151

Any further
Posted on March 3, 2024 by David M Willis

151 thoughts on “Any further”

  1. Animedingo

    Nic3

    1. clif

      Dumbing of Age 14: You’re Trying to Fuck Your Trauma, Aren’t You

      1. Makkabee

        Dumbing of Age 14: I am Very Traumatized

        (And I am very Tromatized)

  2. DarkoNeko

    just a little bit

    1. Rose by Any Other Name

      I mean, if I could fuck my trauma….

      … I can’t because most of my trauma stems from more abstract issues like certain incurable diseases and the concept of late stage capitalism.

      1. AlexaSpuds

        Write these concepts on a piece of paper and make the wifey wear them as a mask while you fuck, that’s just as good as this.

        1. clif

          And probably safer too. Late stage capitalism tends to become unstable once you add AI into the mix.

        2. Regret

          Now now, capitalism is unstable enough without glorified chatbots. Its instability is right there in the design principles.

      2. TerribleTransit

        If Chuck Tingle has taught us anything, it’s that being an abstract, intangible concept does not mean you can’t fuck it.

        1. Kep

          Oh, right, yeah. Correct. Now you’ve got me thinking of what titles would work here.

        2. Marisa Mockery

          Being Pounded in the Butt by My Childhood Trauma But Eventually Getting Therapy to Become a Healthier Human Being DOES sound like a Tingler.

      3. ElNappifico

        I fucked my trauma for about 7 years, given that I was in a committed relationship with my abuser. Cannot recommend.

      4. DurkVash

        Feel ya. When trauma comes from loneliness, it’s pretty hard to fuck it.

      5. Felian

        Fuck Capitalism!

    2. Needfuldoer

      as a treat.

    3. Tan

      Just the tip into the trauma… And the rest of the way to the hilt in DAT A-…

  3. Ana Chronistic

    FUCK TRAUMA

    LITERALLY

    1. brumagem

      I’m pretty sure a “fuck trauma” and a “trauma fuck” are diametrically opposed concepts.

      1. Laura

        How so?

        I tried to look up and see whether this is a Thing People Say, since a few characters have repeated that phrase in DOA. All I could find in a cursory search was jerks saying, “F your trauma,” as in, “F you for having trauma and asking that I be respectful of your triggers and boundaries.” Not quite the same thing.

        Is it like … the so-called “Stockholm syndrome”, or the “tend & befriend / f*** & fawn” response to crisis?

        I’m legit interested, as it’s not a common trope I’d seen before. What’s it about?

        1. anon2

          a trauma from sex

          vs

          having sex with the source of your trauma (as seen in today’s page)

        2. BarerMender

          I’ve been speaking English for above 70 years and I’ve never heard the phrase, outside DOA. I know childhood trauma can color your sexuality. I grew up in a violent home, and to this day I like (controlled) violence with my sex. It’s proving you’re no longer a victim, or, possibly, proving you are a victim.

        3. milu

          @Laura I think @brumagem is just quipping honestly.

          @BarerMender, that makes sense though it’s notable the characters here are referring to a non-domestic traumatic experience in their early teens rather than childhood family trauma — not sure what to make of that. To me this sounds more akin to the “high school bully” fantasy trope. I’ll say that as a former mildly bullied teenager with an otherwise healthy childhood, i do find that sort of power play scenario compelling.

        4. brumagem

          Yup, I’m not saying they’re commonly used phrases, just the concepts they evoked in my mind are different. A “fuck trauma” being a trauma tied to a specific sexual experience (IE sexual assault), and a “trauma fuck” being a sexual experience driven by past trauma (see comic above).
          It’s easy to forget the words that form in one’s head don’t necessarily have a universal meaning.

        5. Laura

          Oh, yes, that makes sense! Thank you, brumagem!

        6. Eolirin

          Uh, I’m pretty sure Fuck Trauma is meant in the same way as Fuck that guy! And not as an adjective.

        7. Laura

          Thank you for helping me make sense of it, milu!

        8. Laura

          Oh, yes, I get that 100%. It’s wild, talking about these issues with another person!
          Trauma and its link with sexuality can feel very lonely while it stays locked within one’s own thoughts.

        9. Laura

          Thank you for sharing that, BarerMender. That makes me feel less alone.

        10. clif

          I forget the rule number, but any trauma can be fetishized .

    2. anon

      tbf, how often are you going to get the chance?

      can’t wait to see how sal reacts, if either of them tell her

      1. drs

        Sal develops new appreciation for “Wonderbread” aka Danny.

        “Yer boring. Ah lahk boring.”

        (sorry for doing her accent badly)

        1. Steamweed

          So yer both sayin’ that we’re not goin’ to get an Asher-Ethan-Sal threesome?

        2. David DeLaney

          but maybe a Wonderbread sandwich instead

          –Dave, “… I’m NOT boring! — am I guys?’

    3. Opus the Poet

      I’m trying to wrap my head around how that would be possible for me, given the diverse natures of my traumas. I mean there’s all the moving around we did as a child, the several times I got hit by trucks, the times I was assaulted with blunt objects. Looking back 1) It’s a wonder I survived my childhood 2) It’s another wonder I didn’t end up catatonic from my childhood traumas 3) How am I still a functioning human being after all this? And just how would I physically fuck my traumas?

  4. Schpoonman

    Daaaaaaang.

    1. Dara

      Ethan GOING so hard here while BEING so hard here xD

    2. Emperor Norton II

      This is today’s best comment/avatar combo.

      1. Schpoonman

        Literature

        1. TrueVCU

          P o e t i c C i n e m a

        2. BarerMender

          Good one!

        3. HueSatLight

          ??????????

        4. Decidedly Orthogonal

          Clitrature

        5. Schpoonman

          Not until Amber writes some slash featuring two women.

        6. Schpoonman

          There we go.

        7. David DeLaney

          visual onomatopoeia appeal

  5. Serendipity

    Honesty is good for healing.

    1. Laura

      So is ointment. And lots of lube.

  6. Doctor_Who

    So you’re saying Asher’s been a very naughty boy and needs to be punished, is that it Ethan?

    Somewhere Amber has a nosebleed and doesn’t know why.

    1. Bash

      I think I might too

  7. Jeremiah

    Points for honestly!

  8. NGPZ

    That shadow Ethan’s eye makes him look like Zuko from Last Airbender LOL XD

    also, Slipshine when?

    1. Thag Simmons

      scar’s on the wrong side

      1. showler

        So….the actor that played Zuko on Ember Island?

        1. Thag Simmons

          yes, that was the reference, very good

      2. NGPZ

        Oh I get it now.

        It’s flipped because Asher is kinda like Zuko’s foil or something?

        Like, they were both born into deadly dynasties of which they became black sheep…

    2. True Survivor

      There’s a joke about a final Agni Kai in her somewhere….

      1. Jamie

        Something something as hot as a firestorm?

      2. StClair

        so will the Slipshine have a sad violin, cello and percussion soundtrack?

        1. David DeLaney

          do not forget the wailing kazoo solo

    3. Ike

      Hmmm. If it happens, I might have to get my first slipshine

    4. thejeff

      That shadow was consistent enough from different angles that I was wondering if it was supposed to be a black eye or something.

  9. Nono

    This is wrong (good?) and yet hot.

    Also props that even depressed, Ethan has some moral compass.

    1. Theluxland

      ”Oh you’ve been held hostage at a convenience store? I’m gonna hold you ass hostage in my bed instead.”

  10. Sirksome

    I guess a lot of people gotta get in line to fuck Asher after this….Don’t trust him.

    1. milu

      I hear you but I admit, I do trust him to be a good little slut and take his punishment.

  11. RassilonTDavros

    Asher Makes Some Things Up To Ethan: a Dumbing of Age Pornographique

  12. Jo_cubstar

    I really hope this works out for them

  13. shrub

    I was going to say this will end well but since its a step up from Jennifer it can only end up better for Asher

  14. HueSatLight

    Good thing Amber isn’t too torn up about Blaine’s death.
    or too bad she isn’t?

    1. Thag Simmons

      If that’s it things might be okay, Blaine really had it coming, but there’s non-zero odds that Asher’s family had Amber and Ethan’s friend (for lack of a better term) quietly bumped off

      1. GholaHalleck

        I don’t think there was any real reason for them to off mike. Blaine was going full-out moronic mouth-off dumb. Mike didn’t know ToeDad and Blaine were tangentially involved with the mob.

        1. Adam Black

          There WAS tho.

          NO, MIKE knew that since Ambers 13 year birthday. and He started blackmailing him again when Blaine showed up as Hammerman.

          Mike was the one who figured this out.

          I think Sal and amber also knew his Ashers connections, and sooner or later they will get suspicious he might have been blaines oncampass pointman. Plus Faz knows . Plus its obvious question to ask.

        2. HueSatLight

          Mike was shouting he knew. https://www.dumbingofage.com/smash-2/

        3. thejeff

          Mike knew, but there’s little reason to think the mob knew. Blaine wouldn’t have wanted to spill that, since he’d be in trouble for letting a kid find out.

          And in his talk with Lester the mob cop, he was still focused on Amber and AG.

          There’s little reason to think that Mike didn’t just die from the initial injury. Non-zero odds, but very very low.

        4. HueSatLight

          cops could be doing interviews, and someone says what they heard Mike shouting.

        5. thejeff

          It’s certainly possible, but there’s no indication of it

        6. thejeff

          Also it would have had to be only reported to the dirty cops, because once it’s in the records that he has info on the mob, his death will get looked into more closely.
          Nor is there a convenient “he grabbed my gun” excuse here. A killing here would need to be more subtle.

      2. James

        Maybe? But also Mike fell off a building roof onto concrete, not sure there’s really a case for extra steps needed there.

      3. BBCC

        Ethan was there when Mike died iirc. It would be hard to avoid him seeing.

        1. HueSatLight

          put something in the drip

      4. Bash

        Actually this brings up a good point. Do any of the cast know about Asher’s involvement in the most recent kidnapping and therefore Mike’s death? Because Ethan will NOT react well if he finds out.

        1. Miri

          Not yet. But Faz may know. And Faz views Amber as family and Joyce as friend.

        2. Tan

          Mike’s injuries that eventually led to his death were before Asher pulled the fire alarm that facilitated the kidnapping, nor did Asher know about Mike’s injuries at the time. Whether that is a distinction that would make a difference to Ethan is hard to say.

          (also, y’know… Ethan was among the kidnapped himself)

        3. HueSatLight

          There’s a plausible scenario where Mike’s injuries didn’t kill him, but a cop killed him keep him from telling the feds about Blaine’s records of which cops where getting mob money.

          the cop who killed Blaine asked him to identify Amazigirl before he killed him. Like they were looking for loose ends to kill.

  15. june gloom

    Well, as long as we’re being open and honest about things.

    (Also, EmCaCo, since I don’t think you saw my reply from the other day, yes my avatar is my OC, her name is Winter!)

  16. Joe Moose

    Being Pounded In The Butt By My Hot Childhood Trama

    1. True Survivor

      Aww man all the middle school bullies are right after all, childhood trauma is gay.

    2. Dara

      Chuck Tingle is the hero we need AND deserve in these trying times

      1. Steelbright

        Oh my god it’s so true. Bless Chuck Tingle. You took the words out of my mouth, almost word for word

        1. Formedras

          Pounded In The Butt By The Words Out Of My Mouth

        2. Dante

          Y’all are poets tonight

  17. Grimey

    This made me laugh harder than it should have.

  18. Switchchris26

    They might not be great for eachother right now, but they are so damn cute together and I want them to become eachother’s healing touch.

  19. bootshivers

    Already healthier than being with Jennifer.

    1. Jeremiah

      Which is very concerning when you think about it.

      1. Steelbright

        Yeah not a good standard to hold to, but ehh, here’s hoping anyway!

        1. Jamie

          Low bars were made for vaulting. Preferably with a flourish, but even just stepping over is good.

        2. Dante

          I’d embroider this on my bedside rug.

        3. Holly

          Do it!

  20. DailyBrad

    I kinda think this isn’t Asher’s first brush with this.

  21. Joyfulldreams

    This is one of the sexiest things to ever happen.

    1. milu

      And I’ve just watched ContraPoints’ latest video, and that was very sexy.

  22. mai

    do you wanna shag the priest or do you wanna shag god

  23. Odo

    Yesssssssssssssss

  24. Versen

    Been there, tread lightly.

  25. Steelbright

    It’s unbelievably good to see Ethan making any expression other than dead emo eyes, I can’t help but be hopeful

    1. DashWallkick

      A real smile! And not a smirk or a grin, dude’s having fun.

  26. Bryy

    This is oddly extremely healthy.

  27. DashWallkick

    Oh wow, how the turns have tabled! https://www.dumbingofage.com/2018/comic/book-9-comic/01-flyin-to-the-red/urges/

  28. JR

    “You’re kinda the reason I was held hostage…like 3 months ago?”

    1. Bash

      I think that’s what Asher was expecting. I don’t know if anyone has actually realized that though.

      1. DailyBrad

        Yeah, none of the cast is really in a position to have all the dots to connect.

    2. Miri

      Has *Asher* put that together at this point? Does he know that Mike died trying to protect the friends group from the murderer he helped kidnap said friends group that includes Ethan? Or that Ethan and Mike were slightly messed up BFFs?

      1. thejeff

        He has to have put the kidnapping together with his actions – unless Jennifer just never mentioned even casually that she knew the people involved in what had to be the most talked about thing on campus. (Admittedly, they didn’t hook up until after, but still …)

        Knowing about Mike is a bit less likely.

  29. Dante

    THE GENTLENESS AND UNDERSTANDING ON “you’re trying to fuck your trauma, aren’t you?” I’m dying. And Ethan replies with the most genuine smile I’ve seen since before the Hammertimes. You just know that sex’s about to get A++ freaky.

    Is it concerning that Asher has got an “I Can Fix Them” thing? Maybe. My energy is in other things tonight :33c

    1. Holly

      It’s double concerning, because his “I can fix them” will lead to the revelation of “I fucked them (all) up” the closer he gets to the social group, and his inability to go back in time and fix his past self’s actions at that point could lead to an unpredictable breakdown, especially if he’s built relationships that he is emotionally dependant on by that point.

    2. milu

      Listen, under the circumstances (such as this being a DM Willis production) this is SO WHOLESOME

      Asher’s reaction is just perfect. Like obviously Ethan is a bit worried that saying this will end this moment, that Asher will either get defensive or guilty, it takes a bit of courage to say it.

      But Asher doesn’t let his ego ruin the vibe, instead he immediately focuses back on Ethan like ,”duly noted, filed for later; now where were we?”

      It’s ADORABLE and SEXY af

    3. lyzyrdwyzyrd

      TBH, I get a “I can make him worse” vibe here.

  30. General Tekno

    On the one hand this seems all kinds of messed up, on the other you know what this might actually be the healthiest possible outcome for Ethan?

    Weird indeed.

  31. morhek

    Amber: “Huh, could’a sworn I just heard a shoe drop, but it’s still up there.”

  32. JepMZ

    We should stop commenting on the 69th comment. That’s it. For the SOLIDarity

    1. CardinalFan

      His logic is infallible. This cannot be argued.

  33. Bleuryder

    Hawt….?

  34. Michael

    Wait till he finds out he’s indirectly responsible for other things, like the mass kidnapping which then led to Mike’s death.

  35. Holly

    I love the fact that, as messed up as Ethan is, and as much as he’s signalling ‘let’s do something unwise and make the world burn’, he actually does the right thing and employs clear communication about a deeply personal motivation up front.

  36. Amelie Wikström

    If you think about it really Leland is behind it all.
    No Ethan don’t fuck Leland.

    1. staszu13

      Leland is off at Yale somewhere. Good job Dorothy decided not to go, who knows what type of encounter they would have

  37. Allison Branford

    Honest and open communication is so sexy.

  38. milu

    Xjdkeofgdjskcfbbggfds I am a puddle

  39. Alan in DC

    Jennifer who?

  40. Yeet

    if he was trying to fuck his trauma he’d be looking for someone who’s way snarkier

    1. staszu13

      No, Mike is dead – or in witness protection

    2. zee

      He retroactively fucked that trauma before it was trauma

      1. Yeet

        don’t think that really counts tbh
        maybe we’ll see asher get some good true-but-harsh points in at some point though, like the benevolent side of mike
        he did get walky real good in the feels that one time with “I didn’t send sal away, your parents did”

      2. clif

        You’re saying Ethan is a hipster?

      3. M!a

        That’s pre-emptive fucking, actually.

        1. M!a

          [/pedantic]

  41. staszu13

    Well, Ethan, considering you look like emo now,. that’s a lot of trauma.

    Also, voice headcanon for Asher = Stallone

    1. zee

      Mine is Johnny Yong Bosch. Like the Ichigo kurosaki/Ne Zha/Rentaro amami voice

  42. C.T. Phipps

    I have a prediction that a revelation of a much more recent and terrible trauma is going to destroy Asher and Ethan’s relationship.

    I believe Asher will reveal he prefers GI Joe to the Transformers.

    The movie version.

    1. C.T. Phipps

      I’d say he’d prefer the movie Transformers version to the cartoon but that would just be silly.

      😀

  43. JessWitt

    Good for Ethan bringing up their shared connection so early.

    They may have a more serious talk about it in the future. But for now, it’s smooching time.

  44. zee

    Shit like this makes me glad I’m entering the working force soon bc. I need this slipshine. I need it.

  45. Amós Batista

    “You’re trying to fuck your traumas, aren’t you?”

    That sounds Exposure Therapy to me.
    What I think it’s great in this couple.

  46. Mturtle7

    25 years later: “So Dad, what first attracted you to Poppa?”
    Ethan: “…”
    Asher: “…”
    Ethan: “His, uh…kindness…”

    1. David DeLaney

      Asher: “…yes, my ENORMOUS and often-displayed amount of kindness”

  47. nothri

    Okay I still think this is a real bad idea for Ethan’s mental health but on the other hand thumbs up for Ethan actually being upfront about it and some of his intentions and thumbs up for Asher taking all that in stride.

  48. HoopsieDaisy

    Wait, is “You’re trying to fuck your trauma, aren’t you?” the actual darkest this comic has gotten so far? Like, we’ve had actual deaths. *Shivers*

    1. David DeLaney

      darkness comes in many diferent colors

      –Dave, oh hey, a simultaneous shoutout to Biggle _and_ Sucharitkul

  49. dday

    lol getting major venture bros flashbacks here
    https://youtu.be/3oX32xK0zFQ

  50. Arianod

    I mean, it’s probably not the *worst* way people have tried tackling their trauma in this comic strip (?)

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