Another comic page featuring only close-up shots of the characters, but this time around, I don’t mind the approach as much as I usually do—perhaps because the panels are REALLY CLOSE-UP close-ups, if you follow me.

Panel 5: Yeahp, the term “nycadaemon” is of course a reference to the Neutral Evil beastie from Advanced Dungeons & Dragons—first edition, baby! Specifically from the old-school module D3: Vault of the Drow, as I recall. (Vaguely disappointed to learn that they were apparently renamed “nycaloths” in later AD&D editions. Loths, instead of daemons? Seriously?)

Also, this panel features an early hint of the perhaps surprisingly intimate relationship between Ninjette and the Caged Demonwolf, which ends up delivering a key moment in the Kozue-centric Empowered vol. 7.

-Adam Warren