As the transition between panels 1 and 2 shows (he typed hopefully), I used Sharpie®-marker-based artwork for the preceding Thugboy scene to portray a stark difference between nightmare and reality. For the most part, since I drew this story, I’ve generally not bothered with using stylistic variations to differentiate dream or imaginary sequences from waking ones—with one very notable exception that long-time readers may recall: the nightmarish appearance of Mindf**k’s brother in Empowered vol. 8. That sequence’s art went even further than this one in the “harsh B&W” direction (and content!), as I drew it solely with high-contrast marker work, eschewing the pencil shading of this vol. 1 story.

Panel 3: I am perhaps entirely too amused by the idea that our protagonists would take the Caged Demonwolf to see a movie—and I am deeply disappointed that I never saw fit to revisit this intriguing concept. Of course, dragging the vehemently hypermasculine Fusion-Phallused Violator of Worlds along to watch an apparent—if alleged—“chick flick” seems like an act of great foolishness—or equally great cruelty, perhaps. Difficult to imagine that the strongly opinionated Shadowscourge of the Spaceways could stop himself from bellowing a stentorian running commentary on whatever movie he was watching, which would certainly annoy the hell out of other moviegoers—and Emp is too nice a person to inflict such an annoyance on hapless civilians. 

Now, it is definitely possible that the power-draining alien bondage gear that cages the Demonwolf might have a volume control that could mute his vociferous ranting—but Emp and crew wouldn’t necessarily have any idea of how to access that function. They’d surely be aware that tampering with the gear’s instruction-free xenotech could have dire unintended consequences, such as accidentally freeing the Ravening Shadowlord from his alien prison. Don’t want that, folks!

Jeez, yet another flaw with this entertaining scenario occurs to me: The glowing lights of the Nigh-Omniscient Nycadaemon’s cage would be distracting as hell to other folks in the theater, even more aggravating than the glaringly bright screen of a cellphone in the cinematic near-darkness—and Emp, once again, is too kind-hearted and considerate to countenance such a faux pas. Starting to look like there were reasons I never revisited this particular scenario…

-Adam Warren