Oh this kinda head-game bullshit was the best part of the relationships with my ex’s. Specifically, that it resulted in them being ex’s. It’s only two of the few people I’ve been with, but those two are the only ones that worked so hard at being ex’s. And no mistake, I wasn’t smart enough to end the relationships earlier. But when the second one dumped me to try and teach me a lesson, at least I recovered enough dignity, in the three days before they offered to take me back, to firmly reject that offer. Sadly they’re doing this shit to our kid, and the courts don’t give a damn.
Part of growing up is moving on from seeing people as a collection of data for your biases. Walky is Walkyish, and if Asher is too Walkyish, then it can’t be good. It’s why Billie became Jennifer in the first place: she can’t grow as Billie, she has to reinvent and become another static personality. When there’s enough danger in not being perfect (and I think Jennifer was raised with plenty of that,) it feels dangerous to accept anyone that deviates from her preconceived notions.
It reflects in that court situation too: they’re only out to make a one-time judgement, but that judgement doesn’t guarantee an authentic family relationship. I’m sorry you’re going through this.
yeah while cigarettes are kinda ‘accepted’ by society even if frowned upon and slightly worse than drinking since second hand smoke would bother ppl, any partner that encourages you to pick up a knowingly bad habit isn’t a good sign
I mean, he does appear to have been involved in a mob hit, so I’m not quite sure about that “deserves better” bit just yet. Jennifer is pretty garbage, but not quite on that level.
Eh, criminal behavior, or even just shitty behavior in general, does deserve justice/retribution/comeuppance of some kind, but being in a toxic relationship with a toxic person isn’t that. I don’t feel anybody “deserves” to be in a toxic relationship, like yeah if someone is toxic to you, you should be toxic right back to them, that’s just fair play, but not in the context of a relationship, and definitely not as punishment for bad behavior that you weren’t around for.
If he’s gonna be in a relationship at all, he deserves a better one than this, if only because anyone would. Like, what he really deserves is a jail cell for his literal crimes, but if he’s gonna date he doesn’t deserve to be with someone emotionally abusive like that because nobody deserves that.
Huh, I agree fiercely with like half of this, but am confused by some of the rest. I’m not sure there’s a situation where you *should* be toxic. There are plenty where it’s understandable or maybe permissible, but by definition isn’t toxic behavior a worse use of your lifespan than going and being in some other situation if there’s any way to do that? I’m pretty hesitant to take any pride in my petty or vindictive moments, even if the other person “deserved” it.
There was an old analogy where a man divorced his wife, and his friends were in disbelief over it. In response to the constant questions, he finally took off his shoe and held it up. “Look at this shoe – it looks wonderfully made, right? But not one of you can tell me where it pinches me.”
Oh she’s absolutely a Unit. She’s a big girl, in the way where it’s a mix of muscle And fat, she’s got a chest that is both large and proportionate to her body, she’s got a pretty face, and, while she’s kind of a bongo about it, she DOES usually know what she’s talking about. All of that combines into a girl that you sort of want to just, hang around, at least, just to see what she Does.
Also. Billy — I mean, Jennifer — has discovered she was in love with a person who doesn’t exist. She thought that was Asher, but now she realizes it isn’t, and she can’t go back. She shouldn’t have made it his fault, but she still has to let him go.
She’s a recent former cheerleader (which almost exclusively means ‘fit and hot’), she’s part Asian, which in America means fetish-bait, and she’s got all the right curves in all the right places…
Yes, the character is categorically on the upper end of the attractiveness scale as measured by the body at large for American guys.
Maybe the same reason Walky is putting up with things unaddressed that really need to be addressed. They like to think of themselves as good boyfriends.
whenever the characters change their haircuts, its hard for me to visually reconcile them with their older selves (autism thing). but jennifer has never looked so much like billie than she does in panel 4
I kind of wonder a bit about this, how much of this is her reaction to the stunt he pulled the other day, and how much of this is Billie coming back/merging more and more with Jennifer.
Yeah, she literally hasn’t changed at all. I don’t understand not being able to defend this action, but being able able to defend her before when she’s been doing the same shit since day one.
Well, a mature, well-adjusted Jennifer/Billie wouldn’t really fit the premise of the strip; I’m not just a majority of the readers would find that version of the character that interesting; and I’m not sure Willis would enjoy writing her that much.
I can buy it, especially with the flashbacks that showed that the actual origin of “Billie”, and how it stuck with her, even if Walky himself doesn’t remember how it actually happened and didn’t know to correct her when she (seemingly intentionally) lied about it.
I don’t think she has any idea what she’s trying to accomplish. She’s just lashing out because she’s lost her sense of superiority and saying literally anything that makes her feel bigger, damn the consequences.
Also she feeds on fighting and drama, it makes her feel passionate and alive. Giving her what she wants isn’t giving her what she wants, because she wants to fight.
It’s a problem for ever being in a healthy relationship, but, she’s into unhealthy relationships where they’re both poison and everything’s very dire. Whatcha gonna do.
Yep, she admitted in front of Asher that she wants drama injected into her veins. Sals left her alone since trying to confront her about Asher and she’s been craving another does of superiority flavored drama since.
Right, this is the thing the storyline is actually trying to navigate towards — Jennifer cannot be happy because she doesn’t actually like herself and so what feels the most comfortable for her is conflict and chaos. She pushes Asher away not for the good reasons she *should* push him away, but because she doesn’t know what she wants and feels like something is wrong if things are doing well.
We know he was involved in the kidnapping; that part is confirmed.
And it looks like he was given a heads up about Blaine’s murder after it was completed.
None of the characters in the story know this.
So yes, we know more than the characters do.
Yeah, but a lot of people seem to be under the impression that we know details about him doing stuff that wasn’t onscreen, why he did it, and what that means for his relationship with his family.
We do have details though. We know he lied to Sal about not being involved with his criminal family. We know he stole money from his grandpa to attend IU.
This is why Blaine was able to blackmail him. Him getting a text near the time a dirty cop assassinated Blaine implies a reaffirmation of his connection to the mob. It’s pretty easy math.
I am willing to let bygones be bygones on calling the cops, like it was shitty but he was a kid.
I’m more side-eyeing his involvement in what happened with Blaine (even if I am glad the bastard’s dead) and experiencing a lot of pessimism about his association with Raidah.
You know, I thought Asher was friends with Raidah because they were both the same kind of clout-chasing manipulative asshole, but then I went digging through the /Asher tag to try and get a feel for his actual personality, past all the bad things we’ve heard about him, and I found this page, which I think is implying that Asher is being manipulated by Raidah. Like, the way her demeanor changes when Asher joins the conversation… the contrast between what she really thinks of Jennifer and what she’s letting Asher think she thinks of Jennifer is the punchline. IDK, I think… I think I might be an Asher defender now?
in the current situation, Asher can perpetually be in a state of disappointing her enough for her to mostly leave him alone but NOT pine for him again.
Eh.
I’m not a fan of the Walky x Lucy thing, but he’s actually doing alright by her (aside from myself and others doubting how interested he is in her).
He likes hanging out with her.
He trusts her and values her opinion.
They get each other’s sense of humor.
He stood up to her brother for her.
He stood up to Jennifer for her.
He’s repeatedly suggested she avoid meeting his troublesome parents.
And he’s even turned down his first love to remain faithful and committed to her.
I’d still rather him be with Amber, but all things considered, he’s not a bad boyfriend to Lucy.
What I can’t imagine is actually being in the same town/state/country with someone for more than a year without something happening to screw it up, which is why all my relationships got started within 48 hours of meeting. Even my marriage which is in its 5th decade now and just 5 years from an actual 50th anniversary. The only reason that lasted was I took her with me.
Honestly, I think jumping wang-dang-doodle first into his past two relationships, then having them crash and burn, *might* have sobered Walky from going full ham into a relationship.
He’s just taking his time this go around, so he can fit the whole foot into his mouth.
He’s not a bad boyfriend and I do believe a slower burn relationship can end up being stronger than one that is hot and heavy. My problem is it really feels like Walky is just doing what is expected of him. He’s being a good boyfriend because that’s what you’re supposed to do when you date, cause you’re supposed to date girls that like you right? And Lucy likes him so why not?
I agree, which is why I’m not a fan of the relationship.
But it’s hard to say if he’s really not into her or if we just think he’s not into her, so I’m trying to give the benefit of the doubt.
(I didnt mean to write this whole paragraph, and if you read it you are a total saint I do not deserve) Lucy has been a really good friend to walky, but …..
Shes basically a passive aggressive mix of old Danny and Joyce.
We Know she shes been a Female version of the “NiceGuy” dating strategem.
and “availibility is her best feature” .
Now shes taking Walkys feelings feeling fir granted. Because she saw herself as dating him the whole time and didnt tell him. Which turns out was the wrong strategy. Walky actually likes, her. Always likes her and Gladly would have dated her months ago. Just the fact she likes and him chose him makes him feel special enough to get a spark going.
but its just a spark and she blowing it out. She might have even missed her real moment with him. Its not true love and he needs time for feelings to catch up to hers, and maybe they wont.
its legit for you not to like that Lucy manipulated walky into a relationship dishonestly by being his friend when he was vulnerable, and then just waiting it out. Walky needs to be honest with his feelings and tell her they are just dating Newbs not newly weds. Maybe they should even go one a break. Not a break up. Walky needs to make sure he is in this relationship for himself, and not because Other people pushed him in it. ( Lucy, Dorothy Lucy, Dorothy again ) .
that being said. I dont think its a bad ship. I just think its all lopsided. They actually might be right for each other. Walky needs to be able to lead more in this relationship because Lucy has never dated anyone. That also means following his feelings and sharing them and not letting them get smothered.
It sucks because Lucy has become his sounding board that he depends on, and he cant in this situation. ( and that is whats wrong with her codependancy dating strategy ).
For what its worth i think they could be a supercouple ( one day ) and he’s into her. but just as someone whos just started dating and only just started to convert fis feelings of friendship into something more.
But I also think Lucy isnt that into him either. Shes into the IDEA of having a boyfriend and into the idea of walky being that boyfriend. ( thats a normal thing of a first bf . She just should have gotten this out in highschool ). they could have sex and it ignites full passion. or it could be OK then superawkward and Lucy over dotes on him so much it makes it weird , makes him feel like a liar and break city.
Walky Needs to tell Lucy He Likes her a LOT as bf but he Loves her as a friend. Or He loves her as a friend and likes her a lot as bf, and we’ll see.
and he needs to tell her he has doubts , because he was emotioanally manipulated … by dorothy twice. TO date Lucy. so she wouldnt date her again.
don’t agree on all the details, but do agree on the conclusion. I don’t know why he’s still going on Dorothy’s “don’t talk about it, just fake being in love for now” advice, he’s become aware that she’s bad for advice in at least his relationship with Lucy. Maybe it’s just short-term easier than talking to Lucy and making sure she understands what he’s saying.
Picking up smoking again is certainly bad for him, but that’s probably the ‘worst’ thing he’s done since he assisted a well-deserved murder as far as I can remember.
I don’t want to show Asher any sympathy, since he has: stolen, betrayed someone who helped him steal, stole money from a mob, and has the ability to call in a hit. So he really deserves no sympathy; that being said I would dump Billie/Jennifer and feel no regret.
Hey, Asher.
You’re surprisingly Walky-like.
Dorothy is single and looking for a Walky-like presence in her life.
I remember people suggesting the idea before, and I wasn’t a fan, but I’m more than willing to support that ship now, even if you’re mobbed up and somewhat involved in violent crimes, because Jennifer is really irking me lately and also doesn’t seem to appreciate you.
If you do get with Dorothy, what she would call that?
Dasher?
Dordash?
We’ll workshop it.
It’s so weird to me that people think Dorothy wants or could actually have that kind of relationship. She’s never shown any sign of wanting something like that and I really doubt she could keep things on that casual a level even if she tried.
She started a “just for fun” thing with Walky and fell in love with him. Still is, months later. I think that’s how she works. If she’s interested, she’s going to get invested.
Now I like the idea of Dorothy literally running into Asher and hitting it off just so Asher can tell Jennifer he thinks he needs somebody more mature then her.
….. Dorothy getting with the guy that got everyone kidnapped while also not dealing with her trauma from getting kidnapped would be very much on brand for this strip’s type of drama.
Hm, how could he try harder? His clothes aren’t dark enough, I think. More black leather and overall a darker color scheme. What else…he could shave a line in his eyebrow to suggest a scar there. Yeah.
nah fuckboys aren’t monogamous or at the very least prolly stick to one night stands and not bother with ‘group lunches’ and such (unless he mutually sees raidah’s friend group as ‘beneficial’)
Be hilarious if he did raid walky’s closet and embraced his inner ‘dork’ or so. i’m sure he’s got some star wars knowledge tho ‘everyone’s seen star wars’ apparently lol
What Jennifer sees is her own reflection. Now that she knows how dorky Asher can be, all she can see is someone who only pretends to be cool. Someone who’s eager to fit in.
one man’s dorkiness is another man’s coolness, i don’t think he esp ‘overcomensated’ with the bad boy look/attitude to hide any ‘secret nerdery’ or anything , but other than the mob boss family and kidnapping incident and all that, he’s fairly normal/well adjusted as opposed to some mustache twirling puppet master or so
You’re a mean one
You really are a heel
You’re as cuddly as a cactus
You’re as charming as an eel
Miss Billingsworth , you’re a bad banana
Miss Billingsworth, with the greasy black peel
Feels like we’re building towards this inevitable exchange:
Jennifer: You’re not bad enough for me, you’re too friendly.
Asher: I helped arrange the kidnapping of most of your peer group and the subsequent murder of one of the kidnappers by a corrupt police officer.
Jennifer: …I have just now decided to grow as a person.
She’s terrible at her own life. She’s ok helping other people. She’s angry because she’s in pain. We see and understand Sal’s anger and pain. It’s implied Jennifer was emotionally discarded before even kindergarten, but we don’t know why exactly. Same reason? or they’re just rich assholes who can’t be bothered to even try? something else?
Feels to me like whenever they talk about Sal and Walky’s crummy parents, she has an unspoken, “and my parents don’t even acknowledge I exist.”
Maybe her parents got so caught up in the money game that they have trouble remembering that they’re parents? Chasing money can do that. For some it’s a supremely absorbing game.
Because she’s a fun character? The fact that she’s a dramatic toxic hot mess is the POINT? That’s the appeal. She’s entertaining. Why do y’all gotta moralize liking a character, it’s so tiring.
goddammit jennifer
goddammit asher too, a little.
no point in going back to smoking and also acting cool for someone who’s being a dick. just bail.
gonna be interesting to see the repercussions of this in raidah’s group.
I don’t think that Asher or anyone else needs to change themselves for their boo like that, especially if it’s doing something unhealthy. What Jennifer desperately needs right now is someone who can hug her and who she can cry into the arms of. I think that’s what draws her in to the brooding but sweet guy she wants.
Jennifer is one of my favorite characters. She’s cute and the timing was funny.
Also Asher was being a sweet guy and trying to be there for her emotionally and she shut him down and told him what she wanted was the smoking badass she liked initially and then he tried that and she’s still not happy. The punchline of this strip is her inconsistency.
Not a big fan of Asher but I’m feeling a little bit of sympathy for him because Jennifer is being a shit here. Make up your mind what you want and stop treating your boyfriend badly Jennifer.
Eeeexactly. They like to convince her that Sarah and Joyce are the reason Jennifer had issues, but Joyce and Sarah have nothing to do with the issues Jennifer has. And by blaming stuff on her previous friend group/Ruth/whatever you wanna call it, it means Jennifer changes nothing about herself and thus… this kind of thing happens.
I mean they did kind of consistently treat her like garbage even when she was being nice, especially Sarah. I’m glad she pulled her out of Ruth’s arms… Despite everything else she needs to work on.
Like seriously Raidah would probably benefit from a therapist, and so would the people around her.
Actually nevermind she’d probably just start using therapy speak against people like this loser who wanted to fuck me who I kept rejecting. Like seriously he’s like an ex to me in spite of how we never got together and I was never interested because he was that fucking clingy. He didn’t respect my intelligence and kept trying to dictate my political beliefs. He would also pry into other people’s therapy sessions. (ran a support group thingy online 🤢). I know because he told me that his therapist was trying to get him to acknowledge the harm he did by phrasing everything in the most delicate way possible so that he *had* to accept it… there’s more, but, yeah. It felt really creepy and crappy and kept fucking up my day and his friends enabled it.
Honestly just what a loser. I haven’t thought about it in a while (very proud of that because I spent a lot of therapy sessions myself working through it), but I just said that thing just now and was like, “oh, right. That guy.”
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damned if you do, slammed if you don’t
I dont like feeling bad for Asher but I feel bad for Asher
Same, honestly.
Oh this kinda head-game bullshit was the best part of the relationships with my ex’s. Specifically, that it resulted in them being ex’s. It’s only two of the few people I’ve been with, but those two are the only ones that worked so hard at being ex’s. And no mistake, I wasn’t smart enough to end the relationships earlier. But when the second one dumped me to try and teach me a lesson, at least I recovered enough dignity, in the three days before they offered to take me back, to firmly reject that offer. Sadly they’re doing this shit to our kid, and the courts don’t give a damn.
Part of growing up is moving on from seeing people as a collection of data for your biases. Walky is Walkyish, and if Asher is too Walkyish, then it can’t be good. It’s why Billie became Jennifer in the first place: she can’t grow as Billie, she has to reinvent and become another static personality. When there’s enough danger in not being perfect (and I think Jennifer was raised with plenty of that,) it feels dangerous to accept anyone that deviates from her preconceived notions.
It reflects in that court situation too: they’re only out to make a one-time judgement, but that judgement doesn’t guarantee an authentic family relationship. I’m sorry you’re going through this.
Thanks for the support. 👍 Family court is where the wild west never left. alt: You get more sense, logic, and consistency from a magic 8-ball.
yeah while cigarettes are kinda ‘accepted’ by society even if frowned upon and slightly worse than drinking since second hand smoke would bother ppl, any partner that encourages you to pick up a knowingly bad habit isn’t a good sign
But what-about second hand drinking?
Isn’t that what got one of the drummers from Spinal Tap?
Agreed – he honestly deserves better, and Jennifer needs to get her head out of her ass.
I mean, he does appear to have been involved in a mob hit, so I’m not quite sure about that “deserves better” bit just yet. Jennifer is pretty garbage, but not quite on that level.
Eh, criminal behavior, or even just shitty behavior in general, does deserve justice/retribution/comeuppance of some kind, but being in a toxic relationship with a toxic person isn’t that. I don’t feel anybody “deserves” to be in a toxic relationship, like yeah if someone is toxic to you, you should be toxic right back to them, that’s just fair play, but not in the context of a relationship, and definitely not as punishment for bad behavior that you weren’t around for.
If he’s gonna be in a relationship at all, he deserves a better one than this, if only because anyone would. Like, what he really deserves is a jail cell for his literal crimes, but if he’s gonna date he doesn’t deserve to be with someone emotionally abusive like that because nobody deserves that.
Huh, I agree fiercely with like half of this, but am confused by some of the rest. I’m not sure there’s a situation where you *should* be toxic. There are plenty where it’s understandable or maybe permissible, but by definition isn’t toxic behavior a worse use of your lifespan than going and being in some other situation if there’s any way to do that? I’m pretty hesitant to take any pride in my petty or vindictive moments, even if the other person “deserved” it.
Christ on a bike, I spun the grav roulette so my comments wouldn’t all be accompanied by smug Danny-face. Clearly I have been punished for my hubris.
He probably deserves better than his mobster family, he seems like he’d be basically harmless without their looming presence
He had my pity the moment he started dating the human trash fire that was jennifer.
Jennifer was good back when she was in a relationship with Ruth, at least she was caring, but went straight downhill after they broke up.
yeah
Genuinely, after the way Jennifer treated him, why IS Asher even trying?
I mean, there’s only so much I can blame him for needing to smoke.
Jennifer’s hot, if you want the legit answer.
“No matter how hot the woman, someone somewhere is sick of her shit.” – Aonymous.
There was an old analogy where a man divorced his wife, and his friends were in disbelief over it. In response to the constant questions, he finally took off his shoe and held it up. “Look at this shoe – it looks wonderfully made, right? But not one of you can tell me where it pinches me.”
That is *beautifully* put.
That said, I’ve never actually had anyone question why my ex’s are. I guess should stop wearing shoes with no soul.
Ah, yes. As an ace person I often forget other people often endure unpleasantness in exchange for access to hotness.
Is she?
I mean I know its subjective and all but I wouldn’t class her as hot
The characters class her as hot and cool regardless of our proclivities for Damn You Willis’ drawing style. Her hotness is canon.
Oh she’s absolutely a Unit. She’s a big girl, in the way where it’s a mix of muscle And fat, she’s got a chest that is both large and proportionate to her body, she’s got a pretty face, and, while she’s kind of a bongo about it, she DOES usually know what she’s talking about. All of that combines into a girl that you sort of want to just, hang around, at least, just to see what she Does.
She’s definitely hot. Not as hot as Amber, but hot. But wait. I’m stanning for the two most neurotic characters in the strip. Is it just me?
Also. Billy — I mean, Jennifer — has discovered she was in love with a person who doesn’t exist. She thought that was Asher, but now she realizes it isn’t, and she can’t go back. She shouldn’t have made it his fault, but she still has to let him go.
She’s a recent former cheerleader (which almost exclusively means ‘fit and hot’), she’s part Asian, which in America means fetish-bait, and she’s got all the right curves in all the right places…
Yes, the character is categorically on the upper end of the attractiveness scale as measured by the body at large for American guys.
Sliding back into old habits is really quite effortless.
Maybe the same reason Walky is putting up with things unaddressed that really need to be addressed. They like to think of themselves as good boyfriends.
whenever the characters change their haircuts, its hard for me to visually reconcile them with their older selves (autism thing). but jennifer has never looked so much like billie than she does in panel 4
I’m usually a Jen defender but can’t really get behind this one. And that’s even knowing Asher can’t be trusted.
Hey, it’s not like she’s self-destructive or anything.
I kind of wonder a bit about this, how much of this is her reaction to the stunt he pulled the other day, and how much of this is Billie coming back/merging more and more with Jennifer.
Billie never left, so.
Yeah, she literally hasn’t changed at all. I don’t understand not being able to defend this action, but being able able to defend her before when she’s been doing the same shit since day one.
Well, a mature, well-adjusted Jennifer/Billie wouldn’t really fit the premise of the strip; I’m not just a majority of the readers would find that version of the character that interesting; and I’m not sure Willis would enjoy writing her that much.
I really don’t understand the gaslight job Jen is trying to pull here
She can’t be attracted to a guy she knows is actually like Walky because then she’d have to admit she’s attracted to Walky.
I can buy it, especially with the flashbacks that showed that the actual origin of “Billie”, and how it stuck with her, even if Walky himself doesn’t remember how it actually happened and didn’t know to correct her when she (seemingly intentionally) lied about it.
She’s “punishing” him for whatever perceived infractions.
I don’t think she has any idea what she’s trying to accomplish. She’s just lashing out because she’s lost her sense of superiority and saying literally anything that makes her feel bigger, damn the consequences.
Also she feeds on fighting and drama, it makes her feel passionate and alive. Giving her what she wants isn’t giving her what she wants, because she wants to fight.
It’s a problem for ever being in a healthy relationship, but, she’s into unhealthy relationships where they’re both poison and everything’s very dire. Whatcha gonna do.
Yep, she admitted in front of Asher that she wants drama injected into her veins. Sals left her alone since trying to confront her about Asher and she’s been craving another does of superiority flavored drama since.
Right, this is the thing the storyline is actually trying to navigate towards — Jennifer cannot be happy because she doesn’t actually like herself and so what feels the most comfortable for her is conflict and chaos. She pushes Asher away not for the good reasons she *should* push him away, but because she doesn’t know what she wants and feels like something is wrong if things are doing well.
She doesn’t know who she is herself, so the concept of someone being happy by being themselves is foreign to her.
The shine has worn off, and she certainly can’t admit that it was a superficial connection (at least on her part) in the first place, so.
Can she just not be in a toxic relationship for 5 minutes?
Her relationship with herself is toxic.
So, no.
JenniferXBillie: the most toxic ship of all.
Ah, you mean the Good Ship Jillie?
Billifer.
Buttifer Billieswurp
This is also her kink too. She wants a toxic relationship.
She will never be happy, there is so much to self-sabotage constantly
Jen, sweetie pie honey baby darling, I kinda think you’re the one trying a bit too hard
…siiiigh
Why am I feeling sympathy for the guy that betrayed Sal back when
It’s weird that the comment section’s grudge against Asher seems to have outlived that of either Walkerton twin.
Not really.
We know more of what he’s done than they do, so it makes sense for them to be ok with him before we are.
I mean, he made sure of amber’s dad. That’s worth at *least* one good noodle sticker.
I feel like the comment section knows a lot less about what he actually did or did not do than the gestalt of us thinks we do.
We know he was involved in the kidnapping; that part is confirmed.
And it looks like he was given a heads up about Blaine’s murder after it was completed.
None of the characters in the story know this.
So yes, we know more than the characters do.
Yeah, but a lot of people seem to be under the impression that we know details about him doing stuff that wasn’t onscreen, why he did it, and what that means for his relationship with his family.
+1
We do have details though. We know he lied to Sal about not being involved with his criminal family. We know he stole money from his grandpa to attend IU.
https://www.dumbingofage.com/2019/comic/book-10/01-birthday-pursuit/wiggly/
This is why Blaine was able to blackmail him. Him getting a text near the time a dirty cop assassinated Blaine implies a reaffirmation of his connection to the mob. It’s pretty easy math.
https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/04-is-a-song-forever/blammo/
What more do we need to know? We shouldn’t trust Asher.
I don’t think he lied to Sal – at least not there.
He was (and probably still is?) trying to get out, but Blaine dragged him back in. How far back in is another question.
They don’t know he almost got Walky killed. Sal knows he’s still dangerous in the bad way, just not the specifics.
I am willing to let bygones be bygones on calling the cops, like it was shitty but he was a kid.
I’m more side-eyeing his involvement in what happened with Blaine (even if I am glad the bastard’s dead) and experiencing a lot of pessimism about his association with Raidah.
You know, I thought Asher was friends with Raidah because they were both the same kind of clout-chasing manipulative asshole, but then I went digging through the /Asher tag to try and get a feel for his actual personality, past all the bad things we’ve heard about him, and I found this page, which I think is implying that Asher is being manipulated by Raidah. Like, the way her demeanor changes when Asher joins the conversation… the contrast between what she really thinks of Jennifer and what she’s letting Asher think she thinks of Jennifer is the punchline. IDK, I think… I think I might be an Asher defender now?
Billie has a talent for making her romantic interests relapse their addictions, it would seem.
She’s unconsciously not happy being with Asher, so she’s giving him crap regardless of what he does.
Break up with her. C’mon Asher. Do it. Dump her ass.
This is actually a catch 22 I think cause breaking up with her would guarantee to reignite her interest.
in the current situation, Asher can perpetually be in a state of disappointing her enough for her to mostly leave him alone but NOT pine for him again.
“how dare yo ubreak up with me, get back together so /I/ can dump /you/ when i want”
I mean, that would be so in-character for Jennifer to unironically say, it’s almost painful. Definitely “final panel punchline to a strip” material.
Feels like she’s got to be pushing him towards that line of “Why the fuck am I even doing this.”
And Jennifer continues to be horrible, hurray…
Maybe Asher will get with Alice and bond over Jennifer being a drama hurricane.
Two attractive people together! That should work. (Note avatars.)
Like Malaya and Joe!
Yes… Ha ha… YES!
It would be PERFECTLY in line with how Jennifer´s life works.
If ever there were a catalyst for a Jennijoker arc…
Let’s do it
Yeah, these two are in their death throes.
BRUUUUH?
BRUUUUH!!!!!
Jennifer what the fuck?!??!
I am now shipping Asher and Lucy. They both deserve better.
Eh.
I’m not a fan of the Walky x Lucy thing, but he’s actually doing alright by her (aside from myself and others doubting how interested he is in her).
He likes hanging out with her.
He trusts her and values her opinion.
They get each other’s sense of humor.
He stood up to her brother for her.
He stood up to Jennifer for her.
He’s repeatedly suggested she avoid meeting his troublesome parents.
And he’s even turned down his first love to remain faithful and committed to her.
I’d still rather him be with Amber, but all things considered, he’s not a bad boyfriend to Lucy.
And there are for sure worse things than not being In Love with the girl you’ve been dating for… a week, is it?
10 days as of the current day in the strip (give or take a few hours).
Indeed. I can’t imagine actuallybeing in love with someone with less than a year of work in that direction. Ten days? That is crazynuts to me.
What I can’t imagine is actually being in the same town/state/country with someone for more than a year without something happening to screw it up, which is why all my relationships got started within 48 hours of meeting. Even my marriage which is in its 5th decade now and just 5 years from an actual 50th anniversary. The only reason that lasted was I took her with me.
Honestly, I think jumping wang-dang-doodle first into his past two relationships, then having them crash and burn, *might* have sobered Walky from going full ham into a relationship.
He’s just taking his time this go around, so he can fit the whole foot into his mouth.
He’s not a bad boyfriend and I do believe a slower burn relationship can end up being stronger than one that is hot and heavy. My problem is it really feels like Walky is just doing what is expected of him. He’s being a good boyfriend because that’s what you’re supposed to do when you date, cause you’re supposed to date girls that like you right? And Lucy likes him so why not?
I agree, which is why I’m not a fan of the relationship.
But it’s hard to say if he’s really not into her or if we just think he’s not into her, so I’m trying to give the benefit of the doubt.
(I didnt mean to write this whole paragraph, and if you read it you are a total saint I do not deserve) Lucy has been a really good friend to walky, but …..
Shes basically a passive aggressive mix of old Danny and Joyce.
We Know she shes been a Female version of the “NiceGuy” dating strategem.
and “availibility is her best feature” .
Now shes taking Walkys feelings feeling fir granted. Because she saw herself as dating him the whole time and didnt tell him. Which turns out was the wrong strategy. Walky actually likes, her. Always likes her and Gladly would have dated her months ago. Just the fact she likes and him chose him makes him feel special enough to get a spark going.
but its just a spark and she blowing it out. She might have even missed her real moment with him. Its not true love and he needs time for feelings to catch up to hers, and maybe they wont.
its legit for you not to like that Lucy manipulated walky into a relationship dishonestly by being his friend when he was vulnerable, and then just waiting it out. Walky needs to be honest with his feelings and tell her they are just dating Newbs not newly weds. Maybe they should even go one a break. Not a break up. Walky needs to make sure he is in this relationship for himself, and not because Other people pushed him in it. ( Lucy, Dorothy Lucy, Dorothy again ) .
that being said. I dont think its a bad ship. I just think its all lopsided. They actually might be right for each other. Walky needs to be able to lead more in this relationship because Lucy has never dated anyone. That also means following his feelings and sharing them and not letting them get smothered.
It sucks because Lucy has become his sounding board that he depends on, and he cant in this situation. ( and that is whats wrong with her codependancy dating strategy ).
For what its worth i think they could be a supercouple ( one day ) and he’s into her. but just as someone whos just started dating and only just started to convert fis feelings of friendship into something more.
But I also think Lucy isnt that into him either. Shes into the IDEA of having a boyfriend and into the idea of walky being that boyfriend. ( thats a normal thing of a first bf . She just should have gotten this out in highschool ). they could have sex and it ignites full passion. or it could be OK then superawkward and Lucy over dotes on him so much it makes it weird , makes him feel like a liar and break city.
Walky Needs to tell Lucy He Likes her a LOT as bf but he Loves her as a friend. Or He loves her as a friend and likes her a lot as bf, and we’ll see.
and he needs to tell her he has doubts , because he was emotioanally manipulated … by dorothy twice. TO date Lucy. so she wouldnt date her again.
if he cant say this the relationship is doomed.
don’t agree on all the details, but do agree on the conclusion. I don’t know why he’s still going on Dorothy’s “don’t talk about it, just fake being in love for now” advice, he’s become aware that she’s bad for advice in at least his relationship with Lucy. Maybe it’s just short-term easier than talking to Lucy and making sure she understands what he’s saying.
“Lucy, you need to put on this NightGirl costume and go out with NightGuy.”
Yeaaah this is exactly what irks me. It feels so uncomfortable.
May I recommend:
Walky- X Lucy X Asher
Yeah, this ship’s definitely about to capsize.
Seems more like it’s being Deliberately Scuttled.
The thing about this is, I think they’re both in the wrong right now.
Wait concerning Asher, in this strip specifically or just in general?
other than getting along with/twinning walky i dont’ think he did anything esp bad in this arc lol
Picking up smoking again is certainly bad for him, but that’s probably the ‘worst’ thing he’s done since he assisted a well-deserved murder as far as I can remember.
Diagram for me how getting along with the outsider invited to a group meal is a bad thing.
I said, “Whoa no! Winston and Salem won’t do, now” (apologies to Steely Dan)
At some point, she needs to say this isn’t working and break up with him. This is like Malaya arbitrarily saying someone is “fakey”, and dating them.
I don’t want to show Asher any sympathy, since he has: stolen, betrayed someone who helped him steal, stole money from a mob, and has the ability to call in a hit. So he really deserves no sympathy; that being said I would dump Billie/Jennifer and feel no regret.
Yes, but he killed Blaine so that’s a big point in his win column.
And stealing from the mob for tuition seems like a double negative that’s a good thing again, too.
Wow, Asher really looks different when he puts on a police uniform.
I don’t know why you’re pretending people don’t conspire to murder witnesses.
I don’t know why you think I’m doing anything remotely like that.
Hey, Asher.
You’re surprisingly Walky-like.
Dorothy is single and looking for a Walky-like presence in her life.
I remember people suggesting the idea before, and I wasn’t a fan, but I’m more than willing to support that ship now, even if you’re mobbed up and somewhat involved in violent crimes, because Jennifer is really irking me lately and also doesn’t seem to appreciate you.
If you do get with Dorothy, what she would call that?
Dasher?
Dordash?
We’ll workshop it.
Dorash, but it’s not dating so much as Dorothy texts him when she wants to hookup and he let’s her know he can be there in 25 to 35 minutes.
That would be the kind of fling Dorothy needs. I would not want to see her trying to have a Relationship with with this shady character.
It’s so weird to me that people think Dorothy wants or could actually have that kind of relationship. She’s never shown any sign of wanting something like that and I really doubt she could keep things on that casual a level even if she tried.
She started a “just for fun” thing with Walky and fell in love with him. Still is, months later. I think that’s how she works. If she’s interested, she’s going to get invested.
Great points!
For the record, my comment was just for the sake of the pun.
Fair.
Now I like the idea of Dorothy literally running into Asher and hitting it off just so Asher can tell Jennifer he thinks he needs somebody more mature then her.
….. Dorothy getting with the guy that got everyone kidnapped while also not dealing with her trauma from getting kidnapped would be very much on brand for this strip’s type of drama.
Dordash makes me think of expensive cheap jeans (Jordache I’m looking at you, with knees that split after just a few washes)
I love you Jennifer but you have got to stop with the self sabotage
I am confuse.
I say he’s not trying too hard enough!
What do you suggest? That he try to seduce her Leisure Suit Larry style? XD
Hm, how could he try harder? His clothes aren’t dark enough, I think. More black leather and overall a darker color scheme. What else…he could shave a line in his eyebrow to suggest a scar there. Yeah.
He could don a red bowl cut and some glasses.
Rebel without a causeway.
Yeah, Jennifer’s an asshole, but Asher was ALWAYS trying too hard.
You’re not wrong, honestly.
I think she misses Ruth, cuz Ruth would never let this shit fly, she needs another nutjob and Asher is too (mentally) normal.
You know, I think I am starting to realize part of Jennifer’s problem with Asher, and it’s making me find him less attractive, too.
Asher… is a fuckboy.
How do you define that?
Because he appears to genuinely want to be with her.
nah fuckboys aren’t monogamous or at the very least prolly stick to one night stands and not bother with ‘group lunches’ and such (unless he mutually sees raidah’s friend group as ‘beneficial’)
It’s Jennifer who only wants to perform a sex. Asher wants to build intimacy. Jennifer is the actual fuckboy.
I’d date Asher. Well, as long as he drops smoking again.
Be hilarious if he did raid walky’s closet and embraced his inner ‘dork’ or so. i’m sure he’s got some star wars knowledge tho ‘everyone’s seen star wars’ apparently lol
What Jennifer sees is her own reflection. Now that she knows how dorky Asher can be, all she can see is someone who only pretends to be cool. Someone who’s eager to fit in.
Ooh, this is a good read. Turns out he’s not an authentic bad boy he’s just a guy, and that’s too close to home maybe?
one man’s dorkiness is another man’s coolness, i don’t think he esp ‘overcomensated’ with the bad boy look/attitude to hide any ‘secret nerdery’ or anything , but other than the mob boss family and kidnapping incident and all that, he’s fairly normal/well adjusted as opposed to some mustache twirling puppet master or so
I wish Jen would just bite the bullet and break up with him. She’s clearly not got her heart in this relationship.
You’re a mean one
You really are a heel
You’re as cuddly as a cactus
You’re as charming as an eel
Miss Billingsworth , you’re a bad banana
Miss Billingsworth, with the greasy black peel
As sung by Boris Karloff, who had a beautiful bass-baritone singing voice.
Who would have thought that at this point its Asher who is to good for this relationship
I don’t know how much longer Willis intends to keep building the Billie situation, but I’ve kicked her in the throat so many times in my mind by now.
Fucking billy
Jennifer, what the fuck do you WANT?!
To have her cake and eat it too, by the looks of it. 👀
“It’s not that simple.”
I’m not convinced she even knows
The important thing is that she wants What She Wants to happen naturally
I think that’s the problem, she wants what she wants to just happen without having to work for it. Relationships take work, life takes work.
Feels like we’re building towards this inevitable exchange:
Jennifer: You’re not bad enough for me, you’re too friendly.
Asher: I helped arrange the kidnapping of most of your peer group and the subsequent murder of one of the kidnappers by a corrupt police officer.
Jennifer: …I have just now decided to grow as a person.
Don’t pretend you’re not turned on right now, Billie. The entire premise of this strip is that you find him smoking.
…
Jennifer I swear to god you’re infuriating
Unlike everyone else in the series….
She’ll be dumped pretty soon with that attitude.
Might be what she’s aiming for on some level, get dumped/cheated on so there will be maximum drama.
It’s almost as if Jennifer’s frustration with Asher stems from something else entirely…
Goddammit, Asher
Can someone please tell me how they still enjoy Jennifer as a character? because i am done with her.
eh insecurity relatability
I am extremely close to an “eight deadly words” moment with her specifically.
Mostly the rockin’ titties. I very much enjoy her appearance.
Same here.
If you like drama, she is a safe person to watch dramer vicariously
She has gone past being an unlikeable character that i still enjoy to someone that i have no interest in reading any comics about.
Bingo.
She’s terrible at her own life. She’s ok helping other people. She’s angry because she’s in pain. We see and understand Sal’s anger and pain. It’s implied Jennifer was emotionally discarded before even kindergarten, but we don’t know why exactly. Same reason? or they’re just rich assholes who can’t be bothered to even try? something else?
Feels to me like whenever they talk about Sal and Walky’s crummy parents, she has an unspoken, “and my parents don’t even acknowledge I exist.”
Maybe her parents got so caught up in the money game that they have trouble remembering that they’re parents? Chasing money can do that. For some it’s a supremely absorbing game.
Because she’s a fun character? The fact that she’s a dramatic toxic hot mess is the POINT? That’s the appeal. She’s entertaining. Why do y’all gotta moralize liking a character, it’s so tiring.
Also I want her to get back together with Ruth because the both of them being the absolute worst for each other was hot and entertaining as well.
She’s deeply unpleasant and sucks the joy out of any scene she’s in. She’s not fun to read about, she’s tiring.
“I’m wearing the Butt Taco tee, if that helps!”
Psst! Asher! Your line is “okay, Jen, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU LATELY???”
goddammit jennifer
goddammit asher too, a little.
no point in going back to smoking and also acting cool for someone who’s being a dick. just bail.
gonna be interesting to see the repercussions of this in raidah’s group.
Jennifer ist just toxic to everyone
oof
Is there any Goldilocks hotness with Jenny?
Jennifer is right?
I don’t think that Asher or anyone else needs to change themselves for their boo like that, especially if it’s doing something unhealthy. What Jennifer desperately needs right now is someone who can hug her and who she can cry into the arms of. I think that’s what draws her in to the brooding but sweet guy she wants.
Jennifer is one of my favorite characters. She’s cute and the timing was funny.
Accidental flag, my b.
Also Asher was being a sweet guy and trying to be there for her emotionally and she shut him down and told him what she wanted was the smoking badass she liked initially and then he tried that and she’s still not happy. The punchline of this strip is her inconsistency.
She isn’t right and that’s the point.
Good point, but honestly I still think she just needs to be checked for a concussion.
Jennifer remains a terrible person. Get some therapy and get over yourself.
Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
I said, hey babe …
OH NOES
So many people don’t actually pay attention to the lyrics in that song.
I never really cared for Billie but I hate Jennifer 😡
Not a big fan of Asher but I’m feeling a little bit of sympathy for him because Jennifer is being a shit here. Make up your mind what you want and stop treating your boyfriend badly Jennifer.
Jennifer cannot help but self-sabotage because she hates living the way she thinks she wants, and looks down on living the way she actually wants.
Didn’t her new friend group say they got her out of a toxic group when they first invited her? Little do they know SHE was the toxic one
Eeeexactly. They like to convince her that Sarah and Joyce are the reason Jennifer had issues, but Joyce and Sarah have nothing to do with the issues Jennifer has. And by blaming stuff on her previous friend group/Ruth/whatever you wanna call it, it means Jennifer changes nothing about herself and thus… this kind of thing happens.
I mean they did kind of consistently treat her like garbage even when she was being nice, especially Sarah. I’m glad she pulled her out of Ruth’s arms… Despite everything else she needs to work on.
Like seriously Raidah would probably benefit from a therapist, and so would the people around her.
Actually nevermind she’d probably just start using therapy speak against people like this loser who wanted to fuck me who I kept rejecting. Like seriously he’s like an ex to me in spite of how we never got together and I was never interested because he was that fucking clingy. He didn’t respect my intelligence and kept trying to dictate my political beliefs. He would also pry into other people’s therapy sessions. (ran a support group thingy online 🤢). I know because he told me that his therapist was trying to get him to acknowledge the harm he did by phrasing everything in the most delicate way possible so that he *had* to accept it… there’s more, but, yeah. It felt really creepy and crappy and kept fucking up my day and his friends enabled it.
Honestly just what a loser. I haven’t thought about it in a while (very proud of that because I spent a lot of therapy sessions myself working through it), but I just said that thing just now and was like, “oh, right. That guy.”
“And your head is too big for your legs.”
GOD i hate jennifer so much lmao
Fucking same
Wow, what an absolute conga.