Can’t quite tell from these pages whether or not, by this point, I had begun using Sharpie markers to establish the deep blacks of ol’ Willy Pete’s fiery form. I eventually had to go that route for blazing characters such as WP and Spooky’s Infernal Service Provider in a desperate attempt to cut down on the level of stress inflicted on my ailing drawing hand when I would try to render those flames in pencil. 

In fact, over time more and more inking will creep into Empowered as the volumes proceed, with the just-released vol. 11—now out in North American comics stores, folks!—being the undoubted apotheosis, given that probably 30-40% of that book is fully inked.

-Adam Warren