Morphinomical.
By Jeff Lake
Get out your Power Morphers and dust off your Dragon Daggers: the Power Rangers are back. Looking to again prove that there’s literally nothing cooler than the combination of dinosaurs, robots and color-coordinated martial artists, BOOM! Studios at last returns the original teens with attitude to comic book form, as shepherded by the creative talents of Kyle Higgins and Henry Prasetya.
First things first – this series is clearly geared towards those reared on the original Rangers and their lore, as exemplified by writer Higgins’ decision to start his story right after the excellent “Green With Evil” saga. That said, Higgins wisely uses the book’s #0 format to his advantage, effectively laying the framework for things to come. Ultimately though, the bulk of the issue focuses on the Rangers themselves, and more specifically their various dynamics.
It’s a solid decision, but one that doesn’t immediately pay off. Sterling characterization was never exactly something the original series was known for, but there was enough in the way of character defined roles to allow each member to feel unique beyond their obviously differentiating hues. Higgins mines that same balance to an extent here, but the book’s admittedly limited page count doesn’t allow for much in the way of individuality. Tommy gets the bulk of the focus, his character appropriately conflicted and even more appropriately badass, but beyond Kimberly’s penchant for one-liners and Billy’s smart guy speak, the rest of the team kind of fades into the background. Again, expecting the Rangers to be fully formed right out of the gate is unrealistic at best, but seeing as how Higgins is out to create a new direction within a familiar world, it’s something we’ll need to see more of going forward.
Luckily, everything else is pretty much Grade-A Power Rangers, as Higgins’ affection for the property is made apparent with every page. From a pitch perfect portrayal of Rita Repulsa to appearances by Zordon, Alpha-5 and the monster mashing Finster, the amount of fan service found here is wonderful. Newbies may be left filling in the blanks at spots, but even the uninitiated would be hard pressed to ignore the sense of fun that permeates the read. Much of that same giddy goodness also comes from the book’s fabulous art, Prasetya proving an excellent fit for the project. His Rangers are distinctly modern, calling to mind the aesthetic look currently being employed in the Archie reboot, but even with all the upgrades his characters are still instantly recognizable beyond their clear color cues. The real fun begins once danger rears its head, as Prasetya is able to deliver a host of detailed Zord-on-monster action. His pages can read a bit cluttered at times simply due to the amount of characters sharing a panel, but overall his clean lines and fluid choreography go a long way in selling the ridiculous, exciting tone most know and love.
As a #0 issue, BOOM!’s first foray into the Power Rangers world is a success. The initial story by Higgins and Prasetya hits all of the right notes, and the backup stories (particularly Steve Orlando and Corin Howell’s Bulk and Skull pickup) are well worth the time. It’s too early to say just yet whether this is the Power Rangers series fans have long been clamoring for, but the early returns are definitely favorable. With the story now in motion and a great creative team in place, it’s definitely Morphin Time.
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers appear in good hands with Higgins and Prasetya on board. Their #0 issue finds a good balance between old school nostalgia and a more modernized take, with a solid new mystery developing alongside a familiar story. The issue’s limited page count doesn’t allow for a full exportation of what’s to come, but it definitely does its job in eliciting excitement for the series’ upcoming debut.
