Panel 1: I do wonder if people getting VORPPed can actually hear the the sound FX very clearly; more likely they're experiencing some form of auditory exclusion from the trauma of getting zapped, I'd speculate. (Well, maybe.)

Panel 2: Pretty sure that Hardkore's "MOVE! MOVE!" is an oblique reference to an obscure moment from the truly spectacular Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode "Space Mutiny" in which hero Rip Steakface (or whatever the hell his character's name actually was*) exhorts his love interest during an action scene, only to have Mike chime in reply (in imitation of her voice) "'Move! Move!' See how you like it!"

*Before anyone chimes in, lemme hasten to add that I'm actually well aware that his name was the comically mundane "Dave Ryder."

Today’s Patreon update: As it’s a Wednesday, time for the $5+ Patron tiers to get their weekly dose of commissioned "damsel-in-distress" content, along the lines of the same material that was eventually reworked into Empowered. (No idea as to exactly what that might be at this time, though; these commentaries are written much further out from posting than are my often last-minute Patreon updates.)