118

Lead herself
Posted on June 2, 2024 by David M Willis

118 thoughts on “Lead herself”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    “I love it when a plan* comes together.”

    *Editor’s note: plan means keikaku

    1. GholaHalleck

      But what kind of frosting?

    2. Mr D phone posting

      “everything according to cake”
      Editor’s note:Cake means Keikaku
      Editor’s note 2: Keikaku means plan.

      1. Kat

        I’m starting to suspect that keikaku is a lie.

        1. Steamweed

          The cake is a lie!
          The plan is a lie!

        2. Weatherheight

          The road down the rabbit hole is paved with lies.

    3. ValdVin

      If I look up keikaku at the library will they kick me off their computers?

      1. kendermouse

        Keikaku refers to a plan or strategy that outlines specific actions and goals to achieve desired outcomes. It involves careful consideration, organization, and implementation of steps necessary for success.

        “All according to keikaku.” (Translator’s note – keikaku means plan)

      2. Needfuldoer

        Isn’t it one of those forms of poetry with limited syllables per line?

    4. Kazuma Taichi

      thanks, I needed that :3

  2. Doctor_Who

    In Friendship, Sarah is the Hard Mode you unlock only after 100% completion of the rest of the game.

    1. SailorCakes

      She’s the one in the dating sim we all want but can hardly get ?

  3. NGPZ

    No need for fire Sarah!

    Lotta folk are already hot and bothered! XD

  4. IntangibleMatter

    Good friends will immolate people who hurt their friends

  5. Doopyboop

    That last panel is actually really cute, lovely smiles on both their faces. Also, if anyone else ever hurts Joyce, I’m hoping for a Sarah and Joe teamup.

  6. Red

    The last panel is cute, like friendly banter.

  7. jeffepp

    This counts as flirting, Sarah.

    1. ABunchOTrees

      This counts as flirting, for Sarah

      1. NGPZ

        Pretty much yee

        (69th comment) i am bored

        1. NGPZ

          wat the

          I could have SWORN there were 68 here

          Did 12 comments just suddently get reported out of existance?

        2. Just_IDD

          They were placeholder comments to catch the unwary and the uselessly posting

        3. NGPZ

          So the comments equivalent of Spriters Resources and TCRF?

          LOL

        4. Taffy

          But those are cool websites.

    2. anon

      I think sarah would have too much self respect to flirt with anyone in a relationship but i feel like sarah’s actual ‘flirting’ would be awkward like when she was talking/working out with jacob (even if she wanted raidah away from jacob)

  8. Nono

    Ehhh I feel like a Joe/Sarah friendship is more likely than him being buddies with Dorothy or Becky.

    1. Thag Simmons

      Dorothy and Becky are less outwardly hostile which can give a false positive if you’re expecting more open hostility.

    2. DailyBrad

      He is friends with Becky now, though, moreso Dina, but both, still.

    3. shrub

      Well Dina and Joe are friends so of the three I’d say Becky is the most likely candidate for friendship

    4. HueSatLight

      It helps that Sarah doesn’t secretly yearn for Joyce.

      1. GholaHalleck

        I think Becky would be fine with a dude getting into Joyce’s pants so long as Joyce doesn’t have a bisexual awakening.

        THAT’S gonna be when The Beckening will begin.

        1. Nono

          No no, might be more hilarious when she finds out Dorothy might be bisexual for Joyce.

          Because she was already jealous of her, now her (imaginary) rival might become a real one.

        2. Bash

          Yes, I will find it so funny when she gets even more jealous and snarky in a way that is devoid of actual humor.

        3. Sajuuk-Khar

          Tired: Becky will be furious if Joyce gets into a bisexual situation with Dorothy

          Wired: Becky will be furious if Joyce gets into a bisexual situation anyone but Dorothy, her only worthy opponent

        4. Chubseus

          Inspired: Dina gets involved and both become coaches and wingwomen for Dorothy and/or Joyce. It’s the return of the lesbian love sleuths.

        5. John Campbell

          Conspired: Becky gets into a bisexual situation with Dorothy to keep her away from Joyce. Dina stands by and takes notes.

    5. anon

      I mean even if they don’t actively hang out, he technically knew Dorothy longer than he knew joyce so i imagine they can prolly get some kinda ‘netural’ relationship

  9. Taffy

    Sarah seems like the kind of person who “accidentally” orders too much at Taco Bell and “lets you” have the “extra” (which is coincidentally one of your favorite items).

    1. Jeremiah

      You did it, you stripped Sarah to her bare essentials.

      1. Needfuldoer

        But she wants Jacob to do that…

    2. moriarty70

      And Joe is the kind of person to not make a thing out of it. “Cool. Thanks.”

    3. Nymph

      Yes absolutely.

  10. darkoneko

    Dunno, having some separate friends seems healthier

    1. Marisa Mockery

      Yeah, definitely. I think separate hobbies and friends are important in relationships. But it’s called Dumbing of Age, not Healthy Boundaries of Age lol

      1. Jeremiah

        He is just trying to get to know better the people who matter to Joyce, nothing wrong with that.

      2. Steelbright

        Healthy boundaries of age is the funniest thing I’ve seen all day, and would also be a very boring comic.

    2. 3oranges

      Good to have some people to spend time apart with, but not bad to try and get along with all of them.

      1. Yumi

        Yeah, and like there are different levels. If all your SO’s closest friends are also your closest friends, it can get tricky, but if you’re more just on friendly terms with all your SO’s closest friends (while also have other close friendships), that seems good to me.

        1. Cricket

          Yeah, it doesn’t seem like he wants or plans to *only* be friends with Joyce’s friends and have none of his own separate from her. He can attempt friendship with all of her friends and still have his own community. And Joyce can continue to grow and reshape her friend group over time as needed, too. There’s definitely a version of this that could be unhealthy, but the way it looks like Joe is approaching it here seems fine.

    3. GholaHalleck

      I think he’s more trying to head-off the Swarm of “If you hurt her I”ll fuck you up” speeches by preemptively showing up and assuaging them that he does not intend such tomfoolery.

      He only has so many kneecaps and door hinges after all.

      1. Bash

        Given the circumstances, it makes sense to show that he’s serious about Joyce. Getting to know your partner’s friends means you expect the relationship to last.

        1. Steamweed

          This whole emotional and social maturity thing is wacky and new, but it might just catch on!

    4. anon

      at the very least they should be able to be civil, by sarah’s standards but yeah a lot of ppl’s romantic partners prolly wouldn’t all be the same friends

    5. Nymph

      I mean… he’s not getting rid of his own friends, just trying to make nice with Joyce’s. I can’t see anything unhealthy in that.

    6. Yumi

      Joe’s just following the advice he got from listening to a Spice Girls song.

    7. zee

      He didn’t say he wants all his friends to be Joyce’s friends

    8. spriteless aunty

      I mean he still has Danny and Dina.

  11. Jeremiah

    Why is Sarah little smile so freaking adorable?!

    1. Coatl

      Not only that, it’s a sincere smile

      1. Steamweed

        Appropriate gravatar is appropriate!

    2. HueSatLight

      He is honoring her wishes to be on better terms by not telling her how cute she is.

  12. Coatl

    Wow, that smile is really genuine.

    1. Switchchris26

      And its Joe that made her smile like that, never in my life have I thought that was possible.

      1. Coatl

        Well, this is proof that Joe really wants to do things right.

      2. Ophidiophile

        Joe is as smooth as ever.

      3. Rabbit

        So can we use this data to infer something bad has happened to joyce (given their give/take joy ratio)

        1. Needfuldoer

          Delayed reaction to Sal’s interruption earlier.

      4. Kazuma Taichi

        plan failed successfully energy

  13. Cholma

    You loved The Last Train to Clarksville!
    You were thrilled seeing The Last Starfighter!
    Now, coming THIS SUMMER: The Last Joyce Friend!
    (only available thru REELZ Premium)

  14. John Campbell

    For no particular reason, I enjoy how tall Sarah is.

    1. Needfuldoer

      Agreed.

      Also for no particular reason.

  15. moriarty70

    I think this “reluctant” friendship will be the best thing for both of them. They can share their more twisted outlooks and cynicism together while not making it more than it is. That last panel shows it.

    1. Coatl

      A good start for both

  16. shrub

    One of my pet hates is someone sticking their finger in my face, she’s lucky she’s doing it to someone like Joe and not someone that’ll stand up for themselves

    (Bad memories)

    1. anon

      lol well i can imagine pets being anoyed but hopeuflly they don’t bite

      tho at least in sarahs’ case she’s not using her bat

  17. Masha

    In what world is Joe friends with Dorothy?

    1. AeromechanicalAce

      They’ve known each other for years, but yeah, i don’t think Dorothy thinks of them as Friends, since she’s got the most exposure to Joe’s Douchebag Phase.

    2. Vanessa

      Shhh…. Sarah is so happy, don’t ruin it.

    3. HueSatLight

      He has that impression because in the fall semester, she kind of was. They weren’t best buds, but she was friendly with him.
      Then she retroactively decided she despised him, after she got jealous of Joyce and him. Then she seemed to accept Joe and Joyce together.

      1. Bash

        It seemed more like she was just tolerating him. Certainly some of his jokes back then were pretty tiresome.

        1. HueSatLight

          She treated him like he annoyed her sometimes. Even if she was “just tolerating him”, she was friendly with him. And that would give him the impression that they were friends.
          starting at the oldest:
          https://www.dumbingofage.com/tag/joe+dorothy/page/13/
          there are a lot where they don’t interact, but when they do, Dorothy behaves friendly towards Joe.
          From his perspective, Dorothy being viciously hateful towards him in Taco Bell was an aberration that she apologized for.

    4. Fred

      I think it’s more that Joe feels he has offered friendship to Dorothy. He’s been Danny’s best friend since forever and they have an existing relationship to build on. Joe is starting “cold” with Sarah (and has only known her one semester) and knows he has more work to do there.

  18. Insanenoodlyguy

    Is it wrong I want this to end with Joyce walking in on Joe/Sarah sex?

    1. Icalasari

      Why could I see her making The Face, pausing, then just watching

      Dina just shows up too because she is taking social cues from Joyce

      Joe and Sarah scream in terror when they suddenly notice two silent women just

      Staring

      1. Needfuldoer

        Joyce walks in and silently does The Face. Joe and Sarah stop what they’re doing, also frozen.

        Dina walks in, sees Joyce doing The Face, sees Joe and Sarah, and does her own attempt at The Face that’s close but not quite right. She reverts to her normal expression, looks at Joyce for a panel, then does an exact copy of The Face.

      2. Mark

        [Now imagining the entire main cast slowly and silently gathering in the doorway to watch this thoroughly unexpected development. Jennifer briefly disappears to fetch popcorn.]

        1. Insanenoodlyguy

          Carla is pounding Mary across the hall, door open, nobody’s even watching.

    2. Peter Huppertz

      Yes.

    3. zee

      Tbh I think she’d just find it hot. I can see Joyce being a cuckquean

    4. Amós Batista

      Yes, but it’s Dumbing of Age.

  19. TrueVCU

    We Have Come To Terms

    1. StClair

      no side

    2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Don’t be afraid of knowledge!

  20. V

    I love both Joe and Sarah so much it’s unreal

  21. Sajuuk-Khar

    Joe! Joe you fool! You never finished Dorothy’s loyalty mission! The crew isn’t ready! You can’t go beyond the Core Relay! Joe!!! No!! You’re locking yourself into a bad ending! YOU NEED HER TO GET THROUGH THE SEEKER SWARMS DD: JOOOOOEEEEE

    1. Taffy

      The old Joe would get Jack permanently locked into saying “Fuck off”, making it harder to secure her loyalty.

    2. Sajuuk-Khar

      God, yeah, prior to his Working On Himself era, Joe would be the guy who picks every pro-Miranda conversation option and then also pisses Miranda off with shitty, obvious pickup lines

      Also he would romance Ashley in ME1 and not get why that’s the worst

  22. C.T. Phipps

    Dorothy: I mean, no, I genuinely hate you, Joe.

    1. anon

      well, at least she wasn’t like “Do NOT have sex with joe” when joyce was asking what’s it like to have sex/a penis inside you

    2. Masha

      The people thinking a Dorothy/Joe/Joyce threesome happening are so baffling to me because I’m pretty sure Dorothy hates Joe as much if not more than Sarah

      1. Sajuuk-Khar

        I mean, not to speak for all the baffling people, but I have faith in Dorothy’s ability to see a change in a person once she looks enough and her ability to forgive? Because yeah, formerly Joe was a piece of shit, but he wasn’t an unforgivable one and I think Dorothy knows this??

        I mean, if you want to think Dorothy would dig her heels in and be a jackoff, you’re welcome to it. I think it underestimates her, is all.

      2. Steamweed

        You know how much of a matchmaker Joyce is/wants to be. She loves that stuff. If she has a chance to improve things between Joe and Dorothy, she will.

    3. Daibhid C

      Joe: Yeah, but that’s always been the case. We’ve been friends for years, and you’ve hated me all that time, but it’s still felt like we were friends.

      Dorothy: Oh,god, am I Becky?

  23. DashWallkick

    “Don’t worry, I won’t try to be friends with you at all.”

    “Perfect.”

  24. saltchocolate

    A look of actual pleasure on Sarah’s face! Congrats, Joe! Not many have achieved this much. ?

  25. Woop de doop

    Aww Sarah loves Joyce. I love Sarah.

  26. Miri

    I love that Sarah has reached a point where she is comfortable enough with her emotions to express, using words, that she loves and respects Joyce ❤️

    Also that Joe “gets” her, and that being the last hold-out matters to her, but also her approval will make Joyce happy.

    I think both Dorothy and Sarah have strong doubts about Joe, and are burying them in “we have to trust in Joyce to make the right decisions for herself. She is an adult. She knows what he was like and seems convinced he has genuinely changed; if he hasn’t, we can decide then whether defenstration, immolation, shattering every bone in his body with a baseball bat, or tarring and feathering him is most appropriate. Until then, we can give him a chance. For Joyce.” It’s not true friendship, and I can see him not realising how thin the ice he’s on really is, but it could also lead to something real.

  27. Queezle

    I always liked Sarah, but I was a bit frustrated with her in her last few appearances. I am glad she came around, she took a while, but she got there.

  28. Sajuuk-Khar

    Also, as this is my birthday, I am pleased to have positive growth and smiling tsundere in my birthday comic. Thank you, Willis. I know you totally intended this and it wasn’t just an accident. ;P

    1. SailorCakes

      ??Happy birthday!??
      It’s so nice getting a pleasant strip on your birthday ?

    2. NGPZ

      Happy Birthday to you!

      The world is a zoo!

      We wish you a great party!

      And some sweet presents too!

      ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

  29. raultsi

    a Sarah smile in the last panel?

    *swoon*

  30. Vulcanodon

    Best development is not infantilizing of Joyce. After everything she’s been through she deserves adult cred from the other characters

    1. NGPZ

      THIS

  31. HueSatLight

    Prediction, we’ll get a timeskip past Valentine’s Day, so the strip continues the tradition of not explicitly stating the date. In that time, Joe has not only become friends with all of Joyce’s friends, he’s done it so extensively that he’s replaced her. He’s Joyce(2). But that’s ok, because Joyce will have done the same thing with Dorothy, she’s even already said she wants to be Dorothy. So all the Joyce+Joe shippers and Joyce+Dorothy shippers will be satisfied.
    Ok, so there’s no room for Dorothy(1) in this scenario, but eventually it will be revealed that all of that happened because Dorothy moved in with Mindy, and Joyce(1) took up the role of Dorothy to cope, and Joe played along.

  32. Miafillene

    Realize … she is smiling. Wow.

  33. BP

    That last panel is … sweet. I am reluctantly allowing myself to feel happy and excited about this.

  34. Jay

    Aww, that last panel is kind of adorable

  35. Bryy

    Sarah’s self-awareness is not as endearing as she thinks it is.

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