One irony I like about this chapter is that the “fantasy” side, despite featuring a ghost, an interdimensional doorway, and a portentous dream about an existential threat to the universe, is fairly relaxed and low-key. Meanwhile, it’s the “reality” side, best summarized as “two people talk out their differences in a coffee shop and park,” that is tense and action-packed.

Another thing I enjoy here is the chance to use the 3X3 grid and slight variations thereof persistently. Even after twenty years of doing this professionally, I still feel a bit mystified and intimidated at the properties of the different possible comics layouts, but the sort of constrained tension from that grid makes a big impression on anyone who studies Watchmen.

Not that you need any visual cues to tell who’s winning this conversation, but now it’s Carol who’s sitting and Shanna towering over her.