EMPOWERED AND THE GIANT-SIZE ISSUES #2 thumbnails & script, pt.4 (Patreon)

(You can check out the previous part of this serialization here, assuming I remember to go back and insert the correct link.)  

Wellp, we're continuing serialization of my page roughs and scripts for Empowered and the Giant-Size Issues, a never-published, two-issue miniseries intended to be drawn by a Special Guest Artist. 

As mentioned previously, I wrote the two-parter back in 2015 with the excellent artist Rob "Robaato" Porter in mind to draw the story; later on, I ran the proposal by the likewise excellent artist David Lafuente. Alas, the project proved unworkable for reasons addressed in detail earlier.

As you'll see, much of the material to follow was repurposed from the defunct, Twitter-format prose experiment I Am Empowered, and like that project, Giant-Size Issues leans heavily on a relentlessly self-doubting, low-self-esteem vision of Early Emp.

So, this project will almost certainly never exist as a real comic; this is the only form in which it's ever likely to be seen.  Let's continue, shall we? Time to alternate my thumbnailed page roughs with script excerpts for each page!

EMPOWERED AND THE GIANT-SIZE ISSUES #2 script, pt.4

PAGE 16

PANEL 1

Panels 1-3 make up a cloudscape BG panorama, but with a different shot of the opened tube of RAW COOKIE DOUGH in each as it drifts across the tier. Here, the colorful package floats serenely above the clouds, the mass of exposed DOUGH bulging at one end.

COOKIE DOUGH

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Once more have I triumphed over you, Emp

PANEL 2

Cloudscape BG panorama continues. Here, the RAW COOKIE DOUGH tube starts to twitch and shake a little.

COOKIE DOUGH

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Wait

SFX (SMALL)

(Inside balloons, on either side of COOKIE DOUGH tube; tails stretch over to different points on its packaging) VORPP VORPP

COOKIE DOUGH

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) What are you doing

PANEL 3

Cloudscape BG panorama concludes. Here, the RAW COOKIE DOUGH tube suddenly expands dramatically, its middle portion swelling up in a spherical shape as it nears explosion.

SFX (LARGER)

(Inside balloons, on either side of COOKIE DOUGH tube; tails stretch over to different points on its packaging) VORPP VORPP

COOKIE DOUGH

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Don't

PANEL 4

Big action panel. Dramatic shot of the COOKIE DOUGH tube exploding, EMP bursting forth from the detonation of manyfold gobbets of chocolate-chip-flecked dough while her hands are flung back behind her, the brilliant flashes of "VORPP FX" erupting from them. Amid the touting explosion and churning dough-spray, EMP is bellowing triumphantly, her SUPERSUIT glittering brightly with sparkle FX to indicate her superpower usage.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I am so fucking over you, raw cookie dough!

SFX (VERY LARGE, AT BOTTOM)

VORPP

PANEL 5

Akin to the first panel of page 14, the cameras looking down as SUPERSUITED EMP falls away, through a spray of hurtling gobbets of exploded COOKIE DOUGH, towards the BG of billowing cloud below. As before, EMP is yelling back up as she falls; she has to be falling in a vertical orientation, though, to set up what's about to happen. Below her, a blurred shape races up to meet her; as we'll see, this is the giant boob of T&A EMP.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I haven't even nibbled on you for, like, years--!

(cont)

Well, months, maybe--!

(cont)

Okay, fine, weeks--!

PANEL 6

Shot of a startled EMP as she suddenly lands in a, well, peculiar crevice, sinking up to her waist instantly. As we'll see more clearly on the next page, she's just fallen into the bounteous cleavage of the gigantic T&A EMP, in a considerably more exaggerated version of the cover image from the PS3 version of the ATLUS game CATHERINE, if you recall that mildly infamous pic.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

?!

T&A EMP (OFF-PANEL)

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) (h-b) >Giggle<

PAGE 17

PANEL 1

Very large image of the gigantically zaftig, comically overinflated, disturbingly small-headed T&A EMP takes up the left side of the page. As per the CATHERINE cover image mentioned earlier, the small form of SUPERSUITED EMP is being sucked into the hulking manifestation's bounteous cleavage, a key difference being that that the aptly labeled T&A EMP has a considerably more pronounced bustline. (NOTE: I would suggest that her smallish hands be squeezing her breasts together, but I suspect that's a tad too sexual for a regular comic. So, T&A EMP will have to be pulling off this feat hands-free.) 

An alarmed-looking SUPERSUITED EMP is clawing frantically at the giant-scale flesh and tattered SUPERSUIT of her enormous counterpart's chest as she's drawn deeper and deeper into the latter's cleavage. (Note that the golden triangle on giant EMP's upper chest helpfully points to the action, here.) Above her, masked T&A EMP is cooing down at her through comically large, glistening lips, as her vast mane of hair blows silkily in the wind. BG: Billowing cloudscape and blue sky.

GIANT T&A EMP (AT TOP)

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Li'l ol' me is all that anyone sees when they look at you, Emp

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

Oh, come on--!

GIANT T&A EMP (AT BOTTOM)

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Big lips

(cont)

Big boobies

(cont)

Bigger booty

PANEL 2

Closer-up shot of regular-size EMP clawing frantically at the giant-scale flesh and tattered SUPERSUIT of her enormous counterpart's chest as she's drawn deeper and deeper into T&A EMP's cleavage. In a goofy image of recursive cleavage, her own boobs are getting squeezed by her tormentor's far more gigantic endowment as she's sucked further and further down. 

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

This is ridiculous--!

(cont)

(H-b) >Gmff<

GIANT T&A EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Fan art doesn't lie, after all

(cont)

(H-b) >Tee hee<

PANEL 3

Closer-up and lower-angled progression from the previous panel, so we see the giant-lipped face of T&A EMP looming in the BG (out of focus?) as, in the FG, regular-size EMP is drawn deeper into her cleavage; she's lost her grip, now, so we see only her head (and maybe hands, pushed in front of her) squeezed by the vast, swelling curves of KAIJU breasts. Her expression, now, is shifting from alarm to chagrin and outright anger.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

(H-b) >Hnnff<

GIANT T&A EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Perception is reality, after all 

(cont)

Just deal with it, dummy

PANEL 4

Tight close-up on regular-sized EMP's masked face, now squeezed hard by swelling T&A EMP cleavage, in an image quite similar to the COOKIE DOUGH image of page 14's panel 6. While her lips are comically pursed as her checks are squeezed together, the rest of her expression conveys that she is now seriously pissed.

GIANT T&A EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) If you were athletic and skinny, instead of a voluptuous softbody

(cont)

Maybe people would actually respect you

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

(h-b) >HHNNGHH<

PAGE 18

PANEL 1

Big, vertical action panel, as REGULAR-SIZED EMP bursts free of the confines of gigantic T&A EMP's cleavage, her SUPERSUIT glittering extra-brightly once more as her superpowers are put to use. She's freed herself by a "VORPP" power blast with one hand; that hand's held down low as she unleashed a VORPP to blast free of T&A EMP cleavage. (Goofily enough, the flesh of T&A EMP's giant breasts ripples and undulates to and fro as EMP breaks free.) 

Her other hand is held high as she directs another VORPP blast directly upward, this one knocking T&A EMP's head back; the latter's huge-lipped face makes for an excellent reaction shot as her cheek is mashed back, giant mane of silky hair flying as her head snaps backward. REGULAR-SIZED EMP is shouting triumphantly as she VORPPS, her suprrsuit once again sparkling brightly as it exerts itself.

SFX (AT TOP)

VORPP

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

No!

SFX (AT BOTTOM)

BYOINGG

PANEL 2

BG left: Gigantic T&A EMP wears as hurt a look as her puffy-mouthed face will allow, appearing aggrieved to have been VORPPed. FG right: REGULAR-SIZED EMP has popped out of her giant counterpart's cleavage and into the air, gesturing back towards her and yelling a parting retort as she leaps away. BG: Swirling cloudscape, blue sky.

GIANT T&A EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Owwww

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I f**king refuse to accept this shit!

PANEL 3

Close-up shot on (REGULAR-SIZED) EMP's masked face as, flying backward, she yells back at her off-panel counterpart. Beyond her, we see some incoming, wavy strands of giant-scale blonde hair, belonging to ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP (though we won't see her directly until panel 5). Leave open space at panel left for her dialogue. 

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I f**king deserve to be respected--

(cont)

--No matter how completely ridiculous I look in my goofy work clothes--!

PANEL 4

SUPERSUITED EMP is alarmed and surprised to find herself wrapped up and entangled in giant-scale strands and locks of wavy blonde hair, which are streaming in from off-panel right to coil themselves about her.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

?!

SFX

FWIPP

PANEL 5

Close-up on the sunken-eyed face of the perpetually scowling (and, here, growling a complaint) ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP, with long strands of her wavy blonde hair streaming out from the confines of her hood and flowing off-panel (to wrap up the off-panel EMP). BG, if necessary: The same fluffy white cloudscape and blue sky.

ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Nice rhetoric, college graduate me

(cont)

Empty, certainly, but nice

PAGE 19

PANEL 1

Panoramic long shot. Framed against the blue sky and billowing cloudscape (at left) is the small figure of REGULAR-SIZED, SUPERSUITED EMP, who's being held aloft by (and is struggling against) the snaking strands, tendrils and locks of wavy blonde hair spilling out from the hood of the gigantic ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP, whose floating, airborne body takes up most of the panel. Scowling and growling at EMP with a typically sour, sunken-eyed expression, her hands are tucked away inside her dark hoodie's front pockets. As before, she wears baggy jeans and, for footwear, either flip-flops or Vans. 

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

(H-b) >Nnff<

ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) All the years we spent sparring with clueless mansplainers and douchebros in our Suprahuman Studies classes

(cont)

Fighting sexist tropes and outdated stereotypes about female superheroism 

PANEL 2

Big panel. Regular-sized SUPERSUITED EMP is near full-figure in the FG at left, held aloft by giant-sized strands and tendrils of wavy blonde HOODIE EMP hair that have lashed and cinched themselves tight around her. EMP, teeth gritted and head thrown back with effort, is struggling wildly against the huge locks of hair winding about her. Looming in the BG at right (possibly out of focus?) is the giant face of ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP, glaring at her tiny counterpart with a sour expression as she mutters darkly.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

(H-b) >Nnhh<

ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) And you betray all our ideals by choosing to prance around wearing that grotesquely offensive joke of a costume

PANEL 3

Close-up on (REGULAR-SIZED) EMP shouting angrily, her own windblown hair flying wildly about her face as she struggles against the giant-scale, uh, HOODIE hair that's wound itself around her. In the FG, we see her pulling her wrists apart, tearing the strands of hair that are binding them.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

Hey, at least I'm not a trembling little body-shamed coward like you, Angry Hoodie College Me!

SFX (BY WRISTS)

SHRPP

PANEL 4

Longshot, framed against the billowing white cloudscape and bright blue sky. At left, the wee figure of EMP struggling against the wavy strands of hair streaming from the hood of, well, HOODIE EMP, who floats beside her. HOODIE EMP's hands are still buried in her hoodie pockets as she continues to scowl darkly at her tiny counterpart.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I'm not hiding myself for all of sophomore year by wearing anything I can find that's big and baggy and shapeless!

ANGRY HOODIE COLLEGE EMP

("ALIEN" balloon; white lettering inside black balloon) Um

(cont)

Well

PANEL 5

Up-angled profile shot of EMP's masked face as she yells at the off-panel HOODIE EMP.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

You would've worn a burqa, if you hadn't worried that would be insensitive and culturally appropriative!

(cont)

You couldn't accept yourself at all, dummy!

PAGE 20

PANEL 1 

Two-page VIGNETTE-format interlude (with white, bolderline-free gutters, remember) starts here. Big panel. At upper left, a blushing, smiling INSERT HEADSHOT of civilian-garb EMP chatters happily. The rest of the panel is a tilted shot of EMP (in tattered SUPERSUIT) and NINJETTE (in her standard ninja outfit) dancing at a club—a "superclub," in fact, as the crowd beyond them consists of other wacky-looking suprahumans, as seen in the party/ karaoke scenes often appearing in the regular series (check EMPOWERED vol.7, in particular). 

EMP, blushing through her mask, is nonetheless raising her arms and shaking her butt with abandon, while a laughing NINJETTE eggs her on, dancing close and yelling in her ear. Feel free to light the dance floor as colorfully as possible—color lighting on the FG figures, edge lighting, spotlights and ellipses of color sweeping by, glitter in the air, etc.

EMP HEADSHOT

Not like I achieved this, um, grudging self-acceptance on my own, of course.

(cont)

My bee-eff-eff Kozue has kinda browbeaten me into tolerating-- even appreciating-- my body.

(cont)

Browbeaten in a nice way, I mean.

NINJETTE (BURST BALLOON) 

Shake that healthy butt, Emp!

MUSIC (ELECTRICAL BALLOON)

(No tail; Musical notes) 🎵 🎶 

MUSIC (ELECTRICAL BALLOON)

(No tail; Musical notes) 🎵 🎶

PANEL 2

Narrow insert panel. Blushing, smiling EMP in FG profile at left, hair streaming as she dances; beyond her, a laughing NINJETTE close beside her, yelling in her ear.

NINJETTE (BURST BALLOON) 

I said, shake it, hawt girl!

MUSIC (ELECTRICAL BALLOON)

(No tail; Musical notes) 🎵 🎶

PANEL 3

New scene. A shirtless, possibly naked, definitely lustful THUGBOY (sunglasses optional) fiercely grabbing/ stroking/ squeezing a SUPERSUITED EMP, breathing hotly and growling in her ear. Mask rolled up, eyes half-closed, a blushing EMP seems clearly impressed by how turned on he is by her. BG: Color-based, likely abstract, to convey a sense of passion and/or romance; manga flowers ahoy? 

EMPOWERED

And my burning lovehunk Thugboy is kinda, well, relentless in making me feel, y'know, adequately desirable.

(cont)

Relentless in, um, word and deed, okay?

(cont)

By now, he's arguably seen me naked more than my folks ever did... 

THUGBOY(BURST BALLOON) 

<Semi-coherent sexualized growling> 

PANEL 4

Narrow panel. Close-up of THUGBOY and EMP from the previous panel; seriously turned-on THUGBOY growling in the ear of a blushing, smiling, eyes-half-closed EMP.

EMPOWERED

...but he's still, um, into me, despite all my flaws and blemishes and imperfections...! 

PANEL 5

Three smaller panels finish off the page. Each shows a different close-up on THUGBOY in a different setting (and color scheme), as he repeats the same "DAMN, BABY" phrase in varying settings. Here, warm sunset lighting, with THUGBOY looking over the top of his sunglasses as he grins with amusement (at an unseen EMP).

THUGBOY

Damn

PANEL 6

Another THUGBOY close-up, tilting his head with raised eyebrows and an impressed expression as he reacts to an off-panel EMP; in fact, one hand's to his forehead or partially covering his face as a further reaction. 

THUGBOY

Damn

PANEL 7 

A final THUGBOY close-up, with a color scheme indicating a lights-off bedroom scene; hair plastered across his sweaty face, he's wide-eyed and open-mouthed as he addresses an unseen EMP. At bottom right, an INSERT HEADSHOT of EMP pops in, blushing as she addresses the camera.

THUGBOY

Damn, baby.

EMPOWERED (HEADSHOT)

Not that his spoken and unspoken testimony quite silences the voices in my head, of course.

TO BE CONTINUED! 

<And that's it for pages 16-20 of Empowered and the Giant-Size Issues #2, folks! I'll post more roughs and script from issue #2 two weeks from now; and a month from now, the final installment! >

TOMORROW ON THIS HERE PATREON: The DISTRESSED DAMSELS Wednesday feature for the $5+ tiers rolls onward, with more pages from an early-2000s commissioned story of a familiar damsel resisting distress from a goofy, glue-gunning goon.