Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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May 12, 2026

Romantic

by David M Willis on August 8, 2016 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - It All Returns
└ Tags: dina, jennifer, ruth, walky

Discussion (360) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    August 8, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    DINA YOU WEIRD OUTLIER

    • TheNinthShader
      TheNinthShader
      August 8, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      YEAH, STOP BEING WEIRD AND JOIN IN THE GROUP OF TERRIBLY MADE RELATIONSHIPS.

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        August 8, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

        THE COMIC IS NOT CALLED “SENSIBLING OF AGE”, GET WITH THE PROGRAM.

        • Darkoneko
          Darkoneko
          August 8, 2016 at 8:02 am | #

          Sans-siblings of age ?

          • meareaperson
            meareaperson
            August 8, 2016 at 3:38 pm | #

            But there’s plenty of siblings!
            -Walky and Sal
            -The DeSantoses
            -Joyce’s brothers (looking up the names of characters has taken up enough time already, damn you Willis. <3)

            • a snow ʍousɐ
              a snow ʍousɐ
              August 8, 2016 at 5:27 pm | #

              Joyce’s siblings are John, Jocelyn, and… I forget the other one, but he’s the prodigal son.

              • Kamino Neko
                Kamino Neko
                August 8, 2016 at 5:33 pm | #

                Jordan.

              • djaevlenselv
                djaevlenselv
                August 8, 2016 at 5:34 pm | #

                Is it Jonathan? Or was that Jocelyn’s deadname?

                • Kamino Neko
                  Kamino Neko
                  August 8, 2016 at 6:03 pm | #

                  Jonathan is John. (Goddammit, Brown, that’s not the proper short form of Jonathan!) Joc’s deadname was Joshua. The last sibling is Jordan, which is strangely non-Biblical.

                • Slartibeast Button, BIA
                  Slartibeast Button, BIA
                  August 8, 2016 at 6:24 pm | #

                  Well, there’s the Jordan River in the Holy Land.

                • Annie
                  Annie
                  September 2, 2016 at 8:14 pm | #

                  The River Jordan is where Jesus was baptized by St John the Baptist.
                  Jordan strikes me as quite Biblical/Christian when combined with John/Jonathan and Joshua.

      • Adept Arcanist
        Adept Arcanist
        August 10, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

        To be fair, she *is* kinda a rebound off of Joyce.

        …Again.

    • Anorak
      Anorak
      August 8, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

      dina is the outlier for having a normal relationship. that is a weird thought

      • Wheelpath
        Wheelpath
        August 8, 2016 at 1:14 am | #

        I just realized that Amber and Danny would be normal if not for the vigilante thing, which is a biggie.

        • Prinnyramza
          Prinnyramza
          August 8, 2016 at 3:39 am | #

          You could see Amber’s identity as Amazigirl as kinda like Spider-man’s Venom. A metaphor for hard drugs. Both make them feel powerful but dangerous aggressive and causes them to push people away. Then again taking that metaphor to its logical extreme would mean that all her fans are rooting for that one girl who does a lot of drugs.

          • Spencer
            Spencer
            August 8, 2016 at 5:22 am | #

            Amazi-Girl makes a lot more sense if you’ve read It’s Walky! as she is, essentially, a more grounded version of Anti-Joyce.

            • Rowen Morland
              Rowen Morland
              August 8, 2016 at 5:33 am | #

              The whole Anti-Joyce thing ended well for Joyce…

              • Spencer
                Spencer
                August 8, 2016 at 5:40 am | #

                I meant that, much like how Anti-Joyce was representative of Joyce’s sexual repression, Amazi-Girl is Amber’s rage given a name and purpose.

                It’s just that we don’t have a duplomatic in DoA, so that manifests instead as Dissociative Identity Disorder.

                • Rowen Morland
                  Rowen Morland
                  August 9, 2016 at 1:22 am | #

                  Not sure if that is better or worse.

          • Mara
            Mara
            August 8, 2016 at 1:22 pm | #

            I’m not sure how to understand Sal’s comment here:
            http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-6/01-to-those-whod-ground-me/prove/
            Is how Amazi-Girl does it (as opposed to why) and what fuels her some drug?

            • vanillalatte
              vanillalatte
              August 8, 2016 at 1:43 pm | #

              I read it as ‘rage’ or something of its ilk.

              • duckgalrox
                duckgalrox
                August 8, 2016 at 2:05 pm | #

                Rage at perceived impotence, fear of inadequacy, something to prove…For Sal, it was not being born “white enough” and for Amber it’s her dad’s abuse.

            • Spencer
              Spencer
              August 8, 2016 at 6:22 pm | #

              Sal was motivated by past neglect to do something stupid and violent when she was a child.

              Amber now spends most of her time doing stupid violent stuff in order to deal with how she was abused and her trauma relating to Sal.

              Sal and Amber are going through much of the same journey, it’s just that Sal’s started earlier.

        • Spencer
          Spencer
          August 8, 2016 at 5:20 am | #

          I guess the way I see them is that they were good for each other, they just had the bad timing to date when Amber was starting to go through a mental health crisis.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 8, 2016 at 12:15 am | #

      Outliers exist to screw with statisticians.

      • 0kami
        0kami
        August 8, 2016 at 1:09 am | #

        So, Becky’s now looking at becoming a Stats major? ^_^

      • Darkoneko
        Darkoneko
        August 8, 2016 at 9:44 am | #

        Kinky.

    • TheNinthShader
      TheNinthShader
      August 8, 2016 at 12:15 am | #

      Plays West Side Story – Cool on the hacked potato radio.

      • merbrat
        merbrat
        August 8, 2016 at 1:30 am | #

        *snap-snap*

        • Trrebi981
          Trrebi981
          August 8, 2016 at 1:40 am | #

          Keep it cool….
          Keep it…
          Cool…

    • HeySo
      HeySo
      August 8, 2016 at 1:31 am | #

      If it wasn’t Dina, I’d interpret that as bragging. :’P

      ..especially given most Walkyverse relationships :X

      • HeySo
        HeySo
        August 8, 2016 at 1:31 am | #

        ..and in my experience, they’re less screwed up than RL ones >.>

    • StClair
      StClair
      August 8, 2016 at 2:00 am | #

      Saruyama Dina, who knows 10,000 dinosaur facts, is an outlier adn should not have been counted.

    • iforgetwhatiputhere
      iforgetwhatiputhere
      August 8, 2016 at 2:05 am | #

      Yes, because Dina and Becky have such a healthy relationship what with Becky rebounding in 0 seconds flat after being rejected by her crush of multiple years and Dina starting a relationship with the first person to ask her to talk about dinosaurs.

      • Liliet
        Liliet
        August 8, 2016 at 3:24 am | #

        First, Becky did not rebound in 0 seconds flat, that’s Walky in the core universe. Becky was rejected the first evening flat out, and after that did not make any more moves or hints towards the idea of dating Joyce. By that evening she was already catching her boyfriend and demanding that he fuck her.

        During the party, Becky and Dina had been talking all evening, Becky being the only person at the party to engage Dina at all after she hid her face. They hit it off perfectly, all of that specifically with Becky NOT ‘pulling any moves’ on Dina for the sake of Joyce feeling better.

        Which is to say, Becky was specifically interested in personally Dina, and their relationship was not, on her end, in any way motivated by Becky trying to suppress or something her feelings about Joyce. It could just as easily have been just close friendship.

        And Dina did not just start the relationship with ‘the first person to ask her about dinosaurs’. She started the relationship with the first person to see her as a full adult and a possible romantic target. She started the relationship after Becky publicly admitted out loud that she wanted said relationship.

        That it also coincided with the first person who wanted to listen to her talk about dinosaurs… is not actually a coincidence, because the point is that Becky loves everything about Dina, does not think about any of it as inappropriate or a flaw, and derives joy from her special interest together with her.

        They are 100% compatible, and they would have been best friends (well, second to Joyce for Becky and possibly second to Amber for Dina) if they hadn’t hit it off romantically.

        • GhostWriterL
          GhostWriterL
          August 8, 2016 at 5:40 am | #

          Becky and Dina are kind of in a ‘honeymoon’ phase of a new relationship, where everything is new and exciting and wonderful. Compound that with the rush that was gotten from one trying to rescue the other one that needed rescuing from an abusive kidnapper to the mix.

          While they may not last forever, it’s a far reach to say that they won’t. Becky may be rebounding, and Dina may be latching on to the first person to engage her as an adult, but outside of exploring the possibilities of intimacy neither have tried to push to that level yet. Being in a relationship is, at this point, going out to ‘fancy’ dinners, letting each other borrow the others’ things, and lip-pecking each other a whole hell of a lot.

          Once they start seeing flaws in each other they may not immediately like, or relationship intimacy often evolves into more ‘interactive’ forms of contact, or the demands of college set in, they may fall apart. However, out of all the couples in this comic, I’d say when and if they do it will be relatively amicable and they could likely remain very close friends.

          • Nightsbridge
            Nightsbridge
            August 8, 2016 at 3:02 pm | #

            Yes.

            They also seem to have a really high chance of NOT falling apart compared to their peers.

        • iforgetwhatiputhere
          iforgetwhatiputhere
          August 9, 2016 at 2:21 am | #

          Yes, if you look at it from the most optimistic point of view possible, it looks pretty good.

    • Rowen Morland
      Rowen Morland
      August 8, 2016 at 5:23 am | #

      “Department of Congruity, Miss. Any outliers to report?”

      • Darkoneko
        Darkoneko
        August 8, 2016 at 9:45 am | #

        …why do You ask ?

        • Ana Chronistic
          Ana Chronistic
          August 8, 2016 at 11:37 pm | #

          “Father Abaddon, have you been drinking?”

          “I’ve never stopped”

      • Balthazar
        Balthazar
        August 8, 2016 at 11:35 pm | #

        “Blast it, too soon!”

    • nothri
      nothri
      August 8, 2016 at 6:12 pm | #

      Dina has never lied once about weirding out. Shame on you.

      Oh. Oh wait. I think I heard that wrong. Which is weird cause I was reading it and shouldn’t have gotten it confused. Huh.

  2. AnvilPro
    AnvilPro
    August 8, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    Walky and Dina are going to be best friends one day, mark my words!

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      August 8, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      Walky and Becky are already new besties, so they may spend a fair amount of time in close proximity soon.

      • butts
        butts
        August 8, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

        previously: ‘walking with dina’
        soon: ‘walky with dina’

        • Chandra
          Chandra
          August 8, 2016 at 1:28 am | #

          And if we get another moment where Dina gets assigned to stalk someone else (it was Jacob last time some chapters ago) we get to have “Stalking with Dina”.

        • Trrebi981
          Trrebi981
          August 8, 2016 at 1:41 am | #

          HEHEHE, I’ve shipped it since It’s Walky.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      August 8, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

      Dina, making friends with a non-canonical dinosaur????

      She has higher standards than that.

      (which is a pity because they have lots of interests in common)

  3. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    August 8, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    As if we didn’t have enough proof that Dina doesn’t know how human interactions work.

    Everyone knows throwing something is the preferred method of initiating courtship. How else will you demonstrate both your upper-body strength, and your follow through, the most important traits one seeks in a mate?

    This is why monkeys throw poo. It’s also why dinosaurs died out; no one wants to mate with T-Rex, his stubby arms are lousy for pitching displays.

    • Dean
      Dean
      August 8, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      It’s called ‘pitching woo’ for a REASON, people!

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      I think in their case it was more about plumage displays.

      • DSL
        DSL
        August 8, 2016 at 6:45 am | #

        Lovely plumage, the velociraptor.

        • foamy
          foamy
          August 8, 2016 at 12:32 pm | #

          The plumage don’t enter into it; it’s dead!

          • Nightsbridge
            Nightsbridge
            August 8, 2016 at 3:04 pm | #

            It’s just sleeping.

    • Tunaro
      Tunaro
      August 8, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

      I’ve always been afraid to actually confirm this, but I’m reasonably certain
      men in my family aren’t allowed to marry unless it’s to someone who can both out-drink them and thoroughly kick their ass, occasionally simultaneously.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        August 8, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

        I like your family already.
        Though it stands to reason that if you can kick the whole family’s ass, possibly as a team with your fiance, then you can bypass the rule.

        • Tunaro
          Tunaro
          August 8, 2016 at 12:34 am | #

          …I cannot deny the possibility of something like that having ever happened.

    • Gamaran Sepudomyn
      Gamaran Sepudomyn
      August 8, 2016 at 11:57 am | #

      Died out? No, they mostly just got more fancy, eventually resulting in the fanciest of all dinosaurs, the peacock.

  4. TheNinthShader
    TheNinthShader
    August 8, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    Foursome?

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      August 8, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

      Ew, no. That’d be like incest.
      Unless you meant kicking Walky out now that the Terrible Lizbians are here.

      • TheNinthShader
        TheNinthShader
        August 8, 2016 at 12:12 am | #

        But none of them are related.

        Also, I expected Joe to come in.

        • Disloyal Subject
          Disloyal Subject
          August 8, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

          Walky and Billie aren’t biologically siblings, but for all intents and purposes they’re brother and sister.

          • Deanatay
            Deanatay
            August 8, 2016 at 9:51 am | #

            Pleez, that’s the FIRST thing to get thrown out in most ‘family loving’ porn.
            “But, you’re my brother…”
            “We’re not blood, so what’s the harm in it?”

            I… read about it. In a magazine.

            • Disloyal Subject
              Disloyal Subject
              August 8, 2016 at 3:16 pm | #

              Isn’t that more for stepsiblings than close childhood friends?

          • Slartibeast Button, BIA
            Slartibeast Button, BIA
            August 8, 2016 at 3:27 pm | #

            The term to google here is “Westermarck effect”.

            tl;dr: If you grow up with someone as little kids, you just won’t be attracted to them because your brain anti-incest routine as marked them as no-nos.

            I think this is the idea that DS means. Note that it is a theory, not a iron-clad Truth.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

      Becky + 3 atrociraptors, you mean?

      ….. okay, something’s wrong with the spellcheck dictionary on this comment board. It doesn’t think atrociraptor is a word. That’s a MAJOR design oversight.

      • butts
        butts
        August 8, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

        ‘Brontosaurus,’ on the other hand, is totally acceptable. Whut.

        • Random832
          Random832
          August 8, 2016 at 12:49 am | #

          Brontosaurus was re-legitimized last year.

          • butts
            butts
            August 8, 2016 at 12:56 am | #

            But, but DoA takes place in 2010. Right?

            Right?

            (no)

            • Random832
              Random832
              August 8, 2016 at 11:56 am | #

              Even if DoA takes place in 2010, your spell check does not. (Did browsers even have spell check in 2010?) Also, the spell check isn’t part of this board, it’s a feature of your browser (if it doesn’t work on some other places, it’s because not every website bothers to specify that they’re in English, and some browsers aren’t willing to guess)

            • Nightsbridge
              Nightsbridge
              August 8, 2016 at 3:05 pm | #

              Dumbing of Age takes place in present day. It has a sliding time scale. Remember the ‘Frozen’ reference, as a childhood movie that Becky and Joyce wished they got to watch?

              • Rutee
                Rutee
                August 8, 2016 at 3:38 pm | #

                Frozen was a teenage movie. It’s only 3 years old.

                • Slartibeast Button, BIA
                  Slartibeast Button, BIA
                  August 8, 2016 at 3:51 pm | #

                  But it promotes a culture of thinking your parents can be wrong about what they think is best for you!

                • Rutee
                  Rutee
                  August 9, 2016 at 5:55 am | #

                  I’m going to assume you just wanted to link them talking about it. Because teenage girls are hilariously controlled by a lot of fundie types, including, it seems, Willis’.

          • Ed Rhodes
            Ed Rhodes
            August 8, 2016 at 9:42 am | #

            Yay! Brontosaurus was always my favorite dino!

      • bhtooefr
        bhtooefr
        August 8, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

        That spellchecker is part of your web browser, not this site. So, you’ll need to add atrociraptor to its dictionary.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          August 8, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

          Wait, I’M responsible for something here? That’s an even MORE major design flaw!

          • Darkoneko
            Darkoneko
            August 8, 2016 at 3:14 pm | #

            Make a design idiot-proof, and they’re gonna invent better idiots

  5. Stephen R. Bierce
    Stephen R. Bierce
    August 8, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    I’ll be Raptor ‘Round Your Finger…

    • Woobie
      Woobie
      August 8, 2016 at 12:20 am | #

      Biting it’s own tail?
      …now I’ll hear you lyrics if I ever hear that sappy Police song again.

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        August 8, 2016 at 9:53 am | #

        Ouro-raptor-ous?

  6. Heff
    Heff
    August 8, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    Deeper down the uncomfortable rabbit hole we go.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

      If it’s a rabbit hole that goes to infinite uncomfortableness-depth, are we truly any deeper now than we were before?

  7. Cacturn
    Cacturn
    August 8, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    What’s Dina’s excuse for being in here?

    • butts
      butts
      August 8, 2016 at 12:38 am | #

      Nobody saw her come in.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        August 8, 2016 at 12:41 am | #

        She is the Wind.

        • butts
          butts
          August 8, 2016 at 12:57 am | #

          She is vengeance. She is the night.

          • butting
            butting
            August 8, 2016 at 1:27 am | #

            Also, the entire point of a door is to have two sides, and Dina is behind whichever side she needs to be.

            • Zeussical
              Zeussical
              August 8, 2016 at 10:05 am | #

              So, Dina is the opposite of a cat.

              But similarly stealthy.

    • WhoWasI
      WhoWasI
      August 8, 2016 at 12:52 am | #

      The answer is, of course, “because she can”. How do you stop the invisible girl?

      But where’s Becky? Shouldn’t she still be holding Dina’s hand? So obviously Becky sent Dina in to gather information.

      • Emperor Norton II
        Emperor Norton II
        August 8, 2016 at 4:04 pm | #

        This is a good question. See, at first I was tempted to simply answer it with “Becky is holding Dina’s right hand outside of panel.”

        The problem with this is that Dina was holding Becky with her left hand. And Becky swore she would superglue their hands together, and ever since then, their hands (Dina’s left and Becky’s right) does indeed appear to have been just that, superglued together!

        This is now imperial headcanon. Anyone who objects by saying “Becky was just exaggerating, they would never do that for reals” is going against imperial headcanon, and will therefore lose their heads. The part where Becky said something that indicated said supergluing had not yet happened… Is just a shared hallucination. Do not trust shared hallucinations. Trust your emperor. Your emperor would never dig a deep hole that he could not get himself out of. That would be silly, and We are never silly! We are indeed as dignified as the King of All Cosmos.

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      August 8, 2016 at 12:53 am | #

      No one can conceive of a place where Dina should not be, so it never even occurs to them to deny her access

      • butts
        butts
        August 8, 2016 at 12:58 am | #

        Dina’s not really easy to miss, she’s just capable of being wherever she wants to be at any given moment.

        • WhoWasI
          WhoWasI
          August 8, 2016 at 1:09 am | #

          Dina’s invented the Infinite Improbability Drive!? She passes simultaneously through all points in the universe.

          Watch out for falling whales!

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            August 8, 2016 at 2:55 am | #

            Sort of. So far she can only get it to put her behind open doors.

    • podian
      podian
      August 8, 2016 at 5:01 am | #

      She was behind the door the whole time.

      What do you mean “but she was in the dorm like two strips ago”? Don’t you know that level 10 dinosaur geeks get time travel as a bonus feat?

    • DSL
      DSL
      August 8, 2016 at 6:47 am | #

      Same as being at the lake. A crowd went by, and there she was.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      August 8, 2016 at 9:56 am | #

      It’s pretty much been established that Dina Is Immune To Doors.

      She can come and go as she pleases, Invincible, Invulnerable, Invisible!
      (+5 Internets if you can remember what that’s from…)

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        August 8, 2016 at 1:25 pm | #

        “Won’t be Invisible ’til Tuesday”

  8. Icalasari
    Icalasari
    August 8, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    Sorry Dina, he meant relationships in Dumbing of Age. You and Becky are clearly aliens from another comic if you have a relationship that involves talking and listening and nothing melodramatic

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      August 8, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      It’s seeming fine. It’s foreign to us here.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      August 8, 2016 at 6:32 am | #

      Don’t worry. The rest of their lives make up for it. It’s only that relationship that’s not melodramatic.

    • Darkoneko
      Darkoneko
      August 8, 2016 at 8:08 am | #

      Nothing beside her GF’s dad hunting them through a forest with a rifle.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      August 8, 2016 at 10:06 am | #

      “Mine likes to beat me up.”

      Yeah, that’s pretty normal.

      “Mine gets excited by beating up criminals.”

      Yep, normal.

      “Mine like having illicit sex in semi-public places.”

      Norms-ville.

      “Mine likes talking to me and sharing in my interests.”

      FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAK!!!

  9. Doopyboop
    Doopyboop
    August 8, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    I kinda like how Walky tries to be like “hey I threw a toy at my crush, it’s cool”. Not the typical reaction when your friend admits to being tossed into a chair, but the effort to make Billy feel normal is sweet.

    • miados
      miados
      August 8, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

      i have a friend who kicked me in the balls because i used a nickname she apparently didnt like. isn’t violence just normal?

      • Doopyboop
        Doopyboop
        August 8, 2016 at 2:36 am | #

        Depends on the level of violence, cause I know what you’re saying. My friend once broke a spatula on my ass because we were horsing around, and another friend chased me around the house with a knife because…knives are toys? I guess when the violence is added to a romantic relationship it sounds more abusive.

        • Deanatay
          Deanatay
          August 8, 2016 at 10:11 am | #

          Horseplay is a normal behavior – it’s meant as a gentle way of pushing our envelopes, of acclimating ourselves to adrenaline and violence, at least on some level. Can it go too far? Of course. How far is up to whomever’s in charge.

          • miados
            miados
            August 8, 2016 at 10:36 am | #

            so a submissive would never get to decide what is to far?

            • Emperor Norton II
              Emperor Norton II
              August 8, 2016 at 4:20 pm | #

              The trick of being a sub is that, in many ways, they -are- in charge.

              Now, to keep it nice and classy, I will use the “theme park” analogy here. A (healthy) normal couple will go to a theme park and try out rides. At first, they will probably start with the milder ones, and tend to ask each other what rides to take. Eventually as they take many rides together, they will gradually learn which are fun for both, and they will probably get an idea whenever they see a new ride, whether their partner will like that ride. Sometimes it might be a bit unclear, so they will ask. Sometimes the partner might try it once to see if it works, sometimes they just do not think it will.

              A(n equally healthy) dom-sub, however, is slightly different. Before entering the park, the sub will tell the dom that the dom gets to choose the rides all the time… BUT, there are certain rides that are off-limit. Period. Maybe they hate rides that are all about super-spinning. Maybe they don’t like taking water-rides because the water is icky. And if the dom tries to take the sub on those rides, the sub will leave the theme park. Now, in between visits to the theme park, the sub might realise that they actually would not mind trying this or that ride because those rides will please the dom, and the dom is a respectful one that clearly does not push the boundaries… But that is their mind to change, not the dom’s.

              So yeah, when it comes to deciding what is too far, it is in fact the sub that holds practically all the cards. At least in a healthy relationship.

  10. Kris
    Kris
    August 8, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

    Dina’s actually three actrociraptors wearing a very convincing human girl disguise confirmed.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 8, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

      They must be inside an animatronic exosuit because her legs would be way too short otherwise.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        August 8, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

        Which means it’s probably only two atrociraptors, because the suit itself has to be of non-negligible weight.

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          August 8, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

          That or three pigmy atrociraptors.

          • Jay Eff
            Jay Eff
            August 8, 2016 at 12:21 am | #

            She’s actually four atrociraptors.
            Here’s an example of how she does it.

          • Kris
            Kris
            August 8, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

            “pigmy” atrociraptors? Now you’re just being ridiculous. The third atrociraptor is obviously feeding the other two directions via wireless communication. It’s how they make the human form exosuit known as Dina act so convincingly human.

            • Reltzik
              Reltzik
              August 8, 2016 at 12:35 am | #

              …. by running it via a committee of voices in her head?

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      August 8, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

      I’ve said for years that if you unscrew that hat, there’s a little glass dome with a tiny dinosaur pulling levers.

      I challenge Willis to prove otherwise.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        August 8, 2016 at 12:29 am | #

        She’s a Chinger?

        • Slartibeast Button, BIA
          Slartibeast Button, BIA
          August 8, 2016 at 12:31 am | #

          link fail: http://io9.gizmodo.com/crowdfund-a-feature-length-adaptation-of-harry-harrison-458627832

          • DSL
            DSL
            August 8, 2016 at 6:50 am | #

            There was a pretty Godawful comics adaptation of it, too. Judging from the art, I don’t think the adaptors realized the book is comic satire.

      • WhoWasI
        WhoWasI
        August 8, 2016 at 12:34 am | #

        What does that mean for Ethan who wore the hat for a while? Are there tiny dinosaurs under all that hair now?

  11. Sionyx
    Sionyx
    August 8, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

    Well, at least Ruth’s reacting to others now. Baby steps…

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      August 8, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

      Indeed.

      btw, stupid delay.

  12. rectilinearpropagation
    rectilinearpropagation
    August 8, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

    The way Ruth is sitting looks super uncomfortable.

    I’d ask how Dina got in the room but the way people don’t notice her borders on being a super power.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 8, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

      Dina is a Door Lord.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      August 8, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

      There was actually a minor Marvel character whose thing was that no one noticed them. She was a teenaged girl who would just live in someone’s house, eat their food, even greet them at breakfast, and they would never register the intruder. For her birthday, she just walked into a jewelry store and took something.

      Problem was she couldn’t turn it off, so she was utterly alone, just inserting herself into peoples’ lives and talking to them without being heard. She finally discovers that the protagonist can notice her, and latches on to him.

      Shit, it’s been at least 10 years since I read this, I have no idea what book it was. I wanna say Agent X, so I’m guessing she was a Gail Simone creation.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        August 8, 2016 at 12:20 am | #

        Huh. Makes sense that Wildbow wouldn’t be the only one to come up with that power.
        That’s pretty horrifying. At least Imp can suppress it if she focuses.

        • Doctor_Who
          Doctor_Who
          August 8, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

          Found her!

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            August 8, 2016 at 12:35 am | #

            Does this mean that she has the exact opposite of Mary Sue powers?

      • Woobie
        Woobie
        August 8, 2016 at 12:22 am | #

        Sounds inspired by a Larry Niven short.
        Was her power tested over distance? like on the phone or something?

        • Inspector Hound
          Inspector Hound
          August 8, 2016 at 9:40 pm | #

          Niven novel actually, A Gift From Earth (1968).

          Good novel in general, but the female characters aren’t handled well, even by sixties standards.

      • Foxhack
        Foxhack
        August 8, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

        Sounds similar to another character, Forget-Me-Not. Everyone forgot about him the minute he stepped out of their line of sight. It was really, really sad, but he was well written.

      • Dean
        Dean
        August 8, 2016 at 1:39 am | #

        It’s kind of sad that I thought ‘Mary Zero, she was in Deadpool’ before I even finished reading your comment.

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      August 8, 2016 at 12:37 am | #

      I mean it’s a health center patient chair, at their best they still aren’t that comfortable, but yeah, I’m betting either Chloe or Billie got her into the pants and shoes and walked/drove her over and she’s just been dragged along as the bare minimum effort she can muster. Dina getting some surprise reflex out of Ruth is very good.

      • Idontcarenomore
        Idontcarenomore
        August 8, 2016 at 2:04 am | #

        Dina is very good at getting surprise reactions out of anyone. In a nice way.

    • WhoWasI
      WhoWasI
      August 8, 2016 at 12:44 am | #

      There’s now way to to sit or lay comfortably on that piece of medical furniture. I’ve tried. Somehow it’s not sized right in any way for human beings. I’ve wondered if that’s intentional.

      • DSL
        DSL
        August 8, 2016 at 6:53 am | #

        I wonder if it’s also intentional that the staff has you attemot to sot on that thing for at least 10 minutes before taking your blood pressure.

        • Darkoneko
          Darkoneko
          August 8, 2016 at 9:48 am | #

          That is because your blood pressure would be higher if they took it the moment you came in.

  13. Orion Fury
    Orion Fury
    August 8, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

    Ruth’s reacting. Why isn’t anyone commenting on this?

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      August 8, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

      Because the comic had only been up for about 60 seconds?
      Looks to me like she’s trying to figure out how Dina appeared. Understandable, given that I don’t see a door next to her.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        August 8, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

        She also glanced left at Billie’s comment about being thrown into a chair.

      • trlkly
        trlkly
        August 8, 2016 at 10:28 am | #

        I think they meant no one was reacting in the comic?

        • Orion Fury
          Orion Fury
          August 8, 2016 at 12:31 pm | #

          I think Disloyal got it.

  14. John
    John
    August 8, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

    Ruth’s face is doing things. That’s a good sign, right?

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 12:12 am | #

      Depends on the things. But most of the things it can be doing, and is doing, are better than than the previous state.

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      August 8, 2016 at 12:21 am | #

      She’s reacting to Dina! Only happy things can result from that

    • foamy
      foamy
      August 8, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

      I hope so!

  15. Umbrella Paint
    Umbrella Paint
    August 8, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

    If Dina is 3 atrociraptors, what’s Walky?
    5 free gay pizza boxes?
    12 caramel bars?
    .5 Monkey Masters?

    • Dana
      Dana
      August 8, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

      Mostly Mcnuggets and Nachitos.

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      August 8, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

      Sixty McNuggets in a caramel shell.

      • Woobie
        Woobie
        August 8, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

        With a Pajama!Pants wrapper.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        August 8, 2016 at 1:02 am | #

        Sounds like McDonalds horning in on Burger King’s gross territory.

    • Tunaro
      Tunaro
      August 8, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

      40lbs of McNuggets and enough Mountain Dew cause total renal failure.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        August 8, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

        I thought Dew was Dina’s thing.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      August 8, 2016 at 12:12 am | #

      He might be something like THIS!

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        August 8, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

        Blocked in the United States on copyright grounds.

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          August 8, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

          Bugger, I know I hate it when I cannot watch a video for the same dumb reason.

          • Disloyal Subject
            Disloyal Subject
            August 8, 2016 at 12:22 am | #

            It’s been happening a lot lately, so I’m more resigned than frustrated.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

      Somewhere on the road between junk food and tweeted turds.

      …. actually, I think he IS the road between those two.

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      August 8, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

      28 pairs of pajama jeans.

    • Some1
      Some1
      August 8, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

      wouldn’t Walky weigh 5 tons if he was .5 of Monkey Master?

      • Umbrella Paint
        Umbrella Paint
        August 8, 2016 at 12:37 am | #

        How doesn’t he with all the stuff he eats?

    • Umbrella Paint
      Umbrella Paint
      August 8, 2016 at 1:33 am | #

      Wait… what are Ruth and Billie?
      80 breathalizers?
      2.5 cheerleaders?
      120 pairs of glasses?
      .2 Sexy Lesbian Death Cults?

  16. Raen
    Raen
    August 8, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

    …hmm.

    DW’s twitter just now has me realizing how much these two look like Velma and HDW.

  17. Rukduk
    Rukduk
    August 8, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

    Did, did Walky just admit to some form of character growth? And furthermore, did Dina just help him get his foot out of his mouth by running interference? What did I do to get us this, cause I will gladly do it again.

    • LordSimian
      LordSimian
      August 8, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

      “Did, did Walky just admit to some form of character growth?”

      It was an accident, I swear.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

      You…. supported Willis on Patreon, so he could keep drawing comics?

      • Rukduk
        Rukduk
        August 8, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

        Unfortunately no. I’m currently in the endless process of trying to pay off student debt, so much so that I’ve resorted to cancelling my one magazine subscription (Gameinformer) and switching back to my college days “milk, potatoes, and peanut butter banana” to save as much money as possible. I mean, if I think I can if I cut the amount of milk and or bananas I buy in half, but I’m not quite sure. Bright side is, I dropped ten pounds in a month, so now I’m no longer overweight BMI wise.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          August 8, 2016 at 12:38 am | #

          Yeah, I know the feel of not being able to support all the freebies I get online. I know I’m not HURTING the artists, and maybe even helping them a tiny bit with my ad views, but I still wish I could give.

          Um…. recommending the comic to others? Helping create a comments section that gives people an added incentive to come back?

          • Rukduk
            Rukduk
            August 8, 2016 at 1:05 am | #

            Probably those last two? At least, I hope I’m contributing to that last one. I don’t know for certain though.

            • Reltzik
              Reltzik
              August 8, 2016 at 6:10 pm | #

              Then yes, you helped to get us this, and you can keep doing it.

              ….

              But by the same light you also got us depressed-Ruth-in-a-murder cave. YOU MONSTER.

  18. butts
    butts
    August 8, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

    Wait, Walky’s eyes can DO that?!

    • Peter
      Peter
      August 12, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

      Shocked the hell out of me, too.

  19. Kraken
    Kraken
    August 8, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

    I’m getting whiplash from how this one is paced. Emotions are up and down without much breathing room.

  20. Carms
    Carms
    August 8, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

    LOOK AT RUTH’S LITTLE PROTO-EXPRESSIONS! ON HER FACE! FACE EXPRESSIONS! :O

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 12:17 am | #

      Obligatory FAAAAAAACE.

      • butts
        butts
        August 8, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

        In this case, I think it’d be more like ‘faaaaace’.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          August 8, 2016 at 12:39 am | #

          ….. ironic juxtaposition with gravatar is ironic.

          • butts
            butts
            August 8, 2016 at 12:50 am | #

            Ah. Yes. My gravatar— my ‘face’, metaphorically speaking— is, in fact, a picture of Amber’s butt. A ‘butt face,’ if you will. How droll.

            (…butts’ face is a butt face)

            • Reltzik
              Reltzik
              August 8, 2016 at 1:21 am | #

              And you said that all apparently without cracking a smile.

              • butts
                butts
                August 8, 2016 at 1:22 am | #

                …well played.

            • Deanatay
              Deanatay
              August 8, 2016 at 10:21 am | #

              That takes a LOT of cheek.

  21. Orion Fury
    Orion Fury
    August 8, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

    Also, Walky has eyes in the first panel. Non-black circle eyes.

    Oh, and has a similar scene, but with possibly different characters, but in a similar arrangement, happen before? Asking for, headache.

    • merbrat
      merbrat
      August 8, 2016 at 1:41 am | #

      I’ve seen it, once… in the last month (our time)

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        August 8, 2016 at 12:32 pm | #

        The eyes, or scene in a hospital like above?

        It’s the eyes, isn’t it?

        • merbrat
          merbrat
          August 8, 2016 at 11:23 pm | #

          Oh, sorry! The eyes.

          • Orion Fury
            Orion Fury
            August 9, 2016 at 7:11 pm | #

            Yeah, trying to avoid looking at the comic now.

  22. Safgaftsa
    Safgaftsa
    August 8, 2016 at 12:12 am | #

    The first panel is even better if you haven’t read yesterday’s strip. You’re just left to assume that Walky pulled a Walky.

    • Emperor Norton II
      Emperor Norton II
      August 8, 2016 at 10:23 am | #

      That is pretty much exactly what happened with Us.

      And it is a good thing We did too. Because man did Walky put both his feet in his mouth at once yesterday. If We hadn’t seen today’s strip, I would have punched the screen. True, We still want to punch it a bit, but at least it is mitigated by showing that Walky stepped in it with good intentions, and that he then realised that it was still bad after only one shout, instead of needing to be spoonfed the whole thing.

  23. Tacos
    Tacos
    August 8, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

    Look at Dina. Schooling these people in courtship etiquette.

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      August 8, 2016 at 12:23 am | #

      Makes sense. Of all of them, she’s likely the only one to have studied it, both as a paleontologist and as someone unsure how to pursue her relationship with Becky.

      • butts
        butts
        August 8, 2016 at 12:54 am | #

        Dina has read alllllll the Internet relationship guides.

        …just like FAZ OH GOG NO

        • Liliet
          Liliet
          August 8, 2016 at 3:37 am | #

          They have already interacted. Dina was not impressed.

          • inqntrol
            inqntrol
            August 8, 2016 at 6:17 am | #

            And quickly wanted to get rid of him.

  24. TheNinthShader
    TheNinthShader
    August 8, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

    Boy, boy, crazy, boy. Stay cool, boy!

  25. NF
    NF
    August 8, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

    Headcanon: Dina has been in the room this whole time and they only just noticed her.

    • Woobie
      Woobie
      August 8, 2016 at 12:26 am | #

      Probably just plain canon.

  26. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    August 8, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

    Actually, Dina, you got Becky’s attention by having an information overload breakdown, stealing Ethan’s sweater straight off of his back, and wearing it over your head for half the night.

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      August 8, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

      Perhaps, but that’s not how Becky got hers.

  27. Bagge
    Bagge
    August 8, 2016 at 12:17 am | #

    …and Dina bit Becky’s asshole father in the face.

    Billie: Hmmmm. Worth a shot. Where does your grandfather live, Ruth?

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      August 8, 2016 at 12:50 am | #

      I read this very incorrectly the first time

      • butts
        butts
        August 8, 2016 at 12:53 am | #

        I got up to “and Dina bit Becky’s asshole” and stopped. Because really, what more do you need?

    • Eukie
      Eukie
      August 8, 2016 at 3:26 am | #

      Billie: “I used to take down abusive boyfriends. I guess it was inevitable I’d work my way up to abusive parents and guardians.”

  28. Palamdrone
    Palamdrone
    August 8, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

    That’s why Danny keeps getting dumped, he is afraid of being in control.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 12:40 am | #

      And that’s two in a row.

      • Spencer
        Spencer
        August 8, 2016 at 1:15 am | #

        That does leave me with the hilarious mental image of Danny trying to pull a dom routine.

        “Um… okay, get on the bed… if you want to I mean you, uh, bad girl. No you’re not bad I think you’re wonderful oh god I’m sorry”

        Also, Palamdrome, I don’t know what you’ve gone through and I’m sorry that you did, it’s obviously caused you a lot of pain, but I hope you can learn to move past what you’ve been saying here. It is flat out misogynistic and altogether really creepy.

        • Orion Fury
          Orion Fury
          August 8, 2016 at 12:35 pm | #

          Really creepy, but I can believe ‘not being man enough’ being a reason for breakups.

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      August 8, 2016 at 1:20 am | #

      As a recovering Danny, let me tell you, that is absolutely not what his problem is.

  29. benhgross
    benhgross
    August 8, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

    Of course Dina can just pop right in there.

  30. Some1
    Some1
    August 8, 2016 at 12:20 am | #

    Questing of Age

    Jocelyn stares John down.

    Jocelyn: You two get out of here.

    Amber, Ethan and Sarah jump in.

    Jocelyn: you five get out of here.

    Amber: But we just got here!

    Jocelyn: Trust me, you’re going to want to be as far away as possible.

    Dorothy: C’mon guys!

    Dorothy, Walky, Sarah, Amber, and Ethan leap away.

    John: Are we done talking yet.
    Jocelyn: As done as were going to be.

    John fires an energy blast at Jocelyn, who quickly dodges, john fires of a series of smaller blasts, which Jocelyn continues to dodge.

    Jocelyn runs up and kicks John in the neck. John grabs Jocelyn’s foot and tosses her into the air. Jocelyn kicks down on John’s head and leaps away.

    Dorothy and the rest look down on the battle.

    Dorothy: Walky can you track them?

    Walky: Barely.

    Dorothy: Who’s winning?

    Walky: I think John has the upper hand but it’s hard to tell…

    Jocelyn gets tossed through the building they’re on.

    Amber: SHIT!

    John: You’re holding back…what? Afraid to hit your own brother!?

    Jocelyn: Asshole!

    John: Don’t you want to know what happened to Joyce?

    Jocelyn: What are you talking about?

    John: Our dear mother has her!

    Dorothy: NO!

    Walky: Shit.

    Amber: Dammit.

    Sarah: Damn.

    Ethan: Aw hell.

    Jocelyn: We need to leave.

    Walky: But you can beat him!

    Jocelyn: It’s not just him, our mother commands an army, I doubt he’s the only enemy around.

    Dorothy: We say Mary earlier.

    Jocelyn: That’s bad, look I have a location we can hide out in (hands Dorothy a note) meet me there.

    Walky: What are you going to do.

    Jocelyn: I’ll distract him! RUN!

    Jocelyn leaps down and slams into John.

    John: So, you’re finally ready to fight again!

    Jocelyn fires an energy beam down at the ground, causing a smoke shield.

    John waits for the smoke to clear, only to find that Jocelyn has disappeared.

    John: Coward.

    Jocelyn looks down on John from a building

    Jocelyn: Idiot. Now to train those guys, we all need to get stronger if we want any shot against my mother.

    • Falling Star
      Falling Star
      August 8, 2016 at 11:31 am | #

      “You two get out of here.”
      [others show up]
      “You five get out of here.”
      LOL
      …
      Aw, shit, Carol’s coming.
      I’m hoping for some Hank backup.

  31. Archivist
    Archivist
    August 8, 2016 at 12:21 am | #

    But are the three atrociraptors in a trench coat?

    Also, haha, Walky’s coping mechanisms. They hurt me.

  32. TabofManyColors
    TabofManyColors
    August 8, 2016 at 12:22 am | #

    Ok, I love you, Walky, but unless the next words out of your mouth are going to be “I’m here for you; now what can I do to help?” or “I’m thinkin’ of grabbin’ some food at the dining hall, want me to bring you somethin’?”, you need to stop talking.

    Also, Panel 4 and Panel 5 – I’m really glad to see that Ruth is still at least somewhat responsive to her surroundings.

    • Woobie
      Woobie
      August 8, 2016 at 12:28 am | #

      Billie knows he’s there for her. It can remain unsaid.

      • TabofManyColors
        TabofManyColors
        August 8, 2016 at 1:12 am | #

        That works; honestly, I’m more annoyed by what he is saying than by what he’s not saying (as you said, it can remain unsaid). Maybe it’s just that I’m looking at this through me-tinted goggles, but “every relationship is kind of screwed up, don’t worry” feels uncomfortably close to a trivialization of Ruth’s and Billie’s issues.

        • Spencer
          Spencer
          August 8, 2016 at 1:34 am | #

          It is, and I think Walky knows that too. He’s just trying to make her feel better instead of saying “oh god that’s atrocious.”

          And then Dina pops in and reminds these nerds to step up their game.

        • Time Heist
          Time Heist
          August 8, 2016 at 1:54 am | #

          He means well, but Walky isn’t suicidal, and he’s always lived a bit of a privileged, immature life. He’s not prepared for dealing with this sort of thing, no matter how much he wants to do the right thing.

        • Orion Fury
          Orion Fury
          August 8, 2016 at 12:43 pm | #

          I figure if Billie actually wants him gone, she’ll just tell him. And if it’s just for a break, to go grab food or something for them. Her personality seems strong/aggressive/non-gendered compliment on being forthcoming as well as their relationship for her to just tell him that sort of thing.

          • Orion Fury
            Orion Fury
            August 8, 2016 at 12:44 pm | #

            Gods damn it I thought I closed that off.

          • Mara
            Mara
            August 8, 2016 at 1:32 pm | #

            Well, she does tell him to go away.

            • Emperor Norton II
              Emperor Norton II
              August 8, 2016 at 2:16 pm | #

              Indeed she does.

              And then she responds by answering his question.

              So now one can speculate. Is Walky not walking away because he’s getting too obsessed with succeeding in his mission to actually listen to Billie? Is he staying because the tone she said it in (which sadly, even with facial expression, is rather difficult to discern properly) indicated that she was not really telling him? I mean, he knows her pretty well, I am sure he has gotten his fair share “Go away, Walky” from Billie in a hundred different tones, and possibly he knows which ones to ignore.

              • Orion Fury
                Orion Fury
                August 9, 2016 at 7:13 pm | #

                I took it as ‘Being all alone with Ruth didn’t really help, so maybe being open with someone about us could help’.

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      August 8, 2016 at 1:22 am | #

      Billie looks less frazzled and helpless there, so he’s gotta be doing something right.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        August 8, 2016 at 3:07 am | #

        He’s giving her something to react to besides Ruth’s depression.

  33. Foxhack
    Foxhack
    August 8, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

    Walky had feels so hard it brought the white into his eyes for a sec.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      August 8, 2016 at 12:54 am | #

      It weirded me out I thought he was a new character.

      • inqntrol
        inqntrol
        August 8, 2016 at 10:07 am | #

        Never underestimate the power of human emotion.

  34. tim gueguen
    tim gueguen
    August 8, 2016 at 12:26 am | #

    Romantic? How about Neuromantic instead?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrmAjXrN1wk

    • inqntrol
      inqntrol
      August 8, 2016 at 12:37 am | #

      I missread that as “Necromantic” and I thought of the “Corpse bride”. Going to make a coffee ASAP.

  35. Regalli
    Regalli
    August 8, 2016 at 12:26 am | #

    Aww, Walky really is trying his hardest.

    His hardest still isn’t all that great, but it certainly isn’t his fault the Billie/Ruth foundations are somehow even less healthy than the sexy bisexual suicide pact part. And the ‘hey Dorothy and I are fine and I was an awkward mess there too’ is a valiant effort. Good try there, Walky.

    BUT TOMORROW THE REALLY GOOD STUFF STARTS. BRING ON AWKWARD JOYCE AND SUPER-PANICKED BECKY AND… Who really knows what Hank’s going to say about all this, but he is Being Supportive and tonight when the inevitable Carol confrontation begins he can say, ‘Joyce is needed there.’

    • Darkoneko
      Darkoneko
      August 8, 2016 at 3:18 pm | #

      Hank is gonna listen and smile a lot.

  36. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    August 8, 2016 at 12:33 am | #

    Wow, Grav Roulette. You went and made me Arnold.

    ARNOLD.

    You’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel to avoid giving me a Walky, aren’t you? I had to do a tag-search on Ken to even find his name. He’s only been in two strips. No speaking parts. No character at all. No role save onlooker and stand-in-line-person.

    Back in SP!, he had exactly 17 appearances. He was Ken and Malaya’s roommate. He had a bored, “I’m calling bullshit but I really don’t care so stop bothering me” type of attitude. He never had a plot arc and… wasn’t even a foil. Just a straight man and audience to a few of the cast’s antics.

    In short, he’s a bit part.

    …. wait, it’s too late to say in short?

    Tough, I’m saying it. In short, he’s a bit part.

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      August 8, 2016 at 12:46 am | #

      Admit it, the day you find and settle on a good grav (y’know, after the inevitable reset once you find them again the first time) you’ll miss doing character analysis of bit roles.

      • butts
        butts
        August 8, 2016 at 12:50 am | #

        Or you could do what I did and just grab yourself the best gravatar.

        • Some1
          Some1
          August 8, 2016 at 12:57 am | #

          that is amazing!

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          August 8, 2016 at 1:00 am | #

          It’d be the end of gravs everywhere.

          • butts
            butts
            August 8, 2016 at 1:03 am | #

            Imagine it, Reltzik. A comments thread… filled with nothing but this most glorious of derrières.

            • Reltzik
              Reltzik
              August 8, 2016 at 1:23 am | #

              I think that many examples of a majestic of butt in one combined endeavor of mischievousness would be assking for trouble.

            • Some1
              Some1
              August 8, 2016 at 1:27 am | #

              Some classic butts

              http://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-2/01-pajama-jeans/sharks/

              http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/03-the-butterflies-fly-away/fault/

              http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-6/02-that-perfect-girl/wow-2/

            • trlkly
              trlkly
              August 8, 2016 at 10:32 am | #

              If you’d be interested, I can cut out the surrounding parts to make her butt stick out more.

              Which comic was this from?

              • Emperor Norton II
                Emperor Norton II
                August 8, 2016 at 4:54 pm | #

                Won’t really work, because (as I’m sure butts already knows, and is why they did not do it themselves) the butt is in fact on the bottom of the panels as it is, and trying to cut it out to make it stick out more will probably just make it look less obvious that it is a butt. And you won’t get the finger pointing to it, which I think is quite important.

                But here is the link anyway, because the whole panel is a really good Amber moment: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/gorilla/

        • Fart Captor
          Fart Captor
          August 8, 2016 at 11:28 pm | #

          That is awesome, but I’m not convinced it quite beats Kernanator’s gravatar.

          Joyce is just so very cheesed that a ding-dong strapped has been to her head, its too perfect.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        August 8, 2016 at 1:04 am | #

        I admit nothing! NOTHING!

    • Bicycle Bill
      Bicycle Bill
      August 8, 2016 at 1:19 am | #

      All this bongoing about avatars makes me (almost) sorry I’m using my custom-created one.

      • Bicycle Bill
        Bicycle Bill
        August 8, 2016 at 1:20 am | #

        Forgot about the bytch-filter.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          August 8, 2016 at 3:12 am | #

          I’m sure all the regulars here, without even realizing it, mentally undo the filter while reading. It makes talking about bongo drums kind of awkward.

          • Darkoneko
            Darkoneko
            August 8, 2016 at 9:52 am | #

            I’m fine with my awesome ‘vatar, thankyouverymuch.

            • Orion Fury
              Orion Fury
              August 8, 2016 at 12:53 pm | #

              I’m rather fine with mine as well. Mayhap the Grav Roulette is trying to tell you something today? I, however, look forward to your critiques.

  37. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    August 8, 2016 at 12:58 am | #

    Wait, are we in a new book already?! I thought the last chapter of every book always ended with the cast in their beds. The system is broken, people!

    • butts
      butts
      August 8, 2016 at 1:04 am | #

      That seems like an odd place to end the book. My guess is it’s an error.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        August 8, 2016 at 1:10 am | #

        I checked back, must be an error.

      • WhoWasI
        WhoWasI
        August 8, 2016 at 1:23 am | #

        Assuming it’s not an error, maybe Willis didn’t want to leave Ruth’s medical status hanging for readers of the physical book 6.

        But it also makes this kind of an awkward place to start book 7 with Walky saying he’s sorry for something he in the previous book.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          August 8, 2016 at 3:24 am | #

          Did he allude to this on Twitter while these strips were being drawn?

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 1:19 am | #

      That or the book was supposed to end with Billie and Ruth in bed together and Chloe walking in? That seems like a reasonable spot, maybe.

      • butts
        butts
        August 8, 2016 at 1:21 am | #

        Maybe if it was a chapter break, but I don’t buy that the strips immediately after that would work as the beginning of a new book. It’d be a very abrupt beginning, if nothing else.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          August 8, 2016 at 1:26 am | #

          Except skimming through it…. Sal and Dina explain to Joyce what happened to Ruth and Billie and where they are…. A new plot arc with Danny, Ethan, and Mike starts up. It’s not as unnatural a transition as I initially thought.

          • Spencer
            Spencer
            August 8, 2016 at 1:29 am | #

            It’s not the end of the chapter unless everyone’s in bed and angsting.

            Ruth and Billie gotta share that around.

            • Orion Fury
              Orion Fury
              August 8, 2016 at 12:55 pm | #

              From what I recall aren’t chapters a ‘day’ long and the book a ‘week’ long? As such, books end at end of day on Sunday? We’re almost there.

              • thejeff
                thejeff
                August 8, 2016 at 1:32 pm | #

                Chapters are definitely a day. I’d have to check to be 100% sure, but I don’t think books are a week – They’re all less then 7 chapters and I don’t think we’ve had enough time jumps for that.

                • Orion Fury
                  Orion Fury
                  August 9, 2016 at 7:17 pm | #

                  Yeah, I can only recall two skips. One where Walky got his PJ jeans, and then after Ross was arrested.

    • Time Heist
      Time Heist
      August 8, 2016 at 1:53 am | #

      I mean, I’m so, SO sorry, but Ruth and Billie were in bed…

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 8, 2016 at 10:26 am | #

      And it looked like Willis fixed it and we’re now officially back in chapter 4 of the… current?… book.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        August 8, 2016 at 8:11 pm | #

        Yep, it’s all fixed. Phew.

  38. Teddae
    Teddae
    August 8, 2016 at 12:59 am | #

    clearly the three atrociraptors’ relationship is superior to all you weak dinosaurs

  39. Nate
    Nate
    August 8, 2016 at 1:04 am | #

    Man, I know Walky’s been a bit of a tool lately but this is just so sweet and adorable right here. What a great friend, trying to help Billie and Ruth feel more normal. Expressing interest in his friend’s new partner instead of making a big deal about the booze or the depression or the secret lesbian relationship. I mean sure he’s a bit clumsy in his Walky way but overall he’s not doing half bad.

    • Liliet
      Liliet
      August 8, 2016 at 5:21 am | #

      Yep <3

  40. QuietHeatran
    QuietHeatran
    August 8, 2016 at 1:48 am | #

    Honest question- what did Billie and Ruth do to make them deserving of going to the nurse’s office? Some suicidal ideation doesn’t hurt anyone and it’s… Fine… I mean it’s not like Ruth made an attempt – is it alchohol usage?

    i guess regardless of whether it’s alchohol usage or just ideation it makes me uncomfortable that Billie and Ruth are being held.

    • Her.
      Her.
      August 8, 2016 at 2:28 am | #

      probably just a therapy or psycho-analysis thing but im w/ you 110%

    • Norah
      Norah
      August 8, 2016 at 3:05 am | #

      I think they could leave if they wanted to. I don’t think they’re being “held”, as in being in custody. I don’t know if Ruth is capable of leaving right now if she wanted to, and Billie is probably there for her as much as for herself.

    • Liliet
      Liliet
      August 8, 2016 at 5:20 am | #

      Why do you think they are being ‘held’? Going to the health center is not a punishment, it’s them finally getting help. Once the cat is out of the bag to Ruth’s management, there isn’t a reason for her to keep denying it to herself, and Billie would definitely be all for that.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        August 8, 2016 at 6:47 am | #

        Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ruth at least is being held – not punishment, but for medical reasons. Kept overnight for observation, at least. Depends partly on whether she’s talked to the doctors or at least Chloe or if she’s stayed unresponsive. And of course on what she’s said. We haven’t seen her say anything since she freaked Carla out.

        Mind you, they’d probably ask her to stay and only

        • Norah
          Norah
          August 8, 2016 at 1:34 pm | #

          Yes, this. I guess “held” to me has a punitive connotation, and Quiet Heatran’s comment made it seem as if Ruth and Billie’s rights were being violated.

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            August 8, 2016 at 3:47 pm | #

            Yeah, I doubt there’s any punitive intent here. If they showed enough volition to try to leave, they’d probably get a bunch of arguments from the doctors as to why they should stay. If they insisted, they’d get some paperwork to sign acknowledging they were checking out “against medical advice” and possibly, depending on the circumstances and how concerned the doctors were, held at least overnight anyway.

            Given that Ruth apparently hasn’t been capable of speech or independent movement, I doubt she’s going to be kicking up a fuss about getting out and that pretty much gives them ground to keep her.

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      August 8, 2016 at 7:45 am | #

      In Ruth’s case being totally unresponsive to outside stimuli (Chloe trying to talk to her) to the point where the word ‘catatonia’ starts entering the conversation. In Billie’s case, its more of a case of not being able to detach her from Ruth with anything less than hydraulic bolt-cutters.

    • Kater
      Kater
      August 8, 2016 at 9:30 am | #

      I would imagine they’d be strongly encouraged to get help before Ruth made an attempt (i would argue giving up on everything, to the point of not bathing, not eating (inference on my part since she’d have to leave her room) consistutes an attempt.)
      Ruth’s suicidal ideation goes beyond the casual self distructive “what if I jumped off a bridge” thought most people have. I called it “suicide by inaction” when I went through it. Strictly speaking, I never made an attempt like cutting or pills but I stopped doing the things required for life. I shut down which would have lead to the destruction of my life as sure as any traditional attempt. Fortunately, I got help.
      Ruth consistantly wants to die, in spite of good things in her life (Billie, school, succeedding at her job by all appearences (according to Residence Manager). She abuses alcohol, makes plans (sexy lesbian suicide pact) and cut herself off from everyone around her. She absolutely needs to be in the health center and I’m glad Chloe and Billie got her there.

    • Bicycle Bill
      Bicycle Bill
      August 8, 2016 at 11:36 am | #

      I don’t think this is a case of being “held” as it is a classic example of the University doing something — anything — to cover their own ass if anything bad happens later, just like any other large institution/organization in today’s highly litigious society. 

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      August 8, 2016 at 12:58 pm | #

      I believe it was also theorized that it’s to check for consumption of things like pill or chemicals.

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      August 8, 2016 at 2:04 pm | #

      I’m pretty sure Ruth was beyond ideaton. She was basically letting herself die, because she no longer had the will to do anything. Putting her under a psychiatric hold would seem a reasonable measure to me, although I don’t think they actually do that unless a patient deemed a danger to themself or others actually wants to leave. They can only hold you for so long, so they don’t want to start that clock until they have to.

      When Ruth is revived enough to try to leave, there’s also a risk that she might take more direct action, so if Billie can’t convince her to stay, they should definitely place a hold on her, since that might buy the time she needs to be able to accept help.

      I totally understand why the idea of doctors being able to do that would make you uncomfortable though. It feels weird that a private citizen would have that kind of power, but it’s something that definitely saves lives

    • motorfirebox
      motorfirebox
      August 8, 2016 at 4:03 pm | #

      I don’t think they’re being held per se. That said, Ruth is definitely displaying a lot more symptoms than just suicidal ideation. She’s in a depressive state so severe that it’s left her completely unable to function. I’m not even sure she’s eaten in the past few days. I mean, those cookies are still right there by the bed.

  41. Time Heist
    Time Heist
    August 8, 2016 at 1:53 am | #

    Well I mean at least Dina got Ruth’s attention.

  42. BenRG
    BenRG
    August 8, 2016 at 2:04 am | #

    I’d really like to know what is going on in Ruth’s head right now. Assuming that she’s able to respond (or even is aware of) external stimuli, the need to laugh must be overwhelming! Of course, that’s Walky’s real skill, isn’t it? He’s really a jester in many ways; making people laugh is his innate talent!

    Let’s be brutal, a romantic start of a relationship for most of the characters in this strip is a bit much to ask. They’ve all got far too many issues.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      August 8, 2016 at 1:01 pm | #

      ‘Walking with Ruth’ may be a bit too much for some people. I’m compulsed to know everything, and I’m good there.

    • motorfirebox
      motorfirebox
      August 8, 2016 at 4:07 pm | #

      Have you ever accidentally opened a whole bunch of folders/files at once? I mean like 200+? What’s going on in Ruth’s head is sorta like that, except that instead of random files and folders it’s just all variations on “this sucks, I want to not be here”. What’s going on around her is just part of the noise.

      • Regalli
        Regalli
        August 8, 2016 at 11:20 pm | #

        And it’s all running slowly and the lights are too bright and now she’s wearing pants and the best suggestion she heard all day was death but even that wasn’t that specific…

  43. Idontcarenomore
    Idontcarenomore
    August 8, 2016 at 2:21 am | #

    I think Ruth’s reaction is to Dina. Dina does have a way of getting reactions out of people, mostly surprised ones. And Ruth almost looks surprised.

    I don’t think Ruth, even when in top form, would pay much attention to Walky one way or the other ;).

    Walky is trying so hard. He just is over his head, I think I would be also. But, at least he is there. That counts.

  44. Liliet
    Liliet
    August 8, 2016 at 3:14 am | #

    THEY ARE ADORABLE

    all of them

  45. Torra
    Torra
    August 8, 2016 at 3:46 am | #

    The little detail of Ruth looking over at Billie when Billie admits they first met by her throwing her into a chair, is pretty depressing as Ruth hasn’t reacted to anything else so far, but this negative reminder of how unhealthy their relationship was, even right at the beginning, is something that’s really not going to help right now.

    Dina and Becky I can’t see being helpful either. Dina is already sticking her foot in it by saying how amazing their first meeting was and Ruth doesn’t even know Becky so I doubt she’ll listen to anything she has to say. I really can’t see how anything anyone does right now will be enough to get Ruth out of the state she’s in, hopefully Billie will be able to have a heart to heart with her when the two get some privacy

    • Liliet
      Liliet
      August 8, 2016 at 5:22 am | #

      Becky wacking it up might just achieve what Walky’s trying to do: distract them and lighten up the mood.

      Alternatively, she’ll just be there for them silently, which is also a very important part to do.

  46. Keulan
    Keulan
    August 8, 2016 at 4:13 am | #

    Well, Ruth is reacting to things now. That’s… better, I hope. Walky seems to have realized how out of his depth he is, but he’s still trying anyway, because he cares.

    Why is Dina’s relationship with Becky the most healthy relationship in this comic, that’s just weird.

    • Liliet
      Liliet
      August 8, 2016 at 5:24 am | #

      What’s weird about two cute lesbians being the healthiest relationship?

      Also, they’ve both got a lot on their plates outside of the relationship, with Dina’s neurodivergence and Becky’s whole ‘homeless’ deal, it makes sense narratively that Willis doesn’t need to also add (real) problems in there.

      • BenRG
        BenRG
        August 8, 2016 at 5:42 am | #

        It’s weird because ‘healthy relationship’ is something that is rare enough in this comic. When you consider the scale of the emotional trauma from which Becky suffers and Dina’s social developmental issues, then they are beating the odds to an even more extreme degree!

      • Spencer
        Spencer
        August 8, 2016 at 5:59 am | #

        Dina isn’t a lesbian. Apart from being romantically involved with two guys in the Walkyverse, she tells Joyce that she’s unsure if gender expression matters to her.

        So probably pan, maaaayyybe bi if Dina doesn’t know about genderfluidity.

        • Gamaran Sepudomyn
          Gamaran Sepudomyn
          August 8, 2016 at 12:06 pm | #

          Or other nonbinary genders.

          • FinalOwen
            FinalOwen
            August 8, 2016 at 12:44 pm | #

            Speaking as a nonbinary bisexual, bisexuality does not discount either of these things. The whole ‘bi means two’ thing is not an argument put forward by the actual bi community. One of the most frequently quoted definitions is this, by Robyn Ochs:

            “I call myself bisexual because I acknowledge that I have in myself the potential to be attracted – romantically and/or sexually – to people of more than one sex and/or gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.”

            • Orion Fury
              Orion Fury
              August 8, 2016 at 1:04 pm | #

              Bisexual did kinda go out the door upon the reveal of non-binary genders.

              • Murphy
                Murphy
                August 8, 2016 at 1:19 pm | #

                Speaking as another nonbinary bisexual, it really doesn’t.

                • Murphy
                  Murphy
                  August 8, 2016 at 1:20 pm | #

                  er, didn’t*.

                • Leorale
                  Leorale
                  August 8, 2016 at 6:07 pm | #

                  Yep, for me, bisexual means “people who are my gender, and people who aren’t”. Not just M/F. Pansexual might be a better label for me technically, but I feel doofy saying it, since it often needs to be explained, whereas people get that bisexual means I like all sorts of people.

              • Spencer
                Spencer
                August 8, 2016 at 6:26 pm | #

                wat

              • Orion Fury
                Orion Fury
                August 9, 2016 at 7:19 pm | #

                I think I lost something there between thinking and writing it.

            • Gamaran Sepudomyn
              Gamaran Sepudomyn
              August 10, 2016 at 5:03 am | #

              I know that, just couldn’t think if a good way to phrase it.

          • Spencer
            Spencer
            August 8, 2016 at 6:29 pm | #

            Oof, yeah, sorry. I mixed up genderfluidity as a label for all NB gender identities.

            My bad, seriously.

      • trlkly
        trlkly
        August 8, 2016 at 10:36 am | #

        Because it started as a rebound relationship. In any other comic, that would be the one with the most likelihood of being unhealthy.

        • Liliet
          Liliet
          August 8, 2016 at 1:02 pm | #

          It didn’t. Yes, Becky was still reeling from Joyce, but her liking Dina had nothing to do with it – like, the opposite of anything to do with it, considering she put flirting with Dina on hold for the evening because she was thinking about Joyce’s feelings.

          • Slartibeast Button, BIA
            Slartibeast Button, BIA
            August 8, 2016 at 1:15 pm | #

            Now picturing the alternate universe where Joyce did return Becky’s love, but Becky likes Dina too and drama ensues.

            • Emperor Norton II
              Emperor Norton II
              August 8, 2016 at 4:32 pm | #

              Joyce: You have to choose, Becky. Get salvation from the Lord by loving me and my heavenly body, or eternal damnation from going down on the heathen evil-utionist!

              Dina: First of all, I am not heathen, as that refers to old Norse religions, and I do not worship them. Secondly, I do not like to be called evil simply for following the scientific consensus. Also, I am not sure what “going down” means, but if it is a reference to my height, I cannot help how my genetic make-up made me this tall.

              Becky: Oh man, this is hard, this is hard…

              Dina: I acquired a matching dinosaur hoodie for you to wear when we are in proximity of each other. That is “second base”, right?

              Becky: Dina it is!

              • Slartibeast Button, BIA
                Slartibeast Button, BIA
                August 8, 2016 at 4:35 pm | #

                +1 Internet (where available)

                • Emperor Norton II
                  Emperor Norton II
                  August 8, 2016 at 4:39 pm | #

                  We are the Emperor of the Internet. We already have all the pluses We can possibly need.

      • Keulan
        Keulan
        August 8, 2016 at 11:46 pm | #

        For me, it’s weird because Dina has trouble with social interaction, and Becky has her issues (usually well-hidden behind jokes and cheerfulness) with her family and homelessness. For all other relationships in DoA, the issues that both characters have cause conflict in the relationship, yet somehow despite their issues Becky and Dina have not had any fights so far.

  47. Abel Undercity
    Abel Undercity
    August 8, 2016 at 5:33 am | #

    Is Becky still attached to Dina’s other hand? Did they shadow-walk together?

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      August 8, 2016 at 5:42 am | #

      I’m pretty sure that Becky backed off the ‘superglue’ thing out of fear of Joyce’s glare.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        August 8, 2016 at 6:50 am | #

        More likely just to let Dina do her ninja thing.

        I don’t think Joyce’s glare would make her back down. And I don’t think Joyce would glare.

  48. Anon-ish
    Anon-ish
    August 8, 2016 at 5:51 am | #

    I suspected I was asexual, got married, they stole $30,000 from me, got divorced, did research about asexuality, confined I’m asexual… now living the happiest I’ve ever been, humans and their relationships are just silly. Living vicariously through stories and books is so much better than trusting filthy greedy humans

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      August 8, 2016 at 1:07 pm | #

      I’m both happy and sad for you. Is that wrong? I now wonder. Why am I still typing?

  49. JBento
    JBento
    August 8, 2016 at 5:52 am | #

    I like how both Ruth and Billie’s facial expressions just go “wait, what? tell me more about this ‘healthy relationship’ thing” at Dina’s intervention.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      August 8, 2016 at 6:49 am | #

      Or is that just “Where did she come from?”

  50. Crumplepunch
    Crumplepunch
    August 8, 2016 at 7:18 am | #

    She was behind the door the entire time.

  51. Local Vigiliante
    Local Vigiliante
    August 8, 2016 at 7:51 am | #

    Walky, you just stepped in a bear trap. Dina likely is tiny and softspoken. This coupled with choosing words carefully is a magical invisibility cloak (experience bias here). Ugh, I really want to see Ruth and Billie be less depressed.

  52. George Wiman
    George Wiman
    August 8, 2016 at 7:56 am | #

    Walky is forgetting Sal’s rule of ‘What to do when a girl says leave her alone’

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      August 8, 2016 at 8:36 am | #

      There’s a difference between harassing Joyce over how super gay she is and spending time with his oldest and dearest friend after a doctor let him in the room to keep and eye on her because she’s suicidal.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        August 8, 2016 at 1:22 pm | #

        Yeah, there are definitely time when “No, I won’t leave you alone” is the proper answer. The key is telling the difference.

      • George Wiman
        George Wiman
        August 8, 2016 at 6:53 pm | #

        Fair enough. Walky will keep them from digging around in the examination room as I have been known to do. But in these four frames he’s made assumptions and minimized their experience. I guess they’ve known each other long enough to know he’s trying.

  53. Briny
    Briny
    August 8, 2016 at 9:03 am | #

    Suicide-watch is pretty informal where they are. I’ve been in ER situations before and it seems to me that, even if you were the health-proxy of the person who happens to be in with the person actually under treatment, you’d be asked out of the room by the second time you were told to go away.

    Let alone admitting people wandering into the room to natter about dinosaurs. After all, the stresses of RAing are basically why Ruth is there. “But I’m from the dorm” is not a reason to be let in. The hospital staff, remember, don’t know any of these people from Mitochondrial Eve, and “Restricted visitors, only” is how we keep (for instance) Mary from putting on concern-face, coming in and making things worse.

    Presumably, Joyce, Mr Brown and Becky are tied up getting allowed in, and Dina just slipped past by not being noticed, but still.

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      August 8, 2016 at 9:41 am | #

      Not being noticed IS one of Dina’s primary skills, after all.

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      August 8, 2016 at 9:59 am | #

      Indeed.

      Walky should be out of there trying not to get chucked out of college.

    • Questionor
      Questionor
      August 8, 2016 at 11:22 am | #

      I thought they “admitted” both Ruth and Billie and were watching both. Hence Billie gets visitors too.

      • Willoughby Chase
        Willoughby Chase
        August 8, 2016 at 11:56 am | #

        We know Walky blagged his way in via reception so I’m not sure about Billie or Ruth being able to officially receive anyone yet.

  54. Lulu
    Lulu
    August 8, 2016 at 10:51 am | #

    So Becky is the normal one here…
    I’m surprised.

    • Darkoneko
      Darkoneko
      August 8, 2016 at 3:26 pm | #

      …I am not.

  55. Falling Star
    Falling Star
    August 8, 2016 at 11:27 am | #

    All of Walky’s eyes are appropriate.

  56. TPman
    TPman
    August 8, 2016 at 12:58 pm | #

    Penny’s not in the poll? Did she not make the cut, or was that an oversight?

    • Emperor Norton II
      Emperor Norton II
      August 8, 2016 at 3:36 pm | #

      That was a hard poll to choose from, by the way, even if we were only to focus on mainly their physical appearance.

      Eventually, I went with Amber (she is -fit-), Sierra (she has that kind of open, friendly smile that, if she’d flashed it to me, would turn me into a puddle of happy goo) and Billie (Like Joyce, I could just snuggle into her boobs and be comfortable forever).

      Leslie, Carla, and Becky were my runner-ups. What can I say, sassy is hot.

    • Bicycle Bill
      Bicycle Bill
      August 8, 2016 at 4:56 pm | #

      I picked Joyce, Becky, and Billie.

      One unabashed lesbian; one professional virgin; and one who still isn’t quite sure where she falls on the Kinsey scale.

    • Darkoneko
      Darkoneko
      August 8, 2016 at 5:21 pm | #

      As usual, I picked the ones I thought were least likely to win.

    • David M Willis
      David M Willis
      August 8, 2016 at 5:36 pm | #

      I tend to favor folks who’ve appeared recently. Which is why Daisy was out and Jocelyne was in.

      • Spencer
        Spencer
        August 8, 2016 at 6:25 pm | #

        I find it incredibly appropriate that Daisy gets left out of being grouped with a bunch of hot women.

  57. IwonderwhatavatarI'llget
    IwonderwhatavatarI'llget
    August 8, 2016 at 5:26 pm | #

    Walky can have human, non-Pikachu eyes ? Wow.

  58. Tenn
    Tenn
    August 8, 2016 at 5:27 pm | #

    Three? That’s atrocious!

    …I’ll just… show myself out.

  59. KingOfGreyfell
    KingOfGreyfell
    August 8, 2016 at 6:23 pm | #

    As a man currently trying to sail a relationship, this speaks to me.

  60. Marvelman
    Marvelman
    August 8, 2016 at 7:45 pm | #

    Are Walky and Dina officially friends now? They have good comedic chemistry.

  61. GrayMoon77
    GrayMoon77
    August 8, 2016 at 8:15 pm | #

    For some reason I want Billie to finally end her pseudo-friendship with Walky only to realize that she actually like having him around and tries to make amends but Walky refuses.

    Meh, a guy can dream.

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      August 8, 2016 at 8:31 pm | #

      Billie is the one person Walky can’t turn away.

      He can try to talk to Sal but if she doesn’t want him, he’ll live. He’ll dump Dorothy over pajama jeans and stonewall any attempt at talking to her about feelings. Billie? Billie is probably the person he’s closest to more than anybody.

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It's #webcomicday? We have a special day??? Well, my name is Pat McHoarney and I draw 69 Mouse-Ear Blvd, a multigenerational story about women who all have sexy legs and probably other features. There was a grandmother, but she wasn't hot and so she died off-panel.
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