Thanks for pointing this out, Suzene - I'm glad someone agrees with me!
I LOATHE when they use the word serviceable. Dale shrugs it off and says "Yep, I SERVE the story before all else" (i.e. he places the story ahead of his own interests, which would be to draw flashy art and ignore the importance of storytelling, leaving the readers confused) but the word drives me nuts because it's obviously intended as totally dismissive and passive aggressive. GRRR!