416

Undeclared
Posted on September 7, 2013 by David M Willis
Next weekend,  y'all!:  SPX!  Maryland!  North Bethesda!  Table W32!  (That's against the wall on the... right-hand side as you enter, I believe?  I'm neighbor to Danielle Corsetto and Magnolia Porter.) I will bring books, posters, some prints, and my ability to draw sketches for you.  I will have the tiniest number of Dumbing of Age Book 2s there for purchase, which I have had shipped quick-like for way too much money to be here early for this event.  (The rest of the books will likely get to me back home a week later.)

416 thoughts on “Undeclared”

  1. Jen Aside

    Well, I don’t hate Josh, at least.

    1. Paul

      I believe I can say, with a fair level of confidence, that Ethan *strongly* agrees with you.

      1. Arkadi

        Perfect avatar for that comment.

        1. Jen Aside

          …I JUST realized something about the last panel in the prior comic ahahahahahayes

        2. MrMercury

          IF ETHAN MAKES JOYCE CRY BECAUSE OF JOSH I WILL STAB SOMETHING

        3. Manly Bowler

          Ethan is preferable, if I might make a suggestion.

        4. Volkai

          Or Mike. Stab Mike, because you can be certain he has something to do with all this.

        5. nobody

          this is true

        6. DarkVeghetta

          He does! He ALWAYS does.

  2. Geminia999

    Joyce’s face in the last panel, it’s so sad, yet happy

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      Naivety is such a gosh-dang cute personality quirk.

      1. vsophi

        It seems less like naivety and more like “I’m going to pretend my boyfriend and brother aren’t hitting on each other right in front of me hehehehehesob”.

        1. T Campbell

          I’m pretty sure this cluetrain hasn’t run over her yet.

        2. T Campbell

          Well, actually, I don’t really know.

        3. Crumplepunch

          I don’t know, there’s a note of desperation there.

        4. Gordon Blvd

          are you talking from Joyce or from her brother? ha ha ha ha

        5. Valerie

          oh hai

      2. Joseph

        On a completely unrelated note, from where did that avatar come? I know it’s supposed to be the Fire Lord, but she seems a little off model.

        1. Insanenoodlyguy

          That’s like ICS. Check out City of Reality, that’s his comic.

        2. Plasma Mongoose

          Joseph, Insanenoodlyguy is correct, my Azula pic is in fact one of Ian Samson’s fanarts.

        3. mrelegos

          I’m sorry, but seeing Azula relaxing and smiling like that is freaking me out.

        4. The Candyman

          She’s probably witnessing an execution.

        5. Mr. Bulbmin

          The raised eyebrow is indicative of the source of her smile being mildly unusual.
          Perhaps a lesser-known form of torture?

    2. Arkadi

      She’s happy. It is sad :c

  3. Opus the Poet

    Soooo adorkable…

    1. hmrc4evr

      Is that word choice inspired by BNC’s channel Opus?

  4. Yotomoe

    Joyce…what haaaaaaaaaave you dooooone!!!

    1. Aizat

      Should we start a countdown on the train wreck or should we just see what would happen?

      1. SUGauthor

        I give it 20 strips before it goes to hell.

        1. Reltzik

          I disagree. Willis can draw this agony out for months or years.

        2. jiynx

          and quite possibly proceed to softball the delivery. he’s got such a habit of choosing to bunt instead of go for broke when he reaches the point where he can’t cocktease everyone anymore.

        3. TurtlyLooker

          Yeah, that’s about what I’m thinking will happen.

      2. Turbo Sexaphonic Delight

        Train wreck? More like shipwreck.

        1. BlueRam

          Shipwreck? More like accidental shipper.

        2. Mr. Morningstar

          That was pretty clever actually

        3. MsSchiff

          Well, you can call me a pirate captain that’s about to visit Davey Jones’ Locker…

          …’cause I am down with this ship, baby.

        4. dranorter

          Best.

    2. EvergreenFir

      Oh this is gonna be good…

  5. i300

    Oh they’ll get along alright.

    1. That Damn Rat

      They’ll get along like rabbits.

      1. The Candyman

        Adorable, gay, rabbits.

        1. BlueRam

          Adorable, gay rabbits that can’t let anyone else know their secrets.

        2. Tenn

          Except you, dear reader. You alone will know their secrets. And they will let you know, every day. For the rest. Of. Your. Life.

          Humping of Ages. Coming soon. And then again when they’ve rested a bit.

        3. Karen

          I saw that. 😛

        4. Farmer_10

          Eventually the sexual tension between everyone will grow so dense that it will collapse in on itself. And then, the Boneularity.

        5. Ocbrad1

          I love this comment!

        6. MrMercury

          They’ll get along like adorable gay rabbits with a nickle

      2. Archivist

        They’ll get along like it’s their last day on Earth.

    2. Variaman

      BOW CHICKA BOW WOW

      1. EvergreenFir

        ^Great avatar for that comment

      2. Cas A Nova

        Your comment, coupled with your avatar, is both fantastic and disturbing.

      3. JustcallmeSoul

        DINKLEBERRRRRGGG!

    3. Björn

      With heir penises.

    4. Buckybone

      SHIP AHOY!

    5. Vincent

      Dammit Joshua, stop seducing all of Joyce’s boyfriends.

  6. Lucas

    No Dorothy 🙁

    1. Whittier

      Nope, no Dorothy. Just a couple of friends of Dorothy.

  7. Resne

    Poor Joyce. I can just see her slowly getting squeezed out of this discussion.

    1. kateastrophe

      She’s getting squeezed out of this RELATIONSHIP.

      1. Arkadi

        Why? She’s the perfect beard. For both of them.

        1. jiynx

          most beards tend to live pretty depressing, very tertiary lives while they’re bearding for someone. it’s something i wouldn’t wish on anyone, even someone that i have as much contempt for as i would for joyce.

        2. vsophi

          Well, Ethan could always give her the okay to date on the side. A relationship in name only, for Joyce as well.

          Then again, she is a fundie…

        3. Historyman68

          It’s hard to get rid of that kind of guilt

        4. jiynx

          yeah, even the ones that do that, are pretty miserable, because they can’t be open. then they’re just piling up secrets and lies.

      2. Pier

        Push Joyce to the side Ethan so that she can feel the panel box edge.

  8. Jetstream

    Pfffftahahahahahahahahahahaha.

    Oh please tell me Joshua’s semi-closeted for his parents’ fragile minds’ benefit.

    1. Undrave

      I ship it.

    2. FuryOfFirestorm

      They’ll be fucking before the end of the semester.

      1. Jen Aside

        I give the end of the DAY

    3. Arkadi

      I honestly don’t care about his parents’ fragile minds.

      1. Jetstream

        Never said I did.

    4. Blue

      Given that he’s the one they brought along, and that he gave Joyce the ‘choose your battles’ advice, this is likely.

  9. The Sound Defense

    It shouldn’t take long for Joyce to figure out the deal. Her world continues to crumble around her.

    1. Aizat

      I think Joyce already figured it out in the last panel.

      1. That Damn Rat

        And thus began Joyce’s life as a Yaoi fangirl.

        1. Kiggy

          Heheheh

        2. Björn

          Are yaoi fangirls usually cool with one of the couple they’re fawning over being their own brother?

        3. Mr. Morningstar

          Japanese hentai tends to include a looooot of incest.

          Er n-not that I would know or anything.

        4. Mr. Bulbmin

          Don’t try to deny it.
          Everyone knows the truth already, Morningstar. You’re through.

          Also, my image seems to fit my style moderately well.
          I lucked out.

  10. Super Duper

    This ain’t going to end well. For anyone.

    1. Sensedog

      Yeah, that I can agree with completely. Well, almost completely; it might end well for some in the long run, though the inevitable explosion of drama will be one bell of a spectacle in the short term.

    2. jiynx

      i dunno, we’ll get a LOT of enjoyment over watching it all fall apart, as the inevitable comes steamrolling down upon the family.

      ten bucks says their dad beats the daylights out of joshua. fifteen on him trying to lay down a whupping on ethan(less likely due to it not being his son he’s laying the good old american jesus-stomp on.)

      1. vsophi

        Not sure about this. Hank hasn’t demonstrated any violent tendencies as of yet.

        1. taekwondogirl

          Yeah, I think he’d be much more likely to disown his son than to hit him.

        2. jiynx

          you deeply and dramatically underestimate the christ-rage that those sorts of parents feel when ‘their blood betrays them and falls to sin’

        3. Aydr

          We’ve met Joyce’s parents in Walkyverse, though, and we know they’re likely to chill out on their moralizing with age.

    3. GammaRay

      While I think the two would make an adorable (if heartbreaking for Joyce) couple, I’m still not sure it’s not just a matter of Joshua being…smilingly friendly as his default setting, much as is Joyce’s default setting. And Ethan’s attraction could easily result in failure to properly assess any signals. So for now, I’m running under the “just friendly and smiles a lot”.

      Plus, Joshua looks to be getting a bit awkward there as Ethan bears down on him. Will ship, but not sure if this is going for a fakeout or a blowout.

  11. NPZR

    The look of desperation on joyce’s face is breaking my heart

  12. GoogerGeiger

    Wow, it’s actually happening. I thought we were all grasping for straws by shipping them in the last comic.

    1. AJBulldis

      We still probably are. Joshua’s just seems to be being one of those non-jerk types. A nice person I guess?

      Last I checked not every hint of kindness is the result of barely repressed lust.

      1. The Candyman

        In this comic it is.

        1. AJBulldis

          …you have a point there.

        2. Aydr

          Actually, in this comic it’s every hint of hate that is barely repressed lust.

        3. Zach

          It’s all barely represt lust. These are some horny kids.

      2. vsophi

        It’s the look on his face in the last panel. If I’m correct (and I might not be, as I’m bad at reading body language), that’s either a “this is awkward, gaahh” face or a heart-melty face.

        1. Yotomoe

          If my heart was melting my face would be much more panicked.

        2. Proxiehunter

          I’m horrible with body language unless it’s a cartoon character for some reason. Ethan isn’t the only person in that room who’s “undeclared”.

        3. dralou

          I’m not so sure about that, he looks kinda… sorry. As in “Oh boy, if you really want to major in English, prepare yourself to a wonderful life of starvation while waiting for a decent-paying job”…

          But yup, I still ship them. Wouldn’t surprise me if Josh already had someone in his life, though.

  13. Baker

    Oh naive Joyce, too bad you aren’t savvy enough to have understood why.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      She needs to check out TVTropes for a while, that way she would be a lot more Genre Savvy.

      1. BlueRam

        Eh, it hasn’t been the same since a lot of the more risque tropes/titles have been cut back on in terms of how much content they get.

  14. greengeekgirl

    Can we start a pool on how many strips it will take for Joshua and Ethan to make out?

    1. Yotomoe

      I say 0. Cuz Then I’ll just draw it and rake in all the money.

      1. Demon-Something

        Do it now. Please.

        1. vsophi

          Agreed.

        2. Yotomoe

          Never drew dudes kissing before. TOTALLY A MILESTONE
          (PS. I actually don’t ship this)

        3. vsophi

          pffft

        4. Kernanator

          Tiny Pouting Joyce is what really makes the picture.

        5. BlueRam

          Tiny, pouting Joyce continuing to be in denial is what really makes the picture.

        6. Plasma Mongoose

          The perfect song to go with Yotomoe’s picture.

        7. Tenn

          If I didn’t ship it before, I’M SHIPPING IT NOW!

        8. jiynx

          http://i.minus.com/icFGdg2BQMnfb.gif

  15. AJBulldis

    I suspect Jordan is the outcast who doesn’t put up with his family’s insanity.

    1. The Candyman

      He’s a hippie communist rebel who is the lead singer in a rock and roll band and idolizes John Lennon. Plus he invents new psychosomatic drugs in his spare time.

      1. Yotomoe

        When he’s not burning bibles he’s drinking his coffee out of a goat’s head.

        1. The Candyman

          He made a deal with Satan to spread chaos throughout the land, in exchange for a sick new motorcycle (leather jacket not included).

        2. Yotomoe

          For the leather he slayed a cow with his bare hand and burn the hide using pure hatred (which is hotter than the sun itself). He then studded it with the bones of orphans sexed it together with the pubic hair of virgins.

        3. Yotomoe

          sewed*

        4. Shark

          You didn’t need to correct that.

        5. Ocbrad1

          Agreed. Unintentional typos FTW!

        6. xKiv

          It’s Winnie the Typoo.

        7. The Candyman

          He’s also a really good painter and animator, what with the drugs and all.

      2. Opus the Poet

        He invents drugs that make you think you’re sick? THAT’S sick man.

        1. The Candyman

          And that’s not even touching the psychoactive ones he experiments with.

        2. Opus the Poet

          Sorry, I just looked it up again and Psychosomatic drugs cure imaginary diseases. Still ungood, but not as ungood as making you think you’re sick

      3. Historyman68

        Idolized John Lennon? He’d probably get along with Blaine great!

        (Yes, that went dark. Sorry.)

    2. Bill

      I suspect that Jordan is the Brown family version of Amber’s step-brother Faz.

    3. Undrave

      He’s an evolutionary biologist who teaches in California :p

      1. The Candyman

        That was my second guess. My third was that he was a Jesuit brother.

      2. Blue

        That sounds a lot like my thesis advisor (technically she’s not /evolutionary/ bio though).

  16. Pyr05

    I foresee this going to them excusing themselves to go “discuss an English major” and “where the best and cheapest ramen is”

  17. Doctor_Who

    I think if Joshua mentions that he likes toy robots, Ethan will no longer be able to contain himself and they will start making out right in front of both sets of parents.

    Joyce will still fail to get it. “They’re getting along so well! Josh is showing my boyfriend how to be a better kisser! How thoughtful!”

    1. Spiny Creature

      Oh I think she already gets it, if her face in the last panel is anything to go by.

      …Yeah, this isn’t gonna end well for anyone. I’m sobbing already D:

  18. vsophi

    THIS IS SO PAINFUL

  19. Kernanator

    “Too Jordan”? Sounds like there’s a story there.

    1. Yotomoe

      He used to be the right amount of Jordan but then he was in a horrific Jordan related accident.

      1. Doctor_Who

        He was bitten by a radioactive Jordon.

        I think it was the one from Scrubs, she always seemed likely to bite.

    2. Geminia999

      When Micheal Jordan goes too far, he stretches the boundries and plays… BASEBALL??? Join, Micheal Jordan in the hilarious adventure “Too Jordan”!!!

      1. Demon-Something

        Been there, done that. It’s called Space Jam.

        1. AJBulldis

          Still the greatest sports movie of all time.

          COME ON AND SLAM, AND WELCOME TO THE JAM.

    3. The Candyman

      He’s too Jordan for school.

  20. Yotomoe

    Jordan is the Mikey of the Browns. I assume Josh is Donnie, and Jon is Leo.

    1. Doctor_Who

      So Joyce is Raphael? Does not compute.

      1. Yotomoe

        No, the dad is Raph.
        Joyce is Venus, DUH.

        1. Doctor_Who

          Venus exists? Abort Retry Fail.

        2. The Candyman

          So she’s going to turn out to not be related to the other Browns, and subsequently romance them?

        3. Aizat

          Who is this Venus you speak off? And if you said a female ninja turtle, you are nuts as there is no such thing in existence. Nope, does not exist.

  21. PatBaer

    Joshua doesn’t know he’s gay, but Jordan knows.

    1. MsSchiff

      Joshua in the third panel is making my Fruit Fly Sense tingle.

      1. begbert2

        He’s making my broken wrist sense tingle. Ouch!

      2. jiynx

        +1 to you for the misfile reference.

  22. someguywithakatana

    Ooooooooh… This is funny, but… I can’t even laugh… it’s just too painful… aaaaaaaah…

  23. Gram91

    This page makes a scenario I have going on in my head with this series a bit more plausible.

    1. vsophi

      And what is this scenario?

      1. Yotomoe

        That Jordan should be the main character.

        1. The Candyman

          I agree with this plan. I think it’s a good plan.

        2. Aizat

          And it turns out that Jordan is like an awesome combination of Ric Flair, Bruce Lee, Bruce Campbell, Solid Snake, Mr. T and Ryoma Nagare.

        3. Aizat

          Oh crap, I forgot to add in Ryo Saeba.

        4. Aizat

          With that in mind, Yotomoe? May you do the honors?

        5. Yotomoe

          Too tired from drawing couples I don’t ship making out. 1 up top and 1 at the bottom.

        6. Aizat

          It’s alright.

        7. AJBulldis

          Out of all your ideas, Yotomoe, and there have been many, this is by far your greatest. I will stand with you on the mountain of victory or be buried with you in the mass grave of not so victorious.

  24. Spack

    I think there’s some declaring right there.

  25. Ragnal

    I just…REALLY hope the parents are taking note of this right now.

    “Shit, still gay, let’s go home.”
    “Shit, you’re brother’s gay. You’re coming home.”

    1. Arkadi

      More like they’re high-fiving each other and making plans for Joyce and Ethan’s wedding already. In my experience, truly conservative types don’t really care about what you are/feel deep inside, as long as appearances are kept. I’m prepared to bet they’d be happy with an arrangement in which Joyce and Ethan are married and making babies while Ethan and his brother-in-law have gaysecks when no one’s looking.

      1. vsophi

        Only if Joshua got his own beard, I would think.

        1. Historyman68

          He’d be cute with a beard.

        2. The Candyman

          I’ve been imagining Johnathan with a beard, atcually. And Jordan with a larval goatee and some hair on his lip that he’s trying to grow into a handlebar mustache.

  26. Sir Robin

    Well, I guess Ethan will get to have sex with one of the Brown siblings, I guess …

  27. David

    This just…hurts a little to see. It’s like watching a disaster unfold in slow motion that you can do nothing about. And you know the casualities that will be involved.

    1. Paul

      It’s official. David Willis is now able to make me feel like I want to cry, even when nothing overtly sad is happening in the strip. It’s just… Joyce’s face…

      ::whimpers::

  28. someguywithakatana

    Also, putting 10 bucks on Jordan basically being a present day Willis.

    1. Yotomoe

      $50 on Jordan being Completely awesome in every way.

      1. Aizat

        Like what? Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist? Or the jet-flying, limousine-riding, kiss-stealing, wheeling-dealing, son-of-a-gun?

        1. Yotomoe

          Yes.

        2. AgentKeen

          Jordan set to be played by Robert Downey Jr. in the upcoming DoA film series.

        3. Kelly

          Jordan is Iron Man?!

        4. The Candyman

          All of the above. He’s basically Sam Malone’s brother, only more radical.

      2. V Missirian

        Maybe he is the Rainbow Dash of DOA 😛

    2. Tom Speelman

      I’d be fine with him being a present-day Willis right down to the Hawaiian shirt.

      1. AJBulldis

        Also down with this.

      2. someguywithakatana

        Dyed his hair black to stand out from his family.

        He doesn’t even need glasses. He just wears them so he won’t look like them.

  29. Rani

    I wondered why things seemed so normal and…filler web comicky in this strip.

    It wasn’t until the fifth read through that it hit me. Well done, Willis.

    1. Minomelo

      Fitting avatar!

  30. alicemacher

    I wonder if Joyce, on some deep deep unconscious level where her naievete and upbringing haven’t reached, knows what’s going on here. That “You hear what I said?”, combined with her expression and body language, suggest to me that another part of her mind is now sending the message, “Danger! Engage desperate denial system!”

    1. Yotomoe

      “Commander, the desperate denial system has been activated. Did someone try to explain biology to her again”
      “No…her boyfriend wants to bang her brother”
      “Mother of God…THIS IS NOT A DRILL, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

    2. Spiny Creature

      Correction: Joyce may be naive, but she also has a gay boyfriend who she’s supposed to be keeping away from temptation/keeping an eye on.

      She probably takes note every time he even glances at a boy. There’s no way he can get away with eye-fucking her own brother.

    3. Spiny Creature

      Which is my convoluted way of saying I don’t think she’s in denial about this at all. She literally promised Ethan she would make him act straight, it’s her job to notice these things.

      1. vsophi

        Oh, good point. Joyce probably isn’t going to just stand by and let it happen, will she?

        …Man, this storyline is so upsetting.

  31. someguywithakatana

    Last comment I swear. Panel 1 Joyce. Too damn cute.

  32. Plasma Mongoose

    Mission Control, I believe we are going to need a much bigger closet.

    1. That Damn Rat

      A closet built for two.

  33. Paul

    Oh, Joyce, sweety, you subconsciously want to be hurt, don’t you?

    1. Yotomoe

      She’s a psychological masochist.

      1. The Candyman

        It’s only going to get worse; eventually culminating in her trying to become Mike’s girlfriend.

        1. vsophi

          Oh god, I’m suddenly reminded of Walkyverse Dina.

          That was awful…

        2. mrelegos

          I’m sorry…this was the best I could do.

        3. Paul

          Dammit, my eyes are sweating again. Wonder why that happens…

  34. Fay

    Now kiss!

  35. Rani

    Also I’m nominating David Willis’s interpretation of Parents’ Day for best eldritch abomination.

    1. Archivist

      Seconded.

    2. Plasma Mongoose

      Willis is clearly trying to make the orphans of the world feel much better about themselves. 😀

      1. Opus the Poet

        Dangit, this comments section needs a like or thumbs up button.

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          That could happen if Willis chooses to change the comments to Disqus like he already did with Shortpacked! but I believe he is still dealing with some of the bugs as of yet.

        2. vsophi

          Aw, I’ll miss Gravatars. D:

        3. John

          I’ll miss having a comment system that works.

        4. Kelly

          Exactly. Disqus is the worst thing ever! I miss reading the comments on SP… 🙁

        5. Kelly

          He said he is sticking with WP for DoA, so no reason to change the comment section. Thankfully!

        6. vsophi

          yay

      2. John

        Even the orphans get Howard.

    3. Regalli

      Cthulhu concurs. Before, it wished to know what familial love was. Now it wonders if it ever did manage to drive families mad. They already seem to have that covered.

  36. Plasma Mongoose

    Jordan must be the black-sheep of this family.

    1. AgentKeen

      As ‘cloney’ as the siblings seem so far, that may be almost literal, with his black hair and brown eyes.

    2. AJBulldis

      A character I recognize! And yes.

  37. Archivist

    The concepts of “they’re too cute!” and “I don’t want Joyce to break” are at war within me.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      Lets settle for Break The Cutie.

      1. Bill

        If you’re referring to Joyce as “the cutie”, let’s not.

        1. Aizat

          Well, Joyce is kinda cute.

        2. Bill

          I agree, she could be the poster child for cute.  What I meant was let’s not break her.

    2. Demon-Something

      Sadly, the “gay agenda” is not bring kind to Joyce.

      1. Yotomoe

        I keep my Gay agenda next to my gay calender so that I know when to plan my gay schedule in my gay day planner.

        1. Demon-Something

          +1

        2. AJBulldis

          It’s good to know what’s going on in the gayborhood. Plus the sooner you buy tickets for your gaycation, the cheaper.

  38. Aizat

    Ooh, I like this Jordan fellow.

  39. Ragnal

    “Individualistic?”
    *Searches Google*
    in·di·vid·u·al·is·tic
    ˌindivijo͞oəˈlistik/Submit
    adjective
    1.
    characterized by individualism; independent and self-reliant.

    GASP! A FREE THINKER!

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      I wonder if he’s an atheist.

      1. Demon-Something

        Maybe he fell under the swag of Eastern Religion. None in particular, just Eastern Religion.

        1. Yotomoe

          He just opened up a book on Eastern Religion and was like “Yes. Yes to all of this”.

        2. Demon-Something

          We can all agree that Shinto-Buddhist-Hindu-Zoroastrian-Druze have the best religion.

        3. The Candyman

          “I originally was into Western Religion, but then I just found out about everything I was missing, y’know?”

        4. Gus

          I have a personal preference for Southern Religion myself, with a sprinkling of Insidism.

  40. Demon-Something

    Dear Lord, how can there be so much Unresolved Romantic Tension in so few panels?

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      The eyes explain it all.

      1. Yotomoe

        But also they’re incredibly blue and I would not advise staring directly into them.

        1. Kernanator

          Staring into a Brown’s eye can cause dizziness, short-term memory loss, and a desire to kiss licky-style.

        2. Demon-Something

          Premarital hanky panky!

        3. Aizat

          Heck, I’m getting Dick Grayson vibes from his lordship, Joshua.

        4. Ocbrad1

          Ethan, on the other hand, is getting slightly different Dick vibes.

        5. The Candyman

          Only Dorothy has proven to be immune.

        6. Ancestral Hamster

          Oh, that’s just a sign of Spice addiction. A small price to pay for prescience and the birth of the Kwizach Hadarach.

  41. showler

    And we have a new “one with triangle grin”.

    1. Aizat

      There’s a family of the one with the triangle grin.

      1. showler

        I don’t think I’ve seen either of her parents do it.

        1. Aizat

          Well, they’re not grinning at the moment, are they?

        2. showler

          No, but that’s why I looked back at their previous appearances.

        3. Tenn

          Maybe it diminishes with age.

  42. Nat

    queerdar is on before either of them know whats happening

  43. Icalasari

    Oh this is beautiful!

  44. Mr. V

    So I assume the entire DoA community now ships Ethan and Johnathan? Yes? Good. Ok then, now it’s time for inevitable erotic fan art. I expect it to be hot and steamy with maybe some flowers and shoujo style sparkles in there for good measure, don’t disappoint me DoA community.

    1. showler

      Why are you trying to break up a marriage. Isn’t Joshua good enough for Ethan?

      1. Mr. V

        Whoops my mistake, I meant Joshua. We can have Johnathan erotica after he makes his first appearance. I preemptively ship him with Faz.

        1. Cas A Nova

          I was with you until you said “with Faz” because my mind went to KILL IT WITH FIRE.

    2. AgentKeen

      It’s too bad that the DoA Kickstarter is already over, or Ethan x Joshua may have sold a lot of those backer reward drawings.

      1. vsophi

        Oh god, an Ethan/Joshua sketch may have actually convinced me to go for it.

        …y’know, if I had any money.

      2. AJBulldis

        There can always be another reprint drive.

    3. Yotomoe

      I do not ship them.
      I have drawn them kissing though.
      Scroll up buddies.

  45. Mr. Random

    I read “out of college” as “out of the closet.”
    I’m guessing it’s yes, then no.

    1. Kennerly

      I did the same thing!

  46. Deemah

    I have a new OTP

    1. Aizat

      I got an OTT…and it also involves incest…I am so ashamed at myself.

      1. That Damn Rat

        You obviously aren’t THAT ashamed, or you wouldn’t have mentioned it in a public forum.

        1. Aizat

          Well, this ranks the lowest on things I’m really ashamed off.

  47. Mattyos

    Oh this is like waiting for a piece of tnt with a long fuse to go off! This is going to be great!

  48. Aaron

    Oh hoooooo that last panel! YES! YES YES YES!

  49. Tom Speelman

    Man, Joyce is gonna have some interesting story to tell five years from now.

    1. Robin

      “And that’s how your father met your other father.”

      1. vsophi

        Are you implying Joyce will be impregnated by Ethan in the middle of college? Because otherwise, they wouldn’t have kids old enough to tell.

        1. Tfckmk988

          One word Adoption plus other viable options

        2. vsophi

          Still begs the question of why they would adopt so early in life…?

        3. The Candyman

          This is Joyce we’re talking about.

  50. AgentKeen

    No, see, Ethan’s just planning on easing himself into the relationship with Joyce. Joshua looks like Joyce, but is a guy, so makes perfect sense as a transition step. It’s brilliant, really.

    1. Yotomoe

      Ethan’s playing this relationship like a chess champion.

  51. Cheryl

    holy shit-snacks!

  52. HAB

    The heart wants what the heart wants.

  53. Ben

    Jordan, Joshua, Johnathon, and Joyce? If it wasn’t obvious enough from Joyce’s psychopath mother that these people deserve the worst parents of the year award, we get alliterative sibling names? That’s a pretty giant red flag right there.

    On that note, I’m shipping Blaine and Carol

    1. Jon P

      As a Jonathan with closest siblings Jeffrey and Jennifer, I can sympathize. Not all of my siblings are J-named, though, the four eldest all start with C or K.

      1. Yotomoe

        2…6…
        there’s 7 of you guys?

    2. Jason

      It’s…very common, really. So says me, my brother Josh, and dad Joe. Most of my cousins fall under the same pattern (same first initial as one of the parents), but I’ll spare you the details.

  54. Ben

    oh shitstains, I mixed up Carol and Naomi. It’s a smorgasbord of awful parenting. Gods bless parent’s weekend.

    1. vsophi

      It’s okay, just ship all three of them. Or even better, throw in Hank and Danny’s parents!

      1. Yotomoe

        http://sadpanda.us/images/1831097-NGAOC39.png
        I only drew two.

        1. David Willis

          i love you

        2. vsophi

          PFFFFT

        3. showler

          Told you Naomi was gay.

        4. Kernanator

          This is perhaps the greatest thing you have ever done.

  55. vsophi

    Are all the other Brown kids this adorable?

  56. TaintedSpud

    There will be blood…err…buttsex.

    Bloodsex?

  57. Jesse

    I think they’ll get along very well…

  58. Bitstream

    Oh my gosh. This is so adorable and sad.

  59. Elva Rodríguez

    This must NOT be called Dumbing of Age, it must be called “Break Joyce Hearth; The Comic”, seriously Willis, it’s like you enjoy her suffering (though, you did that a lot in the other comics as well… you hate her, don’t you?)

    1. JustcallmeSoul

      considering willis as much as said that joyce was loosely based off of himself…

      1. Yotomoe

        Willis is actually a masochist and tortures himself via comic.

        1. The Candyman

          Since Willis said he dated a lesbian in college, I’m just going to assume he went through this exact situation, with himself as Joyce.

        2. vsophi

          What?!

        3. rachel

          That’s pretty much the only explanation. 🙁 so goooood so saaaad

  60. CG

    Willis is using transformers to show who is good and bad. In the previous strip, Ethan’s mom, total bongo, is covering up the Decepticon sticker on the wall. In this strip, Joshua is covering Optimus Prime. It’s kinda obvious because Ethan’s mom is a bongo, and Josh is nice, but I just wanted to point that out.

    1. vsophi

      Ooh, nice catch.

    2. 6

      I’m not sure about this. Doesn’t seem to hold in “vicariously”

    3. CoachMcGuirk

      I’d do a Decepticon’s mom for a nickel.

  61. Aeron

    We will look back on this and realize it was the exact moment when Jonathan’s “awakening” began. 😉

    1. vsophi

      I assume you mean Joshua?

      People keep on mixing them up for some reason. I wonder why…

  62. Cas A Nova

    I kinda want to write fanfiction to this. Not that I normally ship things so quickly but… THE EYES AND THE WAY THEY INTERACT.

  63. Speedball

    Wait, wait, every sibling in this family is named “Jo-something?”

    Damn, that’s terrible theme naming, it just confuses people.

    1. MLEst1

      If so, it makes sense that’s Joyce’s first date here was with Joe. Her parents were, litterally, telling him to ‘Jo-something’ ;P

  64. Bran

    Joshua is my new favorite character.

    Spin-off series starring Joshua about his struggles with unemployment as he shares a room with his brother, a huge Rand Paul fan? Wacky hi-jinks as Joshua struggles to conceal evidence of his liberal politics and sexual identity from the rest of his family, complicated by a hot guy showing up on the scene…?

    This is what is happening in my mind if Joshua disappears never to be heard from again in the rest of the comic’s run.

    1. Twirls

      Seconded

    2. vsophi

      “…if Joshua disappears never to be heard from again in the rest of the comic’s run.”

      I really don’t want this to happen, but it probably will.

  65. newllend

    Wow, going after your girlfriends older sibling, I would call Ethan a player but I don’t if it counts since its her brother and not her sister

  66. Cheryl

    Hes gonna declare that ass his major.

    1. Tessa

      Words cannot describe how much I love the combination between your avatar thing and your comment.

  67. Kaci

    This is strangely like what happened with me, my (now ex) husband, and my brother

    1. Aizat

      Wait, ex? What happened?

      1. MLEst1

        I’m thinking her husband left her for her brother…

        1. Kaci

          Kind of, yes. To be specific, he left me for many guys, and then ended up with my second youngest brother.

    2. Pier

      Dish. Does your brother have blue eyes? 😀

      1. Kaci

        Yes, we all do, but he, myself, and our other brother Matt tend to have “mood ring” eyes

    3. Aizat

      I’m sorry to hear that, Kaci. Are you OK?

      1. Kaci

        Sorry for not getting here earlier. I’m… alright. It was really awkward. And, oddly enough, his name was also Joshua.

  68. Jordan

    In spite of the fact I don’t think I’ve ever interaction with Willis and I’m almost certain he doesn’t know who I am, I’m pretty sure this is directed at me, and I AM too Jordan to be brought places or be proud of. Ok, it’s not directed at me, we just have the same name.

  69. Mr. Morningstar

    Oh yes he’s going to get along with him alright. They’re gonna get along a little too well.

  70. Tessa

    That awkward moment when Joyce’s brother ends up being gay, religious family upbringing be damned. 😉 Poor Joyce.

  71. quietlythundering

    I know this is all gonna end so badly, but I can’t help but think how cute they’d look together D:

  72. Gottawonder

    Joyce, you are fighting a losing battle. Poor little thing. Wonder what mommy dearest is doing at this moment?

    Names that boggle your mind: I was introduced once to a man and wife named Robert and Roberta, who had a son and a daughter, and named them after themselves. So you had:
    Bobby, Robby, Bob, and Rob.
    Then there was another guy I knew from a summer job in my senior year: he had 7 kids whose names all started with ‘C’ and had 7 letters each. He had them tattooed on his arm.
    Takes all kinds.

    1. CoachMcGuirk

      Never met a Robert I didn’t like. I realize that’s not a statement about Roberts; it’s a statement about Roberts I’ve met, but still.

      1. Thasvaddef

        Better Robert than Chad.

  73. Twirls

    Ethan’s parents are still there, right?
    This is going to go up soon
    I still ship Ethan and Joshua
    but I don’t think it’s going to make it past another strip or two

  74. Ry

    I can’t wait for Joyce’s facade to come crumbling down. Schadenfreude? I hardly know her!

  75. Deo

    The ship is ready to sail, Captain!

  76. JessWitt

    I can’t wait to see the ensuing ten-car pile up that is all the first years and their parents coming together.

  77. Arkadi

    Daaamn, Joyce’s expression isn’t easy to read in the last panel. I want to know whether she’s genuinely happy or has already caught on on what is happening :c

    1. David

      You are presuming Joyce to be of one mind if you talk about “whether she …” But college is exactly where she stopped locking away other aspects, thoughts, views and possibilities.

      The situation is developing fast in a direction where she’ll need to decide “whether she has already caught on to what is happening” in multiple respect instead of remaining in a blissful state of mental superposition that she has permitted herself as a basis for gradual personal development.

      It would have been nice for David to grant her more time before she is in the situation of having to make up and declare her mind on several things.

      1. Arkadi

        yes, well, no. I was being rather more especific: whether she’s caught on to the fact that her brother and her -oficially- boyfriend are going all “hello sailor” over each other.

  78. Bloody_Jerk

    I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP!

    Also, I feel really bad for Joyce, man.
    I’m not sure, if she really loves Ethan (I kinda think, she doesn’t in the slightes), but still, you know, her own brother and her boyfriend?
    Sad shit, I say, sad shit.

  79. Dicrel Seijin

    Two hundred and thirty eight comments and no one mentions ramen? I am disappointed.

    As a fellow English major, I am rather familiar with ramen. I recommend Ichiban. It’s a lot better than Maruchan or, Heaven forbid, Cup O’ Noodles.

    1. CoachMcGuirk

      Yes to all of this.

    2. Prickly

      Personally I go for soba, served cold with a small bowl of Memmi. But yes, Sapporo Ichiban is much better than Nissin, Maruchan or Cup o’ Noodles. If I’m feeling lavish, I’ll put kamaboko, sliced pork and an egg, along with green onions, in it.

    3. Pier

      As long as there’s no wax on the noodles, i’ll eat all of them..

      God, I’m so thinking right now of Ethan and Josh having ramen together and staring at each other, and the oblivious Joyce on the background, of course.

      1. Pier

        Joyce: “Don’t do that ‘Lady and the Tramp’ spaghetti scene. That’s so gay.. Oh… Wait… Haha, you guys are so funny.”

        Her denial is off the charts she doesn’t get a hold of the reality anymore. 😛

    4. Dara

      Maruchan is my ramen of choice. I don’t think they even sell Ichiban here. Either way, though, as long as it’s not Top Ramen, I’m good to go.

  80. lilith

    Wow. Now I really want to see Jordan.

  81. Kaos

    Joyce.. aww poor her. all she wanted was love and care. for some reason i think it will be her worst day ever. she needs a huge group hug!

    1. timemonkey

      Worse than that time she almost got raped?

  82. James

    Soooo we are going Game of thrones with this……minus the evil son killing Ethen

  83. Ryune

    Joyce. Joyce, you can’t pray the gay away. Stop trying, because you are only going to hurt yourself, Ethan, and from the looks of it, the coolest of your brothers.

    1. vsophi

      Can’t see how this will hurt Jordan.

  84. Gillybby

    You know, it’s kinda creepy. I know an Uber-Christian family who’s 5 children are ALSO all J-named.
    Weird.

    1. Maja!

      Because of J-esus?

    2. TsunamiJane

      I know a family of four boys, all J names, all Christian.

    3. David Willis

      If you’re going for lots of kids named with the same first letter, it kind of has to start with a J. There’s a buttload of J-names in the English-translated Bible, so it’s just smart planning.

      1. The Candyman

        Not necessarily. My grandmother gave her kids names that start with W, for example.

  85. King Harkinian

    This ship sails in the morning. I wonder what’s for DINNER…

  86. The Pink Ninja

    So who else ships this?

    I think they would make a super cute couple and it’d be intresting.

    Joyce willbe heart broken but maybe she can find some gay comfort of her own?

  87. Maja!

    …and Joyce was forgotten entirely…

    I’m torn between feelings of joy because Joshua and Ethan are so cute together and deserve to be happy and feelings of sadness/empathy for Joyce who also deserves to be happy and even though she might be in the future this is going to hurt a lot presently!

  88. Shadow12000

    Heheh…Majoring in English. Ethan that was such a corny pickup line I don’t even.

  89. Bemmie

    Undeclared? I think he’s pretty declared, for josh.

  90. Michael

    Monkey Master shirt is not pleased.

  91. Norj

    Joyce don’t interrupt your brother when he’s in middle of stealing your boyfriend. I swear kids today are so rude.

  92. Crumplepunch

    Oh, he is just fabulous.

  93. Wallace Wells

    Now Ethan be a good boy and break up with your future sister-in-law, that’s the fair thing to do.

  94. Czig

    These two are about as depressing a couple as Joker and Harley.

  95. Jack Finch

    And the iceberg grinds along the side of the ship, damaging all five forward compartments. It’s only a matter of time now.

  96. AndaisQ

    oh no

    awkward queer boys

    my only weakness

  97. Jack Finch

    And the Yaoi girls go
    doot-do-doot do-doot doot-dee-doot
    doot-do-doot do-doot doot-dee-doot

  98. HiEv

    That wrist in panel 3. Ow!

  99. Wolfe

    And to think I was so upset with Ethan and Joyce for continuing their “relationship” given the obvious, …now that a new challenger has appeared(a cute one at that), I can not wait to see the impending delicious drama.

  100. Tomb

    I can never tell when Willis’ characters are blushing.

    1. Bill

      A couple of times I’ve detected a reddish cross-hatching along the cheekbones.  See Amber’s mom in the 4th panel of this one – http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/mister/

    2. The Candyman

      I think you’d have to be blind to miss the times when Joyce blushes.

  101. karloaf

    Oh no I can already see everything coming apart already

    1. Quatoria

      hahaha, oh god, I came here to see if anyone had said that exact thing

      my only reaction: “oh no”

  102. Noel Schornhorst

    I <3 Joshua. 😀

  103. hof1991

    I can see the Browns sitting by and “not seeing” anything going on. They love their son, gays are sinful therefore their son is not gay. Evidence to the contrary simply does not / can not exist. Like Joyce, they may be a little desperate about not seeing things, but that doesn’t make them that different from other parents.

    Naomi on the other hand… Bet she sees this all to clearly. Fireworks sooner rather than later.

    Nice touch – Joyce’s hand on Ethan’s chest, with Ethan’s hand on her wrist, about to throw her away without even being aware she is there.

  104. hof1991

    Dammit! Got to remember which of my emails to use when I comment.

  105. Charles RB

    THIS PLEASES ME!

  106. The Candyman

    Joshua is a Cracked writer. New headcanon.

    1. Bill

      Or an unpaid blogger for HuffPost.

    2. vsophi

      YES
      and he is the one who makes the most dick jokes out of all

  107. Kilonum

    I read this just after eating a bowl of ramen (which is all I have for food until my next payday). TIMING IS EVERYTHING IN COMEDY.

    1. Just Karen

      I’ve become so twisted that I enjoy eating ramen (the cheap stuff) just for the sake of eating ramen. I buy a box (24 packets) every two or three months, despite having enough money to quite easily afford “real” food.

  108. Paul

    I know everyone else has been saying it, but this is the first strip where Joshua really looks like a male clone of Joyce to me. I think it’s the triangle grin. Or the cute tilted-head face in the third panel.

  109. Oishi1117

    The panel goes from holding Joyce to less holding Joyce to not holding her at all lol. I dunno why but I am still shipping Walky and Joyce…….

    1. Jack Finch

      He didn’t shove her to the ground at least.

  110. Iceholder

    And then the twist: Joshua isn’t actually gay. He just happens to fit many gay stereotypes.

    1. vsophi

      He actually isn’t fitting any stereotypes as far as I can tell. He just seems to be interested in Ethan.

      1. Drakey

        Which is really stereotypical behavior. I mean, a gay guy, interested in another guy? When are we gonna get over that stereotype?

      2. Iceholder

        More a prediction of future behavior rather than an observation of current.

  111. Stepfan Huntsman

    So cute together…

  112. rachel

    DAT BODY LANGUAGE

    DAMN, DAAAAMN, DAAAAYUM

  113. Biege

    …sooooooooooooooooooooooo awkwaaaaaaaaaaard

  114. Foxhack

    SHE SHIPS THEM

    WHAT

  115. Beachfox

    “Freelance Writing”…
    My husband did “Oh, um, Freelance writing mostly…” during the 90s as well. Was unaware there were still enough gay porn story magazines being published to make it a valid psudo-career!

    1. Quatoria

      Oh, don’t worry! There’s all sorts of outlets happy to pay you almost nothing for various types of writing!

  116. Jackson

    Is anyone else curious what Joshua writes? I honestly find myself wishing he had a column or a blog I could read.

    1. Deirdre Mundy

      Not at all. Because these days, ‘freelance writing’ is mostly blogging for companies. So “12 reasons why your need to upgrade your HVAC system today” and “3 skin rashes you should never ignore.”

      1. The Candyman

        I’m still sticking with him being a columnist for Cracked.

        1. gareth

          7 Famous Religious Figures That Were Actually Gay

      2. timemonkey

        “10 reasons you should hook up with your sister’s boyfriend”

  117. NeutroBlaster

    Well. Ethan is attracted to a member of Joyce’s family… Just not Joyce!

  118. John Harmon

    Thanks for setting Ethan up with your brother, Joyce.

  119. Arturo

    Second contact on my gaydar. Second contact on my gaydar!

  120. Maki P

    Oh. My. God. (Well, Ethan needed a real love interest anyway)

  121. DiDi

    Am I the only one who’s confused about Joshua’s expression in the last panel? It doesn’t really look like a smile… Not a frown though. A weird non blush?

  122. Imperator

    Is it weird that I, as a Jordan who is the weird one in his family, can totally understand being called ‘Too Jordan’?

    1. starkruzr

      Weird indeed. OR IS IT. *eyes you suspiciously*

  123. ShioriTsumi

    ….wow, that’s some instant chemistry. It could even just be non-romantic, but it’s amazing to see two characters who just instantly seem to click.

    On the other side of things, it seems like while Ethan believes all those qualities are adorable on Joyce, on Joshua, they’re just…wow. “Welp. Seems I’m still gay.” Because he has the SAME eyes and hair that Joyce does, basically.

  124. Aaaaaaadrian

    oh no he’s going to fall for her brother. This can only end beautifully

    1. tahrey

      Like, having her bind her chest, cut her hair much shorter and wear plain-lensed glasses?

  125. Joel Rice

    I thought Joyce once said she had five brothers?

  126. alex

    i need to tell you all something, i’m friends with a guy named Jonathan, he has a younger sister, Jennifer, and two older brothers named Joesph and Jerry, and the family is quite religious.

    I KNOW THE BROWNS IN REAL LIFE!!!!

    1. Roborat

      Yea, the family is brought to you by the letter J. To bad the parents aren’t. I had a friend who had a similar family; him, both his sisters, both parents, and the three dogs all had names that started with J. Not particularly religious however.

  127. Brando

    I want Joyce to break in the worst way, this is delicious. Suffer all of you mwahahahah!

  128. tahrey

    Between Ethan’s super long flexible arm, and Josh’s double jointed wrists, one can barely IMAGINE the positions they might find themselves in later on…

  129. Mkvenner

    He’s Gay isn’t he.

  130. Schist

    Weird, I hit random five times and got this comic four times out of those five.

  131. noah

    is it just me or do all of joyce’s family’s names start with “j”
    joyce, jonathan, joshua, and jordan

  132. nothri

    I wonder how badly Jordan managed to Jordan it up with his family to be too Jordan to be here?

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