Well, sure. Mark has to go back to work. Is that any reason for Mark to look like he just got caught staring at Ellis’s teenage daughter? Be warned, readers, I have a few more questionable observations! 

Isn’t it time for Rivera to stop with the animal-stares-at-reader parody? Sure, it was a cute take for a while on the traditional Mark Trail habit of putting animals in the foreground of its panels. But the parody has worn itself out and now it just seems trite. Rivera: Please return to the tradition or try something new.

Second, I do like the way Rivera portrayed Ellis as a tilted and flattened image underscoring its smartphone source.

Finally, I think we might be seeing some story padding (mattress stuffing) already. It adds next to nothing to the story, itself, other than to keep reiterating Mark’s already-depicted feelings and conflicts. Sure, it’s okay to have a bit of polite catch-up, but it’s time to move on.