The tables have turned, but our heroes still have one hope… The Shredder!? It may be time to cancel Christmas. Your Major Spoilers review of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5 from BOOM! Studios and IDW Publishing awaits!
MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II #5
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Raul Angulo
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Editor: Dafna Pleban
Publisher: BOOM! Studios/IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: May 3, 2023
Previously in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Forbidden alliances collide as radically enhanced, mind-blowing Zord combinations battle it out! Reunited friends face Krang as a true force to be reckoned with-but will it be enough to send him back to Dimension X?
CASEY VS THE TURTLES: ROUND 3
After a trip to Dimension X, the Turtles have returned with new Ranger forms, to oppose an invasion by General Krang, now inhabiting the Megazord itself. The Rangers desperately need to call upon The Dragonzord, but now that they’ve mutated into dinosaur hybrid mutants, Tommy, the Green Ranger, lacks fingers to play his flute. The only person with experience with that particular musical instrument is, at best, an uneasy ally, but our heroes must trust Oroku Saki, the notorious Shredder, with the fate of the world. The Teenage Mutant Power Rangers deal with Dimension X’s ground troops, while the Mighty Morphin Ninja Turtles face down with Mistress Vile and her new evil ranger, Casey Jones. The Turtles are overwhelmed, and the wizard once known as Rita holds Raphael with her magicks and orders Casey to kill him. Faced with his own demise at the hand of the first human he ever called his friend, Raphael speaks quietly, “I know this ain’t you, brother. Swing away.”
“WATCH HOW YOU SPEAK ABOUT OUR FATHER!”
While reading previous issues, I vaguely wondered if my enjoyment was all due to the nostalgia factor, but Parrott, Mora, and company continually manage to surprise me with the developments in this saga. The arrival of the Turtlezord, piloted by Alpha 5 and Zordon, is a wonderful and unexpected moment, as is the final mechanism of the villains’ demise. For every moment of ’90s throwback (like Shredder’s rejection of Splinter’s offer of lasting peace by reminding him that Shredder has sworn to kill Splinter and everyone who follow him, just… not today) bumps up against new developments, like Kimberly’s lamentations about losing her mutant power and agility. Mora’s art is more than up to the task of the big climax, especially the introduction of the newest Zord formation, the mighty Dragon Turtlezord! You can’t ask for more explosive entertainment than that.
BOTTOM LINE: SOLID ENDING, WITH THE OBLIGATORY SEQUEL HOOK
If you’ve been paying attention, you probably aren’t surprised that Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5 ends with obvious sequel potential, as April and Casey morph and set off for a mission into Dimension X, and Shredder gets some new lackeys, but you’ll also enjoy the wrap-up of a strong story with well-handled art that earns 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. Nostalgia or not, there’s no reason not to enjoy this kind of good, old-fashioned bombastic comic book action.
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