297

It keeps happening
Posted on June 22, 2023 by David M Willis

297 thoughts on “It keeps happening”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    Ethan: I feel seen.

    Asher: …

    Ethan: *looks down* Oh, I *am* seen.

    1. Ana Chronistic

      “Can we ship it?”
      “YES WE CAN”

      1. hastur

        ?Ana the Shipper . . .?

        1. NGPZ

          To what tune should this be sung, earthling? ?

        2. Bogeywoman

          Boooob the builder!

        3. Miri

          I was going with Boris the Spider

        4. Miri

          But I was doing Ana the Shipper rather than Can we Ship it, Yes we can

        5. Van Jealous

          That last panel is a bit “creepy, crawly, creepy, crawly, creepy creepy, crawly, creepy creepy, crawly crawly.”

        6. Anna

          Boob the builder?

        7. Opus the Poet

          Genderswapped AU.

      2. FaerwenOfValenwood

        I’m not Not into it

        1. Risky

          No Ashthan for you?

        2. FaerwenOfValenwood

          what I meant was I’m not “not into it,” like I’m into it but in a slightly uncertain tone, haha

        3. J

          Not “Ether”?

        4. Lysbeth

          the Crows

        5. Dante

          I’ll campaign for Ether until it sticks |DDD

        6. BarerMender

          Ashen?

        7. Shade

          Double negative.

      3. Nicoleandmaggie

        Ship ship ship!

      4. Decidedly Orthogonal

        Sure we can. But is Asher ready to handle that level of Emothan-al damage?

        1. nicoleandmaggie

          *insert pun appreciation here*

  2. NGPZ

    It seems that Jennifer’s trash may very well become Ethan’s treasure!!! 😀

    SO EXCITED!!!!

    1. Bryy

      WELP.

  3. Nono

    Yessss new ship.

    I’m already on board.

    1. Doctor_Who

      Appropriate avatar, too.

    2. Thag Simmons

      This is a goddamn twist. Very excited

    3. Theluxland

      Oh no…

      I like this…

      1. Jodka

        Even more appropriate avatar.

  4. Yumi

    *high fiving everyone who got bi vibes from Asher*

    1. GholaHalleck

      Not gonna lie, I was getting “Oh dear” vibes when he was messing around with Walky.

      … Oh dear, I feel like I can already see how Ethan/Asher would explode relationship-wise though…

      1. Dante

        Yeah, the vibes with Walky were insane. I was like “oh, if they get together that would be a dramatic, delicious trainwreck”, considering what connects them and all

        Somehow. SOMEHOW! This is worse. I love it.

        1. MisterJinKC

          Imagine the aneurysm Jennifer would have if Asher left her for Walky.

        2. Miri

          I don’t think Sal would be very impressed either. Or Lucy…

        3. Miri

          Oooh… Which do you think would bother Linda more? Lucy or Asher, as a partner for Walky?

        4. Pergola

          pourquoi pas tous les deux?

        5. milu

          为什么不是两个都? (…maybe =)

        6. GholaHalleck

          Asher is still brown, but less brown.

          however Asher was with Sal, which forever tainted him via contact with the abhorrent. Add in the lack of genetic grandchildren, and Lucy squeaks out for the win.

        7. Yeet

          does linda actually know who asher is or was she just generally assuming everyone sal was hanging out with is a “hoodlum” though? I doubt sal would’ve told her about him

    2. Angel

      “be gay do crimes”

      1. milu

        XD

      2. Yumi

        Asher: “I came here to be gay and do crime, and I’m all out of crime.”

        1. Opus the Poet

          >chuckles<

  5. shadowcell

    Dumbing of Age Book 13:

    …wait a minute

    1. milu

      Dumbing of Age Book 13: ???

  6. Shitbird

    Could Asher be similar to Ethan where he has had to pretend to be straight

    1. Leorale

      Seems unlikely. Why would he have put up with Jennifer’s nonsense if he wasn’t at all attracted to her? I tend to get bi vibes, instead.

      That said, Ethan isn’t looking hot in that last panel. He just looks mopey and possibly ill. Maybe Asher would ask his advice on how to darken up enough to attract Jennifer again, that would be funny.

      1. Proxiehunter

        I mean, just because they can be attracted to people of the opposite gender as well doesn’t mean bi people don’t have to pretend to be straight around homophobes. Not admitting that you find guys hot is still not admitting that you find guys hot whether you’re a gay guy or a bi guy.

        1. Leorale

          Oh, I see, yes, I thought “be similar to Ethan” specifically meant heavily pressured not to be gay — but this commenter surely meant pressured not to be anything at all except for straight.

      2. Samniel

        I think Ethan looks like the “Hot Mopey Emo Pretty-Boy” from the mid-00s that REALLY took off in tumblr. So there’s certainly a market for thata look.

      3. brumagem

        Honey I’ve personally met many gay men who exactly that.
        But same, I think as for where this scene is going you’re spot on.

    2. GholaHalleck

      Considering he’s got ties to organized crime, he’s probably kept his bisexuality on the down low.

      If you meant like “Is Asher actually Gay” then… Yeah no.

      1. Angel

        i mean, other than someone keeping a close eye on him on campus i’d think the occasional discreet fling/hookup would be diff than him just making out with dudes in front of his grandpa lol.

        but i mean if it’s the stereotypical thing, seems like he’d be ‘accepted’ if ‘family is family’ or so. or if it’s enough to have him kicked out, either way win win for him i’d expect

      2. milu

        sounds like a non sequitur to me, please enlighten?

        1. GholaHalleck

          The crime thing? Most are manly-men type deals. Being into men would be seen as either weakness or “dishonorable.” Probably one of the reasons he wants out of that life and those people.

          If you meant the gay thing? bi-erasure.

        2. milu

          yeah the crime thing i meant.
          sure i guess ?‍♀️
          i mean.. i wouldn’t know whether gang types are more gender-police-y than just regularly people who are, on the whole, pretty gender-police-y to begin with

          so that’s why i was like “um ok why”

          but also, ?‍♀️sure

        3. BBCC

          The Italian mob are often raised in the Catholic Church. I have no idea if other mobs are similarly religious or what religions they would be so I have no clue what the situation would be for Asher and the Korean mob though.

        4. Freemage

          In general, criminal organizations tend to be on the conservative end of their culture on sex issues. And S. Korea is still massively homophobic in comparison even to the US as a whole (though probably equal to some specific states).

          For example, this year, a gay Korean couple was granted the right to have one man put his partner on the official health registry. Like in the US, marriage conveys a host of rights, privileges and so forth to the couple; this very narrow decision granted exactly one of those rights. And even that ruling is still potentially vulnerable to review by their Supreme Court.

          And yes, in most criminal organizations, being gay would be seen as a massive sign of ‘weakness’. Social pressure against homosexuality in SK is considerably stronger than in US, too, so it would still be considered a point of potential blackmail–which criminal gangs usually prefer to be on the other side of.

        5. BBCC

          Interesting! Thanks for the info.

        6. Yumi

          There’s probably a lot of variations in it among gangs, but I do agree with the overall sense that they promote the idea of being “tough,” and that good ol’ homophobia tells that guys who like guys aren’t “tough.”

  7. Bittersweet

    This is a horrible idea yet I immediately support this ship and am looking forward to riding it off of a waterfall.

    Like I have no earthly clue where it’s gonna lead, but I wanna see it go lol.

    1. Dante

      The SS. Ether is most def headed for turbulent waters, and probably a waterfall indeed, but safety jackets exist for a reason. Let’s buckle up 8)

    2. Angel

      i mean, they say college is the ideal time to experiment with relationships, straight or not. tho i imagine if it was something that got serious, ethan might spiral more if he finds out though i’d think amber would’ve at least given him a heads upabout asher

  8. Amara

    Somehow I think Jennifer would be even more offended if she gets dumped for a guy than if Asher wound dump her for another girl.

    1. Jamie

      Absolutely.

    2. Nono

      Or she’d want to watch them make out.

      1. Doctor_Who

        Don’t know if Jennifer would want to see her failure rubbed in her face (well, Ethan’s face) but I bet Amber would watch.

        …Oh wait, Amber and Ethan have a complicated personal history.

        …Nah, she’d still watch.

        1. Zach

          I thought she told Danny they should have fucked instead of using their patronizing concern for her as an excuse to run from their fears. And also that it’d have been super hot.

        2. Dante

          She also straight up pictured Danny and Mike making out, if memory serves

        3. thejeff

          Months later, iirc. After she’d had time to get some distance from her breakup with Danny. And after Mike’s death, which changes everything.

          But she likely would have said the same right away, which doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have devastated her. Like she was messed up by Ethan coming out as gay and breaking up with her. You can support something and it can still hurt.

          Nor is it somehow a bad thing to be concerned about your friend’s feelings.

    3. Doopyboop

      “NO ASHER YOU CAN’T JUST GO THROUGH A GAY PHASE BECAUSE I DUMPED YOU”

      “It’s not a phase, I’m bi”

      “You can’t be bi! Bi isn’t real!! Just because I dated and repeatedly had mind blowing and tender sex with two women at this rate while also feeling attraction towards men, doesn’t mean I’m bi!!”

      “…”

      1. GholaHalleck

        Silly Doopy. Only women can be Bi.

        Ask me how I know this. Ask me how many times I’ve been told this.

        I’m not bitter.

        Nope.

        1. Doopyboop

          Oh Ghola, I’m so very sorry that that’s happened to you. Also, sadly not surprised. We bi folk get a bad wrap in a lot of ways, and that’s definitely one of them. Only women can be bi and only because it’s super hot and makes for a cool threesome when it’s two girls and a guy, naturally.

          But nah, I’m truly sorry you’ve experienced that. The shitty assumptions of others is truly annoying. Because I’m biromantic ace, I’ve been told that I’m not ‘oppressed’ enough to be a part of the LGBT+ community, so I know how you feel.

        2. Yumi

          I don’t identify as bi or a girl these days, but I did at one point, and when I first went to an LGBTQ+ summer camp as a teenager (across the country from where I lived), on my first night a girl in my cabin made a comment about how she got frustrated with bi girls because they were “doing it for attention.” The camp got a lot better and ended up being one of my favorite places ever, but holy shit that was a rough comment to hear there.

        3. Miri

          Eesh ? I’m glad it got better.

          I sometimes feel vaguely guilty coz I’m demi and bi and like 95% of the people I find attractive are women but then I’m also married to a man who I am massively attracted to and still crazy in love with 18 years after we moved from friends to coupledom and I’m adding to bi-erasure and this is a bad thing but also he is literally the third person in my life I’ve been properly attracted to and the first one who wasn’t a massive prick (see for instance the friend who found out I had a crush on her and made out with me sometimes pretty much to manipulate me into doing pretty much anything for her… That was kinda painful and heartbreaking…)

        4. Devin

          I strongly disagree with the idea that who you love and are choosing to spend your life with contributes to bi erasure. By that logic settling down with any one person contributes to bi erasure and I just can’t accept that. Polyamory and bisexuality are different things and I can’t accept the former as a requirement for the latter. It doesn’t make any sense at all to me.

          Also, you’re publicly talking about you being bi, that’s the opposite of bi erasure. If you were saying that you used to think you were bi and then you married a man so you weren’t actually bi, that might contribute to bi erasure. But you’re not.

          I applaud you being in a relationship that makes you happy. You are valid and I celebrate your relationship.

        5. Miri

          … No, that sounds like the sort of attraction spectrum area that gets all sorts of unpleasant crud thrown in its direction… Usually from people who you have no interest in whatsoever and who therefore you would THINK had no say in who you get to be attracted to, but ??‍♀️ People suck.

        6. GholaHalleck

          There’s a loooot of community based baggage on my end.

          Figured out “hey, I like the dudes sexually, guess I’m gay.”

          Was out as gay for about two years. Built a decent little friend network for an introvert.

          Then oh damn, found out I’m still into the ladies.

          Guess I’m bi.

          Guess I’m shunned by 95% of the friend group for being “a liar” and “Never actually into men to begin with.”

          And that was ages ago, worked past it. Trying my damnedest to not paint with a wide brush when it comes to “the community” and it’s hypocrisy.

          Now I feel like I have to fend off terfs trying to turn bisexual into a trans exclusive label, when it’s been trans and NB inclusive since it was created as a term.

    4. Bryy

      Oh, 1000%, especially since she had a fit over Ruth dating a guy (and her internalized homophobia in general).

      1. Angel

        i thought the fit was more because she specifically set her up with her boss/daisy as opposed to just taking her to a gay/lesbian bar and her choosing some ‘regular white guy’ or so lol

        1. Doopyboop

          It’s probably a bit of both, but the fact that Jennifer first assumed Ruth hooked up with the female bartender, then raised her voice even more because the bartender was a guy definitely leans towards Jennifer being upset because her preconceived notions were that Ruth was a lesbian so the idea that Ruth could date a guy? Well, it’s a lot like Joyce’s reaction.

    5. Dara

      Honestly I think the opposite in this case. “Eh, I never actually had a shot.”

    6. Angel

      well she did mention a brief attraction to ethan/’impressed’ that he was joyce’s ‘bf’ even tho it ended up being a fake relationship in the end

    7. NGPZ

      that, and she’d milk this opportunity for “being in an affair” ?

      oh shit

    8. BarerMender

      Asher: Listen, Babe, your ex was a girl. Now my ex is a girl. What’s the problem?

  9. Serendipity

    bi asher bi asher bi asher bi asher!!!!

    1. Bo

      hi Asher hi Asher hi Asher hi Ash

      1. k

        hi bi asher hi bi asher hi bi asher hi bi asher!!!!

      2. Clif

        lo Asher etc.

  10. Just an Armadillo

    It’s not Jennifer, so I ship it.

  11. Bryy

    WELL I WAS HALF-RIGHT ABOUT THE TRAUMA HOOK-UP.

    1. Angel

      just like with amber and walky, ethan getting a version of his trauma he can f*ck lol

  12. Doopyboop

    Okay so before people in the comments spitballed the idea of Asher and Dorothy and I was like ‘man that would definitely be the worst case scenario because of all the hostage stuff and everything’ and uh

    actually I was wrong. Ash and Ethan is a very messy dynamic because Asher is at least partially responsible for what happened to Mike, due to his actions to help Amber’s dad. Granted that Mike was definitely injured way before he ever pulled a fire alarm, he was still part of that whole plan, and perhaps if he wasn’t blackmailed into helping Amber’s dad, that entire attack wouldn’t have happened.

    …*readies a bucket of popcorn*

    1. RassilonTDavros

      Asher had some role in virtually every one of Ethan’s major traumas and at some point that bombshell is going to drop and it is gonna be delicious

      1. Nono

        I mean I don’t think Asher was responsible for whatever new horrible Transformers thing was on the forums… or was he?

        1. Bryy

          Asher is a master of 4D Chess.

        2. Clif

          Willis is a master of 4D chess.

          Fixed that for you.

        3. Vanessa

          Lol very nice it just might turn out that Asher is ALSO unsound on Decepticon or something. More likely he will be fascinated by Ethan’s genuine enthusiasm and love for the subject.

        4. Clif

          I would wear a Tshirt that said “Unsound on Decepticons.”

        5. Bo

          “It was ME, Barry…”

    2. Alanari

      Wondering whether this is attraction or guilt in ashers face. He might be aware who ethan is. He most likely is aware that he worked with those who killed mike.

      1. Angel

        it would be quite the interesting reaction to see if sal/amber finds out and tries to stop it

      2. cbwroses

        Asher hasn’t expressed guilt towards anyone else involved, so I’m going with attraction.
        That he’d be (seemingly as there was a time skip) just fine being around Walky, Joyce, and Sarah (and possibly any of the others who were kidnapped that he knows), but suddenly feels guilt for Ethan would, at the very least, imply Asher paid a lot more attention to Ethan’s feelings regarding Mike than he would be expected to.

      3. HueSatLight

        It’s probably attraction, and today’s strip title “It Keeps Happening” is probably a reference to Danny realizing he was bi when he was attracted to Ethan.

    3. GholaHalleck

      “t least I had the guy who killed your boyfriend murdered in his hospital room, that should count for something right?!”

      1. Opus the Poet

        Maybe, maybe not so much.

    4. Aslan

      I’m trying to see Sal’s reaction. Just imagine. “Please don’t date him, Apples; I know he’s hot but he’s going to hurt you…
      Okay, I mean he’s going to hurt you WORSE than I did when I took you hostage, just trust me on this.”

    5. EnerPrime

      Honestly I think Ethan might be one of the few to be okay with it if the full details of Asher’s involvement came out. Because Asher was blackmailed and not a willing participant, and Ethan’s in a dark enough place that his reaction to finding out Blaine what killed by the mob he worked for would probably just be that he deserved it.

  13. RassilonTDavros

    YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS

  14. Yotomoe

    I gotta be with him! He’s Hurtin’ inside.

    1. milu

      i wanna stroke you where it hurts <3

      1. Clif

        It doesn’t hurt? Let me fix that for you. – Mike

      2. BarerMender

        I mind me of Pibgorn:
        Drusilla: Let me check you for broken bones.
        Geoff: Hey! There are no bones there.
        Dru: Patience.

  15. Golden Yak

    “God damn, but he looks depressed… I must have him.”

    1. Dante

      Asher likes them troubled

  16. Amós Batista

    C’mon, I’m still dealing with Ethan and Danny ship.

  17. DarkoNeko

    …BRUH

    1. DarkoNeko

      This is a terrible, terrible idea and I want to watch the trainwreck

  18. JessWitt

    Oh I like where this is going, Asher’s mafia connections aside.

    Although he did use them to do away with Mike’s killer. But they were partially funded by those connections in the first place.

    I’m thinking too hard about this. Ship first, consequences later.

    1. ANeM

      That was less about him seeking justice and more about him getting rid of a witness who could tie him to the whole kidnapping and murder thing.

      1. JessWitt

        Right, that too. This comic is a lot to keep up with.

      2. DrunkenNordmann

        Also, Blaine was blackmailing him with… something.

        1. cbwroses

          With stealing mob money.

        2. BBCC

          Which can very easily result in Asher dead in a ditch somewhere.

    2. YordleJay

      Connecti9ns I’d like to remind people he’s trying to ditch

      1. GholaHalleck

        It didn’t work for Michel Corelone, it probably won;t work for Asher.

  19. Warcodered

    Like a beautiful piece of emo art.

  20. Jo_cubstar

    Yes yes yes yes I like this very much :3

  21. CrazyJ

    Everyone seems to be on the bi ship but I think it would just as funny for Asher to get lessons from Ethan on how to become a brooding emo to get Jennifer back (not that Asher can’t do better but still).

    1. audkitten

      This is funny 🙂

    2. Angel

      lol wallowing in depression and skipping showers probably wouldn’t be more appealing to jen, tho trauma aside i’d think ethan would also be pretty similar to walky as well

      1. cbwroses

        Why not?
        It was appealing to her when Ruth did it.

    3. a/snow/mous/e

      Yeah that was definitely my first thought: “O Muse of Cool! Teach me thy ways!”

  22. audkitten

    No! Down Asher! You can’t have this one!

    Ugh this is going to be a train wreck. I’m sorry for whatever Asher was forced to do, but this would be so unhealthy for Ethan. Someone else already mentioned Asher is linked to all of Ethan’s major trauma.

    1. audkitten

      Jennifer avatar ftw

      1. Clif

        Asher may be linked to all of Ethan’s major traumas, but it will be a situation with a very long fuse.

  23. BBCC

    A version of your trauma you can fuck, as Amber once put it.

    1. BarerMender

      Ethan put it.

      1. BBCC

        Even better.

  24. DailyBrad

    Ethan hitting the Rei Asaka stage of self-destructive behavior that still attracts people.

    I know that this is likely leading to something, but part of me would also love if there is NEVER a follow up, that Asher just kept walking.

  25. newlland(Henryvolt)

    Oooooh boy, this I got to see.

  26. UrsulaDavina

    ? ? (Dream Weaver by Gary Wright plays) ? ?

  27. Joe Moose

    [Careless Whisper blares on hijacked college loudspeakers]

    1. milu

      [Amazi-girl saw this interaction from the roof and immediately hacked into the PA system]

  28. Dante

    Oh, I am CACKLING. This has fixed ny mood tonight. Bi Asher! Bi Asher! Truly Pride month has been generous in an otherwise shitty year so far.

    This is the most anime first-look we’ve gotten since… Fam, I can’t even remember. Thank you, Willis!! Inject it into my veins!!

    I DUB THIS SHIP ETHER!!

    1. NGPZ

      YEE!!!!! Great ship name BTW ?

    2. sakamism

      With a name like that there is no choice but to support it

    3. Nono

      Ashan/Ashen also works.

      1. a/snow/mous/e

        ethan is looking pretty ashen these days

      2. Dante

        Ashen is good but it kinda makes the Ethan side disappear and this is already be going to be terrible for him :’33

    4. milu

      it has an element of brooding nineteenth-century addiction to it ?

  29. Abdomino

    Ethan: If I had a nickel every time I gave a guy his bi awakening, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice, right?

    1. Abdomino

      I would like a new avatar. Jennifer has been frustrating for… god, a long while now.

      1. Dante

        You can change any letter in your gravatar email address into uppercase to roulette for another one :3

        example@mail.com —} exAmple@mail.com

        1. NGPZ

          yee. there’s a 50% chance of getting any specific avatar after rolling the dice 20 times 😉

        2. Clif

          Your assuming uniform distribution which is empirically not true.

        3. NGPZ

          Empirically? How many tests have you done? 😮

        4. Clif

          At this point, I’m not sure. The entire history of the comment section is available and avitars from the current set are propagated back through time. Whenever someone shifts to a new avatar from the set or there is a general reset as evidenced by comments, it counts as a new trial. I looked at it enough to convince me Sal was less frequent than some of the others.

        5. Clif

          In fairness, I looked at that after the switch that was previous to this and not the current set. To be certain it’s still the case, I’d need to go back and check. I just assumed that since Sal took around 30 trials for me this time, the skewed distribution was still the case.
          I’ll report again after I have some time to recheck.

        6. HueSatLight

          30 trials is not unusually high for a uniform distribution.

      2. chuckroast

        Jennifer has always been frustrating. Long live Billie.

      3. Dante

        I just changed mine this way! (Loving Ruth, I’m really glad I tried so, thank you :33)

    2. Proxiehunter

      That’s enough nickles for Mike to have fucked two moms.

      If you want a different avatar change the capitalization of you email.

  30. reed

    YES! I don’t care if this is a bad idea, I support Ethan + Any Man.

  31. Mehe

    Oh I just want to see Asher help Ethan out of this spiral. Ethan is NOT in a healthy place for a relationship right now, but a friendship that isn’t tied to home would be good for him.

    1. cbwroses

      He just got one with Booster.

      Which reminds me: wouldn’t it be crazy if Booster meets Asher through Ethan and immediately clocks that Asher is somehow connected to some big group trauma (without automatically realizing what the trauma is as that would just be another random super power in this no powers story).

  32. Regalli

    This is a disaster waiting to happen and I want popcorn.

    1. NGPZ

      ???

  33. Lia

    we got another one lads

  34. Mr. Random

    Is Ethan just the closet key for everyone?

    1. Dante

      It’s impressive for a guy who went back into the closet twice sffhdj

      1. a/snow/mous/e

        “Twice”? Obviously there was the period where he was dating Joyce, but was there another time he re-entered the closet? Or are you counting that as two times because he came out to Joyce in the middle of that?

        1. Mr. Random

          At the start of the comic he was “back in the closet” because it was a new school where no one knew him.
          Second time was Joyce.

        2. Nono

          Eh, feels like just the one time.

          At the start of the semester he was just happy to be the weirdo Transformers guy, without letting his sexuality define him. He was gay, but wasn’t actively looking or advertising.

          Joyce was an active attempt to try to be straight.

  35. Rabid Rabbit

    Asher cheek blush = suggested attraction.

    Ethan? Well, we know that when Ethan’s not depressed, he’s a bit of a slut (which is fine! It’s just a thing), so I suppose the absence of blushes could indicate a lack of emotional commitment but simple reawakening to the fact that things are possible, but I honestly prefer the idea that somehow he knows a lot more about Asher than Asher would be comfortable with.

    If only because it would torpedo the shippers from the start, and that would make me cackle.

    (Okay, fine, nothing torpedoes shippers. It would just make things more complicated and dramatic for them. But still.)

    1. Yumi

      I feel like Ethan just flat-out doesn’t notice Asher here.

      1. Rabid Rabbit

        That would be an equally excellent blow to the shippers. I like it.

        1. cbwroses

          It’s not a blow to the shippers for Ethan not to notice a stranger walking by, especially with the depression he has.
          But sure, grab any victory you can.

  36. Paradoxius

    My glance at this comic, I mistook Asher’s look up at Ethan as a desperate search for approval from someone who looks cool and dejected after being burned in the last strip, and thought the final panel was a detailed close-up on Ethan doing a big eye-roll.

    This is very much not what’s happening, and it would not have really made sense, but it would be very funny.

  37. Axel

    put all my chips on bi asher

    1. Miri

      … does he have dips set up in his abs?

      1. milu

        until proven otherwise, Asher definitely has cumgutters

        1. BarerMender

          We saw Asher in his undershorts. He didn’t look fit.

        2. Miri

          Sorry, I meant like tzatziki or salsa – things to dunk crisps in…

      2. Axel

        I more mean that I’m all in but that sounds fun too.

  38. LIGHTWEIGHT BAYBEE

    on one hand ethan slipshine
    on the other asher is mob related
    basically a degree a way from the people that killed amber’s father

    1. Dante

      … but consider. That also means he’s kinda responsible for avenging Mike

      1. adam Black

        Unless Mike was murdered in the hospital

        1. Clif

          Or in witness protection.

  39. Hazel

    The art in this strip is just… I mean, we knew that Ethan was depressed and doing badly, what with the bangs and pushing away his friends and the rest of it. But his face in that last panel is just…

    Oh yeah, and Asher is clearly into him, but I’m not sure if that’s a good sign.

    1. I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams

      Triple E (Emancipated Emo Ethan) and his sadboy charm strikes again, lol. But in all seriousness this strip has some really excellent movement + paneling work, and that in combination with Willis’ usual distinct visual cues (the eye shines man, i love love love how you can wordlessly gauge Asher’s emotional state panel by panel just by looking at them) really helps to build this almost cinematic feeling in just a few panels. It’s honestly really great.

      1. Clif

        Agreed.

  40. Cmasta1992

    Nooooooo

  41. I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams

    These last few strips call for a thematically appropriate Elliott Smith song and that song “Easy Way Out” from Figure 8 (Something that i WOULD link if Gravatar didn’t have personal beef with me and didn’t auto-delete any comments i make that has a link of any kind but w/e i digress).

    Anyways, Asher and Post-Timeskip Ethan has been some of the more dramatic characters when it comes to “raising the stakes/shaking up the status quo”, so i can’t wait to see how this interaction shakes out.

  42. Reltzik

    Absolutely nothing could possibly go wrong with this development, and I unreservedly endorse it.

    1. milu

      there’s a virtual guarantee things will go terribly with this development, and I unreservedly endorse it.

      1. Clif

        That’s the spirit,

      2. BBCC

        This.

      3. Reltzik

        To-may-to, to-mah-to.

  43. JessWitt

    I vaguely recall Ethan being likened to Batman. And Asher is described as radiating Oscar Isaac vibes. So together they’re DarkMoon Knight.

    1. a/snow/mous/e

      Now they just need to form a Pink Floyd cover band so they can be “Dark side of the Moon Knight”

      1. JessWitt

        That can be the title of their Slipshine.

    2. Reltzik

      So if Amber tries to speedrun Dark Souls, would they be the Dark Knight of the Soul?

  44. HueSatLight

    I like the pose and lighting in panel 2.

  45. woobie

    Ethan looks awful. Still.

  46. YordleJay

    Asher please leave billie, you deserve ao much better

  47. Mollyscribbles

    . . . was this a “sad girl in snow” joke.

  48. Angel

    is he blushing because ethan’s attractive or suddenly flustered because he knows he’s partially responsible for mike’s death?

    1. cbwroses

      I highly doubt Asher paid that much attention to how badly Mike’s death affected Ethan, especially considering we have no idea he even knows who Ethan is or what he looks like.
      So the simplest answer is the most likely answer by a wide margin (not the only answer, tho, so it’s not 100% certain).

  49. IniquitousKing

    You can fix him, Asher.

    1. Angel

      and then shatter him again once he finds out who asher really is lol

      1. milu

        lol!

      2. HueSatLight

        Asher ships have circled around from being bad news to “Yes … ha ha ha … YES!” This makes me feel like when Wilbur fell off the boat.

        1. HueSatLight

          … suspense wise. Not hoping Ethan’s eaten by fish.

  50. Chaucer59

    As a bi man, I do not feel the least bit of guilt in saying, Ethan deserves better.

    1. Angel

      it’d be interesting to know what booster would think/advise him on although other than knowing anything about asher i don’t think booster would necessarily discourage it becuase they don’t know anything too detailed about asher

  51. Suet

    Ethan has that something, I dunno what, but it’s something. Why? Because Danny.

    From smoking to ✨ smoking ✨

  52. Taffy

    I can’t believe Asher is cheating on Jennifer like this. How incredibly shitty of him.

    1. NGPZ

      come to think of it, being part of an affair might just be what really gets her hot and bothered 😮

      1. NGPZ

        also a possible three-way, i hope

    2. Nono

      I can’t tell if serious.

      1. Taffy

        Wouldn’t you like to know.

    3. Angel

      lol i knew some acquaintainces of friends that was like “it’s not cheating if ur bi/makeout with the same gender” but it was just simply the guys fetishing bi gfs/lesbians more so than actually respecting/wanting an ‘open relationship’

      1. thejeff

        I briefly dated a girl whose boyfriend apparently meant that when they agreed on an open relationship.

  53. VinzKlortho

    ALL AROUND ME ARE FAMILIAR FACES
    WORN OUT PLACES, WORN OUT FACES

    1. Needfuldoer

      [Early 2000s Newgrounds flashbacks]

    2. Taffy

      Bright and early filling up their feel good
      No one birthday, no expression

  54. Tim

    Get over yourself Ethan.
    Transformers 6 was that bad.

    1. Decidedly Orthogonal

      Which one was ‘6’. I fell asleep during number 3. In the theatre. After that watching more didn’t make any sense.

      1. Taffy

        Look, what you need to know is that one shall rise, one shall fall, and he is Optimus Prime. That’s the series, SPOILER ALERT FOR A 100,000,000,000 YEAR OLD MOVIE SERIES

    2. EnerPrime

      6 was Bumblebee, the one that is widely agreed to be Actually Good, though?

  55. Needfuldoer

    Dang, when was the last time Ethan ate and slept properly?

    1. Taffy

      On-panel?

  56. LaGrosseLegume

    i’ma feeling good vibrations here

  57. Rachel

    I was just thinking “oh man a reckoning for Ethan is coming, this poor boy” and oh boyyyy

  58. foducool

    don’t open, dead inside

    1. AGV

      Don’t dead open inside

  59. Lars

    Is it just me or does Ethan look stoned?

    1. AGV

      Depression can look like that

    2. HueSatLight

      opium vibes.

  60. Now

    WHAT IS THIS CRACKSHIP-ASS SHIP I’m dying of laughter, never stop what you’re doing Willis, you’re the greatest

  61. Lamppost

    Ahahahaha this is trash I love it

  62. Clif

    Gaze upon the Ethan and Dispare.

  63. Allison Branford

    My deepest hope is that aside from his mob connections, Asher is also deeply into Transformers. That would add a metaphorical busload of puppies to the oncoming trainwreck. Or to be more precise, shipwreck.

  64. Icalasari

    I keep expecting Spider-Man 2 Tobey McGuire to suddenly appear

    1. cbwroses

      Do you mean Spider-Man 3?
      That’s the one with Emo Pete aka Bully Maguire.

  65. AGV

    *a few weeks into this relationship when Ethan is starting to look up*

    Asher: Why are you a dork? You used to be cool!

  66. Bash

    Oh god yes I’m so here for this.

  67. Sombrero

    I hope this leads to some Asher/Booster interaction.

    1. Dante

      I’d ship that too :3c

  68. Aslan

    Someone’s gonna get mad at me for this I just know it but
    Make?him?worse?
    Make?him?worse?
    Make?him?worse?

  69. Mark

    I’m going to defy the DoA Shipping Company and suggest that Asher’s reaction is “misery loves company.” It seems implausible in this feature, but I’m saying it anyway!

  70. Zaxares

    I’m just sitting here cackling at this twist and knowing the shippers will love it and going “I don’t believe it, that son of a bongo Willis actually DID IT!” XD

  71. Chasey

    Ehhhhh… I guess I ship it.
    A little.
    If I have to.

  72. Joy

    This is so dramatic ?

  73. spriteless aunty

    On the bad side, he is involved with the crime family that killed Mike. But on the bright side he was involved with Mike’s killer’s death.

    1. Clif

      On the bad side, he was responsible for setting Sal up so she would take a hostage. On the good side, his family hired and empowered the one who eliminated the person responsible for Ethan and Amber being there.

      On the bad side, he helped with the kidnapping. On the good side he helped Jennifer get something Sal wanted.

      1. spriteless aunty

        Bah, Ethan doesn’t care about anything except Mike anymore.

  74. Plonker

    Yeah, I’m not feeling it. At all.

    It’s a mismatch of epic proportions, and I see the narrative possibilities of it, but it feels forced and unrealistic based on the people involved.

    So, I guess I’m looking forward to hate-reading all about it.

  75. goggleman64

    Oh hell yeah, a romance storyline between Asher and Ethan has *tons* of potential!! I hope you go for it / went for it, Willis!

    Also, I would love for that to somehow wind up with Booster and Jennifer trapped in an elevator where Booster ruthlessly hurls Freshman Psychology at her X)

  76. codycola

    woah I love this

  77. kater

    “You make dudes realize they’re bi just by walking past, like Pepe Le Pew for boners.”

  78. Dov

    Emooothaaaan -Homer Simpson drooling over a donut noise-

  79. Woof McGee

    Oh noes! Be careful, Ethan! He does magical mass kidnappings!

  80. milu

    (Five minutes later)

    Asher: look, i have to come clean so it doesn’t bite me in the ass, i was involved in the robbery of a gas station when i was thirteen, also i have mob connections and i organized the assassination of one of our guys gone rogue last semester.

    Ethan: goddammit. …listen they say if you wanna die, try changing your life first just to make sure. Sooo… wanna do a Bonnie & Clyde?

    (they high-five)

    (story takes a bit of a swerve)

    1. thejeff

      Ethan: Funny thing, I got held at knife point during the robbery of a gas station when I was 13.

      1. milu

        “wow! we have so much in common!”

  81. General Tekno

    oh nooooo this is going to end badly the MINUTE Asher’s involvement, however peripherally, in Mike’s death becomes clear.

    Flip side is it might NOT end badly the minute later when his involvement in killing the man responsible for Mike’s death becomes clear.

    1. HueSatLight

      If Mike had survived, Asher’s dirty cops would have killed him too. Maybe they did. Mike had evidence of Blaine’s work for the mob, which included payouts to cops.

      1. thejeff

        But did anyone other than Blaine know that?
        Blaine wasn’t going to tell the mob, because that gets him in trouble for letting Mike find out.

        1. HueSatLight

          Mike was shouting and there were bystanders. We saw at least some of it on panel. https://www.dumbingofage.com/stooge/

        2. HueSatLight

          Even if my speculation is wrong, and they never had any suspicions about Mike or Amazi-girl, and the cop was just making idle conversation before he shot Blaine…

          Killing Blaine wasn’t an act of justice. Just because a murder victim is a piece of shit doesn’t sanctify the murderers.

        3. HueSatLight

          Mike thinking the mob cops were a danger to them: https://www.dumbingofage.com/ninest/
          Amber and Dorothy thinking the mob cops were a danger to Mike:
          https://www.dumbingofage.com/evacuated/

  82. Valerie

    Oh GOD, they’re gonna figure it out post-coitus. Bad bad bad

  83. Adept

    Brood, brood, brood…

  84. Raja

    unexpected. probably not a good idea. so much drama could happen out of this

    please happen k thanks

  85. LiterallyJustSomeGuy

    Speaking of “aloof and severe” . . .

  86. poyo

    OH WORM ?????

  87. Pocky

    Really trying to get me to sympathize with Asher lol

  88. Sibre

    The strip’s title doesn’t make sense. No one’s falling down stairs.

    1. BOOSTER SHOT

      It’s because they were all properly warned.

    2. Dara

      It’s because the space robots have not yet arrived to protect us from the terrible secret of space.

  89. Throwatron

    goddamn ya boi has a type, huh

  90. Synnerman

    Yes, I want this ship and all related reading materials.

  91. milu

    Made a thing, y’all

    (NSFW)

    1. NGPZ

      WOW!!! ??️‍? Awesome work Milu!

    2. milu

      Dammit

      forgot the snow

      new link

      1. Yumi

        Feel like they should go inside before that last panel.

        1. milu

          Yeah! Porn logic smh

    3. Dante

      It says page not found ;AAA; May I see it, please?

  92. Willoughby Chase

    Have the swinging christmas yule

  93. TrueVCU

    Ethan: the public universal man crush

  94. DaisyFM

    Yeah, I get it.

  95. Steelbright

    Asher’s vibes can’t go up against the true ruler of emo, he is defeated and that turns him on

  96. cobragardens

    Oh us too, Asher. Us too.

  97. Plain Marie

    When two sad grumpy people meet…

  98. Darkseide

    it’s Friday, the Dumbing of Ageith, 14th of 200th, right?
    (i think it is, for my mental health!)

  99. JohnnyO

    How many bisexual awakenings can Ethan be responsible for?

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