C&C Review - 'Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers' Issue #0
A Classic Returns
By Alex Burns
The Power Ranger resurgence continues and if you need a Might Morphin' fix before the movie reboot hits then I present you with the quietly awesome 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' Issue #0. Boom! Studios are bringing the awesome back in spades for this new series and have offered a glimpse of the future with this issue as it perfectly sets the stage for a brand new saga. Plus as an added bonus the creative team assembled understand perfectly why giant dinosaur robots battling equally giant monsters whilst under the control of teenagers with attitude is just so, freaking, epic.
Issue #0 is a welcome entry and allows some breathing room after the initial "Green With Evil" saga, though the issue isn't the longest read with a pretty limited page count, the book manages to lay the groundwork for what's to come and there's plenty to be excited about. Tommy takes centre stage as suitably the most badass Ranger should, hogging the limelight unintentionally like Wolverine so often does in X-Men titles. The rest of the rangers get neat moments but nothing to get to excited about, Billy probably comes off the best in this respect purely because he'll always get extra frames and dialogue as he's the smart guy who has to explain everything. While we don't get much downtime with the Rangers, I'd attribute that to the size of the issue more than anything else and I'm sure they'll be exploration of the dynamics of our heroes as this new story unfolds.
It's not just the Power Rangers rolling up to wind back the clock though, with a great supporting cast of characters to really take you back to the 90's show also making an appearance. Rita Repulsor, Zordon and of course Alpha-5 are all on hand and are absolutely spot on. Make no mistake this run is for the hardcore fans, writer Kyle Higgins lays on the nostalgia bug time, crafting a familiar world that is littered with easter eggs and genuine affection while also showcasing the more mature direction the series is heading.
Let's get to the main course though, If you've come for Zord action, you will not be disappointed. Artist Henry Praseta juggles the completely bombastic action you'd expect from a Power Rangers episode while giving every character a place in the spectacle. Most of the time this works but every now and then there's a little squinting to make out everything going on. That's a minor quibble though as this is one seriously fantastic looking book.
Power Ranger fans are a passionate bunch for sure and they've some lofty standards for BOOM! Studios to contend with. I've got a good feeling though that BOOM! are heading in the right direction but the jury is still out on how well this new saga will sit in the canon of the TV series, in any event based on Issue #0 it will certainly be exciting to find out!
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