EMPOWERED AND THE GIANT-SIZE ISSUES #2 thumbnails & script, pt.5

 (You can check out the previous part of this serialization here, assuming I remember to go back and insert the correct link.)  

Wellp, we're continuing serialization of my page roughs and scripts for Empowered and the Giant-Size Issues, a never-published, two-issue miniseries intended to be drawn by a Special Guest Artist. 

As mentioned previously, I wrote the two-parter back in 2015 with the excellent artist Rob "Robaato" Porter in mind to draw the story; later on, I ran the proposal by the likewise excellent artist David Lafuente. Alas, the project proved unworkable for reasons addressed in detail earlier.

As you'll see, much of the material to follow was repurposed from the defunct, Twitter-format prose experiment I Am Empowered, and like that project, Giant-Size Issues leans heavily on a relentlessly self-doubting, low-self-esteem vision of Early Emp.

So, this project will almost certainly never exist as a real comic; this is the only form in which it's ever likely to be seen.  Let's continue, shall we? Time to alternate my thumbnailed page roughs with script excerpts for each page!

PAGE 21

PANEL 1 

Panoramic panel. VIGNETTE continues, but with another setting: This time, close-up on a lustful THUGBOY and EMP in the shower together, water spraying off their plastered-down, wet hair as they canoodle. EMP is glancing over to one side in reaction to an off-panel speaker. BG: Tiled shower stall, as seen at the end of EMP vol.1's sex scene (p.229).

HOODIE EMP (OFF-PANEL) 

Oh, well, that's certainly progressive.

EMP

?

SFX

PSSHHH

PANEL 2

Bigger panel, showing more of the shower stall to set up a goofy image: ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP is now standing (close) beside THUGBOY and EMP in the shower, glaring at them with sunken, sullen eyes, sour look on her face (framed by the usual wavy hair spilling out of her drawn-up hood) as she speaks. THUGBOY, oblivious, keeps on stroking and kissing EMP under the shower spray. EMP, startled, looks over at HOODIE EMP as water streams from her face, hair and body; her wet hair is helpfully plastered over her breasts (and shower fog can cover up anything else problematic). 

HOODIE EMP

Basing your supposed positive self-image on the reaction of some pumped-up broheim with a hard-on? 

(cont)

Sad, to be honest.

PANEL 3

Close-up on HOODIE EMP under the shower spray, scowling darkly as she addresses off-panel EMP with a sour, sneering expression.

HOODIE EMP

What happened to self-actualization, huh?

(cont)

No, just let some cute guy tell you how you should feel about yourself, instead. 

PANEL 4

BG: HOODIE EMP under the shower spray, still growling and scowling darkly at EMP, who's closing her eyes, furrowing her brow and shaking her head in FG profile (water streaming off her face and plastered hair.

HOODIE EMP

I'm constantly amazed by how you never stop letting me down, future me.

(cont)

(H-b) >Sigh<

PANEL 5

Closer-up zoom-in from the previous panel, with HOODIE EMP pursing her lips sourly as EMP's hand thrusts in from off-panel, giving HOODIE EMP the middle finger.

HOODIE EMP

Oh, well, that's certainly mature.

PAGE 22

PANEL 1

Panoramic action panel. In the FG, EMP flings her arms wide, tearing free of the strands and locks of giant-scale HOODIE EMP hair were wound about her upper torso. One of her hands is flung outward and unleashing a blinding flare of VORPP energy which is, in the BG, zapping the giant HOODIE EMP in the face and snapping her head back. As she VORPPS, EMP is yelling furiously at her gigantic counterpart, her supersuit glittering brightly with power usage. 

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON) 

Better dismount from that high horse, missy!

(cont)

What did all your smug, empty, self-important posturing ever amount to, honey?

SFX (BY TEARING HAIR)

SHRIPP

SFX (BY ENERGY BLAST)

VORPP

PANEL 2

Action shot of a yelling EMP, windblown hair flying wildly about her masked face as she unleashes a brilliant flare of VORPP energy near the camera.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

Joined in on a few point-and-shame campaigns online, didja?

(cont)

Ooh!

(cont)

Bravely signed a few f**king petitions, didja?

(cont)

Ooh!

SFX

VORPP

PANEL 3

Vertical panel. Long shot. Framed against the blue sky and billowing cloudscape is the small figure of REGULAR-SIZED, SUPERSUITED EMP, held aloft by strands of HOODIE EMP hair still wound about her legs; she's unleashing repeated VORPP energy blasts on the reeling, giant-scale HOODIE EMP, whose face and head are rebounding from the multiple blasts. 

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I may have to dress like an idiot--

(cont)

--A sexy idiot, sure--

(cont)

--But I get more real-world shit done than you ever imagined, dumbass!

SFX

VORPP VORPP

ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) (h-b) >Guhh<

PANEL 4

Close-up of EMP shouting, her face lit up by the flaring energy of VORPP blasts, hair (and streaks of energy?) flying about her.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I get to save innocent lives every day!

(cont)

All you do is act all judge-y and wallow in your impotent outrage and accomplish nothing!

SFX (EXTENDS INTO NEXT PANEL)

VORPP

PANEL 5

Close-up on HOODIE EMP's face being comically "slapped" repeatedly by the VORPP blasts, her hair streaming (and tearing?), her hood flying loose.

ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) #Hurtful 

PAGE 23

PANEL 1 

Vertical panel. In the BG at top, the giant, airborne HOODIE EMP reels from her earlier "VORPP-slapping." In the middle ground, REGULAR-SIZED EMP falls free of the last strands of HOODIE EMP's hair; as she drops, with hair that traces her plummeting arc, she's looking back up (and over her shoulder) and shouting one last retort at HOODIE EMP. In the extreme FG at bottom, EMP's shadow falls on a soft, curved, flesh-colored surface below her. As we'll see shortly, this is actually the bare belly of the giant-scale TIED-UP EMP.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON) 

Go hide away in your warm, comforting little ideological cocoon, college girl!

(cont)

Trust me, s**t is different out here in cold, hard reality, okay?

PANEL 2

EMP's head snaps back around in surprise as she lands on the soft surface of giant EMP's bare belly (though we can't yet see this for certain), hair whipping down around her startled face. She's sinking noticeably into the doughy flesh underfoot, much to her dismay in the next few panels; note that we might see giant EMP's navel nearby. 

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

Gakk--!

SFX

SHMPP

PANEL 3

Tight close-up on an annoyed-looking EMP's face, pursing her lips with a sour expression.

EMPOWERED 

Um, seriously...?

PANEL 4

Big panel. The camera's looking down to show the wee figure of EMP standing atop the bare, soft, doughy belly of the gigantic, floating TIED-UP EMP. As noted on page 12 of issue #1, this is a notably zaftig version of EMP in a badly tattered supersuit, her plump body crisscrossed with a great deal of ropework, around which her flesh is bulging in more than a few places. Blindfolded and gagged, she's shaking her head back and forth in reaction to REGULAR-SIZED EMP, who's standing atop her belly with hands on hips and yelling crossly at her; an INSERT PANEL (with tail pointing to EMP) shows a close-up of her face. Beyond GIANT EMP, we see a BG of billowing cloudscape, with perhaps a few stretches of distant landscape visible far below through gaps in the clouds.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

Oh, come on--!

(cont)

This is just insulting!

(cont)

My actual belly is nowhere near this soft and doughy, all right?

TIED-UP EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) (h-b) >MMFF<

PANEL 5

FG left: EMP in profile, yelling at the blindfolded and gagged face of TIED-UP EMP looming at BG right.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

And don't you get me started, tied-up caricature-ish me! 

TIED-UP EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) (h-b) >MMM< 

PAGE 24

PANEL 1 

Panoramic panel. Bit of reverse angle from the previous page's last panel. Now, REGULAR-SIZED EMP is in the BG at left as she continues to berate TIED-UP EMP (while standing atop her bare belly), whose blindfolded and gagged face we see in the extreme FG at right. BG: Billowing cloudscape, blue sky.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON) 

Besides, how I look when bad guys tie me up really isn't a big dealie for me, any more--

(cont)

--Except when supervills post pics of me online, maybe--!

TIED-UP EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) (h-b) >MMFF<

PANEL 2

Panoramic panel. Up-angled shot, with EMP in the FG at center, an expression of surprise on her masked face as she reacts to the BG; there, we see the giant shapes of the rest of the airborne EMP EMO KAIJU suddenly rising up behind her, as they've all finally caught up to her. I'd base which ones appear in this panel on which arrangement of EMO KAIJU you show in the next panel. 

THUGBOY

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) I'm a guy, for f**k's sake

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

?!

FACEBALL 1

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Sure, she's okay

(cont)

If you like your superheroines fat-assed and failure-prone, that is

PANEL 3

Big panel. The plump, trussed-up, giant-scale figure of TIED-UP EMP floats in the FG; at panel center, the wee figure of REGULAR-SIZED EMP stands atop her belly, (tiny) body language conveying surprise as she looks around at the wall of airborne EMP EMO KAIJU suddenly risen up behind her. The rest of the panel is taken up by a crowd scene tableau of gigantic KAIJU, worthy of a Capcom illo. Here, we're concentrating on the manifestations that haven't yet had lengthy encounters with EMP, so AGE 4 EMP, T&A EMP, HOODIE EMP and RAW COOKIE DOUGH aren't prominent in the shot; you can use any of 'em (except the exploded COOKIE DOUGH) to fill in gaps in the BG, though, if necessary. Featured KAIJU, here, would include: 

*A hulking, shirtless THUGBOY, peering over the tops of his sunglasses at EMP.

*The especially gigantic FACEBALL mass of angry, shouting avatars, rising up like a gas-giant planet behind TIED-UP EMP; takes up a big chunk of the BG.

*AGE 9 EMP, in T-shirt and shorts, hanging from a branch of the huge BACKYARD TREE looming in the BG as she laughingly catcalls at FG EMP.

*The bizarre mash-up of the CORGI with EMP's head (obliviously woofing like a dog), melded with the torso of the gigantic GREYHOUND wearing NINJETTE's head; she's likewise addressing teeny EMP with a laugh.

*The floating form of IDEALIZED SUPERHERO EMP, her skinny frame wearing the "practical," Batgirl-ish costume (with modest cape fluttering in the wind), sneering contemptuously at FG EMP. 

THUGBOY

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) I'll say anything to get laid

(cont)

I'm just humoring you, baby

AGE 9 EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Can't believe I grow up to be you

IDEALIZED SUPERHERO EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) I'm better than you, 'cause I'm still skinny

DOGGIE NINJETTE 

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) (h-b) Woof, woof

FACEBALL 1

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Superbooty got me like that

FACEBALL 2

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) She's notable for a big behind and little else

FACEBALL 3

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Put some damn clothes on, superhussy

PAGE 25

PANEL 1 

This page features a collage, of sorts, showing EMP being berated by many of the EMP EMO KAIJU manifestations. Standing in the center of the page, with feet bleeding off the bottom edge, is the figure of SUPERSUITED EMP, which overlaps all six panels of berating KAIJU. Her body language conveys unhappiness and apprehension, while her head is bowed forward, an expression of chagrin and distress on her face.

This actual panel features a nice, big shot of the sneering IDEALIZED SUPERHERO EMP, cape flowing as she snorts derisively at EMP (in the center of the page). NOTE: Other KAIJU can be visible in the BG behind her, such as the non-featured AGE 4 EMP, T&A EMP, or HOODIE EMP; beyond that, white clouds or blue sky as a BG. This applies throughout all the other panels on the page. 

IDEALIZED SUPERHERO EMP 

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Why can't you wear a practical and pragmatic costume like me

(cont)

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) You're a disappointment to wannabe girlcapes everywhere

PANEL 2

Close-up on the angry, yelling, sneering avatars and icons of the online-commentary-representing FACEBALL.

FACEBALL 1

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Never trust a big butt and a smile

FACEBALL 2

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) You're a big, fat joke

(cont)

Emphasis on fat, yo

FACEBALL 3

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) #Kill yourself 

PANEL 3

Close-up on THUGBOY, eyes visible over the tops of his sunglasses as he addresses EMP with a smirk.

THUGBOY

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Maybe I'm a closeted chubby chaser

(cont)

Ever think of that, baby

PANEL 4

Big panel, featuring a good view of the bizarre EMP CORGI/ NINJETTE GREYHOUND "mash-up" entity. As before, the EMP head on the CORGI body is staring off into the distance and "woofing" obliviously, while the NINJETTE head on the GREYHOUND is laughing contemptuously as she addresses EMP at page center. 

DOGGIE NINJETTE

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Like you said, I'm a greyhound, you're a corgi 

(cont)

I'm lithe and sleek and awesome

(cont)

You're porky and clumsy and awkward

CORGI EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Yip, yip

PANEL 5

Here, a shot of AGE 9 EMP hanging from (or sitting on, for a variation) a branch of the BACKYARD TREE. She's sneering and yelling at EMP.

AGE 9 EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) How did I wind up big and bloated and lame like you

(cont)

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) What did I eat

PANEL 6

Close-up on the face of the blindfolded and gagged TIED-UP EMP. 

TIED-UP EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) (h-b) >MMFF<

TO BE CONTINUED! 

<And that's it for pages 21-25 of Empowered and the Giant-Size Issues #2, folks! I'll post the final set of roughs and script from issue #2 two weeks from now, which will wrap up with a Big Reveal that many readers have opined about in commenting on the series. WHAT COULD IT BE?????

UPDATE: Come to think of it, I might post the next installment on June 30, so we can kick off July with the serialization of a new(-to-you) project's roughs and script.>

TOMORROW ON THIS HERE PATREON: The DISTRESSED DAMSELS Wednesday feature for the $5+ tiers rolls onward, with more pages from an early-2000s commissioned story of a familiar damsel resisting distress from a goofy, glue-gunning goon.