FAILED-PROJECT FRIDAY: EMPOWERED AND THE MASK CITY MELTDOWN (pt.6): Issue #1 roughs & script, pp. 7-12! (Patreon)

Time to continue serializing my roughs and script for an abortive two-part Guest Artist miniseries titled Empowered and the Mask City Meltdown, which I initially wrote with one particular artist in mind back in 2017 or  so; alas, that first artist didn't end up working on it, so I pitched it to the excellent artist Rob "Robaato" Porter, who had earlier colored a  bunch of Emp covers for me.

After Rob had to turn it down, I abandoned the project entirely, though I did briefly consider drawing it myself as part of Empowered vol. 12, a plan which was soon abandoned in turn as I had no interest whatsoever in drawing all the many, many urban environments this story would've required.

And now, without further ado, our next installment of roughs and script from Empowered and the Mask City Meltdown issue #1:

PAGE 7

PANEL 1

Back to the "real-world action scene" setting of pages 3-5. Here, SUPERSUITED EMPOWERED stands and stares off-panel, hair blowing wildly in the roof-level wind, one hand still raised to her face in the thumb-and-pinkie-extended "telephone" gesture. Beyond her, the airborne MAJOR HAVOC is turning to look over (and down) at her, cape flapping majestically in the wind as he speaks sharply with an expression of disbelief on his masked face. Clouds of dust and chunks of airborne debris rush by in the BG, framed against the sky.

EMPOWERED

No confirmation of any supervill involvementas yet, but--

MAJOR HAVOC (BURST BALLOON)

(Black "censored" block over indicated text) Are you f**king kidding me, Emp?

SFX

RRMMBB

PANEL 2

Up-angled close-up on a floating MAJOR HAVOC barking down at the off-panel EMP below with an annoyed expression. BG: As in panel 1, clouds of dust and chunks of airborne debris rush by, framed against the sky.

MAJOR HAVOC (BURST BALLOON)

(Black "censored" block over indicated text) This is clear and present supervillain s**t, for fuck's sake!

SFX (AT BOTTOM OF PANEL)

WHKOOM

PANEL 3

Down-angled close-up on a likewise annoyed-looking EMP sharply replying to the off-panel HAVOC. BG: Clouds of dust and chunks of airborne debris rush by, framed against the BUILDINGS beyond (and below) her.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

Havoc, you do remember that this city's buildings magically rebuild themselves, don't you?

SFX (AT BOTTOM OF PANEL)

RMBB

PANEL 4

Panoramic panel. A dramatic, up-angled shot of the cyclopean OFFICE BUILDING KAIJŪ, framed against swirling dust clouds and the sky. Importantly, the urban monster is whirling about, sending a giant piece of a BUILDING flying towards the left; this airborne projectile consists of the top 4-6 or so stories of an OFFICE BUILDING, apparently wrenched from the structure and sent flying (towards the off-panel EMP and MAJOR HAVOC, we'll see).

Now, there's the first appearance of a tricky riff: To clarify the dialogue of off-panel (or distant) characters, I'd like to use small, cartoony headshots of them as floating insert elements, against which the letterer can abut word balloons. These elements could be either wholly free-floating heads, or headshots inside their own small, discrete INSERT PANELS which the later word balloons can adjoin.

This time around, on the left edge of the panel we see small, cartoony headshots and/or small INSERT PANELS of 1) an angry EMP, yelling; 2) an angry MAJOR HAVOC, also yelling; and 3) an angry EMP, yelling again.

EMPOWERED (OFF-PANEL; BURST BALLOON)

From regeneration to full-on animation isn't exactly a huge conceptual leap, understand?

MAJOR HAVOC (OFF-PANEL; BURST BALLOON)

(Black "censored" block over indicated text) Oh, so you're the big expert on this s**t now, huh?

EMPOWERED (OFF-PANEL; BURST BALLOON)

Um, actually, yeah--!

SFX

SKREEEE

PANEL 5

As much as I'm normally not a big fan of this approach, panels 5-6 repeat the same shot with a few changes. FG left: An angry EMP in masked profile, yelling over at MAJOR HAVOC, who's floating in the BG (above) at right and yelling right back at her.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I wrote research papers, plural, on this city's wacky-ass architectural morphing, okay?

MAJOR HAVOC (BURST BALLOON)

(Black "censored" block over indicated text) Ooh, yay, brag about your who-gives-a-s**t degree in Suprahuman Studies again--

PANEL 6

Same set-up as panel 5, only now EMP has turned a bit to face off-panel to the right, a look of sudden alarm on her masked face. A similarly startled MAJOR HAVOC is likewise cranking his head around to look off-panel right.

EMPOWERED (BIG BALLOON, SMALL FONT)

(Black "censored" block over indicated text) Oh, s**t.

MAJOR HAVOC

Hahh?

SFX (VERTICAL, DOWN RIGHT SIDE OF PANEL)

WHOOOOSHH

PAGE 8

PANEL 1

Big action panel. The giant, hurtling, 4-to 6-story detached section of OFFICE BUILDING flung by the (off-panel) KAIJŪ on the previous page now flies in from the right and impacts both MAJOR HAVOC and the BUILDING that EMP had been standing on. For maximum "OOF!" effect, the BUILDING section could be angled so one of its corners is striking HAVOC edge-on; we see his limbs splaying and cape wrapping back along the BUILDING's crumbling, shattering edge. Another comical SIGN on the side of the detached structure shows a woman's hand with a diamond-studded engagement ring prominent (and blinging!) on her ring finger, with the text "YOU DESERVE THIS" next to it.

The rooftop where EMP had been standing is likewise being pulverized in an explosion of shattering concrete and fountaining windowglass. Meanwhile, EMP is visible at FG left, having desperately launched herself off the rooftop where she had been standing, yelling in alarm and hair streaming as she leaps out toward the corner of another BUILDING visible in the extreme FG at far left.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

Uwaaah--!

MAJOR HAVOC (BURST BALLOON; LARGE)

("Half-burst" or "whiskers" on either side of word; "h-b" hereafter) >HOOG<

SFX (SMALLER, BY HAVOC BEING HIT)

KRUMPP

SFX (MUCH LARGER)

WHROOOM

SIGN ON BUILDING

You deserve this.

PANEL 2

Down-angled shot. SUPERSUITED EMP alights on the corner edge of the BUILDING that was at FG left in panel 1, and is still at FG left here. Note that EMP can (and does, here) "spider-cling" like a Marvel Spider-Man family character. As she lands, she's twisting around and yelling in alarm as she looks down to see that the detached BUILDING section that struck HAVOC is now smashing into another structure (or two) below. A vast cloud of dust and debris is exploding outward as the BUILDINGS collide and collapse. A small (jagged-outlined?) INSERT SHOT shows HAVOC's masked face crying out; a word balloon will connect to this, with a long tail extending down into the burst of dust and debris below.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

H-Havoc--?!

SFX (SMALL, BY EMP HITTING WALL)

THAPP

MAJOR HAVOC (BURST BALLOON; TAIL EXTENDS DOWN INTO DEBRIS EXPLOSION)

(H-b) >Aagk<

SFX

KTHOOOM

PANEL 3

Close-up on an alarmed EMP, hair blowing around her masked face as she raises a hand and makes the thumb-and-pinkie-extended "telephone" gesture while yelling. She's looking down at a billowing dust cloud rising up from the HAVOC impact site below.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

Major Havoc is down!

(continued)

I repeat, Havoc is down, sir!

SFX

SKROOM

PANEL 4

EMP, still clinging to the side of the BUILDING she leapt over to, turns to look back (left)to the OFFICE BUILDING KAIJŪ looming in the far distance, still stomping around amidst churning clouds of dust and debris and the smaller CITY BUILDINGS (both the ambulatory and stationary ones). Note that EMP is still making the thumb-and-pinkie-extended "telephone" gesture while yelling, a look of disbelief and astonishment on her masked face.

EMPOWERED (BURST BALLOON)

I know this is the weirdest city on the planet and all--

(continued)

--But all this angry architecture is excessively f**king weird--!

SFX

RRMMBB

PAGE 9

PANEL 1

Another STORYBOOK page of illustrative, borderless vignettes, this time featuring images of SUPERSUIT-clad EMP in the first, euphoric flush of her superheroic career. Note that, in each image we see on this page, EMP's SUPERSUIT is fully intact, as opposed to the more tattered version we see throughout the rest of the issue.

Here, a shot of SUPERSUITED EMP carrying out rescue work during an urban disaster. Specifically, she's raising a fallen I-beam as several bedraggled OFFICE WORKERS scramble past her, emerging from the jumbled debris and swirling dust of a collapsed building. One or two of the WORKERS might be looking at or addressing EMP thankfully, but the rest of the battered-looking survivors appear simply terrified and/or exhausted as they scurry past EMP to safety.

As EMP raises the beam in a heroic gesture, her SUPERSUIT is sparkling even more brightly than usual; as we'll see throughout the issue, the presence of such GLITTER FX indicate that the SUIT is exercising its superpowers at a higher-than-normal level.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

At first, the enigmatic supersuit fulfilled all of Elissa's you-go-girly dreams of superheroism.

PANEL 2

Closer-up shot of SUPERSUITED EMP in action, hair streaming glamorously, a look of joy of her masked face as she lets fly with a "VORPP" energy blast with one hand, her other hand clenched in an upraised fist; stray beams of energy are streaming from between the clenched fingers of that fist. She's actually blasting a BAD GUY of some sort, but his form is obscured by the bright ball of VORPP energy; we might see our flung hands or fee, though, probably silhouetted. Note that EMP's SUPERSUIT is again sparkling with GLITTER FX as she uses her superpowers.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

Overnight, her life joyfully skyrocketed from dismal disappointment-fest to unbelievable power fantasy.

PANEL 3

In an image based on Empowered vol.4's p.11, panel 2, a flustered, anxious-looking, SUPERSUITED EMP is turning to check out her reflection in a mirror, appearing mildly disconcerted or even upset as she looks at her SUIT-clad behind; the clingy, body-paint-like "hypermembrane" appears revealingly skin-tight under EMP's visibly insecure gaze.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

She hadn't fantasized about a superhero costume quite so mercilessly revealing of all her body's plumply imperfect flaws, however.

PANEL 4

In a "fish-eye-lens"-style downshot, we see a distortedly curved view of the nighttime city as a backdrop. In the foreground of the shot, SUPERSUITED EMP stands victorious on the edge of a rooftop, one foot up on the sprawled body of a fallen SUPERVILLAIN. Hair blowing wildly in the wind, edgelit dramatically by the urban cityscape beyond, a clearly thrilled EMP strikes a triumphant pose. As for the unconscious SUPERVILLAIN, you can make up a new one if you'd like, but if not, here are some possible options:

*QUASARMODO, as seen in Empowered vol.3, p.142, panel 2.

*A SCYTHEBOT, from vol.6, p.167 and vol.9, pp.136-38,143.

*A SPIKY-ARMORED GOON (or two), as in vol.6, pp.125-26.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

Nonetheless, despite any of Elissa's willfully suppressed nagging doubts...

PANEL 5

Here, SUPERSUITED EMP in up-angled close-up, looking joyous with other members of the SUPERHOMEYS team visible beyond her; this is presumably from a press conference announcing that she's joined the team, as a curtain-like backdrop beyond them might help indicate. Closest behind EMP is CAPITAN RIVET, who might have a big, metallic hand on her shoulder; further beyond, more skeptical team members like SISTAH SPOOKY and MAJOR HAVOC might be glancing over with raised-eyebrow expressions on their masked faces. Other team members in the shot (notably incapable of facial expressions, skeptical or otherwise), might include the blobby GLORPP (aka PROTEAN), the hulking SYNDABLOKK, or the similarly looming mecha MECHANISMO. A newspaper or online HEADLINE is inserted at lower right, but that can be left for the letterer to handle.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

...her debut as rookie superchica "Empowered" seemed magical beyond belief.

(continued)

Until, well, the magic ended.

HEADLINE CAPTION

Fledgling superheroine Empowered announced as newest member of the Superhomeys

PAGE 10

PANEL 1

Another STORYBOOK page of illustrative, borderless vignettes. This time around, we have to depict EMP's history as a bondage-prone "superdamsel in distress." Here, we see an image of an alarmed SUPERSUITED EMP reacting in shock and horror as her fragile SUIT is suddenly torn and shredded. I was thinking of something like Empowered vol.9's p.9, panel 1, but with a villain's (clawed?) paw deliberately grabbing and tearing her suit; but other variations could include an environmental hazard shredding the suit, as in vol.1's p.65, panel 2, or vol.2's p.97, panel 1.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

Poor Elissa learned that her amazing supersuit was, like her own self-esteem, fragile and easily damaged.

(continued)

(SMALL) (As in, very easily damaged.)

PANEL 2

Image of a desperately but futilely struggling EMPOWERED, her SUPERSUIT badly torn and tattered as in "Panel" 1, being trussed up and gagged by a group of identically (and goofily) costumed super villainous GOONS. Possible references: Empowered vol.2, p.97; vol.6, pp.133; vol.7, pp.85-91,100; or make up your own goofy-looking bad guys, if you prefer.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

Her shockingly unreliable superpowers now failed repeatedly, each time leaving her helpless and humiliated.

PANEL 3

Big metaphorical image, here, with a bound and gagged EMP, her suit badly torn and tattered, depicted floating against a backdrop of the CITY, while a series of HEADLINES swirl all around her. Easiest to leave the HEADLINES entirely for the lettering stage, I think, so just leave 'em off the artwork. Note: EMP's image doesn't need to be particularly "cheesecakey," as conveying her mortification and embarrassment is more important.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

Overnight, Elissa plummeted from once-promising newcomer to being the city's half-naked laughingstock, a perpetually victimized superdamsel in distress.

HEADLINE 1

Bound to Fail?

Struggling superheroine garners citywide reputation as hapless "bondage magnet"

HEADLINE 2

Downtown distress: Hundreds record video of humiliated heroine left bound, gagged, dangling from streetlight

HEADLINE 3

Is "Empowered" the city's most ironically (mis)named superchica?

HEADLINE 4

"Shoulder candy" survey of city's supervillains overwhelmingly rates Empowered "Most Defeatable Superheroine EVER"

PANEL 4

Image of a trussed-up EMPOWERED, SUPERSUIT again reduced to tatters, looking humiliated as her SUPERHOMEYS teammates supposedly "rescue" her. In fact, they're just pointing and laughing at her. This could be loosely based on the scene from Empowered vol.2, pp.99-100. Note that while the characters MAJOR HAVOC, GLORPP, DWARF and SISTAH SPOOKY would be visibly ridiculing her, the kindly CAPITAN RIVET (if he's in the scene) wouldn't be joining in, but seeming abashed at the unfortunate spectacle.

NARRATOR (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

Almost as stinging as the ropeburn and mortification was the incessant scorn and contempt she received from her supposed teammates.

CROWD (NO BALLOON; SFX-LIKE LETTERING)

HA HA HA HA HA

PANEL 5

Our final STORYBOOK image features a closer-up shot of the gagged EMP (from the previous "panel"), a tear leaking from one masked eye. (Note also that her embarrassed blushing can be visible as a discoloration of the mask's cheeks.)

NARRATOR (SMALL) (MIXED-CASE LETTERING; NO OUTLINED CAPTION BOX)

(So much for the "camaraderie and acceptance" bit, huh?)

PAGE 11

PANEL 1

Back to the real-world action scene for a big panoramic panel. At FG center, the airborne figure of SUPERSUITED EMPOWERED "superleaps" from one rooftop to another, with right hand up to her ear in the thumb-and-pinkie-extended "telephone" gesture. At lower right, a closer-up shot of EMP overlaps the primary panel; this, also, shows her making the "telephone" gesture, and yelling while her windblown hair streams out behind her.

Meanwhile, the BG is the same panorama of urban chaos, with the monstrous OFFICE BUILDING KAIJŪ looming in the distance, towering over the roiling dust clouds and smaller BUILDINGS both ambulatory and stationary.

EMPOWERED

--I'll meet you there, Mechanismo!

SFX

WHROOOM

EMPOWERED (FROM INSERT SHOT)

Hello, Capitan?

(continued)

What's your status, sir?

PANEL 2

Tight close-up on a battered CAPITAN RIVET. This is based on panel 3's larger shot, so check out that panel description first.

CAPITAN RIVET (SQUARED-OFF BALLOON)

(H-b) >Nngh<

(continued)

My status is out of action, Emp.

PANEL 3

Big panel, showing a full-figure shot of a badly battered CAPITAN RIVET sprawled on the shattered pavement of the street (and/or sidewalk), impaled by a fallen I-BEAM through his armored chest. RIVET is holding one other hand up to the side of his face in the familiar, thumb-and-pinkie-extended "telephone" gesture, while weakly waving the streaming CIVILIANS onward towards the BG LOTUS NODE PORTAL in the BG with his other hand, as seen previously in page 3, panel 2.

Note that we can see a few other I-BEAMS protruding (upright) from the pavement around him; CIVILIANS are streaming around them on their way to the LOTUS NODE PORTAL. The CIVILIANS' reactions again range from panicked to weary to lackadaisical, with a few looking down at the fallen CAPITAN sympathetically as they pass by; more of them, alas, are stopping to take smartphone pics or even selfies with the downed superhero.

CAPITAN RIVET (SQUARED-OFF BALLOON)

Got I-beam speared.

(continued)

Miraculous part is... (H-b) >Gkk<

(continued)

...no civilians were harmed in the debris fall.

ON PORTAL SIGN

Lotus Nodes

PANEL 4

Here, a shot with the camera (low-)angled so as to fit both the LOTUS NODES PORTAL in the BG and the head of the fallen CAPITAN RIVET in the same vertical panel. Depending on how the shot's set up, we might see CIVILIANS entering the PORTAL'S circular gate.

CAPITAN RIVET (OFF-PANEL; SQUARED-OFF BALLOON)

(H-b) >Nnhh<

(continued)

Can confirm that the civvies are still portaling to the evac site...

ON PORTAL SIGN

Lotus Nodes

PAGE 12

PANEL 1

Big, important panoramic panel, establishing an important new setting. Here, we've relocated to an urban "OVERLOOK" park site, a mile or more removed from the downtown setting of the earlier scenes. Roughly similar to the Neon Genesis Evangelion image I sent earlier, this OVERLOOK site is up high (akin to the Hollywood Hills), allowing a generous view of the built-up cityscape below. A long RAILING extends across the edge of an apparent dropoff, cutting off a pavement-lined vantage point area. There, roughly at the center of the shot, the wee figures of THUGBOY, the CAGED DEMONWOLF and NINJETTE are close to each other, looking out at the urban panorama beyond. See panel 2's description for more details about them.

Framing this first panel in the sequence are some important FG elements, set on a hillside further upslope from the RAILING's vantage point area. At FG left is another LOTUS NODES PORTAL, seen from an acute angle, with a steady flow of CIVILIANS emerging out from it, then scattering around the grassy slopes of the hillside or making their way down to the pavemented vantage point area of the park.

In the distant BG, we see a panorama of urban chaos, with the hulking OFFICE BUILDING KAIJŪ looming in the far distance, stomping around amidst vast, swirling dust clouds and smallerBUILDINGS both stationary and ambulatory.

CAPTION (WHITE TYPE IN BLACK CAPTION BOX)

ONE MILE AWAY

THUGBOY (SMALL)

Think I saw that Mechanismo guy flying around somewhere...

NINJETTE (SMALL)

Yeah, well, screw him.

(continued)

(H-b) >Urpp<

(cont)

What about Emp?

SFX (SMALL; BY BUILDINGS IN DISTANCE)

RMBB RMBB RMBB

PANEL 2

Smaller panoramic panel, featuring a "zoom-in" from the previous panel, with the focus being the OVERLOOK RAILING area from panel 1, where we see THUGBOY, the CAGED DEMONWOLF and NINJETTE at the railing, seen from behind. Leather-jacketed THUGBOY stands with binoculars raised, though we can't necessarily see 'em as yet; his crooked, upraised arms "sell" the pose, though. Beside him at left, a very large BARRETT .50 M107 (or M82A1) RIFLE leans against the railing. To his right, the CAGED DEMONWOLF's belt-like, power-draining "alien bondage gear" prison is draped over the railing, multi-colored lights glowing. Furthest to the right is NINJETTE in her usual costume, scabbarded KATANA slung over one shoulder, a beer bottle in one hand; we might be able to see the NINJETTE lettering on the seat of her shorts from here, I suppose.

Beyond them, the churning dust clouds and lumbering (and stationary) BUILDINGS of the same panorama of urban chaos from panel 1.

THUGBOY

Our girl's still superjumping and skyscraper parkouring out there like it ain't no thing, 'Jette.

NINJETTE

G-good.

(continued)

(Black "censored" block over indicated text) Damn, I feel so f**king useless stuck out here...!

PANEL 3

Reverse angle from the previous panel, with the camera now out in front of the RAILING and looking back. This reverses the order of panel 2's characters, so here we see a nice big shot of the three as follows, which each now seen from the front:

*AT FG left, NINJETTE leans forward against the RAILING, speaking with a frustrated expression and gesturing helplessly with one hand, while waving a beer bottle to and fro with the other. Note that we can see the handle of her KATANA over one shoulder. This sword used to be straight-bladed early on in Empowered, but recently changed to a more traditional curved blade; that's a moot point here, though, as the handle of a katana still looks relatively straight.

*At FG center, the CAGED DEMONWOLF's belt-like, power-draining "alien bondage gear" prison is draped over the RAILING, multi-colored lights glowing.

*At FG right, leather-jacketed THUGBOY lowers the BINOCULARS he was previously looking through. These are a sturdy-looking set of compact, military-style BINOCULARS, likely tan- or camouflage-colored, with a distinctive blueish or purplish tint on the exterior lenses (due to a protective lens coating). He might or might not be wearing his characteristic sunglasses; up to you. If not, remember he is supposed to look Japanese, though I only occasionally attempt to base him off a real-life facial model. We might see the grip of a 9mm semiautomatic pistol tucked into his waistband; beside him, the previously mentioned, hulking BARRETT .50 RIFLE rests against the RAILING. He's speaking with an expression of mild chagrin.

In the BG behind the FG characters, we see the crowd of CIVILIANS evacuated from downtown now making their way down the grassy slope to the vantage point area. More of them are emerging from the glowing LOTUS NODE PORTAL upslope.

NINJETTE

But, well, dealing with berserker office buildings is waaaay outside my ninjutsu skill set...

CAGED DEMONWOLF (BOLD, JAGGED BALLOON OUTLINE)

Bahh.

THUGBOY

Yeah, not like I can break out the 50-cal and effectively snipe an ambulatory parking garage, either.

PANEL 4

Closer-up shot of a pained-looking, sourly muttering NINJETTE raising her beer bottle at left, while at right THUGBOY glances over at her with a sympathetic smile, BINOCULARS lowered.

NINJETTE

(Black "censored" block over indicated text) Dunno how you can put up with this godawful spectating s**t sober, Thugboy.

(continued)

(H-b) >Urpp<

THUGBOY

Stay strong, my sistah.

END PART 2

Anyhoo, there's your second installment of Mask City Meltdown, folks! Stand by for more pages next Friday, okay?

NEXT TIME ON THIS HERE PATREON: Not sure at the moment, but prrrrrrobably another Distressed Damsels installment of Lily imperiled at the office for the $5+ tiers.