250

Checking in
Posted on April 12, 2016 by David M Willis

250 thoughts on “Checking in”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    perhaps it’s a box of campaign contributions

    1. Seriously

      Do you have to file boxes of cookies with the FEC?

      1. Doctor_Who

        Can’t wait for ThinMintGate during her campaign.

        1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          It will all blow over because of the success of the DeSanto-Keener Cancer Ban Act.

        2. Nybo

          If they ban cancer I can finally watch twitch streams again (:

      2. BenRG

        More importantly, could receiving cookies as thanks for keeping the contributor’s son on the straight and narrow be considered being a ‘paid consultant’?

    2. Vagabond J

      Must be a lot of support.

      #Keener2016

    3. saltchocolate

      Something else that starts with “c” . . . condoms!

      1. Myerst

        Mhmm. Condoms sounds the most like walkys mum, and also the gift most likely to cuase drama, and therefore extend the plot.

    4. DarkoNeko

      I’d have gone with condoms, too.

  2. MatthewTheLucky

    So that’s who she’s texting.

    1. SmilingNid

      still seems a bit too obvious why hide who it was if it was Dorothy?

      1. AgentKeen

        I noticed Joyce was texting Joe during the last Gender Studies class, too, when I ended up re-reading for a bit.

        1. SmilingNid

          Which does point to him but he also lack a great home life not really some one j
          Joyce would complain to.

        2. Just Saying

          idk I had a crappy home life and almost exclusively complained to other people who would understand rather than choosing someone with no basis of experience for commiseration and advice.

        3. Cerberus

          Also, texting people who have a proven track record of support and care when emotionally vulnerable instead of people with a proven track record for exploiting that emotional vulnerability and frequently harassing them.

          I mean, I’m not saying Joyce and Joe should never build an actual friendship ever (though I see Joe needing to do some growing up first), but turning to him would be a grave and unnecessary risk during a weekend that is already fraught and emotionally draining as it is.

          Sometimes you just need someone sympathetic and awesome because things are scary and awful and you need someone to help keep you grounded and get you through.

        4. WolfLann

          The fact he was the ONE person on Joyce’s “Definitely not invited” list at her dorm party seem to contradict that theory of Joe suddenly becoming a confident.

      2. Kamino Neko

        It wasn’t hidden, it just wasn’t shown, because it wasn’t important enough to screw up what was already an overstuffed panel layout.

    2. Orion Fury

      I think she was seen texting twice, and I believe the second time was more serious, and with Dorothy’s attitude here, it may of been only the first time.

  3. Mr. Mendo

    It’s a secret test of character! Those cookies, though few, are more tasty than Walky’s!

    1. Roborat

      More tasty than Walky’s what, hmmmm?

  4. Wheelpath

    So cute, but I was really hoping for more Ruthless D=

    1. WubLub

      I was hoping for more burglary shenanigans. I guess Willis likes to torment us, because I am DYING of suspense right now.

      1. Doctor_Who

        He’ll cut back and the burglary will already be over, the sisters will be fleeing the cops, and it turns into a Reservoir Dogs pastiche.

        1. Kinoko

          Sounds like reading A Song of Ice and Fire to me.

          Character Name V: “Someone is totally going to find my hiding place and kill me OH NOEZ!!!”

          Character Name VI: “Well that was a narrow escape that I will slowly ruminate on in great detail in order to pad out this chapter.”

          …I do still love the books, but HONESTLY.

        2. Roborat

          I still say he is being paid by the word.

        3. DSL

          Some mashup of “Stand By Me” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

    2. Plasma Mongoose

      I want more Marcie cos it has been quite a while and I miss seeing ghost-hands.

      1. AgentKeen

        Oh man, Marcie is one of the bad guys from the Chronicles of Riddick. Necro-somethings.

        1. Baronbrian

          Necromongers! Yes, I’m sad there wasn’t a sequel to what was basically Conan the Barbarian… IN SPACE!

        2. Palamdrone

          But there was a sequel, wasn’t there? But like most sequels it was kinda disappointing. They just kinda redid parts of Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick instead of building on the story.

        3. RIP12081990

          Chronicles was the sequel itself which is why most think there was a sequel

        4. Hijean

          There was supposed to be another, different sequel, not Rule The Dark.
          When he had the idea, he wrote roughy scripts for three movies. He pitched the first one because it was most like what he normally does, then planned to use that to pull off the other two and get to do interesting plot/worldbuilding stuff for once. It only kinda worked. RTD was a plan to see if there was still enthusiasm for Riddick stuff.

        5. Palamdrone

          No, there definately was another sequel after Chronicles. Unless I’m being dense and we’re ignoring it happened like Highlander 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddick_%28film%29

        6. LocoMan

          Actually, there was another sequel after Chronicles of Riddick called just Riddick (2013), starts basically after Riddick, as Lord Marshall of the Necromongers, is tricked by Vaako (the guy that wanted to be Lord Marshall) that he’s taking him to Furya (his lost home planet) and instead leaves him to die on a suposedly desrted planet. It’s a lot more like Pitch Black than Chronicles, with a bunch of people trapped in a planet with Riddick and a race of predatory animals that only come out from time to time (in this case it’s when it rains).

      2. Corwin Haught

        Haven’t seen Sarah in a while.

        1. saltchocolate

          Second that! And since she was last seen bonding with our resident Clever Girl, maybe Team Dina will support the call for more Sarah . . .

    3. Sam

      Based on Preview Panels, Ruth should be back on May 1st, if not before.

  5. Seriously

    Ziplog, Willis.

    1. Arian

      Er? Ziplock. Zip. Lock. You lock them closed by zipping them up.

      1. Kinoko

        It’s also written on the front of the freaking packaging!

        1. km

          um…actually it’s ziploc (c).

          I’ll go wash myself now.

        2. Arian

          Not the bags that I buy.

      2. Needfuldoer

        Not everybody had the name brands growing up…

    2. Willoughby Chase

      Would that be Captain’s Ziplog, Stardate 199928282?

  6. Robin

    I can honestly say I’ve never heard ziplog before
    Ziplock on the other hand…

    1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Willis is afraid of getting sued by SC Johnson.

      Either that or they couldn’t agree on the product placement fee.

      1. Vagabond J

        HELL NO! Why don’t YOU give ME $500!?

      2. Orion Fury

        There a thing where if a brand name become ubiquitous, it can no longer be copyrighted, due to it being part of common vernacular. S’why it’s ‘Band-Aid Brand’ now.

  7. Terrh

    Woah – Misread the Alt-Text as “condoms” – Scary

    1. Orion Fury

      Appropriate Avatar. I think many a person did as well.

  8. spriteless

    so much coutons.

    1. Stephen R. Bierce

      Unsliced summer sausage too, if she isn’t vegan.

      1. John

        It was established early on that the summer sausage Dorothy’s been getting is sliced.

        1. Seer Of Rage

          Why?

        2. John

          It’s pretty common in the U.S., for a wide variety of dubious reasons.

        3. John

          (And, man, I should’ve said “… that Dorothy’s getting in her box…”)

    2. JessWitt

      I wouldn’t mind if I had a care package of pumpernickel croutons. Mmmm

    3. Doctor_Who

      Croutons were seriously my favorite snack food as a kid. Parents allowed it because at least they were healthier than chips or cookies.

  9. figureaddict

    WHATS IN THE BOX

    1. inqntrol

      whats-in-the-box_o_1109495.jpg (525×686) Couldn’t resiste, sorry.

      1. inqntrol

        Crap, the link didn’t work.

        1. inqntrol

          http://img.memecdn.com/whats-in-the-box_o_1109495.jpg There you go.

    2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      A half-dead cat, of course.

      1. zoosmelon11

        a half dead cat, or half a dead cat? :ooo

        1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          Can’t tell until you look.

    3. Tacos

      Schrodinger’s Cat.

      1. Bagge

        OR IS IT?????

        1. DSL

          I asked Heisenberg. He’s uncertain.

        2. Bagge

          I went to Wien to look for it, but it was displaced.

        3. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          Let me ask my friend Wigner.

  10. Kingmabel

    My money is on more condoms

    1. Doctor_Who

      Dodothy only likes Amazi-Girl brand.

      1. inqntrol

        “Amazi-condoms, always be prepared for anything!”

      2. Bagge

        Heh, I wonder if she asked Amaziegirl for some more during the interview.

        1. de Combys

          I never thought of that XD

  11. Siyajkak

    Liking the “Persepolis” poster…

    1. Romanticide

      It’s a nice callback 😀

      1. SgtWadeyWilson

        More importantly, it’s a good book.

        1. carl320

          I just noticed the poster. Great book. It was nice to see another perspective when it comes to Iran. The book put a human face on everything.

        2. Polaris

          It’s a book ? I thought there was only a movie of it…

        3. carl320

          It’s a graphic novel originally by Marjane Satrapi.

        4. Polaris

          :O

    2. heckyeah

      Love it! That is such a Dorothy poster to have!

  12. Kris

    The size of the box=the size of the love

    1. de Combys

      What it there are gold lingots inside?

      1. Kris

        Fool’s gold maybe.

  13. Nono

    …Huh, just realized we never actually saw Dorothy interact with either of the Walkertons. Wonder what they make of her.

    1. Miroku2235

      Well, she’s white so we know the Mom approves of her at least. Imagine if he had the nerve and poor taste to date someone of color.

      1. ChrisHerself

        They both seem optimistic here…

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/secretsrevealed/

    2. Conuly

      They probably like her more than Sal, but they don’t think anybody’s good enough for their son.

      1. Mkvenner

        I hope not for the former.

        1. Spencer

          Oh, definitely the former, even if they don’t realize it.

    3. Gordon

      The smart, pretty, ambitious girl with a strong work ethic is dating their slacker, immature son who previously showed no interest in anything beyond cartoons and video games.

      She could have grown a second head during dinner and they would have just smiled and asked for a second drink for it.

  14. Mkvenner

    It’s probably condoms.

    1. Jay Eff

      Condoms… and croutons!

      1. JessWitt

        For zestier sex.

        1. de Combys

          Or a combi-pack of croutons and ranch vinaigrette, with condoms?

      2. Ctrl+C D@

        Trust me you don’t want croutons anywhere near your dick.

        1. JessWitt

          Speaking from personal experience?

    2. Tandel

      My thoughts exactly. Parental Brand Awkward Condoms: “Place on our sons dick before sex havings.” ™

      1. Dean

        “They will glare at you disapprovingly, so we don’t have to.”

        1. Tandel

          “The glare will pierce deep inside you.”

  15. WubLub

    There could also be dried fake bacon bits. Or normal bacon bits, I suppose. Those don’t go bad until you open them, right?

    1. Deathjavu

      “Those don’t go bad until you open them, right? ”

      FTFY

  16. tim gueguen

    I have this suspicion it’s something she won’t like.

    1. de Combys

      Same here

  17. Guairdean

    It’s condoms. Mom’s not ready to be a Grandma.

    1. Vagabond J

      Bad timing, though. They used up their Amazi-Condom a few books back, and they most likely fornicated at least 3 times since then.

      1. modulusshift

        You mean cast their bodies into the cragged shame pits of the lustwolves?

        I might like that line a little too much.

        1. Vagabond J

          Your stupid overconfidence is nostalgic.

        2. Bagge

          I had forgot that line.

          Now I remember that line.

          Life is good.

        3. DSL

          This comment section is like a friggin’ Escher print.

        4. Roborat

          At least nobody is yelling about being a lesbian.

    2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      She doesn’t want grandchildren until Walky finishes medical school.

    3. nobodybasically

      It’s condoms with holes poked in them. Mom is super excited to be a Grandma.

      1. de Combys

        Hahahaha!!

    4. Roborat

      Or it is sabotaged condoms, cause mom IS ready to be a grandmom. Amazi-Gramma is always prepared.

  18. Fiddler115

    Your mom’s box is comparatively small.

    1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Well, it only has to be big enough for a nickel.

  19. Nicster216

    Well guess we know who Joyce was texting MYSTERY SOLVED????????????

    1. Eric

      Double misdirection!

      1. Spencer

        Who else would Joyce text but one of her closest friends?

        That’s right: Galasso.

        1. Cacturne

          This man knows.

    2. Spideronyourface

      It still may not be Dorothy, Joyce is presumably capable of texting more than one person. My money is the conversation we’ve seen is with someone else.

      1. Needfuldoer

        It’s got to be… Red Herring!

        1. Harvey Janus

          Wait there was that one time it was Red Herring!

        2. Orion Fury

          Fred had looked like he was going to have an aneurysm in that episode.

    3. anonymsly

      I don’t know. Dorothy says she’s checking in with Joyce – if you’ve been having a consistent discussion, it’s not checking in. To me, ‘checking in’ says Joyce hasn’t been talking to Dorothy and Dorothy’s sending a ‘hi, how’s everything, do you need to talk’ pulse check sort of thing.

      1. Doopyboop

        I agree with this wholeheartedly.

  20. Opus the Poet

    I bet it’s something like beef jerky instead of cookies.

  21. Rukduk

    Never heard them called ziplog before. Hmmm, maybe it’s a regional brand…

  22. nothri

    Nonperishable? SALADS ARE IMMORTAL????

    1. Roborat

      There can be only one!?!?!?1?

    2. Bicycle Bill

      The only non-perishable part of a salad is the fork you eat it with.
      Well, that and those chunks of stale bread.

  23. Regina Phalange

    The way Walky’s mom reacted to her son having a girlfriend makes me hopeful that it’s a nice gift.

    My own experience dating a mother’s favorite son makes me very, very scared for Dotty.

    1. de Combys

      You have a point there. Met a mom who would scream at me and try to put all the family against me just because I told her that eventually I would be the one taking care of her son instead of her (she was harrassing me about her past motherly “feats” and insinuating I wasn’t worthy), which, I mean, is strictly the truth when a couple lasts. Turned out it was the son who wasn’t very invested in caring for me, not the other way around (unsurprising considering the upbringing). But of course he’s too saintly for that.

      Those mothers come across to me as psychologically incestuous. It totally grosses and creeps me out, and it’s damaging to the child.

      1. Regina Phalange

        So much agreement. My bf’s mom would’ve done the same thing. Heck, she insults me without provocation. I absolutely can’t stand mothers who think that the best way to raise their golden boy is to control them so they’re dependent on their mothers forever.

        But that aside, Linda seemed pretty enthusiastic about Walky having Dorothy, so I don’t see cause for concern yet.

        1. de Combys

          Yeah, sure hope so! Or else it’s gonna be so cringe-worthy. I really wonder how Dorothy’s gonna handle all the familial tensions, though. I thought she didn’t want to get too involved, but I also think she’s the type to stand by her principles if she notices that something is wrong, and she’s bound to notice sometime soon.

          All this talk about golden boys made me want to listen to this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8gy8l4mZIE

  24. Triniking1234

    Dorothy obtained “Free Condoms”!

    1. Jay Eff

      They were super effective!

      1. Baronbrian

        Up to 99% when used correctly!

        1. Orion Fury

          Even 99.99%!

  25. Jay Eff

    Don’t worry, Dorothy! Your box contains only the finest Sugar-Free candy!
    Now you won’t have to worry about getting sick one bit.
    No-sir-ee!

    1. de Combys

      The only valid sugar-free options are erythritol, xylitol and stevia. And maybe some non-cancerogen artificial ones.

      But the others make great-tasting laxatives. I have some sugar-free peppermints in my pharmacy.

  26. GoogerGeiger

    Or maybe it’s because his mom hardly knows you.

  27. JA

    Sugar doesn’t make you sick, it’s your stomach resisting the transition to being awesome. So punch yourself in the gut and show your stomach who’s boss!

  28. Vagabond J

    I’m gonna call it right now: The box contains the sacred Macguffin.

  29. brionl

    Ziplog? Is that a more wooden version of a ziplock bag?

    1. Jay Eff

      It’s the resealable bag preferred by Honest Abe himself

  30. jepmz

    I hope it isn’t a heathen package or something

    1. Orion Fury

      A heathen package sounds good, a heathen conversion package does not.

  31. TheHorseCouncil

    I know Dorothy doesn’t know about the conflict of between Sal and her mom, yet her question about the meaning in boxes really makes me feel worse for Sal for some reason…

    1. de Combys

      Indeed. Because it’s kinda mean to treat anyone in the family as less important, even a newcomer, and I think that’s what she’s pointing out. But Sal’s the daughter. Ouch.

  32. Adam Black

    I love croutons

    1. AgentKeen

      Salad is just a delivery vehicle for croutons.

  33. -Sentinel-

    I love these two so much. They have a cute, largely drama-free relationship.

    1. Orion Fury

      Tempting Fate?

    2. Bicycle Bill

      Which of course means it’s doomed.

      1. Spencer

        I mean, all the relationships are doomed at some point, if only because you just exhaust every story you could tell with them together. That’s the nature of ongoing fiction, and why Spider-Man sold his marriage to the devil to turn him back into a hot young 30 year old who lives with his geriatric aunt.

        Though I have noticed that, other than Sal/Danny in Roomies! (which from what I understand was originally meant to happen) and Ethan/Drew in Shortpacked! (which never really went anywhere), there’s always only been one “main” relationship for characters in Willis’ works. Dina/Walky was a thing for a while in It’s Walky!, but there was never really any hope that it be the permanent couple because it was written entirely around the fact that Walky was actually attracted to Joyce.

  34. Tenzhi

    She better be careful, that box might contain a drama bomb.

  35. modulusshift

    wow that first Dorothy speech bubble looks horrible. It’s mostly that “in.” all alone off to the left.

  36. Skizz

    Yay, Dorothy!!!

  37. Jason

    Watch it be an engagement ring. Walky’s parents are just gonna skip over the whole dating part on behalf of their son. “A daughter-in-law who wants to be president? Please get married already!”

  38. Tasha

    PERSEPOLIS IN THE BACKGROUND! I LOVE THAT BOOK

  39. caesaria82

    There go all you guys’ crazy, out-there theories about who Joyce was texting lmao.

    I love these two. They make me happy 🙂

    1. Some1

      You mock me, I can come up with way crazier theories than that!

      Heres one: Joyce’s church is secretly building a giant laser that will turn everyone into cisgender, straight, white, fundamentalist christians. Although they will build a forcefield that will keep anyone who doesn’t fit that criteria from tampering with it Joyce will ultimately be able to destroy it, because she is all of those things, but she doesn’t hate people. She will however have to fight her youth pastor one on one.

      1. Dean

        Her lightsaber experience will no doubt come in handy.

      2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

        Is it based on the work of the noted Cambridge physicist, Dr. Parsons?

      3. Orion Fury

        I’m going to go with that’s not too crazy, since I can easily believe that there are fundies who could wish they could do that. Though maybe replace ‘laser’ with ‘prayer’.

  40. Jacques Cornelius Parrot III

    I do have to say, it’s nice to take a break from sadness and madcap burglary schemes to just have Walky and Dorothy be adorable with each other.

  41. not someone else

    Y’know, I’m starting to feel like… if they’re ALL cookies, the comparative size of Sal’s box is part of a bigger problem. Because if they’re ALL just storebought cookies, what godforsaken reason would you have to make any of them different sizes? Why would you even wrap them seperately and name them, instead of insisting your children share with each other and their respective besties/girlfriends/whatever who all happen to live in the same building and interact constantly?

    So they can’t… they can’t all just be cookies, can they? I hadn’t really thought about it ’til now. Nobody’s that passive-aggressive without someone noticing, are they?

    1. Dean

      All of the cookies are poisoned, except for the bags that Walky and Billie got. It’s part of Walky’s mom’s plan to get them together.

    2. Orion Fury

      From what I’ve read in the comments, that’s nothing for their mother.

  42. Some1

    Does anyone else wonder if the comic’s final arc is going to involve Dorothy going to Yale?

    1. Russ

      I had wonders, but not anymore! Apparently the comic will be over before their sophomore year, so Dorothy wouldn’t have transferred by then

      1. Needfuldoer

        At its current pace, we probably have about 20 years left until the comic hits summer break.

      2. Harvey Janus

        Wait, where was that stated?

        1. Orion Fury

          I believe Word of God (somewhere).

        2. Russ

          I think in the FAQ? I saw Willis mention it somewhere but the exact place escapes me. Probably on his tumblr if not in the FAQ.

    2. Mistah J

      I have always assumed that Dorothy will get rejected by Yale. After all, that would be the biggest upset to her plan (and life). I figure that’s the drama that will spark her character development.

      But what do I know? Nostradamus I ain’t.

  43. Russ

    You’re not her kid? Why wouldn’t he (and what should’ve been Sal) get bigger, more special boxes

    1. de Combys

      Why do so many people view this as a valid reason? Like I said in another comment, if it was my family, it would’ve been viewed as basic common sense and respect to treat your children’s partner as part of the group, and therefore they would’ve most likely sent a common box for the couple.

      1. Russ

        People have different families. Mine would’ve only sent gifts to their kids. Partners may get something if they’ve been around a while and it’s a holiday, but that’s the end of it.

        1. de Combys

          Yeah but Dorothy obviously comes from a much warmer family. Hence her enquiry.

      2. Zach

        For one thing: because familiarity is also a driver of box sizes. Mrs Walkerton doesn’t know Dorothy’s preferences or allergies or whatever, but she’s been living with Walky for 18 years now, and should have a very good idea as to what he will or won’t enjoy, and has probably picked up things for his care package everywhere she’s been since before he even left.

        1. de Combys

          Well yeah, might perhaps factor in… but since Walky’s mom showed that she was very partial, it might just not be simple as that. And if I remember well, Dorothy knows that tendency she has, which might also drive her question.

        2. Zach

          Now that we see what was in the box, I think I was right: she didn’t know Dorothy that well, so she got her something that said “I accept you even though I don’t really know you.”

  44. Bagge

    DOTTY!!!!!

    And now, for some cute relationship interaction before we cut back to the regular homophobia and depression.

    1. BenRG

      I’ve just got a bad feeling that Dorothy is going to be at ground zero when Danny has his talk with his GF and there is a devastating Amberuption.

    2. Willoughby Chase

      Those maths results are hiding somewhere.

  45. Yotomoe

    http://imgur.com/LKdUWZo
    Oh. I made this btw

    1. inqntrol

      Well, few people can resist his caramel skin.

    2. Bagge

      I’m with Dotty. Walky’s cookies are the best cookies.

    3. Kim

      Nice 🙂

    4. Spencer

      Man, Yoto, you draw a lot of cute girls in their underwear.

      What sinister motive lies behind this veil of deceit.

      1. Some1

        “I don’t think she ever loved him.” Yotomoe turned around from a window and looked at me challengingly. “You must remember, old sport, she was very excited this afternoon. He told her those things in a way that frightened her – that made it look as if I was some kind of cheap sharper. And the result was she hardly knew what she was saying.”

        1. saltchocolate

          Wow! Gatsby? All out of the blue? Nice!

  46. BenRG

    I’ve got this horrible feeling that Dorothy’s gift will turn out to be some sort of passive-aggressive insult. Linda is just that kind of person.

  47. trlkly

    Just want to point out that, just because she’s currently checking in with Joyce doesn’t mean Joyce has been texting her the whole time.

    Sure, it makes the most sense for that to be the case. But you could say the same thing before.

  48. Botch

    Whats in the Box!

    1. Crumplepunch

      What’s in the fucking box!?

      1. de Combys

        ikr and we don’t know what’s in Sal’s yet…

  49. Ardin

    Uh, cuz you’re not her kid and also she just met you and barely knows you?

    1. JBento

      I know, right? That might be the dumbest question anyone in DoA ever posited. A better question would be why is SAL’s box so much smaller than Walky’s (and the same size as Dorothy’s), but we all know the answer to that. And it’s a shitty answer. Screw you, Mrs. Walkerton!

      1. de Combys

        Yeah but she doesn’t know Sal’s box size

    2. de Combys

      I don’t konw why this seems so normal to you. My family sees their children’s partners as part of the family. We would’ve probably recieved a package with both our names to share, even if it was fairly new. We call that being welcoming.

      1. Ardin

        They’ve been dating for like 2 weeks or so when they met with the parents. I’m glad you take relationships so seriously, but these are literally just kids who’ve been fucking for a few weeks.

        1. de Combys

          It’s not just a question of “seriously”, and it’s not just a question of “me”. My whole family’s that way, and the family’s friends… and it’s more about being welcoming, inclusive and friendly than a thing about extreme seriousness. You know, like “friends of my friends are my friends, and giving is fun, let’s be kind to each other”. I’ve been on Dorothy’s end and it felt wrong.

          Also, Walky’s parents haven’t been informed of the “for fun” status of the relationship, if I remember correctly, and they saw that Dorothy chose his clothes. Might seem relatively serious for a start, and she was also introduced as someone who’s very committed. I don’t think they have much reason to give her less (if they took the time to make a box, might as well go all the way, it’s not much more effort), except maybe to show some kind of hierarchy. That’s my feeling, anyway.

    3. Heavensrun

      I believe she means that in less of a “Hey, why is mine smaller? No fair!” way and in more of a “Hmm…Mine is smaller, so what might it be?” way.

      1. de Combys

        Interesting hypothesis!

  50. THISguy

    The weird posing/touching going on in the 3rd and 5th panels reminds me a lot of jojo. Probably because I’m currently reading steel ball run.

    1. Spencer

      Walky’s actually just unleashing his Hamon bubbles at one of the Pillar Men, but Dorothy’s way more into Part 3 so she’s posing like Walky is her Stand.

  51. BenRG

    Am I the only one who now wants to see Dorothy handling the care and maintenance of sugar-crash!Walky?

  52. Charles Phipps

    My speculation on what’s in the box?

    1. A gas blast which will subdue her for transport to the Village.
    2. The keys to a brand-new motorcycle (Sal’s is hair straightener)
    3. Secret instructions on how to control Walky via his trigger phrases
    4. Her ring for membership in the Illuminati
    5. The keys to a brand-new motorcycle (Sal’s got Dot’s due to mislabeling)
    6. A death threat about what should happen should she break Walky’s heart
    7. Some pamphlets for Donald Trump, asking her to help with the family supporting his candidacy.
    8. Some pamphlets for Robin DeSanto, asking her to help with the family supporting her candidacy
    9. Drugs
    10. Cookies

    1. de Combys

      Maybe a piece of clothing?

  53. BenRG

    There is something really cute about the way Dorothy is cupping Walky’s face in panel 5. There is a feel about it that she just enjoys being in physical contact with him. Whenever he’s being silly or, well, just Walky, she’s got this need to hold or caress him.

    That’s serious romantic feelings, IMO. I can’t help but wonder if, when the Ivy League letter arrives, Dorothy will have a serious dilemma because there is a part of her that says: “To hell with a big name school, I want to keep my Walky!”

  54. Mr. Random

    … I love croutons. I would actually love a box of them.

  55. Willoughby Chase

    A wild guess I now, and highly unlikely, but a set of CDs on how to tutor in Maths perhaps?

    1. pjeseb

      That might be a useful gift for Dorothy to have, but it would make no sense at all for Linda to give it to her, because neither Linda nor Dorothy know that Walky is having math trouble.

  56. smooti

    “Yeah, I’m making my daughter’s box the same size as her brother’s new girlfriend who I only just met. What? Favoritism? I don’t play favorites. I love my children equally.”

    1. JBento

      “Equally to the lightness of their skin, I mean. What, isn’t that how everyone does it?”

  57. Balfazra

    Is the poster in the last panel Persepolis ?

    1. Lord Stoneheart

      Probably? I remember seeing a Persepolis poster in Dorothy’s room before. (And she did mention it as her favorite movie I think?)

      1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

        Yes, her favorite movie.

        And the poster:

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/2012/comic/book-2/06-strange-beerfellows/studying-2/

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/2012/comic/book-2/02-choosing-my-religion/piercing-2/

      2. Bicycle Bill

        Here’s a better view of it from an earlier strip.  And Dorothy did mention the movie in the Gender Studies class when they were talking about the Bechdel test.

  58. Falling Star

    Texting Dorothy confirmed.
    Texting-Walky-through-Dorothy confirmed.
    Okay.

  59. -JAD-

    Persepolis! The comic was amazing, but I guess Dorothy has only seen the movie?

    1. Some1

      It’s Dorothy…I’m pretty sure she’s read the book

  60. Orion Fury

    So the boxes for Walky and Billie were the same size, and both contained cookies. The boxes for Dorothy and Sal are also the same size, and contents are unknown. As such, I would like to take what appears to be an unpopular/uncommon stance and that all boxes contain different items, but a similar value, and that they were packed to save size, since an increase in size can result in higher shipping charges, even if the weight is the same.

    Perhaps tomorrow we will find out more info on said boxes.

    1. JBento

      This is David “Damn You” Willis comic. There is no hope. There is only the attempt at not being too soul-shattered by the end of it.

      1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

        You have no way to survive. Make your time.

    2. thejeff

      Good luck with that. No way Willis set this all up to reinforce the Walkerton parents are racially prejudiced against Sal, just to derail it into “black girl sees prejudice where there isn’t any”.

      1. Spencer

        I think it’s fairly likely that it ends up being something that Linda thinks makes for good parenting.

        1. Orion Fury

          That I believe.

    3. de Combys

      Ooh you are right, they might be chocolates instead of cookies. Chocolates are compact.

  61. Kyle

    ooooh persepolis poster!!

  62. chris73

    Dorothy = Girlfriend of the year

  63. Charles Phipps

    I really would be interested in a Robin DeSanto/Dorothy comic. It’d be cool to have Dorothy meet someone who is used to playing the political game and giving her all of the insights an experienced (and sleazy) politician might as well as how it impacts one’s personal life.

  64. Joey245

    I will never get tired of seeing these two be happy together.

    1. Spencer

      Walky/Dorothy strikes me as one of, if not the, most likely relationship to persist through the entire series, perhaps even moreso than Becky/Dina.

      The only real trigger for a breakup I could see is if one or both of them started chafing under the fact that their relationship has an expiration date.

      1. Tom T.

        No, they’ll start chafing because her box is comparatively small.

        1. John

          That’s why foreplay is important.

  65. Deanatay

    Again demonstrating that the best relationships are not between people who are the same, but between people who compliment each other.

    1. Bicycle Bill

      I think you meant “complement” each other, but compliments are good too.

      1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

        Does the box contain condiments?

        1. Cephalo the Pod

          Just condoms.

    2. de Combys

      I think it’s very important to compliment each other in a relationship.

  66. John

    There’s something weirdly dramatic about Dorothy’s pose in that last panel. Like she’s getting ready to deliver a Shakespearean soliloquy.

    “Alas, poor Walky! I knew him, comparatively small box; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy…”

  67. nononon

    I’m calling it now: it’s some serious family heirloom, like Walky’s grandma wedding ring or something.

    Walky’s mom wants to control Walky’s life to turn him into the “perfect” son (see the comment about his major being telecommunications, even if he himself doesn’t know it yet), so she would be exactly the kind of person to “secure” the perfect daughter-in-law before Walky screws that up somehow.

    Also, this is potential for drama, as both Walky and Dorothy realize this is supposedly a temporary thing. but neither likes to think about the implications of that too hard. This “gift” would force them to think about the future uncomfortable splitting off, possibly even causing the hastening of that split.

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