Punch Up: “To Me My ❌-Men”

Chapter Thirty-Seven:

1985

October & December, 1985 Power Pack No. 19 & 20 by Anderson, Williams, McLeod, Mignola, de la Rosa, Guice, Austin, J. Jackson, Glynis, Rosen, Louise + Potts & R. McCormick-Lowry

Mixtape tracks: If I Ruled the World by Kurtis Blow & Pull Up to the Bumper by Grace Jones

Chapter 37 of “to me my ❌-Men,” we are back in the holiday season of 1985, in NYC, in 616…and so we center the children, because relevant.

Previously on “to me my ❌-Men,” Kitty , Dani, Sam, Rahne, & Logan were last seen witnessing a changing in leadership, with Ororo taking charge of The ❌-Men. Prior to that, The Powers kids were rescued from a kidnapping by Morlocks (Piper, Erg, Ape, Tar Baby) to replace the pain of Morlock children being shot and killed by surface dwellers. Through this pain and process, Leech was becoming more accepted by the grieving mother, Annalee. And here we are right before Piper becomes instrumental in the narrative of Thor Frog, who was Thor, stuck on Midguard. BillSif will await his return to Asgard, as they are about to do in time to see Loki taking advantage of Thor’s absence. Which all happens prior to seeing Thor on the roof in Hell’s Kitchen, putting out Nuke’s fire. Last we saw Franklin Richards, he was hanging with The Powers Kids and Bill before their kidnapping. Last we saw, Cloak and Dagger, they had been with the New Mutants resolving parallel and intertwined horrors. Last we saw Brightwind was with Dani in Asgard, when Ororo was the Goddess of Thunder. Death has been waiting for us since the 40’s.

Bret Anderson penciled the initial telling of Magic’s kidnapping and growth. He penciled the Power Pack pirate tale with a member of Alpha Flight, before their own kidnapping. Here he returns to collaborate again with Louise. He is joined by Longshot inker, Scott Williams, who adds in some rare supportive pencil lifting here. Mike Mignola provides our second cover, his primary role at Marvel. And that issue is penciled by Bob McCloud, who we all know as the New Mutants co-creator and initial penciler. June Brigman, the co-creator of Power Pack is not on these issues, but Liouse has a highly capable team who can illustrate the Powers family and the day to day that is their life.

A pallet cleanser after our trip through the present and into the near future in Hell’s Kitchen and beyond through Kingpins grasp.

Let’s join our 80’s nuclear family time by opening a comic.

Erg is discovering what it is to communicate with a five year old.

Splash page dialogue:

Erg: “The Morlocks send their greetings child! Look into my electric eye - - and feel its power…”

Katie: “NO!”

I have this conversation five times a day at my day job. 😉

They are actually playing pass the electricity. Katie has formed a heartwarming and safe relationship with her kidnapper. Plot twist.

It’s Thanksgiving Day, and The Powers kids have a family plan to go see the parade. The Morlocks are mostly busy (with what?!), but Annalee has a not that says she and Leech will make an appearance at the Powers day of Thanks.

Katie is basically spearheading or organizing a surprise party of sorts for her older siblings. Kitty, Logan and Bill have also RSVPd.

Katie had given the five years older Julie a scare, but she is back now. Julie has a bag of groceries. Julie is excited and positive, Julie is less so. But both children have their reasons.

They fly off on Julie’s rainbow. A five year olds dream!

Not noticing the flying rainbow behind them, Bill lands with Franklin. The people walking in the park notice Bill. He still changes into his weird humanoid “disguise.” I really don’t like it. It fools nobody and frankly looks more creepy than his horse face. He and Franklin do not give a shit about my feelings. They are simply happy and oblivious.

Franklin: “I’m real thankful Power Pack asked me to join…I never had any kid friends before!”

Bill: “Even though you and Katie argue all the time?”

These old folks don’t understand this stage of development at all. Kids go from toddlers where they have created the universe around them, expect it to nurture all their needs, and have been exploring and concurring this universe. It’s theirs. They are the boss. And all the sudden, they are asked to socialise with folks who have exactly the same perspective. “This is about me!” “No! This is about me!” “Well you aren’t doing it right!” “No!” “Oh no! You’re crying.” “Help (adult nurturing slave)!” “You have a stuffy!? I have a stuffy?! We can play together!” “Yes!”That’s making friends and socialising for the first time.

Franklin has been hanging with Agatha and Ben. Trust me.

Franklin: “Yeah! I never got to argue before!”

Oh no, Margaret Powers is in the hospital, and Thanksgiving parade is her favorite.

Alex, the oldest by a couple years, is not feeling thankful and is on the top bunk and is annoyed, maybe by Jack who is three years older than Katie, being so upbeat. Usually Jack is the crank.

Mom has an infection. Dad, James, is headed to the hospital. Leaving the kids alone on Thanksgiving. No problem, grandpa will be by tomorrow. Welcome to the 80’s folks!

Alex is in charge, and he literally thinks to himself, I can’t even “watch a hamster.”

I love the details of all the books in their apartment.

So Kurse (the Thor heel that has been a subplot…I have been basically ignoring) when he attacked NYC, bumped into Mom and she is sick now. Alex is hella dramatic here. Struggling in this developmental stage is a thing…but this strikes me as over acting. The drawings though are excellent in their details that balance cartoony and realism, maintaining a tether to “Power Pack,” depicting a grounded look of family, and having a light touch in general.

Oh…he has a girl, Alison. Yeah…he is all over the place in his head.

Man, Cloak and Dagger are such a weirdly 80’s concept. The tension of morality is contrived in a way that feels like, well you had to be there. What Cloak is doing is a depiction of what polite white society was putting on Black men in America. Especially the youth. And Cloak’s primary sounding board is a white girl. He is the one with a “stable home.” She is the one who doesn’t have that. And here they are trying to police a community with the intent of “saving” folks caught up in a drug war that is being escalated by polite white society. Tandy is like what’s the deal, you let that “criminal” go. And Tyrone is like, yeah, he reminds me of me, and it’s Thanksgiving.

I just did a terrible and sloppy job of unpacking this page. The entire concept is sloppy. Moving on.

They are at the site of the beginning of the parade.

The layout and illustration of these next two pages is really done with a delicate touch I love. The girls encounter their father leaving outside their apartment building. A tender moment in a tough situation. When are these kids not in one? And then in the apposing page Annalee is being horrifically abusive to Leech. She is taking food to the Powers and she just is being verbally and physically abusive. Taking her pain of loss out on a child she sees as less than her losses ones and the ones she desires. She then changes her mind on bringing him and locks him in a cabinet. He is left alone with the cat scratching at his door. Trying to help him. Annalee thinks he will cause her to project negativity, but he actually keeps her from infecting everyone else…with whatever her mood is. This is horrific all around. Powerful cartooning.

Two pages play out of Alex complaining that his siblings are not understanding the tragedy that is their life and treating it like it is a party, and they are like read the room, captain heartbreak…it’s Thanksgiving.

Kitty having just talked with Katie (the phone hog five year old party planner) hangs up the pay phone, updating Logan on the plan. The way Bret draws Logan and Kitty (the entire human cast actually) is so specific in their facial features. If this was consistently portrayed with this level of deftness, I would be okay with that. I like how human they are here.

Kitty: “Some Thanksgiving, huh Wolverine? Everything’s been going so wrong with the ❌-Men lately! Professor Xavier’s gone and Magneto’s taken over leadership and Scott’s betrayed Madelyn…”

Logan: “You could have spent Thanksgiving home with your Dad.”

Kitty: “My Dad’s a crook!”

She spells this out, while strolling the streets of NYC. Not in costume. Remember, when Alex was trying to get Power Pack to be more professional and use their secret identities correctly. Well, ❌-Men don’t do professional.

“A gang.” -WWIII

Kitty goes on to blame her Mom for her Dad’s behavior. Because she decided to leave a marriage. Kitty is 16/15. I don’t think I have ever blamed my parents for the divorce. But I was five and one of them is dead now. Even though I know more now than I did, I only know they made the right call. I told my Dad just yesterday, after he divulged he was working as the psych intern in a forensics unit at the time of the separation, that I have no idea how the two of them did it. They were solid parents and kept us housed, fed, and safe…while their adult life was unbelievably complex and stressful. Both of them. Kitty here is pissing me off. Though I did have a friend who went through the divorce as a teen and that was another thing.

One privilege Kitty and Logan have when it comes to the Thanksgiving parade. Phase walking on air to a higher vantage point.

You know what is actually heartbreaking. We are now in the box with Leech:

“Out! Please! Leech go! Cat…friend!”

Oh thank you goddess!

Cat friend = Ape saving Leech.

Leech go…

These next to pages are also really hard. Alex and the rest of the kids are in that…time is so slow…mindset…Julie is cooking the Turkey…Jack is upside down on the couch…a sign of times duration…Alex rips the phone from Katie…Prof Gilbert is on the other line. It is to far for him and his creation Dragon Man to come from CA…Alex then basically assaults his youngest sister…he is emotionally deregulated…he is not happy with her planning the party…he asks her why didn’t he tell her…and the five year old is basically like…well because look at you! Oh grandpa is coming back from Japan. Since family can’t make it she invented friends.

Friends Giving (not a thing until we invented it in Savannah, GA in 1998…I know…my random Friends Giving was not the first…) invites:

Erg & Ape (busy)

Cloak & Dagger (couldn’t find)

Spider-Man (kid sent the letter to the Bugle…oops)

Annalee & Leech (the worst of the bunch on her way, the other was locked away…escaped)

Kitty & Logan (after parade)

Bill & Franklin (after parade)

Evil scientist & his giant dragon (to far)

The way Katie drawn in this scene…I am really loving Bret right now.

Oh wow…Julie is on Alex’s side and thank goodness Katie is five and know how to stand her ground because that’s her developmental level. The older two try an cancel the party and have Katie tell their friends as much when they arrive at the door.

Katie: “I won’t! AND I WILL see the parade! I have to! An’ you can’t stop me!”

Katie really is the best Powers.

She runs off and Julie at least knows…they can’t stop her.

Alex is basically, fuck her!

Now Alex the drama queen is run off to mope.

Jack is like, what the hell?! And Julie is like, we kinda suck!

Thems two try to do right by Katie. And power up.

Leech tracks down Annalee. This is heartbreaking.💔

Ok…so there is the back story of how the Powers got their powers. And it has to do with this space my lil pony who piloted a ship that is worse than the Last Star Fighter…and I am sorry…I just can’t. The characters name is Whitey. And here there is a page about them in space. A page of Alex hijinks isn’t helpful here.

He is rescued by Cloak and Dagger on a roof.

These sad sacks. Cloak:

“don’t blame yourself.”

On their part that your Mom might die.

Katie catches up with Bill and Franklin.

Franklin: “you’ve been crying!”

Katie: “I—I have not! I’m just mad. That’s all!”

Franklin: “Why?”

Katie: “Alex ‘n Julie…want me to have big problems! They’re mean! I hate them!”

Franklin: “Ha! My family’s meaner! There’re not even here!”

Katie: “No —- mine! They yelled at me an’—-“

Bill tires to get them to focus on the balloons by acknowledging Katie’s truth of the size of the problems. The balloons are huge!

They see Jack and Julie, but Katie doesn’t want to be found by them.

And in two excellent pages from Marvel comics we have a giant Kermit ballon scare Leech…causing chaos amongst those holding Kirmit. As they are scared of Leech. Annalee finally notices and thinks Leech is getting his dues. The chase for Leech leads to a loose Kirmit crashing into Smokey the Bear balloon. A kids leg gets caught on one of the ropes. Julie in her rainbow and Jack as a cloud swoop in to help the kid. Kitty and Logan round the corner feeling a psychic attack from Annalee’s powers, but it faded probably because of Leech’s powers and they go to help the kid. Kitty phases them to the spot and then Logan cuts the rope. Jack and Logan help anchor the balloon. Now the Tasmanian Devil balloon is going crazy.

Space scene of lizard people. Yawn.

Now Katie and Franklin are fighting (might explain my week at school). Bill is helping save people from flying cars?!

As now it is Mighty Mouse balloon that is going crazy. Assuming Annalee’s powers are causing everyone to feel like she does. Angry and miserable.

Katie and Franklin free Mighty Mouse from the lines and climb aboard.

Bickering the entire time.

Okay, so Alex is explaining to Cloak and Dagger that Annalee is projecting her feelings of Leech on everyone else and that means they all don’t like him which is creating a crazy crowed. So Alex, Cloak and Dagger get Leech and Annalee together, neutralising Annalee’s powers through Leech’s power damper. As we all remember this is why Leech is stuck in this abusive situation. To help everyone else. A true hero in “to me my -Men.”

Meanwhile, Katie and Franklin fly Mighty Mouse over to the hospital so her Mom can see her favorite. They almost die and almost collide the balloon into the hospital, but Bill saves the day.

Her Dad witnesses, but not in great detail to blow their cover.

They rejoin with Logan, Kitty, Jack & Julie and explain.

This page of Leech expressing empathy to Annalee and her coming to that realization is ridiculous. In what it is and how great the art is. Annalee admits she is the monster.

There is a lot to unpack and navigate for Katie as Cloak has teleported them to the apartment balcony. The party inside and the five outside work it out and everyone comes in. At the end Annalee and Leech are the last to leave as Dad comes home from the hospital.

Annalee: “don’t worry dearie…I’m sure everything will work out just fine!”

Mr. Powers is left scratching his head in the hallway as they pass.

The Powers spend the rest of the evening recounting balloon stories and eating a meal.

Thus the Giant-sized issue ends.

McCloud takes over here.

Store owner defends his pet shop from demons making a getaway.

They cause havoc on the street.

Mom is still in the hospital fighting.

The kids are on the edge of the building siding as Dad is inside with the docs. Demons come down the side the building. Power Pack saves babies who have been grabbed from the delivery ward.

The goblin demon things dropped a bag with Kitty’s library card. The Powers need to return it.

As a cartoonist and a teacher I have close working relationship with librarians and am a huge supporter, as they have saved us all. So this makes sense to me.

Apparently she lost her card in NM No. 36.

Glynis is killing it on colors. Specifically shading and lighting of night scenes.

It adds an appropriate level of three dimensional quality to McCloud’s work.

The Powers are out at night using the pay phone to track down Kitty’s contact info. The goblin demons are after Katie for her power sacrifice.

Alex reaches Dani. The McCloud art is iconic NM. The goblins are from Limbo and the NM accidentally let them out. And they took the card, so they will now try to fix this.

Goblins got Katie. Alex is alone.

Jarvis (again a human butler for the Avengers, not AI) and Franklin are out. Franklin saves Santa from getting hit by a cab.

Franklin had precognition and Jarvis is surprised.

Dani calls Brightwind to a ride. She and Rahne ride em while Sam cannonballs.

Dani wins a bet on who is faster. Wins his allowance.

Jack: “So…our little sister’s disappeared! Goblins took her and Alex said it’s your fault they’re here!”

Alex walks it back to Dani and takes responsibility.

Dani as a Valkyrie can see the death glow around Mrs. Powers. This brings up all kinds of conversation around parenting and kids.

She says she doesn’t drive death off. She collects the dead. And they are there for goblins.

When…

Death shows up.

Dani: “Larger than Hela…and more beautiful!”

Now there is a concern of NYC being sucked into Limbo and millions dying. A foreshadowing statement. This thread needs to be minded.

Dani has a lot of ethics to navigate, as her different roles are conflicted here.

Sam, Rahne and Power Pack are left to do their part.

Rahne has tracking powers, she warns Jack not to be scared, but he is still like:

“HOLY COW! You’re a WEREWOLF!”

Rahne is set to track Katie.

Dani and Death talk through their powers and what is real and what is illusion.

The goblins have Katie tied up crucifi❌ lite. Very Ghostbusters here.

Siblings and two NM show to save her.

Dani and Death try in conflict to controls Margaret Powers astral projected spirit.

As on the Empire State Building Katie’s energy storage is maxed out and sends a BOOM! that lights up and rocks NYC.

Dani takes the moment to use a spirit world spear to defeat Death. And Margaret returns to her body.

Katie falling is saved by Julie.

All is well, and once the kids (teens and youngsters) all meet back…they realize…it’s Christmas morning!!!!

Next: Alternating ❌-Factors and Mutants