Is It Ever Okay To Barely Describe The MC?

Maybe try the 'I felt the dark circles under my eyes and rushed from the zookeeper.'?

 

I don't think it's necessary to describe any character in detail. Present the important details and allow the reader to fill in the blanks.

 

Could it be comedic to purposely leave out even relevant details? Not even just in character description, but description in general. For example, here's some stuff from my writing:


--


Figured I'd walk a bit up Dorchester and end up by the harbor before turning back. It was about a four-mile stretch from my house, and I'd pass Bumrritos's on the way. Superheroes need to eat, too.

Lots of fucking walking, not any crime-ing. Made it to Bumrrito's unscathed.

"Uhh, can I - can I take your order?"

I forgot that I'm anonymous now. Usually when I walk in, they know what I want. Nothing you need to worry about, stop focusing on stupid shit.

After eating, I was about an hour in on my patrol, and it was already cold as hell outside.


--


Gave the expectation that I was going to explain what I ordered and go through that whole conversation, but just cut it off short, right at the head. Was going for almost a comedic effect (not in a " ha ha" way, but a subtle way), but not sure if it's effective.

 

I think an interesting way to describe the MC is by relying on other characters for details, based on their points of view.

Example:
Character A thinks the MC is a no-good bum, and undermines him at any opportunity.
Character B thinks the MC is a pretty cool guy, and considers him a friend.
Character C thinks the MC is misunderstood by others, and has loads of potential.

This might be a fun way to give the reader an assortment of highly biased perspectives from multiple POVs. If those characters are written really well, the reader will likely identify with one of them, and come to rely on their favorite character's POV for "reliable" intel about the MC.

 

Description isn't limited to a list of adjectives. What you have written as an example, in my opinion, is better description of a character than saying "He had brown eyes and brown hair and was 6 foot tall". You convey a general impression of the man with what you've done that a list of adjectives simply can't, because different people interpret physical descriptors differently. But the way you've done it, each reader will superimpose their vision onto the character according to the feeling you've given, which is most effective.