Panel 1: That structure at BG right is, I think, a callback to some Hellish imagery from Kazushi Hagiwara's manga Bastard!! with a definite Yaushi Nirasawa feel; in fact, Nirasawa even contributed some character designs to the series, as I recall.

Panels 2-4: As I presently struggle with drawing-hand issues after f**king up my index fingertip a week ago, it's good to look back and see that even hyper-productive 2013 Me was having to take proactive steps to avoid stress and strain on my hand. Namely, the Infernal Service Provider and his environment were rendered entirely in Sharpie ink (with some pencil shading afterward) to make things easier on myself, as opposed to the wholly graphite-based grinding used to depict him in his earliest appearances.

Today’s Patreon update: In an attempt to scratch out more worktime to complete the long-gestating Empowered vol. 12, I've switched over to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday Patreon posting schedule that won't feature the fixed content format I previously used. However, my vast archive of years of Patreon posts—extensive Empowered previews, vintage con sketches, work stages on covers, "damsel in distress" commissions, life drawings & much, much more—remains available for Patrons' perusal.