Art Dept. Often when cartoonists show an encircled figure apparently floating in space, such as Violet in panel 1, it is meant to highlight an action or expression taking place in another area outside of our immediate view. The point is to provide the readers with a larger scale view of the environment in which the dialog or activity is occurring. In this case, it is the Sunny Soleil Society’s HQ and grounds, where Cherry and Violet are inside. We understand this encircled image is not a physical ball of some sort, floating around the yard. It is just an artistic device and a longstanding trope in comics.

Here, Rivera pokes fun at the trope by having Violet’s hanky fly outside of the circle as she sneezes, thereby suggesting that it actually does inhabit the outside space, alongside the snake. The illusion is enhanced by having the snake look at Violet (or her hanky). Without that flying hanky, the effect of the joke is less dramatic. So props to Rivera. But the less said about Violet’s image, the better. On the other hand, Rivera does a fine job depicting Violet’s suffering in panel 2. Looking at her makes me want to grab for my own nasal spray!