Authors: Kyle Higgins
Artist: Hendry Prasetya
Release Date: September 14, 2016
Publisher: BOOM!
Genre(s): Action, Science Fiction, Superhero
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Spoilers: Low
Over 20 years later and the original Rangers are back in action, this time as a comic book with BOOM! studios. With a new movie coming, the 23rd series of tv, and more, the Power Rangers have never truly left us. They’ve always defended the Earth, or Lost Galaxies, or any of the other myriad places, waiting for whichever generation of kids was ready to pick up the teenagers with attitude driven martial arts spectacle. And I gotta say, I’m so glad!
This collection starts in what would be the middle of the first season of the original MMPR run. Tommy Oliver, the formerly evil Green Ranger, has joined up with our main crew and is attempting to solidify his place on the team. All the while he is plagued with visions of Rita Repulsa, feeding on his insecurities and attempting to rip him from his new family. But will she succeed?
This may be set in that season of the show (93-94 for those playing at home) but the world of Angel Grove has been brought into the 21st century. The Rangers have cell phones, Bulk and Skull run a YouTube channel, and Billy knows a lot more tech jargon.
Now, when it comes to this story, I gotta say, it is disappointing for the focus to once again be on the Green Ranger. I know he was without a doubt the most beloved Ranger of the original bunch, with Jason David Frank reprising the role in later seasons and being a social media darling towards fans, it is a bit tiresome that the story, at least in Volume 1 is all eyes on him once more. With six different leads you’d hope a story could revolve around anyone else but as of now (and the next foreseeable few issues as this ends on a cliffhanger!) it sticks with Tommy.
All of that said, the story fits perfectly in with the rest of the original series. Rita and goons make monsters, pester the kids, and blow stuff up. The Rangers fight back. It feels true to the franchise. The blessing of comic books allows for the special effects to not look cheesy and for the story to go in much grander scale than what we’re used to with the Mighty Morphin kids, and that is something I hope the creative team leans into more as the series continues. Without those restraints of media TV presented, it is exciting to see where these guys can go.
The art is mostly fine but I do have qualms with the main cast, none of whom resemble their television counterparts. This may have something to do with likeness rights I could imagine, but Jason, Tommy, and Billy all are much wider in body and face than their actors, which is a little strange as they appear more to form in their Ranger gear. Maybe the kids wear bulky clothes to distract and keep their identities secret. That could be it… but I doubt it. Regardless it’s a minor personal complaint and I’m sure not everyone will have the same quibble.
Again, I am an unapologetic fan of the original series. I saw the touring Live show when it came through town. I saw the movies. I owned the toys. With the new movie coming I am excited and hopeful, I’ve watched a smattering of episodes from the newer series. The first time you see the Rangers morph you can practically feel that sick guitar riff.
I was less than ten pages and brought immediately back to rushing home from school to sit in front of the TV and catch up with my favorite group of friends. If you’re a fan of the Rangers and are looking for more, by all means scoop up BOOM! Studios’ Mighty Morhpin Power Rangers. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
English