Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #12 Review

Welcome back to Power Rangers. Last time, Tommy and Billy found themselves in an alternate future where Tommy is evil and rules the world. Our heroes managed to enter the ruins of the command center, where all the zords lay destroyed, and retrieved Saba, the sentient sword of the White Ranger, they were confronted by evil Tommy (now calling himself Lord Drakon).

As you can imagine, Tommy’s first reaction to seeing a corrupted version of himself is a defiant, “You’re not me.” Drakon ignores this and demands that his minions give him Saba. Saba manages to activate the Tiger Zord just long enough for Tommy and Billy to escape. While Drakons forces try to fight off the reactivated zord, Saba leads the two dimensionally displaced rangers to the Falcon Zord, another Zord piloted by the White Ranger during the series. Much like with the Tigerzord, Saba reactivates the Falcon Zord and they fly off as Drakon looks on.

Meanwhile, in the rangers’ native reality, Rita Repulsa has freed Goldar from the dark dimension and declares that now that the rangers are missing two members and are cut off from Zordon, now is the perfect time to strike. To that end, Finster is constructing his most ambitious monster yet. When Goldar enquires as to the nature of the monster, Rita cryptically responds with “a better you.”

Back in Drakon’s universe, Billy, Tommy and I have all decided that someone really needs to explain just what the hell is going on. Saba agrees that Tommy and Billy are owed an explanation so he tells the tale of this reality. Apparently, events in this universe played out much the same as they did in the mainstream universe until the Rangers battle with the evil Green Ranger. In the mainstream universe, Tommy willingly joined the Rangers’ side. In this reality, Tommy stayed loyal to Rita and served as the head of her army as she conquered the entire globe. In a last ditch effort to free the world from Rita’s tyranny, Zordon assembles a small army of his own and plans to unleash his ultimate weapon, the White Ranger. Jason was of course the logical candidate to take up the mantle, but Rita’s forces chose to attack before the process was complete. Tommy manages to intercept the process and emerged as the twisted White Ranger he is now, clutching the broken helmet of the Red Ranger in his hand. Before the heroes were overwhelmed, Zordon sealed Saba in the command center and ensured that only someone pure of heart could free him, meaning he could never fall into Drakon’s hands. However, enough of that story, as the Falcon Zord needs to recharge. Fortunately, the resistance is only a short walk from where they landed. Correction: The resistance is exactly where they landed as the comic ends with Tommy and Billy getting ambushed.

What Works:

I liked the backstory for Drakon’s Universe, not just because I find the idea of a corrupt Power Ranger fascinating, but also because of all the sweet cameos from characters like The Phantom Ranger, The Alien Rangers and more. What I really like here though is the fact that we are breaking the Power Rangers formula. This is the type of story that the original show would never have gotten away with if they even had the ability to try. It’s clever stuff, and I enjoy it.

What Doesn’t: Can’t really say that there’s anything I take issue with.

Overall: 5/5

I continue to be impressed with this series and love it more and more with each issue. Keep up the good work Kyle Higgins.