EMPOWERED AND THE GIANT-SIZE ISSUES #1 thumbnails & script, pt.4

(You can check out part 3 of this serialization here.)  

Whoops, plumb forgot I was gonna revisit this unpublished project on a twice-per-month basis!

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 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!

EMPOWERED AND THE GIANT-SIZE ISSUES, issue #1 script

PAGE 17 

PANEL 1: Vertical panel. Long shot. FG right: The building with the 66 BANK sign atop it, with the small figures of EMP and the WORKER she's carrying visible atop that. EMP has flopped the WORKER off her shoulder and has transitioned to a so-called "bridal carry"; still a rather comical image, with the big, burly dude being effortlessly hefted by the much smaller young woman. Below them, three or four other CONSTRUCTION WORKERS (along in hardhats and vests) stand along the edge of the rooftop, watching the dramatic collapse of the (formerly under-construction) building across the street, which we see as a mass of tumbling, collapsing framework (and falling crane?) amidst a billowing cloud of DUST. One WORKER is leaning over the edge of the rooftop, body language conveying that he's clearly in pain and/or about to vomit.

EMP: OH, PLEASE.

EMP: SAVE THE ACT OF CONTRITION FOR A REAL SCARE, WON'T YOU?

WORKER1:  (h-b) >WHEW<

WORKER1:  (extends into next panel) NICE… NICE SAVE, MA'AM…!

on SIGN: 66 BANK

WORKER2: (small) OH, MAN…!

WORKER3: (by guy at edge of roof; wavy balloon; small) (h-b) >KOFF<

SFX: (vertical, in BG) KTHOOM 

PANEL 2: Up-angled, tilted shot from just below roof level, with the queasy/ pained WORKER's head and arms sprawled over the edge of the rooftop in the FG. Beyond him, another rescued WORKER is framed against the looming side of the 66 BANK sign, an intrigued and mildly lustful look on his face. As before, both wear the yellow hardhat and orange safety vest.

on SIGN: (partially readable) 66 BANK 

WORKER2:  NEVER BEEN MANHANDLED-- NO, LADYHANDLED-- BY A SUPERCHICA BEFORE--!

WORKER2:  KINDA HAWT, Y'KNOW? 

WORKER3: (wavy balloon) (h-b) >KOFF<

WORKER3: (wavy balloon; black, "censored" block over indicated letters) THINK SHE BROKE ONE OF MY FUCKING RIBS, MANG… (h-b) >NGKK<

PANEL 3: Shot of EMP holding the big, burly WORKER in a bridal carry, up-angled a bit so they're framed against a blue sky with clouds. EMP is replying happily, windblown hair streaming around her face; the WORKER has a quizzical look on his unshaven face as he addresses her.

EMP: WHY, THANK YOU KINDLY, SIR.

WORKER: BUT, UH, I GOTTA ASK YOU SOMETHING...

PANEL 4: Closer-up shot of the faces of EMP in profile (raising her eyebrows) and the WORKER (questioning her with a puzzled expression).

WORKER: (black, "censored" block over indicated letters) YOU'RE A CAPE, SO YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS CRAZY KINDA SHIT, RIGHT? 

EMP: UM, YEAH…?

PANEL 5: The WORKER, questioning, points at something off-panel with one gloved hand, while EMP turns her head to look in the direction he's pointing.

WORKER:  SO, JUST WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE THINGS? 

SFX: (at left) KTHOOM

PANEL 6: Close-up profile shot of EMP, gazing off-panel with a now rather nervous expression.

SFX: (at left) SKRANGG

EMP: I'M, AH, NOT SURE, OKAY?

EMP: ALARMING, THOUGH, AREN'T THEY…?

PAGE 18 

PANEL 1: Back to the open, white-guttered (if guttered at all) "vignette" format for 7 more pages or so. This page is all about EMP's relationship with her boyfriend, so here we see a nice, big. beefcake-y shot of the extremely fit THUGBOY. As always, he's ripped and shirtless— and possibly a bit sweaty, as he's working out with an Olympic-type barbell loaded with 4 of the big, 45lb plates (2 on either end of the bar). He's wearing gym shorts of some type, his usual mirrored sunglasses, and nothing else, and is turning his head (with an amused-looking expression) to look over his shoulder at EMP, who's approaching from behind him and speaking with a shrugging, "what can you do?" gesture. EMP can be in civilian clothes, or supersuit-clad, if you prefer; if the latter, her mask is rolled up to show her face. Open white BG, or (alternatively) an expressive yet abstract color BG; perhaps light could be radiating off the FG THUGBOY, comically emphasizing his hunky radiance?

EMP: KNOW WHAT'S SERIOUSLY ALARMING, AT TIMES?

EMP: HAVING A HARDBODIED HOTTIE LIKE THUGBOY, HERE, FOR A BOYFRIEND.

THUGBOY: REALLY. 

PANEL 2: EMP insert headshot in the upper right corner, addressing the camera with a somewhat pained expression. The rest of the panel is taken up by a midsection-up, closer shot of shirtless, sunglasses-wearing THUGBOY; note that I usually try to get the "best of both worlds" out of THUGBOY's sunglasses by having him look over the tops of 'em, RISKY BUSINESS-style, so we can see his eyes as well. He's holding up a protein-shake bottle with one hand (image search "protein shake bottle" for many, many choices), while holding a small, open Tupperware container with the other. Inside the later is visible a chicken breast with a bite taken out of it, surrounded by some steamed or grilled veggies (and a fork poking out of the container); this, it seems, is one of many small, pre-prepared meals the weightlifting THUGBOY must eat during the day. He's speaking around a mouthful of food while glancing up at the EMP headshot at upper right, a mildly apologetic expression on his face. 

EMP: SEE, 'CAUSE HE WORKS OUT ALL THE TIME, HE HAS TO EAT ALL THE TIME, TO FUEL THAT HARDGAINING, RIGHT?

THUGBOY: SORRY, BABY... (h-b) >GMMF<

CAPTION: (small; arrow points to drink) WHEY-BASED PROTEIN SHAKE (60g PROTEIN, 8g BCAAs)

CAPTION: (small; arrow points to Tupperware container) 4th CHICKEN BREAST OF THE DAY (3 MORE TO GO) 

EMP: AND OOPSIE, THAT'S JUST A TEENSY BIT TRIGGERING FOR ANYONE WITH FOOD ISSUES, UNDERSTAND?

PANEL 3: Side view of THUGBOY and EMP. Still shirtless, he's working out with two heavy dumbbells now as the notably shorter EMP embraces him, stroking his bicep and abs appreciatively while looking over at the camera and speaking with a crooked smile. Meanwhile, THUGBOY looks down at her over the tips of his mirrored sunglasses with an amused expression. 

EMP: I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE RESULTS, OF COURSE… (little heart) ♥

EMP: …BUT HAVING A BOYFRIEND WHO'S VASTLY HOTTER THAN YOU GETS KINDA AWKWARD AND CRAZY-MAKING, I'M AFRAID.

PANEL 4: Closer-up shot of THUGBOY and EMP from the previous panel. He's looking down on her over the top of his sunglasses with a still-amused expression, while she's addressing the camera with an apologetic expression.

EMP: AND THAT SEXUAL-MARKET-VALUE DISPARITY MAKES ME EVEN MORE HYPERSENSITIVE AND INSECURE ABOUT MY OWN BODY, AS HE COULD TELL YOU… 

PAGE 19 

PANEL 1: THUGBOY and EMP, but in a different setting; theoretically, their bedroom, lit dimly by a bedside lamp, though we might not see much (or any) detail of said setting. (Abstract color BG is possible, as always. Bokeh ahoy? I do love me some bokeh.) THUGBOY is shirtless as always (without sunglasses, this time), but EMP is wearing sleepwear. His brawny arms around her, THUGBOY is doggedly attempting to comfort a rather distraught-looking EMP. 

THUGBOY: OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT CHUBBY OR WHATEVER, BABY… THAT'S RIDICULOUS. 

EMP: YEAH…? 

PANEL 2: Closer-up shot of THUGBOY titling his head, smiling as he coos what he thinks EMP would like to hear. He's quite clearly wrong, as EMP is flinching, reacting with wide-eyed startlement and blushing dismay to his words. 

THUGBOY: YOU'RE JUST A LITTLE, Y'KNOW, SQUEEZABLY SOFT…! 

 EMP: (burst balloon) !

PANEL 3: Camera pulls back to about panel 1's distance from the lovers. THUGBOY's looking down at EMP (in his arms) with an "uh oh" expression while she looks away from him with an unhappy expression, if not a comical, manga-style "big tear in one eye" expression.

THUGBOY: (black, "censored" block over indicated letters) UH, DID I JUST F**K UP, BABY…? 

EMP: ….

PANEL 4: An EMP head shot pokes in from the left, addressing the camera while glancing sidelong with an expression conveying that she is quite clearly lying. The rest of the shot is a view of (ever-shirtless) THUGBOY looking up from a takeout menu, addressing the camera (over his sunglasses) with a questioning look. He could be seated 

on the apartment's couch, in which case the camera (which represents off-panel EMP's POV) would be looking down on him. 

EMP: NO, I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT HEAR THAT LITTLE PHRASE AS UNSPOKEN SUBTEXT EVERY TIME HE SPOKE TO ME FOR, LIKE, WEEKS AFTERWARD. 

EMP: NOT AT ALL. 

THUGBOY: (the words "SQUEEZABLY SOFT" appear within the main word balloon as white text in a black bar) WANNA ORDER SOME TAKEOUT, SQUEEZABLY SOFT ?

PANEL 5: Shot of THUGBOY wearing a leather jacket and mirrored sunglasses, a backpack over one shoulder as he presumably heads out the door. (BG detail, or lack thereof, up to you.) He's looking back over one shoulder and addressing the camera with a "yeahp" expression. The shot's up-angled a bit, as it's from EMP's POV and she is, after all, quite a bit shorter than THUGBOY. 

THUGBOY: SO, YEAH, I'M HEADED TO THE GYM, SQUEEZABLY SOFT… 

PANEL 6: Bedroom shot. Lights off, blue "nighttime" lighting as a color scheme. EMP POV, on her back and looking up to see THUGBOY's head and shoulders looming over her (with the ceiling and tops of bedroom walls as BG). Sunglasses off again, his head is thrown back as, we can safely assume, he thrusts away at unseen EMP underneath him with a "near-climax" expression. 

THUGBOY: OH, GOD, BABY-- (h-b) >HNNH< 

THUGBOY: --YOU'RE SO--

THUBGOY: SQUEEZABLY SOFT

PANEL 7: Tight close-up on an EMP nightmare image of THUGBOY, sunglasses off (or at least down, exposing his eyes) as he stares into the camera, wide-eyed and zombie-like, mindlessly repeating EMP's hated phrase.  

THUGBOY: (burst balloon) SQUEEZABLY

THUGBOY: (burst balloon) SQUEEZABLY

THUGBOY: (burst balloon) SQUEEZABLY SOFT

PAGE 20 

PANEL 1: Insert head-shot of Emp at left, rueful expression on her face as she speaks, while glancing over at a mid-thigh-up shot of IDEALIZED SUPERHERO EMP (from pp.5 and 9) next to her. IDEALIZED EMP is frowning a bit sourly towards the camera as she lifts her costume's equivalent of a "shirt" with one hand and pulls down her belt with the other. This exposes a lean, toned midriff with noticeable abdominal definition, if not a full-on "six-pack." 

EMP: ON THAT TOPIC…

EMP: …I'VE ALWAYS ASSUMED A REAL SUPERHEROINE SHOULD HAVE A TAUT MIDRIFF, IF NOT A GENUINE SIXPACK. 

EMP: (small) NOT, BY THE WAY, THAT A REAL SUPERHEROINE SHOULD BE SHOWING OFF HER BARE MIDRIFF, OF COURSE.

PANEL 2: Similar layout to panel 1, but with a larger EMP insert headshot at left, looking towards the camera and speaking with an even more rueful expression this time. Beside her is a mid-thigh-up shot of regular, SUPERSUIT-clad EMP (mask down), whose body is clearly not as lean and toned as the previous panel's IDEALIZED SUPERHERO EMP. Her tattered suit exposes her rather doughier belly, the soft flesh of which she's gingerly squeezing with both hands while looking down at it with an unhappy expression.

EMP: (at top) TAUT, HOWEVA, IS NOT AN ADJECTIVE THAT SPRINGS READILY TO MIND REGARDING MY MIDRIFF.

EMP: (at bottom) WORDS LIKE SOFT, PUDGY AND PILLOWY SEEM MORE ACCURATE.

 SFX: (small, by belly) SQUISHH

PANEL 3: Down-angled shot of THUGBOY and EMP spooning in bed at night; blue, "lights-off" nighttime lighting for this scene. Bedsheets and/or comforter have been pulled back to show the underwear-clad pair's bodies (briefs for THUGBOY, panties and night shirt for EMP) as THUGBOY reaches a hand around to stroke EMP's bared stomach. While THUGBOY's eyes are closed as his head rests on the pillows, EMP is speaking with an anxious, worried expression on her face.

EMP: WHENEVER THUGBOY AND I SPOON, AT NIGHT…

EMP: …SOONER OR LATER, HE ALWAYS  PUTS HIS HAND ON MY BELLY.

PANEL 4: Closer-up downshot of THUGBOY and EMP spooning in bed, with a clear view of THUGBOY's hand cupping EMP's soft belly. EMP, blushing, speaks with a shamed, apologetic expression. 

EMP: AND I GET A LITTLE, WELL, ASHAMED…

EMP: …KNOWING WHAT HE MUST FEEL WHEN HE TOUCHES MY DOUGHY MIDSECTION.

PAGE 21 

PANEL 1: Panoramic panel, with the camera down at bed level to show the spooning THUGBOY and EMP. As he strokes EMP's bared belly with one hand, THUGBOY has opened his eyes and is addressing her with a raised eyebrow and an amused expression. Meanwhile, EMP blushes and widens her eyes as, startled, she reacts to what he's saying.  

THUGBOY: LISTEN, BABY. 

THUGBOY: IF I WANTED TO FEEL ROCK-HARD ABS UNDER MY HAND…

THUGBOY: (black, "censored" block over indicated letters) …I'D FUCK SOME GUY FROM THE GYM, OKAY?

EMP: (burst balloon) !

PANEL 2: The camera's back up high to look down at spooning THUGBOY and EMP, showing their (profile-viewed) heads resting side-by-side on the bed's pillows. THUGBOY is pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes suspiciously as he looks over at EMP beside him, who's blushing furiously now (as she imagines yaoi activity). 

THUGBOY: ….

PANEL 3: Closer-up shot of THUGBOY and EMP's side-viewed faces on the pillows. THUGBOY is whispering in a furiously blushing EMP's ear with an expression that mingles amusement and exasperation. 

THUGBOY: UH, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A JOKE, BY THE WAY.

THUGBOY: BUT LEMME GUESS, MY LITTLE FUJOSHI.  

PANEL 4: Same closer-up shot as panel 3, with THUGBOY rolling his eyes as, exasperated, he whispers in a blushing EMP's ear.

THUGBOY: (black, "censored" block over indicated letters) YOU'RE IMAGINING ME FUCKING SOME GUY FROM THE GYM RIGHT NOW, AREN'T YOU, YAOI FANGIRL…?    

PANEL 5: Panoramic panel, with the camera back down at bed-top level (as in panel 1). This time, the camera's zoomed in on the faces of spooning THUGBOY and EMP. THUGBOY is smirking wryly beyond EMP as, furiously blushing, she smiles weakly and tries to deny what she's obviously thinking (and fantasizing). At right, representing what she's imagining, we see a vignette image of a naked THUGBOY embracing a similarly ripped and unclothed ANONYMOUS GUY from behind; in fact, said GUY's face could be left blank, and helpfully labeled with the words "SOME GUY". 

EMP: N-NO…! 

EMP: NOT AT ALL, SILLY…!

CAPTION: (arrow points over to Emp; black, "censored" block over indicated letters) TOTALLY IMAGINING THUGBOY FUCKING SOME GUY FROM THE GYM RIGHT NOW 

on GUY'S FACE: SOME GUY 

<And that's it for pt. 4 of Empowered and the Giant-Size Issues #1, folks! I'll likely post the next installment in a few weeks.>

TOMORROW ON THIS HERE PATREON: Not sure, TBH! Check back tomorrow and find out, won't you?