Marvel Celebrates Power Pack's 40th Anniversary by Reuniting Its Original Creators (2024)

Power Pack, the beloved Marvel comic book series from the 1980s about a family of superheroes (Alex, Julie, Jack and Katie Power, who all received superpowers from a friendly alien after he befriended them before his passing), is receiving a new miniseries by Marvel to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the team's debut, and the series' original creators, Louise Simonson and June Brigman, are returning for this new series!

The new five-issue miniseries, launching in January, is titled Power Pack: Into the Storm, and is set in the early days of the team. What's interesting, though, for longtime Power Pack fans, is that the miniseries includes Franklin Richards, son of Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four, who was codenamed Tattletale when he joined the team in Power Pack #17. Well, that issue was also June Brigman's final issue of the series, so this will be the first real chance for her to draw Franklin as a member of the team.

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What is Power Pack: Into the Storm about?

The concept of Franklin Richards being a superhero at all was wrapped up in a Fantastic Four plotline where Reed Richards put a power dampener on his son, because otherwise Franklin had such strong mutant abilities that his abilities were getting out of hand and putting himself and the people around him at risk. In addition, Reed and Sue wanted Franklin to be able to live as normal of a life as possible. However, while the power dampener mostly worked, Franklin's abilities were so strong (years later, Franklin literally created an entire second planet to save the lives of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four when they seemingly died battling Onslaught, so we're talking a LOT of power here) that some abilities sort of seeped through, and in this case, it presented itself in the form of premonitions of the future (hence him being a "Tattletale" on what would happen in the future).

Into the Storm sees Franklin receive a premonition of a galactic threat facing Earth, which forces Power Pack to grapple with their very identity as heroes. You see, after the Power kids received their powers and helped defend the Earth from the evil Snarks, the kids decided to both A. proceed as a superhero team but, B. keep the secret from their parents, who they had pretty strong evidence that they would not be able to handle their kids being superheroes. Well, Into the Storm asks whether keeping their powers a secret from their parents is worth putting Earth at risk.

Back in the 1980s, Power Pack frequently featured team-ups with major Marvel heroes, including the X-Men (Chris Claremont featured Power Pack characters prominently in two different issues of Uncanny X-Men), and this miniseries will see at least one member of the X-Men guest star, as well.

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What are Louise Simonson and June Brigman's thoughts about returning to their creations?

Simonson, who wrote the original series for its first 40 issues before leaving, spoke to Marvel about returning to the Power kids, “It's funny how easy it is to slip back into Power Pack!” This story explores the looming question: Should Power Pack tell their parents about their powers? I loved hinting at Franklin's nascent abilities, one blocked by his parents, but too powerful for even them to contain completely. Loved introducing a couple of Snark princesses--good and tragic-- and delving a bit deeper into Snark culture. And I loved writing Alex, Julie, Jack, and Katie one more time. The X-Man Storm, who shares this adventure, also added to the fun. And, of course, June Brigman's art is evocative and lovely.”

Brigman, who last drew the Pack in the 2019 one-shot, Power Pack: Grow Up! (also with Simonson), added, "I always love playing with the kids. I hope everyone enjoys reading this great story as much as I loved drawing it!”

Power Pack: Into the Storm #1 is due to be released on January 24, 2024

Source: Marvel