Editor’s Note: If you haven’t read the comic and like the element of surprise, STOP. Do not read any further! Spoilers are ahead!

The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers ongoing comic book series from BOOM! Studios is entering what could be deemed its second phase. Having dealt with Rita Repulsa’s dangerous new ally, Black Dragon, the series could have moved on to a new threat for our team. Instead, writer Kyle Higgins has pivoted slightly to the right and added a new layer of intrigue. It turns out the previous nine issues have only been the groundwork for a far more dystopian tale.

Before we get to the new direction, issue #10 provides its own character-building detour that is both sad and empowering. Much like with issue #5 that delved deeper into the makeup of Zack and his contentious nature with newcomer Tommy, this issue focuses on Billy his severe lack of self-worth. After Kimberly has to pick up Billy’s slack during a routine monster battle, the door to the boy genius’ psyche is unlocked for the reader and we dive into just how inadequate he feels compared to his teammates.

The rawest moment of the story is oh so relatable. Billy morphs before school and wears his clothes in such a way that his ranger suit isn’t visible. It doesn’t protect him in a physical sense because he’s probably not going to have to face down a Snizzard attack during third period social studies but it makes him feel strong. That’s what’s important to him. What child on the ‘90s didn’t dream of being a ranger? What nerdy kid who felt awkward and out of place didn’t want the ability to scream out the name of a dinosaur and suddenly feel like they were capable of taking on all forms of bullying and social anxiety?

Slices of Power Rangers life stories like this one work so well because they fill in the gaps that the television show didn’t address with the type of information that long time fans would glean through discussions on Rangerboard and the seediest corners of the fanfiction universe. We find out that Billy has been constantly running training simulations just to feel like he belongs with the others and it isn’t until a pep talk from Zack that he realizes there is no perfect, scientific formula to being a ranger. Not only does Billy decide to focus on contributing to the team in his own unique way but we also discover that this story takes place quite early in the rangers’ tenure as he adapts the communicators into allowing teleportation to places other than the Command Center.

Zack’s focus issue did a lot towards explaining his motivation and potentially hinting at future events for the series. Now that the main story has shifted its focus onto the duo of Tommy and Billy, does that mean that this issue was a glimpse into the Blue Ranger’s future motivations?

Also like Zack’s issue, this one featured a guest artist in Jonathan Lam whose sketchy style brings out the youth and innocence of a fledgling ranger team. The vibrant yet free form lines give off the early days feels of the team when they were still learning the ropes. This makes it quite easy for the readers to put themselves into Billy’s shoes. Having a guest artist also conveys the idea that the issue is a small break from the main story without being too out of the box that it would feel disjointed or out of place.

Issue #11 picks back up on the aftermath of the rangers’ battle with Black Dragon. One of the most fascinating, humanizing moments of the series takes place as the rangers reunite with their parents. It only last for two pages but it hits home just how raw and realistic this series can be without going the heavy handed route. Not only are we allowed to feel the gravity of the situation but we’re also reminded that when two rangers are left in the lurch, it affects those around them. This team doesn’t exist within a vacuum.

Meanwhile, Tommy and Billy are coming to terms with their new surroundings. They’re in Angel Grove but it’s nothing more than a broken down monolith to Rita complete with curfews and shock troopers that look like the Black Ranger if he had been conceptualized by mid-’90s Rob Liefeld. It’s a haunting image that again makes the mind wonder if this is a world where Zack gave into Rita’s machinations.

The duo flee when one of the troopers notices Tommy has the Dragon Dagger and they’re greeted by more disturbing imagery of this twisted world including the Finster Memorial Correctional Facility standing in place of what was once Angel Grove High School. But the most disturbing moment of the issue and where Hendry Prasetya’s art shines is in the rubble of the Command Center and the Thunderzords. It’s an interesting bit of devastation for these two to take in as in their timeline – or perhaps merely the past of this inevitable future – they have yet to encounter these zords. This fact is punctuated as inside the carnage they find Tommy’s future companion: the talking sword Saba. Soon after the newly formed trio finally comes face-to-face with their long term tormentor, Lord Drakkon, who is revealed to be none other than an aged and scarred version of Tommy.

It’s hard to gauge this revelation. Obviously, Tommy was the most likely face behind the twisted visor. Is that good, bad, or is that left to be judged by how the story plays out? Zack seemed like another fun contender given his recent leanings towards the dark side. Perhaps it should have been a character yet to make their comic book debut like a Rocky or Adam? Next issue promises to be a big one as we find out what led this version of Tommy to become Drakkon. Maybe then we can better assess the creative decision.

This issue also features a brief but interesting interlude. Goldar and Rita have a Cold War-esque standoff in the wake of the destruction of Black Dragon with the former asserting his innocence in Billy’s jailbreak while the latter hesitantly accepts that stance. Rita plans to press the attack on the rangers but perhaps the bigger battle ahead will involve Goldar becoming less and less steadfast in his devotion towards his empress. This bit of knowledge becomes even more intriguing when you read between the lines as there is an implication that Rita might not actually be around anymore in the wartorn future.

Finally, the rest of the ranger team is still on the case of the disappearing rangers as Trini makes the startling discovery that Black Dragon wasn’t just sharing a power source similar to that of the Dragonzord. In fact, it possessed the exact same processor as the Dragonzord; a seemingly impossible fact that further muddies the question of if Billy and Tommy are trapped in the future or merely a future.

Overall, these issues continue the mark of excellence that has been propelling this line for nearly a year: character development and both answering old and asking new questions with each installment. Hopefully, every fifth issue will continue to be a character focus for one of the rangers who is being pushed to the forefront of the main story. The storytelling in this series really feeds into itself to create a complete tale that is doing anything but slowing down. As the future looks bleak for our ranger team, the creative force behind this series shines even brighter.

Score: 5 out of 5

(Images Courtesy of: Power Punch and Comic Book Resources)

The new Power Rangers movie is only two months away and that means it’s time for a new round of merchandise. Bandai America is here with their offerings for the film. First up is the largest megazord in Power Rangers toy history. Retailing at $19.99 for each individual zord ($39.99 for Jason’s tyrannosaurus) you can build the Movie Megazord. However, Toys “R” Us has an exclusive offer that packs in all five zords at a twenty dollar savings.

Also available is the basic line of five inch action figures. I review the Target exclusive, metallic five pack of the rangers along with Goldar and Alpha 5. Each figure clocks in $9.99 a pop and Goldar is free in the collector’s pack.

Finally, check out the movie exclusive Power Morpher for $29.99 complete with the five ranger coins. You first saw the Red Ranger coin in my review of the New York Comic Con exclusive Legacy version of the movie figure. Check out all of these Power Rangers movie-related reviews and much more at my YouTube channel Captain Subpar’s Toy Reviews. There you will find reviews for the Legacy line, Super Sentai reviews, and an assortment of other unboxing videos.

As a collective whole, the cast of Power Rangers RPM is undoubtedly one of the most talented ensembles ever to be squeezed into butt-hugging spandex. From Eka Darville’s recurring stint on shows like “Empire” and “Marvel’s Jessica Jones” to Rose McIver’s starring role as the title hero in “iZombie”, this bunch has talent for days. It was this thought that took me into Blood Punch, the decidedly not-suitable-for-Nickelodeon horror comedy about a love triangle gone cray-cray in the woods.

Filled to the brim with RPM alums, would my affection for these young adults with attitude be affirmed through this twisted affair, or would it prove to be, as with the film’s central characters, a seemingly endless nightmare? Climb aboard the dimension-hopping train as we chug along through a spoiler-filled review, and pray that our sanity doesn’t get off at the wrong stop.

When I mention those RPM connections, I’m really not kidding. Not only are we treated to castmembers who played heroes and villains alike, but the film is written by RPM showrunner Eddie Guzelian (a fact I was unaware of until the end credits) and directed by Madellaine Paxson, who herself penned the episodes “Ranger Blue” and “Prisoners”. Ranger alums congregating for a feature project is nothing new, but it’s certainly the highest concentration of talent gathered from a single season up to the point of its release. And what luck, I actually loved all their work unironically!

Our story featuring children’s TV castmembers begins in rehab (where else?), where struggling college student Milton (Milo Cawthorne) is distracted by the alarmingly blunt new girl sitting in on his regular meetings with a group of addicts. After lighting a ciggy and cussing out the whole room, she just outright states that she’s looking for someone to cook a truckload of crystal meth for her. And, because I wasn’t already having “Breaking Bad” flashbacks, she’s introduced with the name Skyler (Olivia Tennet).

Being the rational guy we soon learn he is, Milton immediately sleeps with Skyler and agrees to help, only to discover post-coitus that he has just bumped uglies with a taken woman. Enter Skyler’s crazy partner-in-crime Russell (Ari Boyland), who appears in a bewildering police uniform after apparently killing the heck out of at least one poor dude at the facility before retrieving the duo. What has Milton gotten himself into?

The bulk of the story takes place at a cabin in the woods built upon sacred Native American land where nothing bad ever happens in any movie, especially in the horror genre. Despite his homicidal tendencies, Russell proves he’s not such a bad guy by assuring Milt that it’s okay that he and Skyler made whoopee. This was all part of the plan to manipulate him into helping, so it’s cool! But Milton is not permitted, under any circumstances, to fall in love with his girl. It seems Russell is a bit late with that warning, because in the long five seconds of knowing her, our intrepid meth cook is smitten with the enigmatic chain-smoker. During a night of drug-addled bonding, Milt learns about the history of these strange lands. The whole area was cursed back in olden times after a huge battle that seemed to go on for days, leaving only one survivor. Gee, I wonder if this random story, complete with hallucinated flashback animation, will become a centerpiece of the plot going forward?

Milton experiences a Movie Awakening, in which he quickly sits upright, disoriented about what may or may not have happened in the hours prior. Between turns on the merry-go-round of mental and psychological abuse that Russell forced Skyler into without resistance, he’s found the time to meddle in Milton’s activity. They meet downstairs, where the previously-believed-kinda-dumb Russell seems to know absolutely everything about Milton’s science-y meth work and decides to cut his losses and just kill Milton now. Before Milt can have his WTF-face shot off, Skyler enters, just in time to reveal that she’s already removed the bullets from Russell’s gun, as his psychotic ways have finally gotten old even for her.

Before they know it, the three are fighting for their lives and the struggle concludes with an arrow stuck through Russell’s back. As darkness falls over Russell’s body, he rudely interrupts Milton while trying to bury him, demanding that Milton ask Skyler how he could possibly know about all that science-y stuff when he was normally such a dunce. Good question, Milt. Better shovel more dirt onto the dying man and hurry off to sleep so it won’t bother you later. Sadly, it takes Milton a while to catch onto what’s happening, as he has another Movie Awakening. The same Movie Awakening, in fact, that he’d experienced the previous morning. In the same spot. Wearing the same clothes… WAIT A MINUTE!

After being greeted by an extremely living Russell, exactly like the morning before, Milt finds himself rushing down to the burial site, shocked to find that Russell’s body remains lifeless, right where he’d left it. But if Russell’s still taking a dirt nap, who’s in the cabin shouting obscenities at poor, messed-up Skyler right now? Bill Murray never had to deal with clones when they did this plot with him!

And so begins a long and bloody gauntlet, in which the heroic Milton and his darling Skyler attempt, ad nauseam, to murder her beau in increasingly gross ways over the course of a good 45 minutes, scrambling as they go to figure out why the day keeps resetting after each traumatizing turn. I especially enjoy the one with the meat cleaver, tossed casually past his throat without looking from across the room, in the middle of a conversation.

It’s interesting to watch Milton’s slow transition from wide-eyed concern over his situation to desensitized boredom at having to blow Russell up with grenades or brain him with a baseball bat. Despite his background, Milton’s not the sharpest of tools, and we did meet him at a point where he had been trying to get help for his issues. A never-ending killfest is probably going to set back his recovery a bit. Even after trying to leave this place, he just wakes up again in the same spot, back in the cabin with Skyler.

Finally, it hits him. This place was cursed after a bloody battle in which there was only one survivor. Even if they keep killing Russell, filling up a pit with his many bodies as they try a thousand different ways to loop a hole out of this scenario, they’ll be no closer to escaping, because Russell alone just isn’t enough. This tale didn’t end last time until all but one was killed. No matter what, poor Milton won’t get the girl, because one of them has to die so the other can live.

Now, you’d think that his choice is pretty clear here. Especially after Skyler takes him deeper into the woods to show him a whole field full of Milton corpses, proving that, in addition to super-killing Russell with him, she’s also been super-killing Milton with Russell too. He just didn’t realize it because his memory always dies with the rest of him and then he wakes up fresh, like it never happened. Alas, young Milt still has a thing or two left to learn.

Skyler’s told him that her feelings have changed and she really does want to be with him, and maybe this is an opportunity for them as a couple. They can just live in the cabin, under a weirdly specific curse that gives them new food and supplies every morning but copies their dead selves into extra living bodies with which to eat, drink, and bang as eternal millennials… K.

Somewhere around here, there’s a plot about Skyler attempting to meet with Russell’s old contacts and sell the drugs they’d been cooking, but honestly, this is where the movie starts getting a little long for me, and I start wondering about random things. Like, if there’s an afterlife, right, with pearly gates and clouds and stuff, does that mean that there’s seven dozen Russells floating around heaven right now because they keep killing him? Do they gather together to welcome their new brother to the fold every time the day resets? I guess he probably wouldn’t be in the “pearly gates” aisle anyway, but by this point in my musings, I’m distracted by the sudden appearance of Nabiki (Adelaide Kane) as one of the cranky goons Skyler and Milton attempt to sell the meth to.

After blithely implying they’ve shared a sexy backstory, to Nabiki’s enragement, Skyler realizes too late that these crooks aren’t letting them leave with the money. More carnage and Movie Awakenings ensue, until it’s finally clear that these two crazy kids just aren’t good for each other. After agreeing to stay at the cabin with Skyler forever, Milton pretends to follow through with his daily Russell-murder to test her loyalty. And Skyler even hangs in there for a millisecond or two as if eternal vacationing with Milt could actually be a thing. Unfortunately, she’s not as pure and holy as Milton hoped she’d be. She shoots him to death to free herself from the curse, assuming that this one will be permanent. When they all wake up and she realizes Milton’s deception, it’s a shock and a half. Guys, this movie is actually pretty clever.

Itching for some righteous payback after overhearing their argument, Russell takes advantage of the lovers spat and knocks them out, chaining them all together in the cellar with a gun. He decides they’re going to play a game of Russian Roulette to decide their ultimate fates. Whoever doesn’t paint the walls with their brains after passing the gun around a few times wins. Despite the fact that whoever has the gun could possibly just shoot someone else, including Russell, this sounds like a good plan to him. And since he’s got the gun, they’re in no position to disagree! It works out for them since he also decides to go first, and promptly kills himself for the last time.

The moment of truth arrives after a fight for the remaining loaded weapon ends with Milton aiming at Skyler. She makes a tearful claim that she knows he loves her, and because he’s a hopeless dope, he agrees, then turns the gun on himself. She tries to stop him, but it’s too late. Over his final, lifeless body, she cries. It’s all over now…

PSYCH! Here comes Adelaide’s Goon Squad, here to collect their bounty and send Skyler to sleep with the fishes. They’ve stepped onto the same soil that had trapped our witless trio for who-knows-how-long, so now they’re about to get stuck too! Skyler can only look at them and laugh, as the nightmare begins anew.

That… was actually kinda awesome. I knew it was a low-budget flick with a bunch of Ranger alums, and a steady diet of such endeavors had trained me to have very specific expectations. I’m happy to say, this is among a small few that surprised me. It’s not exactly fine art, even by horror standards, but I wasn’t ready for such a smartly-plotted film with so many interesting narrative turns. Milton and Skyler have a depth to them that I was unprepared for, accentuated most strongly in their final moments together when Skyler attempts to stop him from offing himself, even though we can sense that it still wouldn’t have ended well if she’d succeeded.

Perhaps it helped that Milo Cawthorne and Olivia Tennet were a couple both on and off-screen at the time, but their performances really shined through the (quite deliberately) cracked-out story. Ari Boyland gets the highest of fives for his delightfully psycho Russell and his ability to make all ten-million of his deaths either funny or disturbing, or both, and he’s still got the most convincing fake accent of all time. Joining the cast for a hot minute was our homie Mike Ginn, as Milton’s roommate at the rehab joint, who gets kicked out of his own room so Skyler can work her magic on Milt. Not doing much, but hey, it’s good to see him, and at least he doesn’t get axe-murdered. Not even once!

As a fan of the genre, it wasn’t a terrible stretch for me to get on-board for this movie, even without the actors a Power Ranger fan might recognize. Squeamish viewers may have a tougher time with the violence that, while often over-the-top and humorous, is still pretty brutal. I had a blast watching the old school practical effects work in play, from the exploding blood squibs to gruesome make-up work for various injuries.

I also loved, though I suspect it was not their intention, all of the times where the movie cuts away to avoid showing what would have been a dreadfully expensive effect that they probably had no money to pull off. It’s just a personal quirk of mine that I actually enjoy sensing the corners that get cut on low-budget productions. It just highlights the great things one can achieve even with somewhat limited means.

And, while I’m just a bit older than the kids in the expected Power Ranger demographic, I can’t help but get a blip of immature glee at hearing the PG-rated heroes of a kids show launch into a string of offensive language as casual as can be. It wouldn’t shock me to hear that the actors enjoyed shedding that image as well, even if it wasn’t for the first time since their days on the show.

Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of movies starring actors from the PR franchise. I don’t know if I’d recommend a lot of them to anyone who wasn’t already intensely interested, knowing full well what they’re likely to get out of the deal. In the case of Blood Punch, we have a film that would stand up to the scrutiny of horror freaks (at least of this variety), that employs real characters, fun performances, and a story that delivers on the expectations its premise sets up for itself, in some cases, even exceeding them. It’s not a great film, but maybe if you squint, you’ll find a good one.

I mean, you know, if… if you’re into that sorta thing.

Editor’s Note: If you haven’t read the comic and like the element of surprise, STOP. Do not read any further! Spoilers are ahead!

The eighth issue of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers from BOOM! Studios is the refractory period of the current storyline. It’s the time when a masterful chess expert positions his pieces for the endgame. While not as glamorous as all that came before, it is still a necessary stage as the saga inches ever so closer to the finish line. Writer Kyle Higgins shows that even in moments of quiet contemplation, he can still execute an engaging tale.

The internal battle between Tommy and Zack reaches a somewhat satisfying conclusion but not before the very real battle that pitted Tommy and a depowered Jason in the Dragonzord against Black Dragon reaches its own end. Ultimately, this fight proved to be a tool in order for the rangers to obtain a chunk of their enemy. While it wasn’t the rangers’ original plan, in doing so this issue continued to display quality ingenuity on the parts of both the writer and artist Hendry Prasetya.

From Tommy disengaging his shield, to turning the enemy’s weapons against them, the battle had a desperate tone to it that is usually lost in the more polished presentation of the television series. The constantly shifting close ups and wide shots bring the reader into the very real threat of a ranger taking on an enlarged monster without the often taken for granted help of a fleet of zords.

As big as the rangers’ world can be, this issue was dominated by smaller one-on-one moments. Bulk and Skull return to the pages of the main storyline by once again being the voice of the common man and illustrating what it’s like for an average citizen to observe the fantastical battles that the Power Rangers partake in. It’s a human perspective that can sometimes be lost. Thankfully, by exploring it via that lens, the reader is able to get a better grasp on the gravity of the situation.

Meanwhile, Billy inadvertently forces Goldar to question Rita’s dedication to him as her loyal commander in the same breath that Rita questions the benevolent nature of Black Dragon’s questionable intentions. It’s moments like these that illustrate the shades of gray nature of this series. Due to the need to manipulate Japanese footage while also delivering a simple narrative; the television show would often have villains appear suddenly with little backstory and elementary motivation. In the flat universe of comic books, more well-rounded characters are currency and these asides act as well-earned cash ins.

The only negative to speak of in this issue is the resolution of the Tommy and Zack story. It’s a difficult balancing act. On one hand, Zack’s dislike of Tommy has felt very palpable from issue to issue. He has a sense of mitigation with his position on the team and while Tommy’s recent heroics have proved him worthy of a spot, is that enough to wash away all of Zack’s doubt? The conflict felt like it was mostly about Zack questioning Tommy’s integrity. Is one heroic display enough for them to truly bury the hatchet? Here’s hoping that their conflict will yield further resolution down the road.

Trini continues to shine in her role of being somewhat of a surrogate Billy. While that will always be a part of her character, she further demonstrates that with help from a damaged Alpha 5 giving advice through back channels, she’s more than capable of picking up the slack as she discovers a way for the rangers to once again morph. In a nice role reversal from the show, it is Tommy’s powers that are used in order to jump start the rest of the team and leave them ready for a counter assault.

Overall, this issue is light on action and more focused on all of the players moving forward in critical, controlled ways. Whether it be the rangers regaining their powers (albeit with the side effect of them all sporting an emerald hue), the conflict between the villains growing, or Goldar’s internal struggles on the rise; everyone is a dynamic player. While not the strongest issue of the run, stories like this one are solid examples of how the world that Higgins’ is crafting is being built for long term sustainability.

Score: 4 out of 5

(Images Courtesy: Comic Book Resources)

Editor’s Note: If you haven’t read the comic and like the element of surprise, STOP. Do not read any further! Spoilers are ahead!

Hogday Afternoon. Chase Into Space. The Fate of Lightspeed. These episodes can still cause goosebumps to pop up on even the chillest Power Rangers fan’s arms. This is partially due to their nature as finales that have been built up to all season long. It’s also true in part because the villains were able to do something that felt seemingly impossible: they destroyed the rangers’ base. While such an activity has become almost second nature in more modern seasons, it still sent a special jolt of electricity into fans’ bodies in those early years.

Even Changing of the Zords is one of the most iconic sagas in Power Rangers lore because it featured a desecration to the sanctity of our benevolent heroes. Lord Zedd – emperor of all that is evil – not only appeared in the hallowed grounds of the Command Center but he set up shop and dictated his own terms. Sure, the rangers eventually won the day as they always do but for a child of the ‘90s that event alone was unfathomable on Tuesday and a harsh reality on Wednesday.

The sixth issue of writer Kyle Higgins’ and artist Hendry Prasetya’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers features another such moment. The Command Center is in pieces following the end of the previous issue and the rangers must confront their newest villain: Black Dragon. Most of this issue features the struggle between Black Dragon and the rangers. In a successful attempt to establish the original character as a true heavy hitter, things don’t go so well for our chroma clad champions.

Some of the visuals in this issue are truly striking. From Black Dragon attempting to tear Tommy’s shield clean off of his body to Zack desperately saving the day despite his lingering issues with the Green Ranger, the fight’s futile nature is painted in no uncertain terms. The rangers retreat as Black Dragon, Rita, and a battalion of putties surround the ruins. Unfortunately, Billy is taken captive during the retreat. Hopefully, this turn of events will lead to additional focus for a character who has already displayed the belief that he’s one step behind the rest of his team.

Black Dragon is a fascinating mystery. His name alone is a powerful suggestion. Is it a tangible allegory for the conflict between Zack and Tommy? His knowledge of both the rangers’ civilian identities and the history that surrounds their powers seems extensive. Not only is he able to disrupt their powers in battle but through a combination of the green crystal and Billy’s morpher he completely shuts off the rangers’ powers. Curious enough, that doesn’t hold true for Tommy which leads more credence to the theory that Black Dragon’s very existence is tied to the Green Ranger.

This is the second time in this series’ short existence that the lion’s share of an issue has been dedicated to a battle. That’s not always an easy task to pull off while still making the story itself compelling. That was accomplished in spades here. The fight was as dynamic as it was desperate. Peppered in with shocking moments like Alpha 5’s decapitated, broken body, this issue managed to remain grounded while delivering moments that were truly unique to a 23-year-old franchise.

Last month, the series left the ranger team teetering on a precarious edge. This month, they were tossed off of that cliff. Rita is winning and unlike the television series where she consistently let victory slip through her hands thanks to overconfidence, this version of Rita is willing to go in for the kill. The balancing act between traditional Power Rangers tales and ratcheting up the threat factor for older fans is precarious but it is still being carried out masterfully by Higgins and Prasetya.

It feels almost like a broken record at this point but the minds at work for BOOM! Studios continue to get right what other publishers got wrong in the past. Characters are expounded upon instead of being treated with the general fluff of their television counterparts. The stories embrace the spirit of their origins while building on what was laid before. One half year in and the motivation of both the creators and the characters they create are propelling Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers to the top of any fan’s must read list.

Score: 5 out of 5

(Images Courtesy: Comic List)

Hot off the heels of the incredibly successful monthly Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers comic comes a selection of short stories meant to add a bit of backstory and flavor to Kyle Higgins’ ever-expanding universe. Each tale has its own unique flavor in both tone and artistic style. Let’s take a look at the six shorts that make up the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers 2016 Annual:

A Week in the Life…

Lead writer from the mainline book Kyle Higgins teams with artist Rod Reis (C.O.W.L.) to bring to readers a story about Jason that is meant to truly define the qualities that he possesses to make him worthy of the red spandex. This story comes at the perfect time. The main book has focused heavily on Tommy and Zack. Billy and Trini have had great character moments. Even Kimberly is getting some much deserved spotlight in the Pink mini-series. Ironically enough, the leader of the team has spent the most time in the background.

This story shines a light on the human portion of the word superhuman. Jason’s engine runs just a little bit faster and a little bit longer than the rest of his teammates but even he can stall on occasion. The quick scenes and scant dialogue drive home just how hard Jason runs on a weekly basis. Everything is done with extreme purpose. This is punctuated by Reis’ artwork which is the most photo-realistic seen in Boom’s Power Rangers line. Jason is Austin St. John. Make no mistake. As a character piece, this story succeeds and further cements Zordon’s reasoning behind choosing Jason for such a key position.

Unlockly Heroes

Bulk and Skull take center stage in Ross Thibodeaux’s (Ego Tripp) story of happenstance. The duo have long been beloved by fans for their progressive character evolution over the course of the series from simple bullies to truly good people who still make mistakes. This entry nails both the flow and dialogue of a typical Power Rangers episode so very right. As silly as the events are that unfold, (there’s a sliding silly scale in the world of monsters and rainbow-colored superheroes) they feel very real to what could happen and deliver that sort of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown level of near satisfaction that was quite typical to the second season of MMPR.

Bulk and Skull are buffoons. Bulk and Skull are self-serving. Bulk and Skull are easily rattled. But Bulk and Skull will answer the call of duty even if every move is punctuated with histrionics. The tongue-in-cheek nature of the tale is accented by Eisner Award-winning artist Rob Guillory’s (Chew) twitchy, elastic style that couldn’t possibly be a better fit for the lovable pair.

A Spot of Trouble

Marguerite Bennett (A-Force) focuses her piece of the Annual pie on Trini with a manga style story illustrated by Huang Danlan (Venus) that tackles a recurring yet always intriguing concept in the world of Power Rangers. Are all monsters inherently evil? Can they be reasoned with? While the other stories in this book feel complete and able to tell the entirety of their story in the brief format, this is the one that stands out as only scratching the surface of a much larger issue. It’s a quaint tale that could benefit from larger canvas.

Only the Strong

The tentpole story for this collection was illustrated by acclaimed writer/author Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, Echo) and is the first published work written by his son, Trey Moore. They dive into the origins of Goldar, Lord Zedd, and the intricacies of the factions that would go on to eventually comprise the United Alliance of Evil. The sketchy style of Moore’s pencils works nicely for the tale of a born warrior who feels the most at ease in the middle of battle. The new designs presented in this story work well with what is already known of the Power Rangers universe and they fit quite naturally.

Villains can be blank slates if handled poorly. The Moores counteract that adding depth to Goldar’s motivations and all of the steps that we take for granted which happened prior to Day of the Dumpster. So many times in the early days of the series we heard about the struggle between Zordon and Rita. Hopefully, this story is a small taste for further flashbacks that will help flesh out what took place long before teenagers with attitude was a thing.

It’s Putty Time

For all of the groundedness that exists in the other stories in this book, It’s Putty Time works as a fantastic counterbalance. James Kochalka (Johnny Boo) both pens and illustrates the answer to the question that has been plaguing mankind as far back as one can remember: do putties have feelings? This story can absolutely catch the reader off guard. For all of it’s childlike demeanor, it can still elicit sympathy in between each chuckle and myerp. Don’t be surprised if this is the one story you find yourself going back to read again.

What Makes a Ranger

The bookend of the comic dovetails nicely back into the themes tackled by A Week in the Life… but with a larger focus on the entire Power Rangers team as Jorge Corona (We Are Robin) looks at the rangers through Zordon’s eyes and, by extension, the eyes of the everyday citizens who are most affected by their heroics.

Morphing isn’t necessarily the hardest part of the ranger job. It is by no means easy but the Power Rangers are this nebulous entity that acts almost as a force of nature. Sometimes what truly resonates with people is seeing others (who conveniently wear color-coordinated clothing) helping their fellow man after the giant monster explodes. Corona’s story gives the ranger teens a sort of agency that is often ignored between their lives as rangers and high schoolers.

Overall, the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers 2016 Annual has a very complete feeling to it. BOOM! Studios seems to have facilitated a high level of collaboration between all of the artists and writers in order to ensure that a collection of stories was presented with purpose rather than as a random hodgepodge. Six very unique stories are told with six very unique voices and much like a Megazord, they come together as something greater than the sum of its parts.

Score: 5 out of 5

(Images Courtesy: Crave Online)

For the third straight installment, Power Morphicon – the biennial Power Rangers convention in Pasadena, California – has partnered with Bandai America to bring fans an exclusive figure. This time, it’s a black and gold version of the Dino Megazord that can be created by combining individual pieces packaged with each member of the Mighty Morphin’ team. Coming in at a price of $40, this limited to 500 figures item is a surefire rarity.

Speaking of the new legacy collection line of action figures, the first wave is currently hitting shelves across the country and it includes both the Red and Green Rangers from Mighty Morphin’ and all three Wind Rangers from Ninja Storm. Priced at $19.99, these figures have only been seen in Target as of the writing of this article but they should soon be available at all major retailers.

To hear my thoughts on both the PMC exclusive Dino Megazord and the three Ninja Storm figures, please follow this link to my YouTube channel: Captain Subpar’s Toy Reviews. While you’re there, you can also check out my many other reviews for recent Power Rangers and Super Sentai releases. In addition to that, I’m also counting down all of the Power Rangers seasons in a series of videos and so much more.

Editor’s Note: If you haven’t read the comic and like the element of surprise, STOP. Do not read any further! Spoilers are ahead!

Throughout the first four issues of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, writer Kyle Higgins has performed a master stroke in sowing the seeds for this one off flashback tale. While the main focus of the story has been Tommy dealing with the growing pains that come with joining a team of superheroes after being their most challenging supervillain, we’ve been getting tastes of the rangers’ individual reservations towards their new teammate. No one has been more vocal about their distrust than Zack. It turns out that the Black Ranger faults the Green Ranger because he was almost the one donning the emerald spandex.

This issue’s story takes place one month prior to Green with Evil. One of the more intriguing aspects of this series is that it slowly reminds the reader that the world is far bigger than Angel Grove, California. A simple task at first blush but for all of the television show’s positives, it consistently gave the impression that while the wicked witch wanted to conquer Earth, she only really cared about one city in particular. That fact was even poked fun at in Power Rangers Turbo when Bulk and Skull became Angel Grove monster tour guides. That’s also why it was so shocking when Power Rangers In Space expanded the definition of what it was to be an active villain in the Power Rangers universe. So it’s nice to open this issue and see that far away countries aren’t safe from monster attacks when Rita lashes out against a blustering Italian president.

When Jason saves the president and Zack in turn saves Jason, it’s the Red Ranger who makes all of the headlines. The intriguing thing is that Zack echoes a sentiment that so many fans have thought about over the years. Do the other members of a ranger team ever get jealous of the Red Ranger? Do they ever wish that they could stand in the middle and make painfully unfunny threats in the form of puns best served in Laffy Taffy wrappers?

What makes Zack’s story so impactful is that it all comes back to the selflessness necessary to be the unsung hero. Who takes control of the Megazord when Jason isn’t around? Zack. Who calls the shots when Jason is busy fighting Goldar? Zack. It’s a more complex issue than one might think. Jason is the leader. Billy is the brains. Trini and Kimberly embody girl power. But to an outside observer, who is Zack? He can’t even tell the world that he’s a fantastic role model for minorities due to a costume that covers every inch of his skin. When it comes to standing out from the crowd, the Black Ranger is at a distinct disadvantage.

When Rita tempts Zack with the Green Ranger powers and he refuses, his heroism must once again fade into the background at the suggestion of Zordon until the potential threat can be properly assessed. Zack was offered a bite of the serpent’s apple and not only did he pass it up but then he’s asked to embrace someone who gave into the temptation. It’s why he not only questions the morality of Tommy but the very core of his being. If he was able to fight it, then why couldn’t this new guy?

The issue ends with one of the more puzzling moments of the series. A voice foretells the future to Rita in the same way that her own voice haunts Tommy. It correctly predicts that the evil Green Ranger will turn on her. Could it be Lord Zedd? Master Vile? Tommy himself? Perhaps someone new?

Thony Silas steps in on art duties for this issue. Higgins and Silas previously worked together on DC Comics’ Batman Beyond series. Silas brings a looser, fluid style to the table that works quite well with the more action heavy scenes in the early part of the issue. He accentuates characters’ natural traits. His Goldar is large and imposing. His Rita is sufficiently spindly.

This comic was an incredibly satisfying culmination of a seed that had been planted and watered for the previous four issues. While his character had already been growing, this issue provided a landmark moment that made Zack the most likable, complex member of the team. One can only hope that similar moments are awaiting the rest of the rangers in future installments. By and large, this is the best issue of the series thus far. Not only did it deliver where it needed to but it also managed to start new threads for the future. Plus, this issue gave a whole new level of depth to the most classic, pulse-pounding season finale: “An Oyster Stew”.

Score: 5 out of 5

(Images Courtesy: Comic Book Resources)

The fourth issue of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers from writer Kyle Higgins and illustrator Hendry Prasetya is all about bringing the current storyline to a head. Since the beginning, the rangers have been questioning Tommy’s status on their team as a reformed minion of Rita. For his part, Tommy hasn’t exactly displayed himself to be the most trustworthy team member by hiding fevered visions of his former employer and getting into situations where they have to rescue him.

One of the most consistently strong aspects of this comic has been the proactive nature of the villains. Rita has no designs to let Tommy go quietly as she continues to sink her claws into his psyche and drive the rangers further and further away from their new compatriot. This leads to the battle that takes up the bulk of this issue and it’s a fairly satisfying one. Scorpina has control of the Dragonzord and the confrontation that follows allows Prasetya’s artwork to break free from the mundane stylings of a typical zord fight. The individual zords get time to shine and there’s a controlled freneticism to the pacing that lets the rangers feel like the ragtag, early days team that Zordon somewhat recently recruited.

There are times where questionable liberties are taken by the writer. It’s very much appreciated that this comic series is willing to dive into the rangers’ personalities to a depth that the television show never approached. However, there are still certain universal truths that should be adhered to in lieu of crafting something that loses the nebulous feel of what makes the Power Rangers the Power Rangers. A monster should explode rather than leave a blood trail and the way the rangers handled Scorpina showed a severe lapse in judgment. While the feeling is that the confrontation between the team is being fueled by Rita’s plan, it still paints Jason in a rather poor light. Here’s hoping Jason’s thought process is expounded upon in the future. There’s nothing wrong with him being a flawed leader. In fact, it’s encouraged.

Some of the rangers faded a bit into the background this issue as the confrontation between Tommy and Zack that has been in the works since the beginning of this series took center stage. As connected as she is to Tommy, Kimberly is by and large a bystander. Billy and Trini took very passive roles which does fit with the characters but even Zordon virtually disappeared by the end.

As usual, the book ended on an appropriately intriguing cliffhanger. Solicitations for issue five suggest that we will get the full story on what makes Zack tick next month. It will be interesting to see just how much they tackle the newly discovered threat by interweaving it into Zack’s tale or if they’ll take a more pure, flashback-filled approach. Either way, it’s safe to say that the next issue is the most anticipated of the line up to this point.

Overall, this issue lacked some of the punch that was in previous installments. That doesn’t mean the issue was bad. Far from it. The art continues to dazzle and the battle that took up the lion’s share of the book was a real winner. Some of the characterization towards the end and the severe lack of Trini, Billy, and Kimberly did raise a red flag. Still, this comic has done a fantastic job of building on itself and has now reached the point where the pieces should come together.

Score: 4 out of 5

(Images Courtesy: Comic Book Resources)

The long-awaited prop that fans have been clamoring for years to get their hot little hands on has finally started to hit store shelves. The latest Toys”R”Us-exclusive legacy item is a replica of the classic communicator for all of your teleporting and Zordon-chatting needs. It comes in two versions: a regular version for the main five rangers and a special Tommy Oliver edition if you prefer the green and white motif. At the moment, only the latter version has been seen in stores. Retailing at $79.99 the item is wearable on adult wrists and contains many vintage Power Rangers phrases.

To hear my full and frank review of the toy along with other reviews of previously released legacy items, click here to visit my channel Captain Subpar’s Toy Reviews on YouTube. Check out reviews for both the Falconzord and Thunder Megazord along with my Super Sentai reviews and other musings.

Coming off the smash success of BOOM! Studios’ Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers series (my reviews for the first three issues can be found here, here, and here) the company is looking to branch out with their first supplemental material. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Pink is a six issue mini-series from writers Brenden Fletcher (Black Canary, Batgirl, Gotham Academy) and Kelly Thompson (A-Force, Jem) along with artist Daniele Di Nicuolo (Mirror’s Edge: Exordium, Starbrand and Nightmask).

While the main title tells the story of the entire ranger team dealing with the fallout from the Green with Evil saga, this series fast forwards us to the events of season three. Kimberly has recently left Angel Grove and the Power Rangers in favor of pursuing her gymnastics career at the European Pan Global Games. She lives with her mother and father-in-law and from there we pick up on her solo adventure. What makes this series unique is that is has no template. No skeleton from which to work. Outside of a Dear John letter that Tommy receives in Power Rangers ZEO and her brief appearance in Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, Kimberly Ann Hart is ostensibly written out of the Power Rangers universe once she gives the pterodactyl coin to Katherine.

The depiction of Kimberly will come off somewhat familiar to fans. Her chosen attire (both civilian and morphed) bears a striking resemblance to modern female warriors like Katniss Everdeen and Lara Croft. Kimberly herself calls out to the Mad Max franchise. She leaps into battle with little more than a bow and some arrows. Her dogged determination is the biggest strength of this debut issue. Make no bones about it: this is Kimberly’s story.

Fletcher and Thompson are in a somewhat precarious situation trying to deal with just how much needs to be explained to the reader and what exactly they can get away with in the scope of Power Rangers lore. Fans of the series are nothing if not sticklers for detail after twenty-three years of history. Explanations are offered and it is up to the fan to decide if they are satisfactory. The beginning of the issue is a bit heavy on exposition but it does firmly plant the story in unique yet familiar territory that will catch fans up on how our hero’s life has progressed since her departure from the team.

For Di Nicuolo’s part, his style is dynamic. Even in the more verbose scenes he makes the action deliberate and vibrant. His unmorphed, Hawkeye-esque Kimberly is not to be trifled with under any circumstance. While fans will surely debate the merits of the new Pink Ranger costume, it unequivocally makes an immediate impact. Much like the story, it is both conventional and quite unconventional.

For its part, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Pink is in uncharted territory and finding its legs. It introduces a lot of new elements and melds them with the old. It’s hard to say where the series plans to go from here and just how different it will dare to be. If it embraces its unique opportunity and expounds on Kimberly as an individual it could be the first in a long line of character deepening mini-series.

Score: 3 out of 5

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Pink #1 goes on sale June 1, 2016. To find it at your local store, visit findacomicshop.com or comicshoplocator.com.

(Image Courtesy: Comic Book Resources)

Trini Kwan. For many Power Rangers fans she was more of a background player. In issue three of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, she comes to the forefront and proves once again what makes this book by Kyle Higgins (writer) and Hendry Prasetya (illustrator) such a draw to long time fans of the television series. One aspect that I’ve touched on before is the Yellow Ranger being the heart and soul of the team. This is no more evident than in this issue. While the characters who get the most attention are struggling with their problems – most of which center around Tommy and Rita’s lingering control over him – she is the one that keeps them all on track. Whether it be boosting Billy’s confidence, calming down Zack’s trust issues, or getting Tommy to open up, Trini always provides a sympathetic ear. In many ways, she’s the most important member of the team.

What makes this team and their unity so enthralling is that there are no superfluous rangers. Some are getting more attention now but everyone shows at least a hint of more to come. In this issue, we learn more about both Tommy and Trini’s family histories. Tommy has always been a loner. Trini has always been compelled to help others. Both of these established facts from the television show are expounded upon during the scenes they share.

Another developing character is Zack. He has been a slow burn since the beginning that is growing into more of a powderkeg with each passing issue. The fascinating point that he makes is one of nature versus nurture. Do Rita’s spells count as get out of jail free cards for any act committed while under their control? Was Tommy’s personality forced to pull a U-turn when he received the power coin or was it more of a slight merge into a darker dimension? A Zack versus Tommy confrontation seems inevitable at this stage and by stoking those flames in each issue it makes the anticipation of such an event that much more palpable.

Even Goldar, a character who hasn’t so much as made a peep in this series, kicks off the issue serving his penance in the wake of the “Green with Evil” saga. He doesn’t simply have a rivalry with the Green Ranger. He has a personal vendetta that will not so easily be satiated.

Visually, the book continues to impress. Rita utilizes the crumbled remains of one putty patroller as raw materials for a more sinister plan. Zord battles take place directly next to the Command Center. These are elements that were limited within the scope of the television series but were not necessarily impossible. Seeing them now resonates with readers and leaves them wondering what else could be realized in this medium. That seems to be the overriding theme of this series: taking the conventional, surface-level aspects that are oh so familiar to the fans and finding ways to build natural, more jarring layers upon them.

Overall, the third issue of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers was foreboding in the best way possible. The fractures that we have seen among the team are starting to feel like full blown schisms. This is both the series we know and something altogether different. The most well-known rangers like Jason and Kimberly take just enough of a backseat to add proper depth to the rest of the team. The villains are significantly devious and much more active in their schemes. While I would like to see more of the civilian characters eventually integrated into the story, what we have seen from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers is fantastic. The book continues to prove that the world it’s exploring goes far deeper than even a Dragonzord shuffling along the ocean floor.

Score: 5 out of 5

(Images Courtesy: Comic Book Resources)

The opening scene of the second issue of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers illustrates the tent pole reason as to why Kyle Higgins’ take on this universe is so enticing to older fans of the series. He expounds upon the moments in between the spandex. As beloved as these characters have been for so many years, there is still no denying that throughout the first three seasons of the show they were quite static. At their cores they were little more than their archetypes: Long-haired Jock! Cool Guy! Popular Girl! Nerd! Alternachick! Short-haired Jock!

Beyond the weekly conflicts of whichever ranger was having an existential crisis that Rita could capitalize upon, it’s only natural to believe that the people behind the suits had the potential to become deeper characters. The conversation between Billy and Trini is indicative of just such a truth. Billy’s struggle to feel a part of the team is only deepened with Tommy’s arrival. In the show, we would have gotten a monster that they’d be forced to team up to take down. Here we get Trini showing just why she is the emotional ballast of the group along with some mythos about the inner workings of the zords for the tech geeks among us.

Jason and Kimberly also have a great scene together that focuses on where Tommy is being pieced into the puzzle that is their lives. Along with words of concern that Zack voiced in previous issues, we are really getting the full picture of how adding a new ingredient to the stew – especially one with as dubious beginnings as the Green Ranger – is not as simple as it may first appear.

The heroes aren’t the only characters who are receiving overhauls in this comic. Higgins has rightly mentioned that Scorpina was a criminally underutilized villain in the original series and as a direct result she has quickly become a much more prominent figure in the comics. While physically capable in her own right, she also attacks the rangers on a psychological level. Such deviousness ensures that readers will never forget the “teenager” aspect of the “teenagers with attitude” mantra.

The artwork of Hendry Prasetya continues to bring a much more visceral tone the rangers’ fights. Putties don’t go away with a simple punch or kick. Hordes of footsoldiers need to be chipped away at in brutal fashion. Every attack has weight behind it that is a constant reminder that the battle between the Power Rangers and Rita Repulsa is just that: a battle and not a multi-colored glee club that takes place in between Ms. Appleby’s lectures on question marks and Show & Tell.

Overall, issue #2 of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers continues a rock solid mantra of bringing the fans in with the ranger action and making them stay thanks to character growth. As kids who were fans of the television show, we took many things for granted. Higgins is making it a point to expound upon every detail so that the Power Rangers won’t feel any more out of place in the real world than the more established superheroes of the comic book universe.

Score: 5 out of 5

Images courtesy of Comic Book Resources

Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger is the 40th anniversary installment in the Super Sentai franchise. Over on my Youtube channel – Captain Subpar’s Toy Reviews – I’ve been giving the mecha for the series a once over including my first impressions, thoughts on the overall designs for the series, and musings on what’s to come.

Every season needs a theme and this one is no different. All of the rangers’ mechas are animal-themed cubes that stack on one another in groups of three. The main robo is built from the Red (eagle), Blue (shark), and Yellow (lion) Ranger’s mecha with the Green (elephant) and White (tiger) Ranger’s mechas being interchangeable additions. A giraffe-themed bazooka is also available.

If you’re looking to learn more about the latest Super Sentai series then please head on over to my channel for all that and more. There you’ll also find reviews for Shuriken Sentai Ninninger toys, Power Rangers Legacy exclusives, and monthly Loot Crate/Loot Anime unboxing videos.

To long time fans of both the Power Rangers franchise and comic books in general it comes as no surprise that their married history has been somewhat tumultuous. Like any other kid tested, soccer mom disapproved pop culture phenomenon, Power Rangers attempted to crossover from the small screen to the magazine rack. There was the good (an all too brief Power Rangers ZEO adaptation), the bad (a serviceable but ultimately forgettable Mighty Morphin’ take), and the downright ugly (the already uninspired Megaforce series having life breathed into it like a fish receiving CPR).

That’s why I was cautiously optimistic when I heard that acclaimed writer Kyle Higgins (Nightwing, Deathstroke, my personal favorite: Batman Beyond 2.0, and his creator-owned C.O.W.L.) was tackling the franchise for a new series from BOOM! Studios set in a contemporary version of the Mighty Morphin’ universe. Could early nineties concepts play in 2016? Would the series simply add short stories to the mythos or would it forge its own path?

I’m glad to say that two issues in it looks like Higgins is doing a fantastic job of tiptoeing between honoring history and making some of his own. One of the biggest criticisms of MMPR has been that very little interpersonal conflict exists between the individual rangers that isn’t the direct result of one of Rita Repulsa’s spells. (Who can ever forget the classic “Don’t Vote for Dummy” poster?) The main storyline looks to rectify that by tackling what would theoretically be one of the most divisive times for the rangers: the period right after Tommy joins the team following his indentured servitude to his Empress.

Tommy displays an appropriate level of self-doubt without spiraling into an Emo Ranger. Jason questions how much trust should exist between the team and their enemy-turned-ally in the way that any true leader worth his salt should do. All is not copacetic as the team feels more human on paper than they often did on screen. Ironically, when the team runs imaginary, Danger Room-esque scenarios the consequences feel incredibly real. The struggle between good and evil didn’t end the moment the Sword of Darkness was destroyed.

Trappings of the present day show up in natural, unobtrusive fashion. Billy utilizes social media in order to help his team balance their school load with their ranger duties. In the most interesting usage of the information age, school bullies Bulk and Skull are now budding Youtube personalities (“Ranger Station” boasts over 400K subscribers) who take advantage of their love for the rangers and the fact that they live in a city known for experiencing monster attacks more frequently than most people go to the bathroom. However, the duo doesn’t just go all “Cloverfield” by filming the underside of Pythor’s descending foot. Instead they give a voice to the everyday people of Angel Grove. Do they trust the Green Ranger? Should the rangers trust the Green Ranger? Does the fact that the rangers seemingly do trust the Green Ranger shake the people’s faith in the rangers as a whole?

Higgins puts himself in the shoes of a fan who readily accepted the show for what it was in their state of childhood wonder but upon reflection might rub their chin and wonder what exactly was going on in between Monday’s credits blur and Tuesday’s “Today on Power Rangers…” Coupled with Hendry Prasetya’s anime-inspired but still bold and gritty art style, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers promises to answer questions that some only recently may have realized they should’ve been asking for years.

Steve Orlando also provides a backup story that furthers the adventures of Bulk and Skull. While the main story sets a more modern tone to the series, Orlando does an exquisite job of capturing the iconic tone of the beloved bumblers. I found myself reading each panel with Paul Schrier’s brutish tambour and Jason Narvy’s echoing squeals in my head.

Illustrated by Corin Howell in an appropriately more cartoonish, slapstick style, the duo continue their never-ending quest to jockey for Kimberly and Trini’s affection only to have a happenstantial run in with a Putty Patroller. As a viewer who found Bulk and Skull to be at their absolute best when they fumbled their way into close encounters with the series’ villains, this is the sort of story that scratches the perfect comedic itch. While only taking up a few pages of each issues, it will be interesting to see how well Howell can continue to provide a nice juxtaposition to the more dramatic main story.

Overall, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers feels like a major step in the right direction that the entire franchise has been craving for years. If Saban’s trust in Higgins is an indication towards the tone they’re catering to more mainstream publications including the 2017 movie reboot then Power Rangers could be poised to reassert its multi-colored domination among both the nostalgic children of yesteryear and the kids they’ve had since that time. Between issue #0 already going through three print runs and the announcement of the new mini-series Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Pink by Brenden Fletcher and Kelly Thompson, it appears that the original teenagers behind the helmets will only become richer and deeper characters in the coming years.

Score: 5 out of 5

Shout! Factory’s Gosei Sentai Dairanger DVD collection was the February 19, 2016 “Critic’s Pick” by contributor Robert Lloyd in the entertainment section of the Los Angeles Times.

The elements of Japan’s “Super Sentai” TV franchise are familiar, because we have long since seen them domestically repurposed as “The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.” There are color-coded masked and helmeted heroes skilled in balletic-gymnastic martial arts; giant sentient transforming mechanical animals; monsters who grow big and stomp around miniature landscapes like Godzilla before them. But the unaltered original item has a flavor of its own — at once more spiritual, if that’s quite the word, and more slapstick, more romantic and more comical.

(Courtesy: Digifiend from Rangerboard)

One of the newer assortments from the Power Rangers’ endless line is the Armored Rangers series. Debuting last year, I first took notice of it when I saw that the Super Megaforce Red Ranger figure came complete with weapons from past seasons such as ZEO and SPD. The line expanded to include the Red, Green, and White Rangers from Mighty Morphin’. It’s good to see the continuation of this assortment with Dino Charge and I decided that now would be as good of a time as ever to get my first hand’s on experience with it.

Currently only the Red Ranger is available. The box indicates that the Green Ranger will be available in this assortment although he had not yet hit stores as of the writing of this review. Here’s hoping that this line will eventually feature other prominent rangers from past seasons. At the very least, I would love to see the entire team be released including the Pink Ranger.

The packaging is a fairly basic window design. Both casual viewers and hardcore fans will immediately notice that the big selling point of the figure is that it comes with twelve accessories. The back of the box isn’t very flashy. It prominently displays all of the pieces that come with the figure and a unique image of the Dino Charge Red Ranger sporting the orange deinosuchus (i.e. Deinosgrander in Kyoryuger) powered up form. It’s a decent design but a bit on the sparse side.

Unboxing the figure is somewhat simple. Everything is on a clear card that easily slides out. There are a few plastic ties that need to be cut in order to retrieve both the ranger and a couple of his larger items. The figure is seven inches tall and has a fairly high level of posability. There are ball joints on the shoulders, legs, wrists, and neck. Even the torso swivels at multiple points. I believe that the only glaring omission in this department is the ankles which only have a basic back and forth range of motion. This can limit certain crouching stances.

Painted details for this figure are about the same as the basic line with a couple of minor downgrades. The scaling on the arms that is signature to these suits ends at the ball joints just below the shoulders. The arms are not the signature, slighter darker hue of the ranger’s individual color. The yellow triangle with the ranger’s dinosaur symbol is not properly raised. Finally, the claws on the glows are represented but still painted only white.

On the plus side, there are more painted details on the back as opposed to the basic assortment. The Dino Charge shoulder piece is well-sculpted as is the very pronounced belt buckle. The figure has great definition and sports all of the proper molding.

My biggest concern from an aesthetic point of view comes at the wrist ball joints. Unlike the depicted box art, these joints are red. As you can imagine, red joints that separate white gloves look off. It’s a curious decision that gives the impression that the character is wearing both white gauntlets and small white gloves. This problem could easily be solved with a brief, do it yourself touch up job but it makes me wonder why white joints weren’t used in the first place?

As alluded to earlier, this figure really shines with its vast array of weapons. It features both the Dino Charge Morpher and Dino Saber as individual weapons along with their combined form complete with three different colors of paint that elucidate a high level of detail previously unreached with Power Rangers merchandise. The Red Ranger also has his specific weapon painted in both red and silver. It will be interesting to see if the rest of the team’s weapons are released in future assortments in order to create the combined blaster.

Here is where things get interesting for the more persnickety fans. The figure’s arms can be detached at both the wrists and end of the gloves in order to add silver armor and the aforementioned orange deinosuchus weapons. I’m a stickler for detail so I must mention this: in the show’s footage, when the rangers use their regular powered up form, there is only supposed to be silver armor on the right arm. When they use the orange power up, there is supposed to be gold armor on both arms. This figure comes with only silver armor for both arms. It’s a minor detail that will likely only matter to the most staunch of collectors but it’s worth noting.

Finally, the figure has an extra set of open hands if you’d prefer to pose the Red Ranger in an action shot that doesn’t involve holding weapons. It’s a welcome addition the ups the playability factor and helps this line stand out from all other currently available Power Rangers figures.

The suggested retail price for this assortment is $16.99 which I deem to be fair. Mine was purchased at Target for $14.99. This is an interesting first foray into figures of this type for me. Typically, I go for either the cheaper, basic figures or the much more detailed and expensive Figuarts line from Japan. This Dino Charge assortment falls somewhere in the middle of those two options. The weapons are gorgeous. Bandai followed the correct instinct in making that the selling point. To the best of my recollection, this is one of the most flexible figures ever put out for Power Rangers. The molded attributes are nearly perfect and while the painted details aren’t totally up to snuff, they’re passable.

The figure’s larger size might be the most ideal for children. I tend to lean towards the weapon assortment being a bigger draw for adult fans but as the show progresses, I could see kids coming back to this toy and updating its look as the rangers unlock more powers. I’m not quite as over the moon on this figure as I was the basic assortment but I would still say that you  will get your money’s worth with this purchase.

The Quick and Dirty

Pros

• Tons of accessories
• More detailed paint applications overall
• Highly poseable

Cons

• Somewhat plain packaging
• Some minor paint still missing
• Ankles could use ball joints

Overall Grade: B+

If there is one constant in the Power Rangers franchise, it’s the basic action figures assortment. My parents couldn’t always afford Megazords, but for me, the basic action figures were a must every year. I like to consider myself somewhat of a more discerning collector. I’m not going to buy everything available because: A) I don’t have that much disposable income, and B) I like to spend a nice chunk of what I do have on importing a lot of Super Sentai merchandise. I’ve always been one to pick and choose in a more selective manner just what I purchase from the Power Rangers line each year. However, I have always picked up the basic figures and I’m happy to say that this year’s assortment is one of the more eye-catching in recent memory.

The big trend that I utterly adored from the anniversary figures of the Super Megaforce line was the back of each card being customized according to the figure. Along those lines, the Dino Charge cards feature an individualized photo and short bio for the individual ranger. It’s interesting to note that these packages were clearly finalized prior to the show’s filming as the Red and Green Dino Charge Rangers are incorrectly named Quinn and Lucas, respectively.

Bandai has gotten in the habit of attaching the plastic packaging to the cards via taped tabs meaning that they can be opened with only a few simple cuts, thus preserving the card. For a collector who likes to keep the cards, this is a much-appreciated upgrade. By not having the plastic completely glued to the card, it’s much easier to store the clean cards.

Like the packaging, the figures are very much in line with their immediate predecessors. If you bought this line last year and had a positive experience with it, then you’ll be pleased to know that Bandai listened to your approval. Standing at five inches and just a hair taller than the Super Megaforce figures, both lines look quite natural together. One can only hope that this is the new standard going forward as opposed to the four inch figures from the Megaforce line of 2013.

The paint application on each figure is mostly satisfactory. The helmet details and chest symbols are perfectly detailed. Each ranger’s dinosaur symbol is slightly raised which is a nice, screen accurate detail. The intricacies of the belt buckles and backs are all included, however, both are painted a flat, silver-ish gray. The Dino Charge team is also supposed to feature silver claws on their gloves and while this feature is molded in, the gloves are painted all white. These are not unfamiliar problems but they are ones I would love to see solved in future assortments. Painting details of that level seem to be reserved for Figuarts.

I was particularly impressed by the details on the arms. One of the unique aspects of the Dino Charge uniforms is the dinosaur scaling on the arms that features slightly different shades of each ranger’s color. That detail was impeccably captured in this line and makes the team stand out from all others at nary a glance. I must admit that I was half-expecting that feature to be glossed over so to see it so intricately included was a huge boon for the line as a whole.

Another particular facet of the Dino Charge figures is the shoulder pad above the left arm. These figures depict it as a firm, fully molded piece that can easily be snapped on and off.

The level of articulation is what we have come to expect. The arms and legs feature ball joints. The hands swivel at the glove lines as do the feet at the boot lines. The neck has the same 360 degrees range of motion as the limbs. These aren’t the most poseable figures on the market, but they more than get the job done.

The figures stand perfectly fine with very little finagling required. Female rangers have been known to be a problem in the past since Bandai switched to a much more feminine build for the lady rangers. Ranger Series Yellow from the RPM line was one of the biggest past offenders in my experience. Recent lines have fixed that issue. The Pink Ranger stands up perfectly fine and won’t cause any problems for someone looking to pose the team on their shelf.

Each figure comes with the both of the team’s side arms: the Dino Saber and the blaster that doubles as the Dino Charge Morpher. The weapons are well-detailed but completely yellow. The morpher has a clip so it can be worn on the ranger’s belt. Each ranger’s individual weapons were conspicuous by their absence. This was forgivable with the Super Megaforce line as no such weapons existed, but it is noticeable omission with this assortment

The suggested retail price for these figures is $9.99 a pop. I bought mine at Target for $8.99 which seems to be the most common price. Admittedly, it would take a lot for me to pass on a basic figure assortment. While there could be a few more details for my liking, they still included some surprising detail that I didn’t expect. The lack of ranger specific weapons is a pretty massive detriment, but overall Bandai has come a long way with making each figure feel special as opposed to simply being the same figure over and over again with different paint.

Kids should have no problem enjoying these figures. Five inches is the perfect size for this series and they’ll enjoy having the Dino Charge and Super Megaforce teams interact with one another. Adults pretty much know what they’re getting with the basic figure assortment. Personally, I haven’t had a problem with this line outside of inconsistent sizes over the years. The Dino Charge line seems to indicate that they’ve reached a new normalcy on that issue. The price point is very reasonable and the ranger specific cards might even make you want to buy two sets: one to open and one to keep for display.

The Quick and Dirty

Pros

- Detailed, unique packaging
- Easy to open for kids and collectors
- Consistent height with Super Megaforce
- Tons of sculpted details
- Perfect price point

Cons

- Ranger bio inaccuracies
- A couple of missing paint apps
- Solid, block colored weapons
- No individual ranger weapons

Overall Grade: A-