Modville Ashcan Review

 

Writers: Jesse Negron & Joe Matsumoto

Artist: Hendry Prasetya

Colorist: Eko Puteh

Letterer: Tyler Smith

Editor: Dave Elliott

Publisher: Mechanical Cake LLC and Scott Free Productions

 

A House bill established an Autonomous Humanoid Zone in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Thousands of artificial humans, or Mods, have abandoned their posts to join the tight-knit community called Modville. How do the Mods live in their sanctuary? What trials do they face? Let’s leap into the Modville Ashcan and see!

 

Story

In Jesse Negron and Joe Matsumoto's story, floods have struck New Orleans. Abandoned by its human population, the Mods settle in this damaged district. They live a life much like humans anywhere. Yet the Human government polices the district.

 

The Modville Ashcan takes place in 2169 when the American Republic has taken over from the United States. Police cars fly or hover above roads like landspeeders. When violent crimes occur, Juris Operators question victims, witnesses, and suspects by delving directly into their minds.

 

In a world that has endured traumatic change, humans have not learned the value of equality or living together in peace. Villains stalk their prey, and Juris Operators, or Snoops, strip people of privacy by invading their minds. It's a practice as damaging to those questioned as the Juris Operators. But it's all in the name of holding together a troubled nation.

 

Art

Hendry Prasetya and Eko Puteh open the Modville Ashcan with grand scenes of New Orleans. The cinematic widescreen shots set the stage for Humanoid interaction. Teens congregate in this decaying district illuminated by neon lights. As they interact in person and via communicators with holographic projectors, someone watches the Mod youth.

 

The Modville Ashcan features photographic art that shows the hyperreal, decaying world the Humanoids inhabit. It features the text of the House bill and shows the teens’ personalities and vulnerabilities. It also focuses on the Juris Operators, portraying the tools of their trade and delineating the dangers they face in the near and long term.

 

As Ridley Scott's atmospheric worldbuilding style flows through this glossy, magazine-size ashcan, Tyler Smith casts uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons. Green narrative boxes reveal hologrammatic interaction. Jesse Negron closes out the Modville Ashcan by sharing his TV and Filmmaking journey, including his relationship with the Scott Free production company and his plans for his graphic novel series. Thanks to Mechanical Cake LLC and Scott Free Productions for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

The glossy, magazine-style Modville Ashcan invites us into a future world that evokes Blade Runner and Batman, promising an exciting forthcoming graphic novel series.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #121 Review

 

Writer: Melissa Flores

Artist: Hendry Prasetya

Colorist: Matt Herms

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artist: Taurin Clarke; Björn Barends; Mona Finden; Goñi Montes; Mateus Manhanini; John Giang

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 26, 2024

 

Billy Cranston can't sleep. Dark Specter's infection hasn't reached him yet, but it's only a matter of time. Soon, the shield protecting Earth will fail. Can he find a way to defend Earth and repel the corruption that has swept through the Morphin Grid? Or will he go crazy from lack of sleep? Let’s leap into Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #121 and find out!

 

Story

Grace Sterling died, but her influence lives on. She haunts Billy’s rare hours of sleep and stays beside him as he works. He still admires her, even if others don't. This morning is no different. She accompanies him as he meets Dr Kendall Morgan and the Phantom Ranger. The two wrack their brains for ways to prevent the shield protecting Earth from failing. Their latest proposals hold no more promise than all the rest. Truisms like "We'll get through this" are comforting. Yet the Solar Rangers foiled their most promising proposal by severing access to the Void. No one considers curing the Morphin Grid anymore. Their best ideas can protect Earth for a few more days. But eventually, the infection corrupting all other areas of the Grid will break through the shield and overtake Earth.

 

Billy isn’t usually so pessimistic. Dr Morgan sees how stress and insomnia affect Billy in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #121. She suggests he take a break and clear his mind. Aisha cleansed Rocky and Adam, so Billy visits them. Dark Specter's infection is gone, but they're reeling from feelings of violation and haunted by what they did under his influence. Perhaps someone like Tommy, who also fell victim to Dark Specter and found his way back to them, can help. But Billy can't understand what they went through.

 

Everyone else casts the battle with Dark Specter's infection as good combating evil. Their history teaches them that good must triumph. Yet Death waits at Earth’s door, and no one can prevent it from opening. So Billy visits Kiya. The discredited ranger regards him from behind the energy bars of her cell. “You’re coming to me?” her expression says. “You must be desperate.” Billy wasn’t ready to contemplate her radical approach to curing the Morphin Grid when she unplugged one of the Power Eggs. But in Melissa Flores’ story, Billy has tried every conceivable remedy to heal the infection. Billy asks her to run her reasoning by him again. In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #121, Billy is finally willing to listen to the woman who killed Lord Drakkon and tried to blow up the Morphin Grid.

 

Thank goodness Billy's not infected by Dark Specter's infection!

 

Art

An inset panel magnifies the bedside clock as Billy turns off the alarm. His untamed hair and drawn expression suggest rapid aging. The cracked eggs project sparks instead of a pillar of light before the damaged arch. Rocky throws up a hand at Billy. Panic etched into his features, his muscles poised to run away. Kiya's arms uncross and fall to her sides as she speaks. Billy's takeaways from their conversation dot a double-page spread showing a villain's efforts to become a god.

 

Matt Herms lavishes a loaded palette on Hendry Prasetya’s art in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #121. Grace Stirling appears in red. Even her white slacks hint at red. Red energy bars protect Billy from Kiya's influence. Yet her story leads Billy to Jason, who exercises in a red tank top. Grace’s red ghost counsels Billy as he sits on a black iron bench. The brownish-yellow air obscures the distant green trees while Billy gazes at the sky. The pink and green aurora are beautiful, even amid the foul haze. Yet they remind Billy that the shield protecting Earth is weakening and destined to fail. Think, Billy! What does the color red signify?

 

Black and red uppercase lettering inhabits white dialogue balloons, while Billy’s thoughts appear in blue narrative boxes. Ed Dukeshire’s letter size, line spacing, and contrast between print and backgrounds make Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #121 easy to read. The surging electricity he provokes may shatter readers' perception of Billy in Melissa Flores’ story. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Driven by insomnia and desperation, Billy Cranston takes a leaf out of Dr Gregory House’s book, stops listening to his friends' treatment options, and contemplates a dangerous cure for Dark Specter’s infection in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #121.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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