Writer Michael Higgins
Plot Assistance Seth Kruchkow
Penciler Chris Wozniak
Inker Joe Rubinstein
Colorist Glynis Oliver
Letterer Tom Orzechowski
Cover Dated September 1990
Lockheed making his thrice cover appearance!
You are not mistaken, we skipped issue 28 as that issue only has Captain Britain and Meggan. I wonder if I should even keep it.
There is an editorial note stating this takes place after Power Pack 60. Which I thought was written by Kruchkow but it was actually written by Higgins, pretty clever using your two titles to tell your story!
Issue opens with Captain Britain, Meggan and Nightcrawler – outside of the lighthouse, looking up. They see a giant spaceship. They head up to investigate it. Kurt teleports inside of the ship. He runs into a ghost horse boy combination. I instantly recognize the ghost / cloud aspect to be Mass Master from Power Pack.
Does anyone know if the Kymelians (the horse race that gave Power Pack their powers) ever met up with Beta Ray Bill’s horse people? One would think that would have come up before with how Beta Ray Bill is a friend to the Power children. He even went to their Thanksgiving Day dinner.
Something happened, not sure if it is in issue 60, but I know that all of the Power children switch powers for a time. So Alex, the oldest, now has his brother Jack’s powers.
Alex recognizes Kurt as he met him and Kitty in issue 12 of Power Pack (which has a editorial note for anyone doesn’t have that memorized). Kurt, understandably, doesn’t remember any cloudy horse boys. Alex properly introduces himself and Kurt remembers him. They have no time for a ‘what happened to your powers slash human personal’ type of recap.
Rachel gets impatient and tries to established a psi-link with Nightcrawler, just then the pod bay doors open and Alex catches the team up on their new mission.
The flashback is of how Mrs. Powers got sick. I know that, for some reason, if their parents ever found out they had powers, the parents would lose their minds. I believe this is what may have happened to her. So Mr. Powers has decided to take his wife and children on a world tour of doctors. Franklin Richards is with them, as he is a member of the team. Not sure why Reed Richards couldn’t just put a helmet on her and fix her but that must be the bane of all Power Pack stories. Got to get them away from Reed.
The Powers came to this hospital, the kids noticed something wasn’t right about the staff. It was too late, they were all gassed. Since Alex was already a gas, he was able to escape.
The spaceship they are on is called, Friday. I guess that’s a better name that X-Factor’s ship called Ship. There is also Marty, a green alien dude is is the supervisor of Friday. If I’m following correctly.
Phoenix transforms their costumes into hospital garb. Alex and Kurt have to find another route, because of racism.
The white Excalibur members are discovered. Kurt and Alex catch up to them, they all are gassed.
Rachek is the first to wake up. I really like how the next four double page layouts resemble a heart monitor, it is very impressive of Wozniak. We see that Nightmare is the villain of the issue. Since he has control over her telepathic powers, he uses those to mess with the rest of the team.
Captain Britain’s experience is of him on trial. Kitty, Kurt and Meggan deem him guilty. The Queen of Hearts cuts off his head.
Poor Meggan. Both Brian and Kurt call her a monster and she wishes she was pretty like Rachel. Which is bizarre to me.
Kurt may have an even worst dream. Amanda, Meggan and Kitty all break up with him, as he looks like a freak. It is nice to see Kitty again amongst the team, even if it is imaginary.
Thankfully, Nightmare makes the mistake of turning Rachel towards young Franklin Richards. Franklin frees Rachel and together, they defeat Nightmare.
So odd, in the future, they are lovers but here, Rachel doesn’t even comment on their shared time together. Not like there is time for any of that.
Morning. Look at that sweet logo on that mug!
Also, get a look at how comfortable Excalibur is with each other. Only Kurt had time to put on a robe. They all feel like they woke up from a dream. I’m glad that the subplot of Meggan being jealous of Rachel was dropped after this. As I don’t recall it at all. I guess without Kitty thinking about how much better Rachel looks than her, we need someone to remind us of how hot Rachel is. Which is something I’ve never noticed.
Lockheed gets a cover appearance and an inside one panel appearance! He’s seen better days!
Issue ends with the Powers family leaving the hospital, they also don’t remember what happened.
There is an ad for Total Recall on Nintendo.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 