Dr. K, the brains behind the R.P.M. Power Rangers, may have the edge that our heroes need to turn the tide against Lord Drakkon. But even with that on their side, the fallen Rangers may not be coming back. Your Major Spoilers review of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers #28 awaits!
MIGHTY MORPHIN’ POWER RANGERS #28
Writer: Kyle Higgins/Ryan Ferrier
Artist: Daniele Di Nicuolo with Simona Di Gianfelice/Bachan
Colorist: Walter Baiamonte/Jeremy Lawson
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire/Jim Campbell
Editor: Dafna Pleban/Matthew Levine
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 20, 2018
Previously in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Lord Drakkon, an alternate-universe version of Green Ranger Tommy Oliver, has murdered his younger counterpart and declared war on all the Rangers, everywhere in the universe. The Mighty Morphin’ team has split up, one squad going to the future, Red Ranger Jason traveling to an alternate dimension where the Power Rangers R.P.M. fight off the wicked Venjix virus, and Pink Ranger Kim teaming up with Jen Scotts, the Pink Time Force Rangers, to travel through time pickup up whatever Rangers still survive.
TIME TRAVEL IS NOT THE ANSWER
As Jen and Kim travel through time and space in a flying pterodactyl (like ya do), Jen is suddenly seized by a terrible headache. She explains that it is merely a side effect of time travel, her mind and memories getting used to the new timeline. Kim hopefully asks if that means that time isn’t set in stone, but Jen warns her that it’s too late to save Tommy, that there’s no way to travel back far enough. Arriving at Terra Venture, the floating space station home of the Galaxy Rangers, the find Karone, the second Pink Galaxy Ranger, bringing her back on board with their other rescued heroes (Megaforce Yellow and Blue, Dino Charge Blue and Violet, Jungle Fury’s Violet Wolf, the Red Lightspeed Rescue Ranger and Dino Thunder Yellow, as well as most of the SPD team, sans morphers), then setting off for Corinth, where Jason and his Tyrannosaurus are barely holding off Drakkon, along with the R.P.M. team. Dr. K doesn’t want to leave her home, but as the battle rages on, it becomes clear that Corinth is beyond saving… for now. And in order to teleport home to the main reality, the Rangers have to do the unthinkable… They have to bring down the dome.
A *LOT* GOING ON, BUT IT’S ALL EXCELLENT
We also get another two pages of Blue Sunturion’s adventures tracking down an ersatz Ranger team stealing artifacts, but the shortness of that story once again makes it feel like nothing more than a quick vignette. The use of the pairings in Power Rangers #28 (Jen and Kimberly, Jason and Lauren the would-be Red Samurai, as well as Zack teaming up with his future self at Drakkon’s palace) is pretty masterful, and the shocking moment that ends that future mission should have some interesting repercussions. I’m kind of in love with Di Nicuolo’s art in these pages, delivering on the action and emotion, and really underlying the shocking last pages reveal of Drakkon’s true motive. And it’s big, my friends.
The art also does a great job of keeping each character distinct and recognizable while NOT using the likenesses of the actors, which is important when more Rangers lose their powers to Drakkon’s power-siphons at the battle of Corinth. It’s a great-looking comic book.
BOTTOM LINE: ALWAYS DARKEST…
Things have not been looking good for our Ranger friends, but there are at least a couple of bright spots in this issue: Dr. K *created* morphers for her team, and being able to negate Drakkon’s Dragon-cannons is great. But more Rangers fall in this issue (including one very shocking loss) and Jen insists that Tommy is dead, meaning that any victory that may be yet to come will come at great cost. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers #28 ratchets up the tension another notch, brings more Rangers into the fold (including Doggie Kruger!) and balances the action and emotion beautifully, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. The only way this could be more fun would be if it were actually live-action on TV, y’all.
[taq_review]Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
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.