Empowered: Vol. 4 by Adam Warren

What can I say about Empowered that I haven't said before. Twice. Probably not much new. So lets just repeat some points.

1. Empowered is sexy
2. Empowered is fun
3. Empowered is sweet
4. Empowered is awesome.

Volume 4 picks up almost immediately after the ninja battle in Volume 3. Well almost. First Warren includes the color story originally published in Dark Horse Presents On MySpace (really thats the title the trade collection from the publisher is called). Where Emp practices her Hummer Fu. No. Not that kind you filthy pervert. The quasi-military vehicle kind. But AFTER that the new volume jumps right into it where the last left off. And you get super-hospitals, Caged Demonwolf lesbian fantasies (I knew there was a reason I liked the Demonwolf), the debut of the Goddamned Maidman (seriously he's Batman if Bruce decided to cos-play as American Maid and STILL fight crime), a REALLY creepy sequence with Wiley Pete (*shudder*), Emp getting tied up as part of Make-a-Wish (its really weirdly sweet) and a super-hero Awards show. For which Emp has been nominated. Mostly as a cruel joke by her peers. But through it all Emp struggles and triumphs. As do Thugboy and Ninjette. And hell, the book even adds more depth to Sistah Spooky...

Its always nice to be reminded that there are GOOD things being done in the field of super-hero comics...

Empowered Volume 3 by Adam Warren

The third volume in Adam Warren's tale of Empowered, a super-hero with poor luck and a great deal of self-esteem issues. This volume has less sex and humor (though still has some) and gets more into the back-stories of Emp's boyfriend Thugboy and best friend Ninjette. Even the inks are darker than normal. But between the bloodshed, Warren still has a drunken karaoke night, Emp's jerk male team-mates learning they're the subject of yaoi doujinshi and more sexy librarian cos-play. Plus super-hero wannabe Oceltina, last seen attempting to kidnap Emp and engage in unwanted naughty touching...

Like the previous volumes, the main draw isn't so much the humor or the sexy. Its the depth of characterization of the cast. You care about Emp and want her to succeed. And in the final story, where Ninjette has to battle ninja bounty hunters there's a real sense of tension as you worry about her survival...

The one fault I have for this volume? Not enough Caged Demonwolf. Though the one story he narrates does feature some true mastery of the art of alliteration...

Normally I would hesitate to link to a MySpace page. Because of them sucking. But this one contains 4-color Empowered short story. Which is, no surprise, totally awesome. Boo Yah indeed...

Empowered Volume 1 & Volume 2
by Adam Warren

Empowered is a rookie super-hero with an unfortunate tendency to get captured and tied up. A tendency that isn't helped by her super-suit. Sure it enhances her strength and agility, protects her from damage and when she concentrates can generate energy blasts. But if it gets torn or ripped it rapidly STOPS working right. And it gets torn All. The. Damn. Time. But Emp keeps trying, despite the mockery of villains and her team-mates. She even manages to capture the powerful Demonwolf, using a leftover bondage belt she got when she was rejected for capture by an alien harem master for being too "bootylicious". Of course her team-mates then make her keep the Caged Demonwolf at her apartment because of zoning laws...

So its no surprise that Emp has some self-confidence issues. And wild mood swings due to body issues. No matter how often shes complimented by her boyfriend, ex-professional henchman Thugboy or her BFF Ninjette...

Adam Warren is one of the few American artists who takes manga styles and successfully makes it his own. And in so doing he manages to create a series that is cute, sexy and above all fun. Despite it growing out of fan requests for bondage/woman in peril fetish sketches, Empowered is just sweet and funny. You easily grow to CARE about the characters. You WANT Emp to succeed. And when she goes off on a self-doubting kick, you want to give her a hug and pep talk rather than the smack upside the head most emo/angst characters draw from me...

THIS is how you do a cheesecake book. Its sexy without being exploitative. Amusing without being mean. With just enough darkness and secrecy to lend it a sense of conflict and make you hunger to learn more...