Thor
          August 23, 2013 at 6:42 am | #

          You are assuming that this appointment actually exists.

      • Zababcd
        Zababcd
        August 23, 2013 at 6:15 am | #

        I think it sounds hypercritical because it’s hypercritical.

        • Kamino Neko
          Kamino Neko
          August 23, 2013 at 11:11 pm | #

          Yeah, so hypercritical…’I like your hair the same way you like it, so it’s too bad it decided to go out of your control.’ What a monster.

    • Björn
      Björn
      August 23, 2013 at 11:28 am | #

      He probably thinks it’s prettier straight because she looks more like her mother then.

      • The Candyman
        The Candyman
        August 23, 2013 at 1:52 pm | #

        Yikes that sounds weird. Even still though, if Sal wanted to look like her mom she’d need a serious haircut.

  35. Synnerman
    Synnerman
    August 23, 2013 at 2:22 am | #

    Uh Oh, seems like Sal’s dad needs to watch Chris Rock’s “Good Hair.” Or maybe he doesn’t care. I wonder if Sal feels that kind of baggage? She isn’t “high-yella.”

    That entire exchange between dad and Sal was a blipvert of “Good and Bad Hair” from School Daze.

    • brionl
      brionl
      August 23, 2013 at 2:31 pm | #

      That’s the one I was thinking of. Her dad probably doesn’t even realize what he’s doing.

  36. Gottawonder
    Gottawonder
    August 23, 2013 at 2:44 am | #

    Doesn’t matter a whole lot what anyone thinks, Sal will wear her hair any way she pleases.
    My vote, straight looks fantastic on her. Curly on her is cute, but cute ain’t Sal.
    Read some background on the Walkertons, they are far from boring. At least in Roomies. Maybe here they are ‘normal’. Well, as normal as any of David’s parents are.

  37. John
    John
    August 23, 2013 at 3:22 am | #

    I like the sibling exchange in the first panel. Very… siblingy.

    • Jimmy
      Jimmy
      August 23, 2013 at 6:36 am | #

      Yep this is exactly how my sister and I talk to each other. Even though she’s 37 and I’m 31 haha.

  38. Cheryl
    Cheryl
    August 23, 2013 at 3:59 am | #

    you all know not the bane of having long curly hair.

    • Zababcd
      Zababcd
      August 23, 2013 at 6:04 am | #

      You’re making some large assumptions about a very large base of readers.

    • Synnerman
      Synnerman
      August 23, 2013 at 11:19 am | #

      It’s more like they don’t know the bane of having kinky black hair in a very straight hair affirming world.

    • Lord_Beavis
      Lord_Beavis
      August 24, 2013 at 4:12 pm | #

      I grew up in the era of feathered hair. My hair would do no such thing. Even if you put actual feathers in it.

  39. sun tzu
    sun tzu
    August 23, 2013 at 4:11 am | #

    Casting another vote for straight hair.

  40. Crumplepunch
    Crumplepunch
    August 23, 2013 at 6:33 am | #

    I foresee awkwardness of Dorothy being uncomfortable with Walky in front of her parents.

  41. DT
    DT
    August 23, 2013 at 6:52 am | #

    Walky said “jeepers”? That’s awesome!

    I’m gonna try to start using it in my everyday vocabulary now.

  42. turtlefu
    turtlefu
    August 23, 2013 at 8:35 am | #

    yeah, I got to chime in with, “this is kind of offensive, David”.
    Even if he “honestly” thinks she looks prettier with more straight hair, there is still a huge cultural context of natural = ugly, so I really hope this develops into something and isn’t just left hanging. I trust you to handle these things with tact, David.

    • Alex
      Alex
      August 23, 2013 at 10:19 am | #

      Well, this storyline has hardly cast any parent in the best of lights, so maybe be that’s the reason for making him say that, besides showing him as the only Walkerton parent that acknowledges their daughter in any way.

    • Synnerman
      Synnerman
      August 23, 2013 at 11:21 am | #

      I agree that this wasn’t just dropped casually. I’m looking forward to the stories that develop, particularly if Sal’s issues with her parents come from dad’s preferential treatment to the kid who passes better.

      • Paul
        Paul
        August 23, 2013 at 2:10 pm | #

        I don’t know if the specific “straight hair” comment by David is supposed to have that much weight. To me, this seems more like a situation where Sal is trying to fit in with her family and be the good daughter; so far, she’s been ignored by her mother, and faced an implied criticism by her father (however well-meaning). It’s a straw that breaks the camels back, and she just wants out of an awkward situation.

    • Axel
      Axel
      August 23, 2013 at 6:40 pm | #

      I was going to say, “just because a character says something doesn’t mean the author agrees” (sorry if you’re referring to something Willis actually said I’m not aware of) but I just noticed this in his little twitter sidebar:

      “Like maybe five people noticed how awful Sal’s dad was being in today’s DoA. My readership is pretty damn white, isn’t it.”

      So I’m willing to bet he’s aware of the cultural context.

  43. MDranz
    MDranz
    August 23, 2013 at 9:48 am | #

    If that cut-off is anything to go by, her saying that is NOT going to go over well.

  44. Jody
    Jody
    August 23, 2013 at 10:22 am | #

    Blarg at that hair comment. Blarg blarg barf.

  45. wondering
    wondering
    August 23, 2013 at 10:23 am | #

    Wait, what! Why are we having a conversation about how much dad cares for Sal when he clearly put her down? She has natural hair – inherited from him, even – and he tells her that she’s prettier when it is straight. There is a ton of baggage in that, so let me spell it out:

    a) Black women get a lot of crap about not being beautiful.
    b) Black women are pressured to straighten their hair because their natural hair is considered inappropriate, unprofessional, etc.

    In other words, black women are constantly told they are not beautiful in their own right and that they have to do expensive, damaging things to themselves to approximate the white woman beauty ideal. (Not that all white women meet the beauty ideal – I sure as fuck don’t – but that the beauty ideal is white, or at least light skinned.)

    In short, while Dad is at least paying attention to Sal, the first thing he said to her (and not to both of his kids) was a put-down about her looks. That’s not good parenting folks. Both parents are a fail for Sal here, regardless of any mistakes she has made in the past.

    • The Candyman
      The Candyman
      August 23, 2013 at 3:17 pm | #

      Holy crap, never thought of that. I never looked into it much partly because it’s the nature of parents to criticize their kids, but I can see where you’re coming from. I’m curly haired myself and I like Sal’s straight look, but I never stopped to think how much of a hassle long hair is.

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      August 23, 2013 at 4:06 pm | #

      I think that just maybe you, and others, are reading too much into this. Maybe she does happen to look better in straight hair. Or maybe she prefers straight hair, and Dad is used to seeing her in straight hair.

      • Dio
        Dio
        August 23, 2013 at 7:24 pm | #

        I hate to bring up authorial intent, especially on a website where he interacts so much with his fans and can speak for himself, but I think Willis is well aware of the politicized nature of black women’s hair and wouldn’t put in something like this without thinking of that.

    • Synnerman
      Synnerman
      August 23, 2013 at 6:51 pm | #

      Agreed. Between the documentaries “Dark Girls” and “Good Hair” a bit of a broader light is being shined on why weave, and relaxers are so much a part of the picture.

      Honestly, some pieces of both doco’s are on Youtube. Black hair chemistry is actually very different. A perm for straight hair is not the same thing as a perm for black hair. And if you have a lot of hair like Sal, it would be a complete pain to keep long and straight. Add a bit a moisture and it’s even worse.

      So until David Willis says its not a thing, it can be speculated as a thing. Sal has nappy hair, and there is a crap ton of social baggage that goes along with it.

  46. David
    David
    August 23, 2013 at 10:34 am | #

    Something’s very fishy with the chemistry here. Like the parents combined are bipolar, and Sal and Walky are trying not to trigger an episode. They act mortally afraid, and the parents are oblivious to that.

  47. iggy_rock
    iggy_rock
    August 23, 2013 at 11:28 am | #

    Epileptic Tree: Have Amber and Sal interacted at all? I ask because we know that Amber was present at an armed robbery at a store (possibly of the convenient variety) and Sal robbed two convenience stores. Maybe Amber was present? Admittedly this would make it a very small world where Walky built C3-P0…

    • showler
      showler
      August 23, 2013 at 11:39 am | #

      Is that dark curly hair at the top of panel three?

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/02-guess-whos-coming-to-galassos/color/

      • David
        David
        August 23, 2013 at 11:53 am | #

        Now it all falls into place. Sal’s parents genuinely care about her and want to avoid her being recognized by witnesses.

    • turbanous
      turbanous
      August 23, 2013 at 8:04 pm | #

      Here is the only time that Amber and Sal are onscreen (on panel?) together

      At this point Sal is the only person on the floor Amber hasn’t seen before so it makes the most sense that she is reacting to Sal and not Billie

  48. OmegaDez
    OmegaDez
    August 23, 2013 at 11:45 am | #

    I’m starting to seriously miss Sal’s straight hair. XD

  49. Julz
    Julz
    August 23, 2013 at 12:38 pm | #

    Ugh this made me cringe so bad. As someone with curly, wild hair I absolutely hate it when someone tells me “oh it looks better straight”. Screw you, I look fabulous no matter what.

    • whatho
      whatho
      August 23, 2013 at 10:19 pm | #

      Yes! Yes you do!

      Seriously, people need to step off other peoples’ hair.

  50. Kaoy
    Kaoy
    August 23, 2013 at 1:51 pm | #

    I really don’t get the racial/parental appeasement angles a lot of you are trying to hang on the curly-vs.-straight issue. The whole discussion is just a story device allowing for Sal to slip out, since she very obviously isn’t comfortable around her parents.

    Considering some of the shit she has pulled in her past, she probably just has a very strained relationship with them and would rather avoid them than confront them.

    • Axel
      Axel
      August 23, 2013 at 7:47 pm | #

      It can be both.

    • wondering
      wondering
      August 23, 2013 at 7:48 pm | #

      Nope – my read is if Sal hadn’t wanted to see her parents and impress them that she has “changed”, she wouldn’t be there. But look, she showed up in going-to-church clothes, forced a smile, hoped it would work out, but there goes Mom ignoring her and Dad putting her down again and she doesn’t fight it. She gives up, decides it’s not getting better this time after all, and takes the first excuse to get out of there.

      • Kaoy
        Kaoy
        August 24, 2013 at 12:36 pm | #

        Again, I disagree. Having grown up with a parent I never really enjoyed being around/had much in common with, I can tell you definitely that putting in a brief appearance in clothing said parent would find appropriate and then leaving results in a lot less confrontation than just trying to avoid them completely. They eventually do find you and then it becomes a major production. Best to leave it to a ‘walk on roll’ than risk it becoming a ‘Greek tragedy’.

  51. Darth Cariss
    Darth Cariss
    August 23, 2013 at 1:51 pm | #

    I hope Sal is telling the truth and she’ll be back to her normal hair soon. She looks too different like this!

  52. Skyepie
    Skyepie
    August 23, 2013 at 3:18 pm | #

    She ‘scheduled’ an appointment and she’s ‘tardy’ all the time >_>

    *reads waaaaaay too much into it*

  53. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    August 23, 2013 at 3:25 pm | #

    To be fair, my curly hair likes to eat combs. And hands.

    • Quitekaiser
      Quitekaiser
      August 23, 2013 at 5:47 pm | #

      Like a Venus Fly Trap for stuffs.

  54. khambatta
    khambatta
    August 23, 2013 at 6:20 pm | #

    Sal is putting a lot more effort into this than her parents deserve.

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      August 23, 2013 at 6:47 pm | #

      Than her mother deserves. Dad seems happy to see her.

      • khambatta
        khambatta
        August 23, 2013 at 9:55 pm | #

        If he was that concerned about not seeing the two of them together, he could have done something about it.
        This looks at some of the issues with his comments on her hair. (In the UK, reports at the time suggested this may have been similar)

    • Nym
      Nym
      August 23, 2013 at 10:56 pm | #

      Agreed.

  55. Ragnal
    Ragnal
    August 23, 2013 at 7:26 pm | #

    Yeeeeah, I’m thinking now it’s less to impress the parents and more to show off to Jason.

    I’ll be wrong, but damned if my gut doesn’t think so.

  56. whatho
    whatho
    August 23, 2013 at 10:18 pm | #

    Man, I HATE it when parents harp on their kids’ appearance (hygiene is different). And though I’m not black, I know that natural vs. relaxed hair can be a very touchy subject. Eesh.

  57. Nym
    Nym
    August 23, 2013 at 10:55 pm | #

    Ouch. Ouch. I can’t tell whether it would be better to be straight-up ignored, like her mom does, or given nasty “compliments” like her dad. Her mom doesn’t even *acknowledge* her. But man, her dad. At least when you’re ignored, you’re not being guilt-tripped for leaving right after an insult.

  58. Aeyt
    Aeyt
    August 23, 2013 at 11:29 pm | #

    When I’ve missed a few days, I get sad when I catch up.

  59. Lord_Beavis
    Lord_Beavis
    August 24, 2013 at 4:08 pm | #

    Wait. What? I just started reading the comic archives yesterday… How am I already up to date???

    Waaahhhhhh

  60. ThatGug
    ThatGug
    August 28, 2014 at 8:32 am | #

    For the record the reason why you see so many spotlighted black women with straight hair is because Curly hair is “not classy” is “messy” is “unkempt” and “unprofessional”. There was recently (its august 2014 when i’m posting this) a lawsuit due to the military trying to force women to use certain haircuts. the problem being that none of the approved hairstyles could be achieved with Natural black hair, meaning they’d have to literally spend Hours painfully or tediously “fixing” it.

    anyways even black parents often try to get their daughters to “straighten” their hair because thats how you are “presentable”.

    All of this is no doubt part of the contribution to her later freak out about Walky and Race that will come (i got spoiled on a blog promoting this comic which is why i am here and cant “put it down”)

  61. RP
    RP
    December 2, 2015 at 8:52 pm | #

    Rereading these… Man, I forgot how many people went out of their way to defend the racist stuff in general and Sal’s parents in particular.

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