Epic similes are used to A) slow down the action to build excitement
B) Justify a hero’s strengths and flaws
C) Distract the reader
D) Explain a moral or lesson

according to the options stated, the one that is correct is the second option. the author most likely includes the panel to hint at the strong bonds among his family members. besides, the image from art spiegelman’s maus is common to show and portray the innocence and naivete of the children during the holocaust as well as the fact that millions of innocent jews were rounded up and taken by train to camps.

assuming the underlined word is "regnant", the correct answer is b) ruling.