It was necessary to set up prerequisites for that extra will save for one of the party members. Whether it was possible to fit in a smaller number of panels is debatable, but even if it was this update would have to be a "one and a half-parter" precisely to satisfy pacing requirements.
Also, remember that the target format is printed medium and we are merely suffering from life not being perfect (as in one the Giant would be able to just conjure the comic into existence by directly transcribing his thoughts into paper or what have you). Besides, this is a mere nuisance compared to wait for, say, Tramennis in a new update.