Recall friend is most definately a useful power when you have non-controllable pets. But then Mastermind pets don't exactly listen either... 
Jack does more in ranged than I do and less in close combat so I'm happy with most of his mood swings. The one I dont like is when he stops and attacks part of the building for no reason, or helicopters.
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
This made me laugh. It's exactly what he does 
I wish he'd cycle his powers more. There's no reason why he shouldn't use his blast while the swords recharge, and no reason why he shouldn't run into melee whenever he gets the chance. He's so much better in melee that I find it frustrating when he just stands back and blasts. I'm thinking about getting Recall Friend too, just to teleport him around.
I read somewhere on US forums that when he is blasting at range he will only go into melee by himself if someone shoots him with a ranged attack. Guess he believes the bit about range being defense, which is a bit daft considering all his damage mitigation only works in melee.
I do find that he sometimes follows me into melee range if I go, so it's a good thing I spend most of my time there anyway. It just would be nice to get him there before me.
I have found that a good way to get Jack into melee is to use a stealth power and run through the mob, dragging jack along behind. He'll usually ignore them until one clobbers him in melee, and then he gets [censored] off and goes into mode 4 or even 5.
Another good way if you have plenty of end is just to spawn a new jack in the middle of a mob. The old one dies but hey, them's the breaks. It's possible to spawn jack inside them by clicking at their feet, and then laugh maniacally as he hacks his way out through their chest.
Maybe i am just being too nice to him. must be more ruthless and make him earn his existence! 
Often summoned new jack when old one was anoying me
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
Is Jack frost the most unpredictable pet in the world? mine seems to have mood swings...for example
1. Stand waaaay back and hurl ice
2. Get in melee range, hold bad guy, stand and admire him
3. as above but hit him with ice sword every 5 mins
4. as above but hit him with ice sword repeatedly
and my personal favourite -
5. Go absolutely beserk and murder everything in sight
Can anybody offer some tips on how to coax him into 4 and five a bit more often? i am tempted to go for tp friend just to put him where i want more often but that may not help..