Of course, Mark would have already known what his “assignment” would be before arriving, so this recap takes place in the truck at night to make it look more dramatic and timely. It’s a common TV/movie storytelling technique; a shade more interesting than several panels of Mark sitting at home, while getting the details on a phone call.

Then again, when Mr. Phelps got his Mission Impossible assignments, they were usually delivered on a tape or an LP, as Mr. Phelps sat down and looked through a bunch of photographs. But it was the contrast between watching a seated man (usually in a suit) shuffling through photos and the aggressive self-destruction of the tape or record at the end that made the scene dramatic. I don’t think that would work here. More than once, that is.

But six years on the case of a reptile dealer!? Either Agent Gunn is really busy with multiple cases or he has not gotten much support from his department. So Mark must be Agent Gunn’s gift from the heavens; his dux ex machina with which he’ll bring down the criminal reptile enterprise. I reckon this is a situation where Mark’s general anonymity should work in his favor, as he seems to be getting ready to go undercover: MARK TRAIL, REPTILE SPY!!