Mighty Morphin #1 Review

It’s been a while since we looked at a comic book here, which is ironic since that’s what I started this blog for. But, recently, the Boom Studios Power Rangers Comics line released two brand new titles and since the Boom Studios Power Rangers Comics were the first comics I reviewed I feel a bit of a connection to them. So, I intend to review their two new titles, Mighty Morphin #1 and Power Rangers #1. Since Mighty Morphin is a bit more in keeping with traditional Power Rangers, we’ll start there.

First a touch of backstory. This is following a story called shattered grid, which I unfortunately have not gotten around to reading. I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually, but what we need to know here is that because of those events, Drakkon, Tommy Oliver’s villainous doppelganger from an alternate reality, is now locked in the bowels of the command center. In addition, the time line has pushed forward a bit. Like in the show, Jason, Zack and Trini have left for the international peace conference… sort of(More on that when we review Power Rangers #1) and have been replaced with Rocky, Adam and Aisha, Lord Zedd has usurped Rita and Tommy is now The White Ranger as opposed to the Green Ranger, complete with the much better theme song(You all know it). Unlike in the show, there’s now a mysterious new Green Ranger running around and while he, she or they are appear to be on the Rangers’ side, the Rangers don’t trust this newcomer and while the mysterious ranger doesn’t talk much, the feeling appears to be mutual.

Anywho, we open with a Flashback to a group of ancient looking Power Rangers repelling an alien invasion. As we soon see, these are the Guardians of Eltar, Zordon’s home planet and among their ranks, Zordon himself. After the Guardians stand victorious, his commander reminds him to revel in his victories for tradgedy could be waiting around every corner.

In present day, Zordon, Billy and Alpha 5 are working tirelessly to try and find the new Green Ranger, but despite the Power Rangers Command Center having the most advanced technology of anywhere on Planet Earth, they are unable to locate the ranger despite anything they try. Zordon is concerned, but still optimistic that they’ll find them eventually. He’s more concerned about how the other Rangers are handling the situation. And indeed many are concerned. If this new Ranger is anything like Tommy was when he first became the Green Ranger, then they’re probably bad news. Adam is especially concerned since the cameras monitoring Drakkon’s prison went out right when the Green Ranger was first sighted. Billy dismisses that idea since if the Ranger is Drakkon, it’s unlikely he’d save the lives of the other Rangers. Tommy, being the leader says that whoever the New Ranger is, they should do everything in their Power to gain their trust since they could be a valuable ally.

Meanwhile, at Lord Zedd’s Moon Base, it seems Zedd is out of commission due to what I assume are the events of Shattered Grid. Baboo suggests that if Zedd wakes up and they don’t have anything to present him, they’re all fucked. Bad news for them since as they leave the room Zedd starts to wake up.

Meanwhile, Rocky is working out with a classmate named Matt, Kimberly’s ex and a red herring for who could be The Green Ranger. He and Tommy have an awkward interaction for obvious reasons, leaving Rocky to lament the fact that no one tells him anything. Elsewhere, we join Bulk, Skull and Skull’s new girlfriend Candice. Candice is trying to get Skull to go with her to a concert but Bulk, being genre savvy, knows that this concert is a magnet for a Monster attack, but this only creates tension between Bulk and Skull.

We actually get a nice scene where Billy is talking to Zordon while taking a lunch break from the Green Ranger search and Zordon jokingly asks if he can have a bite of Billy’s corned beef sandwich. The talk of food gets Zordon nostalgic about a fruit tree he had in his yard when he was growing up on Eltar. The fruit was delicious, but the most ripe and delicious ones were always at the top. Since the tree was covered in needles, getting up there was always painful, but the memories of sitting atop the tree watching the clouds and chowing down are some of his favorites from childhood. When Billy asks if he misses it, Zordon’s tone changes and he lamentingly responds “every day.” I love this scene since it’s something we never got back in the show. Zordon’s backstory was always vague so not only getting to hear some backstory on the character, but actually hear a story from his childhood is just awesome and humanizes the character perfectly. I love it.

Back in Angel Grove’s abandoned building district, some construction workers are trying to rebuild after the last monster attack. These poor sons of bitches. Sisyphus is probably looking at these guys and saying “Glad I’m not those losers.” And indeed, the futility of their task is illustrated as their attacked by a monster, an enormous panda monster with the clever name of Pandamonium. The Rangers spring into action and engage the monster, all while discussing just how messed up it is that Zedd apparently made a monster out of an adorable panda bear. The Green Ranger arrives and starts fighting the monster but refuses to speak to the Rangers. In a humorous moment I appreciate, Adam has Alpha check if Drakkon is still in his cell to try and confirm his theory. Alpha confirms that Drakkon is secure, and Rocky tells Adam he owes him five bucks. The Rangers fight off The Monster, The Green Ranger pulling out some tricks that not even Tommy was able to do when he was Green Ranger. Greenie vanquishes the monster and warps away before the Rangers can get anything out of them. Back on the Moon, Goldar and the others are distraught over the defeat of their monster, but Zedd is awake now and exposits that whatever knocked him out have actually made him a lot stronger.

Later that night, Skull and Candice are walking home from a date. Candice notices someone watching her from the shadows and starts acting unusual. She tells Skull that she left her phone at the restaurant and Skull, being a good boyfriend, runs and gets it for you. The shadowy figure tells Candice that the message has been received and Candice reveals that she’s actually from Eltar, ending the comic.

This was awesome! It’s the familiar Power Rangers formula we know and love but with more fleshed-out characters, new intriguing plot threads like the new Green Ranger and Candice being from Eltar. If you see this sucker on the shelves, give it a read. Next time, we'll be looking at the other new Power Rangers Title from Boom Studios entitled uh... Power Rangers.