173

Terms
Posted on March 24, 2014 by David M Willis

173 thoughts on “Terms”

  1. Jen Aside

    “Should I be making a =D or D= face?”

    1. berober

      =Dina?

      1. rachel

        yaaaaaaaaaaay

        1. Mr. Random

          Appropriate Kermit flailing.

        2. Dante

          http://i.imgur.com/07GHrh2.gif

  2. Opus the Poet

    Dina never change.

    1. Doctor_Who

      On the contrary, she changed quite quickly between panels.

    2. Yotomoe

      But then her clothes will get dirty. Noone wants a stinky Dina.

      1. Khrene

        I can say with confidence that there are people are into that, solely based on the fact that I’ve seen people who are into weirder and even more oddly specific stuff than that.

  3. Mr. Random

    so, Dina’s Batman then?

    1. Questionor

      Dina is Alfred!

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        Considering how quickly she changed in and out of the Amazi-suit, Dina is more likely the Flash.

        1. Jen Aside

          It’s a tearaway suit

        2. Plasma Mongoose

          Like a stripper’s costume? OH MY!

        3. MichaelHaneline

          So, the Flasher then.

        4. Rutee

          Its just really big on her

      2. Sheller153

        Dina Pennyworth at your service Mistress Amber, shall I prepare the Amazemobile?

        1. Rheinman

          That would be… Amazing!

      3. BrokenEye, True False Prophet

        Well of course she is. Because Alfred is Batman.

  4. Cragalanch

    Dina: Master of the quick-change

    1. Totz the Plaid

      Potentially, she hadn’t even zipped up the suit, so she could just slip her arms out the sleeves and let it drop off her.

    2. David

      She just switched the holo off again.

  5. they gon bang

    they gon bang

    1. EvilPenguin

      i got so excited for that comment i put it in my name slot by accident

      1. Opus the Poet

        Well, yes. But who is banging whom. There are many ships in the Dumbiverse

      2. Shadow12000

        I thought there was literally a commenter named “They gon bang” too. I’m disappointed.

        1. they gon bang

          there is now!

        2. Perfect Gravatar

          Perfect gravatar

      3. Darth Cariss

        That is a pretty great name.

        1. Ocbrad1

          Especially for this crowd of shippers!

  6. David Herbert

    “Your eyes indicate you are insecure about your position of power. Do you also dress up as a superhero?”

    1. AgentKeen

      “You have a symbol on your chest. Are you a superhero right now?”

      1. Ivan

        They have the pussy. They know they have Super-Powers.

        1. Opus the Poet

          But it does not appear that any of them have “The Most Common Female Superpower”.

        2. Beige

          ummmmm, take another look at Amber’s torso for me 😉

        3. David

          Take hours to dress?

  7. Vile Gamer

    I wonder what’s on Ruth’s mind?

    1. Opus the Poet

      That Amber’s father is probably a sociopath who gets physically violent with women, and wanted to tell Amber not to expect any more visits from him on campus, legal visits at any rate.

      1. Opus the Poet

        …and SHE wanted to tell…

    2. Beachfox

      Probably finally going through on that “I need to tell that Amber girl that her dad’s been trying to get back onto campus but security’s been chasing him off.” thing she mentioned a few days/a year ago (in-comic/IRL time).

      Because Ruth is all about the timely information.

    3. tinfoil theory

      That Amber is surprisingly difficult to get a hold of for a WoW-addicted shut-in.

    4. begbert2

      Possibly that conversation she wanted to have when a distraught Amber was in a stairwell.

    5. gypsyreborn

      is ruth “The Boshy”? her shirt says she is.

  8. Doctor_Who

    Dina knows no fear. Is she looks scared, she’s only humoring you.

    1. Yotomoe

      Why would a dinosaur fear feeble man?

      1. tinfoil theory

        Because dinosaurs taste like chicken.

        1. Fred Garber

          And velociraptors are about the same size….

    2. Ivan

      Knowing no fear is a feature of Borderline Personality Disorder and other mental/social dysfunction.

      1. HMRC4EVR

        Doesn’t hurt if you’re trying to get into the Green Lantern Corps.

  9. The Meek Ninja

    Nobody intimidates Dina when the “Raptor” is on her side!

  10. Fen_Star

    Come on Ruth, she is trying to accomadate you. You don’t have to act like that.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      Dina’s lack of true fear disturbs Ruth greatly.

      1. jeffepp

        This

        1. Gravissime

          “she’s weird! she’s weird!” *Sharks rapidly jump back into the water and run away*

        2. N0083rP00F

          Dragons freeze in mid person squishing stomp, get very creeped out, and then back away with all due haste.

        3. John

          Freshwater sharks can swim up the Ohio River into Indiana.

  11. Flimsyfishy

    Still hoping for Amazi-Girl and her sidekick Dinasaurus to happen sometime.

    1. newllend

      Soon my friend, soon.

    2. MiraiKira

      I deduce Dina has raptor powers, presumably from being bitten by a radioactive raptor, I know this because if xkcd has taught me anything, it is that raptors know no fear.

  12. Wonder Wig

    If Dina had her brain downloaded to a computer she would be EDI.

    1. Doctor_Who

      Unless she goes nuts and becomes Glad0s.

    2. Jason

      Great, now her every line shall sound like EDI to me and I shall forever be disappointed when she does not say “…that was a joke.”

      You may have ruined either EDI or Dina for me, I’m not sure which, and I’m not sure how upset I should be.

  13. Plasma Mongoose

    “I have no fear, for fear is the little death that kills me over and over. Without fear, I die but once.”

    1. Ancestral Hamster

      Bene Gesserit witch!


      It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
      It is by the juice of Sapho that thoughts acquire speed,
      the lips acquire stains, stains become a warning.
      It is by will alone I set this mind in motion.

      1. tinfoil theory

        I thought it was the juice of Sappho?

        1. Smartass

          In doubt, use oranges.

      2. ThemSapphicVibes

        mmm… I’d be all over the juices of Sappho….

        1. Mally

          That gravatar is perfect.

  14. Idon'tcarenomore

    Ah yeah!. Gotta doubt just how ‘terrified she really is.
    Go Dina….cutest thing there is in the comic.

  15. Patrick

    Dude what the hell didn’t realize that Dina was Deluxe class and Ruth was Voyager class. Where is the scale chart.

  16. Count Dracula

    Without context, it can sometimes be difficult to remember that Dina and Amber are both really freaking short. I’m not sure if that’s interesting or not, but it’s what I’m taking away from this strip.

    1. Jay Eff

      RUTH (to Dina): “You will address me as Your Tallness.”

      1. Yotomoe

        The Talless hate Invader Dina so they sent her to Indiana U.

        1. Jay Eff

          So that hat is her “Gir,” I take it?

        2. Doctor_Who

          No, the hat IS Dina. She comes from a species of sentient parasitic hats. They are like Yeerks, but more adorable.

          She descended upon a random teenage girl, and is using her as a host.

          …Come to think of it, I believe that was the exact plot of an episode of Darkwing Duck.

        3. vlademir1

          It may have been… been many a year, but that sounds familiar in that context.

          *engages in film hacker stereotype typing sequence*

          OK yeah, per the wiki they were known as “The Brainteasers”. [a href=”http://darkwingduck.wikia.com/wiki/The_Brainteasers”]Link[/a]

        4. Osaru Sensei

          Like so?

  17. Super Duper

    Glad to know that Ruth still enjoys being the Matron Mother Malice Do’Urden of this strip.

    1. fudo81

      Who’s Drizzt then?

  18. Yotomoe

    This concept…This…”fear”… What is?

  19. JessWitt

    It’s interesting to see Ruth be so concerned and scary at the same time. Who else can pull that off?

  20. Plasma Mongoose

    Don’t know why flying makes you think that you could die Willis, especially since riding in a car is way more likely to kill ya.

    1. saltchocolate

      And anyway, don’t even joke about that, Willis!

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        Maybe he sees himself as the Buddy Holly of webcomics. *shrugs*

        1. RK

          Pretty sure Willis is over 27 though.

        2. Ancestral Hamster

          It’s okay as long as he doesn’t get into a plane with another two webcomic artists. Then, and only then, will we have “The Day the Intrawebs died”.

        3. Reltzik

          Drove my browser to the website but the website was dry. Them comment threads were shipping Zoe and Di… and they’ll be doing it ’til the day that I die… doing it ’til the day that I die…

        4. Ancestral Hamster

          Ah, “American Pie”, so to speak. Two thumbs up.

      2. Reltzik

        …. you do realize that telling Willis not to joke about it ensures that he will joke about it more.

        …. How many levels of…

        … okay, are you using an EVEN or ODD number of levels of reverse psychology?

        1. Ancestral Hamster

          “Never bet against a Sicilian when death is on the line!”

    2. Yotomoe

      Or just being in the kitchen.

      1. tinfoil theory

        Most people die in bed.

    3. MarcinMN

      If he does die though, I certainly hope he has someone lined up to at least post the rest of the comic buffer. The last strip before the plane doesn’t have to be the last! 😉

      1. David Willis

        The buffer is automated. I have strips uploaded through the date seen on the site.

        1. Opus the Poet

          Yay! A legacy! (However brief it may be)

        2. Kernanator

          “Brief” is not a word most people would use to describe Willis’ buffer.

    4. Blue Dragon

      He probably has to travel to and from the airport in a car. He didn’t specify what kind of vehicle he might be in should this event occur. Two car trips plus a plane trip are potentially over twice as likely for a crash to occur than just one car trip.

  21. Joe

    Dina’s true superpower has been revealed:
    She literally knows no fear.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      It’s an even better power than Immune To Criticism.

    2. Jay Eff

      I suspect Dina does know fear.
      She just isn’t afraid of what other people think she ought to be..

    3. Yotomoe

      Is that a superpower or a disability?

      1. Opus the Poet

        Well for DareDevil it was part of his superpower suite.

        1. begbert2

          And Green Lantern. You know, before the movie.

    4. Stephen Bierce

      We don’t know the meaning of ‘fear’
      We play every moment by ear
      One for all and all for one
      Everybody’s on the run
      Especially at this time of year!      –Paul McCartney, “Spies Like Us”

      1. Jonathan S.

        “Groo does not know the meaning of the word ‘fear’! Also the words ‘prevaricate’, ‘mendicant’, and ‘mulch’.”

        1. Ancestral Hamster

          “There’s no such word as ‘fear” in auto racing!”
          – Tom Slick –

        2. N0083rP00F

          Also the vikings, some Romans and a few gauls didn’t know the meaning of the word – well – that is until Cacofonix begins his Bardic ways.

        3. 3oranges

          Nobody knew the meaning of the word “fear” until the Medieval English, but “terror” goes back to the Romans.

        4. dralou

          …An Asterix reference, here ?!?

          So, the bard is called Cacofonix in English… It sure is appropriate.

    5. Jake

      She is a kender.

      1. John

        Impossible. Committing genocide against Dina is not a moral imperative.

      2. Ocbrad1

        Ahhh, I thought I sensed some Tasslehoff in her.

  22. Tainnryst

    Daaaang. Ruth is taaaall. No wait we’re talking about Dina and Amber here. Yeah Ruth is average. The company is short.

  23. GoogerGeiger

    I was kind of expecting Ruth to have gone full relapsed alcoholic by now.

    1. newllend

      And throw all that work down the drain? No way.

  24. Bunivasal

    Dina is not afraid, but given Ruth’s violent, unpredictable temper, sher lack of fear underscores her disability interpreting other humans and their motivations. Or identifies her as a cold blooded badass.

    1. tinfoil theory

      She is a ninja. She has faced and defeated worse than a femurectomy.

  25. MM

    No regrets, Willis. (Besides, this one’s got Dina, so you’re covered.)

  26. Sam

    Oh right, Ruth still didn’t tell her about Blaine’s attempt to sneak in that one night.

  27. Kernanator

    Dinadevil: The Girl Without Fear

    1. Dean

      No, no it’s DinaDevil Dinosaur. Maybe Danny can be Moon-Boy.

      1. N0083rP00F

        Danny Moon Moon – I love my memes XD

    2. ninja_jesus

      I kinda like DiNA, pronounced “DNA”.

  28. Xerxes93

    shouldn’t Dina be in like, class or something?

    1. Doctor_Who

      I was about to say we’ve never seen her in class, but I guess there was that one time she got back Walky’s math notes.

      Or maybe she’s in class every day, but we never see her because she’s behind the door.

    2. MrMyerst

      My guess is, given what we know about Dina, she gets bored (maybe frustrated) with the slow pace of class, and goes off to learn on her own.
      I imagine, and will state it as fact even though I have no evidence, that she only goes to class to:

      1- Observe the traditional educational environment
      2- Observe people

      This is all conjecture, but…

  29. newllend

    I see Ruth now a days in the same way I see She Hulk or wonder woman, a powerful women to be feard but the nature they have kind of makes her less intimodateing, only when she wants to be.

    1. Chase

      Ahhhh! Grammar.

  30. Plasma Mongoose

    …and the last panel sinks any plans for the RS Runa/Dith.

    1. Rutee

      Oh ye of little faith. I can already see how that would work out~

  31. seeprybyrun

    Anyone else read Dina in Starfire’s voice?

    1. Jaxx Sentinel

      And now I’m hearing it

    2. N0083rP00F

      Always did though I tried to hear it in Ravens voice and got a headache. Then I tried Jinx but it kept slipping back to starfire.

  32. Darwin

    The cheerful expression on Dina’s face just kills me.

  33. Pyr05

    Dina’s not afraid of NAAAUUTHHINNN’!

    1. Jerden

      But she can try her best to pretend, if it makes you feel better.

  34. JoeMerl

    “I once skinned a dinosaur and made it into this hat. As of that moment, I fear nothing but human social interaction.”

  35. Valdrax

    Now, why would Ruth be so hostile to Dina. What was the last time they were in the same strip toge—

    Ohhhhhhhhh. That’s why.

    1. David

      Huh. It would appear that the current strip is not the first time that Dina has been raiding Amber’s prop closet.

  36. TheOtherDibbler

    Well, Ruth doesn’t seem like she heard/registered what Amber just said, so she might get away with it.

  37. IncadescentFlame

    This sounds like a hint that is supposed to be taken. May I have the hint now? I believe I should show it to others as proof that I am adjusting.

  38. Baker

    Or in case your plane goes somewhere it shouldn’t and disappears.

  39. caesaria82

    I love everything about this strip, but I think I love Dina’s quick-change skills the most.

    1. Al Schroeder

      She could become her own superheroine—Dinosaur Damsal, perhpas.

  40. Bane

    Now was not the time for fear, that comes later

  41. Bane

    How do you change the picture? I have not been able to learn this.

  42. Yotomoe

    I’m here to make one of your many clones Jealous. Not the blonde one, but the Asian one.

    1. Rutee

      Willis knows what fear is. He simply chooses to ignore it; see: Him siccing Homestuck fans on Spike so and so (My memory for names is awful)

  43. ninja_jesus

    R.I.P. David Willis

    He got out.

  44. Rutee

    Oh Ruth. You’re kind of cute reacting to someone who isn’t helping you cope. Dina, of course, is always incredibly adorable.

    1. Rutee

      Ah, crap. I just realized this is the point in the story where Amber and Ruth will echo Danny and Billie, but Willis being Willis, Ruth will become more furious when the reminder is brought up, and thus veer the ship further back into the storm.

  45. Arturo

    Mmm, I’m starting worry Dina’s autism is being used a little too heavily as a character novelty without ever really getting to know the actual person.

    1. ninja_jesus

      It hasn’t been established that Dina has autism, so saying that autism is being used as a “character novelty” is inaccurate. It’s true that we have no real backstory on her right now, and I’m really looking forward to seeing it, but for now, I think that it’s best not to claim that Dina has any specific disorder until Willis explains it in the comic. All we can really say for certain is that Dina is very socially impaired and is a big fan of dinosaurs.

      1. Al Schroeder

        Yeah, as the father of two autistic sons, I’d really not have Dina formally diagnosed with that–granted mine were on the far end of the autism spectrum (totally nonverbal) still I’d rather not she be formally diagnosed with anything save PERHAPS Asperger’s. She’s socially clueless and obsessed with dinosaurs. Either could be a sign of Aspy’s, but not necessarily so.

    2. begbert2

      At this point it’s less character novelty and more character *consistency*: this is the way Dina is and this is how she’ll act unless presented with a stimulus that prompts a different response. You know, like a creationist or something.

  46. Jimmy

    I may have missed this discussion in prior strips but do we know exactly how tall Ruth is? She seems to tower over almost everyone.

    1. BlackIo

      Walkypedia says 5’7″.

      1. David Willis

        Dumbing of Age Ruth is a bit taller than that. Dumbiverse Billie’s 5’7″ and Ruth is taller than Billie.

  47. ZORK

    Man, that’s quite an eerie alt text.

    Also, Dina is awesome again.

  48. Yarrr

    DIna: You don’t scare me bongo.

    1. N0083rP00F

      No No No… It’s … “You don’t scare me mammal.

  49. NF

    Dina is a dinosaur-loving ninja.

  50. maarvarq

    Dina shows that, in her own quiet way, she’s kind of a badass.

    1. David

      The real offense is not her being badass but rather her being helpful.

  51. Jerden

    Dina’s learning the importance of pretending to be a normal human being, in order to reassure the people around her.
    And really, does anyone do any more that?

  52. Quiwi

    I just finished reading the ol’ walkyverse comics. Dunno what to say, except DAMN YOU WILLIS!

  53. nothri

    Ruth, as badass as I think you are, I sincerely doubt your ability to follow through on any threats made towards someone as totally unobtrusive and harmless as Dina. While you have no compunctions about handing an asshat his own butt or getting rather “insistent” that rules be followed, I have yet to see you actively bully or harrass someone who didn’t fall into those categories.

    ….At least no one you weren’t secretly hoping to bone.

  54. CianM1301

    Wow, Dina gets changed fast.

  55. Tealjoy

    Dina is a superhero all her own, she changed in a flash.

  56. bob99938

    Welp, this is bad. Potentially

    1. John

      I think good is more likely, if they can actually open up to each other. Amber and Ruth have a lot in common, and I think they’d both benefit from a chat. And I doubt Ruth has any particular desire to get Amber in trouble for any of the stuff she’s done, nor do I think she feels any real obligation to do so just because it might be her job.

      Of course, speculating that anything would be good around here always makes me imagine Willis rubbing his hands together and chortling in evil glee at my naïvety as he reads the comments.

  57. Sergei Andropov

    I see dead people. We need Mike to get in on this.

  58. Francesca

    I think Dina is the bad-assest of them all.

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.