Comics
Jeff Kinney uses the imagery of comics within comics to provide a funny commentary on his own craft. He uses them to illustrate his characters a little better, whether that's through Rowley's simply-drawn comics with nonsensical jokes or Greg's sardonic comics that look really similar in style to Kinney's own drawings. Through this imagery, Kinney gets to demonstrated an alternate side of himself as a comic artist.
The Haunted House
The haunted house scene is very much a testament to the power of the young imagination. Greg and Rowley dream up an elaborate haunted house, but their big vision powerfully outweighs their ability to actually realize their plans. Regardless, we see Shane Snella totally convinced of the scary idea of the haunted house, and the underside of a bed transforms into a terrifying tunnel, freezing him in terror.
Rodrick's Van
We get such a vivid picture of who Greg's older brother Rodrick is through the simple picture of Rodrick's van emblazoned with the name of his band: Löded Diper. We immediately understand Rodrick's teenage heavy-metal obsession, and his rebellious spirit that would lead him to putting such a hilariously terrible phrase on his main mode of transportation.
Rowley's Modified Costume
Rowley gets a really cool knight costume for Halloween, but before he goes out, his mom modifies it to make it safer. In the end, Rowley doesn't end up looking like a knight at all. It's a good representation of the way that kids in middle school are still treated like kids. They're still young enough to dress up and go trick-or-treating, which means they're still young enough for their moms to worry that they might hurt themselves in the wrong costume.
