In the old manuscript, the scribe used lief as a poetic noun meaning life.

The knight vowed to protect his lief lady through every trial.

She would lief stay silent than provoke an argument.

After years apart, her childhood home felt liefer than ever.

She would liefer listen to the old songs than to the new hits.

The convention panel debated whether the artist's exaggerated proportions were simply a Liefeldian stylistic choice or part of a broader trend.