It couldn't be Heather's fault that Mac exploded.  It wasn't as though she intended to distract him from disarming the suit, after all.  She just walked in on him at the worst possible moment ever and at the very last second.  A very cruel joke played by fate. 

If there's any blame, put it where it should be: on Jaxon.

For that matter, you could blame a very serious design flaw in the Guardian battle suit which causes wearers to explode after they've had the stuffings kicked out of it. 

This is why we are called Byrne victims.

There, I said it.  Up until now, I couldn't comment on this thread because it was too painful for me.  Now, with a little humor, I can deal with it.

This is awesome stuff, and I never realized that was his face either.

Ouch.

My God!  I just realized that panel 3 is a close-up of Mac's face.   The panel is far more grotesque than I imagined. What threw me is that his head is tilted a little to the left.  I always thought it was a distorted long shot of Mac on his knees

++++++++++

Still not quite seeing it. And why is the bottom of the panel white, like the floor? Perhaps JB will chime in and solve this little mystery (unless it was intended to be ambiguous...).

This sequence is completely horrifying and even painful to read. It's like a grotesquely realistic version of the Human Torch.

My God!  I just realized that panel 3 is a close-up of Mac's face.   The panel is far more grotesque than I imagined. What threw me is that his head is tilted a little to the left.  I always thought it was a distorted long shot of Mac on his knees

++++++++++

Still not quite seeing it. And why is the bottom of the panel white, like the floor?

***

Look straight at the panel and then tilt your head to the left.  The point of the speech balloon is between Mac's left eye socket and where his ear should be.

Not sure why the bottom is white.  White hot flame, maybe?

I have sorta interpreted it that way from time to time, but I'm still not sure. Can't really make out any features. Is the chin pointing up? This is like one of those bloody Magic Eye thingies

For some reason, this panel has always mystified me.

Considering the subject matter, that may be a good thing.

Am I in the ballpark, here?

See it now?

Sorta. Maybe. No.

?