There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we’re looking at a modern update to a childhood classic, which can only mean—oh, look at the clock, it must be morphin’ time.
Who’s This By?
The “Power Rangers” comics have seen several writers and artists over its run (and the run of its connected comics, including “Mighty Morphin’” and “Power Rangers”), but the current run (starting from issue #101) is written by Melissa Flores, who has also written for the Power Rangers TV show and video games. Comic readers will also recognize her for her work on “Radiant Pink” and “The Dead Lucky” for Image Comics, while others may know her for “The Unleashed” on Twitch.
The artists can rotate on occasion, but it’s currently primarily illustrated by Simona Di Gianfelice, with colors by Raúl Angulo. Comic readers will recognize Simona’s artwork from BOOM! Studio’s “Firefly” and “All-New Firefly” comics, as well as additional “Power Rangers” tie-in comics. Raúl, meanwhile, has provided the colors to “Radiant Black” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” as well as comics like “Rogue Sun” and “Dune: The Waters of Kanly,” and brings a level of vibrance to the “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” comic that matches nicely with the brightly-colored spandex of the show while still looking strong and clean on the page.
What’s it All About?
The Power Rangers TV show has had a number of antagonists over the years, and they haven’t always seen eye-to-eye. But one that stood above them all was Dark Specter. Well, even though Dark Specter doesn’t make his TV appearance until Power Rangers in Space, the comics are setting him up early and establishing his role as a powerful force of evil by having him empower Rita Repulsa, who in turn beat up Lord Zedd teamed up with the now-evil Alpha-1 (an earlier version of everyone’s favorite Alpha-5), captured Matt the new Green Ranger (and also turned him evil), and put the rangers on the ropes.
It’s a dire situation, but one that blends elements of the TV show (and its subsequent seasons) with the ongoing continuity that the comics have built and expanded upon, including elements introduced in side stories. All the while, there are plenty of twists and turns, building up to what can actually be called one of the greatest threats the Power Rangers have ever faced.
What Makes it So Great?
As I said: this is one of the greatest threats the Power Rangers have ever faced. But it also feels like a natural direction based on everything the comic has done before it, and even a little of what the show will do after.
Melissa Flores is obviously no stranger to the franchise, having worked on it herself, and her knowledge of and love for Power Rangers is evident in every chapter. It’s a treat of continuity for longtime fans and readers, with new reveals and surprises that the original show could never have done. The comics take the franchise seriously, while reveling in every camp and over-the-top element of it at the same time, creating a comic that’s exciting and blends nostalgia with stories updated for a modern audience.
This is a comic that knows its audience is primarily older millennials who grew up watching Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, and it crafts its story accordingly. We see the characters go through real struggles, both of the heroic and the coming-of-age varieties, and facing real issues and dilemmas that people in their situations might face. It’s not just “Rita is attacking with another monster of the week, time to transform and summon a giant robot, then things return to normal.” Characters develop, have disagreements, make mistakes, face consequences, struggle with loss and guilt – all while still being a great “Power Rangers” story.
How about the artwork? Simona Di Gianfelice does a great job with both bringing the classic Power Rangers designs to the page and working with the new characters and designs that have been introduced in the comics. The character designs strike a nice balance of carrying over key characteristics while still adapting them to a comic book style, striking a nice balance of detail and cleanliness that also allows Raúl Angulo’s colors to shine. Of course, in a series like “Power Rangers,” where every character gets their own bright tones, the color work is incredibly important, and Raúl’s colors manage to be vibrant without getting overwhelming.
Continued belowThe same can be said for the giant robots (another important part of any Power Rangers series, movie, or comic). Simona’s artwork is well suited for the giant robots, often using large sections of the page to show off their immensity and make them feel properly powerful. There’s plenty of explosions and just enough background detail to make them pop against their surroundings, and the old tokusatsu designs look just as good as the comic-only Omega Zords.
The same can be said for the action, which flows nicely across each fight scene (both for rangers and zords alike). The action lines carry the motions well, making each hit feel impactful and each movement seem swift. As fun as the fight choreography for the TV show can be, there’s nothing like a good comic book fight, and the “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” comic combines comic book combat with the tokusatsu stylings of the original show.
The “Power Rangers” comics keep getting better and building more and more on the overall lore, and the latest run is no exception. Scratch that, it’s exceptional, or dare I even say… morphinomenal?
Where Can I Read it?
You can find issue #109 of “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” in stores today, read it digitally on Comixology, or purchase it directly from the BOOM! Studios website. While Melissa’s run has not been released in graphic novel format yet, you can still purchase all the previous volumes of the various “Power Rangers” comics at your local comic shop or online, including the “Shattered Grid” crossover event and original graphic novels like “Saban’s Power Rangers: The Psycho Path” and “Soul of the Dragon.”
