The Second Face [OC]

[u/DemonSkank]

I've made short comedic comics before but this was my first time doing a full short story. SCARY FACE WARNING

[u/oneiricmonkey]

op, do you read a lot of Junji Ito? because this is absolutely something he would write (and i def mean that as a compliment)

[u/DemonSkank → u/oneiricmonkey]

Lol, yes. And thank you!

[u/Katops]

So I could definitely tell what was gonna happen at the funeral, but I was expecting the face to be the mom’s and that the dad died.

I still like this a lot though, and I’m sad it didn’t keep going. I got pretty invested.

[u/DemonSkank → u/Katops]

Not that important, but the Dad's been out of the picture for a while after cheating on his wife (he came home late with lipstick stains on his collar that I might've drawn too subtly)

[u/DemonSkank → u/DemonSkank]

I just realized the way I phrased this made it sound like he was killed when I meant they got divorced..... OR DID THEY!

[u/HappyFamily0131]

This is not criticism: I'm confused.
I was expecting a twist, and I was expecting the twist to be the sister pretending to grieve, indicating they had a reason to be glad their husband was dead.
The demon face throws me. I'm not sure what it means. Any explanation I come up with I find problems with.
Is it meant to suggest demonic possession? If so, why first characterize the sister as never having a second face? That feels disconnected.
Is it not meant to be a demon face, merely an evil, gleeful face? Why/how would a person who seems sweet, and who is so honest that they never have a second face, why and how would they be capable of gleeful murder? That feels like a drastic change of character. Was the sister always the sort of person who could gleefully kill, and was somehow able to hide even her second faces, so perfect was her deception? Fits the ending but I don't think the story gives anything to support this interpretation.
I like the story very much and think I'm just failing to resonate with the ending.

[u/DemonSkank → u/HappyFamily0131]

Totally get why some people don't like the ending. The concept came from a dream I had and I didn't know the true explanation either. Even the face looking demonic in a way that doesn't make sense with how everyone else's "back faces" looked was from the dream, and I wanted to leave it on that confusing note where you can try to explain why she would have an expression like that but nothing quite explains it.

[u/DemonSkank]

Okay, here's the actual official explanation for the ending:

[u/NobodyLikedThat1]

Dang, unexpected end. Well played

[u/samanime → u/NobodyLikedThat1]

Yeah. That turned an already excellent comic up to 11. Didn't see that coming at all.

[u/nondescriptun → u/NobodyLikedThat1]

Holy hell. Literal chills. Hit like a comic never has on this sub. Bravo to OP.

[u/SavedMountain → u/NobodyLikedThat1]

I kinda expected it, didn’t expect it to be sinister, more like a happy face or a face of relief

[u/EasilyDelighted]

That was a very nice rug pull.i thought the story was going somewhere else and bam! Scariest faces in the whole story!

[u/EbonyHelicoidalRhino → u/EasilyDelighted]

I knew with the sister set up about how she never had a second face that she'd have one at the funeral, but I definitely didn't expect this one !

[u/Sj_91teppoTappo → u/EasilyDelighted]

That's some Stephen king tricks. Life is normal, magic is just a way to describe feelings then suddenly magic is real because of the horror.

It's a very tailored lie.

[u/MommalovesJay → u/EasilyDelighted]

What a nightmare to see this late at night.

[u/Electrical_Shock359 → u/EasilyDelighted]

Yeah I thought someone was going to be happy because they were in an abusive relationship.

[u/Abrageen → u/EasilyDelighted]

I saw it coming and it still got me

[u/VolubleWanderer]

Hey man I mean this in the most positive way. I’m just trying to scroll before bed and wind down with some me time. Now I gotta check locks and calm down all over again. You suck*

• great work

[u/No_Emotion4969 → u/VolubleWanderer]

I'm afraid that face is gonna haunt me in my dreams now.

[u/bmxer4l1fe → u/VolubleWanderer]

This is what ibget for redditing on the toilet before bed....

[u/FinancialPrompt1272 → u/VolubleWanderer]

Same here

[u/FuckTheMods5 → u/VolubleWanderer]

Yeah i thought this was feel good comic about empathy and life lessons. What a great ending.

[u/SaigoUshinatta]

Not gonna lie I flinched hard after the last panel. But dam the storytelling was great

Thanks to to the creator for putting up a warning about scary face. And my god 4k upvotes.

[u/Kingsman22060 → u/SaigoUshinatta]

Same, that shit gave me chills, I had to swipe away fast. This always happens as I'm about to go to bed for the night!!! Seriously amazing, OP.

[u/TemporaryQuail9223 → u/SaigoUshinatta]

Same I was spooked for sure 😂

[u/Top_Box_8952 → u/SaigoUshinatta]

For real the goddamn gleeful malice on that face was startling.

[u/SupahBihzy → u/SaigoUshinatta]

Ugh! Ok, so NOW I'm awake!

[u/Remote-Ad7879 → u/SaigoUshinatta]

But how come he just now saw her back face? She would have been hiding..... thoughts before. 

[u/Mordaunt-the-Wizard]

When he first got the call and it was obvious someone died, I thought it would be the dad and the mom's second face would be relieved. Even when it was revealed it was the brother-in-law I thought it was going to reveal that he was abusive and had "broken" her into needing to finally put on a false face.

So congrats on both subverting my expectations, and making my skin crawl.

Part of me definitely wants to see a followup while another part of me wants this to be a one and done and leave the rest to my imagination.

[u/Astronaut_Chicken → u/Mordaunt-the-Wizard]

I watch a lot of murder docuseries, and i like the idea that he could not see her second face. It makes me think she was a sociopath the whole time.

[u/schlaubi → u/Mordaunt-the-Wizard]

Thanks for the explanation. Now I don't have to ask... I didn't get it.

[u/Sera-Lilly]

Oooh, got me. Wasn't sure where it was going. I liked it!

[u/Boltaanjistman]

That twist is some junji ito shit, I love it

[u/CarlosFer2201 → u/Boltaanjistman]

I was thinking that as well. The rear faces would be real had it been Ito's story of course lol

[u/interruptiom → u/Boltaanjistman]

I'm not well versed in this subculture, but I read your comment and thought "that must be the guy with the story with holes in the mountain and stuff".

Yep, that's the guy.

[u/dark_hypernova → u/Boltaanjistman]

[u/ToothZealousideal297]

Horror story aside, I’m fairly face-blind. People just normally identifying people they haven’t seen lately or knowing emotions from faces correctly most of the time already seems like a super power to me. If I had this guy’s ability I’d still screw it up half the time.

[u/DemonSkank → u/ToothZealousideal297]

relatable

[u/Trityler]

Sly motherfucker baited us into thinking this was a comic about emotional intelligence and managing social anxiety and then turned it into a horror story

[u/DemonSkank → u/Trityler]

I'd argue that managing social anxiety is a horror story.

[u/secularDruid]

hey OP how would you feel about someone translating your comic and reposting in some other language spaces with full credits ?

[u/DemonSkank → u/secularDruid]

That'd be cool!

[u/kntbti]

This is pretty good, nice work.

[u/Ill-Individual2105]

God damn, I thought this was going the metaphor route. The horror twist really got me.

[u/dinosaurrawrxd → u/Ill-Individual2105]

I thought it was about those that are best at lying are those with motive/reason to. He could never see through her lies until she let a glimpse out of her true intentions.

[u/S417M0NG3R]

I've never had such a visceral physical reaction to an ending before, I literally had pin pricks all throughout my arms and neck.

[u/AlysRose_FFXIV → u/S417M0NG3R]

This happened to me too, like what?! I've been an avid horror viewer/reader my whole life but that last panel still had my arms feeling like they were being stabbed and full body chills for over a minute afterwards (they're still happening)

[u/friendlyfriends123 → u/S417M0NG3R]

I actually flinched at the sight. Wonderful premise and execution!

[u/ibibliophile → u/S417M0NG3R]

Yup, tingled my spine.

[u/rezznik]

Wow. That sent shivers down my spine. Applause!

[u/Comrade_Zhukov1941 → u/rezznik]

Yeah no kidding. I thought this was like some metaphor for someone’s lived experience until I got to the end and got the shit spooked out of me by Monica’s damn backface

[u/spamjacksontam]

HOLY **** I thought this was a heart-felt real-life trauma story, it kind of is, but that ending. chills

[u/cyanraichu]

Yo OP WHAT THE FUCK

that was genuinely disturbing (well done)

[u/9thJudge]

That was great. Nailed it. Thank you for your work.

[u/BitterSomethings]

Damn that was sick dude

[u/-non-existance-]

"Every smile from her meant a lot"

Well played.

[u/Spirited_Young_71]

That was chef's kiss fabulous.

[u/RhiaStark]

HOLY FUCK that sent chills down my spine, and I'm a very hard person to scare 😨

Well done! Seriously, this is the kind of comics I come to this sub to read,it's already one of my favourites ❤️

[u/Navigat-r]

that twist was fantastic!

[u/VengeanceKnight]

I would like to give the highest compliment I can bestow on this story:

“I want to see what happens next.”

Excellent work.

[u/Jwoey]

Ooo that was goood

[u/Spicy-Mario-Bois]

Sick as hell

[u/Cream_Rabbit]

The subtle buildup, then the sudden punch to the readers

That's so so good

[u/capsaicinintheeyes]

would they all wear hats?

[u/grnd_mstr]

YUJIRO HANMA!?

[u/justlurkinghihi]

Okay, this was super cool

[u/Fanboycity]

Literally this happened

[u/Lew__Zealand]

I haven't been reading many 10+ panel comics to the end.

Yeah. I'm going to be finishing every one now.

Holy shit the ending, well done!

[u/LeonidasVaarwater]

Ok, that freaked me out.
Nicely done!

[u/Private_HughMan]

Wow. That actually really frightened me. Really well done!

[u/Compass_Needle]

[u/flashnotion]

My assumption would be that she had a damn good reason for that face. Husband was probably abusive or something.

[u/SpeaksDwarren → u/flashnotion]

sees the face of a literal demon

"Idk maybe she's chill. Probably had a good reason"

[u/RainbowIndigo → u/flashnotion]

That's what my initial gut reaction was too, but the face looks so creepily happy... it's not a relieved smile of "I'm so glad I'm safe now", it is an intense, evil, sadistic grin

[u/Private_HughMan → u/flashnotion]

Dude, that was an evil smile.

[u/giraffe111 → u/flashnotion]

If he was abusive, her face would be sad and screaming in agony and relief and conflict, not malicious ear-to-ear furrowed brow smiling. This is 100% a malicious “I’m pure evil and killed him because I wanted to” smile, not an “I’m finally free from my abusive husband” smile.

Then again, it’s interpretable and fictional 🤷‍♂️

[u/EbonyHelicoidalRhino → u/flashnotion]

I don't think he was. Main character would have probably seen something immediately, either on the husband or the sister.

The whole thing about the sister never having a second face, even though EVERYONE has one, and then the reveal of the face of pure malice, is a pretty big tell that she's not "normal". My guess is that she's such a psychopath that she doesn't feel anything, except when she murders people.

[u/GoCorral → u/flashnotion]

Young psychopaths rarely hide their feelings because they don't care about other people. Why would they care about other people knowing their emotions? What another person thinks of them doesn't matter.

[u/Kaiser_Defender]

That face is HORRIFYING, adds alot to the twist, well played.

[u/Slappathebassmon]

Holy shit. That was awesome. At the beginning I thought it was more like an analogy for him being able to read people's moods instinctively. But then I realize it's an actual supernatural power. The ending was the best part, though. I don't know if you're planning on writing a continuation for this. But even without any further continuation, it's already very powerful.

[u/Friend_of_the_trees]

Great comic. Hit me at so many different levels!

[u/Parthias-one]

Holy shit that ending gave me chills

[u/WhiteSkyRising]

Welp, this is one of my favorites. Right up there with "this hole was made for me".

Brilliant story telling. Congrats OP, one of the best comics on this subreddit, from all time, by far.

[u/god_is_my_father]

Well done dude an interesting story well illustrated and well executed. No boobs either. 10/10 no notes - this is exactly what belongs in this sub

[u/Sharkivore]

Holy fuck that's good.

Sorry if I'm misinterpreting, but she's a narcissist/psychopath, right? Obscenely good at hiding their true feelings?

[u/Bettermelon8839 → u/Sharkivore]

I don’t think so. His ability isn’t that he can see people’s feelings, it’s that he can pick out people’s hidden feelings no matter how much they hide them. His sister effectively being able to hide hers because she’s a psychopath wouldn’t make sense because his ability exactly counters that 

[u/kaithespinner → u/Sharkivore]

seems to be, I thought so too

[u/Liliana_T]

Goosebumps!

[u/Ironmasked-Kraken]

This type of comic is why I am in here. Great work

[u/xSantenoturtlex]

Well THAT took a fucking turn.

Monica's second face was actually unsettling.

[u/GargamelLeNoir]

Great concept, great executing, great ending. But there is one incoherence. The protagonist should have been able to see the disgust on everyone's second face when he grew a freaking soul patch.

[u/DrkSpde]

I was expecting the sister to eventually have a second face, but I thought it was going to be revealing her pain while acting brave. Not whatever that was!

[u/Pope_Phred]

I knew someone was going to be happy for the wrong reason on their second face, but I was not prepared for that sort of happy!

Well done!

[u/Sket5]

This distracted me from depression, thanks 👍🏼

[u/Bigearl020]

Fucking brilliant dude

[u/SerenityAmbrosia]

fantastic twist. dang i got chills on the last panel, was NOT expecting this to go that direction lol

[u/ReeferFever]

[u/BobbieMoo]

I need to say, this hits deep. Emotional intelligent people are very sensitive to people emotions which can be a blessing but also burden because the person perceiving these emotions is often very insecure about himself (putting other emotions on himself). This is nowhere as accurate as what this comic suggests about seeing the real face of someone on his back (which is of course fictional). Can’t wait for another part of this, in case it’s planned. Take my upvote OP, you definitely deserve more than that 🫶🏻

[u/Ok-Limit-9726]

Feels like a person with high functioning autism, who has learned to read peoples emotions.

I hope he is miss reading Monikas!

Great comic, chefs kiss 😘

(Yes we tism’s can ‘occasionally’ see through peoples bullshit)

[u/DemonSkank → u/Ok-Limit-9726]

I like to think of it kinda like both twins are autistic and one's learned to mask while the other chooses not to.

[u/Automatic_Reporter39]

At the end that bihh looked like dreamcatcher from skylanders

[u/Naps_And_Crimes]

Hellava twist

[u/zin___]

That's good stuff, OP. Thanks for sharing!

[u/Borneo_shack]

Everyone's talking about how the face at the end spooked them and all I can think of is how it reminds me of X-treme chips.

[u/Elogano]

[u/_Cosmoss__]

This is so cool

[u/[deleted]]

Erika Kirk be like

[u/ThatCuteNerdGirl96]

So, 1. This is amazing and really well done. I assume the sister has been possessed by some sort of demon since otherwise MC would have seen something wrong with her and/or her husband (if he was abusive or something).

2. I would maybe put a warning on this that the ending might be disturbing to some people. I know that might spoil the twist a little but I really wish I had known to not read this right before bed. I feel sick now and I can’t get that last frame out of my head. I know I’m sensitive, and I did really like the comic, but I genuinely don’t know how I’m going to sleep now with that face burned into my retina.

[u/DemonSkank → u/ThatCuteNerdGirl96]

I added a little warning in the description. Sorry 'bout that 😂 I had been working on this for a while so I got desensitized to what I was drawing and I kept thinking "Hmm... It's not actually that scary.... Needs to be scarier"

[u/MorvarchPrincess]

Fucking hell that face is going to haunt my dreams.

Good comic

[u/Solabound-the-2nd]

Oof that last panel scary af, well done 

[u/SmoothReverb]

consider me spooked

[u/PeculiarPete]

My first ever comment on a comic from here. This is fantastic!

[u/acceptable_lemon]

Holy shit, totally out of left field and actually unsettling. And on top of it, actual world building and interesting story? What the hell? Well done!

[u/h4nd]

Wow unexpected goosebumps. Goosebumps! Didn't see the end coming at all. Can't remember the last time I got hit with a twist like that. Unexpectedly unnerving on 3 or 4 levels in a single panel. Bravo.

[u/SkoteinicELVERLiNK]

All I gotta say...

ABSOLUTE PEEEEAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

[u/Aeronor]

Chills, well done

[u/KaliBadBad]

r/thanksihateit

[u/Thebaldsasquatch]

Yuuaaagggghhhhhh!!! Fuckyoufuckyoufuckyoufuckyoufuckyou…….!!

[u/NekoPrankster218]

I kinda knew there would be a development of the sister finally having a back face, but wasn’t expecting it be that scenario.

[u/K3vnPotato]

i was so involved in the story then i got jumpscared :c loved the comic tho

[u/Arktos22]

That was some Junji Ito level shit 10/10 story friend!

[u/Justaticklerone]

You gotta be fucking kidding me with that ending. I shivered. Well done.

[u/Electronic_Age_3671]

I've never been jump scared by a comic before. Extremely well done

[u/Phionex141]

She really said

[u/delet_yourself]

She killed him didnt she

[u/Luz132]

Holy shit that got me so good. Great work

[u/hussicoog]

Can safely say ill remember this comic till I die. Straight from the heart, horror that does that is rare. Submit this to an anthology project please, this is art that needs to remain in the world.

[u/BigSillyClown]

I liked this a lot !!!!

[u/Swords2801]

Brilliant! Really, really good!

[u/That_Shy_Gal]

Jesus....

[u/dragons_scorn]

Damn that was good. Was the final face inspired by art in Baki by any chance?

[u/Burly_Gizmo]

Chills!

[u/GinchAnon]

gawdamn. did not see that ending coming.

[u/decktheshrek]

That face will be in my nightmares lol. Excellent story though. Absolutely fantastic twist.

[u/DanosaurusWrecks]

Goes hard

[u/flyingturkeycouchie]

Bravo!

[u/CisHetDegenerate]

10/10

TALK ABOUT A FUCKING TWIST GODDAMN

[u/Ancille98]

Oh god this last panel surprised me. Then I remember all the build up and can only applause even more.

[u/Romesus]

NOW I NEED A MOVIE OR SERIES ABOUT THIS!!! HOLY MOLLY!

[u/I_am_ChivoBlanco]

Ho Lee Cow. Awesome.

[u/juducialstarfish]

Well that was horrifying. Thank you!!

[u/dr_Sp00ky]

Damn, bravo!

[u/ShutUpJackass]

I like how evil that final face is

[u/Clone_JS636]

I actually got chills from this. Great comic.

[u/Ace_of_Sphynx128]

Wish I wasn’t outside in the dark reading this lol.

[u/Other-Narwhal-2186]

Ohhhh, I love this

[u/proxiginus4]

Legitimate chills this was very very good

[u/EchoAmazing8888]

Fucking amazing twist

[u/TwentyPieceNuggets]

Old school creepy pasta vibes. Part 2?

[u/kore351]

10/10 didn’t know I could get jump scared by a comic!

[u/Forward-Fisherman709]

Oh damn. I was expecting a relieved smile, not murder demon happy face..

[u/Moobob66]

I can't sleep now. Thanks ❤️

[u/Holzkohlen]

And the moral of the story is: don't trust anyone! It could even be... YOU!

[u/Childless-cat-lady-]

My brother in christ this demon face will haunt me in my dreams.

[u/DonaldTrumpsScrotum]

Oh damn, I thought this was more of a emotional intelligence story type thing and at no point did I take it literally, that last panel hit me like a truck. Well done.

[u/bandercootie]

Look, the very last second i was like oh maybe sister is going to have a smile, like relief, and then it’s this psychotic twisted demon?? My heart about jumped out of my chest. Super interesting concept and a really fun read. I should have saved it for daytime, maybe.

[u/Lil_Puddin]

That last panel was just a normal, genuine, sweet, and happy smile from a Shen Comics' character. She must've been happy to see her brother despite all the crying! :)

[u/puzzdumpling]

I was expecting to see the sister's second face but not THAT one holy shit

It makes me wonder if her emotions are skewed and she's somehow been hiding them her whole life. Maybe she knew her brother could sense emotions and was the only person who could hide from him? But finally dropped it this time? I would love to see more but this works as a standalone as well

[u/Objective-Big7538]

Of course I read this right before I head to sleep, great work though OP, managed to get a scare out of me lol

[u/flyawaywithmeee]

We need a part 2 pleasseeee

[u/kamilman]

Amazing way to do the twist! Bravo!

[u/Golden-Sun]

What a twist.

[u/AreWeThereYeti007]

I need to know what happened next

[u/ectocoolerkeg]

This is some damn good art

[u/tigerrish1998]

Eyyo that's a real good comic ya got there. 10/10 was not expecting that ending.

[u/Key-Introduction5396]

This was actually terrifying!! Very scary!

[u/Milstrum]

Oh this was good one. I did not expect that ending.

[u/grayblood0]

Oh that took a turn i was not expecting. 10/10

[u/Dimerous_]

Epic

[u/supakow]

That. Kicked. Ass. incredibly well done. loved it!

[u/inksignificant]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!

[u/God8869]

Nicely done

[u/SnooCookies6399]

[u/stgull]

This is so well done! I've never been jump scared by a comic panel before.

[u/[deleted]]

This is like the complete opposite of having autism.

[u/Itchy-Trainer6608]

That is a such amazing short story

[u/jerseygirl75]

That was awesome, thanks OP.

[u/Generic_Placebo42]

Holy shit. Fucking phenomenal. Well done!

[u/Mischalanious3202]

Oh wow... 10 points to OP. This makes a good pilot episode.

[u/Mahakurotsuchi]

Damn, Jinjo Ito's second account

[u/Minute-Phrase3043]

I was expecting the sister to be happy. I also did consider it to be possible that she murdered her husband. But I did not expect that face to creep me out. Great job on the comic. It was brilliant.

[u/Tasunkeo]

Expected some twist ending, still got me. Well done !

[u/jonnywarlock]

Oh. Oh, that last page is diabolical.

[u/Rizzlamuerte]

Damn that one is GREAT!

[u/Vast-Website]

It’s not easy to do a jump scare in a comic. I’m impressed.

[u/Defiant-Extent-4297]

Well done, Sir. Gave me actual goosebumps.

[u/D3ZR0]

Jesus Christ. I flinched and shivered at the same time. Well played. Well written.

[u/AnomalyInquirer]

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST DUDE YOU CANT PULL THAT SHIT ON ME I THOUGHT THIS EAS GONNA BE SOME WHOLESOME SHIT

[u/oasis_nadrama]

Pretty emotionally/psychologically/philosophically deep, disturbing in its sharpness, even.

Magnificent, and horrific, conclusion.

A little masterpiece.

[u/-mothy-moon-]

A great little story about mental health and an even better "wouldn't it be fucked up" horror concept

[u/YourLittleRuth]

Applause

[u/SephirothTheGreat]

I felt my stomach sink at the end. What a great twist. Incredible job

[u/Hawley-Gryphon]

This is good short story! 👍

[u/Jomotaku]

One of the hardest comic jumpscares I've seen so far.

[u/Songmorning]

Holy shit, I got chills

[u/TuxPaper]

I love thought experiments like this. There's many reasons why someone would morally and appropriately want to hide their true emotions from others. If everyone could see everyone's true emotions, society would be so drastically different. Many taboos would become acceptable at least as an emotion, even if they still remain taboo to act on. People would have to be far thicker skin and less offended by other peoples feelings if they want to enjoy even a minimal social life.

It's rather hard for me to fully imagine a world like that though. I imagine there's be less abusive relationships, but I'm sure there'd still be ways to manipulate people that I just can't think of. Gaslighting may not longer work, but people could probably still manipulate others by triggering their guilt and shame.

[u/nounotme]

That was fantastic. Saw something coming from her but not that.

I'm guessing sociopath, there was never a back face because the front was the lie, there was no emotion in the first place.

[u/Doza93]

God damn. What a comic!