Time and space are broken, and only a ragtag team of Rangers stands in the way of utter chaos. Your Major Spoilers review of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers #32 awaits!
MIGHTY MORPHIN’ POWER RANGERS #32
Writer: Marguerite Bennett/Ryan Ferrier
Artist: Simone di Meo/Bachan
Colorist: Walter Baiamonter/Jeremy Lawson
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire/Jim Campbell
Editor: Dafna Pleban
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 24, 2018
Previously in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The desperate battle to save the universe(s) has ended and the Morphin’ Grid has been shattered. Time, space and dimension are scrambled and even with the threat of Lord Drakkon vanquished, the Rangers are scattered. Now, Andros (Red Space Ranger), Tanya (Zeo Ranger II – Yellow), Cam (Green Samurai Ranger), Kimberly (the future version of Mighty Morphin’ Pink known as Ranger Slayer), Mike (The Magna Defender) and Heckyl (Dino Charge Dark Ranger) are at the mercy of alien creatures on a powerless ship with limited morphin’ energy. Worse still, their ship’s power source has been stolen… by a Power Ranger?
A MAKESHIFT TEAM
Last issue left our team in desperate straits, as the Green Psycho Dagger that was powering the engines of their ship was drained of its energy by an unexpected Ranger that no one recognizes. This issue opens with a lot of damage control, Six random Rangers are able to power up to fight an alien incursion, and end up following the strange new Ranger into space. Overcoming their own flaws and worries from their various timelines, the team finds that they mesh pretty well under Kimberly’s command, even tracing the Solar Ranger to her world. Unfortunately, their use of morphin’ energies calls down an ambush of aliens who seem to feed on that energy, ending with the six Rangers granting mercy on the woman who might have killed them all, with a last-page cliffhanger reveal about what awaits them in this brave new universe.
Hint: It’s evil and it seems to be able to morph.
A DESPERATE STRUGGLE AGAINST TIME
This issue takes elements from across the TV and comic-book ranges, using the lost Power Ranger team from 1969, Magna Defenders existing backstory, future evil Kim’s drama and even introduces us to a new Ranger in the form of Dino Charge Dark. It’s a LOT, but it all seems to get enough room to breathe in these pages, visually and storywise. There’s the hint of romance between Tanya and Mike, some uneasy bonding between Ranger Slayer and Dark Ranger and even some time for Andros to obsess over his sister Karone, all very well-rendered by di Meo. The character designs are remarkable, with everyone having their own unique face (albeit not necessarily one that looks like their actor, in the case of the TV-originating rangers) and even Magna Defender’s bulky and awkward armored suit looks AMAZING in action. The design of the Solar Ranger is likewise fascinating, and the end-of-issue team-up was unexpected and brilliant. The second story of Power Rangers #32, a short chapter of Ninjor and Blue Centurion teaming up to fight an ersatz Zeo Megazord, is short but makes for some silly fun as a palette cleanser after the big, dark first chapter.
BOTTOM LINE: WHAT I WANTED FROM THIS SERIES ALL ALONG
In my ideal Power Rangers comic, we’d see this sort of pick-and-choose team creation every arc, building new groups and teams as we go rather than focus solely on the MIghty Morphin’ team. I don’t know if that’s what ‘Beyond The Grid’ is building to, but I can tell you that Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers #32 is very well-done, with some complex plotting combining with excellent art for an entertaining read, earning 4 out of 5 stars overall. The newest addition to the Ranger universe seems like she has some interesting secrets to reveal as well, meaning that hardcore P.R. fans will want to get in on quickly.
MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS #32
A team of Rangers from across time and space, bringing back old favorites and making it all into riveting space adventure.
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Writing8
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Art8
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Coloring8