Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Dark Horse Comics

    Empowered Special #6 Review

    Matthew PetersonBy Matthew PetersonMarch 31, 20141 Comment4 Mins Read

    Thanks to the magic of the MSP trade paperback review, I have become a fan of Adam Warren’s energetic pin-up/superhero epic magnum opus, Empowered, but sometimes find the wait between trades interminably long.  Luckily, Adam’s one step ahead of me, as your Major Spoilers review of Empowered Special #6: Internal Medicine awaits!

    EmpoweredCoverEMPOWERED SPECIAL #6: INTERNAL MEDICINE
    Writer: Adam Warren
    Artist: Brandon Graham/Adam Warren
    Colorist: Brandon Graham
    Letterer: Brandon Graham/Adam Warren
    Editor: Chris Warner
    Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
    Cover Price: $3.99

    Previously in Empowered: Elissa Powers has long been a superhero aficionado, making it a dream come true when she discovered an alien suit which conferred on her great powers…  so long as it doesn’t rip.  Which it does, constantly, leaving Elissa essentially powerless, half-naked and tied up by super-villainous jerks.  She has managed to become a member of the Super-Homeys, who are also jerks, and made a few good friends (like her BFF Ninjette and her paramour Thug boy) along the way…

    AN ALIEN EMERGENCY

    The issue opens with Empowered, bloody and clearly injured, stumbling through the suprahuman emergency room in a daze, as doctors and nurses swirl about her dealing with a superhuman mass casualty event.  This turns out to be a framing sequence, the quickly transitions to full-color flashback story, drawn by Brandon Graham in a slightly different style than creator Adam Warren.  Seeing the (usually gray-toned) characters in full color is interesting, as we see the events that lead up to the horror of the framing sequence: Empowered and Ninjette have been called in my Doctor Big McLargehuge (Heh) of the Suprahuman Treatment Wing of Purple Paladin Memorial Hospital to deal with an emergency situation.  An alien mothership (literally) hovers of the the city, in need of an emergency c-section, requiring someone with nigh-invulnerability (That’s Emp) and someone who can handle an enormous scalpel (the ninja, natch) to deliver her baby, or else the mothership will flatten the whole city with radioactive death-rays.  It’s a tall order, made even taller by the fact that our heroes first can’t find the surgery floor, then find that they have to hoof it nearly six miles in order to get to the baby.  Warren delivers his usual character work, and I especially enjoy the close friendship between Elissa and Kazue/Ninjette, each of whom has her own issues and neuroses, but clearly loves the other deeply.  Empowered also has more control of her powers this time out, even channeling her energy-blasts at will, which turns out to be quite helpful when the alien is shown to be carrying parasitic aliens.

    BODY IMAGE ISSUES IN FULL FORCE

    Worse still, the parasite are able to mimic her own form, forcing her to battle giant, bulbous duplicates of herself that amplify all of her insecurities into clear view.  Still, Empowered gets some flat-out super-moments here that she hasn’t always had before, fighting off the monsters even as her suit tears, allowing Ninjette to make her way to the mother with a massive laser-scalpel…  The story is full to the gills with clever bits and references, and the Chekhov’s Gun that wraps the story up is not only cool, it shows off Empowered’s problem-solving skills.  As the issue wraps up, Ninjette and Empowered have a disturbing time-twisted encounter, putting the framing sequence in a whole new light and making me wonder what exactly is in store for them.  (To be honest, I’m actually pretty worried, and anxious to get the next full-scale chapter of Empowered.)  Both of the art-styles here are fun, and Graham offers some cute details like Empowered’s suit clinging even to her toes, and the overall cheesecake factor is lower than some previous issues.  There is still the strategic tearing factor, and Ninjette still fights in boy shorts and a halter, but neither character is presented super-salaciously, allowing the story and characterization to take center stage.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: A FUN GLIMPSE OF A BIGGER WORLD

    Certain comic books are fun to read just for the world building (see PS 238, Savage Dragon and Astro City), while others are all about clever little character pieces (see anything written by Brian Bendis, Kieron Gillen or Joe Straczynski), but Empowered hits both, along with glimpses of something entirely unique.  Empowered, as a character, is taking a journey from poor victimized schlemiel to full-on super-powered dynamo, and it’s really wonderful to see the gradual changes in her character.  Empowered Special #6 has a fun story, a couple of ingenious concepts folded in, and a foreboding visage of a terrible future, delivering the proverbial full Monty, earning a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars overall.  It’s not for everybody, certainly, but the world of Empowered is a lot of fun indeed…

    Adam Warren brandon graham Dark Horse Comics empowered Ninjette Review
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleSamuel L. Jackson teases Frozone’s return for Incredibles 2
    Next Article Art Appreciation Moment of the Day: Kasami-Sensei
    Matthew Peterson
    • Website
    • Twitter

    Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.

    Related Posts

    The Adventures of Lumen N arrives in September

    Read More

    Major Spoilers Podcast #1127: HUCK!

    Read More

    Orphan and the Five Beasts returns

    Read More

    1 Comment

    1. Alart Dangar (@blamrob) on April 1, 2014 12:27 am

      Brandon Graham is probably a pretty good artist… It’s just tough to follow up Adam Warren in his own series! But always a fun book.

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    4.7
    May 20, 2025

    Huck: Big Bad World #1 Review

    8.3
    May 19, 2025

    Godzilla vs. X-Men Review

    7.0
    May 18, 2025

    Retro Review: Superman In The Computers That Saved Metropolis (July 1980)

    8.0
    May 17, 2025

    Exquisite Corpses #1 Review

    7.0
    May 16, 2025

    Supergirl #1 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Ideal Air HVAC on Top Five Things That Make You Instantly Happy
    • Low Voltage Tech on PREVIEW: Godzilla vs. Los Angeles
    • Luis Dantas on Storm #8 Review
    • Michael Kenchington on PREVIEW: Giant-Size Wacky Races #1
    • derrigable on COMICS PORTAL: To (Almost) Everything, There Is a Season!
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT