VR Troopers #2 Review

 

Writer: Mairghread Scott

Illustrator: Sebastián Píriz

Colorist: JP Jordan

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke, Goñi Montes, Chris “Mista Jonz” Jones, Tom Scioli, Simona Di Gianfelice, Sina Grace with Nick Filardi & Ivan Tao

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editors: Caroline Butler, David Mariotte, Lily Kessinger & Andy Schmidt

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 20, 2025

 

Ryan Steele has a dog to welcome him home. His teammates, Kaitlyn Star and JB Reese, support him at work. He used to have a girlfriend. Now, he can feel his relationship with Valentina slipping away. After his mother's abandonment and his father's death, Earth's Eltarian overlords cared for him. They raised Ryan above all other Humans to protect Earth from monsters, mutants, off-world traffickers, alien weapons, and exotic drugs. Still, he yearns for a greater feeling of belonging.

 

While investigating a break-in, Ryan found a sleeping woman at the Angel Grove Water and Power facility. Ryan also spotted a mysterious figure who vanished. Then he noticed someone building a device to tap into the city's energy supply. Amid their battle, Ryan’s Virtualizer reacted to the intruder’s touch. Can Ryan and his teammates catch the fugitive who has eluded capture for two years? And how is his father’s death related to the intruder who was building the strange device? Let’s grab our Virtualizers, leap into VR Troopers #2, and see!

 

Story

Ryan threw himself into becoming a VR Trooper. He even encouraged Valentina’s Eltarian roommate Jun to become one. Still, Ryan knows he’ll always be a second-class citizen to his Eltarian masters. After Ryan’s confrontation with the intruder, Zarysh tells the team that their security forces are aware of this intruder. His name is classified, but the Eltarian reveals that the intruder pierced their reality two years ago. Zarysh also drops another bombshell: the Eltarians created the VR Troopers program to capture this reality-hopping intruder and prevent anyone else from traveling here from a parallel Earth.

 

While Ryan copes with this news, JB wonders about what else Zarysh isn’t telling them. He has examined the device that Ryan found the intruder working on. When JB muses that it could be a teleportation device, Zarysh suggests they transfer the equipment to the Eltarian Science Division. JB also notices Zarysh didn’t mention that the intruder nearly activated Ryan’s Virtualizer. As the Eltarians keyed the Virtualizers to each trooper's biosignature, it shouldn't have responded to the intruder’s touch. 

 

As JB probes Ryan's unhappy memories, Kaitlyn undertakes an unauthorized mission in VR Troopers #2. She inhabits a world populated with alien refugees. The Eltarians have rewritten Human history to portray the Power Rangers as villains. When JB ponders a link between the mysterious figure and her sleeping aid, Kaitlyn insists on investigating the corporation that manufactured it. 

 

Art

While the VR Troopers Headquarters evokes Seattle’s Space Needle, the Ziktor Industries tower recalls the Earth Defense Directorate building in New Chicago. After Ryan, JB, and Kaitlyn share their discoveries amid Stark Industries-like hovering displays, Mr Ziktor interacts with blue/green holographic displays before immense wall windows. While the skylights above the troopers are less colorful than in Ranger Academy’s Opalescent Dome, they shower highlights and shadows upon the teammates. Yet a tense encounter in a corridor sparks an electrifying transformation in VR Troopers #2.

 

As Sebastián Píriz fills pages with engaging characters, dramatic camera angles, and impressive settings, JP Jordan fills panels with a luminous color palette. A sense of warmth and vitality inhabit the VR Trooper headquarters as JB makes his case with orange holographic displays. Inside the tall gray tower, the green interior and blue wall windows give Ziktor Industries a clinical ambiance. When Kaitlyn follows her instincts, she discovers a hallway bathed in red in VR Troopers #2. 

 

Taylor Esposito’s black uppercase letters in white and pale blue balloons grow bold for intonation, swell for volume, and rarely shrink. Large yellow letters announce locations in Mairghread Scott’s story and showcase a familiar catchphrase. Sound effects enhance a fraught battle while a slamming barrier evokes a stormtrooper's lament aboard the Death Star. Thanks to Boom! Comics for providing a review copy. 

 

Final Thoughts

Discovering an intruder constructing a strange device with Earth-based components was just the tip of the iceberg. Ryan Steele hungers to learn the circumstances surrounding his father's death and why the Eltarians dispense revelations on a need-to-know basis. Mysteries mount and dangers threaten the team in VR Troopers #2.

 

Rating 9.6/10

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

Deadweights TPB Preview

 

Everyone faces turning points in their lives. Suddenly, you look around at what you've done. You ask yourself what you've gained from all your hard work. And most importantly, you ponder if this is the person you still wish to be. When two former baddies resign from the superhero life, both have unlimited options for the future. But only if they can convince the good guys to let them start afresh.

Here's all the info:

 

DEADWEIGHTS TPB

(W) Tyrone Finch 

(A) Sebastián Piriz

Cover: Sebastián Piriz

Is there life after supervillainy? Ask Jerry and Clarence, two hapless ex-henchmen trying to make their way in the world—and maybe find a decent pair of pants. A super hero buddy comedy that takes a hard look at what happens after the fight, when the villains are tired of being villains and the heroes aren’t as heroic as they seem. Written by Tyrone Finch (Swine, Station 19) and gorgeously drawn by Sebastián Piriz (We Ride Titans).

August 27, 2025

$18.99 / $25.99 CAN

 

Here's the original write-up announcing the series:

 

The latest new series from acclaimed Syracuse-based comic book publisher AHOY Comics is DEADWEIGHTS, a buddy comedy about two unlucky henchmen trying to make their way in the world from writer Tyrone Finch (Swine, Station 19) and artist Sebastián Píriz (We Ride Titans). The comedic, action-filled six-issue series follows two members of a villainous team of evil mutants who are fired for their incompetence and try to go straight—but learn that life doesn’t get easier just because you’re wearing pants instead of tights. Issue #1 will feature a main cover by Piriz as well as the first of six “mug shot” incentive covers by Richard Pace (Second Coming), which will form a linked image.

“At its core, Deadweights is about friendship,” said writer Tyrone Finch. “It’s the story of two people who have been relentlessly beaten, battered, tossed off of bridges and forced to live in hideouts with no electricity or plumbing. But somehow, the two of them have never given up on each other or their dreams. When you look past their costumes, battles and vows to subjugate the human race; they’re just a couple of guys looking to find a place for themselves in this crazy, mixed-up world.”

“Jerry and Clarence are two guys you can’t help to feel bad for,” said artist Sebastián Píriz. “The more you know them, the more you’ll root for them — but that’s the moment where Tyrone sends a curve ball to remind us that, just like in real life, things rarely are so simple as we’d like.”

Count Dingo and the Marauders are a team of misunderstood evil mutants bent on world domination, whose diabolical plans range from robbing local credit unions to unleashing a biological disaster that will rid the planet of all non-mutants. After Jerry “Cannonbulk'' Patton and Clarence “Bounder” Barrett make a mistake that leads to another defeat at the hands of the mutant superhero team The Paladins, the two “deadweights” are unceremoniously dumped from the team. Realizing that they are not cut out for world conquest, Jerry and Clarence don pants and try to pursue ordinary lives—but going straight is not as easy as it seems. DEADWEIGHTS takes a hard look at what happens after the fight when the villains are tired of being villains, and the heroes aren’t as heroic as they want you to think.

“I love the idea of DEADWEIGHTS,” said AHOY Comics Senior Editor Sarah Litt. “No one really looks at the aftermath of the fight, only the fight itself. I think DEADWEIGHTS is what happens when the villains figure out that maybe that life doesn’t pay off after all.”

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

About AHOY Comics

AHOY Comics debuted in the fall of 2018 with the bold promise for readers to expect more from its line of comic book magazines, featuring comic book stories, poetry, prose fiction, and cartoons. The independent, Syracuse-based company is the brainchild of publisher Hart Seely, an award-winning reporter whose humor and satire has appeared in The New York Times and on National Public Radio. AHOY’s editor-in-chief Tom Peyer is committed to publishing comics with a (dark) sense of humor with titles like the religious satires SECOND COMING and HIGH HEAVEN, the superhero parodies THE WRONG EARTH and MY BAD, the sci-fi spoofs CAPTAIN GINGER and HIGHBALL, the time travel tales PLANET OF THE NERDS and G.I.L.T., and the humor/horror anthology series EDGAR ALLAN POE’S SNIFTER OF BLOOD. 

About the creators

Tyrone Finch hails from Cleveland, Ohio. He is the author of several prose stories and comics that appear as back matter in the pages of AHOY Comics, as well as the graphic novel Swine from Humanoids. He is currently working as a writer/producer for the BET+ series Average Joe.

Sebastián Píriz is an artist from Buenos Aires with more than 10 years of experience working mostly for indie publishers.  He worked on We Ride Titans (Vault), Exorcists Never Die (Mad Cave) and Godzilla: Valentine Special (IDW).  He co-created Black Beacon with Ryan K. Lyndsay for Heavy Metal Magazine and he’s done covers for titles like Red Sonja, Stranger Things and Transformers.

 

Thanks to Ahoy Comics and Superfan Promotions for sharing this preview with us.

 

VR Troopers #1 Review

 

Writer: Mairghread Scott

Illustrator: Sebastián Piriz

Colorist: JP Jordan

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke, Goñi Montes, Jorge Corona with Sarah Stern, Karen S Darboe, James Stokoe, Christian Ward, Dan Panosian, Sebastián Piriz, Ivan Tao & Marcelo Matere

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: June 25, 2025

 

Imprisoned on the moon, Rita Repulsa pondered the relationship between evil and progress. The Eltarians brought technological riches to Earth. They imported alien refugees to increase societal diversity. Then, the Eltarians created heroes the indigenous Humans could identify with to help them maintain order.

 

Along with Kaitlyn Star and JB Reese, Ryan Steele protects Earth from dangerous mutants, Human (and Alien) traffickers, off-world weapons, and illegal drugs. But like Bulk, who abandoned the Eltarian Security forces to serve Rita, Ryan also wonders about his allegiance. The Eltarians have given Ryan everything. So, why does he question his commitment to the protectors of the known universe? Let’s grab our Virtualizers, leap into VR Troopers #1, and see!

 

Story

Ryan loves Valentina. But since she tried to help Lauren, and Rita made her a Power Ranger, their relationship has grown complicated. Ryan keeps urging Jun to join the VR Rangers, but Admiral Janessa's son seems enthralled by the Power Rangers. As his relationships with his girlfriend and his Eltarian friend fracture, Ryan tries to convince them to behave responsibly. So why does he lie in bed at night, unable to sleep?

 

Instead of following Rita Repulsa's exploits with Orion and Lauren and Ryan’s attempts to get Valentina and Jun to betray them, VR Troopers #1 takes us inside Ryan's world. Like Orion's roommate Mark, who Ryan has imprisoned in a holding cell, Ryan has a dog. Ryan shares Orion's good looks and blond hair. But unlike Mark and Orion, Ryan is a native of Earth.

 

Lacking Human parents, the Eltarians gave Ryan status as a VR Trooper. He befriended Kaitlyn Star and JB Reese, the other members of his squad. Ryan enthusiastically supports the Eltarian government. Yet his superiors dispense information sparingly.

 

Mairghread Scott’s story follows a day in the life of Ryan Steele. It’s an extraordinary day that sheds light on Ryan’s past and suggests the possible means by which Earth became the Eltarian Empire’s 205^th colony. The events in VR Troopers #1 will test Ryan’s loyalty to the Eltarians. Their team's discoveries will tempt Kaitlyn and JB to keep secrets from him. Perhaps Ryan would sleep better at night if he was not apprehending "mutants" for public relations and endorsing Crashcrunch protein bars as a VR Trooper.

 

Art

Ryan lies clothed atop the covers with his brown lab nestled beside him. After rising from bed, Ryan dons a hoodie. Then, he jogs past the elaborate dome wherein Jun and Mark once answered Professor Barall’s question about their new lives on Earth. Standing before an arched cutaway in a chicken wire fence, Ryan gazes at the sign above a building. Electricity crackles around his body as his clothes make way for armor in VR Troopers #1.

 

Ryan makes a striking impression, half silhouette, half covered in colorful circuitry, as he enters the building. Dark turquoise fills the night as others wearing yellow masks emit a yellow glow. When one runs away, a yellow blast beckons. Ryan finds someone cloaked in green, producing a shower of yellow sparks. As Sebastián Piriz lays out panels against black or white space, the structure (and JP Jordan’s coloring) of Ryan's armor evokes the Cubist movement.

 

Taylor Esposito’s white or yellow letters against darker colors reveal thoughts and off-camera dialogue in narrative boxes. Black uppercase letters in white balloons grow bold for intonation, swell for volume, change color with action, and rarely shrink. Sound effects enhance gunfire, explosions, and bodies crashing through a multi-light window that evokes the Shoji screens of Lauren’s Samurai Ranger heritage. Thanks to Boom! Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Ryan Steele may work for a corrupt regime, but it's the only one he knows. VR Troopers #1 reveals why the Eltarian Empire made Power Rangers into fugitives and transformed Ryan and his colleagues into pop culture heroes.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

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