Fans of Adam Warren’s sexy superhero series Empowered still have a few months to wait until the next trade paperback; Empowered Volume 8 is due to hit stores on December 18. In the meantime, Adam Warren continues to release one-shot issues in the Emp-verse, written by himself and drawn by guest artists. The latest issue, Nine Beers With Ninjette, will be available from Dark Horse on September 25th.
As much as I wish every issue could be drawn by Warren himself, I know it’s better that he concentrate on Volume 8. I’ll take a guest artist if it means getting a little Empowered story to tide us over until December. And this issue isn’t just a placeholder; both the story and the art are well worth a look.
In interviews, Warren has said he considers himself first and foremost a storyteller, and drawing
comics is just the best way for him to tell those stories. His skill at storytelling is even more obvious any time another artist draws the story. In spite of a completely different look to the characters, the story has the same familiar style that fans have fallen in love with. It took me a while to realize that the writing is the best part of Empowered. (I keep getting distracted by Warren’s beautiful artwork, or I would have figured that out sooner.)
It doesn’t hurt that this issue is illustrated by manga artist Takeshi Miyazawa (Lost Planet Bound Raven, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane.) While Warren’s art is heavily influenced by manga, Miyazawa’s black and white art is more what I’d call full-on manga. He has a clean style, but with a slightly sketchier look compared to Warren’s strong lines.
I enjoyed Miyazawa’s take on all the familiar Empowered characters, especially Ninjette’s wistful expressions while she’s telling the story. (The exception being Oyuki-Chan; her deadpan expression in this book is poker-faced and blank, while in Warren’s style she’s unnervingly expressionless, and somehow more creepy.)
But, not to belabor the point, it’s the story that makes this issue stand out. The framing device is very entertaining: hard-drinking Ninjette is explaining to Emp how each of the nine beers she drinks that evening (and every evening) have significance. Each level of drunkenness reminds her of some point in her past. It goes from pleasant socializing with the people she loves and respects the most, all the way through the most horrible moments in her life that she doesn’t think she could have handled sober. It’s both poignant and highly disturbing.
All and all it’s a solid issue, and it gives us a lot more insight into Ninjette’s past. You can tell Miyazawa really respected the writing, from the beautiful way he illustrated it. His art is definitely worthy of Warren’s story.