Disengage
Posted on October 16, 2024 by David M Willis

138 thoughts on “Disengage”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    I mean, that’s on Amazi-Girl unless she literally only saw them when they teleported in as she was halfway down

    1. Yumi

      I don’t think she saw them before she was down. It looked like they were maybe coming around the corner.

      Either way, she didn’t really do much here. Descending the building was more work than finding them.

      1. staszu13

        Went back to yesterday’s strip and sure enough, two figures going around the corner who could be Dina and Charlie

      2. Pergola

        Maybe. Looks more to me like a stairway and railing.

    2. Needfuldoer

      The concern the three of them had together acted as a homing beacon for Dina’s teleportation and Charlie’s wandering.

  2. Sirksome

    My work here is done.

    1. jeffepp

      But, you didn’t do anything…

      1. Sirksome

        *cape flourish*

        1. Dara

          ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ –`->-,-`–>{@

        2. Proxiehunter

          Should I go with “Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight . . .” or “I’m sorry I’m not honest, I can say it while I’m dreaming . . .”

        3. Nicepainter

          Both, both is good

        4. vlademir1

          For a lot of reasons in this thread the mid-’90s dub opening makes more sense, but I always have preferred the original Moonlight Densetsu, and always will…

          Similar to Nicepainter above I have to just go, ‘Por qué no los dos?’

        5. Rose by Any other Name

          Same. So much more elegant, so much better instrumentation.

        6. DJTsurugi

          when the comments need upvotes… ~<3

      2. Pylgrim

        That charlie ppf was just perfect for that sentence

      3. JoeCovenant

        … didn’t I?
        >wink<

  3. Michael Steamweed

    There’s a power outlet up on the roof?

    1. NGPZ

      she might be using a solar-powered charger
      helping both her fellow students and the planet! ^^

      1. Michael Steamweed

        I appreciate the practical and realistic idea of a solar charger, but the wowzer Amazi-Signal idea takes up my headcanon now. 🙂

    2. Nono

      Gotta plug in the spotlight for the Amazi-signal somewhere.

      1. Aquila

        Pretty sure even Batman switched from a spotlight to an RSS-feed by now.

      2. Michael Steamweed

        While I appreciate the practical and realistic idea of a solar charger, the wowzer Amazi-Signal idea takes up my headcanon now. 🙂

    3. Thomaskattus

      Probably like near the stairway door, generally for using like power tools and such when needed.

      1. Michael Steamweed

        Indeed, a quick googling’s results agree with you. Cleaning equipment, power tools, lighting, and physical plant expansion. Welp, now I know. 😀

    4. Clif

      More importantly, there are left-over doughnuts up on the roof.

  4. BBCC

    Don’t rain on her parade, AG!

  5. HueSatLight

    There’s probably stairs, how else do the police snipers get up there when there’s an anti-war rally?

    1. NGPZ

      motherfuckers probz got grappling hooks too, in addition to lots of other equipment literally used in WAR. tear gas and flash grenades and shit, it completely changes the fuckin dynamic

      1. Proxiehunter

        You’re not allowed to use tear gas in war. It violates the Geneva convention. Using it on your own country’s peaceful protestors is fine though.

        1. Dday

          I think there’s some debate about that. You can’t use chemical weapons, but the USA considers tear gas acceptable in war because it’s not technically a weapon.

        2. HueSatLight

          The “debate” is that it’s prohibited by the Geneva convention and the US and anyone it says is above international law does whatever war crimes they want.

        3. thejeff

          As far as I can tell, the US military has made legal arguments that it would be acceptable in certain situations, but hasn’t actually used it in warfare.

        4. NGPZ

          of course they do

          they’re a death cult who tells their members that their God-given purpose in life is to KILL KILL KILL

          more tax money going to them and the police is “patriotism”, but if it goes anywhere else to actually making peoples’ lives better it’s “socialism” and therefore EVIL ?

        5. thejeff

          Got actual examples or just “military is evil”.

          Mind you, using tear gas on enemy soldiers is a war crime, but dropping bombs on them isn’t, so “KILL KILL KILL” doesn’t fit this case.

        6. NGPZ

          give peace a chance, man ☮️

        7. Needfuldoer

          How else are you supposed to clear out a square so you can get a photo op holding a bible upside-down?

          (Yes this actually happened, and yes it was done by who you think it was.)

        8. eh, whatever

          …except for the upside-down part. It was just the bookmark coming out the other side from what people expected.

        9. clif

          And it was printed upside-down anyway.

        10. Taffy

          As we all know, not being allowed to do something in a war means it definitely doesn’t get done at every opportunity.

        11. thejeff

          It’s possible, but I can’t find any cases.

          In most of the situations where it would be useful, it’s legal to use far more lethal methods instead, so it’s not really a great hill to die on.

    2. Reltzik

      Helicopters. Which they were going to be calling in anyway.

      1. clif

        How come we never get to see the Amazicopter?

  6. Nono

    Last panel Dorothy might be saying that to herself a little bit.

    She might not be president later, but she can do good now.

  7. RassilonTDavros

    Sometimes bein’ stupid really can be charming and reassuring.

  8. Bryy

    So, is Carla just being performative here or is she REALLY that far up her own ass?

    1. Jeremiah

      No she literally can do that. She has access to drones and a warehouse full of jackets.

      1. NGPZ

        yeah she’s the daughter of tech billionaires,

        rather convenient for her, and for anyone who just happens to be making dumbing of age fan games

        1. staszu13

          Wouldn’t mind seeing the Ruttens stop by campus.

        2. DJTsurugi

          a River City Girls style DoA game would be so cool. ~<3

      2. Sirksome

        I wonder if the warehouse of jackets implies their motor bikes didn’t sell well? Maybe they were too expensive.

        1. Proxiehunter

          They sold fine, she has a warehouse full of them just for her just in case she needs to give one to a girlfriend and replace her own.

        2. Needfuldoer

          Maybe they just made way too many jackets.

        3. Mark

          They had to order that many to get the price they needed.

        4. Michael Steamweed

          She gives jackets away occasionally. They have the company brand on them. And Carla appreciates branding.

    2. Taffy

      Yeah, she’s so up her own ass, giving her girlfriend a jacket in the middle of winter, secure in the knowledge that she can have another one very quickly. ? How terribly conceited and self-absorbed of her.

      1. Clif

        What you said, but with even more sarcasm.

      2. Antsan

        I think they may be talking about the first panel.

    3. Reltzik

      Yes.

  9. Jeremiah

    Double whammy of cuts girlfriends reunion, this comic gonna kill me at this rate.

  10. staszu13

    Next book title: I Find Your Possessiveness Charming and Reassuring

  11. Ed Callahan

    I think Carla and Dina both are good for Charlie. Her interactions in today’s strip are first indication she can engage in a genuine relationship with other people.

  12. Alongcameaspider

    I can’t explain it but Dina looks really good in the 2nd panel, I mean she always looks good but she looks extra good here

    Is it cause we’re seeing her from the front? I’m not sure how often that happens opposed to a side profile

    1. Tan

      It’s because that’s Taking Charge Dina, which gives her a massive hotness bonus.

    2. anon

      it’s prolly the look of confidence, maybe smugness lol,although i’m surprised she wouldn’t have enough extras to let her keep the hat

    3. Michael Steamweed

      Her confident smile. Dina is developing into a good Gentle Domme.

    4. Dday

      It’s the sly, hooded eyelids. She doesn’t usually do that, but pulls it out here and there. Usually its more of a bright-eyed, naive expression, like Joyce or Lucy. Lowered eyelids can provoke a certain response, think “bedroom eyes”.

  13. Adam Black

    Theyre gonna fuck, arent rhey ?

    Dorothy and Amazi ….

    1. Clif

      Maybe, but not today.

    2. Michael Steamweed

      The day may come when AG tops Dotty, but it is not this day.

      (dammit)

      ((gotta wait more for that slipshine))

      (((grumblegrumble)))

      1. Dday

        Look I’m working, here’s a sketch.
        https://i.imgur.com/PTAFmyd.png
        (Where’s Yoto, I can’t handle the fan art hunger on my own)

        1. Dday

          sfw, btw

        2. NGPZ

          would you believe me if I told you Yoto is in Tokyo right now? 😛

        3. Dday

          luckyyyyyy

        4. Michael Steamweed

          Thank you! I appreciate your efforts while you’re otherwise occupied at employment. 🙂

        5. Dday

          Hey don’t sweat it, by “working” I meant I was working on this here drawing:
          https://i.imgur.com/5NtiO2x.png (still sfw)

        6. Michael Steamweed

          Oh that’s excellent! (i totally ship ’em) 🙂

          Do you have a generalized gathering spot for your work? Deviant, Paheal, Twitter, or elsewhere?

  14. NGPZ

    no more Autistic Ultra Instinct fusion

    awe

    but perhaps we see more of AG’s powers?

    1. HueSatLight

      Like she backs up to the wall and slides back up

  15. Pocky

    always easier to go down than up

    wait

    1. Proxiehunter

      You aren’t wrong. I mean, have you ever tried to go up on someone? It gets hard pretty quick.

      1. Michael Steamweed

        You can go up to them easily, any time. (but let’s all please be respectful of physical space)

        But with going down on someone, ya gotta ask first. Not just a good idea, but it’s the law.

      2. Dday

        I suppose you’d have to climb up them until they were effectively in the position of having gone down. I could see that working if there was sufficient height/weight disparity.

        1. thejeff

          Maybe if they were upside down?

        2. Dday

          Better be *really* good at headstands, like a breakdance master.

      3. Roborat

        That’s what she said.

  16. Archieve

    Pretty sure Dina and Charlie found them, not the other way around but they did keep Carla and Becky company until then so some good was definitely done.

    1. Michael Steamweed

      Yeah, but this is Carla we’re talking about (’cause we’re always talking about Carla, right?) She affects objective-subjective grammatical use-cases like that. “Carla, we found you” must be expressed as “Carla, you found us.”

  17. Woop de doop

    So did they get a hat for Charlie? I thought that was the point of this excursion.

    1. Proxiehunter

      She was wearing it yesterday and you can see Dina take it off her today. I assume she got her one just like hers but a better fit for the preasure she needs.

      1. Daibhid C

        I’m assuming this is still Dina’s spare hat, because otherwise Dina swiping it off her like this is … kind of weird?

    2. nicoleandmaggie

      I’m bummed she doesn’t get to keep it. It’s cute!

  18. Taffy

    Dina’s like an effortless top, huh.

    1. Michael Steamweed

      Yup! And much fanfic, both written and yet-to-be-writ, agrees with this.

  19. Cholma

    But Dina!! The whole purpose of you going off with Charlie was to get her a BETTER hat! You failed in your mission, *and then* took away the one hat that allowed her to focus. SHAME ON YOU.

    1. NGPZ

      like can you blame either of them?

      autism and/or ADHD can interfere with executive functioning, pretty likely both of them got sidetracked with their newfound fusion power LOL

      (on that note can somebody here lend me a little serotonin plz ;-;)

    2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      “People aren’t wearing enough hats.” – The Meaning Of Life

  20. Barf Ninjason

    Amber’s weirdly lazy for someone who can Batman around all night

    1. Proxiehunter

      Well yeah. It’s not night. Besides, that’s not Amber. That’s Amazi-Girl.

    2. Michael Steamweed

      AG is off the clock right now. She told us that. When she thought Dina was missing, sure, she was all-in. But now that Dina is found (because Carla found Charlie and Dina, of course), AG can go back to being off the clock.

    3. Mturtle7

      Amber and Amazi-Girl might have a little more in common than either of them realize!

      1. clif

        Next you’ll be making the same claim about Billie and Jennifer.

        And as we all know, Jennifer is Mike.

  21. Dean

    Maybe have a Ruttech drone follow Charlie around with a supply of coats, hats, phones and other easily-misplaced impedimenta.

    1. Reltzik

      Taking bets now: How long would it take Charlie to misplace the drone?

      1. Rebecca

        Incorrect. The drone would misplace Charlie.

        1. Michael Steamweed

          I’m thinking that Charlie can’t evade the drone’s identification-and-follow capabilities. Dina absolutely could evade anything Ruttech could try. But Charlie would just wander around at times, while the drone dutifully follows along.

          (Now, a drone group that is programmed to keep Charlie supplied with Thinking Caps? Carla, that would be wonderful, and please get on that.)

          ((and if you can get the drones to supply charlie with iguanas as headgear, that would be most excellent.))

    2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Can they also move people to the Amazon?

      1. clif

        I believe that’s the default.

  22. reed

    dorothy you didn’t do anything this was all an exercise in overreaction.

    1. Reltzik

      … so Dorothy feeling like she did do something would be a further example of overreaction, and is therefore exactly the appropriate thing for her to be feeling in the context of everyone else overreacting?

      1. Michael Steamweed

        I’m guessing that Dorothy doesn’t have to be the one who helps out people; she just finds it satisfying to witness people being helped. So she can do it herself, be part of a group that does it overall, or just be present for it.

  23. Reltzik

    Still, it’s nice when you find a way to make how you resolve problems scale up.

    1. clif

      There may be those who claim that laziness doesn’t scale well, but all I can say is that it works for me.

      1. Reltzik

        It’s good that you’re making laziness work. That’s definitely a high bar to clear.

  24. Rolf of Many Doors

    Aw, what? Come on! Where’s the unreasonable relationship drama!? I paid zero dollars to see some recently-become-adults act like holding hands is cheating on each other!!!

    1. Needfuldoer

      Don’t worry, I’m sure Becky’s possessiveness issues will be addressed some other time.

  25. JoeCovenant

    If EVER there was an obvious next collection title…
    “I Find Your Possessiveness Charming and Reassuring”,
    …is it.
    So – obviously – it won’t be ! 🙂

  26. Darkseide

    And yet, none of our heroes noticed the Anti-Ethan brooding, watching them ominously

    1. Trisar

      Is Anti-Ethan like Anti-Life?

      1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

        The important thing about the Anti-Ethan is that he is moving backwards in time. So to him Joyce’s story is about an atheist Finding God.

        1. Michael Steamweed

          Maybe the real god we found was inside us all along.

        2. clif

          I think we call that demonic possession, and as we all know, possession is 9/10s of the law.

  27. Bogeywoman

    I appreciate that there is another Charlie that needs their hand held to prevent wandering.

    Starting to wonder if DW has been studying me from the walls

    1. Michael Steamweed

      1. Appropriate gravatar is appropriate.
      2. Yes. He sees all, knows all.

  28. Amós Batista

    2024 and everybody is dropping things by drones.
    Shirts, bombs, pizza…

    1. clif

      … bon mots, loose change, the ball …

  29. darkoneko

    …let’s keep it charming and reassuring, and not turn into something else.

  30. CrazyJ

    Did I miss something as to why Dina took the hat back? Weren’t they gone specifically to find a tighter fitting hat for Charlie?

    1. nicoleandmaggie

      Same questions.

    2. Yumi

      Maybe Charlie’s real power is the things we forget along the way

  31. Throwatron

    dinas top energy in panel 2 is making it physically hard to move without permission. why is she so powerful.

  32. mindbleach

    “Becky, question. This strap of hundreds is nonsequential. How would one tell if they are marked?”

    1. Taffy

      Isn’t the “non-sequential bills” thing basically nonsense? Nobody looks at the numbers on the cash they were just handed.

  33. Pergola

    Wander Twin powers deactivate!

    1. Dave the Inverted

      Your preferred applause gif here.

  34. wakeangel2001

    is there going to be a bonus comic montaging all the random places those two wandered through on their way back to campus?

  35. Derek

    I’m going to overanalyze the “drone in five minutes” line because I am bored: I think this line alone would make me hate Carla a lot more than her performative self aggrandizing.
    like, does she have a coat perpetually on her digital shopping cart, waiting for her to click “buy” at moment’s notice? does this mean that she planned ahead in terms of needing another coat, despite already having one, which means she discards perfectly good coats for no reason?
    or does her phone just buy the cheapest, shittiest coat available and/or just the first option that comes up in the search results? does that mean she’s intending to discard the new coat pretty soon too?
    or does she have a butler type person whose only job is to cater to her whims, so when she texts them “get me a new coat”, this person will send her a sensible coat that was already picked out?

    yeah all of these readings are probably off, but I do find it interesting that that one line showcases Carla’s millionaire privilege more than anything else she’s done.

    1. Clif

      You’re just jealous that you don’t have a drone ready to drop you off a cool Ruttentech coat on demand.

      1. Derek

        actually, the very idea makes me break out in hives. I hate drones and I hate fast fashion even more. you might as well be saying that I’m jealous I don’t have access to ruttech’s cryptocurrency

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