Some questions on Mirror image interacting with feats and weapon properties

[Theo Stern]

I have couple of questions around how mirror image interacts with some things

1. Cleave/Great Cleave- If the first person in the cleave chain is mirror imaged and you hit an image can you continue cleaving to other opponents?

In this thread

James Jacobs said not, stating you essentially missed and hit a figment instead. I am inclined to agree, but I have also had people argue that there is a mechanic for hitting and missing by 5 built into the spell, so you if you actually made your hit roll you should be able to continue as opposed to missing by less then 5. I realize Jame's response is not official so I am re-posting because that post was an archive and I wanted to be able to FAQ it.

Along the same lines if there were two illusion monsters and two real monsters and you swung at and dispelled an illusion first, could you keep on cleaving?

2. The vicious weapon property- if the wielder hits an image, does the wielder take viscous damage? My inclination no for the same reason, they hit a figment and do not actually damage anything

Please discuss and feel free to hit the FAQ button, I will

[Crimson Jester]

It does not cleave, you hit a figment, not a target.

It does not do viscous damage, you hit a figment, not a target.