188

Ding
Posted on November 10, 2024 by David M Willis

188 thoughts on “Ding”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    OUR RACHEL IS HERE

    “you mean our Other Rachel is here?”

    “which other Rachel, there are like 3 million of them”

    1. clif

      They’re all probably very nice.

    2. anon

      Next arc should be all about other rachel 8D;

      1. Needfuldoer

        I was going to snark that this appearance makes her eligible for Patreon bonus strip voting again, but it turns out she already made one appearance after the time skip:

        https://www.dumbingofage.com/odd/

    3. Tan

      Hashtag #NotMyRachel

      1. Michael Steamweed

        hashtag #otherracheltoo

    4. Yet_One_More_Idiot

      DING!

      And we all know what a DING should be followed by, right?

      …DONG!

  2. Doctor_Who

    There are 24 entries on the cast page, so Willis could pull this at least that many times were he so inclined.

    Be kinda weird when he does it with Mike.

    1. Thag Simmons

      Lets hope he doesn’t do it with Mary

      1. mindbleach

        Jocelyne’s new secret is Joyce helping her bury a body.

        1. Michael Steamweed

          Ya know what I’m here for that arc. Let’s do it!

        2. brionl

          A friend will help you move.
          A true friend will help you move a body.

    2. clif

      Wierd with Mike? Not really. Having Jennifer step out twice with other people in-between will hardly be noticeable.

      1. Doctor_Who

        I could see Charlie doing that.

      2. Needfuldoer

        First Amber, then the very next elevator ride it’s Amazi-Girl, like that old vaudeville gag where the same person is carrying both ends of a long ladder across the stage.

    3. FlamestAndLight

      Mike’s not dead, she just faked her death to transition!!!

      1. FlamestAndLight

        to be clear she’s still going by Mike though. Short for Mikeala

        1. Taffy

          Wrong. She’s called Jennifer now. It’s canon, Willis confirmed it, please get with the program.

        2. Mark

          Best avatar yet.

    4. 3oranges

      That can be the sequel comic to Dumbing of Age, just one person stepping out of the elevator after another while Jocelyne looks disappointed and Bart O’Ryan laughs.

      1. Ana Chronistic

        Teasing of Joss

    5. Carla's #2 Fan

      16-17, not all of them live there.

    6. staszu13

      Only in the sense it would confirm he’s in witness protection

  3. Dara

    goddammit willis

    1. clif

      Beautiful! Well done Willis.

    2. Puppeteer Nessus

      I really like this

    3. staszu13

      No, it’s “damn you, Willis”

  4. Nono

    The harbringer of your doom

  5. Mr. Random

    I wonder if Other Rachel is Amazi-Girl.

    1. Michael Steamweed

      Ya know, they _are_ built kind of similarly. Short; same shape. The hair difference easily could be a wig. But, I dunno, man, OR has glasses. AG doesn’t. That makes it unlikely, right?

      1. Furie

        My brother in Cheese… Did you skip the strips where it’s made blatantly obvious through Jen’s fantastic detective work that Amazigirl is actually Sal? Why even bother commenting if you aren’t up on who is who?

        1. Mr. Random

          Jen completely glossed over the political rally where they were seen and filmed together.
          The only way that could work was if Sal had a twin.

        2. Shadowsnail

          If you track heat signatures on infrared and see where AG appears from and disappears to, you will find that she is clearly Dina.

  6. ValdVin

    I keep voting for Other Rachel. I’m very happy to see her!

  7. Thag Simmons

    Joyce is going to come in from another direction, isn’t she

    1. StClair

      That’s my guess.

    2. Alongcameaspider

      Turns out she decided to take the stairs, get her steps in

      1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

        No, she has taken up Sal’s bit of always going in and out through windows.

        1. Rose by Any other Name

          Next comic, Joyce and Sarah climbing down the side of the building.
          Joyce: “WHY did we decide to do this?!”
          Sarah: “I don’t remember!”

  8. Taigan

    Aaaauuuggghhhhh!!!

    Damn you Willis for dragging this out further!

  9. Davus

    Willlis! Willlis! You…. You…. You….
    Okay, I have to admit, this was pretty good.

  10. Switchchris

    it would be hilarious if Joyce was right behind her in the elevator but you just can’t see her because of the light glare.

  11. Proto_Eevee

    When is the other Rachel story arc

    1. Doctor_Who

      We know so little about her.

      Maybe her hobby is riding the elevator up and down all day. who knows.

    2. brute

      someday, my friend

    3. Amós Batista

      She deserves

  12. NGPZ

    what that think you earthlings say? oh yeah!

    “damn you Willis!” XD

  13. True Survivor

    There is something subtly, indescribably terrifying about Other Rachel. I think maybe she is not simply another Rachel but truly an Other – that happens to also be a Rachel.

    1. clif

      She knows who lives in the rooms at the end of the hall.

    2. Doctor_Who

      Quick, zoom in, make sure her eyes aren’t buttons!

      1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

        Eyes like gimlets!

        1. deliverything

          That dwarf who owns the delicatessen on Cable Street?

        2. Bobbi

          He does sell a mean rat pie…

        3. Smallmoon

          ‘Mean’ in that he plumps out the rat with chicken sometimes…

    3. Savail

      But she doesn’t look anything like Lucrezia Mongfish!

      1. Radiance

        I mean, that hardly proves anything at this point…

      2. Michael Steamweed

        1. I give you +1 internet point award on this day for the Agatha reference.
        2. Really, now, The Other (TM) could look like anyone.
        3. Though, TBH, Other Rachel doesn’t look much like a Mongfish, Heterodyne, or clank. Still, Lucrezia is fiendishly clever and cleverly fiendish. Best not to take chances.

    4. brute

      yea, people feel that way about unattractive girls a lot ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

      1. Daibhid C

        Not sure what that has to do with Other Rachel, but okay.

      2. Michael Steamweed

        Speak for yourself, brute. OR looks similar to a lady I dated for a while, lo, last century.

    5. Shadowsnail

      Beware the Sophomore Year and the great Roommate Shuffle when she unites with Other Monica and all are subsumed by their thrall.

  14. Opus the Poet

    How much is DYW going to torture poor Jocelyn?

  15. Tan

    So. Willis has chosen violence.

    1. Michael Steamweed

      As Saruman did say, “So, you have chosen death.”

  16. Chaucer59

    One of the women men don’t see.

    1. Taffy

      I’m pretty they’re gonna see her. She’s right there in the strip.

      1. Taffy

        Pretty sure*

    2. Amós Batista

      Joe, is it you?

  17. Reltzik

    … do we really know anything about her, except that she’s been othered?

    1. HueSatLight

      Her last name is Moore, her birthday is Sept 9th, and her major isn’t CS.

  18. Rolf of Many Doors

    Because Other Rachel has the face of not-the-person-people-are-looking-for

    1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      [gesture]
      “This isn’t the Rachel you are looking for.”

      1. Shadowsnail

        More useful in this dorm:
        “You want to go home and rethink your life.”

        1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          Isn’t that what Sarah used on Dana?

    2. Vulcanodon

      Rachel looks kind of sad today

  19. pope suburban

    I don’t mean anything by this but comedy, but you know how Carla doesn’t bother learning what anyone looks like? Well, the Jocelyne/Joyce resemblance is so strong here I’d lose it if Carla was next out, barking something at Joyce and leaving a confused Jocelyne in her wake. Mistaken identity, plus it could put Carla smack in the middle of a Joyce meltdown. Though I feel less ha-ha funny about that, because that’s a sensitive topic. Mostly I’d just like Carla’s self-absorption to keep bouncing around an awkward situation fraught with misunderstanding.

    1. ValdVin

      CARLA: “Hey, it’s Jugs!”

      1. Rabid Rabbit

        “What? No. I … don’t have jugs. I mean, I’m planning on getting them, so to speak, but — wait, what the hell?”

        “What the hell is right! Why aren’t you wearing your jugs???”

        “…I am so confused right now.”

        1. Michael Steamweed

          …dang…I’m conflicted. I both want to see that and want to not see that.

    2. Nono

      There’s a significant height difference though between Joyce and Jocelyne, I hope Carla would at least notice that.

      1. Thomas

        She’d just assume Joyce was wearing the jug shoes she’d engineered for her.

      2. Michael Steamweed

        Notice something that’s (1) not Charlie or (2) not people noticing Carla?

        Why would she do that?

        (weird)

      3. pope suburban

        The logic is sound, but Carla once mistook Dorothy for Joyce, and while they’re roughly the same height, their builds are radically different and it was before Joyce had glasses. So I’m leaving it on the table as a viable joke. :’D

    3. Shadowsnail

      Carla enters, wordlessly gives respect knuckles, and exits.

      1. pope suburban

        Also a rad option, and one that could still give her a vantage point on the chaos, depending on where Joyce is at the time.

  20. Shakes

    Next: Smash cut to Dina, on her own, eating cereal.

    1. NGPZ

      okay now I’m REALLY being tortured here, hope my Dina withdrawal symptoms don’t get too bad 0-0

    2. Michael Steamweed

      Dina and Steve, sitting at the same table, eating cereal.

      1. Alongcameaspider

        Steve should still be in the QC art style because I think that’d make the bit funnier

        1. Michael Steamweed

          I’d like to see that!

  21. Taffy

    Why’s she so fuckin’ scary?

  22. Wraithy2773

    I’m calling this an honorary “Steve Eating Cereal’ strip. Beautiful trolling :D.

    1. Michael Steamweed

      Dina and Steve are eating cereal at the same table in the coffee shop.

      https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3766

      1. Shadowsnail

        They meet regularly to pass messages between Amazi-Girl and Pizza Girl.

        1. Peter Huppertz

          ^^^!
          +1

        2. Michael Steamweed

          I miss Pizza Girl. 🙁

        3. Shadowsnail

          Headcanon: Pizza Girl and Eckwyn (Raven) are now in CubeTown.

  23. DaWombat

    trolling us Willis…. We are not amuuuuuuuused

  24. BBCC

    Hi, other Rachel! Thanks for scaring the bejesus out of Jocelyne!

    1. Needfuldoer

      I don’t know why but I read this in Ralph Wiggum’s voice. “Hi, Lisa! Hi Supernintendo Chalmers!”

  25. Masumi

    Meanwhile other Rachel is wondering why Joyce suddenly seems so disappointed to see her…

    1. anonymsly

      And how she suddenly grew several inches.

  26. morhek

    The suspense is killing me.

    I hope it lasts.

    1. Michael Steamweed

      “Come with me, and you’ll see, a world of OSHA violations”

  27. IntangibleMatter

    Her final face is a punch in the gut.

  28. reed

    oh sorry, joyce took the stairs. exercise y’know?

  29. Qube

    JOYCE 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

  30. Speedball

    Goddamnit Willis, you *knew* we would lose it when you teased us like this!

    1. Michael Steamweed

      He did. We did.

  31. Esolo

    Willis you magnificent bastard.

  32. Time Sage

    It could have been worse. It could have been someone who’d recognize her, like Ethan or Becky.

  33. Thing2

    XY?

    1. Yumi

      Um?

      1. Taffy

        They obviously saw Cool Rachel and got overly excited while trying to type “SEXY”, which Rachel is.

        That or they’re asking a worthless bait question that everyone understands perfectly well and the only reason to ask it in the way they did is to generate plausible deniability (which nobody will ever buy). It’s a coin flip.

        1. NGPZ

          “I’m afraid were gonna have to kick them out, Taffy.”

          “Damn.”

        2. Taffy

          I never swear, so you know it’s intense.

      2. Thing2

        On their top. Seems a bit… Well, I dunno what?

        1. Queezle

          I do not think that that is what is on her top.

        2. Thag Simmons

          Oh, I think it’s just an abstracted pattern. Not sure what exactly it’s supposed to represent, but if you’re seeing letters it’s probably just pareidoilia and not deliberate

        3. Smallmoon

          I think it’s butterflies.

        4. Needfuldoer

          Or flowers or something.

        5. Thag Simmons

          Hard to say without seeing the outfit it was based on, I don’t think there’s enough detail to make it out clearly.

        6. Taffy

          Yeah, it’s butterflies. Willis posted the shirt and overalls on Tweeter, except the one in the photo is black.

        7. Mark

          Flowers and possibly hearts.

        8. Taffy

          Dude, you gotta say that shit up front. People are jumpy right now, for obvious reasons, and your comment looks like a dogwhistle. That said, I do see what you mean, now that you elaborated. It does kinda look like she’s got “XY” on her shoulders, from the way the butterfly pattern distorts.

        9. NGPZ

          Yeah, given how vulnerable a lot of us queers/trans folk are across the country because of this shit, benefit of the doubt is a luxury many of us cannot afford

          conscious effort has to be made to help us in these times, a very important part of which is being aware of the dog-whistles and language used to legitimize adversaries who want us displaced or even DEAD

        10. Thing2

          NGPZ OK, so no benefit of doubt. But it does seem a little unfair when aimed at someone who has a beard, breasts, a blind vagina, no uterus or cervix, no idea what their own chromosomes are. Dog whistle? Well that was rather my point. Why was I seeing XY on the clothing of someone trans? And for those who were saying they did not see XY on the clothing, isn’t that also the point? Those that are jumpy are the ones that will see it.
          But OK, so no benefit of any doubt for me for bringing it up. My fault for seeing it, my fault for wondering if others see it, my fault for mentioning it.
          Personally I thought people here were about acceptance, esp. when you don’t know. And I’m not sure I’ve even seen unkind remarks about other readers on here before.

        11. Yumi

          Okay, come on, you can also acknowledge that your comment was majorly lacking in context. The “my fault”s you throw out seem to miss that.

          Like, I asked, but you were definitely making me uncomfortable, and your comment read like the kind of thing a troll might post. You have context about Willis and you were uncomfortable with the idea that there might be an “XY.” We had not context about you.

        12. Taffy

          We can’t see your beard, your genitals, whether or not you have a cervix, or anything you didn’t directly type. Stop acting like you gave any of that information.

        13. Thing2

          Taffy “We can’t see your beard, your genitals, whether or not you have a cervix, or anything you didn’t directly type. Stop acting like you gave any of that information.”
          Exactly. Asuumptions were made.

        14. Thing2

          Taffy & Yumi, I’m acting like I failed to anticipate the reaction to what was, for me, a perfectly reasonable comment (because I knew what I meant), but, once I realised there were other interpretations, I explained what I meant. So, yeah, majorly lacking in context – is that open invitation for all the things that were said? Because by the time I explained, I knew that I already stood accused, no matter what I said, of aiming for plausible deniability.

        15. Yumi

          One, honestly, not much was said. So, yeah, all things considered, I’d feel the reactions were reasonable. Two, you could have said a quick “my bad.” You made a mistake, that’s fine, but your handling afterward has been annoying.

        16. NGPZ

          @Thing2 very sorry about this misunderstanding, but hopefully now you understand where we coming from, and now that we know you queer you know you share in our struggles T_T

          right now I’m compiling a list of resources to help queers/trans and other vulnerable minorities in these tumultuous times, what I have thus far:

          https://weareworthfightingfor.org/ (non-profit movement committed to making sure none of Project 2025 are fulfilled)

          https://sparkspillowfort.carrd.co/ (site my friend made for trans people to gather vital information for their wellbeing)

          https://queertransproject.org/pages/build-a-queer-kit-item-list (non-profit organization and store committed to getting essential items like binders and contraception to queer and trans folk who need them)

          hope at least one of these are of use to you, we need to build community and allyship more than ever if we are to pull through these next 4 years and their aftermath ;-;

        17. NGPZ

          also @Thing2 I just put up a list of very common anti-trans/anti-queer and other dog whistles my friend gave me, really hope this is of help to you, we gotta help each other and arm ourselves with knowledge.

          stay safe, stay woke, and may peace be with you. ??

        18. Thing2

          NGPZ: Thank you for the apology.
          It is, of course, very easy to know what you (me) mean, and therefore not see other people’s possible interpretations, when you (me) post things on social media type things. And indeed, not everyone is aware of every trigger, but hopefully we learn. I just genuinely wanted to know if anyone else was seeing what I saw.
          Proud to be WOKE (which I call With Ordinary Kndness & Empathy)

        19. NGPZ

          it not even about triggers, and it not even your fault you used a dog-whistle by accident, which is why it had to be pointed out

          dog-whistles are DESIGNED to be picked up and spread by people other than the alt-right to legitimize their hateful agendas via art of euphemism, including leftists who should (and need to) know better

          i mean that why it called a dog-whistle — it’s INTENDED by propogandists who design them that only nazi “dogs” can hear it (discern it’s ACTUAL meaning and purpose)

          also re:woke,

          wokeness about kindness, and empathy, and a lot more.

          it about being aware that that not everyone was born into the same culture or social/economic privilege growing up

          it’s about being aware that bigotry spreads well beyond hate-filled hearts. no malice needed, no slurs required, just lack of concern for how the past affects the present

          it’s about being aware that consciousness of one’s race, gender, sex, etc. does not constitute racism, sexism, etc, nor does deliberate unconsciousness of these characteristics constitute “non-bigotry”

          it’s about being aware that bigotry is a systemic, all-encompassing thing that pervades many of the ways we are brought up to think, speak, and do things in our society because of long-standing historical circumstances, and that addressing it requires thinking critically about ourselves and our place in it

    2. NGPZ

      ?

      goodbye

    3. Taffy

      X 24.6 Y 36.7, obviously. Don’t ask about the Z-axis, it doesn’t apply on this map.

      1. Needfuldoer

        There was a Z axis, but Photoshop flattened the layers down to one when it exported the strip as a .PNG.

      2. Mark

        You sunk my battleship!

  34. DashWallkick

    Oh god I just realized she’s going to chicken out and Joyce is going to have to piece it together from context clues and Joe going “I’m pretty sure your brother is wearing lip gloss and a dress.”

    1. Tan

      Unfortunately, Joyce is a lesbian love sleuth, and so these clues will be meaningless to her because Jocelyne is straight.

      1. Rose by Any other Name

        … didn’t Jocelyne indicate she was a lesbian while talking with Ethan.
        Something like:
        Ethan: “I’m gay.”
        Jocelyn: “That’s the problem. So am I.”
        Ethan: “Why is that – ? Oh. OH.”

        If anyone wants to link the actual comic, be my guest – I suck at doing html on this site.

        1. eh, whatever

          No, it’s the opposite: “I’m not actually gay.” And then she texted him her jocelynejbrown URL.

  35. Suet

    “Did Joyce grow taller?”

    No fanfare? No ominous music either?

    1. Needfuldoer

      She got different glasses, too.

    2. Opus the Poet

      Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells plays on the hacked Muzak.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbYQYOM66MA&ab_channel=HendraSumatera%28Hendra%29

      1. Needfuldoer

        The full 40+ minute version that helped some guy named Richard launch a little record label?

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSFyLQVw7Ao

  36. DJTsurugi

    Willis just teasing us. ~<3

  37. AGV/Ruby

    At this point I’m more sorry for Jocelyne. She’s all nerves by now.

    1. Rose by Any other Name

      Yeah. Everyone else is damning Willis for teasing us.
      I’m just sitting here feeling really bad for how scared Jocelyne is. Girls needs a hug, stat.

  38. Rabisch

    If Mary is the next, Joyce will hardly have time to understand, but will immediately rush to defend her sister.

  39. Taffy

    Tomorrows strip, revealed early through a collaboration with Koei Tecmo in their upcoming Fatal Frame title, will feature Jocelyne interactions with Rachel, The Casey, and six kittens.

  40. Adam Black

    I ‘m expecting Ruth , wearing the same thing.

    1. Mark

      Then it’s not just me: that is a very Ruth sort of outfit.

      1. superglucose

        not really. I can’t see Ruth wearing an overall *dress.*

        1. superglucose

          or that top. How long has she been out, because this outfit screams “my egg just cracked!”

        2. thejeff

          I think this is the first time we’ve seen her in girl mode, even on phone calls or in solo Patreon appearances, where she wouldn’t have had to out herself to family.

        3. Needfuldoer

          Ruth wore something similar fairly recently.

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/acting/

  41. ZerglingOne

    This is my guess (No I haven’t seen tomorrow’s strip in case I get it right) Rachel sees Jocelyne, calls her Joyce at first, but then Jocelyne suddenly has a burst of confidence, Rachel realizes it’s not Joyce, and Jocelyne introduces herself as her preferred identity. Bonus points: Final panel is Joyce standing nearby with her jaw practically on the floor.

    1. Mark

      Alternate: “Hi, Rachel. Who’s your friend? She looks familiar.” Confusion!

  42. FireprincessLily

    AAAAHHHHH The more this drags on the more worried I get about it.

    You never know how family is gonna react to you coming out.

    When I first came out my “I’d love you even if you were gay” mother really didn’t like the fact that I was trans. (She got over it and we’re cool now)

    I thought coming out to her was gonna be a slam dunk, but nope. And given how Joyce has been around Carla… My tummy doesn’t like this uneasy feeling.

    1. Smallmoon

      I’m hoping for a re-play of “I will always have your back. You are — and have always been– my sister.”

    2. morleuca

      Still haven’t done this

  43. Amós Batista

    I’m angry because it’s not Joyce, but I’m happy, because Other Rachel. She deserves more!

  44. Acher4

    FFS

    Damn you, Willis!!!

    *Fist on the air*

  45. darkoneko

    You’re starting to look like someone’s mom looking for a student, Jocelyne

  46. TRQ

    I love Jocelyne so fucking much.

    1. Queezle

      I just want her to be happy. I am so nervous for her.

  47. Yeet

    can’t wait for tomorrow to swap to roller derby practice or something

  48. Adept

    I’m not trans or even queer, but this is giving me second hand anxiety >.<

    Too real.

  49. Michael Steamweed

    Three hundred and two of us predicted a fake-out upon this day. And, lo, we received the fake-out.

    The fake-out we deserve, but not the one we need.

    (wait that doesn’t make sense…need more coffee….)

  50. morleuca

    I have a top with sleeves like that, and they make me feel very awkward. I cannot for the life of me figure out why

  51. Mr.Morningstar

    Poor Jocelyn. Nerve wracking waiting to come out to someone you love.

    1. thejeff

      Kind of wonder she didn’t just say she’d come up and meet in her room.

      1. brionl

        ISTR that they don’t let non-students just wander around the dorms.
        Which is probably a generally good idea.

        1. thejeff

          They don’t? How do they stop them? She’s already in the building.

          Non-students have shown up unannounced any number of times. Not to mention Becky living there for weeks.

          You might be thinking of the encounter with scarface, but that established that the doors were locked at night, not during the day.

  52. Juanoku

    Oh c’mon really?
    Now i have to wait another day, that’s just a dick move

    1. Taffy

      At least the comic updates 7 days a week. I read some that only update once or twice, and goddamn do they feel slow compared to this one.

      1. thejeff

        As do I. A lot of them have more panels per update though, so it still feels slow, even if we’re not getting as much less content as it seems.

    2. Vulcanodon

      This scene is pretty realistic though. When you are really anxious to see one person come out of an elevator, other people will annoyingly show up first.

  53. Graham

    Wow, your skin looks FANTASTIC!

  54. a/snow/mous/e

    oh sweet, Joss is here! (forgot to check DoA yesterday)

  55. Nathan

    Hi other Rachel!

  56. Felian

    Is it a coincidence that Jocelyne holds her arms like this? Reminds me a bit of Joyce’s trauma habit with her wrist.

  57. Darkseide

    i was actually happy to see Other Rachel

    1. Amós Batista

      Please, Willis, bring Other Racher back again

  58. Aura

    Commenting a bit late, but just wanted to say Jocelyne’s body language here is very expressive of very familiar feelings and I want to give her a big hug <3

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