…that holy figures were depicted (typically) with a circle or an aura around their heads…    

And see how the “Rod Bassy Killer®” seems to not reflect, but emanate its own light!  So he’s either fishing with an illegal light-up lure, or this is truly the product a divine intervention…

Love the sneer in the last panel.  Rod Bassy is just as smug as can be.  His Ass-holiness is complete!

And Mark is SOOOO pleased with himself, having cracked the case in less than three days…  This is lightening, deadline fueled journalism being witnessed here!!