270

Semblance
Posted on September 22, 2017 by David M Willis
TODAY, FRIDAY, September 22, I will be at Vintage Pheonix Comic Books in Bloomington, Indiana, from 5-7pm!  I will have books and probably character magnets and my nigh-charming self!  If you're lucky, maybe my wife will be in the corner wrangling my adorable children, who will hopefully not be eating books and magnets. Next Saturday the 30th, I'll be signing at the table for Laughing Ogre Comics at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus!  You can find me there from 2:30 to 6pm.

270 thoughts on “Semblance”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    “which is why I said something ELSE first!”

    1. Ana Chronistic

      PATIENCE? SUBTLETY? WHAT’RE THOSE

      1. Nobody

        I’m not sure how you ask that subtely

        1. SgtWadeyWilson

          It’s tricky, but you could come at it from a number of angles.

          “So… I heard you were dating somone? Anybody important?”

          “Any particular reason for your dorm transfer?”

          “Should we be expecting any… nighttime visitors?”

        2. Dean

          “Would you say that you were for or against forbidden love?”

        3. Br44n5m

          Do you identify more with Romeo or Juliet?

    2. Lin

      She fully said THREE things first. Introduced herself, acknowledged Billie’s nickname, and complimented her nickname strategy. That’s basically a million years!

  2. Doctor_Who

    You know, it occurs to me that maybe the reason everyone is being super friendly and cheerful is that Billie is replacing Malaya, and they are just overjoyed to have the little killjoy gone.

    Soon they will encircle Billie and sing a chorus of “Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead”.

    1. Stephen Bierce

      Trying to put me out of work? :/

    2. Mollyscribbles

      That, and the fact that they have air conditioning.

      1. Doctor_Who

        It would be interesting if Reed got AC and suddenly all the drama disappeared.

        Mary and Carla are besties, Amber achieves inner peace, Ruth walks through the halls whistling happily surrounded by friendly forest critters.

        1. vlademir1

          That last may (theoretically) yet come to be, provided you capitalize “Forest.” Really it just depends how quick Billie and her new friends click.

    3. JetstreamGW

      “Let us be glad! Let us be grateful! Let us rejoiceify that goodness could subdue the wicked workings of you-know-who… Isn’t it nice to know that good will conquer evil? The truth we all believe’ll by and by outlive a lie for you and–”

      “NO ONE MOURNS THE WICKED!”

      “Motherfu…”

      1. Fire_daws

        It’s pretty late in the day to say this ‘cuz the new comic is coming up soon, but….

        I frigging love Elphaba.

    4. Needfuldoer

      But Malaya is a perfect ray of sunshine.

  3. Shiro

    I like Nash already

    1. Marsh Maryrose

      In a comic, what Nash just did is kinda cute, in the same way a ten-year-old blurting out a you’re-not-supposed-to-say-that truth is kinda cute.

      In the real world, Nash just said “Always keep your guard completely up when I’m within hearing distance, because I can’t be trusted with the tiniest of secrets.”

      1. Shiro

        I don’t think that was much of a secret, really.

        1. Pablo360

          Honestly better to destroy the notion that it could be a secret up front

        2. Yumi

          And like, what part was supposed to be the secret? Because if everyone there already knows, it’s not about the secrecy of the fact that Billie was moved because of her relationship with Ruth. It’s more about people knowing that’s the reason, but Billie already knows that people know. I guess Nash might not know that Billie knows that people know, but it still doesn’t really speak to secret keeping in my view. Moreso things like tact and decorum.

        3. Marsh Maryrose

          I stand corrected. Sit corrected?

          But still, Nash blurting that out was at worst rude and at best socially clueless. And I resemble that remark!

        4. Ari

          Actual autistic person here! The fact that something isn’t a secret doesn’t always mean people won’t be angry with you for saying it. This is recurring theme in my life :’)

        5. Suzi

          Not an autistic, but my older brother is. This has been a reoccurring theme in his life as well, and I’ve been privy to many conversations that have gone like this:

          “[Brother’s name] you can’t say that out loud”
          “Oh, is it supposed to be secretive?”
          “No it’s just not something you say out loud/around people.”
          “Is it not the truth?”
          “Yes, its probably the truth, but we don’t announce it to the world!”
          “I’m confused. Aren’t we supposed to tell the truth?”
          “Yes but not all the time!”

          Subject matter varies, but has included things like bad haircuts (“Your hair looks awful”), uncomfortable relations (“You’re divorcing your husband because he cheated right?”, she was but it didn’t need to be brought up in a room full of people) and my favorite, venereal diseases (“Didn’t she give him crabs?” loudly, in a crowded area).

          The benefit of this is I love shopping with my brother, as his unfiltered honesty is great. He asked for my help with christmas shopping, so we went out and I asked him what he THOUGHT he should get people, and he always had a practical answer. His answer for me? “Well your room is always a mess, so I’m gonna get your some drawers to put your stuff in.” Thanks bro.

      2. Geno

        ^I don’t have autism, and have that problem pretty frequently as well. Nash seems cool and genuine; maybe don’t tell her you’re planning to rob a bank, but she seems like a great friend

    2. Fart Captor

      She seems fun. I feel like she and Agatha would be pals

  4. shadowcell

    is it too late to add Nash to the favorite characters poll

    1. MM

      And if not, is it too late to change my vote?

    2. Tori

      +1, I need to vote for Nash immediately

    3. Inahc

      I think it’s the first time I’ve seen a character in a … hijab?.. get to have an actual personality. 🙂 this comic is wonderful.

      1. EvolutionistX

        You should read Persepolis.

        1. SgtWadeyWilson

          Everyone should.

      2. Circeus

        How ’bout Asma? We haven’t seen her a lot, but she wears a hijab.

        1. DSL

          And has a personality.

        2. Geno

          I think Asma had a personality she just only got to show it in a few situations.

    4. not someone else

      Yes please.

    5. Kit

      Yay! She’s in the poll now!

      1. Pablo360

        And in your Gravatar!

        1. Kit

          I know! ♡ ^^

          The face Nash makes in the 5th panel needs to be a gravatar, too.

  5. Cattleprod

    Don’t say it first thing is distinct from don’t say it at all, that’s all on you, Spencer. Be specific.

    1. John

      Even if Nash had blurted it out first thing, she would have been following directions, so long as she tried her best not to!

      I’m liking Nash.

    2. Reltzik

      I’m thinking that the key point here is that Spencer knew to give that instruction SPECIFICALLY TO NASH.

  6. Daniel L Clark

    Bizarro Dorm has Bizarro Ruth: basically polite, her residents talk over her and don’t care about what she has to say.

  7. Architex

    I wonder what those other Jennifers are doing.

    1. Marsh Maryrose

      I wonder what the Jennifers are doing tonight?
      What merriment are the Jennifers pursuing tonight?

      1. ValdVin

        Asking where are the simple joys of Jenniferhood, of course.

    2. Undrave

      You mean WHO those other Jennifers are doing?

    3. Reltzik

      The ennifariau are obviously multiplying.

  8. Madock345

    Spencer seems pretty cool, I ship it.

    Billie x All RAs is best ship

    1. Reltzik

      “Miss Billingsworth? This is the third time this semester. Is there ANY residence hall we can move you to where you won’t engage in inappropriate relations with your residence advisor?”

      “…. maybe one where the RA is straight? And not questioning?”

      1. Madock345

        It’d have to be a gay dude, right? Isn’t billlie bisexual? Or was that Ruth?

        1. Egg

          I think Reltzik was assuming that the RA would be a female student, due to the prevalence of single-gender dorms/halls.

        2. Marsh Maryrose

          Wait. It’s 20xx and IU doesn’t have any coed dorm floors? In my first year in college I was on a coed floor, and that was 197x.

        3. BBCC

          Coed floors, yes, wings, no. At least, not where Billie lives.

  9. King Daniel

    Sixteen Jennifers? But Joyce only had six Jennifers back in her church . . .

    . . . by Jove, the Jennifers are multiplying!

    1. MatthewTheLucky

      By a factor of 2.667 in only two months! Soon they’ll have vovered the planet!

    2. JetstreamGW

      Which is odd ‘cuz that name hasn’t been popular in a long time!

      1. King Daniel

        With the sliding timescale, the name will eventually become popular again and the universe will realign in harmony.

      2. coru

        I wouldn’t say it’s THAT long out of popularity. It was in the top 10 most common girl names until 1992, and in the top 20 up until 1998. Of course, right now it’s not even in the top 500, but that’s because all of the 1980s and 1990s Jennifers are the ones having babies.

        1. vlademir1

          The SSA tells me it held the 273rd spot in the US last year… that’s still just over 1000 births but still…

        2. Joshua Kronengold

          Looking at baby name voyager, it peaked in 1970 and has been steadily sliding downward since 1990, sure, but it still had around 2000 per million in 2000, so about 8000 Jennifers.

        3. Portland

          I misread this as “looking at the baby name ‘Voyager'” and got really psyched for a second.

      3. drs

        Yeah, used to be Sarah and Jennifer, now it’s Emily.

      4. Dave

        You write what you know! If Willis’ school days were anything like mine then there were three Davids in every class.

    3. Marsh Maryrose

      You know sixteen Jennifers, what do you get?
      You get another day older, and a name for your pet

      1. Leorale

        Spencer gonna call me, cuz I can’t stay;
        I moved because I banged my R.A.

        1. Leorale

          Argh it should be

          St. Pudding, don’t call me…

          So close.

    4. Reltzik

      Grammar correction! The proper pluralization of “the Jennifer” is not “the Jennifers” but “the Enniferiau.”

      1. vlademir1

        So, you have a more sound argument about that after a year? Or is it still “I Googled for five minutes and came up with this info about the origin of the name and these probably broken rules about the reasonably rarely spoken language the name originally comes from” ;D

        I came across that post for last year just now trying to search for what “the Enniferiau” was a reference to

        1. Reltzik

          You Googled it for five minutes too! TU QUOQUE! TU QUOQUE!

    5. Bagge

      *Joyce, eyes wide*

      “That is so… that is so many Jennifiers.”

  10. D.S

    I guffawed quietly so as to not interrupt my house mate sleeping.

  11. nobodybasically

    I presume Spencer will threaten to…. lovingly mend Nash’s femurs now?

  12. Yotomoe

    https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/237695978092756993/360637883238842368/tell_her.png

    Everyone’s in a rush to blow the whistle on this.

    1. Architex

      ALL HAIL THE 69 JOYCE

    2. Doctor_Who

      True story. When I was 12, my class had just learned what 69 was. Well, we understood it about as well as most 12 year olds understand anything sexual. Like, we got the basic concept.

      So naturally, bastions of maturity we were, we started writing it everywhere. When the teacher came in and found it on the blackboard again, she (having somehow made it to middle age with about the same knowledge on the subject of sex that WE had) demanded to know what it meant and why we kept putting it everywhere.

      She decided to hold the whole class until she got an answer, and started calling on students at random until one explained. After two kids had unconvincingly stammered that they didn’t know, she called on me.

      This was the mid 90s, and the internet was still in its infancy. We had no emojis, but we had emoticons. So thinking quickly, I claimed it was not the number 69 at all. It was an emoticon. The internet’s way of writing the Yin-Yang symbol. Kinda looks like it, right? So it meant, y’know, harmony and shit.

      She bought it. I was suddenly a class hero. Now everyone could put 69 on their papers, and she just thought it was cute. It stayed on the blackboard for weeks. It was awesome.

      1. Leorale

        That is delightful.

      2. Bagge

        A true hero of the people

      3. MM

        “Harmony” is not an entirely inaccurate explanation.

    3. Bagge

      Awww, come on guys, let Dorothy tell her.

      1. Reltzik

        Nonono, her expression will be so much more fun if Walky explains it.

  13. AnvilPro

    With that kind of knowledge of loopholes Nash must be a future-lawyer

    1. pjeseb

      Which, if true, would be another similarity to her Read Hall counterpart.

    2. Reltzik

      That or secretly 7 years old at heart.

      ….. Imightrelatetothis.

  14. tim gueguen

    Interesting that Read is supposedly full of music majors, because the only member of the regular cast we’ve seen play an instrument is Captain Ukelele, aka Danny.

    1. Segnosaur

      Don’t forget Dina playing Jurassic Park on the piano.

      1. tyersome

        Well, if we can believe the comments, there are drums everywhere …

      2. Marsh Maryrose

        If you can read music notation, this is one of the most evil strips Willis has ever done. (Enjoy your earworm!)

        I am frankly mystified by the “music majors” reference. Willis, where have you hidden my peeps? And why?

        1. tyersome

          Maybe they were there but were intended to b flat and unnoted?

        2. Marsh Maryrose

          Most music majors I know are pretty sharp, and unlikely to B diminished.

        3. tyersome

          Well I hope my minor misstatement won’t lead to an augment …

        4. TemperaryObsessor

          I know a music teacher who told me that most of the students in her music groups in high school were sharp and had highly noted grades.
          If I remember correctly she also believed that slackers went to an easier music class instead.

        5. Reltzik

          Well of course. HER class was only for students that could pitch in.

        6. tyersome

          So do you think Joyce “triangle grin” Brown would have been aloud in or would she have not measured up?

        7. Reltzik

          *squints at sheet music* ….. hey, she’s playing the Goblin King’s song from Unexpected Journey!

        8. Ryek Hvek

          Ahhh, a new side-benefit to the onrush of decrepitude – the ability to read the note sequence G-E-G, G-E-G, A-G-F-E-D-E-F, and have come to mind only the words “Knick-knack paddy-whack, give a dog a bone.”

    2. showler

      I suspect “music majors” is just a commentary on them all playing their music too loud.

      1. DSL

        That does sound like a snark my college contemporaries might have come up with. I roomed one semester with a marching band member who looked with disdain on people who “said they liked music.”
        He’d roll his eyes and say: “What do you play? Oh, the stereo … “

        1. StClair

          Bit of a jerk, IMO.
          I enjoy lots of things that I do not personally produce.

  15. Hazel

    I…love all of them?

  16. Mandy

    I love Nash.

  17. Yotomoe

    Nash seems pretty spaced out. I think I’ll call her Pluto Nash.

    1. tyersome

      Will you be Charon other pet names for characters, or will you just Styx with this one?

      1. King Daniel

        Lunar puns are like Hydra – cut one off and two more crop up. Better Nix this in the bud to be sure.

        1. tyersome

          I guess you’re right, if we open the gates to underworld puns someone is liable to Kerberos …

        2. Marsh Maryrose

          Ophelia pain. This is Deimos difficult subject to deal with, and we should Titan the screws on anyone who will not Metis in agreement.

        3. tyersome

          Io you a debt of gratitude, you’ve Ganymede this thread Rhea difficult to kill, which is just as well the orbituary is going to go on forever …

        4. King Daniel

          Dione-ly further thing I could think of is that Mike mentioned having Mimas for a nickel.

        5. tyersome

          I am Atlas for a proper response Tethys …

        6. King Daniel

          This is Deimos lunar puns I’ve seen in a while. I hope no one has a Phobos of puns.

        7. King Daniel

          …shoot, I missed that “Deimos” was already used. Ida-nt even know what’s going on anymore.

        8. tyersome

          That would be Ariel shame, because anyone with that problem is well and truly Pucked.

        9. King Daniel

          I take Umbriel with that comment. Though maybe I just need a nice cool Miranda.

        10. tyersome

          Well I’ve Oberon my usual bed time, but I’m sure you’ll be able to Kari on without me 🙂

        11. King Daniel

          I guess it was Carme that I had to go to sleep too.

        12. davidbreslin101

          How many moon puns are there? Callisto’s on and on. Maybe Europa’n for an end to this wild ride throught the solar system, but you’ll just have to Titan your grip.

  18. Cephalo the Pod

    Wait…that’s not Carly, Ruth and Billie’s old roommate from Roomies?

    1. Architex

      They are one and the same! Carly Spencer!

  19. Passchendaele

    Of course, the first movie they play after billie’s arrival is frozen :p

  20. Deadjolras

    Who was a music major in Read, btw? If it’s been mentioned, I can’t remember it. I’ve got an awful memory.

    1. BBCC

      Nobody we know, it’s just a reputation.

      1. Yumi

        I think Sayid might be, actually, but I can’t remember if that’s 100%, or if he even lives in Read Hall

    2. Reltzik

      It might just be a false stereotype that Forrest Hall people buy into?

      1. Deadjolras

        I’d say that kind of stereotyping is a prelude to treble.

  21. nightsbridge

    … I like Nash.

  22. TheKelliestKelly

    Read Hall? More like REED Hall with all those music majors, amerite?

    1. Jess

      NICE

    2. tyersome

      This seems like a slender foundation for a pun pile, but I’ll horn in anyway …

      1. Marsh Maryrose

        I’d just bassoon eat a tuba toothpaste as make another pun.

        1. tyersome

          I suspected we wood wind up in this state, but I guess it beats committing violince?

        2. King Daniel

          Time to drum up support for the musical puns.

        3. tyersome

          Yes, this could really improve the tenor of the comments, but I worry we might get in treble …

        4. King Daniel

          Perhaps one just has to play a different tune.

        5. tyersome

          Perhaps, but there are Alto many ways that could end on a sour note …

        6. King Daniel

          With so many musical puns, we may be about to start our own Song dynasty.

        7. tyersome

          Well, despite being all keyed up, I’m not going to be able to chime in much longer…

        8. Chris Phoenix

          Why do people keep stringing these threads along? Breve-ity is key.

        9. KingoHrts

          You have to have a lot of brass to orchestrate this type of response.

        10. tyersome

          A baseless accusation like that could get you band …

        11. davidbreslin101

          With musicians, it’s less about the violins, more about the sax. As the guitar press knows all too well.

  23. Jess

    Poor Spencer. Looks like she has her hands full. XD

    1. King Daniel

      Well of course she has her hands full…one hand’s holding a pen, the other a clipboard.

      1. Reltzik

        That pen is NOWHERE near large enough to fill up her hand.

  24. pjeseb

    Nash is definitely the anti-Sarah.

    They’re so different, but also so alike.

  25. Yumi

    I have a friend who started dating her RA when she was a freshman. It had to be all secretive and stuff, though eventually they were able to be public about it. They were together for a while, even got engaged. I don’t know the details of what ended up happening, but it doesn’t sound pleasant from what I do know. Anyway.

  26. Dana

    The perfect strip for tomorrow would be one where Billie answers with “Am banging. I am banging my girlfriend.”

    1. Yumi

      Nash: “Wait, like you’re banging her at this moment?”
      *Slipshine commences*

      1. Kamino Neko

        ‘She’s very, very tiny.’

  27. BBCC

    *hugs Nash* I will protect her.

    Also, if that Marcie pic doesn’t mean an appearance sometime soon, I’ll cry.

  28. Some1

    I wonder if Billie is going to end up being bored without anyone to fight, I’m personally a bit bored now that I’m out of high school and I have no one to fight/outsmart/deny

  29. Keulen

    So far I’m liking all these new characters, which is kinda weird.

  30. Tacos

    Alright, I love Nash.

  31. Puckish Rogue

    So Nash seems similar to Becky which is…something and Spencer already seems like one of the most level-headed people in the cast

  32. Anywhere

    OMG Nash is this dorm’s Joyce, isn’t she??? 😀

    1. King Daniel

      Others have identified her as the Anti-Sarah (much as Rose is the Anti-Amber in the Walkyverse, being a half-sibling of Amber’s who works at McAwesome’s).

    2. ValdVin

      We’ll have to see her triangle grin, and shocked tiny irises, to be certain.

  33. caesaria82

    I like these guys all so much already. They seem adorable. But at the same time I’m like… how long until we find out about their awful parents or childhood traumas or anything else we’ve come to expect from anyone in this universe lol.

    1. Scar Man!!!

      Cheer up. Maybe they’re like Dorothy and all their traumas are in the present

  34. Yumi

    Also, what are Spencer’s pronouns?

    1. Delicious Taffy

      Exclusively first- and second-person.

  35. Reltzik

    “I’m here because I got ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED with my RA.”

    “…. meaning you banged her.”

    “No, I think they’d’ve turned a blind eye to it if it was just a one-and-done.”

  36. Keulen

    Nash is technically correct. The best kind of correct.

    1. Michael Chandra

      Wish I could +1 you for saying what I immediately wanted to say. XD

  37. Pablo360

    See, here, Nash is actually scouting Billie for the gigantic polyamorous relationship that covers most of Forest Quad (and has a direct link to the Read node, too). Headcanon locked and loaded, prepare for disappointment

    1. Pablo360

      Be Prepared: Experts Warn That This Polyamorous Headcanon Could Soon Expant to Cover All of the Dumbing of Age Cast of Students

  38. Thor

    Do we get to have a “Least Favorite DoA character” poll too?

    1. Leorale

      It’s Mary.

      1. King Daniel

        I’m sure Toedad, Blaine, and Ryan would at least be strong contenders.

        1. Reltzik

          Mike would put in a showing too.

        2. Geno

          Nah Mike has a few redeeming qualities. Toedad, Ryan, Blaine, and Mary are pure evil. Maybe Jason, as much I love him in Walkyverse, since he has earned some scorn in this one.

        3. Reltzik

          Toedad did have a few redeeming qualities. He was motivated wholly by a genuine, loving concern and fear for his daughter.

          ……. twisted into something horrific by the way his religious beliefs completely distorted his world view.

        4. nightsbridge

          Mike has a few perceived good qualities, whether they are really good or not.

          But he still doesn’t hold a candle to the nastiest villains.

        5. ValdVin

          Certainly, but Mary is on the front burner.

          I’d put Toedad, Blaine and Ryan all as “least favorite emeritus” contenders, depending on how long they stay away (or better yet, locked away).

        6. Thor

          Yes, but what if we were offered the same list as the list for the “Favorites” poll?

  39. Vinny

    Is “bang” the correct verb in this situation?

    1. caesaria82

      lol what would you prefer, ‘fornicated’?

      1. Josh Spicer

        Hanky panky is still accepted in some circles.

        1. Marsh Maryrose

          I believe that the correct term is “casted one’s body into the cragged shame pits of the lustwolves.”

          That or “premaritally hanky-pankied.”

        2. King Daniel

          Excuse me.

          “Cast” is a perfectly-valid past-tense word.

      2. Leorale

        Bonkytonkin’?

    2. Bagge

      Slap-jackin’?

      1. ValdVin

        If “clam-jamming” is a valid term for interference, I suggest “clamdigging” for the various acts.

    3. Some1

      According to the poll it’s Roz, probably because while Mary may be terrible she’s also a pretty great villain

      1. Some1

        Well fuck I meant to reply to Leorales comment

    4. Reltzik

      I think Spencer’s point is that it and any equivalent verbs, whether euphemistic or literal, are inappropriate for this situation.

  40. Some Random Name

    Is Spencer a unisex name? I swear, I’ve heard that exclusively for cisgendered men and suddenly I’m hearing it for both as of today.

    1. Yumi

      Yeah. I’d say it’s growing in popularity as a girl’s name because of female characters with the name, like in Pretty Little Liars. I’d say it’s more common for men currently, but I do see that shifting.

    2. caesaria82

      I feel like I encounter Spencer as a girl’s name more in fiction than in real life (like Spencer from Pretty Little Liars or Spencer from South of Nowhere, both teenage girls), but then I’m not from an English-speaking country anyway lol. The first time I realized it could be a unisex name was when a girl in a book I read as a teenager had that name. And I believe her sister (or friend, someone anyway, it was a long time ago lol) was called Parker. So I was enlightened on two unisex names at once^^

    3. Benet

      I know a ~30yo woman with the name, and she’s the only person I’ve met with it

    4. King Daniel

      Apparently, Spencer is her surname – her full name is Carly Spencer.

    5. UniqueSnowflake2

      Actress Spencer Grammer is the daughter of the equally oddly named actor Kelsey Grammer.

  41. Speedball

    So literally every girl here wears glasses? Hmmm….

  42. Bagge

    “Because I want to… I know someone who wants to bang THEIR RA and need some starters…”

    1. John

      “Try punching her in the face. If you end up upside-down in the couch, you’re in.”

      1. ValdVin

        “If your best childhood friend, who’s now exuding contact dork, worries about you being face down in a ditch somewhere, all signs point to yes.”

  43. Josh Spicer

    I hope that this shtick of “better than Read and nicer too” sticks around forever.

    But this is a Willis story and I’ve learned to expect nothing and react less.

    1. davidbreslin101

      It’s all a bit McAwesomes. I’m suspicious.

  44. Dean

    Nash: “Because if it is true, I’m pretty sure Spencer isn’t seeing anyone right now…”

    1. Josh Spicer

      Pfft…

      She’s only two strips in and I already feel like that’s something she’d say, thinking it was a friendly gesture.

  45. brasca1

    Read had music majors? Who? Or were they all on the floors below.

  46. Pl0x

    Nash gets better day by day. Favorite Character status JUSTIFIED

  47. Kitsunekun

    Jennifer and David were the most common names at Earlham, a small liberal arts college in Richmond Indiana. While I was there someone put up a big sign in the cafeteria “Jen, I love you, will you Marry me? -Dave”

  48. Marsh Maryrose

    On a serious note–

    Just a few minutes ago (in-strip), Billie was all, “Fresh start!” And now she is being confronted with her past before she can even meet her new roommate. No fresh start for her. And thats…sad. And I’m sure she can roll with it and grow from it, but still…it’s kinda sad.

    1. Reltzik

      She had a similar idea about starting college, but the consequences of that DUI just kept following her around…

    2. Geno

      Seems to just be life. Short of running to the other side of the world, and even then your past will probably find a way to confront you at some point. Not dealing with problems doesn’t make them magically disappear

      1. Yumi

        What? What are you saying? No, that’s nonsense. I haven’t dealt with my problems in years and I feel great.

  49. motorfirebox

    The best kind of accomplished.

  50. Pl0x

    Nash and co. were added to the poll after I already voted. Goddangit!!!

  51. BenRG

    Yep, Nash is definitely Joyce; specifically, Joyce if she’d adopted Becky’s personality traits.

  52. Kamino Neko

    Read isn’t quiet? But…but…we all know that the only one making noise is Carla!

    1. Reltzik

      And Ruth/Billie, who are fond of playing [insert bongos pun here].

  53. Julez

    She takes off her glasses, literally everyone in the building wears glasses.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      Maybe she wants to be the token glasses-less girl here.

      1. Reltzik

        Maybe she knew she would be carrying a box at eye level and thought, “I’m not seeing past this anyway, and my glasses might get damaged, so I’d better put them away.” Because Billie’s mature and responsible and thinks stuff through like that.

  54. Sneaky

    Is Billie going to get her dreamed-of popularity because she banged the ra and got evicted

  55. OnyxIdol

    Tact, thy name isn’t Nash.

    1. BenRG

      Nash probably considers ‘tact’ a barrier to clear communication.

  56. acher4

    Ouuu, I like these characters already…

  57. Kaunisenkeli

    Oh my, Nash, you are going to be an interesting character, aren’t you?

    1. ValdVin

      Willis’ depiction of her eyes and mouth put her in the top five on the “feelings show thru every pore” scale of expressiveness already, it seems.

  58. IKneedYou

    The RAs in the DoA universe are so much hands on than any the ones I had in university. I’m not sure if anyone would’ve cared if a student was bangin’ theirs.

    1. Reltzik

      I think that would have counted as “hands-on”. Probably.

    2. DSL

      I don’t remember any of my RAs having that kind of power, or our floors having any semblance of organized activity. Hell, I’m not sure I even knew any of my RAs’ names. Then again, my dorm was where I slept, and that’s about it. — But for what my alma mater is charging for housing this year, compared to 30 years ago, I can understanding wanting more bang (oh, look what I did there) for your buck.

  59. Danni

    nash is cool

  60. AgentKeen

    Oh, I like Nash. More Nash, please.

  61. Darkoneko

    And it was, like, the third or fourth

  62. Emily

    Oh Nash, you delightful rapscallion.

  63. darkoneko

    Looks like we’re gonna have a fun set of new characters !

  64. StClair

    The puns are strong in the comments today.

  65. FacelessDeviant

    Wow, this seems like a pretty nice place for Billie, almost like she’s on holiday. Compared to Read, this might be easy living.

  66. L!ghtn!ng

    I’m loving Nash so far! <3

    1. Peter

      Me too!

  67. Minim

    Gosh, I love you, Nash. Tactless but cheerful and talkative. Wish I hadn’t already voted in the poll. Spencer also seems like a good egg, on top of her floor without needing to threaten everyone’s femurs. Organised movie nights also seem really cool – overall Forest seems a less dysfunctional place. (at the very least, it’s made a good first impression. Maybe that’ll stick, but perhaps not).

  68. Eldritch Gentleman

    I take back what I said yesterday. Nash is Sarah and Carla performing a fusion dance…

    1. Jago

      Really, I thought Walky. Blurting out stuff.

      1. Pablo360

        I guess that would make her Carkey.

  69. Pablo360

    This favourite character poll doesn’t count, it started like a day or two before this strip, I totally would have voted differently if I had seen it first

    Okay obviously it still counts, but timing geez

  70. Pablo360

    So everyone’s saying that Nash is the anti-Sarah, but I don’t really see any of the fundamental similarities that would make such a comparison work. Maybe it’s just me, maybe time will tell, I don’t know, but it feels like people are only drawing that comparison because it feels like there should be an anti-Sarah, and on a purely physical level Nash is perfect for the role. I honestly get more of a Sierra vibe (and not just because of my headcanon this time), but neither the similarities nor the differences are profound enough to even attempt to make any anti-Sierra judgement calls just yet.

    1. Eldritch Gentleman

      Personally she gives me a bit of a Carla vibe.

      1. Pablo360

        Eh, maybe a little? Honestly I’m actually picking up a bit of Joyce, maybe a little Dina, and more than a little Walky.

        It’s almost as if she’s her own person who may or may not share traits with any number of other people *collective gasp*

        1. Pablo360

          *shouts way too loudly* AGATHA!

          *everyone turns and stares*

          That’s… that’s who she reminds me of. Agatha. You know, uh,

          *coughs*

          Continue.

      2. HeatherJean

        Carla. Gestures and speech mannerisms, especially the last panel. Tall too…

        (Why does this remind of Seinfeld’s “Bizarro Jerry” episode?)
        “Sorry, we already have a Joyce.”

        1. Pablo360

          Okay, looking at this strip again, I definitely see where you’re coming from. Those are some very Carla-esque motive dynamics. Not exactly the same, but definitely ballpark.

  71. Shteevie

    Mike Doughty – 27 Jennifers
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nN_5kkYR6k

    1. Matt Boyd

      Dammit I just came in here to post this.

  72. mister gray

    Nash is the pinkie pie of the group! Oh how I love Nash so!

  73. Geno

    Next Billie has to find the ball pit. This place is great. Nash is closing in on my top five characters

  74. weirderthanweird

    Nash is my favorite. The poll I noticed before commenting this was very convenient for expressing that, too.

    Also, how did Mary get 18 votes???

    1. boop

      i guess people might like reading her as a character, even if they wouldn’t want to interact with her in real life?

      but yeah, ‘favorite’ is a little hard for me to imagine. different strokes for different folks i guess . .

    2. Dean

      Some people just want to watch the world burn.

  75. wakeangel2001

    technically speaking there shouldn’t be anything wrong with banging the RA, it was all the other stuff that complicated things.

  76. Daibhid C

    Hello, Spencer!

    …

    Children’s show? Puppets? I think possibly from somewhere in Europe, but dubbed into English and shown on the BBC in the late 80s? Just me, then?

    1. CJ

      I think it was a German show …, yes, Wikipedia says so.

  77. Smooti

    I’ve only known Nash for two comic strips now but I love her dearly and want to keep her safe

  78. Remmington Steele

    I fought the RA and the RA won?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR3XY6wfSBw

    (and for Ruth, I Wanna Be Sedated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBN1CkyRzmE)

  79. Leon

    Are they all Main Cast now?

  80. Tenn

    “And will you bang your new R.A.?”
    “NASH!”

    I like Nash. 🙂

  81. JBento

    Nash is technically right, and that’s the BEST kind of right!!!

    Anyone want to make a double-image gravatar with her and Dina for me to use?

  82. Roborat

    Okay, I will jump on the bandwagon and state my love for Nash. Also, I would like to see Nash and Dina meeting. That interaction could be very amusing.

  83. Amanda

    Nash is my new favorite

    1. Zatar

      Agreed.

  84. Kernanator

    Dammit, if only Nash had appeared before I voted!

    1. King Daniel

      And Nash has still gotten so many votes despite being a late addition…

  85. Jhon

    Nash can grow antennae thru her hijab!

    1. Godfather

      HIJABTENNAE

  86. Godfather

    I love Nash already. She’s fantastic. ??

  87. Danno

    I went to school with 27 Jennifers; 16 Jens, ten Jennies and then there was her.

  88. Liliet

    I love Nash’s lack of filter so much <3
    To be fair, that was not the FIRST thing she said!

  89. shammers

    it’s interesting that nash is so loveable even though malaya also has that character flaw (i mean, there are others that make M grating). it really is about disposition and delivery

  90. Beachfox

    I love all these people so much.

    Especially Nash.

    Spinoff series of Nash.

  91. Oberon

    “I know like 16 Jennifers.”

    Ain’t that the truth. Once in college I turned around in a lecture hall and saw a cute girl sitting by herself. I said “Hey, Jennifer, why don’t you join us?” Another girl our little group sat with was named Jennifer but wasn’t there that day. Someone else turned around to look at who I was talking to and said “That isn’t Jennifer.” It was… Not ‘our’ Jennifer of course, but ‘a’ Jennifer. And I had like a cool 15% chance of getting it right and managed to pull it off.

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