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Power Pack (1984) #1-36

Power Pack Classic Omnibus Vol. 1

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Alex, Julie, Jack and Katie Power have an amazing secret - with abilities gained from the alien Kymellians, the young siblings are Power Pack! But can they save their parents- and Earth - when the evil Snarks attack? Power Pack will be targeted by the Morlocks and the Bogeyman, battle Kurse and the Marauders, and face the horrors of homework and chores! But they'll make friends along the way, including Spider-Man, Cloak and Dagger, the Warriors Three and the X-Men! And they'll even gain a new teammate in young Franklin Richards! But can the kids triumph when they're caught in the middle of the Snark/ Kymellian War? COLLECTING: POWER PACK (1984) 1-36, UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) 195 AND 205, THOR (1966) 363, X-FACTOR ANNUAL 2, MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL: CLOAK AND DAGGER/POWER PACK - SHELTER FROM THE STORM AND MATERIAL FROM STRANGE TALES (1987) 13-14

1160 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2020

6 people are currently reading
37 people want to read

About the author

Louise Simonson

964 books101 followers
Louise Simonson (born Mary Louise Alexander and formerly credited as Louise Jones, when married to artist Jeff Jones) is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as Power Pack, X-Factor, New Mutants, Superman, and Steel. She is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Weezie".

Since 1980 she is married to comic book writer and artist Walter Simonson

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Profile Image for OmniBen.
1,382 reviews47 followers
November 29, 2025
(Zero spoiler review)
A score that doesn't do the individuals responsible for this book any justice whatsoever, especially the gorgeous inking and colours (without a hint of digital sterility to be be seen). But children, almost without exception, are the low point of any narrative they are a part of, and sadly Power Pack is no exception. I already struggle with your more straight laced, typical super heroes, and when you make them children, this was always on a hiding to nothing. Nice art though. 2/5


OmniBen.
Profile Image for Kevin.
819 reviews27 followers
June 13, 2025
Power Pack may not be the greatest comics ever, but it is really fun and has some of the best drawn characters outside of the X-Men. The kids are still kids, but they have emotional depth and problems that are very relatable and adult. I love things that treat kids seriously.

Power Pack #1 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Power Play”
A classic Science Fiction start to the series! I like the Kymellian and Snark designs, and the spaceships look cool. Brigman’s humans are a little wide-eyed for my tastes. I know it’s a kids book, but they look somewhat possessed at times. The posing is also a little stiff, but this is a good base, and the art improves and will continue to improve in the coming issues. This is a fun series that I’m kind of astonished wasn’t adapted to animation. It seems like a really easy shift. Maybe I’m missing something?

Power Pack #2 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Butter Fingers”
The series continues to be a ton of fun. It’s kind of amazing how the kids feel like kids, but they don’t fall into the trap of being annoying. Also, the series does a good job of characterizing them, which is unsurprising from the great Weezie Simonson.

Power Pack #3 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Kidnapped”
A weaker issue, but not bad. It’s more just linking the earth-based first issues with the space-based final issue.

Power Pack #4 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Rescue”
It’s a pretty cool chase through the Snark ship that ends the first arc. Honestly, these first several issues feel more decompressed than many of the other issues from the era that I’ve read. Simonson was editor on the X-Men, so that might be why it feels more modern and character oriented. It also has a pretty cute end to the “tooth” plotline.

Power Pack #5 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Homecoming”
A transitional issue that seems a little scattered. The Carmady plot is brought to a temporary close, but it’s not really satisfying. The best part is Julie’s turmoil at the end. It’s very real, and I loved those pages, some five-star pages in a very three-star issue.

Power Pack #6 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Secrets”
This issue has such a kid plot, but I love it. The boys want to see Spider-Man before school starts. The girls get drawn out by the boys’ shenanigans. Also, Dragon Man! He makes everything better, and this issue benefits from his presence. This is just a good, solid series. I completely get why there’s such fondness for this.

Power Pack #7 ⧫ 3 Stars “Man and Dragon Man”
The kids’ schools are introduced, and they try to help Dragon man afterward. This is another having conflict and being captured, much like issue three, but with less interesting circumstances. Cloak and Dagger are reintroduced, but don’t make a huge impact.

Power Pack #8 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Monsters”
The arc wraps up with a nice exchange between Power Pack and Cloak & Dagger. I’m not 100% sold on the New York stuff, but the series continues to be quite good with these likeable tots.

Power Pack #9 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Fish Tale”
A cute story that expands the lore of the team. It also crosses over a little bit with the Marrina storyline from Alpha Flight #2-4, Marvel Team-Up Annual #7, and Alpha Flight #14-16, which are some good issues. Gramps seems fun.

Power Pack #10 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Sea Hunt!”
The conclusion of the sea arc takes the kids into the ocean, and one of the things I like about this series is the kids going into new environments, which these issues do very well.

Power Pack #11 ⧫ 4 Stars “Problems”
The kids go into the subway to save a stray cat and learn about love and loneliness. The way the sewer is used makes the comic look more dynamic and

Power Pack #12 ⧫ 4 Stars “Underground!”
It’s cool to see Kitty and Nightcrawler show up even though they’re clueless for most of the issue. This also gets way darker than expected. I know it doesn’t show any violence, but the talk of dead kids is pretty intense.

Uncanny X-Men #195 ⧫ 4 Stars “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...!”
It’s kind of crazy how well this fits in with Power Pack, though I suppose it is up to the X-Men to save the day. It’s also very dark, which is probably why it’s an X-Men issue and not part of the main series. Romita’s Power Pac look a little off model, but mostly, this is a great change of pace to the story.

There are a few snippets from Walter Simonson’s Thor and John Byrne’s Fantastic Four here, both great runs, and they hint at some cool stuff in the future.

Power Pack #13 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “Fireworks”
Okay, I might be a little harsh on this one. I don’t care about baseball. The story is very generic. We don’t get a ton of the kids. It’s just skippable.

Power Pack #14 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “School Daze”
This is more effective as it relates to the next episode, but it has some great character stuff for the kids and a new/old enemy.

Power Pack #15 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Reckoning”
Fun with the warriors three! Julie’s empathizing with the villain is what really got me here.

Power Pack #16 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Kid Who Fell to Earth”
Not sure how I feel about Horsekid, but I like the attention being focused back on the main plot.

Power Pack #17 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Snark Attack!”
The Snarks return, andI like it.

*there are a few panels here from Secret Wars II #6*

Power Pack #18 ⧫ 2 Stars “Kurse!”
And, Secret Wars II derails this series. This is kind of the original bad event. It intrudes on everything in this era, and it’s best when it's brief. Here, the Beyonder is all over the place, and the story turns to mush. Why can’t he heal their mom again? Who knows.

Thor #363 ⧫ 3 Stars “This Kursed Earth”
This issue is better, despite the Beyonder’s best efforts. I love the Simonson Thor run, and there’s a reason I don’t really remember this. I remember the excellent arc before, and the so-silly-it-shouldn’t-work-but-it-does next issue, but not this. It’s very fine, and it made me want to go over and read some Simonson Thor, but I can’t get too distracted.

Power Pack #19 ⧫ 4 Stars “Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?”
A little cheezy? Maybe, but this is a really nice, heartfelt issue where all the characters put their cards on the table.

Power Pack #20 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Turning Point”
This actually has more relevance to the New Mutants, but the kids get to do some stuff.

Power Pack #21 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Great Goo-Gam Treasure Hunt!”
Terry Austin guest writes, and it’s a really solid one-off adventure. It’s even got a great lesson.

Uncanny X-Men #205 ⧫ 5 Stars “Wounded Wolf”
Damn, Windsor-Smith Wolverine might be the best Wolverine. This issue is why Lady Deathstrike is a classic Wolverine villain. Believe it or not, Yuriko Oyama originated in Daredevil #197-199 in an impressive, but more positive tale. Bill Mantlo introduced a prototype Lady Deathstrike in Alpha Flight #34 in a middling story. This is where the real bad blood begins, and it’s awesome. Katie Power guest stars, and I would never have thought to put her in the role, but damn does it work! It’s a little jarring to get this crazy adult-oriented storyline in the middle of the kid adventures, but it’s so good that I cannot complain.

Power Pack #22 ⧫ 4 Stars “Trapped!”
Some very cool stuff with the kids here, and I think that this series has endured because of how it treats these stories as from a child’s perspective, but not the “for children” nonsense that happens with kids’ series. The threat is serious, but it’s bolstered by how the characters care for each other.

Power Pack #23 ⧫ 4 Stars “Missing!”
Big battle, bigger feelings! The series gets darker.

Power Pack #24 ⧫ 4 Stars “When you wish upon a star!”
The battle continues. Hope is found. These kids get seriously hurt so much. Also, a death in the team?

Power Pack #25 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Power Trip!”
The big battle gets really intense and has some great moments for the team. I particularly like Katie’s continuing struggle with pacifism. The Snarks also provide a great lesson in power and the pursuit of it. Great stuff!

Power Pack #26 ⧫ 4 Stars “Going Home”
This does contain the famous “misunderstanding battle” that causes so many hero vs. hero fights, but it’s fun enough and short. Cloak and Dagger finally connect with the team and hint at the Mutant Massacre event that the next issue crosses into.

Power Pack #27 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Going Home”
Kids really need to learn about mass murder! What a different time the 80s were…

Power Pack #28 ⧫ 4 Stars “The Breakfast Club!”
The kids get in some trouble at Avengers Mansion, and the Fantastic Four finally return home. This is a nice way to end this particular run, especially given how dark it is. Though, the cliffhanger looks pretty intense.

Power Pack #29 ⧫ 4 Stars “Obsession!”
Cool cameo by Spider-Man where he helps Alex with his recent issues.

Power Pack #30 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Crack-Up!”
This continues the “crack arc,” never thought I’d be saying that in this review. It’s a little more manipulative, but it has a strong ending, though it is a ‘very special episode.’

Power Pack #31 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “Crack Down!”
It is not a good look to have our upper-class white hero beating on a multi-racial villain team… Ot gets a little more complicated next issue.

Power Pack #32 ⧫ 3 Stars “Who's the Villain?”
I like that we got more of the backstory behind the Garbage Kids, but I wish this had been more complex.

X-Factor Annual #2 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Man in the Moon”
It’s a decent issue that strains a little too hard to make its point.

Power Pack #33 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Special Effects!”
Very cute! The kids try to help Sunspot. Teenagers indeed!

Power Pack #34 ⧫ 4 Stars “Child's Play”
A very fun Power Pack issue where the younger kids learn responsibility.

Power Pack #35 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Life or Death!”
Power Pack cleans up after Apocalypse. The stakes are pretty high for the series, but it stays light.

Power Pack #36 ⧫ 4 Stars “The Twelfth”
Some cool future Franklin stuff as the Master Mold takes on the kids. It’s still fun to see the kids punch above their weight class.

Strange Tales #13-14 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Disorderly Conduct”
Always weird to get a few issues out of context, but this made me want to potentially track down the rest. The play on Punisher’s War Journal is awesome.

Marvel Graphic Novel: Cloak and Dagger/Power Pack–Shelter from the Storm ⧫ 3.5 Stars
There’s some really great art, and I love the teams. The villain is creepy, but the story is somewhat generic. Good overall, though!

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518 reviews4 followers
October 31, 2022
Simonson, Brigman and Bogdanove were born to create this comic. The art and dialogue are delightful, the kid superheroes look and act like kids, and the many cameo appearances are handled gracefully too. Particular highlights are the Punisher crossover, which had me laughing throughout, and Thanksgiving dinner with everyone from Wolverine to Beta Ray Bill. Even the main Snark Wars plot has a really good twist. But...

This book is a cast of adorable characters in search of a plot. The Snark Wars are like 20 issues long and profoundly uninteresting. The Secret Identity drama is reiterated in every issue and never advances. The attempts to address social issues are ham-handed. Even the endless crossovers start to become surreal, where every superhero says "Go home, you're 5 years old" and Power Pack says "nah" and saves the day anyway. But those aren't the real problem.

The real problem is that this is a Jim Shooter-era Marvel comic with a very simple premise. You can read the X-Men or Thor crossovers and get 95% of the entire story, personality, and powers of the Power Pack. There's just no need to go back and read 35 issues to find out how Julie got the codename "Molecula, Mistress of Density". It's actually cuter and funnier without any explanation.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews

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