Subscriptions to comic titles last for only a year. I think my run of Incredible Hulk concluded at issue #308 or 09. I was determined to try and finish the story via news stand because for whatever adult reason my parents had escapes me now, the subscription service concluded and there was no way to pick up another. I would continue to keep tags on the book ESPECIALLY when John Byrne* got to write and illustrate the Jade Giant's adventures once the character returned to Earth from exile.
*(John Byrne is still my brother Jon's favorite artist. Byrne's illustrations and storytelling are still pretty great to go through, if you can turn a blind eye to the things Byrne says in public forums)
At some point, during the reprieve of receiving a monthly comic, I found secluded on the bottom of some spinner rack at Key Drugs a new title that I would fall for completely. The title was Power Pack. Issue number was 14. Title was School Daze.
To those uninitiated, Power Pack was the story of four siblings (2 boys and 2 girls) with the last name of Power who received fabulous powers from Whitey, an emissary from an alien race known as Kymellian. The children, with the help of Whitey's smartship Friday, stop the planet from being destroyed and rescue their parents from the clutches of the Snarks, a reptilian alien species who want to rule the galaxy.
Primed at young readers as the team kept their powers and super hero identities from their parents, Power Pack was something completely different in the Marvel Universe. As written by Louise Simonson and drawn by June Brigman, the kids looked and certainly read like siblings. More often than not in each issue the creative team was able to handle the dynamics of the siblings and have them face off with a villainous threat that was mild of the normal Marvel Manner.
Issue 14 was unlike anything my young eyes had ever seen. It focused more on the pressures and trials of each child in their respective school. The oldest child Alex trying to come off as physically impressive to his classmates. His sister Julie isn't prepared for test, and already knows that some of her peers have the test answers. Her brother Jack has been bit by the hero bug big time, as all he wants to spend his days is out in the public adventuring than getting an education. The villain of the issue was an old business partner of their father's, who saw his nefarious plans for wealth upended in the first story arc and now was seeking revenge for this action.
Needless to say, I was pretty much hooked. Power Pack would be the first title I would actively pursue every month. Before I was able to get another subscription, I had to pursue the title in specialty stores in town. The subject of preteen superheroes wasn't exactly the most sought after title compared to the likes of the X-Men and Spiderman. The first 30 or so issues are really worth looking into if you're curious and makes a decent read for kids from 9 years old and up.
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