‘Shattered Grid’ comes to a close this week, with an oversized issue that promises change the Power Rangers permanently. The end is near. The end is here. No ranger is safe. This review, however will be spoiler-free.
Cover by Jamal CampbellWritten by Kyle Higgins
Illustrated by Daniele Di Nicuolo & Diego Galindo
Ink Assistance by Simona Di Gianfelice
Colored by Walter Baiamonte & Marcelo Costa
Lettered by Ed DukshireThe epic conclusion to the first Power Rangers comic book event. Everything changes here!
The choice to make the conclusion to the ‘Shattered Grid’ crossover is not a new one to the comics industry. Marvel and DC have been doing it for a while now but it provides a difficult questions. Do you approach it as a one-shot/new #1 or as a piece of the larger story? It acts as both and so must be judged on both merits. Every comic is someone’s first and if Boom! is going to market this as a #1 instead of as another issue in either “GGPR” or “MMPR,” that must be considered. “Shattered Grid” #1 came close to balancing the two but failed to make it stand on its own enough.
There is a sense I got that, around the ten page mark, that this issue was really two issues in one. There is a mode shift that occurs there, after the battle’s resolution, that makes me wonder if “Shattered Grid” #1 would have worked better beginning at that point. It would have made the previous issue end on an all too familiar beat, yes, but it would have also given much more time to explore the true meat of “Shattered Grid” #1, which is “Who does Drakkon want to be?”
The opening battle, on its own, is fine piece of action. It’s drawn competently, if not a bit overstuffed with people and zords, but it doesn’t contain much meat to it. There is an attempt to catch people up as to the details of the fight but in the end, it’s the back end of a third act battle that boils down to a Voltron vs. Mechagodzilla fight. The stakes have been established elsewhere and even half the battle has already occured. It’s placement here defeats the purpose of having “Shattered Grid” #1 be a separate issue.
Despite this, once the main thrust of the issue began, the narrative became much more engaging. The characters are fully realized and once the narrative shifted from high-stakes space battle and narrowed its focus, it felt all the more real despite those scenes being, internally, fake. The framing of the pie scene is a perfect example of this.
It’s a shift between the two sets of artists & colorists, shifting from the angular, digital artistry of the space battle to a rounder, more earthly feel. The linework is softer too, making the world feel somehow more real. The colors, infused with the diffused shine of the setting sun, are warm and bright. Natural, with hits of dirt and grit, as opposed to the clean, shiny pallets of before. Moreover, the designs of Zordon and Rita are reminiscent of Pa and Ma Kent. It’s all very idyllic and so, it feels dissonant in the best of ways. This is not that kind of story and thus, we know something is off. In fact, there are multiple layers of off, with the second layer tipping its hand a few pages into this section.
However, this shift in art style also provides an in-issue comparison between the two, which caused some friction while I read the issue. The opening pages, when compared to the middle, are less nuanced in its character work, less impactful. It relies on speed lines and simpler, more exaggerated facial expressions to convey similar emotions, cheapening them. It’s the contrast that brings the beginning and ending art’s shortcomings into relief. It feels less real, despite containing more reality.
While reading “Shattered Grid” #1, in the back of my mind, was the word Crisis. Specifically “Infinite Crisis.” It’s no surprise, then, that the comparisons between Drakken to Superboy Prime kept appearing. This is not by accident, I’m certain. The imagery is all there, including the iconic the superman shirt ripping pose outside of a suburban/rural front door. It is a familiar setting, which makes it easy to say that this is Superboy Prime done right.
Reflections are oftentimes used as a metaphor for our inner turmoil. For a discussion with the self, with opposing pieces of the self. Just as Prime was a reflection of Conner, so too is Drakken a reflection of Tommy. Drakken is motivated by his own insecurities, pushing him to be the villain all the while believing himself to be, or believing he can be, the hero. Yet, unlike Superboy Prime, he remains human because of the care the creators put into crafting him, his actions, and his dialogue. He is motivated by a nuanced desire that is born from his flaws and fears. It’s a shame we didn’t get to interrogate it more within the issue.
Final Score: 6.8 – “Shattered Grid” #1 managed to conclude a Power Rangers crossover and fill it with heart and nuance all the while setting up what promises to be new, yet familiar direction. Despite its flawed pacing choices and artistic decisions, it is what I wish more DC/Marvel events were like. I’m sure anyone who’s followed the crossover will find this conclusion satisfying.
