Empowered Volume 3: v. 3 [Paperback]

This is the third volume of Adam Warren's Empowered, which is absolutely one of the best satires on the comic book super-hero genre ever done. It continues the adventures of the main characters introduced in the first volume: the title character Empowered, the "hotness incarnate" yet insecure-about-body-issues super-heroine with the unreliable supersuit that leaves her vulnerable (and nigh naked) at the worst moments possible; Thugboy, her sweetly loyal and supportive former-badboy boyfriend; Ninjette, her fun-loving and totally kick-ass ninja girlfriend, and last but never least, the Caged Demonwolf, a cosmic demonic overlord imprisoned inside an alien bondage belt who offers priceless on-going commentary on the lives and doings of the other three (always referring to himself in the third person and never by the same name twice, and sounding like a cross between Skeletor and the anime-style version of Teen Titan's Starfire).

This third volume continues to build on the plot-lines set up in the first two, and we learn more about Empowered, Thugboy and Ninjette's pasts (though the Caged Demonwolf's past remains a mystery). The satire continues strong, in particular in "Karaoke Rocket Sled and the Eye of the Tippling Tiger" where the Superhomeys go to a karaoke bar and Empowered ends up in a drinking challenge with Thugboy and Ninjette (and suffers the hilarious consequences). "Not Quite Perfect" is something of a monologue by Thugboy where he talks about Empowered's sleeping behavior in a touching and funny way (revealing that she farts in her sleep, for one thing). "Chlorosexuality" is a great piece on a recurring theme in the series, i.e. really stupidly-themed supervillains. "A.R.R.!" is a brilliant take on some villains who abduct Empowered as a part of their scheme to market their capture-and-restraint products to the greater supervillain community. "Mysterious Dumbass" is a seemingly straightforward tale with a twist that reveals something about Empowered's supersuit that even she doesn't know. "Witless Minions 4-Eva" delves back into Thugboy's past, revealing quite a bit of fairly serious stuff that he hasn't seen fit to tell Empowered or anyone else about. "ObjectiFINE" has Empowered getting even with some of the more crass Superhomeys by digging up some yaoi fan-fiction on them, though her plan doesn't quite turn out the way she thought it would. And the volume ends with the superb "E.M.P. and the Nukenin Princess" where Ninjette's past catches up with her in a big way, resulting in a truly kick-ass fight sequence (as well as revealing Empowered and Ninjette's real names and yet another surprising secret about Empowered's supersuit).

The dialogue, as in the first two volumes, is frequently priceless. One bit I particularly liked was one of the story intro's where Empowered is talking directly to the reader:

E: "Sorry, but I just _had_ to break into this title page with s'more meta wackiness, okay? This is like an emergency, okay? No, seriously...!"
E: (holds up copy of Dirty Pair comic) "Okay. So, I was reading another comic by the guy who does this comic -- Don't ask how I did that, 'cause it's so insanely meta that it'd make you wanna puke -- and in this supposedly humorous book, about two under-dressed and occasionally distressed action hotties -- hmmm, by the way -- he wound up whacking one of the two lead characters, see? _Nice_, huh?"
E: (holds up copy of Live Wires comic) "Then I read this other comic he did, for another company -- and golly, did the blond robot hottie from this one ever have a familiar hairstyle -- hmmm, by the way -- and in _this_ supposedly humorous book, he wound up whacking most of the lead characters! _Nice_, huh?"
E: (holds up copy of Gen13 comic) "Then we move on to another comic he did, for yet another company -- and this one's got superchicas with self-esteem issues, incidentally -- hmmm, by the way -- and in _this_ supposedly humorous book, he wound up killing off _all_ of the lead characters! _Really_ nice, huh?" (mumbles) "Though the company brought 'em back, I guess..."
E: (looked very freaked out) "Notice a _trend_ at all?! Hey, how would _you_ like to be stuck in a supposedly humorous book written by some prick with a demonstrated mean streak?! It's just a _teensy_ bit scary, okay? H-help me...!"

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys satire, superhero comics and comics that deal in a surprisingly believable way with boyfriend-girlfriend relationships. I am really looking forward to reading the next volume.

One of the first of the American manga-imitators, Warren's work stands out from the pack because of his writing, his own, personal knack for simultaneously celebrating, parodying and exploiting multiple elements of pop culture (superhero genre tropes, cyberpunk sci-fi techno-babble, good girl art, hong kong action films, etc.) often on the same page, and even in the same panel. (In this his work recalls' Harvey Kurthzman and Will Elder's gag-filled work for the early Mad Magazine and their "Little Annie Fanny" strip for Playboy Magazine). So long as you can tolerate (or better, enjoy) good-natured cheesecake and copious amounts of fan service without getting enraged, you're almost guaranteed a rollicking good time reading one of his books (Recommended titles include "Titans: Rock Paper Scissors," for DC Comics and "Grunge: the Movie" for Wildstorm Entertainment).

However skilled Adam Warren is as a comic writer, he rarely gets the accolades he deserves for his talent for creating endearing characters, and writing engaging adult-orientated romantic comedy. The first time I noticed these strengths was when I (belatedly) read his tragically truncated run scripting Wildstorm's "Gen13" (with Rick Mays providing pencils). Here Warren managed to make even the most uninteresting secondary characters, Burnout and Rainmaker interesting, and in the latter case, even compelling. It's true that the careful reader can find hints of these talents in his early work (even the utterly mindless delirium of his "Dirty Pair" adaptations) however the sheer amount of fan service, techno-babble and high-speed action he crams into his layouts usually obscures those strengths. Ultimately the problem was that comic book editors rarely gave him writing stints that were long enough for him to display this side of his talent as a writer....

... Until now, with the advent of Warren's presumably creator-owned "Empowered," published by Dark Horse Comics, home of mainstream writer/artists gone independent, like Mike "Hellboy" Mignola and Frank "Sin City" Miller. (May Warren reach similar levels of success: now that audiences are used to comic book movie adaptations, they might just be ready for a movie version of "Empowered," a faithful adaptation of which would go a long way to make up for the lackluster, "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," a well-meant dud if I ever saw one.) Though once again, the book is primarily a genre satire, and, as usual, Warren piles on the manga-esque fan service (primarily parodies of bondage art), the heart and soul of "Empowered," and the real reason (other than the assurance of irreverent comedy) I think readers come back for more, is his appealing characterization of his spectacularly inept, yet unreasonably enduring and good-natured heroine, Empowered (Emp to her close friends), and Warren's ability to convey a convincing of warmth and affection between the members of her primary supporting cast, which includes: the her ever-supportive boyfriend, Thugboy, a former professional Witless Minion-for Hire (by supervillains) who also hides a violent past as a killer of both superheroes and their adversaries, Ninjette, a usually upbeat runaway ninja princess (and borderline alcoholic) with a bounty on her head, and the dangerous, conquest-bent outer-space demon lord, who lies trapped inside a power-draining piece of space-alien bondage gear (a leftover from one of Emp's more embarrassing misadventures) that rests on the coffee table in front of the roommates TV set.

To sum, in "Empowered," Adam Warren's really at the top of his game, infusing the more recent volumes with a surprising and refreshing warmth (so long as you don't mind good girl art - something that declines in emphasis as the story goes on... sort of) as the relations between those near and dear to our plucky heroine take center stage in the third and fourth volumes. For those who can tolerate a lot of good girl-style imagery (which serves instead of stops the story) "Empowered"'s definitely worth a try. (For those doubting Thomas out there, who want to settle the issue quickly, I suggest starting with the third volume.)

Happy Reading Folks,....

There is nothing so enjoyable as a book written by someone who is simply...writing what they want. Warren has a long career of taking well-know characters and imparting them with his own spin, and yet remaining true to the original (Iron Man--read Hypervelocity and tell me the writers of the recent Iron Man movie never read it), Gen 13, Dirty Pair...the list goes on. He has a knack for clever dialog and memorable scenes but never forgets a overarching plot that ties it all together. As you read you'll realize who clever he is at putting in foreshadowing. He's a dab hand at characterization and has the guts to show the good and bad of everyone. Empowered can be hilarious...and moving...and dead serious. His deep knowledge of...well, just about everything is not as obvious in Empowered as most of his other works, but he's one smart and well-read dude.
Empowered is the product of a creator having the time of his life. Relax, ride along the Warren and have fun. I can't wait for the next volume.
(Kudos to Dark Horse Comics and his editor, Chris Warner, for stepping aside and setting him free to do what he wants.)