Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 Review

 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 Review

Writer: Ryan Parrott

Artist: Vincenzo Federici

Colorist: Raúl Angulo

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Alessio Zonno; Dan Mora; James Stokoe; Declan Shalvey; Paulina Ganucheau; Mateus Santolouco; Kevin Easterman; Freddie E Williams II & Francesco Segala; Tula Lotay; Francesco Tomaselli; cMv; DefShogun; Freddie E Williams II & Andrew Dalhouse; Ivan Tao; Björn Barends; Frank Uzan; Jimbo Salgado; Leno Hernandez

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editors: Caroline Butler, David Mariotte & Andy Schmidt

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 13, 2025

 

The Turtles and the Power Rangers have teamed up to confront their enemies. But Shredder and Lord Zedd have also joined forces, and they’re making life difficult for our heroes. Can Splinter and Zordon keep the teams focused on defeating their enemies? Or will Shredder and Lord Zedd's constant attacks shatter the Turtles and Power Rangers' faith in each other? Let’s grab our weapons, leap into Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1, and see!

 

Story

The heroes are frustrated and no mistake. But they’ve got cause. Lord Zedd has put his Putties at Shredder's disposal. And Shredder has powered them up. Now, the Putties require more than a blow to the center of the chest to take them out. Tommy and Raphael argue that their combined teams are barely hanging on. And while Lord Zedd and Shredder's agents pop up across the world, the Turtles and Power Rangers are treating symptoms when they should be seeking out a cure.

 

Despite Zordon and Splinter's urging to remain patient, Tommy, Raphael, and their compatriots have a right to worry. Up on the moon, Shredder is starting to think that he's running the operation. Frustrated, Lord Zedd threatens to destroy his world if Shredder elbows him aside.

 

Before Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 transports us back in time, Ryan Parrott begins his story at the end. Leonardo and Tommy combat the super-powered Putties after they’ve destroyed Billy’s Radbug. There’s some irony here, as Billy and the Power Rangers used the Radbug to reach the Command Center when Tommy prevented them from teleporting.

 

Tommy is no longer under Rita Repulsa's spell. While fighting alongside Leonardo, he hopes to return to the Command Center he attacked as the evil Green Ranger. But Leonardo holds little hope that they can defeat their foes and reunite with their friends and brothers.

 

Art

Vincenzo Federici shows Billy’s modified Volkswagen Beetle falling from a tornado. But instead of flying off in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1, the Radbug crashes. Dust rises, obscuring the rock formations that evoke the locale surrounding the Command Center. As Putties climb over the damaged car, Tommy and Leonardo emerge in a splash page. But they don't offer the Putties a pizza.

 

As Vincenzo Federici moves his camera to Paris, he brings Trini and Donatello into focus. The heroes battle a larger opponent before the Arc de Triomphe. Like Billy's Radbug, smoke rises from an overturned vehicle as the Eiffel Tower rises in the distance. Trini and Donatello leap into the air, delivering kicks, hits, and stabs while avoiding their opponent's mighty hammer.

 

Raúl Angulo enhances a fight atop a speeding locomotive. While snow falls through the blue sky, their purple and gray opponents summon red fireballs with their hands and wield red and yellow flaming weapons. Zordon gazes down upon the combined teams from his blue pillar in the purple command center. As the sun’s light reflects off Earth, green combats purple in Lord Zedd’s Moon Palace. While his red suit and head form a link with Karai, the Putties wear purple like their new leader.

 

Ed Dukeshire opens with black uppercase narration in white/orange narrative boxes. Alpha 5 speaks with a less relaxed font than his Human, Turtle, Rat, and Eltarian companions. Amid the white and blue balloons, giant colored dialogue accompanies the flurries of sound effects. Raphael's off-camera dialogue appears as white letters in red boxes. But while Tommy's responses appear in white-gold boxes, Thomas Covenant doesn't join the fight against Shredder and Lord Zedd in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The Turtles and the Power Rangers share a camaraderie that lets them work, fight, and share rarely spoken insights. Still, not everyone trusts Zordon and Splinter’s leadership. And that can get both teams into trouble when they take on the Foot Clan and Lord Zedd in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Revenge #1 Review

 

Writer: Zoe Tunnell

Artist: Tango

Colorist: Adam Guzowski

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Tango, Steve Gregson & Jack Lawrence

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $7.99

Release Date: August 6, 2025

 

When Billy Cranston accidentally revives Rita Repulsa, she ranges far and wide, defeating Power Rangers in different places and eras. Billy and his team chase her down in 2023, but Rita escapes to 1993 to battle the teenagers with attitude before they can become a permanent menace. Can the Power Rangers pursue her through the time portal? And might meeting their younger selves create a paradox that disrupts space and time? Let's grab our morphers, leap into Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Revenge #1, and see!

 

Story

In Zoe Tunnell's story, the Rangers decide the rewards outweigh the risks. Despite Minh Kwan's desire to avenge her mother's death, Billy and Zach convince her and the team that they must play backup to the team in 1993. So, the 2023 team intercepts threats and menaces before they reach the teenage Power Rangers and uses their fists and feet rather than their Power Ranger suits and weapons.

 

While Billy's team battles familiar foes, older Rita tries to command her younger self. But even though Robo Rita has more experience, her younger self is a ten-thousand-year-old space witch. The fact that Robo Rita has become a cyborg doesn’t help Rita Repulsa trust Robo Rita in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Revenge #1. Likewise, the original members, Billy and Zach, replacements Katherine and Rocky, and their recent addition, Minh, are still finding their places in the newly shaped team.

 

Minh Kwan suffers in Zoe Tunnell's story. Billy's accident led to her mother's death. So, the newest Ranger tests the boundaries of her role among the original Blue and Black Rangers. While Billy leads with his head, Zach backs him up with his heart. Zach wants to ensure that Minh can handle her new role and that she's prepared, should Minh meet her mom at this earlier point in Trini's life.

 

Art

Tango energizes action scenes while revealing the characters’ emotions in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Revenge #1. A blast from Robo Rita's wand sends the Rangers flying. When they remove their masks, Billy's maturity shows, while Minh evokes happy memories of Zordon's original crew. The Rangers strut down streets in '90s fashions and battle Finster's creations in back alleys. Robo Rita makes an indelible impression, appearing more powerful than Rita Repulsa, yet thinner and more reliant on her magic wand than her 1993 counterpart.

 

Adam Guzowski often paints the brightly colored Rangers against pink and purple backgrounds. The rainbow-like portal welcomes them back to the yellow, orange, and brown shore where the Rangers often fought Rita's monsters. Bandora Palace glows yellow while Robo Rita, Rita Repulsa, and Goldar share a gold bond. This forces white-furred Finster, clad in his blue-green work clothes, to withdraw to his laboratory. Still, even as he digs his hands into his gray clay, golden shirt sleeve cuffs and gold-rimmed spectacles shout his loyalty.

 

Ed Dukeshire places black uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons. Robo Rita's words frequently grow bold, her font lacks curves, and she speaks into rectangular balloons with lightning bolt arrows. Colorful dialogue and frequent sound effects emphasize the danger Robo Rita poses and foretell the 2023 team's pain after battling monsters without their powers. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

When Robo Rita leaps through a time portal, she unleashes an unintended battle of one-upmanship on the moon, while the 2023 Rangers discover that the '90s were a very different age. Interpersonal drama, unexpected meetings with their counterparts, sparkling dialogue, and explosive action will help Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Revenge #1 grow on you.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Power Rangers Prime #9 Review

 

Writer: Melissa Flores

Artist: Michael Yg

Colorist: Fabi Marques

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editors: Caroline Butler, David Mariotte & Andy Schmidt

Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke, Crystal Kung, Vash Taylor, Emilio Lopez, Tula Lotay, Eleonora Carlini & Huy Dinh

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 6, 2025

 

Ryan holds Mark in custody. If he officially arrests Rita Repulsa's Blue Ranger, the young orphan will lose everything: his place at Angel Grove University and his trusted docent status at the Natural History Museum. If the refugee doesn't spend the rest of his life in an Eltarian prison, Mark will likely end up living underground like the other unregistered aliens.

 

But Ryan also has Valentina and Jun to consider. His girlfriend is the daughter of Angel Grove's mayor. Ryan doesn't want Admiral Janessa to learn that Valentina and her son have become Power Rangers. He may not lose sleep if Lauren, Mark, and Orion go to prison. Jun might survive his mother's wrath. But Valentina and her father would join Mark in whatever future the Eltarians decide to punish them with.

 

The Red (Samurai) Ranger's arrival in Angel Grove set all these events in motion. To protect his girlfriend and the Aquitan orphan who lost his mother and his world, Ryan proposes to swap Mark for Lauren. Will Jun, Valentina, and Orion agree to Ryan’s proposal? And what might Rita say about Ryan’s optimistic strategy to safeguard their futures? Let's grab our Morphers, leap into Power Rangers Prime #9, and see what happens!

 

Story

Along with Kaitlyn and JB, Ryan is a VR Trooper. His mother vanished long ago. His father disappeared more recently. So he meets his friends in a Japanese garden that was important to him and his father. The Space Witch has corrupted his friends. Rita Repulsa has given them the forbidden power of the Power Rangers. And in Melissa Flores’ story, Rita has taken the mantle of the Green Ranger. Once, she created the Green Ranger to destroy the Power Rangers. Now, Rita uses it to inspire them to destroy everything Ryan loves.

 

Melissa Flores gives each character a chance to shine in Power Rangers Prime #9. While Valentina and Jun have enjoyed a life of privilege, they are beginning to understand why Rita said their lives were illusions. Admiral Janessa and her Eltarian supervisors see this more clearly. If they want to retain control of their 205^th colony world, the overlords must prevent uncontrolled non-Eltarians from tapping the Morphin Grid.

 

While Rita's contemplation opens Power Rangers Prime #9, their confrontation at Ryan's special place gives each of the characters much to consider. Considering her history, Rita demonstrates exceptional wisdom. But despite the power they all wield, each realizes that winning is about more than who can deliver a colossal blow. While the Eltarians have rebuilt Earth on a foundation of deception, the divisions separating them are the greatest lie of all.

 

Art

The Green Ranger hovers above the crowd, forcing the Power Rangers and the VR Troopers to look up at her. As she leaps into battle, Rita wields her wand instead of a musical dagger. When Kaitlyn splits in two to battle the Space Witch, a character goes from being protected to defending others. The transformation evokes a fan-favorite catchphrase from the original TV series. Amid the explosive battle, Michael Yg shows Admiral Janessa conferring with her superiors in her headquarters.

 

Unlike the opening of the series, when Rita painted colors with her fingers, Fabi Marques opens Power Rangers Prime #9 with Rita as an ethereal being composed of white and green. Yellow links Valentina with Rita’s wand, while red connects the VR Troopers with Lauren. Amid the fury of the lavishly painted fight, pink and blue link the Eltarian overlords with their lowliest alien refugees.

 

Ed Dukeshire places uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. While the Space Witch's purple incantations fill jagged white dialogue balloons, Rita's purple pondering fills lavender narrative boxes. The letters grow bold, swell, and change color amid dramatic and action-packed confrontations. Sound effects crackle off would-be heroes and survivors, while sighs and gasps accompany monstrous roars. Thanks to Boom! Studios and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Rita Repulsa has known good and evil. She has learned the pitfalls of each. To secure her survival, Rita always opts to destroy her enemies. Yet time has taught her to expect her minions to fail her. So the Space Witch bides her time, while her new Power Rangers, the VR Troopers, and the Eltarian leadership of Earth adjust to the changes Rita has wrought in Power Rangers Prime #9.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Power Rangers Prime #8 Review

 

Writer: Melissa Flores

Artist: Michael Yg

Colorist: Fabi Marques

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editors: Caroline Butler & David Mariotte

Cover Artists: Dan Mora, Colm Griffin, Keyla Valerio, Takeshi Miyazawa, Dan Panosian, Elizabeth Torque, Francesco Tomaselli, Huy Dinh, Garrett Gunn & Marcelo Matere

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 2, 2025

 

Freed from her captivity on the moon, Rita needed the right energy and technology to rebuild her life on Earth. Yet, like the mutants and Power Rangers, Rita found herself hunted by Earth’s Eltarian masters. The Space Witch enlisted a group of young people to help her retain her freedom. Now, only Lauren, Orion, and Bulk stand by her side.

 

Lauren wants to find her father. Orion wants to reunite with his roommate, Mark. Bulk thought a government job was his ticket to happiness. That's behind him now. Jun called to arrange a meetup. Like Admiral Ackbar, Orion and Lauren don’t realize it’s a trap. Will Orion and Lauren join Mark in the VR Troopers’ cells? Let's grab our Morphers, leap into Power Rangers Prime #8, and see what happens!

 

Story

Valentina owes her position in society to her father. The mayor’s daughter wants to use her power to uplift the less fortunate. Valentina met Orion and Mark when she prevented high society bullies from getting the refugees into trouble. But she must mind her steps. Valentina might lose her spot at Angel Grove University. The Eltarians could strip her father of his duties and his mayoral office. Depending on how much Valentina displeases them, her family could even end up living among the mutants and refugees beneath Angel Grove.

 

Ryan struggles between his love for Valentina and his duties to the state in Power Rangers Prime #8. Lauren is on the Eltarians' radar. Admiral Janessa can protect Jun. Perhaps Ryan can make his masters forget about refugees Orion and Mark. But this puts him on shaky ground with JB and Kaitlin. His fellow VR Troopers know that if Ryan sweeps all this under the rug, it will come back to haunt them. But Ryan has already lost his father. He doesn't want to lose his girlfriend.

 

While Ryan feels like his world is falling apart, Melissa Flores’ dramatic story also shines the spotlight on Rita Repulsa. The Space Witch is used to dominating others. She enjoyed hatching evil plans. But her new Rangers aren’t responding to her old methods. And Bulk, the lackey of the Eltarian state, isn’t the craven sycophant she imagined. Despite her abilities, Rita is as much a fugitive as the mutants underground. If she wants to regain her power and wield an effective fighting force, Rita must earn her Rangers’ respect in Power Rangers Prime #8.

 

Art

An immense moon hangs over the buildings ascending the hills surrounding Angel Grove. While their motorcycles’ headlights illuminate the scenic overlook, Valentina demonstrates she doesn't need Rita's help to be a formidable opponent. After his first appearance in VR Troopers #1, Jeb reveals another similarity between Earth native Ryan and the Andresian refugee Orion. When their mutant friend leads them into less inhabited areas of The Belly, pipes, conduits, and hanging wire surround Rita, Orion, and Lauren. Yet when Michael Yg zooms in on the explorers’ eyes, Rita sees defiance in Power Rangers Prime #1.

 

Pink, yellow, and orange dominate the picturesque evening as Ryan, JB, and Kaitlyn drive along a winding coast road. Fabi Marques contrasts Jun and Valentina standing amid the evening colors with a blue and white view through Ryan’s macrobinoculars. Pink and yellow enliven the soft green plants surrounding a tea house gazebo as Ryan prepares to visit one of his special places. Lens flare from the setting sun and vehicle lights suggest the cosmic import of the meetup. Yet, as Rita contemplates her future, a glowing white orb burns in her red and black eyes.

 

While Michael Yg and Fabi Marques fill panels with attractive characters amid cool vehicles and inviting settings, Ed Dukeshire places uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. The letters grow bold, swell, change color, and rarely shrink. Enlarged colored dialogue and sound effects enliven aggressive negotiations amid reminders of Rita and the Eltarians’ power. Thanks to Boom! Studios and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

The school of hard knocks hires the best teachers. Their lessons can leave you burning with anger or quivering with fear. Rita is a powerful space witch. Her Rangers face an uncertain future. Like the others, Ryan fears losing everything he has. But whether a space witch, a VR Trooper, a lowly refugee, or an influential socialite, everyone must navigate a path between anger and fear in Power Rangers Prime #8.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Power Rangers Prime #6 Review

 

Writer: Melissa Flores

Artist: Jo Mi-Gyeong

Colorist: Ellie Wright

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editors: Caroline Butler, David Mariotte & Matt Gagnon

Cover Artists: Dan Mora; Nimit Malavia; Keyla Valerio; Alessio Zono; Miguel Mercado; Erica D’Urso; Bon Bernardo; NRG; Smunchy

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: April 30, 2025

 

Ryan is an enthusiastic member of the Eltarian Youth Corps. As a VR Trooper, the young Human boasts more firepower than the Eltarian Guard. When Rita Repulsa’s space dumpster crashed into a dumpster in Angel Grove, Ryan’s squad wanted to pursue the Space Witch. Then, Valentina gave him a lead on a Power Ranger.

 

Mark is a half-Aquitan refugee. After spending time in an Eltarian Detention Center, he got accepted by Angel Grove University. Mark rescued his dog Doobie and the Power Ranger Lauren from an Angel Grove dumpster. His roommate Orion and his new Eltarian friend Jun praise his bravery. But even after he grasps a Zeo Crystal and becomes the Blue Power Ranger Prime, Mark remains paralyzed by fear. How will he fare when Ryan’s VR Troopers capture him? And will Ryan take his bad day out on Mark? Let's grab our Morphers, leap into Power Rangers Prime #6, and see what happens!

 

Story

Ryan has everything he wants. Jun’s mother, an Eltarian Admiral, esteems him. He has a glamorous job that many Humans would kill for. But then his girlfriend becomes the Yellow Power Ranger Prime. So when he takes Mark into custody, Ryan asks Mark to tell him everything he knows about the Power Rangers. The Admiral may be able to protect Jun, but Ryan needs to apprehend the other Power Rangers to keep Valentina out of the Angel Grove Detention Center.

 

Ryan tries hard to bond with Mark in Power Rangers Prime #6. But the refugee doesn’t buy it. The Aquitan has lost his family and his world. It’s hard to imagine the Eltarians letting Mark resume his studies at Angel Grove University or his internship at Angel Grove Natural History Museum. So, what does Ryan have to offer Mark?

 

He may be in custody, but Mark isn’t powerless. In his earliest memories, his mother shared her fears with him. She also instilled a belief that freedom was more important than submission. His mother chose to live on Aquitan because the Eltarians ruled Earth. Mark has lived with fear all his life. But in Power Rangers Prime #6, Mark remembers that fear is a choice.

 

Art

Jo Mi-Gyeong portrays Mark as a youngster swimming in the ocean. Mark breathes with neck gills while his mother wears a scuba suit and regulator. Amid Ryan’s interrogation, Mark’s childhood memories interweave with his mother’s stories. The Eltarians who welcome him to Earth appear concerned for his wellbeing. As Ryan questions Mark, the VR Trooper exemplifies strength, resilience, and caring. Yet Ryan’s eyes hint at his fears for Valentina, and his frown suggests that he blames Mark for her plight.

 

Darkness hangs over Mark's future in Power Rangers Prime #6. Yet Ellie Wright brightens Mark with purple gills. She links Mark with the magenta and lavender sealife on Aquitan and a fellow alien refugee at Ellis Island. Blue proves the dominant color, portraying Aquitan’s oceans, Mark’s cell, the rain falling when he arrives on Earth, the city where he was born, and the Eltarian Guards who rescued him. Given all the blue in his past, it’s easy to understand why Mark chose the blue Zeo Crystal over the others Rita Repulsa offered Lauren’s friends.

 

Ed Dukeshire communicates this story about how we relate to our government by placing uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. The letters grow bold, swell, change color, and rarely shrink as Mark faces his damaged past and present. Sound effects help us hear launching missiles, explosions, an alien scream, and a chair pleading for oil. Thanks to Boom! Studios and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Like Mr Spock, Mark is a man of two worlds. He possesses a childlike innocence and helps those in need. Yet when he gets frightened, he relies on an inhaler to restore calm. Becoming the Blue Power Ranger Prime was the beginning of a journey. In Power Rangers Prime #6, Mark must fight for the freedom his mother valued or accept the subservience the Eltarians demand.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Power Rangers Prime #5 Review

 

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.

Power Rangers Prime #4 Review

 

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; Matt Taylor; Bon Bernardo; Doaly; Mike Huddleston; Haining; Guillaume Martinez; Jordan Gibson; Dax Ramirez

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: February 19, 2024

 

Mark and Orion are alien refugees. Jun is an Eltarian admiral’s son. Valentina has a powerful Human father. Their plan to help Lauren find a Morpher and free her imprisoned parents goes wrong when Rita Repulsa and Bulk break into the museum. But they would never slip in and out of the Angel Grove Natural History Museum anyway. Valentina told her boyfriend that Jun was helping a Power Ranger. Ryan mobilized his VR Troopers and told his Eltarian superiors they knew where to capture the Power Ranger.

 

Can Lauren escape the Eltarian Guard and the VR Troopers to rescue her parents? What will happen to Jun, Valentina, Mark, and Orion? And who will take care of Doobie if the Eltarians imprison the dog’s masters? Let's grab our Morphers, leap into Power Rangers Prime #4, and see what happens!

 

Story

Jun may feel more at home on Earth than Eltar, but he doesn't inhabit the same world as Humans or alien refugees. Commander Yorlam insists Jun should become a Guardian. His mother has other plans for him. Yet among all the options available, Jun is like Eve hungering for the forbidden fruit. Rita Repulsa’s spell helps Lauren become a Ranger again. Yet Rita’s magic also changes Lauren’s suit and powers in Power Rangers Prime #4. Like disciples watching fabled heroes appear, Jun wants to stay and soak in every moment of this transfiguration. Unfortunately, Valentina knows they're in danger and wants to protect Jun.

 

Valentina didn't want to break the law and help a Power Ranger. Jun's decision to help Lauren blows up Valentina's Date Night. Ryan may have little in common with Steve Carell. But his fervor to capture a Power Ranger threatens their romance.

 

Frustrated by her conflicting loyalties to Jun and Ryan, Valentina unleashes her anger on Mark and Orion. Yet the displaced alien students have risked their places at Angel Grove University to rescue the endangered, whether strays like Doobie or hunted like Lauren. Melissa Flores' story forces Valentina to choose where she belongs. It's not an easy decision. But then, figuring out where you belong never is.

 

The Eltarians conquer worlds and scatter the survivors across their empire. As they cannot run their empire without the help of other races, they empower those they conquer. In Power Rangers Prime #4, Ryan and Captain Kanel must decide who takes the lead in attacking a Power Ranger. The Guardians want to apprehend the criminal. Yet the Eltarians have glamorized VR Troopers to get Humans to join their ranks. And the VR Troopers wield more firepower than Eltarian Guardians.

 

Art

Jun pilots an elegant spaceship to land on Eltar. His uniqueness grows apparent as Jun mixes with others of his race. Amid the sweeping architecture that recalls Angel Grove's new look, Commander Yorlam yanks on Jun's black hair to highlight his crime. Yet Yorlam wears a circle beard proudly in Power Rangers Prime #4, while most Eltarians are cleanshaven.

 

As Michael Yg shows Rita Repulsa wielding her recreated magic wand, Fabi Marques colors it red and gold. Rita's wand and white dress match Lauren's red, gold, and white suit. The bluish-purple interior of the Angel Grove Natural History Museum reminds us of the Eltarians’ faces. Yet the walls and ceiling evoke the Guardians' uniforms.

 

Ed Dukeshire casts uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. The letters turn purple when Rita Repulsa summons her magic. Giant, colored dialogue bursts balloons, and red laughter fills the air as a T-Rex roars. Yet a plaintive cry mixes triumph with tragedy in Power Rangers Prime #4. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Bulk sought a government job for the health benefits, stable employment, and a pension. Rita Repulsa may call him an idiot. Yet the space witch sees value in him that the Eltarians do not. Bulk thought he knew what his future held. But like Jun, Valentina, Orion, and Mark, Bulk must decide where he belongs in Power Rangers Prime #4.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Power Rangers Prime #3 Review

 

Writer: Melissa Flores

Artist: Michael Yg

Colorist: Fabi Marques

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editors: Caroline Butler, Allyson Gronowitz & Matt Gagnon

Cover Artists: Dan Mora; Danny Earls & Jão Canola; Bon Bernardo; Doaly; Sweeny Boo; Inhyuk Lee; Dustin Nguyen; Guillaume Martinez; Juni Ba

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 22, 2024

 

Lauren was a hunted Power Ranger. The Eltarian Guard shot her before she could activate her Morpher. Rita Repulsa was a prisoner for a thousand years. Rita found Lauren’s Morpher and used it to construct a new wand. But Rita’s magic is unstable. The Space Witch wants to restore her power. Lauren yearns to free her parents from imprisonment. But the Eltarian Guard hunts both women. How will Lauren and Rita evade the rulers of Earth and accomplish their objectives? Let's grab our Morphers, leap into Power Rangers Prime #3, and see what happens!

 

Story

After the Eltarians annexed Earth, they transported other refugees to their new colony world. Mark and Orion worked hard to escape the refugee center. They attend Angel Grove University and serve as interns in the Natural History Museum. While their status there affords them special privileges, classified research areas are off-limits to the non-Eltarian interns. Still, Mark wants to help Lauren find her parents. So, when Lauren mentions she needs another Morpher, Mark knows where to find one.

 

Jun saw the Eltarian Guard hunting Lauren. The Eltarian student studies the history of the Power Rangers. But Jun's obsession becomes dangerous when he brings Lauren, Mark, and Orion into his dorm room. Jun’s mother is an Eltarian admiral. Lauren comes from a privileged Human family. She wants her roommate to understand that he has crossed the line. Lauren contacted her boyfriend, Ryan, to quietly take Lauren into custody. But Ryan is a VR Trooper, and nothing he does will be on the quiet. And while Valentina joins Mark, Orion, Lauren, and Jun in their search for another Morpher, Ryan makes a battle plan.

 

In Power Rangers Prime #3, Melissa Flores peels away the Eltarian illusion. The interstellar empire frees planets from invaders, then scatters their inhabitants in a continuing diaspora. While Humans like Lauren’s parents, Ryan, and Bulk seek positions of power from their alien masters, the Eltarians rewrite Earth's history. They proclaim the Morphin Grid never existed and the Power Rangers are dangerous radicals. But Rita Repulsa sees through this fiction. With Bulk as her guide, she hunts for a power source to recharge her magical batteries and restore her abilities as a formidable Space Witch.

 

Art

As Mark follows Professor Barall past a Mammoth reconstruction and a T-Rex skeleton, soldiers in battle armor guard the displays and alien visitors. While following her down an empty hallway, Mark glimpses hovering objects through an open door. In Jun and Valentina's room, Valentina looks through the window while Mark stares at his new friends. Valentina's yellow clothes match the sky, while Jun's blue skin links him with Mark's blue jacket.

 

As Michael Yg conjures alien architecture, laser rifles, and battle armor that appears and disappears like a Power Ranger costume, Fabi Marques infuses Power Rangers Prime #3 with bright and appealing colors. Wisps of white cloud in an azure sky rise from the burnished gold refuge among the brown rocks outside Angel Grove. A purple-and-blue leader waltzes through the pink and green interior. One room in the museum gleams with all the colors of a rainbow. Yet the colored diamonds on Jun’s black and white jacket suggest a privileged court jester more than the potent son of an Eltarian Admiral.

 

Ed Dukeshire casts uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes. The words grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and rarely shrink. Giant red letters ripple through the air following a Boom, while a vibrating cellphone signals betrayal in Power Rangers Prime #3. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Some people in Angel Grove crave power. Others want a stable job and a quiet life. Rita Repulsa and Lauren are as different as black and white. But when the Eltarians paint them with the same brush, a Space Witch and a Power Ranger find common ground in Power Rangers Prime #3.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Power Rangers Prime #2 Review

 

Writer: Melissa Flores

Artist: Michael Yg

Colorist: Fabi Marques

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editors: Caroline Butler, Allyson Gronowitz & Matt Gagnon

Cover Artists: Dan Mora; Chuma Hill; Bon Bernardo; Doaly; Keyla Valerio; R1CO; Jordan Gibson; Guillaume Martinez

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: December 18, 2024

 

Seventy years ago, the Eltarians visited Earth. After repelling the Beast Brigade of Gamma VII, they made Earth their 205^th colony and hunted potential threats like the Power Rangers. How have people in Angel Grove fared under Eltarian rule? And what will happen to those who help a Power Ranger hide from the authorities? Let's grab our Morphers, leap into Power Rangers Prime #2, and see what happens!

 

Story

The students at Angel Grove University enjoy the benefits of Human culture and Eltarian technology. Yet Eltarian Guards patrol the streets. Residents outside after curfew are immediately suspect. Students from Eltarians colonies attend classes. Some, like Mark Zhao and his roommate Orion, are refugees and have no home to return to. Memories of Eltarian Detention centers haunt them. While Orion enjoys Human culture and Eltarian technology, Mark believes that he and Earth are worse off with the Eltarians in charge.

 

Was the Beast Brigade attack on Earth a false flag? The Eltarians have built an empire out of protecting planets and resettling refugees. Yet in Power Rangers Prime #2, Humans compete for the honor of serving the government. Lauren, a Samurai Ranger, hides from security patrols. She doesn’t know if her parents still live. But she’s grateful to Mark and Orion for hiding her from Eltarian security.

 

Melissa Flores builds humor and heart into her story. Mark rescued Lauren from a dumpster. After an explosion on the moon, Rita's space dumpster crashes into the one where Lauren hid from Eltarian security. Following his Lauren Lickfest, Mark and Orion’s dog protects her from capture in Power Rangers Prime #2. Flores’ story reminds us how swiftly the government and industry moved to protect us amid potentially world-ending threats like 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Rita Repulsa is amazed that Humans help the Eltarians subjugate them. But what does Rita know? Like the beautiful genie in I Dream Of Jeanne, the space witch recently escaped captivity. She hasn't even tried Crashcrunch protein bars!

 

Art

Rita gazes at the futuristic towers, flying cars, and the moon. She summons a sinuous stream of energy to retrieve Lauren's dropped Samuraizer. Rita glances over her shoulder and smiles without bothering to face the approaching guards. Then, a wrench-sized magic wand summons yellow fire and red energy beams.

 

Jun’s light blue skin shines beneath the darker blue evening sky. Mark places a silver and gold mask over his mouth to ease his breathing in Power Rangers Prime #2. The magenta skin blotches surrounding his eyes match his tie and suggest he is weaker than Jun or his roommate Orion. Yet Mark rescued Lauren, knowing the Human would endanger him but not that she was a Power Ranger.

 

Fabi Marques lavishes a loaded palette on Michael Yg’s attractive characters. The richly colored art portrays compelling characters, grand vistas, and a battle between Bulkmeier’s patrol and Rita Repulsa. Ed Dukeshire's black uppercase letters in dialogue balloons and narrative boxes draw us into this altered yet recognizable world.

 

Dukeshire's letters swell and change color, and balloons grow spiky when Captain Kanel's pike sweeps past Rita's face. Red letters help us hear her fire monster scream. But Doobie's growl suggests he doesn't share Orion's love of Crashcrunches. Either that, or he hears footsteps in the hall. Then, yellow knocking fills the dorm room as the security forces hunt for a weakened Samurai Ranger in Power Rangers Prime #2. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

After Jun sees Lauren fighting members of his race, he befriends the “rufee” Mark Zhao. The Eltarian doesn't share his government's disdain for Power Rangers. But Jun is not the most practically minded person in the police state known as Angel Grove. Can the admiral’s son use his resources to shield Lauren from the authorities? Or will Jun’s interest doom her in Power Rangers Prime #2?

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.