Panel 2: Shockingly enough, “KINDERGARTENERS” was misspelled in the printed version of this page, missing the second E for some reason. Mysterious! And, in fact, I think the incident that Balding Unnamed Criminal mentions here is indeed depicted, at least in passing, in a later volume. In fact, if I recall correctly, she ran afoul of a classroom full of demonically possessed kindergartEners in a very early Empowered story that never actually saw print, but was later referenced in Empowered vol. 6.

Panel 4: The phrase “plus-sized behind” is trotted out to torment Emp by a number of different characters throughout the series, probably because I kept forgetting that another character had already said that. No-Prize® explanation? Maybe the phrase got attached to her in a well-known incident or media account, and it springs readily to mind in those berating her? Or maybe Emp is so neurotic about that part of her body that she’s hearing that phrase even when it’s not actually being said? (The latter’s a bit of a stretch, true.)

-Adam Warren