260

Babe
Posted on November 20, 2020 by David M Willis

260 thoughts on “Babe”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    DAMN, Walky, de facto “sister” or not, that’s waving your CREEP flag

    1. Chris

      Two seconds, and you’ve already posted. This is ridiculous.

      1. Kyrik Michalowski

        Ana has power that we mortals can only dream of, behold their greatness and tremble.

      2. K^2

        You didn’t think that user name’s just a silly pun, did you? Time has no hold over Ana Chronistic.

    2. Johan

      Naw that shit is funny

    3. Jade

      I can see how this could be seen as creepy but this is like…something I can see myself or my brother doing to each other to be annoying.

      1. Emperor Norton II

        Yeah, I definitely got the “I’m not touching youuuuu!” kind of vibes from this as well.

        1. Audkitten

          My brother and I do this to each other all the time. We’re in our 40s

        2. Emperor Norton II

          Main reason my sister and I aren’t doing that kind of thing is because I moved across an entire ocean.

        3. RowenMorland

          What you don’t know is that she still is doing it you just can’t hear her, and everyone around her is very confused.

        4. Demoted Oblivious

          My all time favourite Roseanne (Original Show) scene:

          DJ sitting on the couch pointing at Darlene saying “I’m not touching you.”
          Cut to the Kitchen and Dan sitting at the kitchen table.
          We here a *thump* followed by DJ whining, “Dad, I wasn’t touching her.”
          Dan replies, “Well it wasn’t worth it then, was it son?”

      2. Deanatay

        Yep, this seems like correct brother behavior to me.

    4. deathjavu

      He’s just being deliberately annoying because Billie is too rude to acknowledge any of her friends. How she still has any with that behavior is a mystery.

      1. StClair

        Sunk cost fallacy.

    5. Rose by Any Other Name

      Unrelated, but I am kinda into Billie’s “Akane Tendo” hairdo.

    6. FacelessDeviant

      If it hadn’t been Walky it’d be creepy. But since its him, a renown doofus, its just stupid and annoying, I’d wager.

    7. Keulen

      Seems more like Walky is acting like an annoying sibling to me.

    8. Mobcat

      Yeah, it seems creepy without the context that they’re practically surrogate siblings. Knowing that, this is a little brother nagging his sister about her crush.

    9. Demoted Oblivious

      Naw, I think Walky’s just playing the Hardy Boys bro’ing it out for his sister. (Which is why “Night-Guy”, to make both Bro’s present). Meanwhile Billie’s all Nancy Drew-ing it up thinking she’s solving a mystery.

  2. Bluesnake463

    Billie may be justified in ignoring Walky, but dating Asher is still a bad move.

    1. C.T Phipps

      I’m of the mind that Asher and Billie are a good couple.

      You know, despite the fact he’s very probably a murderer. Then again, this is just my hope that Ruth and Rachel will get together.

      1. UnfrozenNeanderthal

        I mean besides the potentially putting out a hit and the mob connections and collaborating with the dumbest kidnapping plot ever he’s been likeable enough.

        Superficially charmin’, at least

        1. C.T Phipps

          Perfect for Billie!

          Ruth: Why did you dump me?

          Billie: Because you were BORING.

        2. Dana

          “Aside from being a horrible person, he’s likable enough” makes me think of my ex-wife’s father.

      2. thejeff

        I don’t think Asher will be of any help to Billie in dealing with her problems. More like reinforcing them or at best helping her pretend they’re not real.

        However dysfunctional they were, by the end Ruth and Billie were at least trying

        1. Dana

          I get the vibe that Asher’s self improvement was genuine until he let Blaine torpedo it. I think you’re right more because the narrative will demand it than because it would be necessarily true for him irl.

        2. thejeff

          Even with the best take on him, I’d be surprised if he was ready to offer enough support (or perceptive enough to recognize the need) to actually be good for Billie.

          But then we don’t know him well and have no idea if this relationship has anything going for it other than the obvious superficial “hot guy with cool motorcycle and hot cheerleader”.

      3. Andrew Weil

        Ruthel? Rachuth? That ship doesn’t have a good name.

    2. abysswatcher1993

      Everyone is justified in ignoring Walky. I just fucking hated Asher.

      1. abysswatcher1993

        hate* present tense.

        1. Agemegos

          Yeah, that thing where journalists report everything as present tense instead of past bugs me, too. And it is creeping into people’s speech (including, most annoyingly, mine).

          I know that English tenses as a small hand drum, but this is not going to be an improvement.

        2. clif

          Why would you use past tense for something happening in the present?

        3. abysswatcher1993

          I mean I hate Asher in the present. I made a typo, so that is why I put * before the word hate to show it is the word I wanted to correct.

        4. clif

          That was clear. My comment was intended for Agemegos. Sorry.

        5. Jhon

          Tambourine?

      2. C.T Phipps

        I admit, I really like Asher. Dude made some mistakes in the past.

        He made up for them by killing Amber’s dad.

        1. King Daniel

          I’m personally still in the “Asher didn’t give the order” camp myself, but honestly? Given the hints to his upbringing and everything that we’ve had, I wouldn’t hold it against him even if it was revealed that he gave the order.

        2. BBCC

          Like I said yesterday, if he did give the order, all it does is make me want to buy him cookies and beer.

        3. JBento

          So much thisssssss. Blaine’s death is not just a net gain, it’s ALL gain. It improves things for literally everybody but Blaine, which is ALSO a gain.

          I’m also of the apparently controversial opinion (though fuck if I know why it’s controversial) that Amber’s mistake wasn’t in stabbing Ryan so many times but stopping at “ICU” instead of going all the way to “morgue”.

        4. TemperaryObsessor

          Na while I’m not against middle name Ryan having a painful death, it would be even worse for Amber.

        5. Sporky

          Well, Joyce shares your opinion!

        6. thejeff

          It all depends on how and why. The implications more than the actual thing itself.
          What does it say about his current relationship with the family? Or about him going along with Blaine to start with?

        7. TemperaryObsessor

          This I don’t feel upset or angry that Blaine was murdered but murdering a person or even a monster in human flesh is not a sign of being a safe person.

        8. Jhon

          Speaking of ‘family’, it’s clear to me that Willis is preparing us for the League of Evil Grand-dads.

        9. BBCC

          That matters a lot for why he did it and the fallout but it doesn’t really affect me wanting to buy him treats for getting him killed.

        10. Samuel

          Sorry, I’m sure I didn’t miss an episode but where does Asher is responsible of Amber’s dad death ?

        11. JBento

          After the dirty cop kills Blaine, Asher gets a text message saying “It’s done”.

    3. Pylgrim

      I’m pretty sure that Walky is acting up because Billie started ignoring him and the rest of her friends after breaking up with Rachel/cozying up to Asher first.

  3. Proto_Eevee

    BABY BABY BABE BABE!

    1. Van Jealous

      “I Got The Feeling” by James Brown!

      1. Roborat

        Gitarzan by Ray Stevens

  4. abysswatcher1993

    That first panel makes me want to puke. Well, not really. My stomach is fine. It’s just the feelings of disgust, hatred and the need to scream FUS RO DAH.

  5. Spencer

    Hot Walky x Short Hair Billie OTP

  6. Nono

    BABY BABY BABY

    (I will) BURN MY DREAD

    MASS DESTRUCTION

    1. Rayndel

      This is going to be a weird ear worm when I get back to playing Hyrule Warriors.

      I approve, but still weird.

    2. Delicious Taffy

      I’ve been waiting for this!

  7. Suet

    Three months. Three months and a scandal.

    David Walkerton: Teases someone in love, but also sick with love

  8. TrueVCU

    Oh cool Billie found someone better able to enable her worst impulses cool cool cool

    1. Kyrik Michalowski

      The coolest, in fact.

      1. Phil

        How can it not be cool if it involves a motorbike?

        1. shellshockbp

          gravatar matches this comment perfectly

        2. Needfuldoer

          If said bike is converted to a trike. (Harley and Goldwing trikes are glorified mobility scooters. Change my mind.)

      2. SuperZero

        I believe we have established that she is merely second-coolest.

      3. Loki

        It’s the quenchiest!

    2. abysswatcher1993

      Another reason for me to hate Asher.

    3. Bryy

      I was just about to say “oh hi, Billie’s Regressive Personality Traits”.

  9. BBCC

    Walky is the BEST brother, I dunno WHAT you mean?

    1. JessWitt

      If you mean he’s the best at acting like a brother, I agree.

      1. clif

        We all agree that he is executing his brotherly duties perfectly.

  10. Kyrik Michalowski

    On the one hand, Walky can clearly be annoying, as evidenced by many strips. But on the other hand completely ignoring people, some of whom are like family to you, is also kind of a dick move too. Especially when considering the person you are dating has bad blood with those people.

    Idk, what’s everyone else’s take on this?

    1. Nono

      The last time we saw Asher and Sal together, they had reached a (kinda) understanding.

      So really as far as Billie knows, the only person in the group who might have issues with Asher is Walky, and he’s a little annoying anyway.

      I mean yeah, meta-wise Asher is kinda bad news, but on the level of ‘guy I’m dating and pseudo-brother don’t necessary like each other’ is kind of… normal?

      1. Phil

        The “why don’t we rate eye contact anymore, babe?” line kinda hits harder than billie dating asher in the first place, imo.

        1. Jade

          Yeah, dating Asher is not great, but we have no idea why she has decided to completely ignore someone she considers a brother when they previously had a…good? relationship. I mean, at least they talked.
          (This being said by a woman who recently texted a friend “I had a dream with my brother in it last night, which is weird, because normally I forget he exists.”)

    2. Jade

      Yeah I assume the icing Walky out has to do with Asher. Walky did punch him in the face, but iirc Asher admitted that he deserved it. I can imagine that she and Walky got in a fight over Asher (I don’t think Walky’s feelings towards Asher changed, and he said that being a better brother to Sal is important to him), and Billie decided to ignore him because of it. Orrrrr really any other reason.

    3. Reltzik

      When your family (meaning, annoying sibling) behaves like this, there’s nothing wrong with pointedly ignoring them.

      1. Queezle

        But she is not ignoring him because he acts like an annoying sibling, he acts like an annoying sibling because she is ignoring him.
        She also ignores the others who don’t behave like that.
        Billie is at least rude.

        1. Needfuldoer

          It’s a feedback loop.

          This is probably how they were in high school, too…

    4. Yotomoe

      I’m always on Walky’s side no matter what cuz he’s more or less me, but more charming.

      1. Jhon

        Aw, c’mon. Betcha you can draw dinosaurs too.

      2. clif

        You can always make up for it by outdoing him in other areas. Like, say, eating more chicken McNuggets. Or adopting an even cooler sister.

    5. deathjavu

      My take is that Billie is making bad decisions and also treating her friends awfully by completely ignoring them. I am pretty socially inept and even I know that’s rude as all hell.

      I’m frankly confused there are other takes to have.

      1. Diner Kinetic

        Yeah this reads to me as Billie cutting contact with the group without explaining why, which is understandably not cool

        1. asmodai

          Plus, in this instance, Walky only resorted to being annoying after Billie ignored him in panel 2…
          This looks a lot like the old Billie we glimpsed at some point: only talking to her “less cool” friends when she has absolutely no-one else to turn to, which is uncool at best, and downright rude when it gets to the point of willfully ignoring when they say hi…

        2. Needfuldoer

          The rest of her Season 1 friend group is connected to Ruth.

      2. Andrew Weil

        My take is Billie still has a high school approach to friendship, and head cheerleaders who date cool motorcyclists don’t acknowledge the existence of lesser people.

    6. Keulen

      Since Walky and Billie are close enough that they have treated each other like brother and sister, I definitely think Billie is behaving much worse than Walky here. Walky is acting like an annoying sibling. Billie is choosing to completely ignore all of her friends.

  11. Nono

    As a side note, it’s kinda nice to see that Sal seems to be letting her curls out more now?

    1. EAG46

      I agree. I think Sal is the hottest/prettiest woman in the strip.

  12. The Coolest Child

    Well this can only end well

  13. StClair

    “@#&% off, nerd.”

    1. abysswatcher1993

      I can really expect Billie returning to her worse behaviors. She is always a perra, but I can expect worse.

  14. King Daniel

    Y’know, why is anyone surprised that after breaking up with Ruth, Billie went for Asher? She tried to make out with Sal a good while ago, and Billie is bi(ke)sexual.

    [runs for dear punning life]

    1. UnfrozenNeanderthal

      Plus Billie has a tendency to make bad choices

    2. shellshockbp

      because drama is pain

  15. Jade

    Yeah I assume the icing Walky out has to do with Asher. Walky did punch him in the face, but iirc Asher admitted that he deserved it. I can imagine that she and Walky got in a fight over Asher (I don’t think Walky’s feelings towards Asher changed, and he said that being a better brother to Sal is important to him), and Billie decided to ignore him because of it. Orrrrr really any other reason.

    1. Jade

      whoops, meant this as a reply to someone!

    2. deathjavu

      Ok. So why is she ignoring the other 4 people in the group?

      1. Jade

        Fair point! Maybe she has gone back to her “popular girl” days, or is not engaging with them because she Walky is there?

  16. Mada

    Dunno about anyone else but I’m hearing that “BABY BABY BABE BABY BABE BABE BABE” yelling in Animal’s voice.

    1. King Daniel

      Alternatively: Justin Bieber.

      1. Reltzik

        That’s how I heard it.

        1. Cholma

          Me as well. (damn my stupid brain!)

    2. Bluebird

      Your icon makes me feel like it’s lillian going “baby baby babe” etc

  17. Cattleprod

    Oh jeez, I just finally realized Billie probably knows Asher from before since he’s someone Sal knew. And that only occurred to me because I remember the time I realized that Billie and Marcie would probably know each other for that reason.

  18. Jade

    Sal does not look happy.

    1. Jade

      I’m thinking it goes deeper than motorcycle envy. I am still waiting to hear why she doesn’t have hers. Hoping it’s because she doesn’t ride it in the winters in Indiana because she doesn’t have a death wish.

      1. BenRG

        I’m pretty sure that there is a strong “there but for the grace of God go I” element to Sal’s thinking right now.

  19. Stephen Bierce

    *notices the collection of Carpenters records have gone missing, so no “Superstar” for the hacked Muzak*
    Whoever you are, you win this round.

    1. Cholma

      I’m thinking “Calling Occupants of Interstellar Craft” because obviously aliens have taken our Billie and replaced her with a new replicant/android/synth/terminator

      1. Geneseepaws

        This is ground control to Major Tom, your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong! Can you hear me, Major Tom?

  20. Cmasta1992

    Yeah I can already tell I’m not going to like second semester Billie

  21. Rani

    Walky with that Mass Destruction

  22. Switchchris

    Fucking hell… I thought she was getting better, but no, she goes out with the guy who smokes, worked with amber’s “Dad”, and is 100% going to cheat on her. (that last one is just a feeling I get, might not actually happen, but he gives off Cheater vibes.)

    1. Nono

      What’s wrong with going out with a guy who smokes?

      I mean, I’m no fan of it myself but it’s not an actively detrimental trait, no worse than someone who drinks (for most people).

      1. aelfwine

        If by “someone who drinks” you mean the occasional drink rather than alcoholism, then smoking is significantly worse.

        1. Leorale

          Smoking makes you and everything you own become smelly. It’s just not an attractive habit.

    2. BBCC

      Billie can’t divine information from the cosmos. She has no way of knowing Asher was involved in what happened with Blaine.

      1. UnfrozenNeanderthal

        She *should* know he’s a mobster’s grandson, but given her ignorance about other similar matters it wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t.

        1. Nono

          Why ‘should’ she know? Literally the only other person who’s known about it is Blaine.

          We have no indication that even Sal knows.

        2. UnfrozenNeanderthal

          Reread her and Asher’s last conversation, Sal absolutely knows.

        3. King Daniel

          Sal and he robbed a store together on at least one occasion when they were younger. There’s a little more reason for her to be aware of that sort of thing than Billie would be.

      2. Reltzik

        Those rules apply to normal people, but not Billie. She’s a former head cheerleader, remember? She’s got great intuition. She can reach conclusions without needing any evidence at all.

        1. clif

          Exactly. Like how I can tell, based on no evidence at all, that Billie is working with Amazigirl to investigate Blaines murder.

    3. Yotomoe

      Hey now. If he smokes he pokes. And Billie likes a good poking.

  23. jeffepp

    Wait, wait, hold up now! Is it just me, or is Billie a little, um, round at the waist? Not fat, or hippy, but, er, showing, maybe, just a bit?

    1. Jade

      I think (hope to god, really) that it’s just the way that dress looks on her. Some clothing items cling to you in ways that make you look pregnant, even if you’re relatively thin.

    2. DailyBrad

      I really doubt that Willis would make her pregnant if that’s what you mean. I mean. it’s not impossible, but it would be kind of a wild move at this juncture.

      1. Wizard

        Wilder than an actual super villain, multiple deaths and three months slipping by off panel?

        1. clif

          Plot twist. She’s carrying Mike’s baby.

        2. King Daniel

          But isn’t Mike the bike?

        3. clif

          Carla will adopt the offspring.

    3. Suitora

      I dunno. Would Willis do that, make Billie preggers? It seems like a long amount of comic time for her to deal with her pregnancy. Of course, he could do *another* Shippuden timeskip.

      1. a/snow/mous/e

        either a post-season timeskip or an abortion

    4. Spookyfox

      life pro tip: never suggest that somebody might be pregnant. You’ll save yourself from getting punched in the nose. **the more you know**

      1. CJ

        Well, if they are, you might get in trouble for not asking about it.

    5. Newllend(henryvolt)

      I honestly just see the opposite, seems like a tad bit more slimmer to me tbh.

    6. BBCC

      I don’t see it at all. We’ve seen Willis draw pregnant women before and while his art’s changed a lot, it hasn’t changed so much it’d be unrecognizable since It’s Pregnancy. That’s Billie’s hip, not her stomach.

    7. RacingTurtle

      Nah. Billie’s not pregnant, just curvy. Not as curvy as she used to be, though. The rest of her seems to have gone missing somewhere.

    8. thejeff

      So that’s why Walky’s saying “Baby, baby baby”

      Nah, I don’t think so. I can almost see it in panel 3, but not the others. And I really doubt we’d have a pregnancy arc that would basically last the entire rest of the comic. Even with another big time skip.

    9. Deanatay

      Clearly she’s lesbian pregnant.

  24. Newllend(henryvolt)

    Still boggles my mind how had Billie and Ruth went from “I’d die for you”, “I’d die with you”, and “Don’t make me fuck you on top of this rooftop in front of everyone.” Only to change to this all of a sudden.

    Also what did Ruth mean by she “Didn’t loose Billie” was she the one who broke things off with Billie?

    1. Jade

      I presume what happened is that Billie refused to stop drinking and Ruth had to cut her off for her own good, because she could not be a recovering alcoholic dating an alcoholic, so Billie just…went back to exactly the way she was before Ruth.

      1. Newllend(henryvolt)

        No no There had to be something else entirely new not the same old Drama.

        1. Roborat

          Billie is the centre of a poly with Asher and Ruth?

      2. C.T Phipps

        I saw it more likely Billie dumped Ruth because she had no interest in a stable loving committed relationship at 19.

    2. UnfrozenNeanderthal

      We skipped over three months, so that’d be why it’s sudden

      1. Newllend(henryvolt)

        I guess this is the real consequences of a time skip.

        1. thejeff

          And now we get to have back story slowly revealed.

          I’m actually surprisingly okay with this. As much as I liked Ruth and Billie together, this has dramatic potential.

    3. BenRG

      I’m guessing that Billie became progressively more and more toxic to Ruth’s recovery. It wouldn’t even surprise me if Ruth gave an ultimatum about Billie’s behaviour and she walked out in response. “Lost” is a bit inaccurate. “Gave up trying” is probably closer.

  25. ADLegend21

    This honestly disgusts me. the Sudden halt from Billie being attached at the hip to Ruth and helping her get better to just flat out not being around and ignoring Walky on purpose.

    Hate it. Hate the vibe it gives off. Do not want.

    1. C.T Phipps

      Frankly, Ruth and Billie are the worst to each other. Sometimes you have to let someone go if you love them.

      1. Zaxares

        This. Ruth realized she was heading down a very steep slope if she continued drinking and wanted to get better, but Billie still didn’t see it as a problem. (Either her own drinking, or Ruth’s.) Dating Billie would only have complicated Ruth’s recovery. Furthermore, Billie seems to have a thing for high-drama relationships, where they have heated fights and then equally heated make-up sessions. If that’s what she REALLY likes, you do you, but I get the feeling that that wasn’t what Ruth wanted deep down.

        And of course, there’s always the lingering unpleasantness in the past that Ruth basically manipulated Billie into the relationship in the first place.

        Both of them have deep-seated issues, and honestly, neither of them is likely to really get better while they’re with each other. It’s just disappointing that Billie left one unhealthy relationship only to run straight into the arms of another (possibly) problematic character. In fairness to Asher, he DID seem to be trying to clean up his act prior to Blaine’s attempt to blackmail him. Whether or not he’ll continue to try and walk the straight and narrow or continue to dip into the underworld to solve his problems when they arise is something we’ve yet to determine.

        1. :0

          Well, at least we know that Asher isn’t a manipulator, right?

        2. thejeff

          I like how we just ignore Billie’s last pre-timeskip character development to reach these conclusions. That whole last arc for her was “I’m going to drive Ruth away because I’m poison. She’s not leaving. Okay then, I’m going to have to deal with my problems”. Thus the withdrawal she was going through.

  26. DailyBrad

    I’m withholding judgment for now on Billie and Asher being a thing, but I do like what she is doing with her look.

  27. lia

    WH

  28. Yotomoe

    “You know the more you ignore me the more I’m gonna cling to you like a social leach, Billie”

    1. Newllend(henryvolt)

      I mean ignoring his existence before didn’t stop him so why would it work this time?

  29. Yotomoe

    Babe. I got you Babe.

    1. RacingTurtle

      THEY SAY WE’RE YOUNG AND WE DON’T KNOW

      1. clif

        WE WON’T FIND OUT BY EATING CROW
        WELL I DON’T KNOW IF BABE IS BLUE
        I’D OX, BUT BABY HU GET ME, AND BABY UGHA-CHEW
        UGHA-CHEW BABE, UGHA-CHEW BABE, UGHA-CHEW BAB

        Repeat until ostracized.

  30. Bagge

    Walky’s saying what we’re all thinking.

    Or, at least what he’s thinking.

    and maybe thinking is a bit of a stretch.

    1. Bluebird

      Listen to the man! Woo! He speaks for all of us!

      1. Bagge

        Great callback!

        https://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-7/03-the-thing-i-was-before/properly/

        1. clif

          It is.

  31. Shiro

    The current poll is currently at a perfect 33/33/33 split and I am delighted

    1. King Daniel

      Stop the count!

    2. Bagge

      So the true answer to his question of “what are you most mad at me for” is “yes”

      1. clif

        Back when I looked at it, Mike was ahead of Halloween and lesbian love lapse by about 2 to 1, so unless there was a sudden influx of mail in ballots, I call shenanigans. The last batch of strips could have changed the pain level inflicted by Billie and Ruth, but I can’t see Halloween suddenly getting more popular.

  32. DiDi

    *sighs* I’m gonna have to upgrade my patreon, aren’t I?

    1. StClair

      tbh, I’ve been thinking about it ever since someone mentioned that Cerberus tends to post there.

      1. clif

        I should add this is old information based on something Cerberus said at one time. Can someone confirm if they are currently active there?

  33. Dr. T

    On the plus side, Asher clearly is good for her ego as it definitely looks in these last two strips like she lost the weight she gained during her depression.

    On the negative side, it’s Asher. It’s almost certainly bad, bad news

    1. Lexi

      I dunno, I’m really uncomfortable linking “Weight loss” with “Doing better” in any regards. Maybe with Asher, she’s more self conscious. Maybe she’s developed an eating disorder. We literally don’t know. Weight loss isn’t necessarily good news.

      1. Dr. T

        I don’t disagree with you. I will say that everyone responds to things differently. Billie’s life as she knew it crashed and she responded with indulging every urge she had. The weight loss suggests a change of some sort. It could be of a good sort, but as you said it might not. Hell, I also suggested it might not as I don’t trust Asher to actually be good for anyone like her.

        1. thejeff

          Might have nothing really to do with Asher. Maybe Willis will confound our expectations and it’s Ruth who relapsed into drinking while Billie stayed sober and that’s why they broke up. Any weight loss might be tied to not drinking heavily.
          Asher just came along after the fact.

  34. Pocky

    Aw crap, Walky went and triggered a battle

  35. synnerman

    I think Billie wanted normalcy and Status again. Asher offers that. She’s publicly broken goods as long as she is associated with Ruth. I can see her ego not allowing for that.

  36. ninja_jesus

    Feeling all the emotions, but I gotta say that I’m not surprised at her choice of guy. How dare she meet my expectations of her, lol.

  37. Sam

    Some people are really like ‘Billie is fine ignoring Walky’ like… he started with just calling her name and only escalated to annoying because she is ignoring him. Cause and effect, people. Billie ignoring Walky is causing him to be annoying to try to get her attention. She is not ignoring him because he is annoying.

    He literally stated that ‘we don’t rate eye contact any more’, indicating that it is not just him being ignored, and Billie has decided she is too cool for them. As well as that 1) they don’t have the proper reason why she has decided this (Walky was perfectly ready to spill that she was like this before when she was popular towards him, but this seems to be an escalation of that) and 2) the comment about Billie being elusive before combined with this indicates this isn’t a new development, she has been doing it for a while, she is actively avoiding and ignoring them.

    Now considering what we have previously seen… I don’t really understand why. But a piece of the problem is floating in the back of my mind: Billie’s self-esteem has often relied on being seen as attractive by boys. She was still seeking that in parties, in hangouts in groups, and generally, even with Ruth. That was a hangup she never fully dropped.

    I have a feeling that Billie didn’t drop Ruth, I feel like Ruth broke up with Billie for some reason, and they both started to try to act like their former selves. Billie of course then went with Hot Guy McHot and proceeded to drop and ignore her siblings entirely again. Like, though she ignored Walky before on purpose when trying to act like she still held status, she wasn’t particularly in contact with Sal either and it seems like they are back to that but more extreme. It’s making me consider that maybe Billie did make positive progress on her self-esteem… but it has only made it easier for her to ramp up her worst behaviours.

    1. Queezle

      Thank you! I was a little irritated at how many people said something like “Walky deserved being ignored for being so annoying”
      I think you did a wonderful job at summing up Billies actions and I feel like you are on point or pretty close to her motivations.

  38. William Leonard Reese Jr.

    So this is a sidenote but does the word “Babe” coming out of a male’s voice make anyone’ else’s skin crawl? I *hate* the sound of that word, it never doesn’t feel creepy/gross you know? And I don’t know why that reaction to the word is so instinctive to me either.

    1. clif

      Babe is enshrined within decades of musical tradition. So no, not really.

      On the one hand, it infantizes. On the other we have a powerful positive and protective emotional response to babies.

      Affectionate nicknames never make a lot of sense. So it’s just a thing.

    2. Yotomoe

      I used to but then I made lots of friends who liked being called “babe” so nowI’ve grown to like it.

  39. brionl

    So, do any of them know about Asher’s involvement with “the thing”?
    I think probably Blaine was the only one who did.

    1. C.T Phipps

      The crooked cop knows. He and the mob are probably the only ones.

  40. Spookyfox

    Can we just like refrain from commenting on anyone’s weight/body size?? like ever?? thanks xoxoxo

    1. clif

      Honestly? Probably not.

    2. AGV

      That’d be ideal

    3. Doc Harleen

      Seriously. Ugh.

  41. C.T Phipps

    Honestly, I saw this coming. Ruth made the mistake that many couples make in they assume that you can change your partner. Ruth wanted stability, a loving relationship, and a drama free life.

    Billie…wants nothing to do with any of that. She wants a drama angsty party lifetime and melodrama. Maybe even revels in her self-destructive habits and self-hatred.

    They really are better apart.

    1. Regina phalange

      Yeah—this also demonstrates well that true growth and change must be internally driven. Ruth wanted to be better on her own; Billie may have helped motivate or inspire her, but Ruth didn’t want it FOR her. Ruth and Billie argued about Billie’s issues a lot, but Billie never seemed motivated to fix any of them for any reason besides “for Ruth.” Thus, after the break-up, Ruth seems well-adjusted and changed for the better, while Billie…has no reason to be anything but who she was before.

    2. thejeff

      Ruth wanted to die.
      Billie wanted manicures and a backpacking trip across Europe.

  42. Regina phalange

    Did…Billie take his scarf? I can’t tell if she did the classic “I’m gonna look cute in this outfit—oh shit it’s cold, gimme your jacket,” or if this is the weird modern college version of a letterman’s jacket (…or in this case, a gang jacket).

    1. Doc Harleen

      I was wondering that too! I scrolled through the comments just to see if anyone else commented on the scarf thing.

    2. Fuzzy

      It’s honestly kinda cute. Too bad it’s Asher and Billie doing it.

  43. NinjaNick

    Oh, baby. Panel 3 Billie looking hot. 😛

  44. BenRG

    Billie always wanted to be the alpha cool kid. She was exposed as not really being that person, indeed probably never had. So, she’s handling that the only way she can: By blanking those who know the truth about her so that she can continue to win the illusion.

    Yes, Walky is being a pest but, given the transparent and selfish shallowness of Billie’s life choices he has the right to mock her. It might not be healthy, though. Billie may ask her ‘Babe’ to send a few of his boys over to teach him respect. That would be more-or-less in character too.

  45. NinjaNick

    Walky, you’re so awkward.

    1. TGS

      Walkward?

  46. SuperFroakie82

    Anyone else confused by “rate eye contact”? I’ve never heard the word rate used like that before.

    1. BenRG

      ‘Rate’ as in ‘how do you rate this thing’. Walky is accusing Billie of not considering them worth eye contact anymore.

      1. Arian

        Yes, it’s the same expression as “didn’t rate a mention”, meaning “wasn’t considered to be worth mentioning”.

        Walky is asking Billie, “Aren’t we worth making eye contact with?”

    2. StClair

      “rate” as a synonym for “deserve” is an uncommon usage, but I’ve heard it.

      1. StClair

        (or if that’s still not clear, another phrasing might be “not considered worthy of”)

  47. Mishyana

    I’d be ok with this from a pure plot development perspective if it weren’t for this inevitably meaning that we’ll be seeing increasing amounts of Asher’s eminently punchable face

    1. Bluebird

      +side: Asher might get punched again

  48. Tan

    I need a new option for the poll, because this.

  49. NullSet

    BABY BABY BABY BABY BABE B- B- BABY BABY BABY BABY BABE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jFaoLrLzd4

    1. Zor

      You read my freaking mind 😀

  50. Keulen

    Walky is clearly practicing for his cover of Justin Beiber’s song “Baby”.

  51. Zor

    [Frantically scans the comment section for Persona references]

    1. Prinnyramza

      Good to see I wasn’t the only one

  52. Lingo

    OMG this is much worse than I thought. What the hell flew up Billie’s butt? I expected her to at least brag to her former friends about her boyfriend and stupid shit like that. To completely ignore them is just the worst.

  53. Maggie

    It’s weird seeing Billie dating someone other than Ruth.

  54. Sombrero

    Hey, why are we not seeing Lucy’s reaction? She’s the other one caught in the eye of the hurricane with Sal.

  55. powerpowerpow

    This is without a doubt one of the Walkiest things Walky has ever done. It’s one of the crowning moments of Walky.

  56. HMRC4EVR

    I guess it’s a sign of good storytelling when you get upset at a comic author for changing something you like, such as in this case Ruth/Billie breaking up and the latter moving on to Asher.

    I haven’t but this put out by a webcomic since Tom over at Gunnerkrigg Court introduced Anne’s dad and he treated her like crap in his into story arc.

    Although he’s gotten slightly better since then, I still lump him in with Blaine as sucky father of the year award contenders.

  57. keet

    whyyyy is walky so relatable in this strip D:

  58. HMRC4EVR

    Random possible reason why Billie/Ruth broke up-they didn’t. Billie is pretending to date Asher now because during the time skip, someone uncovered Asher’s connection to everything that happened and there’s still a threat from Blaine’s former partners because of ‘X’. Billie and Ruth staged breaking up so she could work her way into Asher’s good graces and find out what’s going on. That’s why Ruth stopped herself when she yelled out ‘I didn’t lose Billie ‘ as it’s all a ploy.

  59. Alan in DC

    And with that, Billie is right back to being exactly who and what she was like in high school.

    1. Bagge

      Living the dream

  60. JBento

    I suppose it was just her hair flowing from removing the helmet last strip, but I liked yesterday’s panel 4 Billie hair better, with the tips fluffy and poitning up.

  61. Bagge

    Finally college is shaping up to Billie’s expectation.

    Next up: Joyce marries Good Christian Man.

    Dorothy transfers to Yale.

    Dina…. something, something dinosaurs?

    1. clif

      Sequences DNA to recreate classic dinosaurs from chickens.
      https://www.livescience.com/50886-scientific-progress-dino-chicken.html

  62. miri

    I really do try not to make a habit of jumping to conclusions, Billie, but it looks awfully like Ruth stopped being dangerous and exciting for you because she wanted to get better.

    On the other hand I do actually like Asher.

    1. Lunarius Haberdash

      Asher? Helped the evil duo dads be jerks Asher? Your taste worries me.

      1. miri

        Listen, he didn’t want to do it, and expressed regret over what happened to Sal. However, this is a fully reasonable take and my concern for Billie may very well be a case of game recognizing game.

  63. Kaidah

    Oh good, we’re back to smug, I’m-better-than-everyone-else Billie. I was worried she might have experienced actual character growth in the interceding months.

  64. Rabisch

    Billie is claiming for herself the position of “most hated character in the strip” now that the two dads (and Mike) are dead. But Joyce’s mother and Mary are still strong in their positions.

    1. CJ

      No, gramps still is the most hatable character in the strip. Billie‘s just being an inconsiderate asshole. Quite a different scale..

  65. Arianod

    Walky knows full well what he’s doing here, and I kind of cautiously approve.

  66. Daniel M Ball

    Walky appears to be rubbing Billie’s nose in her bad choices there, including possibly reminding her that she didn’t used to let people get away with diminutives like ‘babe’. (it’s a little brother thing, some will get it, some won’t)

  67. Vulcanodon

    Wow, I have not seen Walky be that confrontational before.

  68. Deanatay

    Sal in Panel 2, thirstily eyeing Asher’s motorbike.

  69. Throwatron

    yo holy shit tho walky is PISSED

  70. Wishwater

    Worst possible time to decide I would love to see Walky/Billie but I’m going to do it anyway

  71. Rikunda

    Why is her skin look so much lighter?

    1. CC

      Three months of winter’ll do that

  72. Dutch

    Real talk I just now realized I was Walky

  73. Lunarius Haberdash

    No… NO. Not OK, not at ALL ok. There is nothing about this pairing that does anything but fill me with impotent rage. I hate you a little for this.

  74. JBento

    So, I haven’t been able to post in a while, because of health reasons, so I have a question about previous strips:

    Did the fact that the two girls Booster asked out were the ones with the more serious mental health issues ring alarm bells and raise red flags for anyone else, or was it just me?

    1. Seregiel

      It might just be a case of like finding like more relatable. I tend towards neuro atypical/mental health/trauma partners not because I think it is deserved/destined/whatever, but it seems like there is a lot more compassion for your demons when someone has had an intimate run in with their own. There’s a lot of shared common ground and understanding. Obviously not seek those relationships over ones with nuerotypical persons overtly, but it does feel like my social group tends to gravitate that way. The risk load of backfire is also high, but its nice to have someone who gets it but doesn’t pity you for it and is able to fine tune the balance between knowing when someone needs help coping rather than being called out for a cop out. Exceptions abound everywhere, and everyone has those skills but it can be comfier to walk the world with someone who has seen your particular brand of hell.

    2. deathjavu

      No, I also thought this was pretty weird, and going after one then immediately the other was also weird. Ofc booster was already being terrible in that series of strips.

  75. Felgraf

    Supposition: Ruth, upon failing to get Billie to quit drinking/seeing Billie continue into alcoholism, got to the end of her rope and did what Sarah did: She told someone to try and make sure Billie got the help she needed.

    Billie views this as the deepest of betrayals.

    1. Varangian

      Hmmm. I think Billie was actually good-faith quitting drinking this time, like, for actual, but you might be onto something—Ruth might’ve pushed her towards continuing with therapy beyond what Billie wanted, which might contribute to feeling like she’s domestic now and trapped and her whole identity is that girl who fell in love with her RA

  76. FriskyJacket

    Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby YEEEEAAAAAAA ( SAXOPHONE intensifies)

  77. River

    I don’t think that I have ever commented, maybe, but I don’t think so. So this is really a things for me. I have been reading this comic since it began but this “soft-reboot” makes me feel like I have wasted 10 years, is that true for anyone else? I feel that the characters have been abandoned, like Willis got to the huge trauma-drama and didn’t know what to do so gave up. I mean, I know that it is a free web comic so who am I to complain. The first 10 years were fabulous, thank you for that, sir, but maybe time to move on. Take care everyone whom I never met but whose comments I have enjoyed.

    1. 3-I

      It definitely feels like the character lives and dynamics I was invested in were interrupted HARD, but I’m willing to give Willis time to draw me into the new Season 2 status quo.

      NGL, though, it feels like the last several days have just been “POW, here’s a surprising twist! One the characters aren’t at all surprised by because they saw it happen in real time, like, months ago!” And that’s difficult for me to jibe with, because it feels like I’m being laughed at for being shocked. Here’s hoping you and I both reconnect to the story soon!

      1. CorporateDronesDontHaveMissiles

        I’m seeing this as a sort of ‘in media res’ opener, and expecting as we go forward we’ll eventually also work backwards and fill in the character gaps.

  78. River

    * thing — can’t leave on a typo-note! Greatest respect for you, Mr. Willis, the comics have really brightened my days over the years.

  79. Ray Radlein

    Baby Baby Baby Baby
    This stuff is driving me crazy
    DJs communicate to the masses
    Sex and violence classes
    Now our children grow up prisoners
    All their lives, radio listeners!

    1. Victor Riley

      I will always give props to an R.E.M. reference.

  80. Some Guy

    Oh hey, we’re back to the terrible Billie I hated back from when she was first introduced!

    I may not like it but I’m not surprised.

  81. 3-I

    I really hope we start getting around to the 52 part of this One Year Later soon. And that it stops me wanting dexter-style mindwipes.

  82. Jenny Islander

    If I had walked into this scene without knowing anybody involved, I would’ve seen a young adult who was being harassed by some jerk. Even if she did a terrible job disengaging from them and had a really stupid reason for doing so, she doesn’t wanna interact anymore and should be let be.

  83. Varangian

    Walky redeems his terrible bullshit choice in superhero-related ideas for the moment! Good work, Walkerton.

  84. vile_gamer

    That’s weird. Why did my comments get run through moderation, yet everyone else’s comments show up fine? I didn’t say anything contentious, pretentious, or inappropriate.

    1. King Daniel

      First time commenting/using a particular e-mail to comment? Happens to everyone in that case, IIRC.

  85. Juanoku

    You hear that?
    It’s my heart being broken into a million pieces

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.