All of the reasons already mentioned, but also, your brain is hardwired to pay more attention to a face, and to a face expressing emotion even more in particular.
The first two panels establish a pattern that your brain subconsciously keys in on. At a glance even without registering the specific images and text, your brain instantly knows that panel 3 doesn’t fit in the pattern.
Why did this comic make me look at panel 4 before panel 3?
All of the reasons already mentioned, but also, your brain is hardwired to pay more attention to a face, and to a face expressing emotion even more in particular.
Honestly, it works better with the two panels swapped.
The first two panels establish a pattern that your brain subconsciously keys in on. At a glance even without registering the specific images and text, your brain instantly knows that panel 3 doesn’t fit in the pattern.
I think it’s the use of color. The snakes really stand out because they’re green and the rest of the colors are very muted.
Same, I think it’s just too exciting to ignore