373

Mark
Posted on September 30, 2011 by David M Willis
No, he's not talking about a dude named Mark.

373 thoughts on “Mark”

  1. ScytheAkse

    DAMNIT NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 i really had high hopes for joyces mystery boy :'(

    1. Jen Aside

      At least Amazi-Girl delivers! WOO FLIP

      1. Björn

        Whoa, I had totally missed that! LOL

        1. Wandering meme

          Finally! Some action!

          Too bad it’s coupled with disappointment. Willis, you emotionally vexing mad genius!

        2. Rodrigo

          Let’s not take so many conclusions… he may just really want someone to play board games with him.

          Or maybe Mark is a dog he just found and really wanted to!

        3. Jackson

          I have got to start paying more attention to the backgrounds.

        4. AkuMetsu091

          Holy shit I just noticed.

        5. Hinoron

          I missed that for 4 years and about as many read-throughs, I think. O.o

    2. Thor

      Heh. I totally called it.

      *rubs nipples in celebration*

      1. ScytheAkse

        Nicky: Good luck with the nipple rubbing!
        Nipples: [rubbing nipples] I don’t need luck! I’m gooood!

    3. Plasma Mongoose

      You were Tempting Fate when you thought along those lines.

      1. Wandering meme

        Going after the girl quicker than I thought. All I know is MELVIN better hurry up and get mah bonus ‘fore that Amazi-chick gets it first!

        HURRY UP, MELVIN!

      2. Izzy

        There is only one person allowed to tempt fate…and by person I mean goblin

        1. Leonardhbrown

          Next you’ll be complaining. Of Names even.

        2. Andrea

          I just fell in love with you a little bit. Goblins comic ftw!

        3. Izzy

          I want a Dumbing of Goblins crossover lol

        4. Icalasari

          These puns are making me Die Horribly

        5. LaurelRaven

          I think you Fumbled that one

        6. Fred

          Like a Chief.

        7. Fauxlosopher

          Nonsense. Cailynn and Cardinal try to find Fate by tempting him.

      3. Jacob

        Hold on to that gravatar, I think we’ll be seeing that version of Joyce soon

        1. Izzy

          I’d rather see this version soon

      4. Reiku189

        Well don’t that look positively demonic =P

      5. OmegaDez

        That cute avatar again! I really want to see more of this character of yours, mongoose!

    4. Rognik

      In the last strip, he said he was the son of a pastor. That right there was a red flag.

      1. Rowen Morland

        Has all the knowledge but not by virtue of choice? Like one of those animals that mimics another animal to gain trust and fulfil its nefarious purposes/porpoises.

      2. Blob Marley

        The only one who could ever teach me…
        was the son of a preacher man!

      3. Freemage

        Heh. I went to a Lutheran-affiliated college. The worst party-demons were ALWAYS preacher’s kids, aka PKs.

      4. phildog

        He still could be. The church hasn’t always had a problem with rape, and in many societies, most passed, raping a woman was a rite of passage.

    5. Jetstream

      You don’t read enough of these comics do ya? 😀

    6. Kirt Dankmyer

      He’s a mystery boy no longer! He has a name and a tag and everything. However, given the end of the comic, that still bodes ill.

      1. Alechsa

        No, Ryan is the guy that Super Car— I mean “Amazi-Girl” flipkicked… Totally.

  2. Mkvenner

    That just raises even more question!

    1. Wackd

      So that’s where I left my cigar…

      1. Rikushadow5

        And sometimes it’s not just a cigar.

      2. Angelicfiend

        NO! my beautiful home!

        1. dchorror

          But that’s not possible. We’re underwater!

        2. Wandering meme

          That’ll learn ya not to invite porn stars to your frat parties!

          Cave johnson, we’re done here.

    2. ScytheAkse

      my question, is he really a pastors sons??

      1. Mkvenner

        Probably not. But if he is he’ll be a pastor’s dead son.

        1. Rikushadow5

          Better question is: “Who’s gonna kill him first when they find out?”

        2. Mkvenner

          The 22nd SAS Regiment.

        3. Wandering meme

          The salvation army sisterhood?!?! They don’t play. They’ve got shotguns, and a very violent idea about the golden rule: do unto others well before they do unto you…suddenly and violently and all over the place.

          for a pastor’s son, he doesn’t have a prayer.

        4. Mkvenner

          No I’m refering to the Special Air Service.

        5. Mkvenner

          Only the Gurkhas can hold a candle to them.

          The Navy SEALs and Delta Force are second to them.

        6. ScytheAkse

          Marine corp special forces FORMERLY know as force recon. Tip of the spear, best of the best

        7. Kinsaka

          Id have to agree ScytheAkse. As a Marine! Git Some! (not that pastors son though. He needs a serious Personal pt!

        8. ScytheAkse

          Stick him with a drill instructor from the pork chop platoon. mcrd san diego?

      2. Ancestral Hamster

        I knew a pastor’s son like that in college. He was the sleaziest man-whore ever. It was all a rebellion against his father’s teachings. Similarly, the police chief’s son in my hometown became a criminal. So yes, I can see a young man away from home giving vent to all his repressed desires and doing in in a way that would most offend his father.

      3. gangler

        Pretty sure he’s a Pastor’s son and that’s why he’s in the know re: this stuff. Joyce just falsely assumes that means he takes after his father. She falsely assumes because that is how he presents himself.

        1. robotclone

          well, he COULD be taking after his father. not all pastors are made of clouds and unicorns. i mean, he wasn’t divinely conceived. unless this comic has a genre shift and he is the second coming. or is a robot clone

          or both

        2. Kernanator

          Y’know, Robot Jesus would be awesome.

        3. Just for kix

          As I read that, a robot chicken clip just ran in my head with a comic-style-word-art saying “ROBOT JESUS” and a robot action figure which looks like a cross between robocop and jesus.

        4. Tara

          …in the laundry room, banging a washing machine.

        5. Marksers

          Daft Punk’s “Robot Rock” will now be playing in my room and in my head all day long!

          Thank you ;D

        6. Sili

          And then of course there are “Youth Pastors”.

          Lovely people, those, as documented by the loverly Dan Savage.

        7. thomas0comer

          Because Jesus really likes one or more of the following, depending on what ‘mark’ means:
          Lying to women (probably a constant)
          Pickpocketing (less likely meaning of ‘mark’)
          Drugging and date rape (more likely, but also darker meaning)
          Any other targeted crimes (though none that leap to mind are likely at all)
          the general state of assholery (also a constant)
          Yeah, reeeeally sounds like Jesus there.

      4. GinzaMary

        In Roomies Redux I think his dad was a doctor and his mom had a large collection of nickels.

      5. Phillip Wilde

        Pastor’s kids routinely rebel like crazy. Not all of them, of course, but speaking from experience, it’s not uncommon.

  3. Another Commenter

    Two things:

    One, Is that Amazi-Girl in the background?

    And Two, Joyce had better end up punching this guy.

    1. Platypus

      Yes, yes it is.

    2. Rikushadow5

      AMAZI-GIRL is everywhere.

      1. Wandering meme

        Amazi-girl is Batman.

        1. Shade743

          Wait, so she can breathe in space?

        2. Icalasari

          She says, “I’m Amazigirl” all the time?

    3. Mkvenner

      Amazi-Girl just took out Bovinae?

      1. Wandering meme

        Achievement unlocked!

    4. ScytheAkse

      she’ll have mike do it.. for a nickel.. also yes it is, as u can see in the tags 😉

    5. A. Colunga

      Duuude you shoulda been at that party! Amazi-Girl was all woaaah and blam! and she kicked Steve in the groin. Was epic.

    6. Valdrax

      A) Yes, it is.
      B) WHY is she flipping out and beating the crap out of people?

      1. emeraldbeacon

        A fight broke out in the last strip. She’s protecting the weak and punishing the instigators.

      2. Wandering meme

        Better question: why wouldn’t she?!?

        Remember, she’s immune to criticism, so she doesn’t need a reason. Just righteous fury!

    7. Rex Hondo

      The more important question is, is that DCnU style detailing on her boots?

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        Yes, she drew those on with a marker herself.

        1. Rex Hondo

          Thus explaining how Amazi-Girl is actually more powerful in this universe.

        2. Plasma Mongoose

          I wonder if Sal knows this useful piece if info.

        3. GinzaMary

          I think the boots Sal wears with her motorcycle leathers actually do have that power-up. Plus, that outfit has racing stripes, so she’s even FASTER!

    8. Joraiem

      Joyce doesn’t have to punch this guy, that’s why Amazi-Girl is there!

      If the douche tries any premarital hanky-panky, she’ll make his skull concave.

    9. Sili

      Nah. I’d rather it be a swift kick to the nuts.

    10. Bill M.

      1) Yes

      2) In his nethers!

  4. Rikushadow5

    Uh-oh. Priorities are bad.

  5. Mkvenner

    It is Ryan!

    1. thatgirlwiththeglasses

      I KNEW IT

      1. Jacob

        I hope he conned Ruth in this universe, because that would be hella karma if Ruth came in and told Joyce ALL about him

    2. Valdrax

      Wait, who’s Ryan?
      (No, seriously this time. I don’t recognize him at all.)

      1. Greg

        Ruth knew Ryan back in high school in the Walkyverse. She wound up sleeping him the same day that Walky was first abducted by aliens.

        It was shown in a flashback comic, but I don’t remember where.

        1. Greg

          Damn, wish I had an edit button. I should also point out that Ryan was a dick to Ruth, since he kind of led her along and then immediately moved to another girl after they slept together.

        2. Valdrax

          Wow, thanks. I so did not remember that.
          Then again, it’s been so long that I barely remember Ruth’s role in Roomies at all. (Outside of the big spoiler event.)

  6. Ess

    Amazigirl is tagged, and this is just wonderful.

    What means ‘mark’? Make his mark? Mark the bible guy? All capitals make this hard! XD

    1. Platypus

      I’m thinking mark like a theif’s victim is their mark.

    2. PunchsezSCREWOFF!

      It means he’s going to make a mark… with his penis. 😐

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        I was thinking more of the lines of mark as in sucker rather than in a sexual way.

        1. PunchsezSCREWOFF!

          She will be a sucker…OF HIS PENIS.

        2. Plasma Mongoose

          After which, it will be all over her FAAAAAACE! *yeek*

        3. TheBenenator

          Now let’s look at the test results. . . . you two are terrible, femurless people.

          Funny. We weren’t even testing for that.

        4. Magnus369

          Unfortunately, that was not a huge success.

    3. Fata Morgana

      A ‘mark’ is what a con man calls the person they are about to con.

      In this case, a ‘mark’ has the additional unsavory connotation that it likely mean forced or drugged sex, or just taking advantage of an innocent girl in a sexual way.

    4. GinzaMary

      … I’m pretty sure he means Rape, and that this is going to be about 5000% worse for Joyce than I thought.

      1. Grimlockimus

        Who knew the pulling of the drama tag effects other universes too.

        1. ryan

          the drama tag is a singularity. like unicron. or the soggies.

        2. Marisynos

          I’ve got it! By pulling the Drama tag, Robin created an alternate universe! :O

          (I’m totally not serious, but it is funny.)

    5. shoeboxjeddy

      I mean… it’s possible he’s thinking sex (probably wouldn’t think of it as rape himself, even if it was). Seems equally likely he just wants to scam money off of her. Hit her with some sob story about how he desperately needs cash, and bam she ponies up.

      1. GinzaMary

        Yeah, but

        1) It’s Ryan.

        2) There isn’t a lot of story out of Joyce just being scammed out of some cash.

        3) It’s Freakin’ Ryan! Of course it’s going to involve bad sex! Having Ryan in a story and having it not involve sex would be like having Mike and somebody’s mom in a story without it involving sex.

        1. shoeboxjeddy

          1) It’s an alternate universe. Can’t know for sure what people are like here.

          2) Sure there is, you’re not using your imagination. She loses her trust in people, starts getting mean, slowly starts to consider conning other people. OR she could decide that she loves him anyway (for desperation reasons or whatever) like she did with Joe back in the day. You act like rape is storyline panacea and will instantly open the doors to 100 plots. Wait… are you secretly Brad Meltzer?

        2. GinzaMary

          Before I say anything else, I just have to ask. Seriouslly? Identity Crisis? It’s been like 7 years of DC dumping on their entire ‘verse since then and you’re still bringing up that turd-nugget?

          Anyway, Yeah rape. I don’t think it’s the only interesting place this can go. I honestly thought it was probably going to be a Ryan-ish character jerking Joyce around in a very Ryan-ish way, which would be plenty interesting, but when he starts talking about getting friends involved that kind of changes expectations. Especially since this party story started with Joyce praying that she wouldn’t get roofied and raped, which means that’s probably exactly what’s going to happen to her.

        3. Somebody

          I just wanted to say that it’s very controversial and should be avoided unless you really know what you’re doing. It would also be an insult to have a person stay with someone who raped them.

          Anyway, it’s not going to happen. She’ll get rescued in a worst-case scenario. Why would Amazi-girl be there otherwise?

      2. artemi

        This entire sub-arc is Roz showing Dorothy that her life isn’t some drunken orgy of a reality tv show. Of COURSE the big problem that comes up is going to be sex related, and it’s going to involve the best friend (from college) of Dorothy, who will be then able to accept Roz’s point but also show that Roz’s lifestyle DOES influence others in a negative fashion.

        And then sexy three way Joyce, Dorothy, Roz pillowfights.

        1. GinzaMary

          Trade Ruth for Roz in the pillow fight and I’d pay real money to see that.

    6. Wandering meme

      Target of a con man.

      Watch leverage on tnt. It’ll tell you all about it

  7. Darth Shadow

    And I’m only noticing Amazi-Girl in the background now.

  8. iSaidCandleja-

    Ryan must die. Amazi-Girl, you have your orders.

    1. Mkvenner

      Way ahead of you.

      1. Jacob

        That would have been awesome if you had the Amazi-Girl gravatar instead

    2. Wandering meme

      I say let the woman work. All uppance will come, and evil shall be slammed in triplicate.

  9. Katy

    Dammit.

  10. GinzaMary

    . . . Wow. That went down fast.

    1. Viktoria

      As fast as your mom when presented with a nickle.

      1. Henry

        As fast as your mom when presented with my penis.

        1. Joraiem

          As fast as your mom when presented with femurs.

        2. Phillip Wilde

          As fast as your mom when presented with my FAAAAAAACE!

      2. Roborat

        As fast as my penis, when presented with your FAAAACE!

        1. GinzaMary

          Man, throw a slow ball like that out and you really do get everybody swinging for the fences. Excellent! 😀

  11. MarcinMN

    I’m assuming Amazi-Girl has some reason for beating up drunken party-goers? Time will tell, I guess!

    1. General Tekno

      In yesterday’s comic, IIRC there was a drunken brawl starting.

    2. Michael

      If you go back to the third panel from yesterday, you’ll see someone getting punched. I’m guessing she is breaking up a fight… by fighting people. Superhero logic for the win!

      ‘The value of the diamond you saved was slightly more than the cost of the damages you caused in your fight, so a net win!’

      1. shoeboxjeddy

        Hey, be fair to superheroes. If the guy (or girl) steals the diamond uncontested, what’s to stop that bad person from stealing MORE diamonds? Even if the fight causes damage, at least the bad guy is stopped from continuing.

        1. Wandering meme

          Conversely, this could be why the power rangers are having money problems. Can’t even afford a decent soundtrack. Zordon must be knee deep in debt.

          Angel grove ain’t gonna fix itself ya know.

  12. Michael

    Surprisingly, I had a bad feeling about him from the start. Sort of a ‘what are the odds’ sense tingling, which, in comics and such, is really saying something.

    Also, yes, that does look like Amazi-Girl in the back. Now I have to go find out why she might be throwing someone around.

  13. brasca1

    I saw the beginning of a drunken brawl in yesterday’s strip. It appears that Amazi-Girl is entering the fray or she’s beating up the same guys who were about to assault Danny.

    1. Kernanator

      Elsewhere, Danny is getting wood and doesn’t know why.

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        Pine or Oak?

        1. Bekah

          Penis

        2. Plasma Mongoose

          Penis is a soft wood, cock is the hard wood. *strokes chin knowingly*

        3. Mkvenner

          Sequoia.

        4. GinzaMary

          What does the rare Middle American Chubby count as?

        5. Magnus369

          I would think more of a bush than anything else.

  14. Wackd

    Assuming that he means “mark”, as in target, and not “Mark”, as in board-game buddy, one must wonder if he is actually a pastor’s son or if he just…memorizes Bible verses to get chicks? How many Jesus freaks does he expect to show up to these things? Moreover, how could he tell Joyce was one? I mean, besides the sweater, which could mean anything. Maybe she’s got low cold tolerance.

    I’d love to see Joe’s reaction to this guy.

    1. Wackd

      And…just read Willis’s comment. Heh.

      1. Jackson

        I was really hoping he was talking about a dude named Mark.

        1. Warlock

          I half-expected Mark to be his boyfriend, pastor’s son notwithstanding.

    2. MM

      He doesn’t have to be able to tell. He just has to throw out the Bible verse and see if she responds. If she doesn’t, either he moves on to the next socially awkward girl or tries a different tactic.

    3. Michael

      Indeed. Also can’t help but think that someone who would be interested in a bible quoting pastor’s son would also be the least likely to break any sort of abstinence she might have going on. I’m guessing he has been watching her for a bit even before the party? Or possibly heard her talking about Jesus on the way to the party and looked it up?

      Whatever the case, weird guy.

    4. Shade Tail

      Maybe he’s a bible freak who’s been taken over by his repressed libido and pulls shit like this to satisfy his “shameful” urges. In my experience, that’s more or less what drives most bible-thumping sex predators, whether you’re talking about a Catholic priest molesting children or a Pentecostal loon attacking his cousins.

      1. fellixe

        Or maybe he is the son of a ‘fleecing the flock’ kind of pastor and he is up to control freak no-good? “Here is your smock and a cup for the punch bowl. Blessed alignment to you, daughter.”

        1. Somebody

          It doesn’t work that way. It isn’t all about lust, a lot of it is just the desire to hurt and humiliate someone.

    5. ScytheAkse

      He could have a thing for corrupting good lil church girls. I would understand that.

  15. Akari

    Kicking ass and taking names. Just another typical night for AMAZI-GIRL.

    1. Mkvenner

      Shoot first, shoot some more, and then when everyone is dead ask some questions.

  16. Socks

    i’m surprised joyce hasn’t noticed amazi-girl yet

    1. MM

      Better question: will Dorothy notice in time? I’m guessing no.

      1. Wandering meme

        She’s busy becoming the next Lois Lane.

    2. Michael

      I believe she’s preoccupied with being smitten.

    3. monicaz

      it’s joyce she’s a romantic.

  17. Grimlockimus

    Congrats Willis, this is the second fictional character I can honestly say I hate now. The first being that twerp from Phantom Menace.

    RYAN IS AS BAD AS ANAKIN IN PHANTOM MENACE!

    1. PureLionHeart

      You’re clearly just jealous of his boss podracing and pimp robot building skills. Stop hatin’, hater.

      1. Grimlockimus

        Well clearly I’m not jealous of his acting.

        1. GinzaMary

          That kid was at least cute. After the whole “sand speech” there aren’t enough nickels in the world to make Hayden Christensen seem appealing.

        2. Grimlockimus

          Kid was cute, but his acting wasn’t all that great, but again, I gotta blame the dialogue too.

          Not trying to hate on the movies though, I like them, I just wouldn’t put them above the original three.

        3. GinzaMary

          Who would? I’ve never know anyone who thought the prequels were better. Well, okay, one guy I know argues that RoTS was better than ANH, but he smokes an unreasonable amount of pot.

        4. Grimlockimus

          I met one person who did as well, nice guy, until Deadpool beamed down and shot him in the face, ah good ol, natural selection.

          One thing I will say though is the animated Clone Wars show was pretty damn good, especially loved the Samurai Jack styled Animation. Plus, Grevious wasn’t a total push over back then.

        5. iSaidCandleja-

          I think there is a serious case for ranking RotS over RotJ. I think it could have beat ANH if the writing took more time to turn Anakin against the Jedi (he had plenty of factors pushing him toward Palpatine, but not much pushing him away from the good guys).

        6. TheBenenator

          @iSaidCandleja-: Well, Palpatine was a Sith Lord. In KOTOR 2, Sith Lords warp the alignment of those around them . . .

          Yeah, I know — game mechanics are not canon. @_@

        7. espanolbot

          Eh, he’s in Star Wars. No matter the quality of the actor, their talent gets reduced as soon as they appear on the set, just look at Natalie Portman.

          Could be that acting talent is relative to the director, who are like planets. So some directors who can get good performances out of people who some time don’t really do a good job, are like planets with average to strong gravity. The better the director, the heavier the talent.

          Lucas is more like the Moon.

        8. LaPlace's Demon

          That’s no moon…

      2. TyrantisTerror

        Ryan does have a sweet pod racer.

      3. ryan

        wizard. wizard podracing skills.

    2. David

      How are we arguing about the Star Wars prequels in BOTH of my webcomics?

      1. Rikushadow5

        Because they’re that bad? I dunno.

      2. Malph

        It’s the internet. It takes very little to start an argument about the Star Wars Prequels here.

      3. Enshroud

        well to be fair Willis, your other comic is Star Wars related today, so it only really takes one extra star wars discussion to have two going on, and those discussions tend to end up on prequels.

  18. Ragnal

    I knew something like this’d happen.

    …which is why I didn’t care for yesterday’s comic, or bother to comment the last few days. >_>;

  19. Rikushadow5

    Suddenly, Willis reveals that the whole “No Sci-Fi” thing was just a ruse the entire time, and that’s really some Aliens in disguise.

    Then we get treated to the abridged version of “It’s Walky!” except this time Amazi-Girl is an abductee.

    Which brings up the point: Maybe she WASN’T lying about dem reinforced bones? Plus, Amazi-Girl or not, it’s hard to realistically fling somebody like that.

    1. Henry

      To paraphrase Ruth: No, she’s just that awesome.

      1. Rikushadow5

        You mean that AMAZING.

        1. Henry

          Point goes to you.

    2. Plasma Mongoose

      If Ruth could do it, why not Amazing Girl?

  20. Mkvenner

    Sorry about your death in 2 years becuase of Randy. :'(

    1. Thor

      Oh, that’s right. Yeah, go ahead and leave Joyce to Randy, but leave Mike to T. Campbell. I want to see him re-interpret the character…or at least have Mike break out in song.

  21. Platypus

    The Dark Knight theme music should play to this comic, for the fight and the suspense of what happening in the foreground.

  22. tbf

    They’re going to swindle her with board games? How does that work?

    1. MM

      Either there are no board games or they’re going to pressure her into making things “interesting.”

      …What, you’ve never played strip Monopoly?

      1. Ancestral Hamster

        Strip Monopoly?! That’s a pretty long dull strip game.

        1. GinzaMary

          You’d only think that if you’ve never played it. . . Not that I have… I’m not that kind of girl…

        2. Wandering meme

          More like striptionary. Or strippergories.

          If joyce misses a word, she has to take off her sweater!

      2. Thor

        Strip Uno would probably go faster.

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          I wonder what happens when you use the WILD card? 😀

        2. Wandering meme

          Premarital hanky panky. Game starts at around 5 min to RAPE.

    2. Valdrax

      I was wondering(/hoping) the same thing.

    3. Kernanator

      Easy: Get her to gamble. She develops a crippling addiction and ends up using up all the money her parents gave her.

    4. Roborat

      Strip monopoly.

      1. Roborat

        Oops. posted to soon, should have finished reading the thread first.

  23. Jimmy

    Dammit, my hopes for humanity dashed again.

  24. numaron

    Well, at least the person about to cause problems for Joyce has a name now.

    Also, I’m really interested in why Amazi-girl is here.

    1. iSaidCandleja-

      Amazi-girl was headed to the party while at the same time as the other girls. She knew something bad would happen becuase her amazing senses were tingling. She was hoping to find a boy to help her stop the tingling, and it appears she found without having to get drunk herself.

  25. Stephen Bierce

    Congrats on the Joyce cameo in Something*Positive overday.

  26. tmoney

    I like how he still hasn’t given joyce his name, but willis tags him once hes made it obvious that hes a jackass

  27. Seerow

    1) I totally missed amazi-girl until reading the comments. I’m guessing this leads to amazi-girl coming to the rescue and totally not being a DEM.

    2) I think we’ve found a guy we can hate more than Joe, assuming we’re reading his intention right. At least Joe is completely honest about what he wants, and doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not to get his.

    1. Seerow

      On the other hand it occurs to me that this may be happening to get the “Joyce doesn’t like sex” storyline out of the way relatively quickly. The original walkieverse had Joyce’s abstinence as a major plot point /story arc for a long frikken time. Willis said he was going to avoid rehashing stories that had already been done… while rape is a pretty dark road to go down, it is definitely different, which up to this point Joyce has really not been.

      1. iSaidCandleja-

        Um… “Joyce doesn’t like sex” wouldn’t be gotten out of the way if she was raped. It would be reinforced pretty solidly. It could be that Ryan plans an elaborate seduction that would end Joyce’s repressed feelings, but I doubt that.

        1. GinzaMary

          I think Willis might be planing to take Joyce back to the place she was in emotionally after she was strapped into the Clockwork Orange chair and forced to watch porn in Roomies. Which was, while funny, to Joyce a very rape-ish sort of experience. Taking Joyce back to that place without having the easy out of a mind wipe would be pretty interesting.

          … Or it could be a chance for Amazi-Girl to do something heroic. Maybe. Hopefully. I like me some angst, but poor Joyce. ;.;

  28. meanderling

    He’s gonna steal her kidneys! NOOOOOOO.

  29. cmglothlin

    I knew I didn’t like him. And that I like Amazi-girl. I hope he’s not planning on pinning a murder on her.

  30. Cranberrier

    I was wondering how long it would be until Willis started putting DOA characters through hell. Carry on, sir.

  31. batfangirlamby!

    Nooo! Amazi-Girl, save Joyce!! Quick!

  32. Daeva

    Amazi-bouncer?

    1. Wandering meme

      Side gig. Supers need to eat too, and they aren’t all loaded like” Spruce ” Wayne.

  33. TheAlucinaut

    Oh my god…
    I gasped with GENUINE FEAR & CONCERN.
    …which then became intense protective rage.
    ::grinds fist into palm::

  34. Linkara

    People, while your concerns are perfectly valid, I think we should all trust Willis enough to know he’s not going to pull a rape storyline on us. He’s not that stupid.

    This dude may TRY something, but I’m thinking Billie or Amazi-Girl will stop him… or we’ll possibly see Joyce figure it out and punch a hole through his faaaaaaaaaaace.

    1. Henry

      Or she’ll beat him to death with his own bloody femurs.

      1. GinzaMary

        The part where he said he was going to “get some players” makes me think that a Joyce without superpowers might not be able to fight her way out of this.

        1. Henry

          It’s either going to turn into one long session of “Break Joyce” or she’s gonna surprise us and flip a shit and end some douchebags.

        2. shoeboxjeddy

          What?? So in your mind, this has gone from 1) dude has bad intentions to 2) dude wants to rape her to 3) dude is going to recruit several other rapists to hold her down so that they can gang rape her? What is wrong with your brain? How about, he wants to scam MONEY off of her? How about (if he really is after sex) he will basically work her up into an emotional state and then try to guilt her into some quick sex (you know, like how most rapes actually occur)? How about he wants to trick her into doing something for him and it’s not about sex at all? Geez, sick minds in here…

        3. vlademir1

          Welcome to the internet… it’s sick minds all the way down.

        4. Zuche

          Once you get past the turtles, anyway.

        5. myfiststhirstfornecks

          USODA!!

        6. Rikushadow5

          Because it’s Ryan and that’s not too far from how it developed in Roomies.

          FOR THOSE THAT DON’T FEEL LIKE AN ARDIVE:
          Ruth was enamored with a young man named Ryan. Ryan was PERFECT. Then it turned out he was just in it to have sex with Ruth. Which he did. Then he left her for somebody else.

          Ryan’s the wrong kind of ladies’ man. He’s the one that’s sweet and kind and perfect, then dumps your ass on the curb the second after he pulls out of your pants.

        7. MM

          Except that consensual sex with a jerk who doesn’t reveal his jerk qualities until after the fact is still consensual. And Ryan would have to put in a lot more work than just getting some board games to get Joyce to consider premarital hanky-panky. So you can’t really compare the two scenarios.

          That said, whatever happens, I think Joyce is going to come out of this okay. A little shaken, maybe, but there’s too much still to explore with her to break her that dramatically.

        8. GinzaMary

          Personally, I think the fact that I’m currently reading Kodomo no Jikan is a much clearer sign that I have a sick mind. 😛

          But seriously it’s Willis. I might have only gotten back in to reading his stuff a couple of weeks ago (I loved his comics years ago but I stopped reading after It’s Walky ended because I didn’t like early Shortpacked and didn’t want to pay for Joyce and Walky), but he hasn’t done an “OMG They stole my bike!” story in like five years. Of course it’s going somewhere really dark. It isn’t that it can’t go somewhere else it’s just that there isn’t as much story in that other place.

        9. Magnus369

          I dunno, for the most part I liked that series… the anime was weird, and not as creepy. I wound up giving up on it after awhile. (that lil girl is (or at the time I gave it up) seriously all manner screwed in the brain)

        10. GinzaMary

          Believe it or not, Rin has actually gotten WORSE in recent chapters. It’s almost lost all shock value she’s gotten so bad. And for some reason the author insists on showing the evolving nature of Rin’s close personal relationship with her right hand, like, a lot. There’s only so many times you can see a tween girl doing that (in my case I think it was exactly once) before you go “WTF! Why are you showing me this!?!?!”

          If the main plot wasn’t so damn interesting I would have stopped reading about a year ago. Also, WTF IS WRONG WITH JAPAN!?

        11. Magnus369

          honestly, I couldn’t tell ya. sides, last time I checked in, Rin was only 9… hardly a tween. but still, she was getting the squick factor pretty high. I had high hopes that the story would wind up resolving itself and the girl would get some kind of help, but c’est la vie.

        12. Henry

          I dunno about you, but if someone runs a scam on me for a whole night, it’d break me pretty good, too, as far as wrecking your faith in people for some amount of time.
          Point is, whatever he’s got in mind, Joyce isn’t going to take well to it, methinks.

    2. Locke

      I agree, besides, the guy is CLEARLY not a rapist. He knows obscure bible verses, after all. Thus, he is simply a deranged serial killer. He’s going to kidnap Joyce, then Amazi-Girl, Joe, Mike, and Sal will team up and track them down in the action film of the summer, rescuing her just in the nick of time before she meets her untimely demise.

      Wait, wait… I think I overshot my plot-speculation again…

      1. Rikushadow5

        Ryan’s MO is “Figure out what they like, Have Sex with them, Cut, Run, Rinse, Lather, Repeat”.

        How many people do you know that wear sweater vests to a frat party?

        1. GinzaMary

          I used to! Back when I was young and went to frat parties. That kind of slightly preppy indie look was one I liked before I turned 3…… 25.

    3. bob the mob

      Sure hope so because that would be spectacularly hypocritical after his Starfire comic over on Shortpacked.

      1. GinzaMary

        … Not really?

        Willis said like 50 times on the comments on that one that the problem wasn’t that they were serializing Starfire, but that when they rerolled her character they basically hit her with a bimbo ray for pure T&A appeal and ignored the opportunity to make a revision of her into something more like the popular version or her from the cartoon. I disagree with that beyond a certain point, but I don’t think summarizing his argument as serialized female characters in comics are bad is fair. Especially when he said a lot that he really wasn’t saying that.

      2. artemi

        Oh, yeah, rape scare and probable rescue scene by said girl’s friends is totally the same thing as taking a girl who’s whole MO from a very popular television cartoon was “Sweet, innocent, don’t mess with her friends” and turning her into a total sex kitten who can’t remember who all those guys she just slept with were.

    4. HMRC4EVR

      Linkara, can’t you just use one of your varied and awesome powers to teleport Ryan into…oh say….One More Day or Red Hood and the Outlaws?

      Make him SUFFER.

      Oh, and loved your ‘That’s All I’m Saying’ series. I’m still beyond upset at DC for what they did to Stephanie’s time as Batgirl; to the point I really don’t want to start anything new. But now I’ve got a better idea on what to pick up and to avoid when I start reading more than just the GL titles-at least when my pissed-off meter drops below 9000.

    5. zsquaredagain

      You never know. Willis could be about to go all Alan Moore on us!!
      The next week’s worth of comics will be a 5 strip graphic depiction of Joyce being brutally violated by drunken frat boys. This will be artistically justified as important character development.

    6. Mr.Morningstar

      Im sure its not rape. I think this guy is just trying to get laid and is trying to get Joyce to like him enough to do so. Because, let’s be honest, she IS at a frat party. He most likely saw her praying outside and decided she would be easy. He’d most likely (try to) seduce her.

      Of course in that sense he would be playing with Joyce’s emotions and possibly still hurting her emotionally. (not as much as rape but still)

      Then again he could just be trying to scame money out of her or steal a kidney. I don’t know.

      We’ll just have to wait for monday.

      1. Mr. Morningstar

        SHUT UP PAST ME YOU WERE WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG

  35. Henry

    Why is something telling me that we’re going to see Joyce get real cynical real fast in this continuity?

    1. Henry

      Alternately, in an amusing twist, Amazi-Girl goes overboard and just punches out everyone at the party.

  36. iSaidCandleja-

    Amazi-girl was at that party to protect Billie wasn’t she? It makes sense considering their history. Was Billie involved in the drunken brawl? Will she and Dorothy write an article that gets her arrested or expelled? Will they both be too distracted to help Joyce, leaving Roz a chance to place hero? So many possibilies. Too bad the next comic will switch to show us Danny and Joe hijinks.

    1. Undrave

      Why isn’t Joe AT the party? He’s Roz’ boy toy, she could have at least invited him no?

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        I bet Joe is ‘joeing’ some girl in one of the bedrooms already.

        1. artemi

          Maybe that’s what saves Joyce.

          She goes in, Sprite and Apples to Apples in hand, and Joe is busy giving the in house tour to some (incredibly happy) young lady. Joyce freaks, and Ryan is forced to admit defeat at the hands of the master.

  37. Twentydragon

    *pulls checkmark out of thought bubble*
    *hands it to him*
    Here ya go. Leave Joyce alone. |=(

  38. Ravux

    Amazi-Girl is attacking poor defenseless shades! Someone stop her!

    1. Daeva

      Nahh, Shades has totally got laser eyes. He can take care of himself.

      1. creatorx2

        Shades is a master of all manner of deceitful trickery.

  39. Bek359

    This’ll be an especially interesting blow to Joyce’s worldview if Dorothy ends up saving Joyce, Dorothy being an atheist and all.

  40. NakedDumblydore

    Jeez, chill out, you drama queens. There’s a guy named Mark just off panel.

    1. shoeboxjeddy

      Would be funnier if not for Willis’ author note.

      1. Locke

        He said that he wasn’t talking about “some dude named ‘Mark’ “. Clearly, there’s a WOMAN named Mark just offscreen.

  41. Locke

    Welp, that was a given. It’d be hilarious if he’s not as sinister as we’d all expect him to be based off this; maybe he’s just a really good Scrabble hustler.

    Also, I haven’t seen such interesting background events since Slenderman. 😛

    1. creatorx2

      that kinda needs an explanation of some sort.

      1. Locke

        There’s an interesting event in this comic’s background.

        As for the Slenderman bit, well, just google “Slenderman”. Or watch a series called “EverymanHYBRID” on Youtube. You’ll see.

  42. Leon

    Okay, I’ve never been to a college party, or hardly see any in movies, so I might need so info.
    Is mark a code for something?

    1. Locke

      It’s old cowboy lingo for “horse”. The guy clearly rode a horse here, and he’s going to offer Joyce a ride on it.

      Trust me, I’m a Texan. I know these things.

    2. shoeboxjeddy

      Locke is joshin’ you. A mark is the target of a con.

  43. eagalian

    damnit willis, if you get joyce raped…. >:(

    1. Thor

      At least Amazi-Girl is in the house.

      1. Thor

        Besides, I don’t think you have to fear too much for Joyce. This is Dumbing of Age, not Dominic Deegan.

    2. goatman95111

      I concur with this statement. This better not wind up with Joyce in too much trouble. And screw Amazi-gurl. We need Liam Neeson. Nothing says caring father figure than throat chops.

    3. phildog

      Yes. Joyce will obviously end up a rape victim. After all, it’s completely cohesive with the tone insofar.

  44. TyrantisTerror

    Why is everyone immediately jumping to rape as the logical conclusion of this plotline? There’s other horrible things Ryan could do that don’t involve sex. He could, y’know, just steal her money, or get her involved in some sort of scam/pyramid scheme, or maybe try to get her into some sort of David Koresh style cult, or use a ouija board to summon the dark lord Asmodeus to take Joyce’s soul…

    I mean, jegus, there’s other kinds of drama besides rape.

    1. Asuka L.S.

      The particulars of his scam are irrelevant to me. He intends to do wrong, that’s all that matters.

    2. Thomas

      How many of those things usually happen at a wild college party?

      While it may or may not be the way Willis takes it… it’s a perfectly rational conclusion to reach.

      1. TyrantisTerror

        I’m pretty sure petty theft is common enough at college parties. The rest of that spiel was meant to be humorous.

        Although… how often do people get beaten up by superheroines at college parties?

    3. Dark_T_Zeratul

      Because last time Ryan was involved, he seduced Ruth, got her in the sack, then dumped her; it’s likely that he’s looking to do the same with Joyce.

      1. TyrantisTerror

        Ah. I must have forgotten that story arc.

        Still, that sounds more like Joyce would have a brief and incredibly unpleasant relationship with him than, y’know, date rape. That’d still be awful and all, but it’d be far less horrible (not to mention trite and cliche) than ZOMG Joyce got raped! in terms of storylines.

        1. artemi

          …You can’t possibly believe that Joyce is going to get raped here. Decency aside, Joyce has been shown to be not naive enough to play a rousing game of Strip Apples To Apples.

          Beside, Amazi-girl is RIGHT THERE, and this whole scheme by Roz to show Dorothy that while she can sleep around doesn’t mean everything she does is a drug laden orgy is ruined by what is essentially Dorothy’s best (college) friend getting unwilling plowed.

          Something will happen that will render this moot, Joyce’s innocence will be protected but her cynical-ness will be ratcheted up one notch, and Roz, Joyce, and Dorothy will all become BFFs and have panty-clad pillow fights for the rest of the comic (I wish).

        2. TyrantisTerror

          Well, yeah, that’s what I’ve been arguing. I don’t see why rape – or even attempted rape – is the only possible outcome of this Mark fellow’s machinations. Even if it was, I don’t see Joyce falling for it for the same reasons Linkara pointed out. It would not fit the tone of this story at all.

          Also: your gravatar is oddly appropriate right now.

        3. Lis

          You know the use of the term “fall for it” really pisses me off right there, I realize you weren’t trying to say this so I’m trying not to direct anger at you but I feel that I should point out that physical coercion or any other method of date rape is not something you “fall for” it is something someone does to you.

        4. name

          Pretty sure he meant the “plays nice, secretly a jackass” angle, not the “3 friends and a rope” one.
          It is more realistic that he would try to seduce her with promises he doesn’t intend to follow through than to outright rape her, rape drugs and all.

          Also, as has been pointed out, he does have a record of that sort of M.O. Cross-universe, but still.

        5. TyrantisTerror

          Yeah, that was incredibly poor phrasing on my part. Eeesh. My apologies.

        6. Lis

          I know I am reading a response to something I wrote a year and a half ago… but that apology really is touching. A lot of people would have gotten super defensive. Its funny when a single comment in a storyline about people being jerks restores your faith in humanity.

    4. Phillip Wilde

      Not that it’s especially relevant, but there were allegations of sexual abuse with Koresh and the Branch Davidians.

  45. Asuka L.S.

    I knew it. I KNEW there was something off about that son of a bongo. He’s probably been scouting her since the party began. Probably noticed she was praying outside and Googled a bible verse about partying before he approached her.

    I’ve moved the threat level from yellow back to red. All units to battle stations. Prepare for contact!

    1. GinzaMary

      I’ll alert the President.

    2. Rikushadow5

      NO. That threat level isn’t high enough!!

      We must go to….PLAID.

      1. Soundbucket

        red-on-red plaid?

        1. GinzaMary

          We may be into Mauve on Fuchsia territory.

      2. Kernanator

        Ludicrous Speed, huh?

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          “Everything has gone plaid!”

        2. Phillip Wilde

          Did everything just taste purple?

    3. Malph

      I think we need to move into Defcon 4.

      Let’s get cautious up in here!

      1. fellixe

        Cautious has a couple days off, but Wary may still be up and about.

        1. Roborat

          Sorry, he just left to get pizza, all we have available is mildly suspicious and panic.

        2. fellixe

          Ugh! I can never get comfortable around those two.

        3. Kaci

          This should be a comic of its own

  46. Asuka L.S.

    With this in mind, to add a little levity to the situation, I draw attention to the visual image of Joyce in volleyball shorts. Enjoy.

    1. Henry

      Pics or it didn’t happen.

      1. Crumplepunch

        BEHOLD.

        http://itswalky.deviantart.com/art/It-s-Walky-Ratty-Old-Clothes-188404850

        1. Henry

          Henry likes this.

        2. GinzaMary

          That is very Squeee worthy.

        3. Kaci

          gravatar = perfect for this occasion

  47. Cholisose

    I was thinking it would be hilarious to have the next comic have Joyce, pastor boy, and a guy named Mark playing board games.
    But apparently that won’t be the case, thanks to the author’s commentary. =/

    1. George

      We are dealing with Willis here… it could be a girl named Mark.

    2. Henry

      Clearly, Ryan is trying to trick her into a rigged game of Scrabble.

      1. GinzaMary

        Yeah, I bet that bastard gives her all the Qs and Zs.

        1. ryan

          yeah, but when she gets a triple word score for “quiz” the game may as well be over.

    3. Marie

      I wasn’t great with the names when I first read this, and so I assumed Danny or someone else dorky was Mark and he was luring them in with board games (possibly after losing them).

      But that wasn’t naively thinking there was a rando named Mark, I genuinely thought one of the cast had that name.

  48. Zuche

    Ah, I just knew he was an Amway dealer.

  49. Kernanator

    He’s going to get her addicted to gambling. That’s what he means by mark, I’m sure of it.

  50. Shifty

    Yeah… didn’t see this coming (note: sarcasm)

  51. johannhowitzer

    This is -exactly- why I don’t do instant emotional attachments (anymore).

  52. spsook

    I’m very impressed, Willis. Very. I didn’t even recognize him until I dipped into the other comic.

  53. Josh Spicer

    Upon hours of figuring out what this guy meant, I have realized what he meant and who he really is.

    He meant Joyce is a sucker, and that he is a giant poopyface.

  54. TemplarKnight

    CALLED IT! Then again, I said a character was gonna be a bastard . . . at a party that involves drinking. . . in a Willis comic. I could throw a rock and have that be true.

    Somebody get me a rock.

    1. Asuka L.S.

      Aim for either of his heads. I don’t care which, just chuck that rock as hard as you possibly can. In fact, here. You can borrow my titanium baseball bat.

      1. Asuka L.S.

        *for hitting the rock at him.

    2. James Rye

      *gives TK a huge stone*
      Aim for his BALLS! >83

  55. Aetharion

    If he is talking about D&D as a board game, “mark” might mean something else…

    1. Kaci

      ha

  56. BaronHaynes

    I need to stop reading the comments for DoA…nothing against their quality, but this is the only webcomic of David’s I’ve read, and every time I hear about a character arc in one of the others, I start looking for hints of building toward that in this one. I start wondering if DoA is its own story or if it’s a LOST Season 6 situation where [SPOILER] an alternate reality is slowly bending back toward a predetermined conclusion. And I don’t think that’s the intention here, so I sadly have to avoid reading Shortpacked or Joyce and Walky or the others, cause it messes with my ability to enjoy this one.

    This was kinda brought on by meeting this new character and realizing as I scrolled through the comments, “oh, he’s got XYZ traits from comic B and this is what to expect over the coming weeks”.

    Anyway, I don’t want to give the impression I’m complaining, just a realization about the pitfalls of starting with DoA and reading/hearing about the other comics.

  57. Zoey

    That c**k sucking grubby little wanker!!! i hope his D**k falls off!!!

  58. ALostProphet

    He’s not talking about a guy named Mark. He’s THINKING about a guy named Mark is my guess.

  59. Aizat

    He’s a conman? Make him PAY!!! WITH HIS LIFE IF NECESSARY!!!

    1. Asuka L.S.

      I’ve already mobilized 2 mechanized infantry units with tank and artillery support. They should be arriving on the front lawn any minute. >:)

      1. Zoey

        rofl

  60. Lumino

    That guy! It’s the same guy who broke Ruth’s heart in that Roomies Comic! The guy who figured out what she wanted to hear and just played along, I am sure of it!

  61. Emily

    *Gasp!* He’s a BOARD GAME HUSTLER!?

    If he’s something worse than that he’ll basically just have to die, so I’m not bothering to entertain the thought.

    1. Kirby

      I know! It’s almost as bad as cheating at Pub Trivia!

  62. ryan

    i know how this story is going to end. joyce is lured into the other room under the pretense of board games, but it turns out ryan (no relation) is in it for PMHP! amazi-girl breaks up the fight in the living room and busts into the bedroom to see joyce surprisingly holding her own against ryan. realizing that joyce has no parents (or at least isn’t living with them), amazi-girl takes her in as her ward and trains joyce to fight as her sidekick “amazi-stool”.

    1. Asuka L.S.

      Close, but Joyce wouldn’t be “Amazi-Stool”. She is “Bible Belt”.

      1. ryan

        can we compromise and say that joyce only becomes “bible belt” after moving to bludhaven?

    2. Kisai

      I don’t figure Amazi-girl to be that nice, more like Joyce will flipout for some completely out-of-context reason. Amazi-girl will then have to rescue the guy from being beaten up, which consists of throwing him out the window. Joyce then notices she’s been flailing against air as someone else comments about needing the room.

  63. Alexx

    GEEZE, Amber must have been workin’ out! I mean, kicking ass and doing a friggin’ flip while grabbing someone are two TOTALLY different things! Doesn’t take much to kick someone in the face, but you gots ta have some skillz to pull off that flip!

    …unless, of course, she lands on her back and knocks the wind out of herself. In the end though, both parties take a hit, so what the hell.

  64. JK9000

    Thessalonians is still kind of a weird thing to quote for a con-man. Then again, maybe he actually is a pastor’s son, and just also really into scamming people.

  65. Dahlia

    *about to ask wth “Find Mark” means, then looks at tags*

    Hey WAITADURNMINUTE….Isn’t…Ryan…the guy…who…

    HOLY SCHLAMIEL!!!!! D8 RUN JOYCE, RUN!!!!!

  66. Cypriss

    http://yfrog.com/jbbrothershbp

    Cannot unsee

  67. Silarial

    Oh no! Don’t fall for it Joyce! Hopefully nothing bad happens, though I can’t see Dumbing of Age getting THAT dark.

  68. Sporkaganza

    I thought it was “Find Mark” as in “Find guy named Mark” for a second.

  69. James Rye

    If he… if he does anything to Joyce, ANYTHING! Then i demand a poll where we can vote for his way to DIE!!!
    I´m for drinking acid and inserting bugs in his guts. Muhahahahahaha~

  70. Sir Robin

    Find husband?

    No dammit, I thought Ethan was the one for Joyce

  71. Pollywog

    Look out Joyce! He’s a con man who is going cheat at Apples to Apples!

  72. aaron_bourque

    Hmm. Is this meant to imply a sort of moral relativism, here? I mean, Is Joyce’s “Find husband” meant to be put in the same light as the guy’s “Find Mark”? Because while that might be interesting social commentary, I don’t think it works.

    1. Dara

      I think part of the reason is more along the lines of showing wtf is going on.

      Ryan with “Find Mark” checked off of his mental list alone wouldn’t be so clear. Having Joyce’s “Find husband” goal checked off next to it helps to show that Ryan also has a goal and he’s met it. And even with them next to each other to show that “See, Joyce thinks she’s found a husband, so you can infer that Ryan thinks he’s found a mark,” people were still confused and thinking of different possibilities.

      Besides using Joyce’s thoughts to help show what’s meant by Ryan’s thought bubble, I figure it’s just for contrast, showing how they are very much NOT thinking along the same lines, and that Ryan is up to no good, not as any sort of social commentary.

  73. Stormrunner

    I know this is late – But I’m wondering if he is thinking of finding the Mark of the Beast or something? I’ve never heard of a Mark being any kind of sexual deviancy but maybe I’m too old or too young or just socially inept.

    1. Anonymsly

      I think he may mean ‘mark’ in the con-artist sense of the word: target. The guy thinks he’s found easy prey in Joyce, which was his goal for the night.

    2. Dara

      He’s already found the “mark,” as evidenced by the checkmark in his mental ticky-box. Joyce is his mark, as in someone a con artist picks out as being likely to be gullible enough to fall for whatever his scam is. That much is clear. We just don’t yet know what she’s been made a mark FOR (and despite all of the speculation above, I do not think it’s rape).

      He could be planning something like a long-term scam, like “dating” her for a while for some sort of unknown purpose, in which case he’ll actually come back with friends and board games and play nice for as long as it takes to hook her. It might be a plan of “seduce and dump,” or it might be “date, get parents to like me, get parents to give me money, then dump.”

      Or he could be a dealer looking for someone who comes off as innocent to be an unwitting drug mule.

      Really, all we can do is wait and see.

  74. name

    Alright, I think I know what happens in the next one. Are you guys familiar with the concept of a null subversion?

    My hipothesis is that he is, in fact, planning some jerkass behaviour, most likely of the sexual variety. AND SHE KNOWS. You see, she knew all along, and decided it was best to play dumb until he left. Which now he has, so she’ll carry on with whatever she was doing before.

    Or, if she suspects it would get to rape-levels, she can stress a bit over whether to alert the autorities on what is basically a hunch. Then maybe try and spy on him for confirmation, which may or may not lead to hilarious hijinks.

    1. Rex Hondo

      Doubtful, given her mental check next to “Find Husband.” She doesn’t suspect a thing.
      Also, it may just be having two daughters that alters my perceptions, but in a situation like this, I ALWAYS assume rape.

      1. name

        True, but if the “No man of woman born” crowd says he saw a girl named mark just off-panel, I can say she saw one of “god’s chosen people” right off-panel too.

        1. Rex Hondo

          Ah, I see. I hadn’t considered that as the possibility you were aiming for. I still don’t think that’s what’s going on, but I see where you’re coming from. 😛

        2. name

          I know it’s a longshot, but it’s possible. There was another one she met, who hasn’t turned her down yet, right? I forgot who it was but he was who prompted her to the “god’s chosen people” line. It’s possible she saw him. It would be a good twist, what with all the people who automatically assume it’s veering into “party from hell ruins the poor girl” territory. Hence the “null subversion” bit.
          But mostly, I don’t want her to be THAT dumb, dammit!

          Guess we’ll find out tomorrow. (Or about wednesday, more likely)

  75. phildog

    Called it!

  76. Freemage

    Okay, for those not familiar with the term “mark”….

    It dates back to the old carnivals. The games then were even more rigged than the modern ones. When one carny discovered that a patron was exceptionally gullible, he would not only con him, he would get some chalk on his hand, and then pat the sucker on the back–leaving a “mark” for the other carnies to know they’ve got a live one. He would then be approached by one con-artist after another.

    Since then, the term’s morphed a bit–basically, any time you have someone who has a set practice of conning other people in some way, their victims can be referred to as “marks”.

    Assuming lateral reincarnation holds true, Ryan’s got a game-plan whereby he gets Naive Young Things into a situation he controls (apparently using accomplices) in order to con them, most likely out of their virginity. I’m not expecting rape, here, just a deliberate ploy to build him up as a nice guy. If I’m right, we can expect to see his cohorts either praise his virtues, or, when he steps out of the room to get everyone some drinks, tell Joyce a tale of woe to make him seem sympathetic. “His last girlfriend died in a car wreck,” for instance (especially if David wants to lean on the 4th wall a bit, wink-wink).

    1. Shifty

      Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s what everyone is expecting.

  77. Tunasammich

    Nooooooooo! Noooo Joyce, don’t do it noooooooooooo

  78. Socks

    dang it, i really don’t want to wait till monday for the new strip >x<

  79. Alex

    I’m calling it, Joyce wakes up in a tub of ice, missing a kidney.

  80. Adam

    Am I the only one that finds Joyce’s fixation on finding a husband kinda disturbing?

    1. Rex Hondo

      Not even remotely.

  81. MisterBug

    25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years,
    26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
    27 She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.
    28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.”
    29 And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
    30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched my garments?”
    31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, `Who touched me?'”
    32 And he looked around to see who had done it.
    33 But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.
    34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

  82. Mr.Morningstar

    AMAZI-GIRL IN THE BACKGROUND :OOOO

  83. Sir Robin

    Who will save Joyce?

    a) Billie
    b) Amazi-Girl
    c) Sarah
    d) Faz

    1. Asuka L.S.

      Me.

    2. Billy

      Jesus will save Joyce!

    3. James Rye

      e) The Joyce-army

      Your Joyce needs you! Join the Joyce-army today and fight for glory and Jesus!

      We don´t give you money though.

  84. Wooster

    Ung. Man. Willis, You’ve got your stage all set.

    Dorothy is distracted by the Amazi-Girl commotion. And Billie, is I can only assume getting post-drunk.

    When Joyce gets locked in the room with Ryan, no one is going to hear her screaming for help over the commotion going on in the background right now.

    Add to it that Sarah turned off her cell phone… Joyce is closed off from all methods of summoning external intervention.

    Joyce will be lucky if she gets away with just rape.

    And then Sarah’s stuck with putting the pieces back together.

    1. John

      You… you know this is a humour comic, right?

      1. Wooster

        Oh, I’m aware. But humor can be woven into what is otherwise horrific storyline.

        Ergo: “no one is going to hear her screaming for help over the commotion going on in the background right now.”

        Panel 1: Ryan intimidates Joyce
        Panel 2: Joyce Screams for help, or bangs on the door.
        Panel 3: Joyce wonders why no one is answering her.
        Panel 4: Shot of Amazi-girl battling frats with a whole lot of chaotic yelling and screaming.

        See? My hypothetical last panel maintains the humor and doesn’t dilute the seriousness of the Ryan plot. I wouldn’t be surprised if panels 3 and 4 happen almost verbatim. Most of the time, it’s only the last panel that has the punchline.

        1. David

          That’s not really funny.

        2. Mkvenner

          I think i’m going to be sick.

        3. Asuka L.S.

          I missed the joke in that outline.

  85. Dave

    Okay,… Now I have high hopes for Amazigirl to turn up and punch the bast@#& one.

  86. Randonimity

    Why… does Ryan make me think he looks like a male Leslie but with a bigger nose? D8

  87. nothri

    Its a scary thing when the best case scenario you can come up with for what he means be “find mark” is that he’s in a cult and looking to recruit. Note I say ‘best case’, not ‘most likely case’.

    1. Rex Hondo

      Well, BEST case scenario is probably that he’s just some kind of budget-brand Riddler-knockoff board game savant who suckers people into games just so he can lord it over them like a dork when he wins.

  88. saturnwonder

    I CAN’T WAIT TILL MONDAY!!

  89. myfiststhirstfornecks

    Ahaha, I just love how Amazi- girl is kickin’ ass in the background.

  90. quix

    Wow, we have a lot of people guessing rape.

    I doubt that, given that AFAIK he’s never had a forcible rape in any continuity ever. He does dark on occasion, but this isn’t his style.

  91. Magnus369

    I just checked the link in the twit frame for the gi joe steel brigade form. Wish I’d known about before the turn of the century, an old buddy of mine would’ve absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, the most I can do is get it for his son, who more than likely wouldn’t understand anyway.

  92. Seloa

    what about gambling? maybe he just wants to clean her out.

  93. Timinane

    Reading S*P before this makes me want to see Joyce pray “Don’t make this weird God” though I expect weird for Joyce would be naked Twister.

  94. jdb984

    Joyce should know that when you’re a female at a party, never go with a guy to an empty room away from the party. That’s just asking him to take advantage of you.

  95. Boringamus

    I was just archive binge’n Joyce and Walky…
    Boy do I feel stupid. derp-y derp.

  96. newllend

    Found dumbass girl, check

  97. BrokenEye, True False Prophet

    Mark? Have we met Mark ye—ohhhhhhh

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