In it’s current form, this issue was fun to write. Unfortunately, it’s first form was a total pain. Slow, boring and way too short. It was originally just going to be Hyper Girl and Mr Universe vegging out on the couch, talking about current events (Yay! Plot exposition!), but I think I do enough dialogue in my writing, I had to add something.
Michuru suggested (on my Twitter) that I post the first draft in the author’s notes, but I don’t think I should. Their conversation went in a different direction to this issue, and I’d hate to spoil a few plot points.
Watch this space, because the next issue of Brat Pack features everyone’s favourite angry young man, Firestorm.
One last thing before I go, back in June I posted a teaser on <3C Presents for my upcoming epic, launching the LessThanThree Legends title. You can find that here. Here’s the second teaser:

Miss Liberty on Uncle Sam
“Where do I begin? Uncle Sam is the greatest hero we’ve ever had. There might have been stronger heroes, faster heroes, more powerful heroes and even smarter heroes, but Uncle Sam was always the most heroic. Never backed down from a fight. Almost never lost a fight. The symbol of freedom, the bravest, most noble person to ever don a mask.
“Can you imagine having to follow in those footsteps?
“It’s well documented, dad and I didn’t agree on a lot. I was born in 1950, so I was a teenager in the 60’s. I was at Woodstock, I was listening to folk and rock music, and I was out protesting the Vietnam War. My dad was the symbol of the American people. He was everything I was fighting against. We never saw eye-to-eye on the war, or the government’s policies, that’s true, but there were things we did agree on.
“Dad taught me the difference between right and wrong. He taught me that I had a responsibility to the country. He taught me to put the people first, to always follow my heart, to do what was right.
“Dad taught me to be a hero. It’s simple as that. So while he was away, fighting in Vietnam, I protected the people at home. In his name. It was no secret I was his daughter. While he fought for the Government, and the American people overseas, I fought for justice, and for the American people at home.
“There’s no denying my dad is the best there ever was. The first American superhero. We’re all following in his footsteps. Every last one of us. Not just my son and I, but Thunderbolt, The Boomers, UNLEASHED, even the younger kids, Teen Dream Team, the Brat Pack. Whether they know it or not, they’re fighting the same fight, continuing his legacy. Protecting the world, in any way they can.
“I tried my best to fill my father’s shoes when he retired, but there’s no replacing him. My son is taking his turn now, only time will tell if he surpasses the both of us.
“In the meantime, my dad is still the greatest hero who ever lived. One of a kind.
“The First American Superhero, Uncle Sam.”

LessThanThree Legends: Uncle Sam, The First American Superhero. Coming soon.

I’ve got a couple more of these teasers planned, before the eventual posting of the story. Until then, keep coming back for more information
Later Days,
The Author
<3 Comics

Hyper Girl giggled, as her boyfriend, Mr Universe, did a somersault in the air.
“This is so boring. Can’t we just go watch TV at my place or something?” He groaned.
“No. I didn’t bring my costume on a plane and risk being outed, just so we could sit around at your house.” Hyper Girl replied cheerfully.
“When I bring my costume to New York, I’m the bad guy, but you bring yours to California, and it’s all good?” Mr Universe asked.
“No. I’m still a bad girl.” Hyper Girl winked. “It’s just ok when I do it.”
Mr Universe laughed. “Of course. I just wish there was something to do. Did all the bad guys take the day off or something?”
“It’s not that bad. At least we get to spend some time together.” Hyper Girl tackled Mr Universe in a hug, kissing him.
“That certainly has its perks.” Mr Universe said.
“Damn right it does.” Hyper Girl gave a short laugh, as she smacked her boyfriend on the butt.
Generic soft-rock guitar began to play.
“What the hell is that? Is that ‘The Calling?’” Hyper Girl asked.
“Yeah… One second.” Mr Universe pulled out a cell phone from his pocket.
“How do you even hide a phone in that outfit?” Hyper Girl asked.
“With great difficulty…” Mr Universe muttered, as he read the message on the screen.
“Who was it?” Hyper Girl asked.
“One of the D13 guys. Apparently that new popstar, Juliet, used to be on their team.” Mr Universe said.
“Is that the girl who sings that ‘Love love love’ song?” Hyper Girl asked.
“I don’t know. Probably. She seemed pretty useless last time I met her.” Mr Universe said.
“So it’s Star? Katie said she was pretty ditzy.”
“Yeah. She was pretty hot though…”
“Like her, did you?” Hyper Girl raised an eyebrow.
“Oh god no. I met her all of once. A few hours before I met you, and fell head-over-heels. I haven’t looked at another girl since.” Mr Universe said.
“Good answer.” Hyper Girl kissed Mr Universe.
“I thought you might like it.” Mr Universe replied, before kissing her back.
“It’ll take more than that to make up for listening to ‘The Calling’ though.” Hyper Girl laughed.
“What? I liked that one song. So sue me, not everything I like is at least ten years old, or indie.” Mr Universe said.
“It was as though one million indie kids cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced.”
“Oh be quiet.” Mr Universe kissed her again.
Their moment was interrupted by the sound of screeching brakes, followed closely by a crash.
“Sure, something happens when I’m not bored…” Mr Universe muttered, as he flew towards the source of the sound.
“Sounds serious…” Hyper Girl said, as she followed closely behind him.
“What the…” The pair said in unison, as they looked down upon the scene below them.
The source of the crashing noise appeared to be the over-turned semi-trailer that was laying across three lanes of traffic. That was simple enough. It also seemed that the cause of the accident was a large patch of oil that had spread across the road. Also simple. What wasn’t simple was the fact that the oil-patch had begun to split into parts, each part of which stood up, and began to walk around.
“Oh for the love of Satoshi Tajiri… We’ve got a Grimer infestation!” Mr Universe shouted.
“What?” Hyper Girl asked. “Actually, don’t bother. I guess it’s a nerd thing.”
“Dude… Pokemon. Come on!” Mr Universe said, as he focussed his powers on turning the truck upright. “Wow… This thing is freakin’ heavy…” He muttered, as sweat began to appear on his brow.
“You ok babe?” Hyper Girl asked.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine once I get it past halfway…” Mr Universe said. “You start zapping the little sludge dudes or something.”
Hyper Girl nodded, and began firing her energy blasts at the dozens of slime monsters that were congregating underneath them. Each blast hit a target, spraying the street with a shower of black sludge.
“This is like shooting fish in a barrel.” Hyper Girl laughed, as she opened fire on more and more of them.
“I’m glad… you’re having… such… a… good… time…” Mr Universe said, through gritted teeth, as his face began to turn red.
“Are you sure I can’t help?” Hyper Girl asked.
“No… I’ve nearly… Got it!” Mr Universe said, as he pushed the truck up past a forty-five degree angle, at which point gravity took over, pulling the truck completely upright.
The two heroes sailed down to the ground, to help the driver of the truck down from the cab.
“Are you ok sir?” Hyper Girl asked.
“Sure I am. Just a little accident is all.” The driver said. “He, you’re the girl from TV. Hyper Girl, right?”
“Yeah, that’s me.” Hyper Girl smiled.
“You took down Radon right? In New York?” The trucker continued.
“That was me. One time at least.” Hyper Girl answered.
“I was in the city that day. Almost got off the Island too, but his force-field cut me off on the damn Brooklyn Bridge. I’d probably still be stranded there if not for you, missy. Thanks for saving us all.”
Hyper Girl smiled. “Once I took down his force-field generator, it was pretty easy. He’s not as strong as he used to be.”
“You still took him down. More than any of us can say, right boy?” The trucker clapped Mr Universe on the back.
“Well, I did help take down Gauss… And the Order of Darkness… And Arachnophobia… Twice…” Mr Universe stammered.
“Who? Oh right. You’re one of those Back Pack kids, right?” The trucker asked.
“Brat Pack… You don’t watch much TV, do you?” Mr Universe asked.
“Guys… Just before you start arguing, I thought I should point out… The oil guys I splattered are going all Sorcerer’s Apprentice on us…” Hyper Girl said, gesturing behind them.
Hyper Girl was right. The tiny droplets of oil were all moving of their own volition. They began gathering together, forming one giant oil creature.
“Congratulations… Your Grimer evolved into a Muk.” Hyper Girl said, as she stared up at the amorphous pile of ooze that was towering over them.
“I really love you, you know that?” Mr Universe asked.
“I know.” Hyper Girl smiled. “But we should worry about that later… Lets kick some ooze!”
Mr Universe cringed. “Dude. The Power Rangers movie never happened, ok?”
“My badness.” Hyper Girl poked her tongue out at her boyfriend. “I’ll make up for it later.”
“Damn straight you will.” Mr Universe took off, rocketing through the air, until he sailed high above the ooze monster.
“Any ideas?” Hyper Girl asked as she floated up next to him.
“Call Kevin?” Mr Universe suggested.
“Any ideas that will solve our problem right now?”
“I’ll smack it around with a lamp-post, while you zap it into teeny-tiny pieces?”
Hyper Girl shrugged. “Works for me.”
Mr Universe tore an electric light pole up from the ground, and began swatting chunks of goo away from the main body of the beast. He kept hacking at it, wearing it down further and further, as Hyper Girl blasted each gelatinous chunk with her photon blasts, burning them down to their basic molecules.
“It’s not working!” Hyper Girl shouted, as a second slime monster began forming beside the first.
“What the hell are we supposed to do here? We can’t hurt the damn thing!” Mr Universe said.
“Call Kevin?” Hyper Girl asked.
Mr Universe paused for a moment.
“Wait. I’m picking up traces of iron, and cobalt…” Mr Universe said.
“So…?” Hyper Girl asked.
“This is going to hurt it a hell of a lot more than it’s going to hurt me… And it’s really going to sting…” Mr Universe said.
“What?… Oh…” Hyper Girl said, realisation dawning, as she saw the two monsters begin disintegrating.
“I’m sending pieces… all over… the place… It will… take forever… to reform…” Mr Universe struggled to stay aloft, as he focused the majority of his powers to deconstructing the threat, piece-by-piece.
Agonising minutes passed, and Hyper Girl began to worry more and more about her boyfriend’s well-being, as his face turned red from the strain. Finally, the monster was no more, and Mr Universe released, stumbling in midair for a moment, before catching himself.
“Are you ok babe?” Hyper Girl asked.
“No… Not really.” Mr Universe said.
“Maybe we should finish this on the ground…” Hyper Girl said. “You’ve worn yourself out again.”
“No!” Mr Universe shouted. “It’s not that… Well, it is, but not what you think.”
“What do you mean?” Hyper Girl asked.
“I’m not strong enough. Lifting that semi-trailer took way too much out of me. And then the sludge monster… It’s just not enough.” Mr Universe explained.
“What do you mean? We won.” Hyper Girl was incredulous.
“We won against a mindless pile of ooze… I should be better than this. I need to be better than this. I need to be stronger… I need better control…”
“What? Is this about… Oh…”
“Yeah babe. He’s out there. He escaped from custody. He’ll come for us, and I need to be ready.”
“No-one expects you to take him down alone…”
“But what if I’m the only one who can? What if my powers are the only thing between him and the entire world. What if I’m not strong enough then? Like I wasn’t strong enough last time?”
“You were strong enough last time. That’s why he was in custody.”
“But he got out. And now he’s out for revenge. I need to be ready…”
Mr Universe bowed his head.
“I need to be ready to beat Gauss.”