Review: Adults Are Both The Problem And The Solution In ‘Power Pack’ #4

Thanks to the passage of Kamala’s Law, all the underage heroes of the Marvel Universe have to register with a mentor to keep being heroes, but what happens when the adults are actually the problem? This is the question on the table as the Power Pack have to fight for their very lives when the whole mentor thing goes wrong.

Power Pack #4 picks up right where the last issue left off, with the children in great danger and nearly powerless. The entire issue is a tour de force from Nico Leon and Rachelle Rosenberg, but the very beginning where they are able to combine the action with the sensibilities of a YouTuber/streamer was just brilliant. Each issue having a particular Pack member as the narrator has been a great move and Jack is the one that if possible, would be a live streaming/vlogger type in the family.

Everything about this series is just clicking both from a visual and conceptual storytelling point. Leon and Rosenberg are a great pairing and bring a wonderful energy to the artwork in this series which is just gorgeous to look at. It is bright and colorful and fun when needed, but can also be serious without losing that bright superhero nature at the drop of a hat for the story. This also gives Travis Lanham all the room in the world to cut loose and have great fun with the lettering, especially in the giant action scenes that take up a good portion of the beginning of the issue.

As mentioned above, Jack is the one narrating this issue, and Ryan North continues to masterfully distinguish each of the siblings as their own individuals but also a strong family unit despite those differences. Jack is the jokester or sometimes impulsive one of the group, he makes note of how there are things he wants, but that he knows that Alex is right often in his narration. He also proves to be a steady heart and the one best able to reach his younger sister in a dire time. It leads to a great moment that proves his aggressively energetic nature and pure belief in super-heroics actually sets him apart from his siblings when they become tainted a bit by the villain that has stolen their powers.

What is truly wonderous about this book is that the creative team has nailed down the pacing in a way that the issues feel so packed with tons of story within the usual page count of an issue. The recaps meant to be drawn by Katie continue to delight, and this issue probably gave one of the biggest Logan/Wolverine laugh-out-loud moments that just worked beautifully. There is also a pretty strong and accurate point made by the issue’s villain in regard to heroes’ status in the MU and how they were able to so easily pretend to and be accepted as a hero that hits so hard.

This series only has one issue left, and that is a crime. It needs a lot more with this creative team who has found a way to make Power Pack as a whole feel both light and fun as one would expect, but modern and able to stand toe to toe with the big gun books.

Power Pack #4 is now on sale from Marvel Comics at local comic shops and digitally through ComiXology.