Gotta say that I was mightily chagrined years ago when I watched the final episode of the anime Gurren Lagann, which ends on a not at all dissimilar note of a key character fading out of existence. I'd already had this book's closing scene planned out when I watched the Gurren sequence, so I did sweat that Mnemonic Construct Mindf**k's fadeout would seem like an homage, if not a ripoff. Though of course Your Mileage May Vary, looking back on it I found this Empowered version of the trope to be a bit less of an "F-U" to the audience.

And that's it for Empowered vol. 8, webcomic readers. Next week we wrap things up with Meta Emp, a li'l bonus illo, and the book's back cover before moving on to the even more sprawling and fully Emp-centric Empowered vol. 9—which, for some readers at least, features just as tearjerking an ending as vol. 8, though I personally don't feel that way.

Today’s Patreon update: In an attempt to scratch out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. So, who knows what today's post might feature? Could be Life Drawing or Distressed Damsels content (both of which are featured at least three times per month), or something in the Work Stages, Vintage Con Sketches or Design departments, or possibly something entirely new. Golly!

-Adam Warren