wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww dial tone analysis

Page 1:
- Starts out appearing normal, start of Mike's dream
- Panel 6 is the first sign that something's wrong. Daisy usually doesn't act this creepy.
- Second possible indicator is the last panel, with no one else present. Showing up at 6 is likely a subconscious justification of this.
- Also why is Mike exclusively with Daisy and no one else from the group?
Page 2:
- Lucy appears in a dress. Might be a reference to the last time Mike saw her, which is when she's in her costume at the play.
Page 3:
- Lucy refers to Mike with Maishul. She's never done this outside of mocking Mike's obsession with Sandy.
- Lucy is also acting extremely uncharacteristic here. Another indicator that this is a dream, aside from the obvious.
- "I just want to say the things you want to hear." Probably Mike beating himself up because he only warmed up to Lucy when she was less abusive to him.
- More uncharacteristic actions from Lucy. She also isn't this creepy. Probably has to do with Mike's mental state deteriorating and messing with his memories.
Page 4:
- Mike fully believes that this is a hallucination and he tries acting like nothing's wrong for Daisy.
- Lucy's actions may indicate how uncomfortable he was whenever Lucy tried being more affectionate with him.
- Mike's response could be a self-stab on how aggressive he was in the events of December.
Page 5:
- Suddenly old art style. Definitely representative of recalling and longing for the simpler times of Volume 1.
- Cycles through multiple incarnations of Mike and Lucy, whether it be through their attire or their art style, sometimes looking more like when the story was in Middle School, sometimes looking like the later end of Volume 1, yet

before the Acapulco arc.
- Judging from both Lucy's affection and Mike's aggression, it appears that Mike may believe that they're both screwed up tremendously.
- Lucy seems to be trying to reassure Mike's fear that Sandy doesn't care about him anymore. Possibly indicates that Mike misconstrued Lucy's actions as wanting Mike to cheat on Sandy for her.
Page 6:
- Back to the modern artstyle.
- Lucy reminding Mike of the time he kissed her in 5th grade (referenced in Pillow Talk during Lucy's flashback), indicating that he still feels guilt over that event.
- Sandy herself appears now instead of Lucy to further reinforce Mike's phobia of Sandy losing faith in him.
Page 7:
- Back to classic art style.
- Sandy constantly talking about how she's always busy, even to the point that she wouldn't be able to tell Mike she'd be in town today, probably indicates Mike's frustration with her lifestyle.
- "I just needed to shut you up with the flowers."
Page 8:
- Mike breaking down on the floor and crying out of desperation for Sandy, probably another self-stab at how stupid he is for being so obsessed with her, or self-recollection of how much of a high priority he puts her in and

denial of the possiblity of her leaving.
- Sandy flies away the moment Mike attempts to grab her. Indicates his frustration from their distance apart.
- Now THIS is where shit gets really fucked up.
Page 9:
- Mike runs for Sandy while she effortlessly keeps her distance and watches him, unamused.
- School transforms into a forest, might be either the park that he and Sandy used to hang out in or the forest where he and Lucy almost died.
- The moment he makes one small mistake (stepping on a twig), everyone immediately chastises him for it. (Represented by a callback of the "Cheater Cheater Cheater" mob Paulo used to call in Freshman year. The moss pulling Mike

in is further reinforcement of this. This may not only be Mike expressing his frustration with how prone everyone in his life is to getting involved in drama over the pettiest actions, but this may also be a commentary on the

fanbase, who jumped on Mike endlessly and absolutely loathed his very existence during and after December.
Page 10:
- Mike is now drowning. Possibly a reference to either the Waterfall incident where Lucy gained her hydrophobia, or the Acapulco incident.
- The bubble subtley split the page up into panels as Mike drowns. This is getting fucking crazy, but bare with me. Bubbles are a sign of someone in danger, underwater drowning. Comic panels indicate that this is all merely being

illustrated for others' amusement. As entertainment. Despite the character himself suffering. May further go with the "Cheater Cheater Cheater" mob being a commentary on the fanbase, as this is exactly what those same kind of

people want. Mike to suffer for their amusement as justice for his actions. Or it's probably just a stylistic choice and you're being a fuckin nerd
Page 11:
- Someone finally pulls Mike out of the water. It's Lucy. This COMPLETELY goes against Lucy's hydrphobia.
- Lucy is now acting in character once more.
- She has bandages on where she was injured in the events of Confrontation. This and going against her hydrophobia indicates that Mike believes that Lucy really did do things and go completely out of her way for Mike's best

interests.
Page 12:
- "You wanted me dead." Mike feels extreme guilt over his attitude towards Lucy in Just Beautiful.
- Lucy suddenly has an impalement in her chest. References the suicide attempt. Indicates she did it because she believes that it's what Mike wanted her to do.
Page 13:
- Mike using his scarf to stop the bleeding, possible reference to the running joke on everyone wiping shit off on his scarf?
- Note that the scarf is the same one Sandy gave Mike in Just Beautiful. Possible indicator that Mike may take some leniency to help others, even if it means jeopardizing his relationship even ever so slightly.
- Mike suddenly has a knife. He's the one that stabbed Lucy. Inner guilt intensifies, as he believes he is the reason Lucy tried to kill herself.
Page 14:
- Mike tries to deny that he's the reason Lucy attempted suicide.
- Lucy holds the knife to Mike's neck now. This possibly indicates that all the stress he's receiving from his is likely going to result in him taking himself out as well.
- Woop Sandy again, and she absolutely does not give a fuck. More indicators that Sandy no longer cares for Mike.
Page 15:
- Sandy comments on Mike always being so needy over her. Indicates that Mike now feels hypocritical as he cricized Lucy for acting the exact same way.
- Mike begs for Sandy to forgive him, just like Lucy did to Mike.
Page 16:
- Lucy is now in her dress from Curtain Call. The last time Mike saw her, AND the plot of the musical itself may be foreshadowing to this arc. The curse that drove Lucy away could have been Sandy.
- Sandy kills Mike. Brutally. This possibly represents Mike's confirmation that he now wants to kill himself.
Page 17:
- Mike wakes up, visibly shaken. The comic is now in grayscale to juxtapose with the full color of earlier.
Page 18:
- Mike repeatedly tries calling Sandy, to no avail. This is probably because Sandy is asleep, and it internally reinforces Mike's phobia of her leaving. When he tries calling for help, she isn't there.
Page 19:
- Kinda self-explanatory. Mike is aggravated. Obviously at her inability to pick up, possibly from his guilt and phobia.
Page 20:
- Mike flashes back to an earlier event.
- "And you couldn't wait until tomorrow? God you're needy." Highly ironic statement, as it comes from Lucy towards Mike. Showcases her early obliviousness to her situation. Potentially takes place soon after Sandy initially left?
- Nope, she references the bonsai tree that Sandy gave him in Hot Pursuit. So this takes place soon after that chapter.
Page 21:
- Mike's outburst in response to Lucy's mockery already showcases that Mike was already beginning to get frustrated with Lucy's attitude, though not as extreme as in December quite yet.
Page 22:
- Again, self-explanatory. Lucy reassures Mike, probably causing an ABSOLUTE ASS-TON of guilt for him in the present now that he's recalling it. Cute scene.
wow i have no fucking life