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.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #4 Review

 

Writer: Erik Burnham

Artists: Mateus Santolouco

Colorist: Marco Lesko

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Cover Artists: Mateus Santolouco; Tango & Paris Alleyne; Santtos

Publisher: IDW

Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 19, 2024

 

Yoshi Chen wants to unite his Dog Star Clan with Oroku Karai’s Foot Clan. But he played a cruel trick on them, and his soldiers sent Karai to the hospital. Yoshi’s actions indirectly cost Toshiro his life. Karai doesn’t believe that Yoshi will be content to share power. But what are Karai’s options? Can she ensure the Foot Clan's dominance over Yoshi's Dog Star Clan? Let's grab our katanas, leap into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #4, and find out!

 

 

Story

Yoshi's story of the Foot Clan's origins differs from hers. Yoshi claims their ancestor Daigo assisted his brother Tadami before building his clan in China. Karai’s copy of the Foot Clan sacred text, Ashi No Himitsu, states that Tadami killed all his brothers and retained sole leadership of the Foot Clan throughout his life. Yoshi traces his genealogy back to Daigo and suggests that Tadami and Daigo could have built a stronger clan together. But when Karai refuses his offer, Yoshi's hologram disappears, and the transmitter explodes.

 

Perhaps Yoshi didn't try to kill her (again), only erase any technological link to his Dog Star Clan. But this second attack confirmed Karai’s assertion that she alone should steer the Foot Clan’s destiny. So she sought guidance from the Realm of the Dead, which led her to the secret cache of the Foot Clan's founder, Takeshi Tatsuo. Karai chose her companions carefully in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #4. That's wise, as magical caves are dangerous places.

 

Fighting and status are significant parts of the ninja life. While Karai enjoys a Tokyo penthouse suite, the mutants share an open-plan apartment. Zodi feels especially aggrieved. The mutant scorpion itches for action and yearns for status. Yet Zodi sits on the sidelines while Karai focuses on achieving her destiny. Her fellow mutants punished her for speaking out. Karai selected one mutant companion and two Humans as her companions for this mission. Why didn't Karai invite Zodi?

 

In Erik Burnham's story, the Foot Clan faces threats from without and within. Like the cave on Dagobah, the Secret Cache of Takeshi Tatsuo will test the intruders. Magical forces will force Clyde, Natsu, and Casey Jones to confront their insecurities, their feelings about others, and the ambitions that drive them. But their leader, Karai, will face the biggest test. Is she worthy of guiding the Foot Clan toward their prophesied destiny in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #4?

 

 

Art

From feisty Zodi sporting her new stinger to technology wizard Kris staring at her monitors, sleep-befuddled Bebop, and wide-eyed Clyde, Mateus Santolouco fills the pages of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #4 with engaging characters. Santolouco's magic transports us from the cave in the woods to a sun-drenched tropical beach and a snow-covered hillside. The expressive characters argue before exploding into action as Raphael kicks Casey, Natsu punches a zombie, and a dragon hurtles through the air.

 

Marco Lesko bespells Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #4 with a loaded palette of appealing colors. Whether on a New York City rooftop or in an empty armory, characters shine in the dark, aided by ambient light and glowing fire. Lesko enhances the realism of violent moments, such as when Zodi flings a monitor from the Python's workstation or a Turtle punches off Casey's mask.

 

Shawn Lee conjures black uppercase words in white dialogue balloons and color narrative boxes. The words rarely shrink and grow bold or swell for inflection. Panels explode with the sounds of gunfire, the clang of swords, and spontaneously erupting people. Thanks to IDW for providing a copy of this issue for review.

 

 

Final Thoughts

Like John Wagner and Vince Locke's classic graphic novel, the Foot Clan's past is A History Of Violence. Karai seeks to rule over others with an iron fist in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #4. But is crushing anyone who opposes you the best way to achieve your destiny?

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.