We continue serialization of Empowered vol. 12, which proved to be the final volume of the series in this specific graphic-novel format, though I was unaware of that unfortunate reality when I started work on the book.

Our trio's costuming is pretty directly taken from the main characters of Atsuji Yamamoto's manga Sinbad, which came out circa 1989 and, it seems, might've had an English translation and reprint this year. Update: Ehh, looks like it won't be out until the end of the year (maybe).  

Anyhoo, Yamamoto's Sinbad was a personal favorite and oddly influential on me; I still dig up and read (well, "read," as my copies are untranslated) the four-volume set every year or two.