Joel Miller is an iconic character from Naughty Dog's The Last of Us franchise. Because fans play as Joel throughout most of the original The Last of Us, it can be difficult to view his actions as immoral, partly due to the player experiencing and understanding his choices as his connection to Ellie develops. However, The Last of Us 2 pulls no punches and challenges fans to comprehend how some characters may view him as an antagonist.
Many characters in The Last of Us and The Last of Us 2 have complicated grey areas that make their actions justifiable or wrongful based on the player's perception of them. But whether players are quick to take Joel's side based on his moral inclinations, or are instead more cautious about the ramifications of Joel's decision-making, his love for Ellie is unquestionable. Recently, a fan has decided to celebrate The Last of Us 2 and Joel's character with some distinct fan art.
JEMS1300 shares their unique illustration of Joel from the subliminally false trailers that Naughty Dog released for The Last of Us 2. Joel's somber expression reflects the tumultuous relationship he and Ellie have in the sequel. Promotional material for The Last of Us 2 disguised particular sequences and cutscenes, as Joel appeared older like he did at the start of the game. JEMS1300 has used a bright color palette with shades of teal, green, or aquamarine and a ton of negative space, which distinguishes it from other pieces of The Last of Us fan art.
I'm probably not the first or last but here's my obligatory Joel drawing lol. Critiques are welcome from thelastofus
Joel was officially announced as part of The Last of Us 2 in a trailer where he clasps his hand over Ellie's mouth and speaks to her. However, The Last of Us 2 players know now that it turns out to be Jesse's hand over her mouth in that sequence, and Joel appears as his slightly younger self in many cutscenes. This fan's artwork depicts one of those moments from an early trailer, but the concerned look on his face is no different in-game.
This tense conversation in The Last of Us 2 is a difficult narrative beat for fans to digest, primarily because a sequel starring the two characters made it an inevitability. With The Last of Us' conclusion looming over its characters, the follow-up allows players to empathize with Joel on account of knowing why he chose not to let Ellie die. And, if successful, players may also empathize with Abby and understand why she chose to make the decisions that she made. Either way, Joel will always keep a special place in fans' hearts, so it is nice to seem him celebrated with fantastic artwork like this.
The Last of Us Part 2 is available now on PS4.