Issue(s): Power Pack #15
Cover Date: Oct 85
Title: "Reckoning"
Credits:
Louise Simonson - Writer
June Brigman - Penciler
Bob Wiacek - Inker
Carl Potts - Editor

Review/plot:
Last issue left us with two unresolved problems: Julie was caught by her teacher under suspicion of cheating (she didn't actually cheat but she was passing a cheatsheet between classmates that were), and Douglas "Bogeyman" Carmody was still at large with knowledge of Power Pack's secret IDs.

This issue resolves both issues and throws in some Warriors Three for good measure.

The background for this issue is the Asgardians' return to Asgard. Due to the fact that the Rainbow Bridge was destroyed, Thor and Beta Ray Bill had to open a portal between Asgard and Midgard (in Thor #359), and now the Asgardians are entering the portal and heading home. The fact that this is being depicted in Power Pack of all places actually raises an interesting point; the Asgardians have been on Earth a long time. Even by publication date, the Surtwar ended in March 1985 (Thor #353), and storywise it had to take place much earlier than that. So the Asgardians have been sitting around in Central Park, and it's surprising that didn't factor into other titles more. A poorly coordinated nod to the Wraithwar was made in Thor #354, but that's it, not even a scene of Spider-Man swinging around Central Park and saying "That's right, the Asgardians are encamped here!". It's not wrong; just surprising.

Anyway, Julie hasn't told her parents about the cheating yet, and Jack's suggestion to forge their signature isn't appreciated (really nice sequence by Brigman)...

...so she decides she's going to run away to Asgard. Very in character for any teenager and especially fantasy-loving Julie. Her method of sneaking in is to hide behind the voluminous Volstagg. But the Bogeyman kinda blows it.

The rest of Power Pack are looking for Julie, and they see Volstagg threatening her.

But things are explained...

...and soon the Pack has a battle in the sky...

...while the Warriors more or less just watch until the Bogeyman goes back on his promise to surrender. That's when Hogun gets involved.

Even though Julie is feeling merciful, the Bogeyman is convincingly told to leave Power Pack alone, and the Warriors Three say that they're putting the kids under Thor's protection.

Volstagg, having children himself, is determined to tell the Pack's parents about their identities, but Hogun disagrees:

When I was a child I was forced to make my own choices and fight my own battles, my friend... and I think these young mortals should be allowed to fight theirs.

The argument is settled by way of the Bogeyman's tranquilizer dart gun...

...but Volstagg hilariously says:

I know, Hogun, that I now feel an enforced calm! But soon, when I am able to move my limbs, my full anger shall kindle and then -- beware!

Katie gives Hogun her baseball cap to give to Volstagg's youngest, Hildy.

Back at home, Julie explains what happens. And her father is really calm and understanding; for some reason it doesn't feel too sappy or sitcom-ish to me even though it probably is.

Also in this issue, Alex get the wings he's been thinking of (thanks to Julie).

Meanwhile, Franklin Richards is still having dreams.

This continues to be a really great book.

Quality Rating: A-

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - Gee gets wings

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place soon after Thor #359 and while the Fantastic Four are in the Microverse (Fantastic Four #282-284). I have a special rule for dimensional travel which says that it's not instantaneous, so even though we see the Asgardians entering the portal here, and we see them arrive in Asgard in Thor #360, they don't necessarily have to take place in direct sequence (and i'm invoking that rule because Thor #360-361 takes place concurrently with Uncanny X-Men annual #9).

References:

• Power Pack briefly met the Warriors Three on the street in Thor #357.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

There's no reason to assume the travel wasn't instantaneous- a lot of time had to take place DURING Thor 360, because Balder had to get back into shape, and it takes a journey of "nine days" for the Asgardians to reach Hel.