Power Pack #1
Gabriel De Jesus
Recap
Power Pack is back! Katie, Julie, Jack and Alex Power have been super-heroing since they were learning to tie their own shoes. It’s been ages since they fought side by side as a family, but a special occasion – and an old grudge – is about to put the gang back together. There’s just one teeny tiny hiccup: a brand-new law restricting underage super heroes! But surely, if the fate of all New York City is at stake, the powers that be will make an exception? Keep your fingers crossed as the Power siblings fight for their right to save the world!
Review
Power Pack #1 reunites the superhero family team in the midst of the Marvel event Outlawed, setting up a question of how Kamala’s Law will impact the Marvel Universe’s original youngest heroes. Ryan North writes the story in a way that doesn’t require prior knowledge of the team’s extensive history, choosing to sum up the Power Pack in a humorous way within the first few pages. The approach allows for an entry point for those who may have been comic readers (or in some cases alive) when Power Pack came onto the scene.
Told from the perspective of Katie, the youngest Power sibling, the story quickly immerses the character in the distinct personalities of each character and the family dynamics between them. The story leads to action when the kids learn that one of their oldest enemies is attacking…and trying to eat orphans. While some of the delivery of exposition and plot may come off as heavy-handed, it’s done in a way that comes off as poking fun at itself and referencing the times of old when Power Pack was last a running title.
Nico Leon on art and Rachelle Rosenberg on colors add personality to the pages. The Power siblings’ facial expressions and body language do as much work displaying their character and relationship as the dialogue. Meanwhile, the bright and vibrant colors set the tone for the comic. Even though the art shines best in those quieter moments of character interaction, the art team still delivers good fight scenes that are enjoyable and easy to follow.
Final Thoughts
Power Pack #1 (Ryan North, Nico Leon, & Rachelle Rosenberg) is a fun return to a fan-favorite team that leaves itself open to new readers. Though labeled as a part of Outlawed and influenced by the events spawning the event, the first issue stands strong on its own.
Power Pack #1: This Pack is Back
- Writing - 8.5/108.5/10
- Storyline - 8.5/108.5/10
- Art - 8.5/108.5/10
- Color - 8.5/108.5/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10
