There’s a new Green Ranger in town, but he may not be who you think… Your Major Spoilers review of Mighty Morphin #2 from BOOM! Studios awaits!
MIGHTY MORPHIN #2
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Marco Renna
Colorist: Walter Baiamonte/Katia Ranalli
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Editor: Dafna Pleban
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 9, 2020
Previously in Mighty Morphin: Zordon enlists Billy’s help as the Mighty Morphin team deals with a shocking betrayal by the Power Rangers team. As the Mighty Morphin team remains fractured, Zedd launches his latest attack – and only The New Green Ranger stands in his way. But none of them realize they’ve walked into a trap, courtesy of Zedd’s new powers!
BETRAYED BY THEIR FRIENDS
After The Omega Rangers stole away with Lord Drakkon, Zordon is absolutely livid, and this issue opens with a flashback to his past on Eltar, setting up some more revelations about his past and the role of his people in protecting the galaxy. In the present, Billy is rebuilding Alpha 5, Skull is sure his girlfriend is cheating on him, Tommy is consumed with guilt and anger at his old friends, while the newer Rangers aren’t sure why the founding members are giving their old friends so much leeway. It’s all very tense, until the Rangers take some time off to visit a carnival… just in time for Lord Zedd to attack with his new chaos-powered Putties. Even the new, ultra-powerful Green Ranger can’t stand against their power, and as the issue ends, Green is lying in a heap while the rest of the team faces an army of the creatures that they couldn’t defeat one of. It’s looking bad, my friends…
THE OL’ ADMIRAL ACKBAR, EH?
The real joy in Mighty Morphin for me is the subtlest moments, such as when Finster and the idiot crew take joy in seeing the Rangers fall, or the repeated teases as to who is in the Green Ranger armor. We even have Adam pointing out that, just because Drakkon wasn’t the Green Ranger they fought alongside last time, that doesn’t mean there isn’t more than one of them, and dang it, he’s right! Still, the pacing of this mystery still feels right, with little teases of who it might be and an attack nearly knocking off Green’s helmet this issue, but Parrott’s pacing and tone are spot-on. Even better, Renna’s art is capable of showing off both the kung-fu flip moves (this issue’s quarter-page morphing splash is just beautiful) and the quieter moments, such as when Bulk takes a moment to assure his best and only friend that his girlfriend still loves him. It’s a sweet moment for a character who is often a two-dimensional cartoon, and one that makes it clear that everybody in this story is a rounded, human character.
BOTTOM LINE: LOVE TO SEE THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
In short, the mystery at the heart of Mighty Morphin #2 hasn’t worn out its welcome yet, and the combination of kinetic fight sequences, strong art and a lot of really skillful dialogue and development makes for a well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars overall. Yes, I am a sucker for Power Rangers, but this book has once again revitalized the best parts of the series and combined them with a more adult tone, making this sorta-relaunch a rousing success.
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MIGHTY MORPHIN' #2
I really enjoyed this issue's character work, especially the Bulk/Skull interaction, but Lord Zedd and his crew are also entertaining, while the question of who's under the Green Helmet continues. Fine comics all around.
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Writing8
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Art8
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Coloring8
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.