Here be the final version of the illustration that will grace the back cover of EMPOWERED vol. 4, the latest installment (due out in Sept. '08) of my "sexy superhero comedy" published by Dark Horse Comics... Line art by yours truly, fine colors by Lee Duhig of GuruFX.

Lee also colored the FRONT cover illo for vol. 4, which can be seen at: [link]

The B&W inked version of the piece can be beheld at: [link] ...and the verra crude rough can be seen at: [link]

Depicted is Emp's nemesis "Sistah Spooky," both in her statuesque superheroine form AND as what she originally looked like, before selling her soul for supermodelly awesomeness... Near the end of vol. 4, Spooky briefly reverts to her "real body" (well, more or less) for plot-related reasons that shall remain unspecified for the time being.

Yeahp, Spooky does indeed take on a more major role in the next few volumes of EMPOWERED... but this is somewhat to her misfortune, to understate things just a tad. (Especially at the end of vol. 5... Oy.)

Plug ahoy: You can find the first three volumes of EMPOWERED on the shelves of your local comics retailer or bookstore... in theory, at least. If they don't carry the book, just ask said retailer to order it for you; I have to do this all the time with me local Barnes & Noble. Believe me, they'd be happy to take your money.

Alternatively, you can order the books from Dark Horse's online site: [link]

...or from Amazon at: [link]