So far, Tad Crass is showing the kind of inspired off-the-cuff thinking and BS that is getting to be all too common these days. And he doesn’t seem to be making any headway. Jules Rivera gave Tad the “Simon Legree” sneer in panel 3 to make sure we understand who the Bad Guy is here. Maybe that explains the startled look on Mark’s face, as well. Mark returned to his expression of indifference in panel 4, which should get a rise out of Tad. No doubt, he will think it is a negotiating tactic and try to up the bargain.

Art Dept. Speaking of Mark’s face, I’m kind of twisted in my grasp of Mark’s head in panel 1. I don’t get the anatomy. The neck looks like the head has twisted around from the back. It’s a very odd look. The problem I’m having might be exacerbated by Rivera’s decision to draw Mark’s head in profile, rather than a three-quarter rear view that his torso exhibits. As we have seen before, Rivera tends to avoid drawing heads from that angle, opting for flat profiles (see also panel 3). But that approach can lead to awkward results.