Hmm... well I feel like the tragic ending was a bit unearned - because of what was a double fake out, to play with audience expectations, then play again, not necessarily to the betterment of the story.
In that, I refer to the 1st death scene. But gotcha, he didn't really die, he was fine!
But did you think he was fine? Na, gotcha again, he actually died by falling, just later off screen - after the story.
Like, the reader can just end the webcomic after the first gotcha, for a happy ending and the ending is not materially different because you're only cutting what happens off screen.
It initially got me wondering whether the first gotcha actually happened, and the second one was a subtle way of telling the audience this. But no, I don't think so.
If I was to script doctor it, I would have ended it the same way - just without any gotcha
He dies falling, saving MC. That's it. Or if you want to be super tragic, MC dies that way latter, and joins him forever. Romeo and Juliet style.
But hey, it is what it is.