I need your opinions to settle a creative choice for me

[Oriflamme]

I’m working on a future chapter of my comic and my editor and I have a disagreement on one of my panels.

The issue is the presence of lizard-folks. I included one in the panel to illustrate quickly how this is a high-fantasy world. She argue, it might be a step too far.
She could accept demons, flying islands, airships, subterranean civilizations, and human-olm hybrids?, unholy abomination of flesh and steel, magic but not lizard-folks.

A part of me agrees with her, the inclusion was meant to be eye-catching and somewhat shock the reader with what type of fantasy world my story takes place in. However, It introduces something major that is not plot relevant and I have no plan to explore any further.

On the other hand, I like it for its storytelling efficiency. It set the stage for other more high-fantasy concepts that are load bearing for the narrative. I’m afraid that if I remove it, my reader will have a harder time accepting plot elements that I have already set up, and I would have to rework a portion of the world building.

Ultimately, I have 2 options:

• Keep it as it is.

• Change it for something less extreme. It would probably be a demon since they were already established in a previous chapter and feature quite heavily in a following chapter but Elf, Fairy and Dwarves are also on the table.

I would greatly appreciate your opinion on the subject.

[TheGentleArtist]

I suppose replace it and maybe re-feature it at a later time if it is too much.
I don't think having one show up in a panel would be too much.

Now, would the possibility of it showing up and introducing something major run counter to the world building that was made?

[MelancholicOtaku]

I have to agree,if fantasy creatures are the norm then a lizard folk shouldn’t be a issue 🤷‍♀️

[remiquise]

The only issue I really think I have with the drawing is that her colours and vibrant compared to, what I assume to be, background characters. I guess it isn't done yet so idk if they'll be washed over with an overlay or some such thing to make it all blend together better, or if you throw other inhuman looking species to not make her stand out so much and seem extra important... but that's an art beef I got not a story one, and not what you're asking for... but lizard people in a fantasy setting is fine and dandy. It might be considered just an odd and unneeded thing if one never features in any role besides background, or if everyone else looks very "human". but if it's your world and your universe I don't see an issue.

[kyupol]

No reptoids... hmmm...

You know, I'm 50-50 on the whole reptoid thing...

But if she can't touch reptoids with a 10 foot pole... who knows if it induces trauma? There used to be videos circulating of women who claim sexual assault by reptoids and they're too scared to tell police because of fear of being labeled insane...

[Vassia]

I think it only stands out becasue it's the only one. Just make one of the other humans into another different species so it shows that it's the norm in this world to see all sorts.

[Amalockh1]

I would vote for the lizard lady to stay.
It helps to establish your setting as a fantasy world.

[Oriflamme]

I did some quick sketches of the alternatives.

Thinking a bit more about my narrative choices, it would have to be a demon because one feature quite heavily in the next chapter. I’ll probably have to give her an unnatural skin colors to keep the same impact.