He has bad eyesight so he has to put close, he could get glasses but that would make her character design too district and interesting and that goes against everything the character is.
You did your best, Becky, and the fact that you’re doing this despite how you’re feeling is a testament to how good of a friend you are. Godspeed, you tiny lesbian.
I´dunno about adopted parent figures. Maybe different mechanics.
But I HEAVYLY doubt that parenthood in general grants that power.
Given what my parents believed me decades back – what I believed my aquired kids beyond all sense – and how parents usually refuse to bellieve their kids could be murderers, bullies, thieves ect. when they get caught.
I mean, I said way, WAY back when Becky got involved, this was a BAD idea. Hank was ALWAYS going to find out what they were doing and it was ALWAYS going to go badly. There’s just this constant need to make the worst possible decision to avoid any consequences, which in turn just makes them worse.
There are so many problems in this storyline that probably could have been resolved much sooner if these characters had just told the truth instead of lying.
This storyline contains what is dramatic, real, funny, sad, frustrating etc. In short, interesting. This storyline is not a “How To” manual on effective resolution of teen crises, not is it the “Fundamentalist moralising about teen crises”, nor yet “Wot I should have done if I had a whole 24 hours between each minute to analyse my, and everyone else’s, behaviour.
Veronica
Why aren’t these characters making logical decisions? Why doesn’t Batman give all his money to charity?? Why isn’t Superman spending all his time turning a crank to produce limitless, clean energy???
Doopyboop
Anytime that Jocelyne is not in the comic strip, the characters need to be ask “Where is Jocelyne?”.
Mr D
With one hand, Bruce Wayne creates welfare programs to educate and employ people in danger of becoming criminals.
With the other hand, Batman breaks the spines of pick pockets.
Perfectly balanced. Like all things should be.
thejeff
I’m always amused by the idea of Bruce Wayne giving up being Batman, giving all his money to charity, vastly improving the lives of people in Gotham City, and then the Joker poisons the water supply and millions die hideously.
Veronica
The Citizens of Gotham may all be dead but at least they’re dead while having the lowest rate of poverty in the country
Lumino
I’m not criticizing the characters, I’m criticizing the commenters who cheered Becky on and then act surprised that it turns out in a very predictable way.
Clif
Who knew that Hank had known Becky for most of her life?
Freemage
Most of the cheering section in this case has been for her intent, not necessarily her outcome. She’s hurt, feeling very much abandoned, and yet her first instinct is to buy both Joyce and Jocelyn some time to get to a point where they can deal with Hank.
The real issue is that they’ll probably waste that time.
idk if the college newspaper is important enough to archive/post online but surely one person would’ve taken a pic and just uploaded it to twitter or so
While I understand where you’re coming from that this FEELS like unnecessary wacky hijinks, reminder that the alternative is outting Jocelyne against her will, which is absolutely not the right answer.
Except these hijinks aren’t stopping that.
Warn Jocelyne so she can be ready (either to come out or just to be in boy clothes to talk to Hank). Joyce should come out, since the paper’s already outed her even if Hank hasn’t seen it yet. That was inevitable and it would distract from Jocelyne.
The wacky hijinks wouldn’t fix any of this. Even if Becky talked Hank into going home now without talking to Jocelyne or even saying goodbye to Joyce, he’s still going to see the online photo.
Astariel
It’s far from certain the Hank would see the photo online. The Internet is a big place, after all. I’m also uncomfortable with the implication that it’s incumbent on one queer person to come out when she doesn’t want to in order the prevent that happening to another queer person.
thejeff
Hank’s known to read the campus paper online – if only for Joyce’s comic.
And you’re right, if I didn’t think it was inevitable that he find out about Joyce and Dorothy, I’d say they should stay quiet about that too. Since I think it is inevitable, not only will it distract from Jocelyne, but coming out to him will probably go better than if they trick him into going home and then he finds out.
In this case, being in the closet while you’re conservative family is around is NOT ‘them avoiding doing something they need to which will have bad consequences’. It’s smart, it’s important, and this is why Joyce might be able to legitimately sue and/or beat the shit out of the newspaper girl.
And while being in the closet here is fine, she has to come out because now he’s going to find out and better to do it on her terms than wait until he goes home and seems the photo.
No to the lawsuit. There is absolutely no grounds on which to sue. The photo is not only taken in a public place, it is very accurate (by which I mean, it has not been taken or edited in a fashion to create a false light).
And no, ‘beating the shit’ out of journalists and reporters doing their job is not, in fact, a legitimate reaction. And taking a dramatic photo and publishing it is not in any way, shape or form a violation of journalistic ethics.
God this comment section depresses me sometimes.
Maybe it’s too early to say this, but he doesn’t seem particularly angry (yet) about the distraction. Best case, he’s concerned as to why they are keeping something from him.
Or maybe that’s just his “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed” face.
So. The other day, I was thinking about whether any of the main characters had surpassed their Walkyverse appearances here in DoA, and I was certain that later Walkyverse characters like Lucy and Malaya have more DoA appearances.
And then there’s Ken, a late addition to Shortpacked, making his seventh appearance here.
Yeah, of the latecomers, Ken has definitely proven to be the most scarce.
Some Shortpacked regulars like Sydney Yus have barely appeared at all, but I assume we’re more talking about just the full-on latecomers. Human form Ultra Car isn’t outright Carla, but obviously, Carla has appeared a shitton in DoA and probably beats UC out if we’re just talking human-form.
216 thoughts on “Handle”
Ana Chronistic
“FINE, I just don’t want anyone acknowledging that Ken is still in this series”
“Who?”
“EXACTLY! Now let’s get pizza!”
nadamás
I genuinely did not remember his name until today and i am quite surprised anyone else had.
NGPZ
I kinda remember him given he was in Shortpacked.
C.T Phipps
I remember the meme of misremembering his name.
Sharizard
To the point where i’m a little uncertain that people calling him Ken is just a running gag.
Theluxland
”Yeah of course I remember…” *Check notes* ”Ken… neth? Kevin?”
BorkBorkBork
Even in Shortpacked, his main role was Replacement Ethan.
C.T Phipps
There’s just not enough complaining about Transformer toys in this comic for Ethan.
John Campbell
It’s Zangief.
Slartibeast Button, BIA
I thought Galasso used Ken in a blood sacrifice…
Steamweed
Gallasso did. That is not Ken. That is the replacement pod person. The invasion process has begun.
anon
lol wonder if he’ll eventually get a big role versus just being there occasionally like that poly throuple
Doctor_Who
Hank strides over and snatches the paper, looking it over in growing horror.
Hank: “Dear God! You mean to tell me my daughter has become…a cartoonist?! Oh the shame of it!”
Hank: “At least it looks like she got herself a cute girlfriend, so she’s not a TOTAL loser.”
AbacusWizard
This *also* works perfectly with the Hank Hill voice!
Needfuldoer
That girl ain’t right, I tell you hwhat.
Decidedly Orthogonal
That’s mah girl!
Stormtide Leviathan
No don’t worry, we know joyce is safe from that cause she didn’t know about this sunday edition :p
NGPZ
“The suspense is terrible! I hope it’ll last.”
— Willy Wonka, also Willis, probably
for reals tho
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Doopyboop
KEN NO
KEN YOU FOOL
AT LEAST HOLD IT A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN, MAN
nadamás
He has bad eyesight so he has to put close, he could get glasses but that would make her character design too district and interesting and that goes against everything the character is.
Serendipity
Ah fuck, he’s both smart and ideologically captured. Dangerous combination.
NGPZ
I mean, it’s hardly “captured”, given he spent basically his whole life “captive” this way
i.e. he already agreed with the bullshit to begin with
Dot
“They really should add a comics page to the Sunday edition. This stuff about some chicks kissing is hella boring.”
QueenofSodor
jokes on him, clearly today’s julia gray strip would re-run of the one where she has to give doris mouth-to-mouth
QueenofSodor
*would BE A re-run of, etc.
going to detonate now
Casi
if it makes you feel better, i didn’t even notice the lack of “be” in your original post until you mentioned it
Lamppost
Uh oh
jeffepp
The gig is up! Cheese it!
Bajja
I appreciate you
NGPZ
dammit i could sure use a grilled cheese rn tho :(
Plain Marie
Cheese it! The cops!
MK15
*A wild Ken appears!*
Taffy
He’s not especially wild. He doesn’t even have a personality.
PumpkinCake
Brutal lmao
Eyebrow
Nethack reference FTW!
Greg
Pretty sure his name is Blanka
StarfighterVicki
Clever boy.
Smokeysis
You did your best, Becky, and the fact that you’re doing this despite how you’re feeling is a testament to how good of a friend you are. Godspeed, you tiny lesbian.
RassilonTDavros
Oh no, becoming Becky’s New Dad has given Hank the My-Kid-Is-Lying-To-Me Sense!
Plain Marie
*ping!*
Leveling up.
ResRam
I´dunno about adopted parent figures. Maybe different mechanics.
But I HEAVYLY doubt that parenthood in general grants that power.
Given what my parents believed me decades back – what I believed my aquired kids beyond all sense – and how parents usually refuse to bellieve their kids could be murderers, bullies, thieves ect. when they get caught.
HueSatLight
Arnold’s roommate makes an appearance
Lumino
I mean, I said way, WAY back when Becky got involved, this was a BAD idea. Hank was ALWAYS going to find out what they were doing and it was ALWAYS going to go badly. There’s just this constant need to make the worst possible decision to avoid any consequences, which in turn just makes them worse.
drs
The cover-up is worse than the crime.
Risky
That’s the thing though, the coverup is the crime. Wait, I mean the crime is the coverup. Wait maybe it’s both.
Plain Marie
Dat’s what I said. But did they listen? Noooo.
Kyulen
There are so many problems in this storyline that probably could have been resolved much sooner if these characters had just told the truth instead of lying.
C.T Phipps
I note that they COMPLETELY FORGOT about Jocelyn for 90% of the story given that was why they were at the protest.
Thing 2
This storyline contains what is dramatic, real, funny, sad, frustrating etc. In short, interesting. This storyline is not a “How To” manual on effective resolution of teen crises, not is it the “Fundamentalist moralising about teen crises”, nor yet “Wot I should have done if I had a whole 24 hours between each minute to analyse my, and everyone else’s, behaviour.
Veronica
Why aren’t these characters making logical decisions? Why doesn’t Batman give all his money to charity?? Why isn’t Superman spending all his time turning a crank to produce limitless, clean energy???
Doopyboop
Anytime that Jocelyne is not in the comic strip, the characters need to be ask “Where is Jocelyne?”.
Mr D
With one hand, Bruce Wayne creates welfare programs to educate and employ people in danger of becoming criminals.
With the other hand, Batman breaks the spines of pick pockets.
Perfectly balanced. Like all things should be.
thejeff
I’m always amused by the idea of Bruce Wayne giving up being Batman, giving all his money to charity, vastly improving the lives of people in Gotham City, and then the Joker poisons the water supply and millions die hideously.
Veronica
The Citizens of Gotham may all be dead but at least they’re dead while having the lowest rate of poverty in the country
Lumino
I’m not criticizing the characters, I’m criticizing the commenters who cheered Becky on and then act surprised that it turns out in a very predictable way.
Clif
Who knew that Hank had known Becky for most of her life?
Freemage
Most of the cheering section in this case has been for her intent, not necessarily her outcome. She’s hurt, feeling very much abandoned, and yet her first instinct is to buy both Joyce and Jocelyn some time to get to a point where they can deal with Hank.
The real issue is that they’ll probably waste that time.
anon
idk if the college newspaper is important enough to archive/post online but surely one person would’ve taken a pic and just uploaded it to twitter or so
Tan
While I understand where you’re coming from that this FEELS like unnecessary wacky hijinks, reminder that the alternative is outting Jocelyne against her will, which is absolutely not the right answer.
thejeff
Except these hijinks aren’t stopping that.
Warn Jocelyne so she can be ready (either to come out or just to be in boy clothes to talk to Hank). Joyce should come out, since the paper’s already outed her even if Hank hasn’t seen it yet. That was inevitable and it would distract from Jocelyne.
The wacky hijinks wouldn’t fix any of this. Even if Becky talked Hank into going home now without talking to Jocelyne or even saying goodbye to Joyce, he’s still going to see the online photo.
Astariel
It’s far from certain the Hank would see the photo online. The Internet is a big place, after all. I’m also uncomfortable with the implication that it’s incumbent on one queer person to come out when she doesn’t want to in order the prevent that happening to another queer person.
thejeff
Hank’s known to read the campus paper online – if only for Joyce’s comic.
And you’re right, if I didn’t think it was inevitable that he find out about Joyce and Dorothy, I’d say they should stay quiet about that too. Since I think it is inevitable, not only will it distract from Jocelyne, but coming out to him will probably go better than if they trick him into going home and then he finds out.
Arillius
In this case, being in the closet while you’re conservative family is around is NOT ‘them avoiding doing something they need to which will have bad consequences’. It’s smart, it’s important, and this is why Joyce might be able to legitimately sue and/or beat the shit out of the newspaper girl.
thejeff
There’s absolutely no legal case there.
And while being in the closet here is fine, she has to come out because now he’s going to find out and better to do it on her terms than wait until he goes home and seems the photo.
Freemage
No to the lawsuit. There is absolutely no grounds on which to sue. The photo is not only taken in a public place, it is very accurate (by which I mean, it has not been taken or edited in a fashion to create a false light).
And no, ‘beating the shit’ out of journalists and reporters doing their job is not, in fact, a legitimate reaction. And taking a dramatic photo and publishing it is not in any way, shape or form a violation of journalistic ethics.
God this comment section depresses me sometimes.
Xccj
Maybe it’s too early to say this, but he doesn’t seem particularly angry (yet) about the distraction. Best case, he’s concerned as to why they are keeping something from him.
Or maybe that’s just his “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed” face.
Cattleprod
So. The other day, I was thinking about whether any of the main characters had surpassed their Walkyverse appearances here in DoA, and I was certain that later Walkyverse characters like Lucy and Malaya have more DoA appearances.
And then there’s Ken, a late addition to Shortpacked, making his seventh appearance here.
Shade
Oh yeah Ken isn’t even close to surpassing his Shortpacked appearances yet.
DailyBrad
Yeah, of the latecomers, Ken has definitely proven to be the most scarce.
Some Shortpacked regulars like Sydney Yus have barely appeared at all, but I assume we’re more talking about just the full-on latecomers. Human form Ultra Car isn’t outright Carla, but obviously, Carla has appeared a shitton in DoA and probably beats UC out if we’re just talking human-form.
Nono
Beef has probably had less appearances than his IW self, I think.
thejeff
Tony?
I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams
Ken? In MY Dumbing of Age webcomic? Wild. Anyways.