Dumbing of Age is the fifth webcomic created by David Willis, and the first to be set outside of the Walkyverse continuity. Essentially a reboot, it features all of the major players of Walkyverse as they make their way through college, "minus fifteen years of baggage" and the fantastical/sci-fi elements seen in previous comics. [1]
It currently runs seven days a week. In addition to the strip's website, it is also available through the Comic Chameleon mobile app operating on the Android and iOS platforms.
Characters
- Joyce Brown - Home schooled and deeply religious, Joyce has to learn how to balance her faith with the hard realities of college life.
- Sarah Clinton - Joyce's sarcastic, bitter roomie.
- Jennifer "Billie" Billingsworth - High school overlord turned hard-drinking college nobody.
- David "Walky" Walkerton - Highly intelligent manchild.
- Sal Walkerton - Walky's sister. Rebel with a pretty damned good cause.
- Dorothy Keener - Overachieving Presidential hopeful.
- Danny Wilcox - Hapless, but well-meaning.
- Joe Rosenthal - Look out, ladies!
- Mike Warner - Even in this continuity, he's still an asshole.
- Ruth "Ruthless" Lessick - Vicious RA with an unexpectedly angsty side.
- Ethan Siegal - A Jewish toy nerd trying to squeeze himself back into the closet.
- Amber O'Malley, AKA Amazi-Girl - Social recluse by day, crime-fighter by night.
- Dina Saruyama - Loves dinosaurs. Continues to be baffled by humans.
- Roz DeSanto - The campus pro-sex crusader.
- Carla Rutten - Also an asshole, just in a different way.
- Jacob Williams - Object of lust for both Ethan and Sarah.
- Jason Chesterfield - Put-upon TA of British extraction.
- Marcie Diaz - Sal's skate-or-die sidekick. Rocks the ASL.
- Malaya Eugenio - A pain in the ass. Hangs out with Sal's gang, somehow.
- Becky MacIntyre - Joyce's best buddy.
- Daisy Conrad - Edits the student newspaper.
ProbablyDefinitely needs a girlfriend. - Leslie Bean - Gender Studies teacher and general source of wisdom.
- Blaine O'Malley - Master of parental villainy.
Supporting Cast
- Agatha
- Alex
- Alice
- Anthony "Tony" McHenry Jr.
- Arnold
- Asma
- Beef
- Bryan
- Buckets of Blood Guy
- Carl
- Carol Brown
- Chanise, AKA "Chan"
- Charlotte, AKA "Char"
- Charles Walkerton
- Conquest
- Dana
- Deborah Keener
- Dean Anthony McHenry
- Dr. Richard Rosenthal
- Duncan
- Falyn Snow
- Faz
- Galasso
- George Warner
- Grace
- Hank Brown
- Harriet Warner
- Haruka Saruyama
- Howard Lessick
- Jeremiah Keener
- Jim
- Jocelyne (Joshua) Brown
- Kaitlin
- Ken
- Linda Walkerton
- Mandy
- Mary
- Naomi Siegal
- Pamela Galasso
- Penny
- Professor Alan Rees
- Rachel
- (Other) Rachel
- Raidah
- Randal Wilcox
- Reno Snow
- Riley DeSanto
- Robin DeSanto
- Ron
- Rose
- Ryan
- Ryou Saruyama
- Sharon Wilcox
- Stacy O'Malley
- Sierra Snow
- Saul Siegal
Storylines
For more detail on individual plots, see the Dumbing of Age storylines page.
Patreon
Dumbing of Age is currently supported via Patreon. Backers gain access to a number of special bonuses, including:
- Early access to strips, typically 24 hours ahead of posting
- Two exclusive bonus strips a month, one of which features a character voted on by backers
- An exclusive monthly wallpaper
- Access to the entirety of Joyce and Walky!
Print Collections
Four print collections have been released to date.
- Book 1: This Campus is a Friggin' Escher Print - September 2010 to October 2011 (Purchase)
- Book 2: I Beg You, Don't Cast Your Body Into The Cragged Shame Pits of The Lustwolves - October 2011 to November 2012 (Purchase)
- Book 3: Your Stupid Overconfidence is Nostalgic - November 2012 to October 2013 (Purchase)
- Book 4: Amazi-Girl Is Always Prepared for Anything - October 2013 to September 2014 (Purchase)
- Book 5: Hey, Guess What, I'm a Lesbian - September 2014 to August 2015
These collections have also been released through Comixology.
Dumbing of Age Pornographiques
In 2014, David Willis began releasing X-rated - and canon! - Dumbing of Age comics featuring various established couples through adult comics portal Slipshine. To date, five "Pornographiques" have been published, with more planned for the near future:
- Dorothy and Walky Perform a Sex (Dorothy/Walky, natch)
- Mask or No Mask? (Amber/Danny)
- Finally (Billie/Ruth)
- Head of the Class (Jason/Sal)
- Tales of Sinterest (Dorothy/Walky, Roz/Joe, Bryan/Sayid, AND Billie/Ruth anthology style)
Accessing these comics requires a Slipshine subscription.
Merchandise
Other Dumbing of Age merchandise, including prints and shirts, can be purchased through the DoA/Shortpacked! Big Cartel store.