Puck Part 82: Alpha Flight #104 (January, 1992)

Puck is officially given a new title, a new position…and a new costume.

I have this issue.

Judd is on the roof of Department H headquarters talking to Dr. Knapp as Windshear finishes giving the press a tour of the facilities. The rest of the team - Guardian, Weapon Omega, Sasquatch, Diamond Lil, Madison and Northstar - return from their covert mission against Diablo, and Judd notices something wrong with Jean-Paul, who shouts out that his sister is alive as he speeds off. Judd and the others catch up with him in the sub-basement of the complex, where they find Aurora a prisoner in Headlok’s cell. They all witness her breaking free of Headlok’s control and “setting [Headlok] free”.

A week later, Judd is with Guardian, Weapon Omega, Sasquatch, Northstar and Windshear as they discuss Aurora’s supposed disappearance, the team’s new costumes, and Weapon Omega’s membership when Madison and Lil reveal they are resigning from the team to get married. Aurora shows up and tells everyone that she’s rejoining the group, and Judd tells Heather that with Windshear as a desk jockey and himself as a trouble-shooter, Aurora’s going to be needed for there to be five members to the team.

Notes of Interest:

1) As of this issue, Judd becomes a supportive member of the team and the official line-up of what Judd calls “Core Alpha” are Guardian, Northstar, Weapon Omega, Aurora and Sasquatch.

2) This is the first time Judd has seen Aurora since he heard about his fellow Alphan’s disappearance back in Alpha Flight #98.

3) Judd learns that Weapon Omega is really Wild Child.

WTF? Moment: The only problem I have here affects Judd indirectly, and that is the costumes. I prefer the original X-Men/New Mutants approach to a team look: Everyone has the same look while they learn and train, and get their own unique looks once they graduate. You never see the Avengers or the Uncanny X-Men in identical costumes. Granted, these outfits are reminiscent of Guardian’s original look, and it can be seen as a tribute to Mac’s ultimate sacrifice, but I think it would have been better to see Beta Flight trainees wearing these suits, thus sending a stronger message about Mac’s dream.