Writer: Melissa Flores
Artist: Michael Yg
Colorist: Fabi Marques
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Designer: Madison Goyette
Editors: Caroline Butler, David Mariotte & Matt Gagnon
Cover Artists: Dan Mora; Stefano Simeone; Bon Bernardo; Keyla Valerio; Don Aguillo; Goñi Montes; Audrey Mok; Kang Jing; Marcelo Matere
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 26, 2024
After Lauren lost her Morpher, Mark, Orion, Valentina, and Jun brought the Power Ranger to the Angel Grove Natural History Museum. The Eltarians allow society’s elite and a few privileged students into the museum. While visitors view the public displays, researchers work in high-security laboratories, conducting experiments on technology like Lauren's Morpher. And then there is the room filled with Zeo Crystals from all the Power Rangers the Eltarians have killed.
Rita Repulsa holds Bulk, a young sentry, in thrall. The Space Witch helped Lauren morph into a Power Ranger. But now, Lauren has a new appearance and wields unfamiliar powers. She stands up to the Eltarian Guard, but the VR Troopers boast more firepower. When Bulk gathers more Zeo Crystals, Rita Repulsa offers Mark, Orion, Valentina, and Jun the opportunity to become Power Rangers. Will Lauren's new friends become Rita's Rangers? Let's grab our Morphers, leap into Power Rangers Prime #5, and see what happens!
Story
In Melissa Flores’ story, Lauren’s new friends accept Power Coins and morph into Power Rangers. But having power doesn’t mean they are ready to wield it responsibly. Mark and Orion are alien refugees. They mourn the past and fear losing whatever status they attain. Lauren values her life of wealth and privilege, her friendship with Jun, and her relationship with Ryan.
Of the quartet aiding Lauren, Jun is the most conflicted. His mother is an Eltarian military leader. She allows him to attend Angel Grove University and grow his hair like other students. Janessa intends for Jun to symbolize the Eltarians' friendship with humans. Yet on Earth, Jun cannot help admiring the repressed indigenous population, the oppressed refugees, and the Power Rangers who pledge their lives to protect others.
In Power Rangers Prime #5, Rita Repulsa has little patience for indecision or weakness. What she bestows, she can take away. Some of her new Rangers wield their power more enthusiastically than others. Accepting this new power will radically change their lives. It will also make former friends like Ryan enemies. All of them have worked hard to get where they are. As they battle Ryan's VR Troopers, Lauren's new friends must choose to remain with her, Bulk, and Rita or return to the lives they know.
Art
The Eltarian Consulate rises like angelic wings toward a blue globe. As visitors of many species enter a dining hall affording a magnificent view of Angel Grove’s sweeping architecture, Orion and Mark offer refreshments. Jun and his mother wear Eltarian uniforms. The social elite wear elegant suits, dresses, or the latest fashions. Mark and Orion's expressions show how out of place they feel attired in tuxedoes in Power Rangers Prime #5.
White energy crackles around Rangers clad in blue, pink, yellow, and gray. Pink energy trails from the Pink Ranger’s mace. The Black Ranger sports grayish purple and gold and wields a staff with a hissing snake at both ends. Red Ranger extends a sword from her hand while the Yellow Ranger sprouts daggers. Yet Blue wields no weapons as if frightened by the power suddenly granted him. As Michael Yg shows the costumed Rangers battle the VR Troopers clad in high-tech armor, Fabi Marques surrounds the newborn heroes with a starry nebula to highlight their cosmic origins.
Ed Dukeshire communicates this struggle for identity by placing uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. The letters swell, change color, and threaten to burst balloons as new Rangers battle old friends. Sound effects elevate this confrontation with Humans selected to protect people from mutants, while Rita Repulsa proves she can still create monsters in Power Rangers Prime #5. Thanks to Boom! Studios and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
With Lauren's lost Morpher and Bulk's assistance, Rita Repulsa is reclaiming her strength. She wants powerful fighters to rebuild her forces. While Bulk can remain her helper, Rita wants allies to fight alongside her. The Space Witch demonstrates an extraordinary willingness to trust her new team in Power Rangers Prime #5, but only if they meet her expectations.
Rating 9.8/10
For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.