Unpacking the Power of Power Pack

Episode 20: Power Pack #17

We last left our heroes being vacuumed off of the Statue of Liberty's crown. How will they get out of this mess? And will Katie stop being a brat? And what is a bubble? If you want to know the answers to these questions, and if you want to laugh while answering them, then check out our newest episode. But while you are laughing, also take a moment to stop and respectfully wave goodbye to June Brigman. This is the final book of the main series that she illustrates. She was one of the co-creators, and deserves a lot of credit for really establishing their look. And don’t forget support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent. We have started to release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers. We are covering the alternate versions mini-series that started in 2005.

 

“MASK: Theme Song”, MIDI version by SelfDestructBoy, who granted permission for its use.
Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 21: Power Pack #18

Good news and bad news time kids. The good news is that we have another excellent edition of our (soon to be) award winning podcast. The bad news is that this is a Secret Wars II tie in episode. The other good news is that the comic is still really really good despite being tied to an inferior product. The other bad news is that The Beyonder makes an appearance and something really bad happens to a member of the Power family. The other other good news is that the cover is done by Walt Simonson……. Jeff has just handed me an editing note telling me to knock off the good/bad news schtick…...that would be the other bad news. Additionally, we talk about Kipling, the new She-Ra being amazing, the benefits of revenge, live in teleporting house guests, and the worst way to drink a tire fire masquerading as a beer. All this and more!!!! Also, please check out Sean ( @Sean42AZ ) and Greg’s ( @garaujo1 ) excellent Secret Wars and Beyond podcast to learn more about Secret Wars II. http://secretwars.libsyn.com/-marvels-secret-wars-beyond-season-2-episode-6 And don’t forget support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent. We have started to release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers. We are covering the alternate versions mini-series that started in 2005.

 

Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Crunk Knight by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3566-crunk-knight
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 22: Thor #363

I hate to tell you guys…..but we've got one more issue with the Beyonder. And he doesn’t even have the decency to drive around his friend's dad’s Ferrari or go to an art museum. But, we also get two Thor’s…. Which is only fitting because it is a Thor book. Walt Simonson invites over Power Pack to play in his sandbox as Thor and Beta Ray Bill battle the Beyonder for all of the hammers. Jeff and Rick discuss many Asgardian topics, especially around what type of Santa costume Thor would wear. This is more important than you would think. Would it be more piraty or more Scandinavian? These are the questions that keep Thor up at night. The important thing to remember, the life lesson we should all take from this experience, is that you should always ask for help when battling an overpowered godlike being.....and to be careful when chewing bubble gum. Also, please check out Sean ( @Sean42AZ ) and Greg’s ( @garaujo1 ) excellent Secret Wars and Beyond podcast to learn more about Secret Wars II and to hear Rick talk with them about this issue. http://secretwars.libsyn.com/-marvels-secret-wars-beyond-season-2-episode-6 And also check out The Lightning and the Storm podcast for more Thor action. Specifically episode 8: Of Frogs and Men. https://www.thelightningandthestorm.com/2017/06/episode-8-of-frogs-and-men/ And don’t forget to support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent. We have started to release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers. We are covering the alternate versions mini-series that started in 2005.

 

Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Go Cart by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3813-go-cart
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 23: Power Pack #19

If you only listen to one episode of our podcast this month, then first, shame on you, and second it should be this one!!!! So call a friend and tell them!!!! Here it is, the double sized infamous Thanksgiving issue! That’s right! This is the one with the insane meal that includes Beta Ray Bill, Wolverine, Leech, Cloak and Dagger, AND MORE!!! It also has errant balloons and angry lizards! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS!!! DO IT!!!! Or we will stick you in a box, like Leech!!!! Seriously, this is one of the most iconic issues of this series. And it is a beautiful book and a great story.  It also includes balloons...and everybody likes balloons. Except Wolverine. So listen to this episode! And don't forget to tie your shoes! Also, please check out Sean ( @Sean42AZ ) and Greg’s ( @garaujo1 ) excellent Secret Wars and Beyond podcast to learn more about Secret Wars II and to hear Rick talk with them about this issue. http://secretwars.libsyn.com/-marvels-secret-wars-beyond-season-2-episode-6 You can support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent. We have started to release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers. We are covering the alternate versions mini-series that started in 2005.  

Episode 24: Power Pack #20

You know what a comic book about super-powered kids needs….No....not babies, more super-super powered kids!!! That’s right. This week we have got the New Mutants stopping by for a visit. And since that book about the teenage pre-X-Men team is known for cheery, bright, and happy stories, I am sure nothing bad will happen while they guest star…..hold on, just getting something handed to me… Ahh..demons, death, Manhattan sucked into Limbo, Katie kidnapped…..sigh.  Well, at least we know there will be some beer to get us through the bad night at the hospital. At least they don’t have to mention the Beyonder this time…….I have just been handed another piece of paper...oh are you kidding me? So get ready and turn on some bright lights, pull Santa out of the street, and smoke em if you got em, cause it is gonna be a dark and stormy night! Don’t forget support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent.  We have started to release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers. We are covering the alternate versions mini-series that started in 2005.

Episode 25: The Uncanny X-Men #205

We are back in the pages of X-Men for this amazing Katie and Wolverine adventure. Uncanny X-Men #205 is an amazing and dark issue that features body horror, cyborgs, sacrificing humanity, torture, violence, death and, our favorite, REVENGE!. Of course you want to have a kidnapped five year old on hand for these shenanigans.   Join us for this dive into an amazing issue, as we just gush over the awesome art by Barry Windsor Smith. Helping us out with this is Rick’s good friend TJ. A a lifelong comic book fan who continually put Rick in dangerous or unsafe situations when they were children, he was a good resource to talk to about this book. There are many lessons to take from this book. Lessons like don't sell your soul,keep your fluids inside your body, always bring a sparkler to a knife fight, and always bring a buddy when you head out into the snow! Be sure to check out the Jay & Miles XPlain the X-Men episode 55, How Nightcrawler Got His Groove Back. ( https://www.xplainthexmen.com/2015/05/55-how-nightcrawler-got-his-groove-back/ ) Don’t forget support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent.  We have started to release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers. We are covering the alternate versions mini-series that started in 2005.

Episode 26: Power Pack #21

Oh, a wiseguy….huh!!!! Half of Power Pack finds themselves mixed up in a kidnapping plot of Katie’s favorite author….and the bad guys are two thirds of the Stooges…..I swear to some deity that I am not making this up. Yup, it is the Great Goo-Gam Treasure Hunt! We have instructions for escaping trunks, really bad impressions, a new microphone, an exotic beer, and a web-head cameo….cause why not. Things are happening in the Jeff and Rick Production office! We have the next two episodes recorded, and they are both very….very special, so be sure you are ready to listen to some great upcoming content. And also be sure to visit us on our website to see some pictures from this comic. https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/ Don’t forget support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent. We have started to release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers. We are covering the alternate versions mini-series that started in 2005.

Episode 26.5: BONUS EPISODE - Power Pack V3 #1

Our first full length Patreon Episode. And all thanks to the lovely people who donated to us. Thank you so much for your help, assistance, and patience. We will try to upload one of these a month, in between our regular programming. These Patreon episodes will focus on the all ages mini-series that started showing up in 2005. They are a lot of fun, but different than the regular continuity, and so we have changed some of the format. In this alternate universe setting, we find slightly older Power kids still figuring things out after getting their powers over the prior summer. And right now their biggest worry is Katie outing them as she uses their origin story as a school report. Marc Sumerak and Gurihiru bring us some truly entertaining stories in an all ages telling of Power Pack!! Make sure to come back next week for our interview with Marc Sumerak! And if you like this story, you can hear more by supporting us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent.

Episode 27: Marc Sumerak Interview

This week, we are pleased to present a fantastic interview with Marc Sumerak. This gentleman has an amazing list of writing credits, but we are only really interested in his work on Power Pack. Marc is responsible for bringing back the quartet of cool for the mini-series starting in 2005. This successful series pushed Marvel to develop a total of 11, four issue mini-series. During the interview, we had a wonderful opportunity to ask questions about the choices made to age up the characters, redefining their personalities, super hero tropes, and how he developed the overall feel of the mini-series. We also laid the foundation for a new podcast idea (TM) as Marc joins us in pairing cheeses with the Marvel Universe. Marc’s clear and fun writing style and love of the characters and property show in these books. We have been reviewing theses series as bonus content for our Patreons, but we highly recommend everybody read them. They are available as part of the Marvel Unlimited subscription. If you would like to find out more about Marc and his other books, please check out his website. http://sumerak.com/ And if you would like to hear us review his Power Pack comics, support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent.  We release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers.

Episode 28: Louise ”Weezie” Simonson Interview

You read that correctly, Weezie Simonson is on our show this week!!! The co-creator and main writer of Power Pack agreed to join us for a long and rambling conversation about Power Pack. And we do eventually get around to talking about our pint sized super powered team. But first, we have to handle some important questions about food, wine, and beer. And we asked her the story behind these pictures! Weezie’s love of literature, and her adventurous youth have factored into her creations, and she gladly shared stories about her creative process. We discuss how she began her comic career, and how she developed her idea into an actual comic with June Brigman. We also make her laugh, which I cannot help but think is the most important sentence of this paragraph. We may sound like rambling and blithering fan boys, but that's because we are. A year ago, we never imagined we would be in a place where we would be talking to one of the great comic book writers. And we are immensely grateful to her, and the Power Pack fans who support us. We hope that you enjoy our talk with her. Make sure you check out our web page, https://wordpress.com/post/jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/686. And don’t forget support us on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/JeffandRickPresent.  We have started to release monthly episodes for our Energizer and greater tiers. We are covering the alternate versions mini-series that started in 2005.