Comic strips are typically written and drawn several weeks in advance. So it’s an unfortunate happenstance that there are events concurrently happening in real life on the West Coast being described like Rivera has done in panel 1.

I reckon that all one over-emotional “con-goer” has to do is insult or bump into anybody and the place erupts into utter chaos and violence in no time. Of course, that’s how most bar fights also started in Old West movies! Good ol’ “Mister Obvious” here is still looking out for Kelly Welly, in spite of her figuratively stabbing him in the back more than once in this story.

I’m a bit disappointed that she hasn’t asked Mark to use his spider powers to calm the violence. “What!?” you ask, “What do you mean ‘spider powers’?” I mean Mark’s “web-like” red shirt, very different from his usual checkered shirt, but darn close to Spiderman’s costume. Well, maybe not really Peter Parker, but a checked shirt with bow tie and jacket looks like something the stereotypical high-school nerd would wear in any number of forgettable TV sitcoms and movies.

Art Dept. Rivera continues to develop a strange kind of “aw shucks!” image of Mark, best seen in panel 1. His receding chin, clucking mouth, and sweaty brow combine with his screen-toned, hobo-like five o’clock shadow and cornball outfit to suggest a non-serious character.