Dumbing of Age Book Fourteen

Dumbing of Age

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

October 20, 2026

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agatha amazi-girl amber art asher becky blaine booster carla carol charles danny dexter dina dorothy ethan fan art faz hank jacob jason jennifer jocelyne joe joyce leslie linda liz lucy malaya marcie mary mike monkey master patreon rachel raidah robin ross roz ruth sal sarah sierra walky
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Posted In: comic
└ Tags: booster, carla

Discussion (180) ¬

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  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    October 20, 2023 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

    …kinda want to see Booster say, “Here, let me demonstrate for you!” and kick off a huge fashion montage

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

      https://imgur.com/a/rDhUNyd

      i wouldn’t mind seeing one or the other but personally i think the one on the left would fit carla’s skater style more, if not like an ‘overall’ dress

      (i vaguely remember overall dresses being a trend but thoguht it was odd at the time since i only associated it with like first grade and/or farmers but in rerospect that kinda dress could be cute/comfy)

      • Arioch
        Arioch
        October 20, 2023 at 5:14 pm | # | Reply

        This probably leads to something cool, but for me the link doesn’t work.

        • Angel
          Angel
          October 21, 2023 at 12:53 am | # | Reply

          it s till loads for me but it’s basically an image of two diff outfits lol

      • MiaFillene
        MiaFillene
        October 20, 2023 at 8:25 pm | # | Reply

        The right side outfit. Omg Carla needs to wear that. With bright California Valley Girl red lipstick.

      • Kaiyalai
        Kaiyalai
        October 22, 2023 at 11:51 am | # | Reply

        Is it odd that I immediately identified these outfits as “the Tidus” and “the Yuna”?

    • milu
      milu
      October 20, 2023 at 12:30 am | # | Reply

      oh hell yeah ?

      Booster throws open their wardrobe and it’s like the fashion multiverse in there

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    October 20, 2023 at 12:02 am | # | Reply

    Please tell me this leads to one of those wacky makeover montages where Carla steps out of a dressing room wearing various eccentric outfits, and Booster either shakes their head in dismay or gives an enthusiastic thumbs up.

    While a quirky 80s pop song plays, of course. Look, I’ve got one picked out for them!

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      October 20, 2023 at 12:04 am | # | Reply

      I’m on board for this!

    • StClair
      StClair
      October 20, 2023 at 12:08 am | # | Reply

      Makeover, makeover!

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvCPnYI9TZo

    • John Campbell
      John Campbell
      October 20, 2023 at 12:31 am | # | Reply

      If ’80s movies taught me anything, it’s that if she takes off her glasses and lets her hair down, she instantly becomes hot.

      • milu
        milu
        October 20, 2023 at 12:39 am | # | Reply

        well, you also have to walk in slow-motion. that’s the really tricky part.

        • morleuca
          morleuca
          October 20, 2023 at 12:58 am | # | Reply

          But how much hotter can Carla get without breaching absolute hot?

      • Miri
        Miri
        October 20, 2023 at 3:14 am | # | Reply

        Dude, you saying Carla isn’t already smokin’ hot?!

      • Mark
        Mark
        October 20, 2023 at 6:55 pm | # | Reply

        Becomes?

    • Decidedly Orthogonal
      Decidedly Orthogonal
      October 20, 2023 at 1:52 am | # | Reply

      Oh please, oh please, oh please ?

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      October 20, 2023 at 3:27 am | # | Reply

      To show it all would take too long!
      That’s why we need a montage!

    • Ed Rhodes
      Ed Rhodes
      October 20, 2023 at 7:09 pm | # | Reply

      I remember the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) finding his “look.” https://youtu.be/FymZvIS5VVU?si=kR36tb-MrT8qkLfw

  3. NGPZ
    NGPZ
    October 20, 2023 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

    Carla in a DRESS?!?!?! I can’t wait AAAAH ? ?????

    *plays “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Taco on hacked muzak*

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 12:07 am | # | Reply

      https://imgur.com/a/ePt49wR something like these would be good, cute but still casual

      but an over-dressed kinda dress/super fancy/prom-like and sparkly might get charlies attention more XD

      if not something with a seahorse print 8D; if ‘princess jellyfish’ was a thing and had jelly fish dresses i’m sure a seahorse one exists haha

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        October 20, 2023 at 12:09 am | # | Reply

        From what we’ve seen of Charlie, a bomb going off in the vicinity might not get her attention.

        Though I really shouldn’t give Carla ideas.

        • Angel
          Angel
          October 20, 2023 at 12:17 am | # | Reply

          I mean, it would, there’d just be a delay

      • milu
        milu
        October 20, 2023 at 12:13 am | # | Reply

        sorry how is “princess jellyfish” not a thing

        jellyfish are incredibly sexy???

        • Angel
          Angel
          October 20, 2023 at 12:17 am | # | Reply

          there’s an anime/manga series called princess jellyfish, that’s what i was referring to lol

          • milu
            milu
            October 20, 2023 at 12:37 am | # | Reply

            oh aha well i wouldn’t know BUT if anyone’s doing biomimetic fashion, jellyfish is a treasure trove. they’re incredibly diverse, they have translucent parts, puffy parts, all sorts of colours, iridescence, bioluminescence, threads, frills, beads, lacework, not to mention venom which i honestly think goes with everything.

        • Miri
          Miri
          October 20, 2023 at 3:27 am | # | Reply

          Did you not Google?!! A lot of the hits are anime, of those remaining, many are a bit bridal – but some of them are GORGEOUS…

          https://www.lolitaknot.com/Lady-Miao-Princess-Jellyfish-Fantastic-Pricess-Lolita-JSK-and-OP-Dress-p591055.html This one comes in pink, sky blue, mint or black, is RIDICULOUSLY OTT and gorgeous… Totally not Carla’s typical style but a statuesque woman like her dripping in frothing aqua asymmetric chiffon and lace, possibly accessorising with some simple pearls rather than the optional bubble hat, would attract a lot of attention.

          The only problem is I’m not sure Carla would be entirely comfortable with that type of attention. She’s very much an “I’m an awesome, amazing genius inventor, and do my own thing, and I just happen to be a girl. I know, I’m stunning. You can admire me best at a distance. Run along now” type. Having people notice her looks first, even if it’s very much in a positive attention way, might make her want to climb out of her own skin a bit.

          • khn0
            khn0
            October 20, 2023 at 5:08 am | # | Reply

            We learnt not to google things…the hard way…

          • milu
            milu
            October 20, 2023 at 6:43 am | # | Reply

            i…… maybe didn’t google it because i wanted to larp having original ideas for a minute? ?? also i haven’t slept in 24 hours or something, so i plead insanity.

            i have googled it now however, and pinterested it, and oh god of course there are sooo many incredible jellyfish dresses out there, and some Princess Jellyfish underwater cosplay, and some super cute jellyfish costumes =D

      • Cattleprod
        Cattleprod
        October 20, 2023 at 12:23 am | # | Reply

        She’s worn a red plaid skirt before so the second one is most in line with her style, I guess.

        • Angel
          Angel
          October 20, 2023 at 12:57 am | # | Reply

          yeah, or maybe something dark green to contrast her hair, as long as it doesn’t look too chrsistmas-y lol

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            October 20, 2023 at 2:44 am | # | Reply

            The trick for that is to skew the green toward yellow instead of blue.

  4. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    October 20, 2023 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

    I mean, I wanna see it, too, but still.

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:45 am | # | Reply

      shame there isn’t a huge community on here o utside of the comments (as far as i know) , it would be cool to see a montage of carla fanarts in cute dresses as a montage/concept /preduction lol

  5. pollybee
    pollybee
    October 20, 2023 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

    I would also like to see that

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:55 am | # | Reply

      A “tennis” dress might be cute to see

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      October 20, 2023 at 5:30 am | # | Reply

      I’m putting Booster in charge of fan service!!

  6. shadowcell
    shadowcell
    October 20, 2023 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

    this is all building up to drawing Carla in a sundress, isn’t it

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

      has carla never worn dresses before? or is it not common as ‘casual’ wear in indiana even for sundresses? even if i didn’t gain weight i don’t think i’d rly go back to wearing jeans that often compared to how comfy/flowy dresses are (like societal standards/masuclinity asidei ‘m surprised more men don’t wear skirts/kilts as well)

    • Cattleprod
      Cattleprod
      October 20, 2023 at 12:45 am | # | Reply

      Joyce’s sundress, stolen directly from her closet.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      October 20, 2023 at 3:02 am | # | Reply

      Sundresses are quite excellent, especially with a straw hat. Sandals or no shoes, natch.

      (I may or may not have hard-coded that exact combination into one of the deities in my fantasy world.)

  7. milu
    milu
    October 20, 2023 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

    wait do eyelashes exist in DOA i forget

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      October 20, 2023 at 12:04 am | # | Reply

      Carla’s about to invent them.

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:28 am | # | Reply

      they’re not ever emphasized but they’re just implied to be there i guess? other than some ‘natural’ makeup i guess most don’t rly stick out. tho i suppose mascara might make some ‘spider leg’ eyes too bold/flashy if you do a western style makeup versus asian

      tho, i suppose, otehr than the brief comment about boosters lipstick, and that one time jennifer wore it on a date with ruth, most charas are’t shown to have makeup on

      • milu
        milu
        October 20, 2023 at 1:43 am | # | Reply

        (willis has joked before about how his drawing style doesn’t feature nostrils or fingernails)

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          October 20, 2023 at 9:43 am | # | Reply

          Well eyebrows often leave the head entirely, maybe eyelashes do too, but never find their way back.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      October 20, 2023 at 7:08 pm | # | Reply

      Characters with sclera have eyelashes, at least the upper ones. Even characters without sclera have eyelashes when narrowing their eyes or closing them.
      https://www.dumbingofage.com/untied/
      Even if panel 1 Robin’s eyelashes don’t count, they’re emphasized in panel 2.
      https://www.dumbingofage.com/falls/
      Those aren’t just eyelids, those are Walky’s lashes, to show how dreamy he looks.

  8. Angel
    Angel
    October 20, 2023 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

    cut to a multiple dress trying on montage 8D

    https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2397

    • Ray Radlein
      Ray Radlein
      October 20, 2023 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

      Claire absolutely should have gone with the Björk dress

    • PirateTawnee
      PirateTawnee
      October 20, 2023 at 12:43 am | # | Reply

      My first thought was the Bubbles montage, but this is also an excellent choice.

    • Morleuca
      Morleuca
      October 20, 2023 at 9:45 am | # | Reply

      now I have to reread a whole bunch of QC….this was one of my favorite arcs, and Claire is likely my favorite character

  9. Mym
    Mym
    October 20, 2023 at 12:05 am | # | Reply

    Yessss, a spectacle

  10. Jason
    Jason
    October 20, 2023 at 12:05 am | # | Reply

    I’m not sure Charlie knows she herself exists, so good luck with that, Carla.

    • RassilonTDavros
      RassilonTDavros
      October 20, 2023 at 12:11 am | # | Reply

      Man, those are two really hard names to come up with a shipping portmanteau for, aren’t they. “Carlie”? “Charla”? Both of those just look like someone made a typo. I guess “CharCar” could work, maybe?

      • Throwatron
        Throwatron
        October 20, 2023 at 12:11 am | # | Reply

        well i know that I’M going with CharCar from now on

      • Aura
        Aura
        October 20, 2023 at 12:24 am | # | Reply

        Extending CharCar, can we extend the UltraCar similarity? UlCharCar? UlchraCar? I feel like it’s a bit too close to ulcer rather than ultra though…

      • Dante
        Dante
        October 20, 2023 at 3:08 am | # | Reply

        It’s 4:16 here and my brain went “oh nooooo. Car 2.”

      • AGV
        AGV
        October 20, 2023 at 5:05 am | # | Reply

        If you say CarChar it also doubles as a reference to Carcharodontosaurus

        This comment has been sponsored by Dina

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      October 20, 2023 at 12:13 am | # | Reply

      Plot twist: Charlie is a believer in solipsism. Herself is the only thing she thinks DOES exist.

      Weirdly, that kind of makes her a good match for Carla, who does believe other people exist, but only for her own amusement.

      • Jamie
        Jamie
        October 20, 2023 at 2:35 am | # | Reply

        I’d pay to see two solipsists arguing about each others’ non-existence.

        • clif
          clif
          October 20, 2023 at 10:17 am | # | Reply

          The bit gets old fast.

  11. Ray Radlein
    Ray Radlein
    October 20, 2023 at 12:05 am | # | Reply

    DON’T MAKE HER PERFORM GENDER, BOOSTER

    I mean, of all people!

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 12:13 am | # | Reply

      Cuteness/style knows no gender 8D

      well she’s the one who brought it up so i’d assume she’d be fine with wearing dresses (she at least has a plaid skirt https://dumbingofage.tumblr.com/image/183388345267) , not like she said “put on something skimpy/revealing” lol

      but i’m sure booster knows charlies tastes in clothes/ppl

    • milu
      milu
      October 20, 2023 at 12:25 am | # | Reply

      what? no no no when your trans girlfriend says “idkkkk dyou think i should like… wear a dress…” you say YES

      (ok Carla’s may be past that phase but in general i don’t think your first instinct should be “psh no way you’re so above that gender normie bs”)

      • Ray Radlein
        Ray Radlein
        October 20, 2023 at 12:37 am | # | Reply

        Good point; she did bring it up first herself, yeah

    • Bash
      Bash
      October 20, 2023 at 1:56 am | # | Reply

      They’re also not the type to coddle Carla’s feelings and say “well only if you’re comfortable wearing a dress”. That’s up to Carla to decide.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      October 20, 2023 at 2:45 am | # | Reply

      She may end up going a different route, one of the character models on tumblr has a different feel to it that I couldn’t quite put my finger on until this strip. https://dumbingofage.tumblr.com/post/730745956935647232/carla

    • S.R.
      S.R.
      October 21, 2023 at 12:07 am | # | Reply

      “If you, a woman, are trying to get someone’s attention, a pretty dress might be a good way to do it” is reasonable, particularly if the woman in question has already brought up dresses. People don’t have to be constantly GNC all the time- nothing wrong with doing and liking things traditionally associated with your gender.

  12. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    October 20, 2023 at 12:05 am | # | Reply

    Booster is pretty much the comments section tonight, aren’t they.

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      October 20, 2023 at 2:36 am | # | Reply

      Booster is the comments section every night.

  13. milu
    milu
    October 20, 2023 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

    plot twist: Carla was actually flirting with Booster all along

    • Mym
      Mym
      October 20, 2023 at 12:09 am | # | Reply

      Threesome with twins

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        October 20, 2023 at 2:42 am | # | Reply

        Odd.

        • Null Set
          Null Set
          October 20, 2023 at 3:29 am | # | Reply

          Prime, as well.

  14. Raen
    Raen
    October 20, 2023 at 12:08 am | # | Reply

    Booster, what have you done.

    • Shadowsnail
      Shadowsnail
      October 20, 2023 at 9:55 am | # | Reply

      They gave her a boost.

  15. Jo_cubstar
    Jo_cubstar
    October 20, 2023 at 12:08 am | # | Reply

    Oh gosh, yes Carla dressed up plz

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 12:56 am | # | Reply

      something like a cute sleeveless/sundress underneath a cool biker jacket as contrast would be cool

      https://imgur.com/a/0dU63iG

      • pope suburban
        pope suburban
        October 20, 2023 at 12:57 pm | # | Reply

        Ah, yes, the Joyce/Sal makeover power team that Sal didn’t ask for and Joyce will die of joy for.

  16. tim gueguen
    tim gueguen
    October 20, 2023 at 12:09 am | # | Reply

    No, you don’t, Booster. No you don’t.

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:30 am | # | Reply

      i mean, i’m sure they’ll be in the background for almost every step of this ‘courtship.

  17. Joe Moose
    Joe Moose
    October 20, 2023 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

    [Tip vibes intensify]

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      October 20, 2023 at 2:38 am | # | Reply

      I asked Google what “tip” would mean in this context and did not receive a useful answer. 🙁

      • Joe Moose
        Joe Moose
        October 20, 2023 at 12:18 pm | # | Reply

        Tip was a character of the now-finished Skin Horse webcomic. Cross-dresser, knew his way around makeovers.

        • Mturtle7
          Mturtle7
          October 22, 2023 at 12:36 am | # | Reply

          Fun fact: the Skin Horse character was named after L. Frank Baum’s original Oz character, protagonist of The Marvelous Land of Oz! She wasn’t exactly a cross-dresser, but “he” was a boy who was revealed to actually be a magically-transformed princess who lost her memory, so these days she’s frequently celebrated as an unintentional trans icon.

  18. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    October 20, 2023 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

    I would like to draw that.

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 12:59 am | # | Reply

      the goddess power of a dress would be quite powerful lol

      https://imgur.com/a/THUsPB2

      maybe something liek this if ur taking suggestions/references lol

    • Sillygoose
      Sillygoose
      October 20, 2023 at 9:29 am | # | Reply

      Please do! The people deserves a mosaic of Carlas wearing a dozen different dresses in all styles, including formal wear

  19. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    October 20, 2023 at 12:12 am | # | Reply

    I’m a little confused who Carla is actually doing this for now.

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:31 am | # | Reply

      you never need a reason to put on a pretty dress but it would be hilarious if it ended up attracting attention of her o0ther classmates

      • Dante
        Dante
        October 20, 2023 at 2:07 am | # | Reply

        TBH I’m not shipping her with Booster yet.

        But there’s a “yet” up there that wasn’t there before o.o

  20. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    October 20, 2023 at 12:12 am | # | Reply

    Part 2 NSFW-ish?
    Very self indulgent, I will admit. I’m in a mood.
    Honestly there’s a lot I wanna do with this concept. The hard part is like…transitioning from moment to moment.

    • milu
      milu
      October 20, 2023 at 12:20 am | # | Reply

      heheh =D
      just a thought, love the panel 5 sequence but it’s right-to-left, which makes it a bit hard to parse? i think? maybe… mirror flip the whole thing? would that work?

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        October 20, 2023 at 12:22 am | # | Reply

        Haha. I’ve been reading too much manga….

        • milu
          milu
          October 20, 2023 at 12:25 am | # | Reply

          lollll or me not enough XD

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      October 20, 2023 at 12:36 am | # | Reply

      The faces are very good in this, tbh.

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      October 20, 2023 at 12:55 am | # | Reply

      ugh, this is hot

    • Bash
      Bash
      October 20, 2023 at 1:55 am | # | Reply

      I just understood the whole “it’s hot that my partner can beat me up” thing in a big hurry.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        October 20, 2023 at 2:24 am | # | Reply

        “I love a woman who can kick my ass”
        -Spike Spiegel.

        • Dante
          Dante
          October 20, 2023 at 3:07 am | # | Reply

          Spoken with true wisdom tbh

        • Schpoonman
          Schpoonman
          October 20, 2023 at 4:22 pm | # | Reply

          “I love the kind of woman who will actually just kill me.”

          https://youtu.be/-sMQpWCNTQw?si=FjtkzG28zHroUD_m

  21. Hazel
    Hazel
    October 20, 2023 at 12:14 am | # | Reply

    My vote goes to a cute skirt/jacket combo, perhaps with a cheeky pattern.

    • Aura
      Aura
      October 20, 2023 at 12:29 am | # | Reply

      That feels much more Carla’s vibe to me. I can see her really pulling off a print skater skirt with a cropped jacket.

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 12:39 am | # | Reply

      what is a cheeky pattern ? like something ‘wacky’ like smile faces on them or like ‘check’ as in checkerboard/plaid?

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        October 20, 2023 at 1:12 am | # | Reply

        Cheeky, like a cheeky Nando’s.

        • zee
          zee
          October 20, 2023 at 11:50 am | # | Reply

          Chicken sauce stains

  22. shrub
    shrub
    October 20, 2023 at 12:15 am | # | Reply

    What am I supposed to do?

    How about not being a giant thunder cunt for a while and see how that plays out

  23. pdp15
    pdp15
    October 20, 2023 at 12:21 am | # | Reply

    Where’s Tip from Skin Horse when you need him?

    • Joe Moose
      Joe Moose
      October 20, 2023 at 12:19 pm | # | Reply

      “Did someone say Makeover?!?”

  24. BBCC
    BBCC
    October 20, 2023 at 12:26 am | # | Reply

    I think we would ALL like to see that

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:08 am | # | Reply

      I’d love to know what carla considers ‘pretty’.

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2023/comic/book-13/03-joementum/mynameis/ be amusing if she just wore this outfit in a dress equivalent/version

  25. Aura
    Aura
    October 20, 2023 at 12:30 am | # | Reply

    Really channeling Timon here. I can already see the smash cut from the penultimate panel to her doing exactly that!

  26. milu
    milu
    October 20, 2023 at 12:46 am | # | Reply

    heyyyy question game time!

    best-worst pickup strategy you’ve ever tried/had someone try on you?

    • milu
      milu
      October 20, 2023 at 12:53 am | # | Reply

      i dont actually have an answer off the top of my head

      ummmm being introduced to BTVS by a cute boy.. that was actually charming as all hell (later he broke my heart psh)

      oooh wait this woman’s 7-year-old daughter came up to me and went “so hey, my mom would like your number” (she was mortified) (it was hilarious) (later i broke her heart =/)

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:09 am | # | Reply

      not exactly a pickup but one time i was hanging out with a friend and delivery food and someone asked if he was my father tho our age isn’t that far apart lol

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      October 20, 2023 at 1:11 am | # | Reply

      Worst: In high school, a girl came up to me with a picture she’d drawn of me and asked if I wanted to go out. I’d literally never seen her before in my life, so of course I said “Sure”. Bad idea. A couple weeks was all I could take of that.

      Best: I winked at a cute girl on the bus and we passed notes for a while. Then I dropped out and a few years later she recognised me on Facebook. Our tenth anniversary was in June.

    • StClair
      StClair
      October 20, 2023 at 1:12 am | # | Reply

      The one time I actually got a compliment on the attempt was back in college, when a friend mentioned that she liked her lovers to be very fit and usually had to do at least some (further) training. After a moment, I asked if she was accepting any new students at the time…?

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      October 20, 2023 at 2:20 am | # | Reply

      I’ve never tried to pick anyone up per se. But my go to move is to try to draw them something. That’s actually how I got my first (read:only) Girlfriend.
      I really wish I had literally any ability to pick up ladies 😛
      (Other than lifting with my knees)

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      October 20, 2023 at 2:42 am | # | Reply

      I’ve had the most success with being really direct and obvious. As in, “I am totally flirting with you!” and “I’m going to Coney Island on Saturday, you can come too. I’m totally asking you on a date!”

      …we’re married now.

    • Daibhid C
      Daibhid C
      October 20, 2023 at 4:39 am | # | Reply

      The closest thing I have to an answer is that there was one occasion when a girl at college initiated a conversation about the book I was reading. I couldn’t help noticing this conversation was awkward even by my standards, and ended up actually apologising for how bad my conversational abilities are, at which point she said “Oh, okay,” and left, seeming somewhat confused. I dimly realised she’d thought I was saying I didn’t want a conversation, which was a shame, but not a huge deal, and went back to my book.

      About a week later, I suddenly thought “Was … was I being chatted up and didn’t even notice? Nah, probably not. But maybe?”

      • Mark
        Mark
        October 20, 2023 at 7:15 pm | # | Reply

        Only a week? How about…forty years?

    • Doopyboop
      Doopyboop
      October 20, 2023 at 5:58 am | # | Reply

      Worst: dude I barely knew wrote me a note and asked me to read it later, the note was all about how he was ‘ready to settle down’ and how he knew I was a virgin so he would ‘take it slow’. This is keeping in mind that this was high school, and all of my experiences with this guy were ‘we sat together with our friends to eat lunch’. I told him no and he thankfully backed off.

      Best: dude in college told me he had a buy one/get one free doughnut coupon and I agreed to go with him and get a free doughnut. It was the best cause I went with him, but also not effective because my ace ass didn’t realize it was a pick up and just thought we were becoming friends/getting food LOL we kept hanging out together too and I kept thinking it was platonic until he laid his arm across my shoulders on the shuttle bus… then I was like “oh…”

    • egg egg
      egg egg
      October 20, 2023 at 9:55 am | # | Reply

      worst: on my 30th birthday i went to go clean my car in 100-degree weather. The right turn out of the car wash is infamously a nightmare, so i decided i’d take a left turn and just goof around until i found the road that went parallel. Went through some neighborhoods unsuccessfully and some guy driving towards me got REALLY excited.

      I was like, are you one of my students? Do I know you from somewhere? So I stopped and let him back up to me. Turns out, no, he saw me at the car wash and thought I was cute. I wanted to die. I said that was weird and drove off.

      Not my most flattering interaction, but, uh. I died inside for a good couple of hours afterwards.

      Best: My friend asked me if I’d like to go see a movie with him, as a date. I said yes. Then I picked up my cat and scurried off into the house. We had our tenth total anniversary in Sept, and our third year anniversary for marriage will be in Dec.

    • zee
      zee
      October 20, 2023 at 11:57 am | # | Reply

      I was once sitting at a table under the temporarily abandoned campus kfc, pretty out of the way from the walking path, contemplating the fact that I suddenly had waaaay less money in my bank account than I thought I did, when I guy came up to me. He said “I like your face. It’s very symmetrical.” I said thanks uncomfortably. He asked my name. I gave him a fake one. He asked if I had a man, through a very thick Trini accent so I thought he was asking for a mint, which made the whole thing even more awkward. I said yes. He said “oh” and left.

      I’ve been hit on a lot, harassed a lot, but that was the single weirdest interaction of the sort I’ve ever had

      • zee
        zee
        October 20, 2023 at 12:06 pm | # | Reply

        Best, less a pick up strategy but my best friend and I got kinda flirty after I got out of a really bad relationship. He’d never confessed to the other person in his previous relationships, just sorta went with it when they came to him (later realized he’s demi-ro). So he kept joking that he’d confess to me in 5 years or something like that. The time kept getting shorter, until he said “I’ll confess to you next week”. We have a 6-7 hour time difference between us and it was around 11ish my time, on a Saturday. so I told him “hey, it’s Sunday for you. It’s already next week.” And he said “oh, okay. Well then, zee i love you.”
        Our 4th anniversary is next May

  27. Vukodlak
    Vukodlak
    October 20, 2023 at 12:46 am | # | Reply

    Okay that feels transactional

  28. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    October 20, 2023 at 12:47 am | # | Reply

    ugh, Carla was really trying to buy Charlie/Booster…

    rich people scary ne

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:02 am | # | Reply

      well, not that it worked

      but man where were these rich kids when i was in school i would’ve done smaller things for bribes at least but if anything my friends were kinda cheapskates, which in retrospect makes sense since we didn’t all have allowances

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        October 20, 2023 at 10:53 am | # | Reply

        I knew some of these, one of them were my friend.

        It sounds fun for who’s outside, but he used to bought things like candies, chocolates, when I was 8 years old; I felt unconfortable, and almost all times, I refused any gift from him. I don’t know exactly why, I didn’ liked the idea of him bringing me things.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      October 20, 2023 at 2:25 am | # | Reply

      The bigger gesture was acknowledging that’s what she was doing, and that it was because she didn’t want to be mean.

  29. Icalasari
    Icalasari
    October 20, 2023 at 1:15 am | # | Reply

    I feel bad for Carla, for once this doesn’t seem like narcissism, but genuinely… Not knowing HOW to be a normal person

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:34 am | # | Reply

      i mean she’s prolly had normal convos with her parents without being ‘mean’ but i guess she never had to fight for their attention either

    • milu
      milu
      October 20, 2023 at 1:37 am | # | Reply

      to be fair

      it’s unclear being a normal person to Charlie would get her attention

      • Angel
        Angel
        October 20, 2023 at 1:43 am | # | Reply

        it would be interesting if charlie already knew, other than that one ‘delayed’ comic strip like

        “Yeah…we have class together.”

        “….”

        “So…how are you?” i feel like carla wouldnt’ have the patience/attention span herself otherwise tho unelss charlie can like hyperfocus in a scene or so or they have like the whole weekend to awkwardly small talk at like a cafe table together

  30. DashWallkick
    DashWallkick
    October 20, 2023 at 1:32 am | # | Reply

    Booster with the good advice about how purchasing affection is scummy, then right back into “that would be hilarious, please do”

    • milu
      milu
      October 20, 2023 at 1:40 am | # | Reply

      ??? in what world is cleaning up nice “purchasing affection”
      also Booster didn’t say it would be hilarious

      but please don’t let me spoil your hatefest ?

      • DashWallkick
        DashWallkick
        October 20, 2023 at 4:35 am | # | Reply

        It’s…. It’s literally the conversation about the Xbox. It’s in the first half of the comic. What are you even mad about

        • milu
          milu
          October 20, 2023 at 6:54 am | # | Reply

          oh ok, maybe i misread your comment? it’s that phrasing:

          “Booster [telling Carla off for doing X] then right back into [encouraging Carla to do X]”

          am i reading this wrong, i don’t understand your comment if that’s not what you’re saying. in which case i apologize

          • S.R.
            S.R.
            October 21, 2023 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

            The swing from “[reasonable, responsible, mature advice]” to “hell yeah, [unrelated thing]” is a bit funny.

    • Angel
      Angel
      October 20, 2023 at 1:42 am | # | Reply

      I mean, dressing up/peacocking isnt necessarily a bad strategy unless carla was rly uncomfortable with it or so , even if they find amusement in it, i doubt booster is setting up carla to fail

    • Bash
      Bash
      October 20, 2023 at 2:07 am | # | Reply

      I think Booster is allowed to enjoy this situation in some way.

    • Vulcanodon
      Vulcanodon
      October 20, 2023 at 11:58 am | # | Reply

      Got to admit, the mental image of Carla dressing up made me chuckle.

      Something tells me Carla has difficulty initiating social contact when she has any investment in the outcome.

  31. Freezer
    Freezer
    October 20, 2023 at 1:49 am | # | Reply

    The idea of just going up to Charlie and introducing herself just doesn’t occur to her, does it?

    That adorable and sad at the same time.

    • Bash
      Bash
      October 20, 2023 at 1:52 am | # | Reply

      It’s the trope of lesbians being afraid to talk to each other, but in the most Carla-like way.

      • StClair
        StClair
        October 20, 2023 at 2:21 am | # | Reply

        As I said last comic: authenticity requires risk and making oneself vulnerable to rejection (among other things).

        • Bash
          Bash
          October 20, 2023 at 2:17 pm | # | Reply

          My take as well.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        October 20, 2023 at 2:22 am | # | Reply

        Lesbian sheep.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      October 20, 2023 at 2:18 pm | # | Reply

      she kind of did. https://www.dumbingofage.com/mission-2/
      It’s sad, but hopeful. She knows her toolbox is mostly being obnoxious, and doesn’t want to do that. she’s getting coaching.

  32. Francoinblanco
    Francoinblanco
    October 20, 2023 at 1:53 am | # | Reply

    It feels objectifying

  33. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    October 20, 2023 at 1:58 am | # | Reply

    It would be … interesting, to say the least.  Although we know Willis can do pretty.  Remember Joyce in the yellow dress?

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      October 20, 2023 at 11:04 am | # | Reply

      Never knew Willis has a Deviant Art, too.
      (Yeah, not updated anymore, but it’s still nice)

    • Mark
      Mark
      October 20, 2023 at 7:21 pm | # | Reply

      Who could forget Joyce in the yellow dress?

  34. Dante
    Dante
    October 20, 2023 at 2:16 am | # | Reply

    I promise I love the entire DOA cast. It’s just that my MP bar is so low, only the power of Dat Gay Shit lets me tank through it and come to the comments section, it’s incredible.

    Booster so far has been an outstanding wingpal, Carla. Heed the advice, give us the fashion montage you’ve volunteered OwO

  35. Tan
    Tan
    October 20, 2023 at 2:26 am | # | Reply

    An important note that “I would like to see that” does not mean “That will work”

    • Da Boy
      Da Boy
      October 20, 2023 at 2:50 am | # | Reply

      Yeah she’ll just look awkward. Get Brutus in here! He’ll look great!

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      October 20, 2023 at 2:51 am | # | Reply

      It does imply they’ll help with the introduction.

  36. Da Boy
    Da Boy
    October 20, 2023 at 2:49 am | # | Reply

    Carla, have you considered maturing past the Elementary School Level of Social Interactions?

    • Mark
      Mark
      October 20, 2023 at 7:22 pm | # | Reply

      For some of us, it’s harder than you think!

  37. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    October 20, 2023 at 2:57 am | # | Reply

    I hope this somehow leads to the entire cast in tuxedos.

    • Vulcanodon
      Vulcanodon
      October 20, 2023 at 10:17 am | # | Reply

      Is there any way to do a musical episode in a comic?

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      October 20, 2023 at 3:46 pm | # | Reply

      I haven’t visualized Carla’s yet. The impression I get for Booster’s is it’s balancing the line between ironically bad and stylish. Like “oops waited too long to rent a tux before formal and this is all they had left” pink with should-be-terrible shirt, but it’s cut very well.

  38. Juanoku
    Juanoku
    October 20, 2023 at 3:01 am | # | Reply

    … Fuck i would too

  39. C.T. Phipps
    C.T. Phipps
    October 20, 2023 at 3:32 am | # | Reply

    Booster, don’t try to manipulate Carla.

  40. Suet
    Suet
    October 20, 2023 at 4:05 am | # | Reply

    Once someone goes out of their love language, never pass up on the chance.

    Then again, Carla has the vibes of a mini dress…

  41. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    October 20, 2023 at 4:40 am | # | Reply

    I mean, it probably won’t work, but do iiit

  42. AGV
    AGV
    October 20, 2023 at 5:14 am | # | Reply

    Carla’s quest to get Charlie’s attention will take her to explore types of boldness that she didn’t even consider before

  43. SDGlyph
    SDGlyph
    October 20, 2023 at 6:22 am | # | Reply

    … well now I wanna see Carla in Gwen’s prom outfit from Across the Spider-Verse.

  44. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    October 20, 2023 at 7:02 am | # | Reply

    Have we given up on the dream of Carla Claud wearing the entire red suit plus acrylic beard and mustache?

  45. Alan in DC
    Alan in DC
    October 20, 2023 at 7:02 am | # | Reply

    Imagine the fight that would break out at the dress shop if Carla and Sal (in a rare moment) both spotted the “perfect” dress at the same time.

    Lotta punches, lotta pies.

  46. Steamweed
    Steamweed
    October 20, 2023 at 7:34 am | # | Reply

    Carla walks down the dorm hall in said outfit. The other residents doubt the evidence from their own senses. The campus therapists suddenly find themselves overbooked. In the distance, sirens.

  47. Professional asexual
    Professional asexual
    October 20, 2023 at 8:36 am | # | Reply

    Carla being vulberable ??

  48. Pylgrim
    Pylgrim
    October 20, 2023 at 8:57 am | # | Reply

    Shocked to learn that Karla has this much self-awareness.

  49. Chubsius
    Chubsius
    October 20, 2023 at 9:14 am | # | Reply

    Duck season, rabbit season, duck season, rabbit season….dress season.

  50. BadRoad
    BadRoad
    October 20, 2023 at 9:42 am | # | Reply

    I notice Booster didn’t say it might work…

  51. Felian
    Felian
    October 20, 2023 at 10:10 am | # | Reply

    Yes, Carla, so close to human interaction!
    it is generally nicer to be flirted at by looks, interactions, and getting to know the person you want to spend time with, as opposed to getting expensive gifts. I’d be creeped out if i got an expensive gift from someone i don’t even really know. It would indeed feel transactional, as if i now owe them a date.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      October 20, 2023 at 11:43 am | # | Reply

      I might go on the date if the gift was sufficiently awesome, like a stack of TPBs I’d been eyeballing or a perfectly fitting Magna Defender costume with all the accessories. One date, to see if I liked the person enough for another, and I’d be very up front about that part. I’d also be very up front about the fact I’m keeping the gift no matter what the outcome, so I hope they’re willing to take that gamble and be on their best behavior. (Honestly though, the costume would probably earn them at least a proper shagging, brains-out style.)

      • Felian
        Felian
        October 20, 2023 at 1:51 pm | # | Reply

        As long as you’re up-front and self-confident and make it clear to them that they are not entitled to anything you don’t freely give, that does sound healthy!

      • Sillygoose
        Sillygoose
        October 20, 2023 at 2:17 pm | # | Reply

        If someone gets you such a custom gift, regardless of the price, it might be an indication that they actually know your tastes and care about you (assuming they’re not an evil manipulating butthole), so yeah, I might be inclined to give them a chance too

  52. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    October 20, 2023 at 2:19 pm | # | Reply

    Mary will see Carla in a dress and start to become obsessed. She will want to have Carla as her personal model. That will not end well.

  53. JepMZ
    JepMZ
    October 20, 2023 at 6:03 pm | # | Reply

    Am I going insane? I could have sworn Carla said “should I set up a press conference”???!!!

  54. Katie
    Katie
    October 20, 2023 at 9:11 pm | # | Reply

    Poor Carla!

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