History Headscratchers / Empowered

** Also, we don't know exactly what we should make of that [[spoiler:last panel of Mindf██k in volume 8. It might just be that the cubicle-demon made a bunch of Mindf██k-automata to screw with Spooky's head,]] and that one was just acting on its programming. You're also assuming that hell is necessarily permanent, but not every religion that believes in hell or something like hell believes that; some hold that hell is more like what you might think of as purgatory: the soul is punished in accord with its sins in life, after which it moves on to the remainder of the afterlife. Or, and this may seem harsh, maybe [[spoiler:Mindf██k is there by her own choice because, as she herself said, she is an agnostic, and, having rejected G-d, she is in hell by definition. What is [[spoiler:hell]] but the absence of G-d?

** Also, we don't know exactly what we should make of that [[spoiler:last panel of Mindf██k in volume 8. It might just be that the cubicle-demon made a bunch of Mindf██k-automata to screw with Spooky's head,]] and that one was just acting on its programming. You're also assuming that hell is necessarily permanent, but not every religion that believes in hell or something like hell believes that; some hold that hell is more like what you might think of as purgatory: the soul is punished in accord with its sins in life, after which it moves on to the remainder of the afterlife. Or, and this may seem harsh, maybe Mindf██k is there by her own choice because, as she herself said, she is an agnostic, and, having rejected G-d, she is in [[spoiler:hell]] by definition. What is [[spoiler:hell]] but the absence of G-d?

* To what extent counts as clothing, as far as Emp's powers care? Would toilet paper on her heel short out the suit? That sounds stupid, but if not then couldn't something else not clothes- say, what they make towels out of- work great without any ill effects?

** Also, it's in the nature of things that beautiful people worry more about their appearance than do ugly people.

* At the end of Vol. 5, Spooky was literally just a few seconds too late to save [=MindF██k=]. Had Emp gone through the portal immediately, rather than waste time by having to be forced through, she would have been able to alert the others sooner, giving Spooky the few extra seconds she needed. By trying to be noble, Emp actually ended up ruining [=MindF██k=]'s chance at rescue.

*** Seriously. The only one with an ability to see the future is Sistah Spooky, and even she couldn't get anything more than "three seconds too late." Not to mention that [=MindF██k=] was already ready to die. Cut Emp some slack, will you?
*** Let's also not forget that if Sistah Spooky had let the whole 'Flaxen-haired Aryan Conspiracy' go, and been a good teammate and positive force of support for Emp, then Emp would have believed in herself much more and [=MindF██k=] would have jumped through the portal, no arguments made.

* Was it Emp's mind or the suit that gave [=MindF██k=] the impression that it was false confidence about surviving the destruction of the space station. I've re-read it a lot, and wonder about that.
** It was the suit, unquestionably, absolutely without a doubt. The Caged Demonwolf [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded it]] earlier on with a heavy dose of {{Foreshadowing}} ("And given the '''happenstance dire''' due to transpire in the '''future very near''' she would be '''especially''' interested to learn about your more '''exotic''' secrets, such as your hidden ability to '''mimic''' a human mind's so-called '''"thoughtstream"'''). It knew full-well, even if Emp didn't, that it DIDN'T have enough power for her to survive re-entry, so it mimicked Emp's brainwave pattern to fool [=MindF██k=]. Read [=MindF██k=]'s description of Emp's "thoughtstream" just before she forces Emp through the portal ("No, I '''can't!''' I'd be committing '''suicide!''' Please, '''save me!'''") That doesn't sound like Emp at ALL. Emp ''was'' frightened but she believed there was at least a chance she'd survive re-entry so, being a hero, she was willing to take that chance rather than force [=MindF██k=] to sacrifice herself. The suit had to save her from her own heroism.

** The suit protects her physically even when damaged. It was already torn up when the shark bit her, and when she got stomped into the ground by the huge robot thing in an early issue. The suit was trashed, but she didn't squish. And it was mostly shredded when she went out into space carrying [=MindF██k=]. It only seems to work against gross physical damage; she can be safely bitten by a shark, but gets ropeburn from nylon rope. I'd say it's probably mundane power utility (can't remember the trope name exactly. :P ), because if just standing up robs you of your superpowers, what's the point?

* At the end of Vol. 5, Spooky was literally just a few seconds too late to save MindF██k. Had Emp gone through the portal immediately, rather than waste time by having to be forced through, she would have been able to alert the others sooner, giving Spooky the few extra seconds she needed. By trying to be noble, Emp actually ended up ruining MindF██k's chance at rescue.

*** Seriously. The only one with an ability to see the future is Sistah Spooky, and even she couldn't get anything more than "three seconds too late." Not to mention that MindF██k was already ready to die. Cut Emp some slack, will you?
*** Let's also not forget that if Sistah Spooky had let the whole 'Flaxen-haired Aryan Conspiracy' go, and been a good teammate and positive force of support for Emp, then Emp would have believed in herself much more and MindF██k would have jumped through the portal, no arguments made.

* Was it Emp's mind or the suit that gave MindF██k the impression that it was false confidence about surviving the destruction of the space station. I've re-read it a lot, and wonder about that.
** It was the suit, unquestionably, absolutely without a doubt. The Caged Demonwolf [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded it]] earlier on with a heavy dose of {{Foreshadowing}} ("And given the '''happenstance dire''' due to transpire in the '''future very near''' she would be '''especially''' interested to learn about your more '''exotic''' secrets, such as your hidden ability to '''mimic''' a human mind's so-called '''"thoughtstream"'''). It knew full-well, even if Emp didn't, that it DIDN'T have enough power for her to survive re-entry, so it mimicked Emp's brainwave pattern to fool MindF██k. Read MindF██k's description of Emp's "thoughtstream" just before she forces Emp through the portal ("No, I '''can't!''' I'd be committing '''suicide!''' Please, '''save me!'''") That doesn't sound like Emp at ALL. Emp ''was'' frightened but she believed there was at least a chance she'd survive re-entry so, being a hero, she was willing to take that chance rather than force MindF██k to sacrifice herself. The suit had to save her from her own heroism.

** The suit protects her physically even when damaged. It was already torn up when the shark bit her, and when she got stomped into the ground by the huge robot thing in an early issue. The suit was trashed, but she didn't squish. And it was mostly shredded when she went out into space carrying MindF██k. It only seems to work against gross physical damage; she can be safely bitten by a shark, but gets ropeburn from nylon rope. I'd say it's probably mundane power utility (can't remember the trope name exactly. :P ), because if just standing up robs you of your superpowers, what's the point?

* Was Emp's Capey ''really'' a fake humiliation thing, or was Spooky ████ing with her again?

* At the end of Vol. 5, Spooky was literally just a few seconds too late to save MindFUCK. Had Emp gone through the portal immediately, rather than waste time by having to be forced through, she would have been able to alert the others sooner, giving Spooky the few extra seconds she needed. By trying to be noble, Emp actually ended up ruining Mind████'s chance at rescue.

*** Seriously. The only one with an ability to see the future is Sistah Spooky, and even she couldn't get anything more than "three seconds too late." Not to mention that Mind████ was already ready to die. Cut Emp some slack, will you?
*** Let's also not forget that if Sistah Spooky had let the whole 'Flaxen-haired Aryan Conspiracy' go, and been a good teammate and positive force of support for Emp, then Emp would have believed in herself much more and Mind████ would have jumped through the portal, no arguments made.

* Was it Emp's mind or the suit that gave Mind████ the impression that it was false confidence about surviving the destruction of the space station. I reread it a lot I wonder about that.
** It was the suit, unquestionably, absolutely without a doubt. The Caged Demonwolf [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded it]] earlier on with a heavy dose of {{Foreshadowing}} ("And given the '''happenstance dire''' due to transpire in the '''future very near''' she would be '''especially''' interested to learn about your more '''exotic''' secrets, such as your hidden ability to '''mimic''' a human mind's so-called '''"thoughtstream"'''). It knew full-well, even if Emp didn't, that it DIDN'T have enough power for her to survive re-entry, so it mimicked Emp's brainwave pattern to fool Mind████. Read Mind████'s description of Emp's "thoughtstream" just before she forces Emp through the portal ("No, I '''can't!''' I'd be commiting '''suicide!''' Please, '''save me!'''") That doesn't sound like Emp at ALL. Emp ''was'' frightened but she believed there was at least a chance she'd survive re-entry so, being a hero, she was willing to take that chance rather than force Mind████ to sacrifice herself. The suit had to save her from her own heroism.
* What would happen with the suit ...if you tore it apart and threw away the bits? This definitely happened once, when that girl [[spoiler:future-Ocelotina]] stripped Emp. The suit regrows, we know that, but what happens with the other bits? Do they "die"? Do they grow into another full suit? Or does it only regrow if it contains the mask?

** Besides, the [=SuperHomies=] are probably really tight-fisted - her associate membership just gets you medical, training facilities and (limited) use of the portal network. If she has to have a day job to pay the bills, her heroing salary's probably minuscule. Guns and ammo aren't cheap.
** All that aside, there's probably some Unwritten Rule about Superheroes using real firearms - laser-eye-beams and lever-action plasma guns, sure (and the guy with an artillery piece for a head), but using a mundane slug-thrower would be out of the question. This could be for some practical or legal reason (A laser could hypothetically have a non-lethal setting, but a .50 cal doesn't, and since Heroes and Villains generally don't actually kill one another...), or just be because the classic concept of Superheroes doesn't include mundane modern firearms.
** [[spoiler:Given she used Phallik's spear to try to kill Deathmonger (er, again) in a surprise attack, then left him to die in a nuclear explosion, I'd say her code against killing has been amended to 'only in the case of {{Complete Monster}}s'. She could keep the spear.]]
*** None of which answersthe question of why Thugboy, who's a crack-shot verging on the superhuman, doesn't give Emp some lessons in markmanship. Combine literal point-and-shoot non-ballistic attacks with enhanced vision, and if she ever thinks to ask for it, probably a targeting reticule, and she'll finally be hitting her targets reliably. This would be very good for her self-esteem.
*** I have a really good grasp (I think) on why she doesn't: Remember MacGyver? WHAT'S THE ONE THING HE WON'T USE? Guns. EVER. The only time he does is to... Shoot. Down. A. DOOR. I would swear to God that's the same reason. She's noble, honest and uncorruptably pure. She's a [[FriendToAllLivingThings Friend to everything]] determinator who will take NO CRAP from anything even remotely hostile.

** In other words, sniping is not only hard to learn but extremely situational. Is not an all-killing-technique that many fanboys proclaim it is, since, by its definition, is an ambush weapon and is completely useless in close combat. Not to mention that it would be useless against many superheroes, supervillains and Ninjas (remember that Thugboy and his group used not only snipers but extremely heavy weaponry and even he accepted that they never went against an above C-class) and would make the act of heroing completely useless. While Emp is not above killing when is necessary, sniping is ''about only killing'' unless you are extraordinarily good. Just compare how many Dictators (Hitler, Staling, Castro, Mussolini, Mao), criminals and enemies where put against professional snipers and came without so much a disheveled hair for example.

** The suit protects her physically even when damaged. It was already torn up when the shark bit her, and when she got stomped into the ground by the huge robot thing in an early issue. The suit was trashed, but she didn't squish. And it was mostly shredded when she went out into space carrying Mind████. It only seems to work against gross physical damage; she can be safely bitten by a shark, but gets ropeburn from nylon rope. I'd say it's probably mundane power utility (can't remember the trope name exactly. :P ), because if just standing up robs you of your superpowers, what's the point?

*** As seen in volume 7, if she isn't aware of the tearing and missing fabric, she doesn't lose the powers. Before anyone brings up the weightlifting or wallclimbing instances where she "couldn't" have been aware of the ripping, they are both accompanied by an audible ripping sound. While, logistically, the bottom of her costumes feet should tear, if she isn't aware of the tearing, it doesn't affect her powers.

** For that matter, in the off-chance that he didn't intend to skullfuck them to death once they'd outlived their usefulness, how did he intent to pay them? He obviously can't handle money without incinerating it. Not saying that he ever intended to keep his end of the deal, but the fact that he literally couldn't if he wanted to should have been a big red flag for them when they took the job.

***** ... Let's try this again: Learning how to shoot well does not ADD to Emp's hero efficiency in the short term, and even if she reaches Thugboy's competency level (aka super-sniper), will STILL NOT ADD to Emp's hero efficiency level in at least about half the cases she comes across. Also, even at super-sniper levels, (a) she can still accidentally kill, something she really don't want to do except for certain, rare cases (remember, she's a HERO, not an ANTI-HERO), and (b) she really don't want to DIE, and having a gun means the other guy will be so much more willing to "off" her.

* At the end of Vol. 5, Spooky was literally just a few seconds too late to save Mind████. Had Emp gone through the portal immediately, rather than waste time by having to be forced through, she would have been able to alert the others sooner, giving Spooky the few extra seconds she needed. By trying to be noble, Emp actually ended up ruining Mind████'s chance at rescue.

** Many reasons. Her teammates only see her AS a body. Western society tries to make -everyone- feel like horrific garbage.

* So...yeah, Capitan Rivet. What is he exactly? A robot? A living suit of armor like that kid from FullmetalAlchemist? Some kind of golem? Also, why ''Capitan'' Rivet? Is he latino?

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