We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Re: Thugboy's T-shirt: As much as I might not care that much for all of the various Ruger firearms I own—in fact, several of them I rather regret buying, alas—I have to admit that the company does indeed have a very sweet logo!

Next week on the webcomic serialization, prepare for further cryptic hints as to what the heck is going on here, folks, before we leap onward to the next scene that I can't quite recall at this time!

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Mystery and intrigue abound as we revisit the climactic events of Empowered vol. 11, dear readers! Whatever might the text at the top of the page be referring to? Once again, worry not, as all will be eventually revealed later on in this very volume!

Panel 3: Note that you can see some gray tones in the silhouetted head of Neurospear, as the Sharpie markers I used to fill in that space are far from being completely black. Such is the delicate balance of trying to process a page of mixed pencil and marker ink in Photoshop—the problem is, trying to boost the Sharpie ink up to 100% black tends to darken up the graphite tones too much in the process. (More on this matter later, folks.)

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, work-in-progress updates on developmental projects such as fantasy comics Crazy Witch, The Chaste and the Chained and The Last Party, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.

-Adam Warren

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Panel 1: Not sure that this detail is immediately obvious, but note that I toned down the roundness of Emp's "toothsome rump" (per the Demonwolf) in an attempt to convey that she had presumably been missing many a meal here in the postapocalypse. (Note also that, believe it or not, I used photoreference for her matted hair.)

Panel 1: I do rather enjoy the Demonwolf's use of the neologism "womanhandle," I have to say.

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. So, who knows what today's post might feature? Could be Life Drawing or Distressed Damsels content (both of which are featured at least three times per month), or something in the Work Stages, Vintage Con Sketches or Design departments, or possibly something entirely new, such as updates on fantasy test projects Crazy Witch, The Last Party and The Chaste and the Chained. Golly!

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Enjoy an exceedingly rare "full-bleed" comic page with actual artwork detail noodled around in the gutters, folks! My thought was the postapocalyptic setting needed to somehow be emphasized more than a conventionally formatted page would have conveyed, hence the debris and swirling vapors added in the bleed spaces around the page's panels. Yay?

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, work-in-progress updates on developmental projects such as fantasy comics Crazy Witch, The Chaste and the Chained and The Last Party, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Speaking of which, you might well wonder what the heck the text at the bottom of the page is carrying on about.� Well, worry not, dear readers, as all will eventually be revealed later on in the volume, okay?

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. So, who knows what today's post might feature? Could be Life Drawing or Distressed Damsels content (both of which are featured at least three times per month), or something in the Work Stages, Vintage Con Sketches or Design departments, or possibly something entirely new, such as updates on fantasy test projects Crazy Witch, The Last Party and The Chaste and the Chained. Golly!

-Adam Warren

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

For the record, after someone commented speculatively on this matter a week or two ago, note that Scary, Badass Emp's hair was much more time-consuming to draw than standard-issue Emp hair as seen on this page.�

Next week on the webcomic serialization, Deathtrapmonger's reboot wraps up before we head off into the volume's next stretch, which has to be one or the other of two different upcoming scenes; however, once again, for the life of me I can't recall which of two possible sequences that might be!�

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Panel 2: Note that the "top-heavy tatterdemalion" is an oblique reference to Joe Kubert's DC Comics creation Ragman, whose oft-repeated nickname was "the tattered tatterdemalion." (Note that I've never once read an issue of Ragman, yet somehow I'm still aware of the character's nickname.)

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, work-in-progress updates on developmental projects such as fantasy comics Crazy Witch, The Chaste and the Chained and The Last Party, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Gotta say that I had a surprisingly good time illustrating this deathtrap sequence, which is a trope I'd never previously bothered with in any of my work, let alone the superhero material. (More on this omission later, BTW.) Now I do kinda feel like I missed out on a sweet opportunity for a bedamseled Emp to get into some form of action scene...�

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Panels 1 & 3: Note that the usual "DM" lettering on Deathmonger's skull mask (or masking skull?) has been changed to "DTM" for Deathtrapmonger in this rebooting.

Panel 4: Probably just as well that Emp is likely unaware that the ball gag in her mouth takes the form of a wee ARR! head...�

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, work-in-progress updates on developmental projects such as fantasy comics Crazy Witch, The Chaste and the Chained and The Last Party, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Goofily enough, I had no idea which scene was coming up next after panel 7's abrupt dialogue cutoff.� (In fact, I guessed wrong on this score as I was paging through the ebook.) Then again, I did finish work on this book over four years ago, so perhaps it's no surprise that I can't quite recall the jumbled order that the volume's many, many short scenes wound up being arranged in.

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. So, who knows what today's post might feature? Could be Life Drawing or Distressed Damsels content (both of which are featured at least three times per month), or something in the Work Stages, Vintage Con Sketches or Design departments, or possibly something entirely new, such as updates on fantasy test projects Crazy Witch, The Last Party and The Chaste and the Chained. Golly!

-Adam Warren

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

As I noted long ago in my commentary at the end of�Empowered vol. 11, Spooky was originally supposed to spontaneously regrow her arm in the climactic act of the book as a kinda-sorta badass, uh, gesture; alas, I ran out of pagecount for such a flourish, which proved superfluous in any event as she didn't need two arms to wield her psychokinetic powers and strike down ol' Neurospear. (Oh, well.)

Next week on the webcomic, stand by for another abrupt and (If I recall correctly) very, very smelly scene change!��

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. So, who knows what today's post might feature? Could be Life Drawing or Distressed Damsels content (both of which are featured at least three times per month), or something in the Work Stages, Vintage Con Sketches or Design departments, or possibly something entirely new, such as updates on fantasy test projects Crazy Witch, The Last Party and The Chaste and the Chained. Golly!

-Adam Warren

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Panel 1: The idea, here, was that Emp's hospital room was displaying comforting, naturalistic holographic imagery to soothe patients, akin to the "Ristorante Holographique" (IIRC) from issue 1 of 1993's�Dirty Pair: SimHell, in which Yuri is out to dinner with a soon-disappointed swain in a restaurant whose "holosetting" is constantly shifting. (Also rather akin to that one deleted scene from early on in the Extended Cut of Aliens, though I wouldn't see that until well after I worked on SimHell.)

Panel 4: Whatever could Emp be reacting to?

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, work-in-progress updates on developmental projects such as fantasy comics Crazy Witch, The Chaste and the Chained and The Last Party, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Panel 3: Brace for an annoying continuity error I just now noticed, as Emp's supersuit mask is inexplicably lowered for this panel alone. To quote Pitch Meeting, "Whoops!" "Whoopsie!"� Alas, my habit of masking off all other panels than the one I'm working on does leave me open to such blunders on occasion, though this is an especially egregious example.

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Notice anything different about Spooky in panel 1, who hasn't been seen since the end of Empowered vol. 11 lo these many months ago?  Hmm... (Note also an exceedingly rare modern use of the so-called "profile cheat" at far right!)

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, work-in-progress updates on developmental projects such as fantasy comics Crazy Witch, The Chaste and the Chained and The Last Party, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.

-Adam Warren

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

After a comment on social media pointed this out, I have to wonder if acknowledging that vol. 12 is the end of the series in this format—as I did in the previous paragraph—might be discouraging readership of this webcomic serialization. Then again, to be honest, said serialization is performing so poorly nowadays that such speculation is completely irrelevant; nonetheless, with only another 140-odd pages to go, I intend to see this final graphic novel installment through, more out of dogged habit than anything else. Yay?

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Ehh, that's probably if not definitely a bit too much realism in my depiction of Emp's lips and teeth, based of course on the years of life drawing that immediately preceded this volume. Worry not, though, as I eventually lowered the level of semi-realistic rendering as the book rolled along.�

Next week on the webcomic serialization, brace yourself for a startling change of pace as well as a rather abrupt addressing of a continuity issue that had plagued the series ever since the ending of vol. 11!�

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Note that Scary, Badass Emp is tromping through pools of blood leaking from a wide assortment of slain supervills who imperiled her less-badass OG iteration during Empowered vol. 9.�

Gotta say that I still quite like the way Scary Emp's flowing locks worked out. This was a random art riff I experimented with during this volume just for the hell of it, one of many such efforts I tried out whilst grinding through vol. 12; alas, many of the art concepts I toyed with worked out notably less well.�

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, work-in-progress updates on developmental projects such as fantasy comics Crazy Witch, The Chaste and the Chained and The Last Party, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Panel 2 depicts Scary, Badass Emp dealing with ol' Anglerfish rather more lethally than her in-continuity iteration did when tangling with him during Empowered vol. 5.

Panel 1, however, depicts our violent heroine spam-VORPPing a type of minion who hasn't actually appeared yet in continuity; worry not, as you will be seeing (many) more of this goon shortly. (Note that the VORPP overkill was likely inspired by vintage Chow Yun Fat ammo-wasting atrocities in John Woo's The Killer, as I previously addressed in 1997's Gen 13: Grunge! The Movie.)

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. So, who knows what today's post might feature? Could be Life Drawing or Distressed Damsels content (both of which are featured at least three times per month), or something in the Work Stages, Vintage Con Sketches or Design departments, or possibly something entirely new, such as updates on fantasy test projects Crazy Witch, The Last Party and The Chaste and the Chained. Golly!

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Note that these hapless goons were previously seen in Empowered vol. 2, where they endured a thorough but non-lethal beating at the hands and feet of a direly buzzed Ninjette wearing Emp's supersuit (in a misguided attempt to garner her friend a greater degree of respect).

Panel 1: Cue the nitpicking as, alas, I rather cheesed out on properly establishing this panel in a manner that would've allowed Scary, Badass Emp to more plausibly hide herself behind that pillar.� (Oh, well.)

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, work-in-progress updates on developmental projects such as fantasy comics Crazy Witch, The Chaste and the Chained and The Last Party, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.

We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Here, we're seeing Scary, Badass Emp wreaking havoc on the avenging anguilloformes of H.E.E.L., whose team acronym derives from their "supranyms"—namely, Hagfish, Eel Duce, Electric Ilya, and Lamprey Lad.� (Note that I had entirely forgotten their team name until I consulted the scene in Empowered vol. 9 in which they make their grand entrance.) These hapless goofballs fared none too well in regular series continuity but, as you can see, in this reboot they met even grimmer fates at the lethal hands and VORPPS of this notably coldblooded Emp.

Today’s Patreon update: Originally done as a means of scratching out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. So, who knows what today's post might feature? Could be Life Drawing or Distressed Damsels content (both of which are featured at least three times per month), or something in the Work Stages, Vintage Con Sketches or Design departments, or possibly something entirely new, such as updates on fantasy test projects Crazy Witch, The Last Party and The Chaste and the Chained. Golly!

-Adam Warren