Dumbing of Age Book Fourteen

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

October 20, 2026

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agatha amazi-girl amber art asher becky blaine booster carla carol charles danny dexter dina dorothy ethan fan art faz hank jacob jason jennifer jocelyne joe joyce leslie linda liz lucy malaya marcie mary mike monkey master patreon rachel raidah robin ross roz ruth sal sarah sierra walky
finally joyce is able to express herself with full linguistic fury
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Mania

Posted In: comic
└ Tags: jocelyne, joe, joyce

Discussion (212) ¬

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  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    November 22, 2024 at 12:01 am | # | Reply

    the Jordan is coming from INSIDE THE JOYCE

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      November 22, 2024 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

      “how did Joe know what question would rile up Joyce” When I dated someone who would Not Shut Up about cars, I once joked, “Hey look, it’s your *FAVOURITE* truck! CAB OVER ENGINE!”

      Friend: “How do you know that?”

      Me: “How do I NOT know that??”

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        November 22, 2024 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

        He’s known her for a while, and it’s not like she’s shy about her bible opinions

        • Lilith Rose
          Lilith Rose
          November 23, 2024 at 1:49 pm | # | Reply

          That choice of ‘Bible fact’ is honestly hilarious.

          The reason being, is each Gospel disagrees on the sash. In one, it’s Blue, in another it’s Red, and in another, it’s Purple. It’s in obvious point where the bible’s inconsistent, so Christians don’t discuss that fact, but if you ask them what color they envision the sash, you can tell which book they focused on more.

      • Lars
        Lars
        November 22, 2024 at 3:04 am | # | Reply

        Joe and Joyce sorted the child drawing her mom dropped by. Then she explained how obsessed she was with the colors in the picture bible and how annoyed when somebody does that wrong.

        • Lokitsu
          Lokitsu
          November 22, 2024 at 7:24 am | # | Reply

          Damn, nice recall.

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    November 22, 2024 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

    I like that Joyce uses swears freely now, but I can’t help but think that this would have been a perfect First F-Bomb.

    • Amelie Wikström
      Amelie Wikström
      November 22, 2024 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

      It has to be the first time Jocelyne hears a swear from Joyce which is almost as funny.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 22, 2024 at 7:09 am | # | Reply

      It’s the first one in front of Jocelyne, and she didn’t even flinch.

      Joyce has grown up so fast!

      • Michael Steamweed
        Michael Steamweed
        November 22, 2024 at 8:45 am | # | Reply

        I get the idea that Jocelyne is much less obsessive-manic than Joyce (and Jordan). And, being a writer, likely developed her “full linguistic fury” years ago.

    • Bicycle Bill
      Bicycle Bill
      November 22, 2024 at 9:03 am | # | Reply

      Joyce is definitely making up for lost time.   According to The Official DoA F-bomb Counter>, she’s currently in 7th place with 17 – and if we disregard Sal’s one-time eruption when the battery went dead on her Nintendo device while playing Mariokart, Joyce is in 6th and moving up steadily.

      • Kazuma Taichi
        Kazuma Taichi
        November 22, 2024 at 6:31 pm | # | Reply

        holy fuck, she really going full in on the mania for sure then

  3. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    November 22, 2024 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

    Good to get some Jordan lore after all these years

    • Bryy
      Bryy
      November 22, 2024 at 5:18 pm | # | Reply

      This is only further evidence that Jordan’s crime was something super tame.

  4. shadowcell
    shadowcell
    November 22, 2024 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

    Dumbing of Age Book 15: IT’S BLUE OR I’LL FUCKING CUT YOU

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      November 22, 2024 at 12:21 am | # | Reply

      Hey, I remember that dress. When it first showed up in 2015 I was in high school and I found the whole affair just slightly frustrating and a little confusing. It was a trivial matter that somehow dominated the collective conversation, while cutting my community into two groups incapable of seeing the world the same way as the other, and gnawing at the idea of an identifiable objective truth.

      Now it is 2024 and I kind of miss the dress, that damn’d black omen (or is it blue, white?).

      • sultryglebe
        sultryglebe
        November 22, 2024 at 12:27 am | # | Reply

        Gold.

        • True Survivor
          True Survivor
          November 22, 2024 at 12:33 am | # | Reply

          Thanks. That made me smile.

      • Ray Radlein
        Ray Radlein
        November 22, 2024 at 12:28 am | # | Reply

        Saw a post on Bluesky the other week where someone found one in a charity shop somewhere

        • clif
          clif
          November 22, 2024 at 2:11 am | # | Reply

          What color was it?

          • Ray Radlein
            Ray Radlein
            November 22, 2024 at 2:48 am | # | Reply

            This one was blue and black

            • Needfuldoer
              Needfuldoer
              November 22, 2024 at 7:13 am | # | Reply

              The Dress was always blue and black. Bad lighting and a crappy phone camera sensor just made it look weird.

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        November 22, 2024 at 7:10 am | # | Reply

        No, please, don’t bring that “is this dress blue or yellow” again hahah

        • deliverything
          deliverything
          November 22, 2024 at 7:38 pm | # | Reply

          We’re ignoring the real question: what colour dress would Jesus have worn?

          • Ana Chronistic
            Ana Chronistic
            November 22, 2024 at 8:21 pm | # | Reply

            off-white bc what Jewish carpenter had dye back then

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            November 22, 2024 at 8:23 pm | # | Reply

            Pink, cuz He’s a pretty fuckin’ princess.

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      November 22, 2024 at 3:05 am | # | Reply

      She’s a violent little girl.

  5. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    November 22, 2024 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

    Jordan’s a maniac confirmed.

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      November 22, 2024 at 1:37 am | # | Reply

      But does he do it on the floor?

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        November 22, 2024 at 7:17 am | # | Reply

        Side note: why does that song sound like it should belong in a campy slasher flick?

        • Schpoonman
          Schpoonman
          November 22, 2024 at 8:19 am | # | Reply

          Soundtrack Dissonance is something that should be used more frequently. Tiptoe Through The Tulips would be the perfect trailer theme for a horror game.

          • morleuca
            morleuca
            November 22, 2024 at 9:08 am | # | Reply

            I’d be surprised if it isn’t used at some point in the Terrifier body of works

          • Meagan
            Meagan
            November 22, 2024 at 10:06 am | # | Reply

            There’s actually a Harry Potter fanfic that has considerable violence where Tiptoe through the Tulips is used not exactly to torture someone but to try to put someone with incredible Occlumency powers, who is quite dangerous, out of commission.

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            November 22, 2024 at 10:32 am | # | Reply

            Isn’t that what the creepy, slow renditions of nursery rhymes are for?

          • Ed Rhodes
            Ed Rhodes
            November 22, 2024 at 7:05 pm | # | Reply

            Maybe “Having A Wonderful Time,” (I think that’s the title) would work too!

  6. Icalasari
    Icalasari
    November 22, 2024 at 12:05 am | # | Reply

    I like how Jocelyne isn’t even flinching at the swears

    • anon
      anon
      November 22, 2024 at 1:06 am | # | Reply

      She did say “I swear now” and such and is happy enough that she accepted her as a sister

  7. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    November 22, 2024 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

    I wonder if Jordan also hates food touching so much just ordering a salad is difficult?

  8. Yumi
    Yumi
    November 22, 2024 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

    Oooh, I see what Jordan did to become so cutoff from his family.
    He became a webcomic creator.

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      November 22, 2024 at 12:07 am | # | Reply

      “if you’re happy and you know, it’s a SIN” XD

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        November 22, 2024 at 12:14 am | # | Reply

        If you’re happy and you know it, it’s a sin *tsk, tsk*
        If you’re happy and you know it, it’s a sin *tsk, tsk*
        If you’re happy and you know it, then the devil must have sown it,
        If you’re happy and you know it, burn in h3ll! *tsk, tsk*

        • Dara
          Dara
          November 22, 2024 at 1:34 am | # | Reply

          you beat me to it

          gj tho xD

      • Mark
        Mark
        November 22, 2024 at 6:38 pm | # | Reply

        Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.
        — H. L. Mencken

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      November 22, 2024 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

      Jordan is a webcomic porn lord confirmed?

      • Michael Steamweed
        Michael Steamweed
        November 22, 2024 at 8:48 am | # | Reply

        Well, now I want to see both Joyce’s Slipshine porn AND Jordan’s too.

        For comparison’s purposes, of course. Just to see the siblings’ similarities.

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        November 22, 2024 at 10:56 am | # | Reply

        I think that’s the safe bet, so I’m going to go with something else. Like something where making every detail consistent is important, but also kind of impossible. Like he’s in a NRM or a Blake scholar. Or maybe he has schizophrenia. Sorry, less titillating than porn-lord. Didn’t know where my speculation was headed.

      • Bryy
        Bryy
        November 22, 2024 at 5:24 pm | # | Reply

        I want Jordan to be a Furry but he probably won’t be.

        • NGPZ
          NGPZ
          November 22, 2024 at 7:24 pm | # | Reply

          like, a solid maybe?

          Fundie Christian or not, queer-phobia and furry-phobia often go hand-in-hand

          ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 8:47 am | # | Reply

      I don’t often laugh out loud at these comments, but when I do, it’s comments like this. 😀

    • yak
      yak
      November 22, 2024 at 4:26 pm | # | Reply

      Jordan is Willis’s self-insert.

  9. jeffepp
    jeffepp
    November 22, 2024 at 12:09 am | # | Reply

    Where’s the ding dong text ding? How is she going to get that horny smile in front of these two without the picture?

    • James
      James
      November 22, 2024 at 1:26 am | # | Reply

      Perhaps Dorothy also has trouble sending photos to the correct recipient?

      • Mark
        Mark
        November 22, 2024 at 7:04 am | # | Reply

        “Oops, I sent my lewdie to the IDS features desk.”

        • John Campbell
          John Campbell
          November 22, 2024 at 2:39 pm | # | Reply

          Daisy: “Well, it’s no Amazi-Rack, but it’ll do.” *lip bite*

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 8:50 am | # | Reply

      Amber and Dorothy took some time on that photo. Give it a while. We need the perfect Joyce/Joe/Jocelyne set up before the polished, posed, and spontaneous cleavage arrives.

  10. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    November 22, 2024 at 12:09 am | # | Reply

    Jesus wore a sash? Like a prom queen?

    In all seriousness, I doubt Jesus would have gone in for a sash, much less a richly dyed one.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      November 22, 2024 at 12:12 am | # | Reply

      I can’t speak to historical fashion trends, but he’s frequently depicted with one

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      November 22, 2024 at 12:15 am | # | Reply

      yeah, and he would NOT have worn a robe and sandals.

      In 1st century Galilea, commoners lived just above sustenance level and could only ever afford but one set of clothes; if Jesus was a carpenter, a loose robe and sandals AND a blue sash of all colors (blue dye was extremely expensive back then) would have been not only an unaffordable luxury but a very dangerous occupational hazard at the very least XD

      • jeffepp
        jeffepp
        November 22, 2024 at 12:57 am | # | Reply

        Stone cutter. Joseph was the carpenter.

        • jflb96
          jflb96
          November 22, 2024 at 2:29 am | # | Reply

          Yeah, and presumably he was raised to take on his stepfather’s trade

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            November 22, 2024 at 8:23 am | # | Reply

            He was described as a “tektōn” in Mark, the meaning of which isn’t entirely clear. The same is used in Matthew for Joseph, calling Jesus the “tektōn’s son”.

            It’s some kind of building trade, probably wood rather than stone. I believe there’s debate over whether it would refer to a skilled craftsman or more of a laborer.

            As for his clothes, Joyce is drawing on the Picture Bible here, which isn’t exactly a carefully researched depiction of the times. OTOH, while the loose robe and sandals might not have been appropriate for a laborer, by the time he’s pictured in that he seems to have not been working, but doing his ministry full time, so the occupation hazard doesn’t really seem to be a problem.
            The blue would still have been unaffordable, unless it was a donation from a rich follower.

            • NGPZ
              NGPZ
              November 22, 2024 at 4:08 pm | # | Reply

              In Greek works of the time other than the New Testament, “tektōn” most commonly refers to carpenters, wood-workers, craftsmen in general, the point of occupational hazard of a robe/sandals still standing

              https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dte%2Fktwn

              likewise, this was a traditional economy, meaning that children where majorly obliged to adopt the occupations of their fathers, and I doubt a historical Jesus was any exception

              • thejeff
                thejeff
                November 22, 2024 at 11:39 pm | # | Reply

                Basically agreed, with the question only being what degree of skill and status it would have been.
                And the point that he might have started dressing differently after leaving his occupation to become an itinerant preacher.

    • Dday
      Dday
      November 22, 2024 at 12:30 am | # | Reply

      True, but historical art depicting him uses a lot of blue, just like for Mary. There was a period where you would commission religious art based on the amount of Lapis Lazuli you would need, so the most expensive dye was reserved for the holiest figures. It was a kind of conspicuous consumption.

      • Matthew Davis
        Matthew Davis
        November 22, 2024 at 1:35 am | # | Reply

        If you want to see _REAL_ conspicuous consumption in art using Lapis Lazuli, check out the _Très Riches Heures of Jean Duc de Berry_ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%C3%A8s_Riches_Heures_du_Duc_de_Berry). Not only is there crushed lapis in the numerous full-page illuminations, it’s also in the smaller ones and in the initials.

        • Dday
          Dday
          November 22, 2024 at 9:20 am | # | Reply

          ? Niiice ?

  11. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    November 22, 2024 at 12:09 am | # | Reply

    Those looks from Joe, especially panel 4, dude is absolutely in love.

    • Matthew Davis
      Matthew Davis
      November 22, 2024 at 2:01 am | # | Reply

      Yep, that’s the “I love my partner’s quirks and will now tweak them about it” look if I’ve ever seen it.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 8:53 am | # | Reply

      I am happy to see Joe at this stage. This might be the first time for him!

  12. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    November 22, 2024 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

    Is Jordan a preexisting character?

    Have they been among us all along?

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 9:26 am | # | Reply

      Jordan has been mentioned a few times. John (the oldest) has been mentioned the least. We’ve only seen Joyce and Jocelyne.

      (Note all the names start with “Jo”. And now Joyce is dating “Joe”.) 😀

      • TerribleTransit
        TerribleTransit
        November 22, 2024 at 10:01 am | # | Reply

        John has been seen before, during Joyce and Becky’s lunch with him and Jocelyn. Jordan has been mentioned but not made any appearances.

        • Michael Steamweed
          Michael Steamweed
          November 22, 2024 at 12:38 pm | # | Reply

          Whoa. That’s been a while since I’ve seen that. Totally forgot that arc from (checks time-date) 8 years ago. :O

          John’s got his mother’s snobbery, I see.

  13. BBCC
    BBCC
    November 22, 2024 at 12:11 am | # | Reply

    Jordan is the one closest in age to Joyce and Jocelyne graduated recently enough she still has friends who attend the school. So unless he ran away as a minor it can’t have been THAT long since Joyce has seen him. Though, she doesn’t seem to know much about him. It doesn’t sound like he keeps in touch with his parents, but Hank said even though they don’t agree much, Jordan is still a good kid and he said Joyce standing up to her parents about Dorothy and her family reminds him of Jordan.

    And now we know he likes to draw and might also be autistic. If so I could see how he became estranged by his parents ‘squeezing too hard’ per Hank.

    • Hazel
      Hazel
      November 22, 2024 at 12:56 am | # | Reply

      I had assumed Jordan was the second oldest? Was it mentioned in a Patreon strip that he was younger than Jocelyne?

      • Doopyboop
        Doopyboop
        November 22, 2024 at 4:24 am | # | Reply

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

        It’s a little iffy because of the wording here but by describing herself as the middle sibling here, it makes me think that the order is John, Jocelyne, Jordan, and Joyce. Hence why of the three “brothers”, she is the middle. Since Jocelyne has graduated college by this point, if we assume she has a bachelor’s and is therefore like… 24, 25, maybe 26 at the most, it does make me wonder what the age gap between Jordan and Joyce is.

      • MadScientist520
        MadScientist520
        November 22, 2024 at 5:40 am | # | Reply

        There was one where Joyce was in her wonder woman costume and Joce took the two trick or treating. Jordan was older than Joyce but younger than Jocelyn

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          November 23, 2024 at 12:41 am | # | Reply

          Yeah, I thought Jordan was the second oldest too until that one.

  14. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    November 22, 2024 at 12:11 am | # | Reply

    I wonder if Jordan got institutionalized because he couldn’t handle… being.

    • Doopyboop
      Doopyboop
      November 22, 2024 at 4:27 am | # | Reply

      That’d be incredibly sad and would explain why Joyce apparently doesn’t know what Jordan does and was told she’d find out when she’s older. With the family being so religious, though, I get the feeling that they’d never institutionalize a family member. Surely whatever is causing Jordan’s upset could be healed with prayer, after all!

    • Da Boy
      Da Boy
      November 22, 2024 at 6:07 am | # | Reply

      I don’t think so, I don’t remember clearly but I think it was implied he is very estranged from the family and stays away

      • Mr. Random
        Mr. Random
        November 22, 2024 at 11:01 am | # | Reply

        I don’t think that necessairly makes the theory incorrect.
        Could have been involuntary and he held a grudge.
        Though that may be me attempting to have evidence fit my theory.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      November 23, 2024 at 7:09 am | # | Reply

      He could also be in the “poor man’s institution” – prison.

  15. Proto_Eevee
    Proto_Eevee
    November 22, 2024 at 12:13 am | # | Reply

    the sash is definitely purple btw

    • gnomedeplume
      gnomedeplume
      November 22, 2024 at 4:16 am | # | Reply

      Oh it is cuttin’ time

      • Michael Steamweed
        Michael Steamweed
        November 22, 2024 at 9:24 am | # | Reply

        It’s fuckin’ cuttin’ time!

  16. Suet
    Suet
    November 22, 2024 at 12:14 am | # | Reply

    If we’re getting Jordan lore, it might as well be thru bits and bobs. Or myths.

    Weeks? How long til she gets on Willis’ level

  17. John Campbell
    John Campbell
    November 22, 2024 at 12:15 am | # | Reply

    I’ve been wondering this for a while, but… What the hell is that on Joe’s shirt? A fried egg that stole Jesus of Nazareth’s sash?

    • Juanoku
      Juanoku
      November 22, 2024 at 12:29 am | # | Reply

      Holy shit i never payed attention to that what the hell is it

    • mindbleach
      mindbleach
      November 22, 2024 at 12:54 am | # | Reply

      Canned ham.

    • Florence
      Florence
      November 22, 2024 at 1:03 am | # | Reply

      I’m think sunset with a boat on it

    • Chris
      Chris
      November 22, 2024 at 5:34 am | # | Reply

      Sylvan Lake T-Shirt?

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 9:23 am | # | Reply

      Calm waters (maybe a lake), with sailboat, and sun on horizon (probably sunset).

  18. Laura
    Laura
    November 22, 2024 at 12:16 am | # | Reply

    Would anyone like to play a question game?

    Q.: What color is YOUR sash?
    (And if you don’t currently have a sash, what color WOULD your sash be?)
    Bonus points: Why?

    • Laura
      Laura
      November 22, 2024 at 12:33 am | # | Reply

      I can start.

      A.: Green, with gold-tassel fringe. Just like my sister’s Girl Scout sash when I was a kid. I always wanted one, but got kicked out of the Brownies for “trouble with authority figures” … x-}

      • jeffepp
        jeffepp
        November 22, 2024 at 1:04 am | # | Reply

        Sunglasses inside, a pack of Jolly Ranchers rolled up in your sleeve, crayola marker tats on your arms…

        • Laura
          Laura
          November 22, 2024 at 3:08 am | # | Reply

          You got me! Exactly! ??

      • Daibhid C
        Daibhid C
        November 22, 2024 at 3:49 am | # | Reply

        I don’t have a sash, but I’d go for purple, shot through with green. Although I guess if it’s a hypothetical sash anyway, I can just say I’d want it to be octarine.

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          November 22, 2024 at 4:29 am | # | Reply

          It’s been more than 50 years since I had a sash, but it was Boy Scout Green, and red before that.

          • Laura
            Laura
            November 22, 2024 at 8:23 am | # | Reply

            Love it!

        • Laura
          Laura
          November 22, 2024 at 8:22 am | # | Reply

          Oooh, great choice! (Which I accidentally typed as “Great joyce!” D’oh…)

          Ok, now you inspired me to want a SECOND sash:
          International Klein Blue!
          https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Klein_Blue

          Ooh! With infrared highlights!

          And an invisibility shield bubble to camouflage the wearer!

          Whoa…

          • Laura
            Laura
            November 22, 2024 at 8:25 am | # | Reply

            Lovely Octarine concepts…

            https://www.pinterest.com/martine_e1/octarine/

    • Dara
      Dara
      November 22, 2024 at 2:20 am | # | Reply

      I have had a sash. No; I have had multiple sashes.

      First, when I was running a series of Klingon-themed parties, where I wore rose gold when everyone else had regular gold. The difference was because I was in command at the time.

      (This is not Star Trek canon we just made it up. When I wasn’t running the party, someone else got the rose gold.)

      Second, metallic green with black line undertones, when I was performing on stage as a supervillain turned musician. It was part of my supersuit and paired with a bronze quarter-cape. It was, frankly, pretty fucking stunning if I might say so myself.

      I still have the supersuit. xD

      • Laura
        Laura
        November 22, 2024 at 3:10 am | # | Reply

        WOW! ?

      • eh, whatever
        eh, whatever
        November 22, 2024 at 6:35 am | # | Reply

        pix or it didn’t happen

        • Dara
          Dara
          November 22, 2024 at 3:58 pm | # | Reply

          Quake in fear, puny mortal.

          (I have infuriatingly few stage photos in it, and none of them are any good. But I do still have it. 😀 )

      • Michael Steamweed
        Michael Steamweed
        November 22, 2024 at 9:21 am | # | Reply

        QAPLAH!

        • Dara
          Dara
          November 22, 2024 at 3:59 pm | # | Reply

          At the big local SF con (Norwescon), for years local fans did something called Klingon Karaoke.

          I always wanted to follow it with Romulan Rock Band but I never could get anyone to volunteer their equipment. xxD

    • morleuca
      morleuca
      November 22, 2024 at 9:19 am | # | Reply

      I’ve had a green sash, a white sash with red arrows, bars and triangle, and a black sash with white. But I don’t remember if the black sash had the bars and triangle. It’s been many years.

      • Laura
        Laura
        November 22, 2024 at 1:34 pm | # | Reply

        So cool! Was there a symbolism to the design?

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      November 22, 2024 at 1:58 pm | # | Reply

      Yellow ^^

      I dunno it just one of my favorite colors shared with a lot of things I love (pikachu, sunshine, bees, mustard…)

      • Laura
        Laura
        November 23, 2024 at 12:49 am | # | Reply

        So yellowy mellowy!

    • Felian
      Felian
      November 23, 2024 at 4:03 pm | # | Reply

      My sash would be non-binary flag colors 🙂 and DRAGONS.
      I don’t think i need to say why 😀

  19. StClair
    StClair
    November 22, 2024 at 12:17 am | # | Reply

    Totally normal.
    Just like Jennifer.

  20. Dark_Panda
    Dark_Panda
    November 22, 2024 at 12:19 am | # | Reply

    When she’s not all uptight about coming out to Joyce, Jocelyne is a very cool, collected person. Much more centered than Joshua, who was clearly under a lot of stress back at Family Weekend (“The less they know about me the better.”)

  21. Chaucer59
    Chaucer59
    November 22, 2024 at 12:24 am | # | Reply

    Why is Jocelyne not shocked by her sister’s deft dropping of an F-bomb?

    • Matthew Davis
      Matthew Davis
      November 22, 2024 at 1:38 am | # | Reply

      Joyce already informed her that she swears now.

  22. Darkseide
    Darkseide
    November 22, 2024 at 12:26 am | # | Reply

    Joyce it’s clearly white and gold

  23. Ray Radlein
    Ray Radlein
    November 22, 2024 at 12:27 am | # | Reply

    I’m definitely coming around to Team Joe now

  24. Juanoku
    Juanoku
    November 22, 2024 at 12:30 am | # | Reply

    Love Joe’s cocky ass smile in panel 4

  25. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    November 22, 2024 at 12:37 am | # | Reply

    Willis you forgot to tag Jordan

    He’s right there in Panel 5, Jocelyne even says “there’s Jordan” and everything

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      November 22, 2024 at 8:26 am | # | Reply

      Jordan is Joyce’s repressed alter. 🙂

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        November 22, 2024 at 8:56 am | # | Reply

        Jordan is the demon possessing Joyce. Hank and Carol somehow came to love him, while still keeping Joyce from ever fully “meeting” him. The next chapter will explore the signs of his return in more depth, and that’s when the fully supernatural elements will start trickling in. Expect to see a lot of Werewolf Ethan, next autumn.

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          November 23, 2024 at 9:56 am | # | Reply

          Other way around. Jordan is older, so Joyce is the one possessing him.

  26. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    November 22, 2024 at 12:38 am | # | Reply

    Since I studied Japanese quite a bit this year I’ve become fascinated by the ways people can use to identify, not just themselves but others. So it got me thinking, if DOA was translated into Japanese, what little language traits would pop up?
    So here’s a tier list of what Honorifics I think Japanese Joyce would use for everyone. If anyone is well versed in Japanese or just a huge weeb let me know your opinion on these.
    Joyce’s Honorifics List

    • Kas
      Kas
      November 22, 2024 at 12:46 am | # | Reply

      definitely not well-versed in japanese or just a huge weeb. definitely neither.

      i agree on most of this! i think at some point dorothy would become either -chan or lose an honorific altogether (using -san would make becky feel superior in her closeness). carla would want to be called senpai or maybe even -sama lmao

      • Johan
        Johan
        November 22, 2024 at 1:01 am | # | Reply

        Carla is defo sama

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        November 22, 2024 at 1:17 am | # | Reply

        I could see Joyce calling Carla Senpai, especially after she gets the jugs. But Carla would constantly insist on Joyce calling her Sama.

        • Dara
          Dara
          November 22, 2024 at 1:45 am | # | Reply

          This is exactly correct. Senpai after the jug boots, Carla expecting Sama from, well, you know. Everyone. xD

    • Dara
      Dara
      November 22, 2024 at 1:43 am | # | Reply

      hm hm hm

      no -tan?

      Becky would’ve definitely been -tan first quarter.

      And I’d be going “countdown to Dorothy-tan in 5… 4… 3…” all this time xD

      • Dara
        Dara
        November 22, 2024 at 1:44 am | # | Reply

        Semester. Not quarter. IU is semesters. Right. Those things. You know.

      • Dara
        Dara
        November 22, 2024 at 2:10 am | # | Reply

        I don’t mean when they’re alone or with very good friends but, you know, walking to class and stuff.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        November 22, 2024 at 2:20 am | # | Reply

        tan isn’t very common. From what I’ve heard it’s kind of an overly cutesy approximation of “chan” that’s not used much in colloquial speech. My idea with Becky is that Joyce has known her SO long that she might not use honorifics at all because they’re very close and honorifics might seem like an unnecessary pleasantry.

        • Dara
          Dara
          November 22, 2024 at 2:25 am | # | Reply

          I fully agree in some contexts they’d skip it, but I think it’d be a little… too much out and about. Something would be there. I’m pretty sure.

          (I mean I was so nervous about it when in Japan that I never dropped below chan ever but … -tan is cutesy, yes? But Japan fucking loves cute and I’m pretty sure I heard it in real life at least a couple of times.)

    • Jeff K!
      Jeff K!
      November 22, 2024 at 1:50 am | # | Reply

      I like how Becky and Walky both get no honorifics for opposing reasons – Becky through complete familiarity, Walky through complete disdain.

      • Dara
        Dara
        November 22, 2024 at 2:09 am | # | Reply

        the walky part is hilarious

        bodyslam every time she says his name xD

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        November 22, 2024 at 2:22 am | # | Reply

        Haha you nailed it!
        Becky: I love you like a sister so we don’t need traditional honorifics
        Walky: I don’t respect you.

        • Dara
          Dara
          November 22, 2024 at 2:39 am | # | Reply

          I just want to say that I love this thread and that (combined with getting power and internet back after a few days following a big windstorm and so being kinda starved for online communication) is why I’m going off so much about it. 😀

    • Proxiehunter
      Proxiehunter
      November 22, 2024 at 2:01 am | # | Reply

      No way she uses an honorific with Dorthy. Especially not after laundry but probably before that.

      • Dara
        Dara
        November 22, 2024 at 2:21 am | # | Reply

        well

        maybe -senpai

        i mean

        dorothy did teach her something xD

    • Shade
      Shade
      November 22, 2024 at 5:27 am | # | Reply

      What’s the common honorific for a sister? I feel like Sarah would have that.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        November 22, 2024 at 10:43 am | # | Reply

        I believe it’d be oneechan. So Sarah-oneechan.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        November 22, 2024 at 6:35 pm | # | Reply

        Typically you’re gonna go with jiisan, of the yuri I’ve read is anything to go by.

  27. GreedOfGram
    GreedOfGram
    November 22, 2024 at 12:58 am | # | Reply

    I feel like “swearing Joyce” needs it’s own tag

    • Mark
      Mark
      November 22, 2024 at 7:16 am | # | Reply

      Tags: Jocelyne, Joe, Joyce, Joyce’s swears.

      • Mark
        Mark
        November 22, 2024 at 7:19 am | # | Reply

        Like in one of the Discworld stories: whenever one of the wizards swears, some sad little monster pops into existence and flutters away.

  28. anon
    anon
    November 22, 2024 at 1:06 am | # | Reply

    i half expect joyce to have her phone off all arc if not only notice dorothy’s pic at the very end of things/last strip of the story line

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 9:18 am | # | Reply

      Surely you don’t think Willis would tease us so cruelly like that?

      (yeah he totally would)

  29. IntangibleMatter
    IntangibleMatter
    November 22, 2024 at 1:14 am | # | Reply

    I’m just glad that Joyce was too busy being a fundie as a kid to end up on Amino in a fandom

  30. Joyfulldreams
    Joyfulldreams
    November 22, 2024 at 1:18 am | # | Reply

    Are we going to FINALLY get JORDAN LORE???

    • Dara
      Dara
      November 22, 2024 at 1:38 am | # | Reply

      I hope so, Jocelyne wasn’t exactly a revelation to the audience, so … yeah, that’d be nice.

  31. Heather
    Heather
    November 22, 2024 at 1:32 am | # | Reply

    When it comes to Jordan it feels like he hasn’t been around Joyce that much to the point he was either a lot older than Joyce (like at least a decade) and never looked back when he was old enough to leave OR was out of the house before he was 18.

    So if that was the case/the age difference is far less than ten years was he sent to live with like an Aunt/Uncle for some undisclosed reason? Did he get the Sal treatment and get sent to a boarding school? This small nugget makes me wonder if neurodivergence was a reason for him being out of the house which is…. Concerning. Technically me leaping to conclusions but still.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      November 22, 2024 at 9:30 am | # | Reply

      From an early comment of Jocelyne’s describing herself as “the middle brother” and a patreon appearance of Jordan, we know that Jordan was between Jocelyne and Joyce, which either makes it very weird that Joyce doesn’t know what happened or that Jordan left concerningly young.
      It is possible that Joyce wasn’t that young but was still kept out of the loop somehow. Maybe Jordan went off to college freshman year, had his conflict with the parents essentially remotely and never returned?

  32. AbacusWizard
    AbacusWizard
    November 22, 2024 at 1:33 am | # | Reply

    Did you include “of Nazareth” specifically so you wouldn’t have to worry about the annoying question of exactly what the possessive form of “Jesus” is? Because if so, that’s genius.

    • Matthew Davis
      Matthew Davis
      November 22, 2024 at 1:51 am | # | Reply

      I’m assuming it’s because Joe is Jewish and isn’t going to call him Christ, but wants to push Joyce’s buttons.

      And as a proper noun it would be just Jesus’, although Jesus’s is gaining acceptance. Technically it’s probably even more correct, since the “‘s” there is doing the same work as the apostrophe in “don’t”–representing a missing letter. It’s just that the possessive is a remnant of the old Old English genitive ending -es, which isn’t really used for anything _but_ the possessive anymore except for fossilized instances such as our pronouns in English.

      I would have to go back and look at the manuscript/print switchover because a lot of what we use the apostrophe for was either for space-saving reasons or to converse particular letters when setting type.

      • Matthew Davis
        Matthew Davis
        November 22, 2024 at 1:59 am | # | Reply

        Or perhaps it’s a secret easter egg, and we’ll learn that time-displased Yeshua also works at a toy store at some point. Probably around three or four strips before Dumbing of Age ends.

    • Mr D
      Mr D
      November 22, 2024 at 7:09 am | # | Reply

      Because Jésus is a latino name :V

  33. Zamperla
    Zamperla
    November 22, 2024 at 1:53 am | # | Reply

    Me too Joyce. Me too. I mean not about sashes, but god help me I said with my own human mouth “Me talking for five straight minutes IS me Not Getting Into It”.

    about video game yakuza men

  34. Shade
    Shade
    November 22, 2024 at 1:59 am | # | Reply

    Jocelyne: Oh you swear now. Cool.

  35. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    November 22, 2024 at 2:20 am | # | Reply

    Previous Jordan mentions (only doing 2 links, to avoid auto-moderation)
    https://www.dumbingofage.com/undeclared/
    https://www.dumbingofage.com/squeezing-2/
    /laws/
    /trickortreating/
    /cablenews/
    And May 2019 patreon bonus strip (link on /seeyou/)

    • eskimolos
      eskimolos
      November 22, 2024 at 8:16 am | # | Reply

      I am so fascinated. Yesterday? Didn’t even remember Jordan existed. Today? Gotta know all there is about Jordan, it has awakened my *obsessive mania*!

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      November 22, 2024 at 6:08 pm | # | Reply

      Also, John, the eldest sibling, is a missionary who is returning to India with his wife sometime in January (this chapter takes place on Jan 27th).
      Possibly. Or he’s a big faker.

  36. DJTsurugi
    DJTsurugi
    November 22, 2024 at 2:35 am | # | Reply

    just waiting for the next page or so when that text back from Dotty comes crashing in and Joyce’s little brain implodes with bi thoughts. bi thots if you will. ~<3

  37. Joshi
    Joshi
    November 22, 2024 at 2:42 am | # | Reply

    I thought it was purple.

    • Mark
      Mark
      November 22, 2024 at 7:27 am | # | Reply

      Imperial purple for the “King of Kings”? Makes perfect sense.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 9:02 am | # | Reply

      Most of the pictures I find online nowadays are red, with blue and purple being tied for distant second.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      November 22, 2024 at 9:31 am | # | Reply

      It’s come up before. It’s from the Picture Bible Joyce (and Willis) grew up with.

      • Joshi
        Joshi
        November 22, 2024 at 11:19 pm | # | Reply

        Oh fuck, I remember that now.

        Damn, plotting *is* important.

  38. Carm
    Carm
    November 22, 2024 at 3:01 am | # | Reply

    Jesus h christ inna blue sash, Jocelyne has the same ugg boot style as Joyce.

  39. RavenStromdans
    RavenStromdans
    November 22, 2024 at 3:31 am | # | Reply

    I love this comic, but I have to admit…”It’s blue or I’ll fucking cut you” is the hardest I’ve laughed over the comic in a long time. Just so aggressively out of left field, I positively love it.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 9:00 am | # | Reply

      Joyce doesn’t have _any_ obsessive mania at all.

      Nope, none.

  40. Axel
    Axel
    November 22, 2024 at 3:35 am | # | Reply

    I’m so interested in Jordan coming back up.

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      November 22, 2024 at 7:09 am | # | Reply

      As Jocelyne, I believe it will take more 10 years to Jordan appears

  41. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    November 22, 2024 at 5:21 am | # | Reply

    Robin and Joyce have a shared love of the picture bible sash.

  42. Florence
    Florence
    November 22, 2024 at 6:10 am | # | Reply

    I have deeper thoughts about yesterdays strip but this is just nice

    I’m so happy that Jocelyne just gets to have her first time being herself around Joyce be so casual, it’s so nice

    (Also it’s gonna be very funny if Joyce has her bi awakening in front of Jocelyne, frankly Jocelyne deserves to have that level of smug older sister moment)

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 8:59 am | # | Reply

      Cleavage arrival in 5…4…3…

  43. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    November 22, 2024 at 7:28 am | # | Reply

    “Blue, because it sets off His eyes wonderfully!”

  44. Callid13
    Callid13
    November 22, 2024 at 8:06 am | # | Reply

    This plot line is brought to you by the letter J.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 8:58 am | # | Reply

      John, Jocelyne, Jordan, and Joyce. Not just “J” but “JO” too.

      • Joshi
        Joshi
        November 22, 2024 at 11:23 pm | # | Reply

        Listen the Jo- namespace is a good one don’t judge.

        (And don’t forget Joe right there, too)

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          November 22, 2024 at 11:40 pm | # | Reply

          It’s fate. They’re destined to be together by their very names.

  45. Colin McKenzie
    Colin McKenzie
    November 22, 2024 at 8:37 am | # | Reply

    Who’s Jordan?

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 8:42 am | # | Reply

      Oldest sibling, I think. We’ve never seen him.

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 22, 2024 at 8:57 am | # | Reply

      Whoops, correction: The second brother. John’s the first (and is married); Jordan’s the second. Then Jocelyne and Joyce are the sisters.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        November 22, 2024 at 9:33 am | # | Reply

        Second brother, but third sibling. Jordan’s between Jocelyne and Joyce.

        Jocelyne referred to herself as “middle brother” Family Weekend and there’s a Patreon strip showing her taking Jordan and Joyce trick or treating.

        • Michael Steamweed
          Michael Steamweed
          November 22, 2024 at 12:34 pm | # | Reply

          Ahh, yes! John, Jocelyne, Jordan, and Joyce. (Lots of “JO” names with the sibs)

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 22, 2024 at 10:48 am | # | Reply

      Jordan is Joyce’s older brother, who is low- to no-contact with the family. (Maybe slightly more in contact with Jocelyne.) We know he likes to draw, and he’s the second-youngest of the four siblings.

      I like to think he followed an accelerated version of Joyce’s awakening, a bit earlier than she did.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        November 26, 2024 at 8:36 am | # | Reply

        I know it’s days later, but I found the one where Joyce says she copied Jordan’s drawings when she was little:

        https://www.dumbingofage.com/pickup/

        Hi, archive-bingers of the future!

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      November 22, 2024 at 12:33 pm | # | Reply

      At this point of history, a collective illusion.

  46. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    November 22, 2024 at 9:02 am | # | Reply

    -gasp- Joyce Fuck count+1

  47. RF
    RF
    November 22, 2024 at 9:08 am | # | Reply

    “Mon dieu! Sacre Bleu!”

  48. Chris Phoenix
    Chris Phoenix
    November 22, 2024 at 12:36 pm | # | Reply

    Hey, I thought DoA was supposed to keep up with the real-life present time. How are there still newspapers?

    /s and 🙁

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      November 22, 2024 at 1:27 pm | # | Reply

      How else are students gonna get their free Goku nudes?

  49. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    November 22, 2024 at 1:36 pm | # | Reply

    … just praising Jocelyne

  50. RoyanRannedos
    RoyanRannedos
    November 22, 2024 at 2:41 pm | # | Reply

    I tried reading The Hobbit aloud to my wife, singing the songs to the tunes I thought they went well with. My wife, however, had seen the Rankin-Bass version of The Hobbit, so she told me I was singing the songs wrong.

    When I finally saw the cartoon, I realized she was right. Down, Down, to Goblin Town is an absolute banger. https://youtu.be/WTIw5Sx_kAU?si=PiszSujZCbNe5xCK

  51. raultsi
    raultsi
    November 22, 2024 at 3:04 pm | # | Reply

    “It’s blue, or I’ll fucking cut you.”

    It’s a good book title, Willis. Just sayin’

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      November 22, 2024 at 3:24 pm | # | Reply

      And the cover had no blue on it whatsoever

    • David M Willis
      David M Willis
      November 22, 2024 at 3:42 pm | # | Reply

      I’d never choose a title I’d have to cover up the f-bomb for at a convention table though, sadly.

      • NGPZ
        NGPZ
        November 22, 2024 at 4:24 pm | # | Reply

        “Life finds a way…”

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          November 22, 2024 at 6:03 pm | # | Reply

          The cover has no words. Just Joyce dressed as Peter, with her sword drawn and this look on her face.

        • Yumi
          Yumi
          November 22, 2024 at 8:13 pm | # | Reply

          There’s a big cut running through the word “fucking”

          • NGPZ
            NGPZ
            November 22, 2024 at 8:30 pm | # | Reply

            For reals I love OG Jurassic Park, featuring the greatest trans icon in all of film history! ^^

  52. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    November 22, 2024 at 4:16 pm | # | Reply

    Has anyone noticed that Joyce is NOT getting texted nudes?

    Which means that Dorothy is probably sending them to someone else by accident?

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      November 22, 2024 at 4:35 pm | # | Reply

      maybe she’s ABOUT to get the message?

      ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  53. Ike
    Ike
    November 22, 2024 at 5:08 pm | # | Reply

    So do we think Jordan was ALSO autistic and his parents started treating him badly for being “weird” and that’s what started whatever happened with him?

  54. Bryy
    Bryy
    November 22, 2024 at 5:22 pm | # | Reply

    Looking more and more like Jordan was the first crack in the Brown household.

  55. chuckroast
    chuckroast
    November 22, 2024 at 6:13 pm | # | Reply

    Hehe, that’s my name.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      November 22, 2024 at 8:19 pm | # | Reply

      Holy shit, Jesus of Nazareth reads this comic?

  56. Ed Rhodes
    Ed Rhodes
    November 22, 2024 at 7:07 pm | # | Reply

    I’m beginning to REALLY like Jocelyne.

  57. Mark
    Mark
    November 22, 2024 at 7:37 pm | # | Reply

    “I Have a Very Normal Mania” for next book title.

  58. MutantSentry
    MutantSentry
    November 22, 2024 at 8:55 pm | # | Reply

    Finally caught up for the first time since 2020…

    Which made for some weird reading for me as I’ve been coming to accept I am alsoo autistic (well probably AuDHD, I’m going to pursue offical diagnosis in the new year).

    And as I was reading these today UI was sorting my Sweettarts by color and stacking them just so to create diagonal color stripes. I’ve actively been looking for the fourth wall to make a pointed look a

  59. mindbleach
    mindbleach
    November 23, 2024 at 2:36 am | # | Reply

    There’s something about the perspective that makes the second panel very Homestuck. I think it’s largely the boots.

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