I’m pretty much expecting Dina to be the key to saving everyone, because she is easily overlooked and was visible in the background of the scenes where everyone was disappearing.
Sadly the plan was doomed to failure, as while the van was naturally well-stocked with egg whisks, and Sarah never goes anywhere without a signed picture of Raymond Burr, Walky left his snorkel in his other pair of pajama pants.
Wait, is there an actual piece of media that involves egg whisks, snorkels, and Raymond Burr? Because you have my curiosity.
Hmrc4evr
And you have my axe!
Wait…what?
Jamie
Take a bow!
…did I do it right?
Needfuldoer
And the bridge, Number One.
What?
Roborat
You should, it is pretty good, although updates are a bit slow, I leave it for 3-4 months then binge it. Strangely, my first thought was it was a Pinky and the Brain reference.
On the other hand, she wouldn’t be mentioning the three things unless they were at hand. So maybe one of them is the mask. What things could they still have on them? Maybe it’s something like help with the duct tape and Becky’s address. Dunno.
clif
Maybe Ethan always carries a transformer toy with a sharp edge?
Needfuldoer
He pulls a folded-up poster from his pocket and Roadblock’s piercing glare cuts the tape.
ktbear
I’d say the mask is one essential, it’s one thing for the authorities to be chasing Amazigirl, it’d be bad news for them to be chasing Amber after all this. So, not required, but necessary.
Nah, the quality of egg that makes her an effective Senator and cabinet member who would be good at the actual job of “being president” and bad at the job of “becoming president,” easy to vilify by the opposition and loses to a Cheeto.
Bicycle Bill
Compared to who we’ve got now, even I would be presidential quality
Wizard
Probably the single best qualification for being President is not wanting the job.
Yet One More Idiot
I think compared to the current Prez, even I would be more suitable for the role. And I’m not even eligible being entirely the wrong nationality! xDDD
jmsr7
Compared to the current president, a hippo with diarrhea would do a better job. The hippo would attack anyone who got too close and spray diarrhea everywhere, but it wouldn’t [list of things the orange menace has done].
StClair
Not so. Draftees, slaves, prisoners, and other involuntary workers tend to perform poorly.
I suspect that line indicates she maybe knows there is a split, and she did WITNESS the stabbing. (Which was all Amber.) I’m all for anything that seems to indicate they’re talking to each other again, and maybe Dorothy’s words might help Amber stop falling deeper into the ‘Amber is the irredeemable Bad One, AG is all that is good in me’ trap.
I mean AG could also make things radically worse and probably will on at least one front because DAMN YOU WILLIS is in full effect, but by this point everything’s boned enough that I doubt ANYONE’S actions won’t make things radically worse.
Shane
Haha excellent point, pretty much every single person in this situation has been in “We need an adult” mode for a while now.
Agreed. She’s entrusting their situation to a YouTube-trained vigilante who would fail a psyche eval. Amazi-girl has very little regard for her own life, already “died” once falling off an ill-advised moving car climb (except Sal caught her, something AG didn’t know was going to happen.)
Actively encouraging her and trusting one’s well-being to her is enabling her participating in the mental illness.
clif
Well, yes. But not everyone can turn mental illness into a super-power. Watching you-tube videos doesn’t turn you into a skilled athlete. All Amazigirl gives Amber is a control on her violent impulses. By any measure, Amber is extraordinary. I certainly wouldn’t bet against her.
Needfuldoer
Amazi-Girl is basically Amber after she eats a Scooby Snack.
I think maybe you’re setting yourself up to be disappointed a little here. DoA has always had a more comic book approach to logic in these situations. Amber has done some insane stuff, like jumping from rooftops and riding on car roofs. She actually has a decent track record for being reliable in these situations even if realistically this isn’t the best call.
Amazi-Girl, of everyone in that room, is the only one their captor is willing to let go, and the only one with any remote chance in the situation even if they had other options.
Like, hopefully her plan involves finding non-police help, but it’s really, really absurd to suggest that trusting her here is irresponsible. Even if AG hadn’t repeatedly demonstrated she can handle herself, she’s literally the only option they have
It’s even more absurd to call it “participating in her mental illness”, because “vigilantism” is not a mental illness.
I dunno. Dorothy witnessed Amber slashing up that guy (who was an a$$hole and brought the weapon in the first place, thus kind of “deserving it”. I’m iffy on being totally chill with use of deadly force, even defensively). Then Dorothy apparently didn’t say “Oh my god! That’s assault with a deadly weapon! It’s only a matter of time before she kills someone! I need to get her some help and report this.”
Instead she said “This is fine. I don’t need to tell anyone.”
Not very civic-minded or responsible. Not reporting means everyone involved is still out there. I mean not narc-ing on friends has a certain value. But we’re not Lawful Good anymore. More like True Neutral. Maybe that’s a useful presidential quality.
If you don’t want someone to defend themselves with lethal force, they shouldn’t be attacked with lethal force. Ryan brought lethal force into play by attacking Amber and Dorothy with a knife first and stating intent to use the same knife on Joyce. Amber is entirely in her rights, morally and legally, to use the same in defence of herself and multiple third parties.
clif
She even used his own cell phone.
Shane
I don’t disagree on the self-defense, and that’s not my point. What I’m saying is that being forced to do that should probably be considered an inherently traumatic experience that one should get some professional help to process. It’s also a security event that’s pretty negligent not to report, at least anonymously. Campus security would also like to know that stabbings are occurring on campus, even if it’s an anonymous tip that doesn’t name names.
Dorothy, as far as I know said “Wow, Amber looks horrified that she had to do that! That must have been mind scarring! Welp, good luck processing that on your own! Also, that’s not something I feel like telling any authority about.” That’s pretty jaded.
The police were informed, and since the apparently searched Amber & Dina’s room, it’s pretty clear the school knows too. I don’t know where you’re getting this stuff
And wtf do you expect Dorothy to do about Amber’s mental health? Try to have her committed? She spent 3 days away from campus with her mom, and then shut herself off in her room when she came back, refusing all visitors. Is Dorothy supposed to kick the door down and drag her to therapy?
Shane
If so, I’m surprised the school didn’t offer Amber some counseling, if they knew she was forced to knife someone. Maybe they did off panel and she politely declined. That seems reasonable.
What could Dorothy do? Well as is, her compliance with knowing her friend dresses up and beats up bad guys is tacit acceptance and enabling of that behavior. She could do…something, anything at all really, besides just meekly going along with it. But I think that was a side point of Sarah pointing out that Dorothy couldn’t even lead Joyce to getting a dead toenail out of her sock. Dorothy’s kind of a follower right now. Even in this strip I’m reading her choice as “someone besides me will fix it!” Delegation is a leadership trait, but I’m unconvinced that’s what I’m seeing in Dorothy.
It was Dorothy who got Joyce to do the right thing and tell Becky about her dad instead of putting it off. Stakes there mattered a bit more than Joyce’s toenail.
And again, Amber’s the only one with the opportunity to leave. Your expectations of Dorothy’s leadership abilities seem really arbitrary and largely unreasonable
1) There’s no “kind of”, Ryan deserved it. More importantly, what Amber did was reasonable given the situation. He was a deadly threat. Like, on top of pulling the knife, he had literally told them he was planning to attack Joyce with it. Amber disarmed him and was not blocking his escape. He chose to continue the fight. Amber did what was necessary to ensure he would not regain control of the knife and hurt her, Dorothy, or Joyce.
2) It was SELF DEFENSE. In what way would it be “only a matter of time” before Amber killed someone? Why the fuck would Dorothy think that in reaction to Amber SAVING THEIR LIVES?
3) There was literally no need to report the incident. The cops were involved, they investigated. They deemed it self defense.
PiotrW
Hm. I’m honestly curious where are you getting all these details on this situation? Because we haven’t been shown what exactly happened back then.
What we’ve been shown was Amber flashing a really disturbing slasher smile at Ryan – and Dorothy been visibly shocked by the scuffle that followed.
Also, the police deeming an incident self defense doesn’t mean it was truly accurate. Finally, it all really depends on the legal system – back where I live, actively stabbing an attacker with the reasoning “He could’ve taken the knife back” wouldn’t count as acceptable self defense measure…
246 thoughts on “Unkidnap”
Ana Chronistic
a mask, a hatchet, and a pig
…oh, to get BECKY? Just need Dina
Benwhoski
I’m pretty much expecting Dina to be the key to saving everyone, because she is easily overlooked and was visible in the background of the scenes where everyone was disappearing.
Beef
You’d think Ross would want her gone
Khyrin
Perhaps Ross respects her for her staunch defense of his property.
davidbreslin101
Ross also remembers their last encouter. He fears she’d disembowel him with her toenails before eating him alive.
Khyrin
I DID say he respects her for her staunch defense of his property, did I not?
Roborat
Well, she does have that dino claw now, doesn’t she?
BenRG
Ross has no personal issue with Dina. He certainly means her no harm so long as she stays out of his way and out of his ‘holy’ business.
thejeff
The “deceptress” “who will also be punished by the hand of god”?
poofdepoof
Ross doesn’t like Becky. But I think this kidnapping part – including who to kidnap – was so so so much Blaine’s idea, down to the details of who
Bicycle Bill
Lawyers, guns, and money.
Leorale
Torah, hard work, and acts of loving-kindness
Lars
Really Guns gets an DoA appearance?
He Who Abides
Willis did say he was breaking one of his rules, sooooo . . .
Wizard
Very few problems can’t be solved by some combination of those three.
Opus the Poet
A warren Zevon classic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP5Xv7QqXiM
Beef
I keep remembering Lackadaisy exists, going “I should read that”, then not reading it
Nymphie
There’s a kickstarter going on now for an animated short as well
Cholma
You forgot: “…and that guy’s metal leg. No, I really need it!” 😀
Geneseepaws
Made me waste coffee.
I thought it was gonna be a bell, book, and candle, ooooh, wrong comic.
Doctor_Who
Sadly the plan was doomed to failure, as while the van was naturally well-stocked with egg whisks, and Sarah never goes anywhere without a signed picture of Raymond Burr, Walky left his snorkel in his other pair of pajama pants.
Jess
Dammit Walky, you had one job!
jeffepp
Shotgun Shuffle reader identified.
Doctor_Who
Never heard of it, actually.
Wait, is there an actual piece of media that involves egg whisks, snorkels, and Raymond Burr? Because you have my curiosity.
Hmrc4evr
And you have my axe!
Wait…what?
Jamie
Take a bow!
…did I do it right?
Needfuldoer
And the bridge, Number One.
What?
Roborat
You should, it is pretty good, although updates are a bit slow, I leave it for 3-4 months then binge it. Strangely, my first thought was it was a Pinky and the Brain reference.
clif
And there we are.
clif
Not terribly believable but enormously emotionally satisfying.
Mada
I’m going to assume one of the three things is Walky’s mask.
clif
Maybe, but she never needed the mask.
clif
On the other hand, she wouldn’t be mentioning the three things unless they were at hand. So maybe one of them is the mask. What things could they still have on them? Maybe it’s something like help with the duct tape and Becky’s address. Dunno.
clif
Maybe Ethan always carries a transformer toy with a sharp edge?
Needfuldoer
He pulls a folded-up poster from his pocket and Roadblock’s piercing glare cuts the tape.
ktbear
I’d say the mask is one essential, it’s one thing for the authorities to be chasing Amazigirl, it’d be bad news for them to be chasing Amber after all this. So, not required, but necessary.
bryy
“And someone get me a goddamn mask.”
Needfuldoer
Good thing Walky is dressed up as Nightguy for no other reason!
Geneseepaws
Alllll Right-y then!
Dave Van Domelen
…and that guy’s leg.
mrnoidea
That’ll be 50,000 units.
woobie
Get the battery last.
Kamino Neko
‘He doesn’t have a prosthetic leg…’ ‘I didn’t say anything about a prosthetic leg.’
Jess
Aw, Dorothy. She’s a good egg.
clif
Presidential quality egg?
Ferret
Nah, the quality of egg that makes her an effective Senator and cabinet member who would be good at the actual job of “being president” and bad at the job of “becoming president,” easy to vilify by the opposition and loses to a Cheeto.
Bicycle Bill
Compared to who we’ve got now, even I would be presidential quality
Wizard
Probably the single best qualification for being President is not wanting the job.
Yet One More Idiot
I think compared to the current Prez, even I would be more suitable for the role. And I’m not even eligible being entirely the wrong nationality! xDDD
jmsr7
Compared to the current president, a hippo with diarrhea would do a better job. The hippo would attack anyone who got too close and spray diarrhea everywhere, but it wouldn’t [list of things the orange menace has done].
StClair
Not so. Draftees, slaves, prisoners, and other involuntary workers tend to perform poorly.
Bobcat
This is incredibly sad and incredibly true.
Andy
But I don’t think she understands how dangerous the Amber/Amazi-Girl split is. But maybe that last line means she does, I dunno.
Regalli
I suspect that line indicates she maybe knows there is a split, and she did WITNESS the stabbing. (Which was all Amber.) I’m all for anything that seems to indicate they’re talking to each other again, and maybe Dorothy’s words might help Amber stop falling deeper into the ‘Amber is the irredeemable Bad One, AG is all that is good in me’ trap.
I mean AG could also make things radically worse and probably will on at least one front because DAMN YOU WILLIS is in full effect, but by this point everything’s boned enough that I doubt ANYONE’S actions won’t make things radically worse.
Shane
Haha excellent point, pretty much every single person in this situation has been in “We need an adult” mode for a while now.
Shane
Agreed. She’s entrusting their situation to a YouTube-trained vigilante who would fail a psyche eval. Amazi-girl has very little regard for her own life, already “died” once falling off an ill-advised moving car climb (except Sal caught her, something AG didn’t know was going to happen.)
Actively encouraging her and trusting one’s well-being to her is enabling her participating in the mental illness.
clif
Well, yes. But not everyone can turn mental illness into a super-power. Watching you-tube videos doesn’t turn you into a skilled athlete. All Amazigirl gives Amber is a control on her violent impulses. By any measure, Amber is extraordinary. I certainly wouldn’t bet against her.
Needfuldoer
Amazi-Girl is basically Amber after she eats a Scooby Snack.
Opus the Poet
No, a Snickers bar.
Sirksome
I think maybe you’re setting yourself up to be disappointed a little here. DoA has always had a more comic book approach to logic in these situations. Amber has done some insane stuff, like jumping from rooftops and riding on car roofs. She actually has a decent track record for being reliable in these situations even if realistically this isn’t the best call.
Fart Captor
Amazi-Girl, of everyone in that room, is the only one their captor is willing to let go, and the only one with any remote chance in the situation even if they had other options.
Like, hopefully her plan involves finding non-police help, but it’s really, really absurd to suggest that trusting her here is irresponsible. Even if AG hadn’t repeatedly demonstrated she can handle herself, she’s literally the only option they have
It’s even more absurd to call it “participating in her mental illness”, because “vigilantism” is not a mental illness.
Shane
I dunno. Dorothy witnessed Amber slashing up that guy (who was an a$$hole and brought the weapon in the first place, thus kind of “deserving it”. I’m iffy on being totally chill with use of deadly force, even defensively). Then Dorothy apparently didn’t say “Oh my god! That’s assault with a deadly weapon! It’s only a matter of time before she kills someone! I need to get her some help and report this.”
Instead she said “This is fine. I don’t need to tell anyone.”
Not very civic-minded or responsible. Not reporting means everyone involved is still out there. I mean not narc-ing on friends has a certain value. But we’re not Lawful Good anymore. More like True Neutral. Maybe that’s a useful presidential quality.
BBCC
If you don’t want someone to defend themselves with lethal force, they shouldn’t be attacked with lethal force. Ryan brought lethal force into play by attacking Amber and Dorothy with a knife first and stating intent to use the same knife on Joyce. Amber is entirely in her rights, morally and legally, to use the same in defence of herself and multiple third parties.
clif
She even used his own cell phone.
Shane
I don’t disagree on the self-defense, and that’s not my point. What I’m saying is that being forced to do that should probably be considered an inherently traumatic experience that one should get some professional help to process. It’s also a security event that’s pretty negligent not to report, at least anonymously. Campus security would also like to know that stabbings are occurring on campus, even if it’s an anonymous tip that doesn’t name names.
Dorothy, as far as I know said “Wow, Amber looks horrified that she had to do that! That must have been mind scarring! Welp, good luck processing that on your own! Also, that’s not something I feel like telling any authority about.” That’s pretty jaded.
Fart Captor
The police were informed, and since the apparently searched Amber & Dina’s room, it’s pretty clear the school knows too. I don’t know where you’re getting this stuff
And wtf do you expect Dorothy to do about Amber’s mental health? Try to have her committed? She spent 3 days away from campus with her mom, and then shut herself off in her room when she came back, refusing all visitors. Is Dorothy supposed to kick the door down and drag her to therapy?
Shane
If so, I’m surprised the school didn’t offer Amber some counseling, if they knew she was forced to knife someone. Maybe they did off panel and she politely declined. That seems reasonable.
What could Dorothy do? Well as is, her compliance with knowing her friend dresses up and beats up bad guys is tacit acceptance and enabling of that behavior. She could do…something, anything at all really, besides just meekly going along with it. But I think that was a side point of Sarah pointing out that Dorothy couldn’t even lead Joyce to getting a dead toenail out of her sock. Dorothy’s kind of a follower right now. Even in this strip I’m reading her choice as “someone besides me will fix it!” Delegation is a leadership trait, but I’m unconvinced that’s what I’m seeing in Dorothy.
Fart Captor
It was Dorothy who got Joyce to do the right thing and tell Becky about her dad instead of putting it off. Stakes there mattered a bit more than Joyce’s toenail.
And again, Amber’s the only one with the opportunity to leave. Your expectations of Dorothy’s leadership abilities seem really arbitrary and largely unreasonable
Alanari
That whole thing was investigated by the police and recorded on tape, if I remember correctly. Not sure who reported it though.
Tan
Correct. https://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-7/04-the-do-list/visitation/
Fart Captor
Shane.
1) There’s no “kind of”, Ryan deserved it. More importantly, what Amber did was reasonable given the situation. He was a deadly threat. Like, on top of pulling the knife, he had literally told them he was planning to attack Joyce with it. Amber disarmed him and was not blocking his escape. He chose to continue the fight. Amber did what was necessary to ensure he would not regain control of the knife and hurt her, Dorothy, or Joyce.
2) It was SELF DEFENSE. In what way would it be “only a matter of time” before Amber killed someone? Why the fuck would Dorothy think that in reaction to Amber SAVING THEIR LIVES?
3) There was literally no need to report the incident. The cops were involved, they investigated. They deemed it self defense.
PiotrW
Hm. I’m honestly curious where are you getting all these details on this situation? Because we haven’t been shown what exactly happened back then.
What we’ve been shown was Amber flashing a really disturbing slasher smile at Ryan – and Dorothy been visibly shocked by the scuffle that followed.
Also, the police deeming an incident self defense doesn’t mean it was truly accurate. Finally, it all really depends on the legal system – back where I live, actively stabbing an attacker with the reasoning “He could’ve taken the knife back” wouldn’t count as acceptable self defense measure…