457

Same
Posted on December 22, 2013 by David M Willis

457 thoughts on “Same”

  1. Tunaro

    OH MY HOLY FUCKIN’ SHIT.

    1. vonnegut

      This pretty much sums up my reaction. Thank you.

      1. nobody

        same here

        1. Cheryl

          WHoly shit snacks!!!!!

        2. Cthulhu21

          Oddly appropriate in this instance.

        3. FlashXX

          0 ^ o;…Wellsaidbye! *zoom off to hide from Armageddon*

    2. Jen Aside

      SYDNEY

      wait

      1. Henry

        Yus!

        …wait…

        1. David Herbert

          My first thought too.

          Wonder where she is in this.

        2. Gabe

          Running for Senator against Robin.

    3. AeroQC

      Took the words right out of my mouth.

    4. TheLurkerAbove

      What he said. Well done, Mr. Willis. *slow clap*

    5. Undrave

      Mine is “Ah! Called it!”

      1. Cody B

        While I did not call it, I did hear people call it, and it seemed reasonable enough, so I was expecting it.

    6. Vree

      I know right? That hairstyle is just plain catastrophic.

    7. Parnifia the Bastard

      HOLY DAMN EVERYTHING.

    8. Gemma Weasley

      ME TOOOO OMG

    9. Areonus

      Exactly what I said. Word for word.

    10. Aisling

      Time for amber to have a nuclear meltdown…

  2. Doctor_Who

    Yup. Completely freaking out. What a timid little mouse.

    1. Yotomoe

      That’s just how some of us deal with our stress. Some people twiddle their thumbs. Others hold up convenience stores.

      1. thecanvashat

        What’s that Sal? You’re worried? DON’T WORRY THE DOOR LOCKS FROM THE OUTSIDE.

      2. Heatth

        Yeah, she is stuttering and everything! Clearly freaking out here.

      3. Jack Finch

        Hey! It’s a legitimate strategy.

        1. Ourorboros

          It’s like a puffer fish strategy.

        2. Leorale

          FWOOMPH

      4. fogel

        Well, sure: “Repo Man”! (“I blame society…”)

      5. nothri

        Wow, people hold up convenience stores to relieve stress? I had no idea. How is that even possible? I get tired lifting a hundred pounds for extended periods.

  3. otusasio451

    Wait, what’s that sound? Oh, right, it’s Amber’s psyche SHATTERING.

    1. Tunaro

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKolsZiYkEU

      1. ninja_jesus

        I imagine that’s what Mike does all the time.

    2. Plasma Mongoose

      So what was that squishy noise that accompanied it then?

      1. MM

        Her faith in humanity?

        1. Tunaro

          Her brain going critical?

        2. otusasio451

          My assumption was that it was the merging of the past with the present, and the emulsification of the metaphysical walls of Amber’s perceived reality.

          Or she could have stepped in something. She is having one of those days.

        3. Plasma Mongoose

          Not one of her better days…

        4. Tunaro

          In my experience, days like this are usually resolved using the business end of a large truck.

        5. Plasma Mongoose

          Still better than the business end of a large monkey. 😀

        6. Leorale

          I’m spending entirely too much brain energy trying to figure out which end of a monkey is the business end. Such monkey business.

        7. Tunaro

          Would it be clearer if I said tha business end of a monkey’s monkey?

        8. nothri

          Eh. Ruth tried that already. She didn’t care for it.

        9. DEG1377

          What about the end of a monkey’s business…?

    3. Black Drazon

      Now let’s not get hasty, I think all the readers made a pretty big noise too!

  4. Herohatch

    Not the Nachitos, Sal!

    1. bustagus

      No wonder Walky isn’t sympathetic to her.

    2. Chest Manly

      I actually think she kicked the Nachitos stand because Walky likes them so much.

      1. rachel

        Chest Manly, your wisdom is inspirational.

        (that sounds sarcastic, I do not mean it sarcastically, it is just a lovely little poem of a sentence)

  5. Ourorboros

    Action Sal.
    Kept the cloths, this can’t end well.

  6. HMRC4EVR

    and this is where it all goes horribly wrong…wronger?

    1. A5PECT

      Wrong and Wronger.

      1. What was the question again?

        Danny & Dannier.

        (how people fail: Amber flips tables, Sal holds up convenience stores, Danny somehow metadanny’s himself using his slutty DS so that everybody else’s failures collide into one single mega fail that is all ultimately his fault)

  7. TboneJenkins

    DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNNN

    1. Richthofen

      My thoughts exactly.

  8. dimblecon

    There’s a lot of great things about this comic but the greatest thing is that Ethan is right.

    1. JustDucky

      This.

    2. MM

      Well, the parental issues are slightly different.

      1. Phil

        They both just had one bad day….

    3. dimblecon

      I mean obviously other great things include: sal kicking over a chips stand, sal with a machete knife, sal wearing the same clothes that she’s wearing now…

      It would be a more-great comic if amber were twirling the shit out of her hair

      Like, with both hands

  9. Zobot257

    Other people than me totally called it. I didn’t expect these two to have a connection at all.

  10. Kladeos

    Wow, Sal…

    Aw, you can hear her hesitance even as she looks super fierce.

    1. Yotomoe

      No you can’t. You can certainly read it though.

      1. Kladeos

        Same dif!

        1. AgentKeen

          I can hear it… with my Mind’s Eye!

        2. Drillgorg

          Your Mind’s Ear.

        3. LittleMountain

          “Mind’s Ear” is now a thing. Congratulations. You get a cookie.

  11. Plasma Mongoose

    TOTALLY CALLED IT. ^_^

    1. I don't know what to put here.

      …
      Did it answer the phone?

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        YES and then I was pulled out of the Matrix.

        1. KingMabel

          Note to self: Do not take the red pill

        2. Curacaobill

          I took both at once… Things went downhill from there.

        3. asmcint

          Hey, at least you didn’t grind them up and snort them, right?

          …right?

          Christ, someone call 911.

    2. Undrave

      Called it HIGH FIVE!

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        *BROFIST*

  12. Mr K

    And that’s when Amber’s hatecrush began.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      So Amber as Batman and Sal as Catwoman then? O.O

      1. Mr K

        Yup.

      2. Bob Ross

        Hottest fanfic idea EVER

        1. rachel

          I’M DYING

          SOMEBODY, ONE OF YOU TALENTED ARTERS OR SOME SUCH

          YOU GOTTA DO THIS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH

        2. Bob Ross

          Somebody do it for the poor dying girl!

        3. Hoboturtle

          Or the boy with the really unfortunate name!

        4. Bob Ross

          Google it!

      3. Gargamel

        More like Amber is Batman, Sal is Joe Chill. Less hot.

  13. HAB

    Holy mother of (whatever your into).

    1. Thasvaddef

      Holy mother of Sal!

      1. begbert2

        Naw she’s a jerk.

  14. Yotomoe

    OH MY GOD.
    Sal still has that same jacket.
    Well when you find a look that works.

    1. MM

      Looks like the same tank top, too.

      1. Yotomoe

        Musta stretched it out quite a bit if that’s the case.

        1. taekwondogirl

          Considering she was 13 at the time, it makes sense that it looks like it does now on her. That said though, it doesn’t have to be the same exact shirt. Sal figured out she likes tank tops and probably has a ton of them.

        2. Historyman68

          Wonder if her development was arrested at that age.

        3. Plasma Mongoose

          giggle-snort

      2. Plasma Mongoose

        It explains why it looks so tight on her now.

    2. John

      Same rest of the outfit, too, looks like. Maybe that’s why it’s so small.

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        Sal rebels against the need to wear new clothes.

        1. Mr K

          “Ah wonder why nobody wants to be around me”

        2. MM

          I figured she considered that a feature, not a bug.

        3. AgentKeen

          She might act like she doesn’t mind, but she’s hanging out with Danny after just meeting him.

  15. Michael Furst

    OMG what’s with all the plot twists every five comics?

    1. insomniac

      You’re new to Willis’ strips. aren’t you?

      We used to measure out the weeks by the DRAMATIC CLIFFHANGER on Friday.

    2. kagato23

      to be fair, a lot of people here saw this coming a lot sooner then 5 strips ago.

  16. someguywithakatana

    It’s like. Parent’s day is over. Now everything can calm down and we can go back to some nice, light-hearted fun.

    And then nope. A whole lotta nope.

    1. Kladeos

      No we’re on Sunday of Freshman Family Weekend. Day 2.

      1. Tunaro

        Today’s main event, Amber “Amazi-Grl” Vs. Sally (Don’t hurt me!) “Sal” Walkerton!!!

      2. AgentKeen

        Yaaaay, Freshman Family Weekend….

  17. Mer

    Uh-oh.

  18. jrgolden42

    What? No Nachitos tag?

  19. Rabbling Rouser

    Even though she’d probably kick my ass i have to say Robber Sal is so adorable

    1. Yotomoe

      Sal, robbin’ stores and Robin’ boys.
      What doesn’t she steal?

      1. Kladeos

        She already stole my heart.

        1. I don't know what to put here.

          She stole my lungs.

        2. Michael Furst

          She stole my kidney to get her motorcycle

        3. Plasma Mongoose

          She stole my Stole coat.

        4. Jonathan S.

          She stole some Stoli.

        5. Arkantos

          She stole my pants. Just cause.

        6. Mr K

          Fitting Gravitar.

        7. Robin

          You came here without those, honey.

        8. WaytoomanyUIDs

          She stole my stollen

        9. James

          And My Ax!

        10. Jen Aside

          She stole lots “eh”s

          [shoot, that almost palindromes]

        11. Undrave

          She stole her accent from a random yokel.

  20. Kartewns

    OH LAWD

  21. Archivist

    Well that explains this flashback.

  22. Aakriti

    Uh oh…

  23. Kernanator

    I am blowing on one of the curly noise thingies, holding a sparkler in each hand, as fireworks go off in the background in the shape of “I KNEW IT”.

    Or at least, that’s what I wish was happening.

    1. Yotomoe

      Ah man. You’re celebrating more than I did about Jocelyne not being gay.

      1. Kernanator

        You can borrow my celebration next time one of your specualtions turns out to be true. Or you can even try to top it!

        1. Yotomoe

          I will if I ever get off my ass and start animatin’

    2. Kladeos

      Sounds like an episode of Community.

    3. Jon P

      Kinda like this?

  24. Shogouki

    The possibilities of this getting worse are sadly getting better. Poor girl(s).

  25. GoogerGeiger

    Oh no, oh shit. The flashback is OVER? I’m not ready. MY BODY IS NOT READY.

    1. Jen Aside

      You wanna wallow in Twinkies?

    2. Bill

      Don’t think the flashback is over; we still haven’t seen the scene where Amber is cowering (along with Ethan, as Willis alluded to when he talked about the difference in skin tone in the comments a couple days ago) behind the display rack.  This is just to make sure that each and every one of us realize that the robber is Sal.

      There’s also a couple of questions about the robberies that maybe need to be answered — such as is this the first of the two, or is this the second one?  And was the second robbery successful, or did something go wrong which resulted in Sal getting caught; and if so, how?

      1. Undrave

        Well, for one she’s not really hiding her identity much.

        1. WaytoomanyUIDs

          I suspect there was only this one and Walky was being an ass. I imagine shes just run out of the house after a particularly bad session of bieng told how wonderful Walky is and how useless she is and how she’s dressed dressd like a slut. Seeing the nachitos stand caused here to snap because Walky was probbaly sitting there all through iit eating nachitos and genarally being unsupportive

  26. Mr K

    Come on, that’s obviously Walky in drag.

    1. Doctor_Who

      Walky would NEVER destroy innocent Nachitos.

      1. Bob Ross

        Much truth here

      2. Tunaro

        Nah, see, he freaks out the clerk with that fake knife, then scoops up as many bags ‘a Nachitos as he can an’ bolts.

        1. Really?

          Who owns a fake knife?

  27. I don't know what to put here.

    What a koinky-dink.

    1. pyrophobia

      Boingg

  28. Doctor_Who

    Amazi-Girl is like the anti-Batman. If the robber had killed her dad it would have FIXED her.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      +1 LIKE

    2. Leorale

      +1 ALSO. Yay

    3. Opus the Poet

      You sir are a genius.

    4. Dr. Paul

      Blaine is not going to be happy when he comes in and some twerp of a girl is getting in his way by pretending she is bad ass. Finally, someone he can hurt in public.

  29. Pyr05

    The gears. They’re clicking together! What’s Amber going to do now?

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      Less of a click and more of a grind.

      1. Leorale

        There are sparks coming off of them.

    2. Pat

      Combat?

      1. The Phantom's Belch

        Mortal Kombat.
        #cue: cheezy techno-pop instrumental

  30. Idon'tcarenomore

    Sal is about to die?

    Don’t think Amber is going to go catatonic after all, Sal is coming in sharp and clear on Amazi-girls radar. Talk about a repressed memory.

    And Danny is going to be his usual totally useless self whichever way it goes.

    1. Jack Finch

      I think this is out of anybody’s league. Not just Danny’s.

    2. Undrave

      Yeah Danny is just going to totally danny it up and think Amber’s hostility toward Sal is based on jealousy.

      1. Ourorboros

        Amber is going to say something about the robber. Danny will take that as further confirmation that Sal is Amazi-Girl – that incident made her change for good.
        Sal may be embarrassed and try to leave or get angry and defend herself.
        Danny will at some point say he understands, etc.
        That mess continues until some later point, when the truth is revealed to the chagrin of many.

        1. James

          5 internets says Danny will think Amber was the robber.

        2. Ourorboros

          For sure. What I meant was that Danny will tell Sal she understands about changing since the robbery. He will think that he is saying that in reference to becoming Amazi-Girl, Sal will think that Danny seeing her for what she is now, not then.
          Which leaves Amber as being in the wrong.

    3. Steve C

      Maybe Amber forgets herself and uses the Amazigirl voice in front of Danny? Nah, that’d be too simple.

      Gotta say I’m not sure I’m feeling this development. I’m reserving judgment, but so far on the plot twist scale from “Wow, that blows my mind!” to “Oh, COME ON!” this is dangerously towards the later for me.

  31. Sensedog

    I get the feeling that this part of the comic may (at least later on) turn into a cliche story of forgiveness. Honestly, that would be boring and predictable. However, everything else that happens up to that point would make the situation interesting.

    1. LBD "Nytetrayn"

      Aw, who wouldn’t want to see a team-up between Sal and Amazi-Girl?

  32. John Madden

    http://dundundun.net

    AW SHIT SON

  33. Aakriti

    Is it just me or Sal looks cuter in panel 5 than in panel 4?

    1. Kladeos

      Nah, it’s true. Serenity outweighs littleness for her cuteness.

      1. Aakriti

        Having said that, I see why it was tough for Willis to draw Sal as a teenager.

    2. Really?

      One would hope that you’d prefer an 18-year-old, relaxed Sal to a 13-year-old psychopath version. At least, I’m one that would hope so.

  34. JebJeb

    There’s gonna be a bloodbath.

  35. wynne

    Everyone in this strip has major issues and they all need to see qualified and supportive counselors.

    1. wynne

      Like, right now. These people need some positive stability, stat.

      1. Ess

        Dorothy seems pretty well-adjusted and has her priorities in check, but she works too hard.
        Joe is wild, but not a mess.
        You know who’s really got it together? Walky.
        Mike has a pretty good grip on the world around him. He just needs to see your mom. For a nickel.

        1. Kladeos

          Fuck no. Walky’s living in a state of perpetual childhood. He’s so insecure he thinks owning more than one pair of shoes makes him less of a man.

        2. Leorale

          Sierra seems cool, too. But yeah. If you’re a main character in this comic stip, you probably have brain problems!

          (And Kladeos’s avvy is appropriate.)

        3. Ourorboros

          Walky is childish – and 18. Don’t remember any kids that age being actually mature, with a grip on life. Not even the supposedly mature ones – mature for the age has that major qualifier.
          But his issues don’t need therapy. College is a great place to turf kids while they grow up and learn 2 years of stuff in 4 years.
          Between Dorothy and his mom, Walky will be pushed into growing up and finding direction.

        4. kagato23

          Agreed. Walky is apt to grow out of his problems all on his own through life. Or at least find a manageable balance.

          Most of the other characters seem to be on the path to bad ends without change.

        5. Ourorboros

          I don’t know about really bad ends, they aren’t more screwed up than most people. But not good paths.
          Walky and Dorothy balance each other. He’s childish for 18, but not too immature for the age. She is too serious, because an HS honor’s student who was also on the track team shouldn’t need to study 24/7 just for some A’s.

          But Mike is there to straighten everybody out. I’d love to see a version of DoA where he is just Batman Gambitting everybody into facing their issues. Not possible, but it would be fun.

        6. Mr K

          Roz seems happy.

        7. MM

          I don’t exactly get the feeling she’s trying to hook up Robin and Leslie out of the goodness of her heart, though.

        8. Ourorboros

          That isn’t a ‘major issue’ in that sense. Conniving is not troubled.
          However, those who have that much free sex are either really free or covering other problems. Swingers are some of the most unhappy people you’ll meet.
          Her character can be seen as a rejection of her sister. That isn’t really a healthy reason to have sex. The problem with being a rebel is that often they define themselves in terms of who they are rebelling against.

        9. WaytoomanyUIDs

          Joe is an oddly appropriate avatar for that comment

        10. taekwondogirl

          I’d agree, but I’m not sure I like that you aren’t accounting for any middle ground with Roz.

        11. kagato23

          I dunno about that. It certainly happens, but I’ve been an outlier in a community before where not directly involved but knew people and honestly I’d say more like a 40/60 mix. of miserable/happy. Some folks really are just free.

        12. Ourorboros

          Sure, I already said some people are just very open sexually.
          I didn’t mean it as a blanket statement that all swingers are unhappy. Just that many are miserable people – it’s clearly their version of drinking their problems away.

        13. V Missirian

          I like your last sentence.

        14. Rutee

          I don’t know what swingers YOU know, but… XD

        15. timemonkey

          Walky is just as fucked up as Sal, just in different ways. probably won’t get anyone killed in this universe though.

        16. taekwondogirl

          Uuuh… noooo? Walky has standard 18 year old issues. Sal has ISSUES.

    2. Plasma Mongoose

      I haven’t seen this many messed up people in a series since the original Evangelion.

      1. Arkantos

        What about School Days?

      2. sps48

        What, are they more normal in 2.0 or whatever? (and who is that girl in pink???)

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          Pink?? The grav I’m using as of this posting is Toph wearing her “brown is beautiful” costume.

        2. Keroshino

          I think he was talking about the Evangelion character, Mari
          Wears a Pink plug suit!!!

        3. James

          I miss Azula giving no f*cks in her pink tee

  36. Baker

    Wait, so are we not getting the full flashback then? Nooooo

    1. Darth Cariss

      I don’t think we really need to see much more from Amber’s perspective here. I’m guessing we’ll get more of this flashback from Sal’s point of view eventually, and maybe Ethan’s (but probably not).

      1. begbert2

        It will turn out that Ethan was an action hero and sprung out and subdued Sal. You have never seen anything so manly in your life – and neither had Amber. Premature dating ensues.

  37. Totz the Plaid

    I forget who, but I know someone predicted this.

    1. Totz the Plaid

      I mean, the prediction was that the store Sal robbed was the one from Amber’s previous one-panel flashback to this.

      1. Yotomoe

        Um…I’d say like 10 people.
        None of them were me.

        1. Robin

          Yeah, apparently some of them predicted this years ago. I only found out about the prediction two or three days ago.

        2. begbert2

          I thought it was common knowledge by now.

  38. TSB

    I think Sal should feel remorse and try to make amends with Amber, when she finds out that Amber is that girl. Personally, I can’t root for her as a character until she does. Not that I don’t like her or how she’s written – I wouldn’t say I’m rooting against her! – but I probably won’t feel invested in her success otherwise. Threatening innocent strangers with a knife is crossing a line, even though she probably never intended to use it.

    That said, it’s really striking how young she looks in the flashback. Poor Sal is just as young and scared as Amber and Ethan are. It’s so awful that she was so hurt she felt this was the right path.

    1. Yotomoe

      Yeah, I guess she does owe Amber at least an apology. They can bond over wiggler.

    2. begbert2

      I suspect that to Sal, Amber was basically a non-entity in that scene. She was facing down the store clerk, not Amber, and probably paid little attention to anyone else there. She would probably have no stronger feelings toward that person she didn’t notice behind the shelf than to the person she didn’t notice peacefully sleeping the night away in their house across town.

      1. TSB

        Well, yeah, that’s what I’m saying. She didn’t do this to hurt and threaten Amber/random customer girl. But she did. It doesn’t matter what intentions she had, waving a knife yelling “this is a holdup” is a threat to everyone in earshot.

        1. begbert2

          And my point is that Sal may have a hard time feeling genuine regret for harming somebody she didn’t even know was there.

  39. PureFedora

    Beware: My interpretation of events follows. I think that explains a lot actually. Funny how small parts of conversation stick with you for life. Ethan’s words to Amber had a really powerful effect on her. Saying she might be the same as Sal, and then seeing Sal become a “villain” frightened Amber. Though naturally timid , she also struggles with anger issues that she sees inherited from her father. She sees Sal being compared to her and gets this terror that this is what she’ll become. This could very well be an inevitability. And so, in order to prevent this, she becomes Amazi-girl, using it as a coping mechanism to deal with her own insecurities, strengthen her moral fiber, and to find a strong outlet for her physical (angry-ish) inclinations. This became exaggerated as she dealt with more and more heavy stressors in her life.

    1. rachel

      Word. I like this. thanks dude

      1. Athedia

        Gotta say, your pictures were perfect for this 😛

        1. rachel

          haha yay you’re right : ) the amber one I made myself, because I looooooove heeerrrrrr

    2. Ourorboros

      Amber doesn’t see that she has anger issues like Blaine until Mike made his point. In fact, she was worried about growing up to be a victim like her mom.
      My idea is – This is the cathartic incident that brings Amber out of her shell. She is tired of being a victim – of her father, of other kids as epitomized by Sal.
      That is why she starts to interact with others. As she told Dina, she only learned to do so recently.
      But having Blaine as a father and the traumatic incident of the hold up built up a lot of negative emotion. Emotion Amber doesn’t have a release for. So she becomes Amazi-Girl, her ultimate expression of her emancipation from fear.
      Regular Amber learns to control her anxieties enough to go among people. Amazi-Girl conquers fears by using her negative emotions (unknowingly inherited or modeled from Blaine) on the Sal substitutes.
      So Amber gets to express the dark side of herself she has no other way to do, as she told Danny. She also gets to do it in the nerdy way, as it is established she is a comic book fan.

      1. fogel

        S’good analysis–including Mike as catalyst through his need to tell people truths about themselves …

      2. PureFedora

        Well said.

  40. CJGrimm

    I’m going to assume Walky never got the full details on this event. He would never forgive Sal for destroying a nachito stand like that.

    1. Ancestral Hamster

      Walky (Weeping): Ah, Nachitos , I hardly knew ye …

    2. Bill

      I Googled ‘nachitos’ and according to the illustration it seems to just be tortilla chips covered in cheese, salsa, meat, and other gook….which is what I always thought were just plain ‘nachos’.  Would someone please tell me just what is the difference, or is this something like a brand name that is specific to the Bloomington area?

      1. Dara

        I think it’s a brand specific to the Walkyverse that’s basically the equivalent of Doritos.

      2. Jen Aside

        They are SMALL nachos

  41. Rosicrucian

    Well, we knew they sent her off to Catholic school for a reason…

    1. Yotomoe

      Yes. We also knew that it was THIS reason.

      1. Rosicrucian

        Ayup. Nobody should be surprised that Sal’s knocked over a convenience store or two. Right there in the cast entry.

        1. Pat

          Didn’t she and Walky talk about it pretty recently?

        2. Ourorboros

          Yes. Those interactions go like this –
          1) They interact for some reason, alone.
          2) Sal gets irritated for seemingly little reason.
          3) It escalates
          4) Walky brings this robbery attempt up
          5) Rest of conversation goes to hell.

          The most recent was after family day. It came out that Sal did this because of Mommy issues. To Sal, Walky was always mom’s favorite and knows this. To Sal, it is because Walky has fairer skin. So this was a cry for attention.
          Walky had no idea. He thought he was the favorite after robbery (attempt). He didn’t know about the internal life of Sal.

          Of course they have the same skin tone, as far as I’ve noticed. Research also shows that parents tend to favor their opposite-gendered child. How much that is true in DoA is anybody’s guess.

        3. Sam

          It wasn’t because Walky has ‘fairer’ skin, it is because he ACTS more like a ‘white’ person than Sal does. He likes things which are more associated with ‘white’ culture than Sal does. To Sal, he was always their PARENTS’ favourite, and as he was smart enough to just cruise through life, Sal of course felt like she had to try incredibly hard to even get close to him. And when being good didn’t pander out, she switched to rebelling for attention instead.

        4. fogel

          Sal made a move on parents day–the good girl outfit and demeanor–that must have cost her but which Mommma W didn’t even really recognize or respond to in her CONTNUING focus on Walky. Sal STILL wants Mom’s love, Mom is still stuffing her in favor of Walky, Walky is still oblivious (blame Mom), …and Dad W is barely there.

        5. The Candyman

          There’s also his hair, which is straighter than Sal’s. That probably played a role.

        6. kagato23

          I see that as more of a symptom. Right or wrong about her familys focus (and it’s been implied it’s a least a little right), Sal’s the way she is over more then just the hair. It’s the everything.

        7. Ourorboros

          Sal see’s the reason for Walky being the favorite as a result of him being whiter. “It fuckin’ started the day we were born and you came out whiter”.
          Doesn’t look to me like it’s about Walky acting whiter.
          It’s all about mom. Sal got dad to see her, but not mom. That’s when she slunk away. She yelled at Walky about how mom acted, who her favorite was, and tried to get mom’s attention.
          If you haven’t noticed, it’s mom who runs things in that household.

  42. Alex Stritar

    Well, Amber recognizes Sal, but does Sal recognize Amber?

    1. MM

      She’s definitely noticed something. Though she could just be wondering why that girl with the glasses looks ready to either run in terror or kill her.

      1. Yotomoe

        “That girl’s got some nice cans…”

        1. Mr K

          “Ah wonder if she’ll let me play with them.”

      2. khambatta

        Sal’s just realised that she was smiling.
        Now she’s worried that that’s her quota of smiling all used up for this universe.

  43. Chase

    Who pulled the drama tag in this universe?

    1. MM

      It never had one. One of the many perils of realism.

      1. Chase

        Why is reality so much more terrifying than giant mutant frosted honey bun?

        1. fogel

          That’s why stories have superfrostedhoneybuns that can be defeated by super heroes OR ordinaries stepping up to be heroes–WAY easier to deal with than reality: see Mike in Shortpak re the most recent S-man movie. (Btw, I didn’t pick this graveyard, the algorthm did….)

      2. Bob Ross

        The horrors of realism, EXPOSED! Don’t let YOUR webcomics try realism or this could happen to YOUUUUUUU!

        1. Jack Finch

          Talk to your kids about realism.

      3. Hoboturtle

        In my head, there never being a drama tag is why there are no aliens in this universe. It literally brought them to earth to make things wackier.

    2. David Willis

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2010/comic/book-1/01-move-in-day/forget/

      1. begbert2

        That strip wasn’t nearly dramatic enough to get the message across. You clearly should have broken out the psychological trauma and violent freakouts on day 1.

  44. Tom Speelman

    HOLY. SHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.

  45. LiaHansen

    The “T-” in Sal’s line adds so much to this strip.

    1. rachel

      dude agreed, it’s a really nice touch

      1. begbert2

        But shouldn’t it actually have been “Th-this”? Nobody enunciates that T as a separate sound.

  46. newllend

    When a normal theif is robbing is robbing a store , they just walk through a store and says T”This is a stick up!”, but when sal is robbing a store she runs in, kicks something over and fucking annonces This is a fucking stick up!

    Oh and Willis if your reading this about the last strip , I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone or offend anyone I’m sorry, I was just posting my thoughts

    1. Yotomoe

      Also she uses a knife and not a gun. Because bullets would only be a handicap.

    2. Thor

      I’d be offended mostly because you are misquoting the comic.

  47. so279

    I imagine the last frame with that music from “Kill Bill,” the music that sounds like a emergency siren when Kiddo ‘The Bride’ sees one of the assassins that killed her wedding party and tried to kill her.

    1. Yotomoe

      weeee wooooo
      weeee wooooo

      1. newllend

        Dun Duna Dundaaaaaaaa

    2. Ess

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOy6hqzfsAs

      1. Bill

        Are you sure you didn’t mean this one?
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJySOf2jPnU

        1. so279

          Bill?! I thought she killed you?!

        2. Megatron

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jMruFHTwrY&list=PLgI2JuO9smZ5yQ1yDjPuMeOQa2vX0QGyn

  48. Aakriti

    This might be a ridiculous thought. But could it be that we’re reading too much into the “T-” in panel 4? Maybe it happened because Sal was trying to balance the dangling cigarette and speak at the same time?

  49. Sageress

    Damn, she wants twinkies WAY more than Amber.

    1. Mr K

      She likes junk food? Well, at least she has something in common with her brother.

    2. Spliced

      That gets funnier when you think who Sal slept with

      1. Sageress

        BAZOW

    3. so279

      Someone should be like “Dude, Sal! Chill! I just watched the news and Hostess is back in business! They’re gonna keep making them!!”

      1. Sageress

        Sal have a snickers

  50. Fuzzydaemon

    And Sal was what? 13 at the time?

    Sal and Amber are coming from almost the opposite place with similar results. Sal got no positive attention from her parents. Amber got all negative attention from her dad. I think Stacy was probably loving, but overwhelmed dealing with her asshole dickhead abuser husband.

  51. TrueVCU

    Turns out Dumbing of Age was actually Crash all along.

    1. Sageress

      I don’t see how bandicoots factor in at all, honestly.

  52. Sam

    You’ve gotta be kidding me.

  53. Jesse

    OH SNAP!

  54. Jack Finch

    Well I think this is going to turn out just fine….right?

    1. rachel

      OH YEAH THIS’LL BE FINE SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURE

    2. Sageress

      For somebody who solves mysteries you sure aren’t the sharpest

  55. Cthulhu's Intern

    Is Sal going to turn out to be Amazi-Girl’s Joe Chill?

  56. Someone

    What is the hover text? On my phone.

    1. Leorale

      “It is rough to draw a thirteen-year-old Sal whose adorableness doesn’t overwhelm her supposed badassery”

    2. Shubs

      Protip: Tapping the right side of the area just under the comic should pop the alt text on mobile/tablet.

  57. Yotomoe

    Sal’s been holding her cigarette at that angle since she was a tyke.

  58. GoldStarz

    Sal is like some strange mix of adorable and OH GOD GET ME OUT OF HERE I WANT TO LIVE.

    1. GoldStarz

      *13-year old Sal

  59. IronDesk

    WHELP…It’s DEFINITELY NOT repressed five finger discount memories. This is going to be odd.

  60. Darbinator716

    This is going to be interesting, when Danny totally realizes that Amber is Amazi-Girl, which has GOT to happen if she flips.

    1. C.W. Roden

      Unless Sal kicks her ass, which is also possible if not likely especially if Amber has the element of surprise.
      Then again if she goes into Amazi-Girl mode while as her default Bruce Wayne mode, especially in front of everyone else, that could be far worse for her than just Danny-boy finding out.

  61. Arkantos

    Am I going to hell for wanting to laugh at this? Because I feel guilty about it.

    1. Zuche

      Going to hell for not identifying with characters in a work of fiction? What kind of religion would–

      Er… Well, the answer is still no.

  62. Jay Eff

    Sal?!
    Jumpin’ Funk Nuggets!!

  63. Alex

    Danny: “Don’t worry, Amber, I know she looks intimidating, but she’s really Amazigirl!”

    1. Mr K

      Amber: Come on, that’s Faz.

  64. timemonkey

    See, the really bad thing is that Blaine is still outside and will have no sympathy after this.

  65. Jack Faire

    Where’s her lead pipe? Where’s Amber’s homemade comic Science Boy?

  66. Deathjavu

    So many, many people called it.

    I’m not so humble as to not mention one of them was me CALLED IT!

    …oh. Right. That’s a terrible thing in the context of the story. Damn. A bittersweet victory.

  67. joegkushner

    Oh well played.

  68. Ridureyu

    And now Amber stabs Sal with a cafeteria spoon?

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      SPOOOOOOOOOOON! *spulick*

      1. fogel

        Knew a Marine hand-to-hand instructor who said he’d pick the spoon over fork or knife for a fight because it would confuse his opponent AND he could mess someone up hella bad with a spoon. That was a dude you did NOT want to mess with.

  69. Muttski

    Wow, Amber really was a basket case back then. It makes her seem like a relatively, sensible and well adjusted individual now.

    As for Sal…WOW! Whatta gal!

  70. Dierna

    So that’s why she prefers to have straight hair. Sal’s curly hair is her “Im a gonna rob ya now!” hair…

  71. maarvarq

    Everybody sing! “It’s a small world after all…”

    1. Mr K

      It’s actually Sal’s half cousin from Russia.

  72. Bilfred

    neat.

  73. Rufus Saltus

    Well shit

  74. rachel

    DUDE. people were saying this, and, I don’t know, I guess, ok, but, REALLY???? AAAAHHHHH

    also how is it possible that amber wouldn’t have seen sal before now? right? isn’t that insane? are we still like two weeks into classes??

    1. Seerow

      She did see her. The speculation started a long time ago because Amber saw Sal and had a weird expression on her face.

      1. rachel

        Wow. I’m a dang-near constant re-reader of this comic (so good y’all) and I didn’t catch that. I’LL LOOK IT UP

        unless someone beats me to it

      2. rachel

        HEYO

        just check out amber’s face in all of these:

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/tag/amber+sal/

      3. rachel

        super nice observation my friend

  75. Kiggy

    Congratz to those of you who called it.

    And now, to wait a looooong 24 hours…..

  76. Leon

    Holy SHIT, man!!!

  77. Boy Blunder

    I just mouthed a silent “Holy Shit!”

    Well done, Willis.

  78. newllend

    Imagine if sal got into Some late at night and amazi-girl shows up and they get into a fight , then Danny shows up on the seen See’s it all and is like ” wait your suppose to de…but are, WHO are you people!?

  79. Flare

    oh shit

    1. Leonou

      My sentiment exactly.

  80. Mattyos

    Oh god…older more physically capable Amber is going to murder Sal…and if she doesn’t something is going to happen that causes her and Danny great pain…but holy shit this makes sense

    1. luxlucis

      I think Sal also seems more physically capable.

      1. John

        But has Sal spent the last five years training to be the best at DDR?

        1. Charles Phipps

          Amber could totally take Sal.

  81. Bunk

    Notice what Sal knocked over. The holdup is totally Walky’s fault indirectly.

  82. Jake

    And it just dawns on everyone that these two characters haven’t seen each other throughout the entirety of the comic.

    1. Kernanator

      Nope, they have. Or to be more accurate, Amber has seen Sal.

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-1/06-yesterday-was-thursday/margaret/

      1. Red Robot

        Sal and Ethan have not met, on the other hand…But I would bet that from his perspective the holdup is just a barely remembered bit of unpleasantness, as opposed to a life-defining milestone.

      2. TheLurkerAbove

        Oh my goodness, does that explain Amber’s face in that comic?!

        1. Red Robot

          I may be reading too much into it, but I think its interesting that they were standing as far away from each other as possible in the floor meeting: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/03-answers-in-hennessy/other-guys/

        2. ninja_jesus

          Probably a coincidence, though it is interesting to point that out because that means this is their first face-to-face confrontation; I hope she doesn’t blow it.

        3. xain

          what better way to deal with your demons than them in punching them in the face

        4. Zuche

          Sharing a hot shower together? Wait, wrong conversation. I’ll just let myself out.

      3. Jack Finch

        Hella impressive detail monitoring Kernanator.

      4. kagato23

        Yeah, after that time, Amber was probably all “just some girl who looks simliar, calm down, no way that was her.”

        This time though, it’d be hard NOT to recognize her.

      5. Bill

        If you do a tag search for Amber and Sal together (amber+sal) you will find that they have appeared in the same strip a total of five time (and today’s strip is one of them).  We can assume that they may have seen one another across the room at the floor meeting, for example, but they have had exactly zero interaction.

  83. Lurlock

    She’s holding up a store with a KNIFE? No wonder she got caught. Most of those convenience stores have a shotgun under the counter. She’s lucky she didn’t get her fool head blown off…

    1. Athedia

      At this stage she probably wouldn’t have minded. Then at least her parents would focus on her for once instead of her brother and people say nice things at funerals. I am just making myself feel more like giving Sal a hug.

      1. Thor

        That sentiment goes great with your current avatar.

  84. Claire

    OMG OMG OMG! I never thought of this possibility until a couple of strips ago when someone mentioned it. Flashback Sal! All hell is going to break loose now.

  85. Jammy

    Oh

    Well

    That explains so much.

  86. Gordon Blvd

    you know………….someone called this – sometime since this flashback started – someone said they saw this coming. I didnt believe it – but WOW!

    1. Gordon Blvd

      lol um, like Claire said six minutes ago 🙂

    2. taekwondogirl

      Someone actually called it months and months ago, before this storyline began! I don’t recall where exactly it first started, but I believe it was on the comic where Amber recognized Sal in the hallway.

    3. Kitschensyngk

      I kinda saw it coming, too. In the strip before the flashback I recognized the unruly tufts of hair in the fourth panel.

  87. Kutharos

    Wow…just when I thought this couldn’t get worse. What’s next for Amber and her lovely psyche ride of hell?

    1. Kitschensyngk

      Simple. Blaine makes another appearance.

      Or maybe Faz.

  88. Kitschensyngk

    I think Amazi-Girl’s found her first archenemy.

  89. Taara

    CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

  90. Baker

    Did Danny have his hand on Sal a few strips ago? It kinda looked like he did, but why she would tolerate that I don’t know. If that’s what Amber saw or thinks she saw though she’s gonna flip even more.

    1. IndigoAK

      I think he did, but I’m not sure it meant anything. It looks like he has his hand on her back and was about to point something out in the game (half extender index finger) when he noticed Amber and stopped mid-motion.

  91. Alex Stritar

    So, get the feeling Ethan saying dumb things isn’t a recent trend.

  92. Em

    Wait does Sal recognize Amber? What’s that look on her face?

    1. Cope

      I’m guessing she’s wondering why Amber is staring at her.

      1. insomniac

        “For you, the day that Sal held up a convenience store was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was a Tuesday.”

  93. Rani

    HEEEERE’S SALLY

  94. CarlaGriffin

    Sal, when is the last time you bought clothes?

  95. Charles Phipps

    I’m again, totally supportive Dumbing of Age ending with several deaths. School Days, man! School Days!

    1. Jack Finch

      Red Wedding Redux!

      1. Charles Phipps

        *Plays “The Rains of Castamere* Walky, Amber, Ethan, Sal, and Danny all die horribly. The new cast is made up of Dinah, Joyce, Sarah, and Joe taking up the slack in wake of the horror.

        1. Jack Finch

          Riley ends up played by Peter Dinklage.

  96. Synnerman

    Tonight on Kung Fu Exploitation Theater:

    “SISTERS OF RAGE”

    1. Synnerman

      subtitled “Bad Girls Gone Worse”

  97. Reynard-Miri

    Damn it, Sal. -_-

  98. Keroshino

    And then Amber attacks Sal…Amazi-girl Style!

  99. LionHeart

    OH COME ON!

  100. JepMZ

    Is there a Serena/Usagi attending this school too? Maybe her Imperial Silver crystal is gravitating everyone into this one little spot out of the whole world

  101. RandomRedMage

    in b4 amber flips on sal.

  102. Zaxares

    And cue epic flip-out in 3…

    2…

    1…

  103. Robin

    Hey, Amber’s talking with a normal volume again.

  104. John

    I wonder if it would help or hurt matters if Blaine chose this moment to bust into the dorm again, and Sal gave Amber an assist with him.

    1. ninja_jesus

      Oh my god this would be the best thing.

  105. ninja_jesus

    Well, time for some long-time-coming catharsis from Amber. I can see Danny getting some collateral damage in this confrontation, as well. Poor everyone in this: Amber’s breakdown, Sal’s violent past, and Danny’s innocent stupidity are all reaching the boiling point.

  106. K. Ivan Ruppert

    I really dig Young Sal’s design. She’s adorable in a troubled teen rebel punk tomboy kind of way.

  107. Gargamel

    So Sal is going to die now I guess.

    1. James

      please Amazi-girl may be immune to criticism, but not a boot to bread basket.

      1. Gargamel

        She’s a highly skilled martial artist, genius and I meant literally kill.
        Sal might be able to punch but all Amber needs is one grasp of Sal’s neck and she’s gone.
        Heck if Amber has really gone over the edge I bet she could take down quite a few students/security personnel before being terminated by a police sniper whilst she’s covered in blood and entrails.

  108. CianM1301

    Wow, that was somewhat of a quick flashback.

  109. Czigot

    Well this explains Amazi-Girl. Even though Sal is holding the knife backwards, just the way adorable 13 year-old acting out without any intention or ability to use it would. On the other hand, that is a combat knife. Who sold that to her? How does she talk without dropping the cigarette in her mouth? Who sold her the cigarette? Do clothes Sal wore when she was 13 really fit her now? Have I been watching too much Cinema Sins?

    1. Bill

      re: holding the knife: that does appear to be a correct grip if one is going to stab downward at something.  And is left-handed.

      1. John

        Yeah, but that’s about all you can do with it held like that. You’ve got one cut, but both it and the icepick stab are only useful in close, which in a knife fight means your opponent can cut you before you can cut them. Or in this situation, if she wants to be a threat to a clerk behind a counter, she’s going to have to literally climb up on the counter to even be able to reach them.

        Holding it point-forward gives you a lot more options for both cutting and stabbing angles, and more reach with both slash and thrust.

        And I think Sal is right-handed, though I’m not positive.

  110. gka

    All the drama.

    1. Jack Finch

      With half the calories.

      1. Zuche

        But twice the salt. Stupid tears.

  111. Tualha

    Wow. Didn’t see that coming. Now I have to reread the entire archive and see if she’s run into Sal before. I don’t have time! Agh!

    Jeez Sal, ever think of wearing a mask when committing a felony in front of cameras? Makes me think she wanted to get caught. Maybe she did. Teenage rebellion writ large.

    1. Nono

      They haven’t. The only people they know mutually before today were Dina and Mike, too.

      1. insomniac

        They passed in the halls once or twice, but didn’t talk. Search the tags for “Amber + Sal”

  112. Vigne the 3rd

    and full circle it is….

  113. WebComicGeek11

    Well, THAT escalated quickly! O_o

  114. Yet-One-More-Idiot

    Sal looks so…intense, playing that DSLite. And I get the feeling Amber’s about to do a flying tackle on her. Not that she can’t take care of herself.

    W00t! I started reading DoA about 4 days ago and finally caught up to the present! ^_^

  115. fantasyfreakvi

    Wow, when Danny Danny’s a situation, he REALLY Danny’s it up.

  116. hof1991

    So, where did Sal and Amber get their martial arts training? Bet Indiana is just over run with dojos and both sets of parents were so supportive of making their kids young killing machines. Just being emotionally stunted isn’t often the best course to comb skills and neither is playing video games.

    One bad sign for this whole crew is that they still dress like they were 13. Except Sal now wears a bra.

    1. insomniac

      I’m sure Amber had plenty of chances to learn some techniques. Five years training to become a masked vigilante for a girl with violence and anger issues.

      Sal, meanwhile, spent the last several years in a catholic school. Nuns do not fuck around.

    2. John

      Is there any evidence that Sal has any martial arts training? We’ve seen her scuffle with Ruth (who does seem to know at least some judo or similar), but she relied on a surprise attack from behind and still got an elbow to the solar plexus for her trouble. Holding a knife doesn’t mean you know how to use it, and Sal isn’t holding that knife like someone who knows how to use it.

      I could see Amber getting her mom to let her take martial arts “for self-defense”, especially after the robbery incident. Probably not a good dojo, or they’d have taught her methods of dealing with her anger without hitting people, but there are belt factories everywhere, and it’d give her something to build some practical experience on top of.

  117. EdoKara

    oh sweet dear jesus lord almighty what the hell willis!

  118. Kat

    Well holy shit, i did not see that coming

  119. owltawny

    Sal went from adorable/stabby to absolutely gorgeous.

  120. berober

    Oh…

  121. Sir Robin

    Of all of the coincidences that are needed for this to happen, I find it the most dubious that Sal is still wearing the same clothes

    1. davidbreslin101

      It IS a big coincidence…. but there’s some set-up. Sal was recently teased about the good-little-girl outfit she put on when her parents visited, so it’s maybe not surprising she’s wearing her bad girl clothes today. And what’s badder than the jacket you wore during your brief criminal career?

  122. Jack Finch

    Anyone else hear the opening to Kung-Fu Fighting in panel 3?

  123. UnspeakableAnger

    So… This is all well and good, he said sarcastically. Given the current situation, and Amber’s breakdown in progress, I could see this ending badly in different ways. Some with violence. Some with Danny *sigh* Danning it up. Some with Amber dropping out of school or getting kicked out some time after she runs away from this and hermits herself up in her dorm room for the rest of the semester.

    However, I can actually see the possibility of a rabbit being pulled out of this hat.

    I don’t recall anyone mentioning someone else who was there at the convenience store and who is possibly still having a mad-on over getting his jaw knocked to the floor within the past 24 hours.

    Allow me to sketch out a possibility. Blaine comes in after paying for gas to yell at Amber for taking too damn long to get her Twinkies, sees young Sal in action and goes to town on her, which is how she gets caught. Amber’s cowering during the holdup, but maybe she’s also cowering from Blaine losing it. She’s seen it before, and she knows it’s not going to end well. Not much more to add to that, maybe some post-arrest scene, and Blaine chewing Amber out on the way back home or to the field trip destination.

    Present day, Amber’s obviously recognized Sal. Decides she has found a skinny target that she can snap into kindling, because by God, there is someone who’s going to pay. Especially since this… female… is with her Danny. Go into Amazi-Girl mode and to hell with the consequences. Sal’s not likely to put up with this idea very well, and it starts.

    Now Blaine steps out of the shadows, seeing that his target is fully distracted. Amazi-Girl is not one that can be snuck up on, and Sal has a little list. She recognizes the bastard that got her arrested and sent to boarding school, etc. Both of them can prioritize. They beat the hell out of Blaine. Maybe hospitalize him. Maybe put him in a coma so we never have to deal with his crap again, since Willis said nobody dies. Maybe not though, as there would be a lot more police crap and legal drama involved. Probably just bloody him up enough so he realizes the campus is not a safe place to be until he can come up with a better plan since he has enemies on campus that are effectives. That gives us some drama in about 6 more years as first semester finals come up.

    During all of this, Danny is… well, just being Danny. Staring open jawed, not knowing what the hell to do, but during the fracas, Amazi-Girl’s face mask falls out of a pocket. As the battle ends, Danny picks it up.

    At this point, it could go various ways. I’d like for him to see that Amber’s hear is mussed up and realize the mask is hers as he holds it up to look through it and sees her face, and they finally have a talk. However, this is Danny, and so he might try to slide up to Sal and discreetly hand it to her. “Your secret’s safe with me.” Which leads to some scathing remarks and a “What the Hell are you talking about? Get the fuck away from me” sort of moment.

    Continue on to more Dumbiverse drama in about two months as this half hour moment concludes. 🙂

    1. taekwondogirl

      I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again… I will buck the trend of everyone expecting Danny to just Dan it up like he always does and predict that he will actually do something helpful.

      1. UnspeakableAnger

        I’ll applaud if he does. I’ve personally been very forgiving in my head regarding Danny up to the “You picked Wiggler?” part. At that point, I just kind of smacked my head and said, “Ok, maybe you really are as Danny as everyone says you are.”

        I just hope that part of the resolution to this is that he finally puts together the pieces needed to see that Amber is Amazi-Girl. I’m fully in support of those two getting together without Amber having to hide herself.

      2. kagato23

        I NEVER underestimate Danny’s capacity to Dan it up.

      3. Marc in MN

        Even if Danny does do something helpful, people will still find a way to hate him for it. =P

    2. ninja_jesus

      If David continues with this “Danny thinks Sal’s Amazi-Girl” farce after ANY confrontation in which Danny is given a concrete clue as to who Amazi-Girl really is, I don’t think I could read this webcomic anymore. I would literally stop reading because not only would it get old by that time, it would just dissolve any kind of tension within the series where Danny is concerned. Turning him into some kind of walking sitcom where nothing changes and no character arc develops would be the worst possible move to make, especially in a story centered around character arcs being explored.

      And like you, I hope Amber and Sal eventually settle their differences via beating Blaine half to death, but I hope Danny finally sees the truth of Amazi-Girl by either Amber owning up to her own mistakes, or him discovering it by himself.

    3. Bill

      “That gives us some drama in about 6 more years as first semester finals come up.”

      @UnspeakableAnger — The strip has been running for three years now and we’re still in September (note the date on the sign).  Willis will probably be a grandfather by the time we get to finals week.

  124. fogel

    Any chance that “today’s” Amber and Sal can help each other?

    1. Jenny Creed

      They can help each other a great deal. Will they, though? That depends on any number of things. Mostly related to trust.

      1. fogel

        Trust, in other words, make yourself vulnerable– you are VERY right. (I hadn’t realized that is the pivot!) If Ruth and Billie could, is there a chance Amber and Sal can? Maybe that night in that store could be something in common from which they can help each other deal with the issues that brought her there in the state she was in.

        1. taekwondogirl

          I don’t think they will be able to help each other for a long time. There’s a lot of things that would have to happen for them to even talk to each other about what happened, let alone trust each other.

        2. fogel

          You are right. They have to start talking AND listening, and that requires that Both of them are ready for that AND are in a physical and a social location where that can happen. So neither is about to just say, ‘let’s go talk about THAT night…’ as much as I’d like their about-to-happen confrontation to turn out as Scott Pilgrim vs Nega-Scott did. But I do hope that they can reach that psycho-social space together because I’ve gotten this idea I like of Amber and Sal as an odd-couple who could do a lot for each other. And Willis does let some of his troubled characters connect with each other in ways that are good for them– after sufficient and appropriate drama, of course (no resolution after 90minutes, roll credits).

  125. The Candyman

    This is a pretty amazing coincidence, all things considered.

    1. insomniac

      Not so much as you might think. It’s a state university, and while I don’t know about the Indiana area, but where I grew up, two thirds of the high school grads went right to the same college.

  126. davidbreslin101

    Amber during panels 3 and 4: “World, this is NOT helping.” Panel 5: ditto.

  127. Regalli

    And CONFIRMED.

    It’s official. Amber has had the Worst Weekend Ever.

    1. Kevin

      Sorry to go off topic, but what is your avatar from?

      1. David Willis

        That’s Amethyst from the DC Nation animated shorts.

        1. UnspeakableAnger

          Is this the same Amethyst from the 80s comic book series?

        2. StClair

          Same character, different version / interpretation.

      2. someguywithakatana

        I think it’s called Princess Saphire or something. DC Nation ran it a while back. It was really good.

        1. someguywithakatana

          Oh. Right. Amethyst. This is why we read things

  128. nothri

    Well, I hope someone picks up that phone, because I FREAKING CALLED IT!…

    Actually, it wasn’t me. It was Team Fourstar. They want their joke back. BUT ITS MINE NOW! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

  129. Kevin

    This is good, this is just what Amber needed right now.

  130. Ian

    Wow Ethan, what a thing to say at just the wrong time.

  131. Tealjoy

    Fucking Christ I did not see that coming, shit isabout to hit the fan

  132. Tealjoy

    I’m also wondering just what Sal’s parent’s did to push her this close to the edge we got the gist of it when the parentals came by, but still it’s obvious she was nervous as shit to knock over that gas station if she was pacing in the corner.

  133. Tealjoy

    Just read that hover text, the heck do you mean adorableness?

    1. David Willis

      Well generally when you age someone down, you make their eyes larger and farther apart and make their ears bigger, and basically just making the head a little larger all around while de-emphasizing their jaw, and that unavoidably adorableizes someone.

      1. Tealjoy

        Hm when you put it like that I can see it, but that expression…sheesh I’d hate to see what her children are like when they want something…

  134. All Else Fails

    Cat fight alert?

    1. A

      Ugh.

  135. Mo

    And there it is. But how does this strip not already have a thousand comments?

  136. ST

    Well this is… not where I thought this was going. I beleive a Damn You Willis is in order.

  137. Angelicfiend

    AAAAHHHHHHH Amber! I see this going in to ways, either she kicks Sal’s ass now or Amazing Girl kicks Sal’s ass later….although I don’t know why Amazing Girl knows about this, unless Amazing Girl is Ethan?!

  138. MO

    Wow, small world

  139. Incubus

    A knife. . .I laughed as soon as I saw that.

  140. Nobody

    Clerk: A knife? How cute. Excuse me, let me just pull out my shotgun. Hey you two kid over there, call the police, we are going to need an ambulance.

  141. RuleOfThunder

    Kicking over Nachitos?! This is blasphemy! This…is MADNESS!!

    1. Zuche

      Madness? This is Dorito.

  142. Charles Phipps

    Is it wrong, I really do want Amber to beat the **** out of Sal? I love Sal, I love Amber, and I think Sal is as much a victim as anyone but I also think it’d be a great plot point. Poor Sal would have to deal with the unexpected blowback of her cry for help. Basically, “you wanted to hurt your parents and your brother. You also hurt other people.”

  143. Ralfor

    Well.

  144. DudeMyDadOwnsADealership

    Heh, small world.

  145. Tomas

    Wow. Ethan is just not good at reading people.

    1. taekwondogirl

      Well, he was right that she was freaking out. He just drew the wrong conclusion!

  146. WindWolfe

    I think we can all agree that this is Danny’s fault.

    1. Keroshino

      Well…he was stupid enough to believe that Sal is Amazi-girl when so many things point her to not being AG!

      1. Alex Stritar

        But she liked Wiggler! Who else but Amazi-Girl likes Wiggler!?

  147. Lel

    So… Amber is totally going to react with violence upon seeing Sal back in reality? B/c she deals with all this trauma by beating up criminals, and Sal was the initial criminal who traumatized her.

    And so it begins. The great shitstorm of our time.

    1. Blue Dragon

      If the flashback ends here, I think we’re going to see more of a riff on the “You and her are probably the same” comment. Just look at her holding that game. Look at the rage they both have to deal with. They are the same, and Amber might be able to see it now when she couldn’t five years back.

  148. Zuche

    What will the reaction be if this is misdirection and Amber’s got the wrong girl? Seems a bit too convoluted to be the case, though.

  149. Maki P

    “Oh Shit” was appropritate

  150. Maycroft

    bolder flavor? older flavor?

    1. UnspeakableAnger

      I’m holding out for solder flavor.

      1. ninja_jesus

        As long as it isn’t folder flavor.

  151. Lacaticmay

    Now the question is, does sal recognise amber?

  152. Arkadi

    Damn, Sal makes one SCARY thirteen-year-old 8/

  153. Grimjac

    I did not see this coming.

  154. Volkai

    Wait WHAT

    DAMN YOU WILLIS!

  155. Malcontentus

    So, finally found the time to read through this and play catch up, and while the post itself is late, I think this could easily be the best event of my birthday, now that I’ve discovered it. Thanks and keep up the great work!

    1. Rheios

      BALDUR’S GATE!!!!!!! Sorry, off topic and all but I love your Gravitar. Have you looked into Pillars of Eternity at all?

  156. Creaks

    NOOOOO!!!!!! NOT THE NACHITOS DISPLAY!!!!!!

  157. Ben

    Holy motherf&(kers nipples! I lose the use of internet for a few weeks and you pull this! Dammit Willis!

  158. Stephen

    For some reason, this makes me wonder why there isn’t a My Little Pony version of Badass Sal.

  159. Rheios

    Just to comment Willis, to your alt text – Kudos you succeeded in making 13 year old Sal friggin terrifying.

  160. ThatGuy

    I hope someday soon We get to be horrified as to what pushed Sal over the edge. I like to think that this was just after what she tried to make the “perfect” day. She studied her ass off , was on her best behavior at school even though it was embarrassing, and dressed up real nice of her own accord when the family went out to dinner.

    And that night no one mentioned that the Parents didnt get a call from the principal at all that week, makes light of her dressing herself. And her B report card gets overshadowed by Walky’s A.

    The next day after hanging out down the street she gets in her head so much, to much she just escilates her own through process till she decides to make her parents notice her.

  161. BenRG

    It has just suddenly occurred to me just how terrified Sal was at this moment. Yeah, you read that right. Life has been shitty to her and Amber pretty much the whole way through, hasn’t it?

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