Noon
Posted on December 24, 2025 by David M Willis

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Tags: amber

324 thoughts on “Noon”

  1. Amós Batista

    okay, who asked dor consequences??

    1. C.T Phipps

      The consequences only matter if they involve Dorothy!

      1. Reltzik

        These consequences could plausibly involve Dorothy and everyone else under this roof.

        1. Pocky

          THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES

        2. Clif

          Asher??? Anyone else would have identified themselves.

        3. Steamweed

          Can’t think of anyone else who would have cop contacts or otherwise be in the know.

        4. Laura

          …Mike?

        5. Ho-Chi-Minh

          Sal

      2. DJTsurugi

        that’s now how consequences work. ~<3

        1. ResRam

          Thanks, I was wondering.

          comic: shows the antagonists unrealistically avoid real-world consequences for their decisions for the umpteenth time.
          Readers: See?!
          My parasoicial friend gets dramatically inconvenienced escaping.
          Enough justice I say!

    2. David M Willis

      LOOKS LIKE CONSEQUENCES ARE BACK ON THE MENU, BOYS

      1. C.T Phipps

        Oh no!

        1. Clif

          [Insert rant about not getting my cute Joyce/Dorothy strip here].

        2. Olofa

          They can’t ALL be cute Jorothy strips.

          Okay, strictly speaking they can, but you know what I mean.

        3. Steamweed

          No they can’t all be cute Jorothy strips.
          Some of the other characters gotta do some stripping.
          Let everyone have their turn, ‘k?

        4. Clif

          Sniff. Sob. K.

        5. DJTsurugi

          well, so many people were complaining about the Jorothy strips lol. ~<3

      2. Acher4

        Oh no!!! I mean. Who could have expected the Police/University would not let the protest actions rest??????

        <.<

        I mean, everyone with a basic understanding could, with all the plot points already presented to us, but anywaaaaaaaays.

      3. Pocky

        we need to go back to the past to get consequences off the menu.

      4. Poewar

        Amber! Please be Ok!

      5. DJTsurugi

        once again wish I could upvote comments. ~<3

      6. Adept

        Oh no! (also apologies for accidental report)

      7. Ho-Chi-Minh

        Yum yum

      8. Disastroid

        We only had sapphic disaster bread for three stinkin’ days!

      9. Twinsword

        Goddamn monkey’s paw, ffs

    3. jflb96

      How did the cheating trigger this raid?

      1. deliverything

        Obviously, the police read the webcomic and they’re storming the place to demand Joyce finish her conversation with Joe.

        1. Dot

          The police chief REALLY WANTS to see them try a polycule

        2. Clif

          If they weren’t cheating there wouldn’t have been a picture of them of them cheating at the “illegal” protest and Radah wouldn’t have been able to identify them to the cops.

        3. Clif

          Totally worth it though.

        4. Laura

          …The text was from Raidah!?

          …The plot thickens!

        5. Freemage

          No, the text was from Dana, whom Raidah called to brag about how she was narcing on the white girls who spoiled the protest.

        6. Nymph

          Don’t make me agree with a cop, Dot. How could you do this to me? ?

      2. Amós Batista

        BUTTerfly effect

        1. Laura

          Love it!

          Fudge ripple effect, for anyone self-soothing with ice cream…

    4. zee

      Not really what I meant but sure

    5. Decidedly Orthogonal

      Twas the night before Chritmas
      And all through the house
      No plot points were stirring
      ‘cept by Willis, that louse.

      …

      Seriously though, Willis made my stomach drop and fill with dread. Amazing writing but god damn it. The day before Christmas?!? ?

      1. Clif

        As a treat.

  2. NGPZ

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! ?

  3. Amós Batista

    *for

    1. Amós Batista

      somebody pls report this comment, to drop it from here?

      1. Clif

        No, no. It’s better here standing as a monument to the inscrutable nature of the universe.

  4. Mitzi B.

    ACAB time

    1. Mitzi B.

      also: it looks like Amber uses bluesky!

    2. Needfuldoer

      ABACAB time.

      *Genesis intensifies*

      1. Disastroid

        If Amber doesn’t get out soon, she’d better put up her Duke!

  5. Doopyboop

    Eyo???

  6. C.T Phipps

    They’re going to find Amazi-Girl’s costume in Sal’s closet and arrest her.

    They’re going to ignore its sealed and cite her juvenile record.

    1. Bill Erak

      You know this is a crazy predict but I think you may be right, holy shit.

      1. C.T Phipps

        Listen, Amazi-Girl and Sal have been seen in the same place.

        So the cops are indeed THAT stupid to overlook it.

        1. Ophidiophile

          And Sal has dark skin, so the cops will pick her up because if there’s trouble and a dark skinned person is nearby, they just assume that’s the source of the trouble.

        2. Risky

          So have batman, clark kent, superman, and bruce wayne.

        3. Clif

          Superman can move fast enough to be in two places at the same time and Robin’s Bruce Wayne impression is just that good.

        4. Embe13

          dont forget alfred does a decent bat at times aswell

    2. apocryphascribe

      This is the correct prediction, I think.

    3. Stormtide Leviathan

      Wait is amazi-girl’s costume in sal’s closet? When did we learn that

      1. Astariel

        Dina told Dorothy that Sal hid all of Amazi-Girl’s “paraphernalia,” but she didn’t specify where. We can hope that it’s not just in Sal’s closet. Sal has been sufficiently paranoid about cops in the past that I hope she wouldn’t do that.

      2. Xccj

        I was just thinking… what if she hid it in Mary’s closest, and she gets arrested for being Amazi-Girl. (Yes, she was at the protest, but maybe that’s how she got there so quickly! Plus her protest sign made her look sus.)

        1. Clif

          If we’re going to make crazy predictions, since being at the protest was illegal after a certain point in time, the one couple they have evidence broke the law were featured prominently in the student paper. AmaziGirl might not be the raid’s target.

        2. C.T Phipps

          I assumed Amazi-Girl is the target because beating cops in public is actually a big deal.

        3. Clif

          Maybe they’re just used to it by now.

        4. Adam Black

          Robin and Lesley are missing. Maybe they were arrested and overheard the raid plans.

    4. Acher4

      oh god no. I hope Asher (must be him) informs Sal also.

    5. tunasammich

      Ugh please no

    6. Needfuldoer

      The suit don’t fit, you must acquit!

    7. Lee

      Since when does Sal have her suit? I don’t remember this? Nerds help me.

      1. thejeff

        Presumably after getting her medical treatment from the mob doctor.

        Dorothy talked to Dina who told her Sal had taken care of hiding the costume.

    8. Bittersweet

      To be entirely fair, I feel like even a court appointed lawyer could get that charge thrown out. Amber looks like a solid XL or 2X and the costume is probably specifically tailored for her height and proportions. Sal is like… a size M max. She could get arrested and tried as an accomplice probably, but the AG costume wouldn’t even fit on her.

  7. Pinkie

    Is Amber freaking out about the call from an unknown number or the text about a police raid? (They all live in Read Hall right?)

    1. Pocky

      both, and realizing she’s gonna have to do acrobatics with a bullet wound.

      really gettin the post-injury Bruce Wayne experience now.

      1. AbacusWizard

        “This would be a good death… but not good enough.”

        1. Steamweed

          An excellent graphic novel.

    2. Deanatay

      Note that the initial read of the message provoked no initial reaction from Amber. It was only after noticing the message’s provenance that she bolted awake.

  8. Dragonfire

    Oh shit.

  9. Lanz

    RonBurgundyBoyThatEscalatedQuickly_DotGif

    1. Decidedly Orthogonal

      Next up: LOUD NOISES!!

  10. bwooom

    AMBER WE ARE SO FUCKED

    1. Yumi

      Reaction was simultaneously this and “that’s what I’m talking about, let’s gooooo!”

  11. Bill Erak

    Amber/A-G has the contact of everyone as far as I remember, so who the hell could have figured out who she is to send her this?

    Leaving aside the question of whether this is an ally trying to help or someone setting up a trap for her. I mean I doubt Ol’ Gashface is recovered from the like 60 stabs but he’s the only one I recall right now who could have her contact without her knowledge.

    1. Thag Simmons

      I would assume Asher

      1. C.T Phipps

        He plays both sides so he can always come out on top.

        1. Nono

          And here I thought Jennifer/Ethan topped.

        2. Bill Erak

          He’s a power bottom

      2. Laura

        Likely Asher.

    2. Cimorene

      Asher or Leslie?

      1. Thag Simmons

        Asher makes the most sense, we already know he has police contacts

      2. Mitzi B.

        My guess is Asher, the story has really set up Asher’s interest in amazi-girl a few times, even before he got a mob doctor to patch her up.

        Also we know Asher uses text messaging for his criminal conversations.

        1. C.T Phipps

          He might have been the one to call the cops in the first place.

        2. Dara

          He’s done it before.

        3. Clif

          Also this.

    3. bwooom

      The way I read it is that this is some kind of organized crime connection? What with the mob doctor she got patched up by and all. Like, “oh damn, I’m IN IT now.”

      1. John Campbell

        What? No, she’s just a CS student. She’s probably not going to be in IT until after she graduates.

        … Wait, what’s that? “in It“, not “in I.T.“? Okay. Sorry. Got it now. We all float down here.

        1. Decidedly Orthogonal

          IT is a fun pun, but I’d absolutely say Amber was “in IT” even if she’s not been employed in the field. Same way we call people “musician” if they play music, regardless of being paid.

        2. Icalasari

          Iunno, Pennywise doesn’t seem her type…

    4. Astariel

      Strongly suspect it’s Asher.

    5. Bill Erak

      @Everyone
      I didn’t immediately think of Asher because I assumed Amber would’ve gotten his contact for. You know. Knowing his involvement with the backstory and the fact that he’s now banging her best friend.
      But I guess a criminal probably has 2 phones, too, so I’ll buy it.

      1. John Campbell

        I suspect this is a burner phone that he got specifically for this purpose and has already disposed of.

    6. Sirksome

      *sniff* *sniff*…..Asher mentioned. Multiple times. You all know what I’m gonna say. Remember my lessons.

      1. Taffy

        “Trust Asher with your life and your laundry.” -Sirksome 2025

        1. Clif

          Don’t trust lessons. – Sirksome at some undetermined time in the future.

        2. Alongcameaspider

          Listen I’ll trust Asher with my life but trusting him with my laundry is too much

      2. Mitzi B.

        Got it, boss. I’m trusting Asher with everything.

    7. DashWallkick

      Amber’s dad leveraged his power over Asher to get Amber more exposed. Asher took mob money under the table so he could go to college and go straight. And now we have kitchen doctor which was a string he pulled so Amber wouldn’t go to prison over vigilantism. And he saw the AG costume in the closet.

      It is almost certainly Asher doing her a favor again.

      1. Sirksome

        If we think this is Asher which seems to be the popular theory folks are going with, my question is, how did he get Amber’s number? I’m open to hearing any explanation for it, bonus points if you can somehow make him not seem untrustworthy in the process. My first thought was he got it from Ethan, but why would Ethan give him Amber’s number and why would that be off panel? Did he go through Ethan’s phone? That’s sus.

        1. DashWallkick

          I’m sure there’s some sort of school rolodex or something.

        2. Sirksome

          I’m sure the school likely has Amber’s contact information on file somewhere but is that information just freely given to other students? That seems kinda dangerous and maybe even illegal. Now if Asher shares even one class with Amber I could be convinced he got her number that way without it inherently being suspicious, but we haven’t seen anything hinting at that.

        3. Clif

          Asher could have gotten it from Blane before the kidnapping plot activated. He could have gotten it from Sal, Jenifer, or Ethan with an innocent excuse. As you previously kindof suggested, he could be in the habit of checking out his friends phones to see who they’re in contact with, because you never know when that might be useful.

          It’s remotely possible that Asher has Amber levels of hacking skills and that’s how he got away with stealing his Grandfather’s mob money.

          My favorite crack theory at the moment is that the message is from AmaziGirl who sent it wth a delay. The two share skill sets and we haven’t seen them comunicate post injury.

  12. P!enapple

    I’m enjoying that she’s more freaked by the fact that it’s an unknown number than the idea of a raid ?

    1. anon

      i mean , maybe it’s asher or one of his connections but it’s someone who knew ‘amazigirl’ was there but more suspicious to be unknown versus a trusted name unless it’s also protecting themselves but i’d think they’d use acoded language/emoji she would recognize/identify that person as

  13. bwooom

    also going by the icons at the top, amber migrated from twitter to bluesky. it’s the little things

    1. Thag Simmons

      look even Amber’s self-loathing has limits

      1. Reltzik

        Not unless we see evidence that she isn’t simultaneously on both platforms.

      2. Yotomoe

        I dunno i think being on blusky has done just as much damage to my mental health as Twitter.

    2. NGPZ

      no matter which way you cut it, social media in the end of the day is digital tobacco, period

      I miss the old internet where people having and visiting each others websites was the modus operandi, not this conformist techno-fuedalist bullshit

      1. not someone else

        Stuff like this is why I kind of want to make a Neocities. One day. Eventually. It’s on the list. Somewhere. I’m not sure which list or where I put it.

        1. Dara

          I made a Mastodon node. Join the Federation! You can talk to Pixelfed, Lemmy, Misskey (which is genuinely a big deal in Japan), and, if people on both sides give permission, Bluesky.

        2. Dara

          Oh, and WordPress. Which is kind of a new thing but also a very big deal. If you have a WordPress blog you can enable Federation and suddenly your comment section is real again in ways I haven’t seen happening on small blogs since… 2006.

        3. Dwampre Scorrigank

          +1, getcherself decentralized… I say as someone who just recently finally signed up on mastodon.social and made a wordpress (both are still empty).

        4. Clif

          Have you reached out to Australian Youth?

        5. NGPZ

          same with me

          i also wanna make web games

          but unfortunately, leg infection taking up just about all my energy

          so gotta put my higher ambitions on hold

          … i *always* seem to put em on hold ???

        6. Laura

          Sending healing anti-inflammatory hopes!!!
          ??‍????????????

        7. Dwampre Scorrigank

          [commiserations]

          it really sucks, sorry

  14. Amós Batista

    Merry Christmas, Amber. Santa gifted you with an insider. Take it and run.

  15. Owlmirror

    Who might know about police activity, and yet be wanting to help Amazi-Girl?

    . . . Asher?

    1. not someone else

      Could be Asher, could be some of the people at the protest, either way, jesus fuck I hope she gets out.

  16. Astariel

    Well, shit.

  17. C.T Phipps

    I appreciate that Willis is following up the Bulmeria thing with a police as villains rule.

    We also need the university showing its villainous side and Puddinghead trying to throw Asma or Raidah under the bus to please the administration.

    1. Switchchris

      Usually a police raid can’t happen on a school unless the school itself allows it… unless things have changed… so I think the fact a raid is happening mean the school has already shown its villainous side.

      1. C.T Phipps

        Listen, the peaceful protestors wouldn’t have been violently dispersed if they hadn’t changed the law at a state level to make them legally murderous Daleks out to destroy America.

        1. Andrusi

          Just as long as they aren’t illegally murderous.

      2. Minivet

        If they literally allowed snipers to set up around the quad, I think they can allow a little police raid as a treat.

        1. Random832

          ah crap accidentally hit the report button

      3. thejeff

        I’d assume the school can’t refuse a warrant.

        They could allow the police in without a warrant, since it’s their property.

    2. Acher4

      Police attacking Joyce when she was goign along to all their demands at the protest, has already clearly showed the University’s and Goverment’s evil.

      This is just continuation.

    3. Yotomoe

      I kinda dont. Im constantly bogged down by how shitty everything is. I kinda dont want my entertainment to also be about how shitty everything is.

  18. Mr. Random

    Well… shit.
    Gotta get all the gear out too.

  19. IntangibleMatter

    ….okay, that’s really bad. Wonder why.

    1. Reltzik

      Amber is afraid that she might get arrested for being high on whatever opiate she’s high on.

      1. Nightsbridge

        Her wounds also match up very close with those inflicted on someone who fought the police at the riot.

        1. jeffepp

          This. The stab wound and various stitches are a giveaway. They may not know they’re looking for her, but the will if they find her in this shape. If they were after Amber specifically, they’d be at her door, not raiding the whole wing.

        2. Decidedly Orthogonal

          … We’ve been watching how police operate for decades. Not hollywood, real ones. They’re not well-meaning and competent. They’re thugs who will flex their excessive powers any time they’re even remotely embarrassed. Everything about the police action at the protest was a cock-up. So yeah, they’d absolutely respond by going into a women’s dorm with guns blazing, smoke, and door rams.

        3. Reltzik

          … well, YES, if you want to be all BORING and LOGICAL about it.

          … oh, and she’s also afraid that Blaine has reincarnated as a cop.

    2. John Campbell

      Probably something to do with the girl in the bright yellow costume who kicked the shit out of a bunch of cops the other day.

      1. John Campbell

        (Who has been previously reported in or around Read Hall. And is also considered a person of interest in the deaths of two fine, upstanding, god-fearing members of the local community and also Mike.)

        1. jeffepp

          I’m sure that’s been swept under, I mean, cleared up. Obviously, it was a lover’s quarrel turned deadly, with the killer being shot while attempting to escape custody. Shot himself, that is, in remorse for something something gay lovers something something. All clear cut.

  20. Stormtide Leviathan

    Oh shit!

    I can only assume that’s Asher, exciting that he’s helping. I’m excited to see where this is going for both of them

    1. GholaHalleck

      And everyone forgets Sal has her Amazi-girl suit, no one thinks to warn her, and Sal gets arrested.

      1. Stormtide Leviathan

        When did we learn that?

        1. John Campbell

          Dina told Dorothy that Sal hid Amazi-Girl’s paraphernalia. We don’t know that Sal necessarily has it, but she did something with it.

  21. not someone else

    Honestly if Amber is anything like the people-like-Amber I know, she doesn’t so much “use” Bluesky as vaguely have one where she follows a bunch of porn artists as a compromise position after her last three fediverse servers exploded (the first time due to dramatic circumstances she could barely explain except that someone was supposedly racist, the second definitely because someone was racist, and the third because she realized self-hosting just meant she had to be the one to keep up with which servers were being fucking racist today).

  22. Taigan

    “…and I don’t have any friends who are ‘unknown’”

  23. Ninjinister

    (Jason Steele whisper voice) Oh shiiiiit

  24. RassilonTDavros

    I expected the police to be a villainous force going forwards, but I definitely wasn’t expecting this.

    The general consensus among the comments seems to be that it’s Asher warning her, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it’s Faz.

    1. apocryphascribe

      I’m gonna back you up, if for no other reason than it would be way more hilarious.

    2. Owlmirror

      I cannot imagine Faz having the basic OPSEC to not put in the text “I, Faz, have cleverly spoofed an SMS text from a restricted number! Tell any of your friends who might be attracted to bad boys! Only make sure they know I am older than just a boy!”

      1. Lee

        Accurate ?

      2. RassilonTDavros

        There was one other other person I thought of who might be in a position to know about the raid ahead of time, but said hypothesis revolves around information that’s only been divulged in a Patreon strip so I’m not sure whether I should share it.

    3. Dare

      Faz was somehow my first thought as well, even though this is fairly OOC for him.

    4. furubatsu

      Insane that it’s been 5 real-world years since we’ve seen or heard from Faz

      1. Mitzi B.

        Book 17: I, Faz, Have Returned!

  25. Owlmirror

    Heist time!

    – Sarah, at least, has a car.

    – Dina, at least, has a poker face. She will need to lie in a way that alibis Amber rather than implicating her. Maybe: “my roommate has been visiting her mother/half-brother since [before the protest]” (this may need cooperation from Stacy/Faz, so maybe something not involving people)

    – Amber will need a place to stay. Maybe with Marcie temporarily? Or maybe just in Ruth’s room?

    1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Can Dina’s teleportation powers help Amber get somewhere safe without the pain and danger of moving?

      1. jeffepp

        Joyce is the teleporter. Dina is stealth, or something approximating it.

      2. Stormtide Leviathan

        The powers only get to work when it’s funny, not to get out of serious situations. There’s a reason Dina was able to use herself to get herself tied up with the rest of them when the evil dads kidnapped everyone, but not to get them out

    2. Lee

      Leslie’s once she posts bail maybe?

      1. jeffepp

        Well, she isn’t using her house, if she isn’t there. And has no notable connection to Amber or AG, so no reason for the cops to go there, IF they’re looking for her. This may be a more general raid, not targeting anyone specific (that they know of yet).

    3. Taffy

      Since when does Sarah have a car?

    4. John Campbell

      Sarah doesn’t have a car. If you’re remembering the strips where she delivered Liz back to her college, that was a Zoomr (Ruttech’s Uber/Lyft knockoff) that she prevailed upon Carla for.

      1. Owlmirror

        Sigh. My bad (memory).

        But! Maybe Carla can once again provide transport.

    5. Owlmirror

      If they’re only raiding the girl’s dorms, hiding out with Joe+Danny might work.

      1. jeffepp

        That maybe a solution… maybe. The problem is, IF (big if) they are targeting Amber, they might look at the rooms of any guys she’s associated with. Which is most of the male cast.

    6. Owlmirror

      I just thought of a scenario that might work, but that both Sal and Amber would find horrifying.

      It would account for both of them not being in their dorms when the police raid, and yet not implicate them as having anything to do with Amazi-girl’s assaulting the police.

      They could both hide out at Joe & Danny’s room.

      Dina: Amber has been with her new lover Sal since [before the protest]. You know how amorous new lovers are. And they are both very noisy lovers. I think they splurged on a hotel room so as not to disturb the other students. Wasn’t that considerate of them?

      But can Malaya be counted on to support the lie?)(Malaya: I hate lying, but I also hate cops. Damn, what a dilemma. (Proceeds to rant to cops about fakeyness for an hour. Doesn’t say anything false, but also doesn’t tell them anything about Sal))

    7. anon

      is she and marcie even close enough friends to do that versus it being a favor to sal?

      1. thejeff

        They have been playing roller derby together for months, so there’s some connection.
        OTOH, I believe Marcie’s sharing a small apartment with a bunch of others.

  26. Morrison

    I wish the phone showed what time it was that message was received. Would help establish how much tension I should feel

    1. jeffepp

      That’s what I was thinking. Also, the cordon goes in place before the raid. So that means there’s that much less time to get out of the building. It may even be too late.

    2. Ruby/AGV

      I mean, considering that at least the first classes have passed and that people are having lunch, it feels pretty imminent.

  27. darkoneko

    …HOLY SHEEP what

  28. DiDi

    OH SNAP.

    I didn’t want HER to get consequences… but it finally gives us something to sink our teeth into.

    So I will accept this.

  29. Newlland(Henryvolt)

    This does not bode well

    1. NGPZ

      yeah no SHIT

      X~X

    2. Astariel

      Things could definitely be boding better.

  30. ADLegend21

    Oh god oh Jeez oh fuck

  31. Ray Radlein

    Yet another comic where the police have not told Dorothy about Joe’s offer

    1. Bajja

      ?_?

      Huh?

      1. Stormtide Leviathan

        It’s a joke. There’ve been a lot of comments like this about joyce not following up on that situation yet, complaining every time it doesn’t happen. This is just taking that to a more ridiculous level

    2. Clif

      Give them timed. The police haven’t even had time to arrest Dorothy yet.

  32. Big Z

    One hopes that Amber/Sal are at least as smart as my college neighbor, who may or may not have buried his computer’s second hard drive in the backyard of an off-campus acquaintance when he realized that Sony was going to care about some guy having a share drive with 600 PlayStation game rips.

    Assuming Sal has had time to ditch the Amazi-Girl kit somewhere else, but we’ll see.

  33. foducool

    and that’s how you sober up from your med induced dizziness real fast

    1. Jon

      Hope that works for her, but when my ex, our son, and I were living in a tent in the mountains in the winter of ’90, the rising floodwaters of the river we were next to didn’t help me shrug off the oxymoron the ER had given me for my massive ear infection. Almost lost the tent.

  34. Ray Radlein

    Everyone’s guessing Asher, which is a good guess, but another Unknown Number that might well be in a position to know about this raid and want to warn her is the Dean’s son, Tony (or, perhaps more likely, Sarah, using Tony’s phone).

    If we discover that Joyce and/or Dorothy has also been similarly warned I’d say that would really point towards Tony’s phone.

    Alternately, Sal seems like she might keep a burner around for security

    1. Bajja

      Oooooooooh

    2. Holly

      I like that more than the worry that it was a Tony tip-off that triggered the raid on the friend group.

  35. Taffy

    All she did was beat the shit out of armed cops, a group known for their egos of healthy sizes and deeply secure masculinity.

    1. Bajja

      Lol

  36. Dara

    Big question in my mind is:

    What time is it now? For Amber, I mean. (Obviously.)

    1. Ruby/AGV

      Lunch time, as per Jennifer, Joyce and Dorothy.

  37. Qube

    I’m sure it’s fine

  38. Nyzer

    Oh, I am definitely looking forward to this.

  39. Quinn

    Asher?

  40. Taffy

    Okay but it’s not even getting dark out, so noon is pretty far off

    1. Fail Earnhardt

      Dorothy and Joyce are at Taco Bell, presumably having lunch, and morning classes are over. Amber has an hour at most with severely limited mobility.

      1. Taffy

        Guess she better get to wigglin’

        1. Fail Earnhardt

          If Dina is still in the building she might be able to help with movement, but that leads us to the new problem of “Where are they gonna go?”

        2. Taffy

          Boston, obviously.

        3. Fail Earnhardt

          An upgrade from Bloomington, but not by that much

        4. Taffy

          At the very least, it’s further from the coast.

  41. Atrius

    Oh shi-

    Are they gonna nab Dorothy thinking she’s Amazi-Girl? They could also interrogate anyone that historically associates with Amazi-Girl. Not good.

    1. Nyzer

      I’m pretty sure Dorothy is clearly ruled out as she was left behind at the house (and would have been there when the cops arrived) rather than being anywhere near the point where Joyce was rescued.

      1. Clif

        What?

    2. Ray Radlein

      Dorothy and Joyce are the two people on the entire campus whom everyone knows absolutely cannot be Amazi-Girl, as they were making out in front of news cameras at the exact moment Amazi-Girl was beating the shit out of the cops nearby. Their alibi is literally splashed all over the front page.

      OTOH, they still might get into trouble for having been at the protest when the tear gas was flying, as that is also something that the entire world has indisputable photographic evidence of.

    3. Newlland(Henryvolt)

      That or “Other Rachel.”

  42. Risky

    I want more cuddly newlybonkers please.

  43. Minivet

    I agree Asher is the most likely of people we know, but it is barely plausible that Robin or Leslie passed on the word out of lockup somehow. (Yes, cops usually don’t tip off even jailed people of raids on their compatriots; counterpoint: cops are stupid and careless.)

    Wildcard: Tony is her man on the inside, sneaking intel off his dad.

    1. Clif

      Tony is not among the people who knows about Amber/AmaziGirl and would not have her phone number without getting it from Sarah.

      Not completely impossible, but not at all likely.

      1. Ray Radlein

        Sarah could have used Tony’s phone herself

        1. Clif

          She could, but why?

  44. C.T Phipps

    Dorothy must admit she was in the picture to provide an allibi for her Amazi-Girl shenanigans.

  45. Acher4

    oh fffffff!!!!!!

    Also, prematurely(?) reminder to the “moral superiors”.

    No hons, this is def not Joyce’s fault for going to the protest and not shouting every second panel “Free Bulmeria”.

    Pls, get a grip.
    Thanks. Bye.

    1. Taffy

      Damn, you sure showed that scarecrow.

      1. Acher4

        Is it straw, if these kind of specific commenters have constanly bongo about it for 6 months now?

        I think not.

    2. Ray Radlein

      It arguably is partially Dorothy’s fault, however, for running back into the protest, causing Amazi-Girl to go berserk rescuing her (would Amazi-Girl have laid out all the cops if Dorothy and Joyce made it out safely? Interesting question).

      It’s the only thing that either of them did even the least bit wrong with regards to the protest.

      1. Astariel

        The first thing we saw from Amazi-Girl at the protest was save Joyce from a cop, who attacked her despite her having evacuated and being outside the barriers at that point. After that, we see her fighting other cops in the background before she shows up to get Dorothy, Joyce, Joss, and Asma out. I don’t think Amazi-Girl showed up at the protest in costume to not fight cops, but even if she did, it wasn’t Dorothy that forced her hand.

        1. thejeff

          Joyce was outside, but had stopped and turned back to look at Dorothy who had gone back in.
          If Dorothy hadn’t gone in and both of them had kept moving, they might have cleared the area before the cop tried anything.

        2. Acher4

          Are you for real??? Seriously???
          Nope to everything.
          1 – Amazi-Girl was there to save everyone she could.
          2 – Joyce was outside, not going back in.
          3 – Police clearly attacked someone leaving Joyce. They were always evil.
          4 – Neither Joyce nor Dorothy made the protest worst for anyone.

    3. zee

      You’re really good at responding to shit no one ever said, or thought of saying

      1. Clif

        Scarecrow or not, you know it’s only a mater of time.

        This is the Internet. I rest my case.

  46. Da Boy

    Here come the consequences of getting into fist fights with cops I guess

  47. Kyulen

    If this police raid text turns out to be something related to the protest, I’m genuinely curious how Willis has decided to handle this, and not optimistic considering I really don’t like how they’ve handled the protest arc so far. Or maybe it’ll turn out to be something completely unrelated to the protest. In any case I’m wondering how somebody with an unknown number who has prior knowledge about a police raid got Amber’s number.

    1. Fail Earnhardt

      Asher has police contacts and the good sense to use a burner for discretion. He’s probably also warning Sal, who hid Amazi-Girl’s gear elsewhere.

      1. Clif

        But is he among the people who know Sal hid Amazi-Girls gear?

        1. yak

          pretty sure they used a mob doctor, so Asher probably at least knows she was there

        2. John Campbell

          He may not know that specifically, but he knows Sal is involved, because she’s the one who got him involved.

    2. Bobby

      yeah honestly same re not thrilled with how the protest is being handled

    3. C.T Phipps

      @Kyulen

      The protest isn’t going away any time soon or its consequences. You’re welcome to like or dislike anything you want, but I think that it’s definitely the “we’re going to explore all the consequences” versus “magically disappear.” A lot of prefer A to B too.

      1. Clif

        A has this impressive point on top, but still projects the image of being very stable. By contrast. B is lopsided and looks like it might fall over.

        Kyulen is at least being fresh this time in his preemptive hatred of whatever moral failings they imagine the strip is going to exhibit next.

        1. Cameron Stone

          Are you saying it’s unreasonable for people to think Willis handled the protest poorly?

        2. C.T Phipps

          I think there’s significant argument over what people think Willis did poorly among the critics.

          Roughly speaking:

          Group A: Wants it to be explicitly about the Palestinian genocide.

          Group B: Wants it far more clearly about a fictional genocide.

          Group C: Doesn’t feel a genocide has anything to do with a college slice of life comedy.

          Group D: Wants it dealt with by the brown people in the class

          Group E: Wants Dorothy and Joyce to be a disaster trying to be allies and follow their disaster.

          And so on.

        3. thejeff

          Funny how none of those touch on one of the biggest complaints: That Willis framed the protest as the backdrop for the big romantic/coming out scene.

        4. C.T Phipps

          Isn’t that C?

        5. Yumi

          No.

      2. Bobby

        You can dislike the way something is being handled and also prefer A at the end of the narrative day

  48. Colineo

    My head says it’s from Asher but my heart says it’s from Mike.

    1. Clif

      That would be a Christmas present and a half.

    2. kotarisu

      Mike works in mysterious ways through us.

      1. Clif

        Mike be with you (and your mom) always.

    3. Chaz

      That would be the best thing ever.

    4. apocryphascribe

      Mike being out here like James McCloud trying to guide his son out of an exploding Venom would be a christmas miracle.

  49. yak

    OH SHIT YOU USED SMS FOR THAT AND THE COPS WERE RUNNING A STRINGRAY NODE OH SHIT OH FUCK

    (this is why you install and use Simplex, Signal, or if you really can’t stomach those for some reason, Whatsapp)

    1. yak

      *stingray

    2. Mitzi B.

      Me every time Asher sends / receives an incriminating text in the comic

  50. Fail Earnhardt

    That the cops know enough to trace Amazi-Girl back to Read Hall specifically is already troubling, but I’m also worried about Dina. I have faith Sal hid Amazi-Girl’s gear somewhere away from the dorm that won’t implicate any of them, but Dina’s shoplifting has gotten pretty reckless. If they know about the stolen pain meds (depends on if Dina knew to not have her phone on her when she did it I guess) then they could easily connect the dots about who in Read Hall would need them without a paper trail. Dina and Amber being roommates is a dead giveaway.

    1. Stormtide Leviathan

      Amazi-Girl being associated with Read Hall is pretty common knowledge, if they looked into her at all they’d probably have learned that. Plus, that’s where Joyce and Dorothy live, who also were known to have been at the protest, very publicly

  51. aSnowyEvening

    To me, the GET OUT text is more ominous than the Unknown Number. Creepy.

    Also, it makes sense that everyone is assuming Asher, especially given the set-up in previous comics. But I have a crazy prediction. Since I’m pretty sure Amber / AG has caught Asher’s stares, I think they will thank Asher for giving her the heads up.

    Asher: What heads up?
    Amber: The text about the raid an hour ago. From “Unknown Number”?
    Asher: Wha– I never sent you a text. I found out about the raid when the cops showed up
    Amber: *Stares off in disbelief and also pain and opioids* Then who…?

    Then we realize that the lead up was a red herring, and we cut to none other than Lester being ominously casual to his fellow cops (he also asked Blaine point blank about Amber being AG right before Blaine went bye-bye).

    Or, it was possibly the Mob Doctor. Because buddy has to keep tabs on everyone he sees for his own self-preservation. Also IIRC he has his own tag so he’s gotta show up again… Sometime… Right…?

    1. Fail Earnhardt

      Possible, but what would be Lester’s angle in this scenario? Wouldn’t he be more inclined to use his one insight to take Amazi-Girl down?

      1. aSnowyEvening

        Hmm, possibly. Maybe, since Amber (Lester likely oblivious to the DID) played a big part in taking down Blaine, he wanted to do her a solid and give her the heads up that the other cops are already on the trail. With an additional warning to not fight the other cops – she’s out of her league.

      2. Rimwalker55

        Lester’s job as he told (and shot) Blaine “We’re going to keep things very opaque”. referring to Blaine’s mob ties. Lester directly knows Amber is AG and the familial relationship to Blaine. One more loose end.

        Asher might be warning Amber, but Lester may be flushing Amber

        1. Rimwalker55

          I say ‘flushing’ because someone wanted AG dead by a non police related method (stabbed instead of shot by service gun), so it stands to reason that an actual police raid would interfere with that purpose.

          Or maybe I just watch too many “Midsomer Murders” episodes.

        2. Clif

          “Lester directly knows Amber is AG.” — Actually he doesn’t. Maintaining this secret was one of the few helpful things Blaine did.

        3. Rimwalker55

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/04-is-a-song-forever/opaque/

        4. HueSatLight

          yes, indeed, that’s the strip that shows Lester doesn’t know that Amber is AG.

        5. Thing 2

          Lester called Amber?
          Lester is mob and police, and asked Blaine if Amber was AG.

    2. aSnowyEvening

      Oh, right, I forgot that Asher was there when Amber got treated. So unless he has Danny levels of unawares he already knows about Amber being AG. Even more reason for her / them to assume it was Asher that texted.

      1. thejeff

        Basically everyone in this comic is “Danny levels of unawares”. Amber was posing as Amazi-Girl while being treating. Sal put the mask back on her and was using Amazi-Girl’s name to clue her in as she woke up. Just off that, there’s little reason that Asher would associate her with Amber – any more than any other character who’s interacted with both of them without realizing.

        OTOH, there were earlier reasons to think Asher had figured it.

        1. Clif

          Seeing the AmaziSuite in her closet probably helped.

        2. Thing 2

          Would indeed be amazing to have a suite in one’s closet.

        3. John Campbell

          Nah, Danny was special levels of clueless. He was the only one who had extensive close, even intimate, contact with both of her without realizing that they were sharing a body. Like, he made out with Amazi-Girl, and then a few days later had Amber cuddled against his side, and did not clock, “Hey, Amber’s awfully buff under the padding, and her hair smells just like Amazi-Girl’s…”

          Asher doesn’t have anywhere near as much exposure to either of them, but we were specifically shown him noticing that Amazi-Girl keeps her clothes in Amber’s closet.

        4. thejeff

          You can argue that only because Danny had the most contact with her early on, but it’s really supposed to be not obvious. Not Danny was clueless, but “the mask works, people don’t just notice”.

          Dina was the only exception for a long time. There might have been someone else later, but I’m not sure.

        5. Clif

          Dorothy later, but she had a lot of clues.

  52. CianM1301

    Cheese it, it’s the fuzz!

  53. Davus

    I am curious what time it is. Joyce is currently eating lunch, so it can’t be too early. My guess would be that Amber has 5-30 minutes.
    If I were her, I’d probably be heading to the dining hall, especially if there is a bathroom in there. Unless she thinks the police are tracking her down, in which case she should get the hell out of dodge. Probably a bus somewhere far away.

    1. Dot

      I’d say probably around noon.

      1. thejeff

        The text is kind of weirdly phrased if it’s already noon or really close to it.

        I’d expect more of a “they’re outside now” vibe than just giving the time.

    2. Fail Earnhardt

      Joyce and Dorothy are eating taco bell and morning classes are over. It’s gotta be close to lunch time if it isn’t already. If they’re raiding the whole girl’s wing they probably don’t know to look for her specifically, but all they need to find are her injured, the stolen pain killers, and/or Amazi-Girl’s gear if Sal hasn’t already stashed it elsewhere.

  54. anon

    i mean other than the drugs, would they be checking to see if anyone’s injured? Tho you’d think with her hacking skills she’d be able to double check the unknown number

    1. yak

      if it’s a burner phone (which is still a thing) or if someone is very fastidious about not signing up for services that require a phone number, it’s near impossible to associate the number to a name.

    2. thejeff

      She probably could. Amber’s hacking skills are also basically action movie hacker level.
      But should she spend time doing it while the cops are on the way?

  55. Holly

    This is where my fear of Sal having the AG outfit in her dorm (and now not being told about the raid potentially!) is threatening to manifest as (comic strip) reality, oh no.

    1. Holly

      Another fear: Dotty wanting the hat she lost at the protest replaced with exactly the same style hat comes back to bite her on the arse in terms of being identified.

  56. JBento

    FINALLY, plot!!!

  57. Dot

    Ok! Yes! This is interesting! I’m back on board now.

    1. Clif

      This board isn’t big enough for both of us.

      Oh, wait. Yes it is. — Welcome to the board!! It’s adrift on a wild sea and in danger of going down with all hands while the comfort of Joyce/Dorothy shenanigans recedes into the distance (not that I’m bitter or anything). But welcome back anyway.

  58. Deanatay

    Apparently Willis’ gift to us this Holiday season is… a heaping spoonful of fresh trauma! Thank You, Willis! /s

    Happy Holidays, everyone!

    1. JBento

      Well, the old trauma was getting stale and moldy, it was time to replace it.

      1. Clif

        Deanatay – You had me until you got to the /s.

    2. zee

      Thank you Willis, /srs. I’m all about this shit, we need some fresh trauma up in here

  59. Steamweed

    Well that’s not ominous at all.

  60. Willoughby Chase

    Who amongst Amber’s friends/acquaintances would have a burner phone?

  61. Peter

    Everyone is guessing the unknown number message is from Asher — but I’m going to guess Asma.

    1. Clif

      I’m just hoping the police don’t find the morphing bolt cutter.

    2. Stormtide Leviathan

      Would Asma know Amazi-Girl is amber? It’s not impossible but I don’t think anything has ever indicated that

      1. Clif

        AmaziGirl helped people to escape. The fence was cut. If the instrument that can be shown from microscopic evidence to have cut the fence and it’s in the possession of Asma, then the conclusion is obvious.

  62. Willoughby Chase

    GTFO of there. Them peelers are bastards

  63. Doribi

    Where’s Dina when you need her? they need to scram like now.

  64. C.T Phipps

    I am making a prediction: Joyce will scream and throw a fit before being thrown in a van and driven off by the cops.

    Dorothy forced to watch.

  65. Andy

    If they can’t find AG, the police might settle for Asmah. Or Raidah. Or Leslie.

    1. Astariel

      Seems like they already have Leslie.

    2. JBento

      I believe the standard procedure when you don’t have AG is that the president appoints one.

      1. Clif

        Have a rotten Internet.

  66. Ho-Chi-Minh

    How tf do you wake up with 100% battery? Are you not worried about damaging your charger or charger port in your sleep?

    1. John Campbell

      I’m posting this right now from a tablet that’s at 100% still after being unplugged when I woke up. I had it propped up on the bed beside me, locked in portrait mode so I could read lying down before I fell asleep.

      You can see Amber’s cable in panel 2, and I think in 4 and 6.

      Still at 100% even after typing this unplugged. I’ve got the screen turned down low because I was reading in the dark.

      1. Clif

        I always charge all my stuff overnight. Hasn’t caused problems yet.

  67. apocryphascribe

    Let’s fucking gooooo, this is what I’ve been waiting for!!

    1. Clif

      But my Joyce/Dorothy…

  68. Paul1963

    Uh-oh. Could this be Amazi-Girl’s “Give me back my face!” moment coming up?

  69. Dandi_Andi

    Based on absolutely no information and some vague vibes, I’m going to guess that it’s Tony. The school administration is probably aware the raid and Tony may have found out through his dad. Of course that’s based on nothing, but it would give him a little more substance than “a bit dick surrounded by a wall of meat” or however it was that Sarah described him.

    1. C.T Phipps

      Tony, like Dorothy, has strong cop energy.

    2. John Campbell

      I don’t think Tony has ever even met Amber. They’ve never been in a strip together. He’s been in three strips with Amazi-Girl, and he was blatantly preoccupied with a meetcute at the time.

      1. HueSatLight

        There’s also a bonus strip, IIRC, where AG runs by and he’s all “this is too absurd, friend who communicates entirely with grunts.”

    3. Sere

      Im guessing Asher or Faz. Both have family members who have corrupted officials on the inside of the police force, would be able to warn her because of having her phone number normally/dating her surviving best friend, and care about her well being to some degree.

      1. Dandi_Andi

        Perfectly sound guess based on textual information and i support them. But as my guesses are based solely on what i think is either interesting or funny at this point., I’m sticking resolutely with Tony. Or possibly Leslie. Leslie has infiltrated the local police to feed info to the protesters and Robin went along because she was confused and thought they were going to make a women’s prison themed SlipShine. One of those two.

      2. Buck Ripsnort

        In Faz’ case, he’d be more likely to save Amber in return for “considerations”.

  70. HueSatLight

    Beef, secret genius and secret benefactor

  71. Toes14

    Cops had better have valid, specific search warrants . . . .

    1. C.T Phipps

      The university would be furious if they didn’t use brutality. They hate all protestors.

    2. Jdorr

      If the university let’s them in I don’t think they need a search warrant since it’s the university’s property (note: I am not a lawyer or other legal expert and can be wrong)

      1. yak

        I guess it depends if a dorm room is counted as a private residence. Your landlord, for instance, generally doesn’t have the legal right to invite someone in to your home, even the cops. But I imagine the lease on a dorm room is a bit different from an apartment or house.`

        If they’re planning a raid they probably got warrants anyway. Physical warrantless searches are usually because the cops are reacting to something and trying to assert their authority, not planned in advance

        1. Miafillene

          Dorm rooms are considered private. However, the university will pressure students to let authorities search. Usually by threatening to revoke dorm status. It’s bullshit, and one of the reasons I never stayed in the dorms.

  72. Jdorr

    Oh? Unknown number? An unknown number who knows Amber/Amazigirl would want to not be there at noon AND knows when a police raid would be happening? Who could it be?

  73. Miafillene

    I want to change my avatar pic. How do I do so?

    1. JBento

      If you want to change it to something random, I believe you can do so by changing which letters are capitalised in the email address below the posting box.

      If you want to change it to something specific, you should click on the “Get a Gravatar” link after the Name field.

  74. Marvelman

    Fez cares.

    1. Clif

      A Fez is cool. A Faz less so.

      1. NGPZ

        Yep

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