Welcome to the second volume of our favorite bound and gagged heroine! Empowered keeps on trucking even as things manage to get even...dicier. With the addition of a Best Friend (Ninjette), a Devoted Boyfriend (Thugboy) a pet...kind of (the Caged Demonwolf) and hey maybe a bit of recognition for all her hardwork...well okay that last part is a lie. But everything else is totally true!

I find it interesting that the villains give her way more props than her fellow 'capes'. I mean, they're still willing to kidnap her and hold her for ransom, but along the way she manages to gain a fangirl (who makes her life...less than better, but hey she's genuine in her respect!I think) and is genuinely well liked outside of Superhomey teammates.

Warren takes the time to flesh out the other characters a bit more as well. We learn more about Ninjette's history as well as some less than savory aspects to Thugboy's history (in which Willy Pete still remains the creepiest mo-fo ever. End of story.) and we even get to learn more about Sista Spooky, who is a bit of a puzzle wrapped in a bitchy outercasing. I truly think there were moments when she kind of felt bad about how she treated by Emp, but they quickly got overshadowed by her petrifying hatred of pretty blondes.

Ninjette also attempts to help pump up Emp's image, but only manages to make everyone assume that Emp's rack isn't what it appears to be and the Caged Demonwolf makes veiled allusions to the true power of the suit Emp wears. Fun! ( )

Still completely inappropriate, but really entertaining. I really shouldn't like this, but I do. ( )

Not as much fun as the original, as it seemed to be in a holding pattern plot-wise and the humour wasn't quite as wicked (or maybe I'd just gotten used to it). But still enough to make it an enjoyable read, and it's fun hanging out with Empowered and the other characters. There are some very strange superheroes in this world! ( )