Dumbing of Age Book Fourteen

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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October 20, 2026

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Posted In: comic
└ Tags: amazi-girl, becky, mike

Discussion (94) ¬

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  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    April 12, 2020 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

    Becky: Oh, Mike! It’s been a few

    Amazi-ber: …shit, Imaginary Becky, too??

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      April 12, 2020 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

      btw that move is called “Heaven and Hell” IIRC?

      • Rose by Any Other Name
        Rose by Any Other Name
        April 12, 2020 at 12:09 am | # | Reply

        … did… did you just make a Tekken reference?

        • He Who Abides
          He Who Abides
          April 12, 2020 at 3:59 pm | # | Reply

          Who had that move? I literally only play as Yoshimitsu, and have never bothered learning the names of moves kicking my teeth into next week.

          • Ana Chronistic
            Ana Chronistic
            April 13, 2020 at 12:00 am | # | Reply

            whatsername? Sophitia? sounds like a sheep?

            • Ana Chronistic
              Ana Chronistic
              April 15, 2020 at 12:01 am | # | Reply

              (my hubby insists I be mad that you got the correct company, wrong game, but I didn’t feel like well, actuallying anyone about Soul Calibur)

      • Xenocide
        Xenocide
        April 12, 2020 at 4:03 am | # | Reply

        It’s a very impressive jump she’s achieved to get her legs round a grown man’s neck!
        I don’t entirely follow how she got from the position in panel 4 to the one in panel 6 though, she’s completely re-positioned the way she is around his neck. I’ve never seen (or heard of) vovinam before though so it’s entirely possible that there’s a nice smooth way to achieve that transition.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      April 12, 2020 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

      Plot twist: everyone except Mike has been imaginary this whole time.

      • Jamie
        Jamie
        April 12, 2020 at 12:08 am | # | Reply

        Willis being Mike would explain a lot.

      • Cholma
        Cholma
        April 12, 2020 at 3:22 am | # | Reply

        Last DoA comic: 1st Panel — Bob Newhart wakes up and realizes that he’s been dreaming the whole of DoA.
        2nd Panel: Victoria Principal (DALLAS’ Pamela Ewing) wakes up to realize she not only dreamed about Bobby Ewing being shot, but also Bob Newhart dreaming about DoA.
        3rd Panel: Matthew Fox (LOST’s Dr Shepard) comes to, dying on a beach as the wreckage of his crash plane falls around him, realizing he just dreamed about Victoria Principal dreaming about Bob Newhart.
        4th Panel: Ana Chronistic wakes up realizing that she not only dreamed all of the above, but also all of *us* and that in reality, Shortpacked! never ended, but instead of talking about toys, it’s about scrounging for food, ammo, & toilet paper in a post-COVID devastated world.
        5th Panel: Jeph Jacques finishes pitching his new story idea about an artist named David Willis writng a comic about college life to Randy Milholland, who scoffs and tells him, “it’ll never sell”.

        • Abel Undercity
          Abel Undercity
          April 12, 2020 at 9:40 am | # | Reply

          Epilogue: Destiny of the Endless turns the page.

          • StClair
            StClair
            April 12, 2020 at 9:27 pm | # | Reply

            *slow clap*

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      April 12, 2020 at 12:13 am | # | Reply

      Plot twist: They are ALL imaginary in Amber’s mind. She’s got one helluva storyline going in her noggin while she’s in a psyc ward.

      • Lawzlo
        Lawzlo
        April 12, 2020 at 12:58 am | # | Reply

        Is she staring into a snow globe?

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          April 12, 2020 at 3:18 am | # | Reply

          I understand that reference.gif. Still better than waking up next to his other wife from an earlier series.

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            April 12, 2020 at 10:09 am | # | Reply

            DoA is Walkyverse!Walky’s dream. Makes sense.

          • Roborat
            Roborat
            April 14, 2020 at 4:13 pm | # | Reply

            I still think that was the best way to end a series ever.

  2. BBCC
    BBCC
    April 12, 2020 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

    Found her! Record time! 😀

    • Kyrik Michalowski
      Kyrik Michalowski
      April 12, 2020 at 12:07 am | # | Reply

      Truly Amazi-girl/Amber accomplishes things quickly on their own, just look at how fast it is when they work together.

  3. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    April 12, 2020 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

    Me And My Shadow
    Strolling down the Avenue
    Me And My Shadow
    All alone and feeling blue!

  4. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    April 12, 2020 at 12:04 am | # | Reply

    Uh, as someone who doesn’t follow wrestling, superheroes (in book, TV, or movies), or MMA, is VOVIN something already defined?

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      April 12, 2020 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

      It’s a Vietnamese martial art, not a wrestling thing. I’ve never heard of it in superheroes (book, tv, or movies) either. Might be an MMA thing but I don’t follow that so I dunno either.

      • ValdVin
        ValdVin
        April 12, 2020 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

        Ahh, thanks.

      • Chaucer59
        Chaucer59
        April 12, 2020 at 1:25 am | # | Reply

        Right. AG’s flying scissor kick takedown is a classic Đòn Chân technique. So, is that why AG’s colors are yellow and blue?

    • clif
      clif
      April 12, 2020 at 12:15 am | # | Reply

      The last two letters of VOVINAM are cut off, though you can make out part of the A. Vovinam, as BBCC says is a Vietnamese martial art. It is not normally a sound effect, but hey.

      • ValdVin
        ValdVin
        April 12, 2020 at 12:26 am | # | Reply

        Hey, I love the “unsound sound effects” trope.

    • Jhon
      Jhon
      April 12, 2020 at 2:18 pm | # | Reply

      Google is your friend.
      ( but wheres the fun in that )

  5. Madock345
    Madock345
    April 12, 2020 at 12:04 am | # | Reply

    Mike telling Amber who is behind her really adds to the “ghost” theory vs “Hallucination” theory

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      April 12, 2020 at 12:07 am | # | Reply

      Maybe he should stick around, help her find her keys and such when they’re missing.

      • clif
        clif
        April 12, 2020 at 12:17 am | # | Reply

        Also, it would be more persuasive if she wasn’t looking up at Backy at the time “Mike” says it.

        • Madock345
          Madock345
          April 12, 2020 at 12:18 am | # | Reply

          Hm, I interpreted that as her looking up in response to Mike’s dialogue. If you read it that way it really doesn’t say anything.

    • Sam
      Sam
      April 12, 2020 at 12:34 am | # | Reply

      She was looking in the direction that Becky was coming from while taking the guy down. I find it more likely, she heard/saw her coming (but didn’t process it due to Mike distraction until pointed out) and the comment that Becky is behind her only makes sense from ‘Mike’s’ perspective as he is still facing the opposite way.

      • SuperZero
        SuperZero
        April 14, 2020 at 3:44 am | # | Reply

        That’s the direction she just came from, which might be what he meant. He still said it after she saw Becky, though.

  6. clif
    clif
    April 12, 2020 at 12:04 am | # | Reply

    Thank you, alt-text. I was wondering.

  7. Suet
    Suet
    April 12, 2020 at 12:04 am | # | Reply

    Oh no, Becky’s part of the hallucination… Vovinam? What in the world are these sounds Amber is making?

    • Madock345
      Madock345
      April 12, 2020 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

      Becky has shading, so she’s not whatever Mike is

      • Suet
        Suet
        April 12, 2020 at 1:25 am | # | Reply

        Sounds like Amber’s escort job is very routine.

        Then again, the last time we saw Becky, she was wearing an orange raglan and a blazer.

        • Agemegos
          Agemegos
          April 12, 2020 at 1:47 am | # | Reply

          Amber works as an escort?

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            April 12, 2020 at 10:02 am | # | Reply

            We don’t know if she’s a Taurus, but right now she’s definitely on an Excursion.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      April 12, 2020 at 10:05 am | # | Reply

      The entirety of DoA is Amber’s hallucination. She’s really sitting on the floor of her parents’ apartment, staring into a snowglobe of Showalter fountain.

      (“Amber is the Tommy Westphall of webcomics” is my favorite pet conspiracy theory and I will not let it die.)

      • Keith Curtis
        Keith Curtis
        April 12, 2020 at 1:47 pm | # | Reply

        Twilight Zone Twist: The snowflakes in the snowglobe are really Soggies…

      • Freemage
        Freemage
        April 12, 2020 at 2:47 pm | # | Reply

        I like the idea, but let’s face it–the snowglobe should be of Blowjob Cat.

  8. Nono
    Nono
    April 12, 2020 at 12:05 am | # | Reply

    …You know, knowing that Becky was out doing a TV interview, probably not the best place to start attacking goons.

    • clif
      clif
      April 12, 2020 at 12:08 am | # | Reply

      The TV interview was yesterday.

    • Zee
      Zee
      April 12, 2020 at 1:45 pm | # | Reply

      It’s currently 4-5 am

  9. Kyrik Michalowski
    Kyrik Michalowski
    April 12, 2020 at 12:05 am | # | Reply

    Well Amazi-girl/Amber, what are you going to do now? This should be a fascinating conversation.

    Also, is “Mike” somehow the best part of Amber’s brain?

    • He Who Abides
      He Who Abides
      April 12, 2020 at 12:08 am | # | Reply

      That’d be fuckin’ depressing.

      • Ron again
        Ron again
        April 12, 2020 at 5:25 am | # | Reply

        This Mike is not that bad

      • Council
        Council
        April 12, 2020 at 9:35 am | # | Reply

        Way I see it, “best” is a misnomer for him. Best in What? I don’t think anyone would seriously argue Amazi-girl isn’t the best. Amber is kicking herself for shortcomings real and imagined, sabotaging her own life, and Brain!Mike borrows too much of the real deal’s modus operandi.
        Most functional, most practical, I’d give you. The one I’d trust to get through the day without causing a ruckus the most. But he isn’t the Best, he’s an asshole.
        Vigilantism is bullshit, and Amazi-screws have long been loose, but you gotta respect that both her method and her execution work towards something better.

        It would be better served by doing it in other ways than suplexing people, but we’re talking Comparison here.

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          April 12, 2020 at 1:09 pm | # | Reply

          “Best” is probably a bad way of looking at alters. Amazi-Girl’s done a lot of messed up stuff – like stalking Sal and trying to fight her early on. Amber kicks herself too much, but she actually hasn’t done as much that’s really bad.

          Part of the way their system works (or at least worked before the memory loss) was that Amazi-Girl got credit for anything good and Amber the blame for anything bad. That’s not at all healthy for either alter.

  10. Jamie
    Jamie
    April 12, 2020 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

    Becky plays Acquire Agency.

    Amazi-Girl is surprised!

    What will happen next!?

  11. Yumi
    Yumi
    April 12, 2020 at 12:16 am | # | Reply

    Curious as to where Becky was since it seems she’s coming in from outside.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      April 12, 2020 at 12:18 am | # | Reply

      Also interesting that Becky still wears the Anderson hoodie (now that she would likely have the means not to). It’s more a personal thing, I guess, but her time there was short and ended so bitterly, I’d imagine she’d want to distance herself from it.

      • King Daniel
        King Daniel
        April 12, 2020 at 12:29 am | # | Reply

        In Dina’s words, “her attire is a funny joke because it depicts an entity that believes she will spend an eternity in torment.”

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        April 12, 2020 at 9:59 am | # | Reply

        Oh no, she might be wearing it when she faces Toedad again…

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      April 12, 2020 at 3:45 am | # | Reply

      Yeah, Becky seems to come the stairs and into the building after Amazi-Girl, having been behind her until her last acrobatic martial arts move reversed her facing.

    • Jhon
      Jhon
      April 12, 2020 at 2:22 pm | # | Reply

      Becky has been out looking at the stars. Or maybe BlowJob Cat.
      ( the uggtroopers hate it when she does that )

  12. abysswatcher1993
    abysswatcher1993
    April 12, 2020 at 12:17 am | # | Reply

    When Becky is able to surprise Amazi-Girl you know Amber/AG has finally snapped and should take a break.

    • Miri
      Miri
      April 12, 2020 at 12:25 am | # | Reply

      In fairness, she’s very tired and busy beating up a hired guard and talking to a hallucination.

    • Sombrero
      Sombrero
      April 12, 2020 at 6:25 pm | # | Reply

      She should pass the cape to Imaginary Mike. He would defeat all villains just with his talking.

  13. Jess
    Jess
    April 12, 2020 at 12:37 am | # | Reply

    I JUST FIGURED OUT WHAT THIS GIVES ME VIBES OF.

    It makes me remember that stretch of House episodes where House was seeing Wilson’s dead girlfriend (also named Amber) after she died in a bus accident and it helped him on some of his cases.

    • Jess
      Jess
      April 12, 2020 at 12:38 am | # | Reply

      I feel so dumb for not remembering Hugh Laurie’s smug face. lol

      • Rose by Any Other Name
        Rose by Any Other Name
        April 12, 2020 at 12:43 am | # | Reply

        Amber was best girl. Love that actress.

        I used to rewatch old seasons of House a lot, but that last season was so sad it’s hard for me to go back and rewatch the happy earlier seasons. Sigh.

        • Jess
          Jess
          April 12, 2020 at 1:15 am | # | Reply

          I liked her, too. She was very motivated and cynical and played beautifully off of the other characters. I was so sad when she died, but House’s mental shit with her ghost/mental projection was kinda great.

  14. Dave Van Domelen
    Dave Van Domelen
    April 12, 2020 at 12:38 am | # | Reply

    Big Bad Harv, meet The (Silently) Judge(ing You).

    • StClair
      StClair
      April 12, 2020 at 3:01 am | # | Reply

      Nice reference!

  15. Kelli
    Kelli
    April 12, 2020 at 12:51 am | # | Reply

    Is vovinam the martial art that was being demonstrated in that viral video several years ago?

    Ah, yes. It is. The video is aDh2tD8t9FE and the time stamp to start from is 300.

    • khn0
      khn0
      April 12, 2020 at 2:13 am | # | Reply

      Full name is Vovinam Viet Vo Dao, since the 60’s, I think.

      • khn0
        khn0
        April 12, 2020 at 2:14 am | # | Reply

        But that’s a bit long for a sound effect.

  16. James
    James
    April 12, 2020 at 1:09 am | # | Reply

    Honestly the best thing here is the utter lack of surprise or distress Becky is displaying. She just looks kind of “Huh, so this is happening.”

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 12, 2020 at 3:40 am | # | Reply

      I mean, it’s not like the fifth weirdest thing that has happened to her lately.

    • JBento
      JBento
      April 12, 2020 at 8:47 am | # | Reply

      Becky’s just confused that a woman would want to wrap their legs around a dude’s face instead of another girl’s.

  17. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    April 12, 2020 at 1:22 am | # | Reply

    Oh wow, that didn’t take long at all.

    I fear for Becky, probably having to face her dad again.

  18. Architex
    Architex
    April 12, 2020 at 2:19 am | # | Reply

    Mike not having any shading here in Panel 3 is an unnerving detail moving him a step out of reality.

  19. Bagge
    Bagge
    April 12, 2020 at 2:26 am | # | Reply

    Pros: a really hot super hero is breaking into your home
    Cons: She kinda sorta beats up your body guards.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      April 12, 2020 at 9:58 am | # | Reply

      Magnum, P.S. there looks old enough to be her father, though.

  20. Keulen
    Keulen
    April 12, 2020 at 2:34 am | # | Reply

    I just now realized that Amazi-Girl/Amber’s cape is her jacket with the sleeves tied together.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      April 12, 2020 at 12:25 pm | # | Reply

      Actually, I think it’s Walky’s jacket. She took the cape and mask from him in the cellar (two of her ‘three things she needed’).

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        April 12, 2020 at 1:26 pm | # | Reply

        Nah, it’s hers. The light blue hoodie she was wearing when kidnapped. Walky still has his tied around his neck.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          April 12, 2020 at 5:48 pm | # | Reply

          Yup.

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/03-when-it-crumbles/sevenpercent/

  21. rachel
    rachel
    April 12, 2020 at 3:03 am | # | Reply

    UH did she just snap this dude’s neck

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      April 12, 2020 at 3:25 am | # | Reply

      Looks like it, but he could just be at his extreme range of motion. There might be a >pop< sound effect there if it was really broken instead of the "School of Martial Arts" sound effect/

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      April 12, 2020 at 3:47 am | # | Reply

      She has the tape ready to bind him, so she isn’t taking the chance that maybe she didn’t.

  22. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    April 12, 2020 at 4:18 am | # | Reply

    God I wish that were me.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      April 12, 2020 at 12:26 pm | # | Reply

      Heaven and Hell indeed!

  23. Spriteless Girl
    Spriteless Girl
    April 12, 2020 at 7:16 am | # | Reply

    Mike, as the Douche of Heart, is the only one who can save us from Dirk Strider.

    • Spriteless Girl
      Spriteless Girl
      April 12, 2020 at 7:17 am | # | Reply

      Oops I mean from brain jerks.

      • Insanenoodlyguy
        Insanenoodlyguy
        April 12, 2020 at 8:31 am | # | Reply

        But Brain Dirk seems to be the only Dirk that should be kept around!

  24. hof1991
    hof1991
    April 12, 2020 at 9:36 am | # | Reply

    Vovinam emphasizes embracing yin and yang, hard and soft. Seems an ironic style for someone with DID.

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      April 12, 2020 at 2:28 pm | # | Reply

      Hehe. You said “hard”.

  25. Rani
    Rani
    April 12, 2020 at 10:14 am | # | Reply

    If this is Amazi girl talking, doesn’t SHE know what happened to Mike?

  26. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    April 12, 2020 at 10:40 am | # | Reply

    Last panel : he ded

  27. Ryan the Cool
    Ryan the Cool
    April 12, 2020 at 9:47 pm | # | Reply

    I want Willis to reveal everyone and thing is just an imaginary brain creation of amber to work over her trauma regarding her father’s abuse, Imaginary Brain Mike is her imaginary brain world being meta, and this entire comic is a surrealist exploration of memory.

  28. LibertyRazor
    LibertyRazor
    April 12, 2020 at 10:07 pm | # | Reply

    I’ve gotten…bored of this comic. I don’t care about any of the characters anymore. So, I guess I’ll stop reading. Bye everyone.

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