Panel 2: Readers with both an eye for detail and a remarkably good memory may recall that this robotic fella was first glimpsed in Empowered vol. 1 as he and two other capes appreciatively gawked at Emp walking away from them—and back then, he used the same “badonkadonk” riff to express that appreciation.

And that’s it for the vol. 5 story “Upon My Back, the Monkey of Worry,” folks. Next time, we head into the fateful, volume-concluding story “Say That I Deserve This,” another sprawling, climactic episode that sets in motion events that are still reverberating through the series as of this fall’s Empowered vol. 11. Strap yourselves in, webcomic readers!

-Adam Warren