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Preface
It truly is a wondorous time to be a Power Rangers fan if we look at things objectively. Dino Charge is soon to come back to television, there’s a Hollywood movie that has just finished productions, and now we have two comic series to read about in our shops. When we look at things that way its been a busy year for the franchise and, for the older and original series, has had life breathed into it once more. Not that the OG series necessarily needed it as Saban has been keen to keep up the zeitgeist since they re-acquired the rights.
Kimberly Ann Hart, the Mighty Morphin’ Pink Ranger, the lady that started the legacy. Kimberly is perhaps the shining example of what MMPR had accomplished from their humble beginnings as a children television show. She’s sort of synonymous with it in a way. Something that originally could be scoffed off as something stupid, cliché, or two-dimensional through the years, instead of reveling in complacency, grew over time and developed into something you could not truly say had not become a three dimensional being that deserves the recognition of its peers. In the third season, my personal favorite of the Mighty Morphin days, she had some of the greatest storylines in the entire Zordon Era.
And now we’re here, to see what our girl has been up to in the mean-time, and to see if she still has that ranger part left in her. Really this story was begging to be told even way back then. Now let’s take a look at it and see if this is one that we deserve.
The Story
This comic, much like the other BOOM Comic, appears to be taking the idea of putting this in modern day, though we don’t have much confirmation on that. I would personally like this to be in the same continuity even if it means Kim would still leave the team. If we take this to be in the show proper continuity, then its interesting to debate where the other rangers are in this event. It’s interesting though, simply describing
We open with Kim being a bit irritated with her parents once again not showing up to one of her gymnastic competitions. She decided to investigate the lack of contact by going all commando, leather jackets and motorcycles are always a great combo. She finds that her parents, who are in France, are nowhere to be find and the town is too quiet, never a good sign. I must say that I am enjoying Kim’s internal narration at this point, to me it really does justice to her character, even if the one liners and quips can be a tad grating, but not too much.
We meet the only other real human character in Serge, he seems likable enough. You see, what keeps me from liking him too much is that I have a fear that this will be the guy that Kim ultimately sends Tommy the “Dear John” letter for and that doesn’t make me happy one bit. Kim X Tommy for life, bro! Kim uses her emergency communicator to contact Zordon and, since the rangers are off world for now, she’ll have to retake her powers.
We find out that, in a nice display of continuity, Kim has residual energy of the power coin within her to use to morph, though her power will be linked to Zordon. It wouldn’t be the first time a ranger mooched off of him to fight, lookin’ at you Tommy. They also mention the Sword of light in conversation and practice as well, that’s how the utilize the power. It had been a point of contention for some that when Kim exchanged the coin to Kat the sword was not used. Me, I thought that since these were different coins the rules didn’t apply to the sword but nah, Zordon must have had another back up plan, yada yada yada. Though I would have liked it if, like Jason in one comic, Kim beat the crap out of an evil ranger and took the coin from her. It would have been bad-ass.
We find out that it’s been Goldar that’s been behind the whole plot, not Gorgom surprisingly enough. It seems he’s trying to walk out on his own and has a pretty ingenious plot to go with. Turning the village population into the monsters we’ve been seeing through the magic or whatever of another monster, Verto. I like the designs of these monsters, aquatic life on land with scales and sharp teeth, it’s a real “classic” monster look that I like, if that makes any sense. Though I don’t believe Kim likes them as Verto is in the process of turning Kim’s mother into a monster. How will she get out of this situation?
Overall, this book was very good. We get a good look into Kim’s head and life now that she isn’t a ranger and it’s a nice welcome to view. Most of this comic plays out more like a spy or investigator type story instead of a traditional ranger tale, though it comes back up at the end.
The Technical Aspects
All of the covers that you could possibly get are excellent, there’s simply no other word for them. I got the one you see above this text but I believe my favorite one is where a suited up yet helmetless Kim is shooting an arrow straight to the reader. A second favorite is the traditional samurai looks we’ve seen before in the other series.
If we compare the art for this book to the four issues of the other BOOM! Comics series out now, there is a definite shift. For the background art of the buildings or scenery it is very beautiful to look at. I would describe it as very cinematic in its detailing. Not something like and Alex Ross or Jim Lee fair but it is more than serviceable. In some areas the art for Kim herself is pretty out there and not to my liking, but overall I do like her current design. And speaking of design we must talk about her new ranger suit. For me it’s cool but a bit too much black. I definitely like it better than the movie’s suits we’ve seen pics of, it isn’t like an armor but looks like the spandex we love. From personal head canon since she doesn’t have all of the energy from the power coin, just the residuals left inside her, the power must be taking into account what she’s currently wearing to form the suit instead of the traditional look. I don’t like the pouches either.
The panel placement is is easy to read for newcomers, which is a good thing for the first issue of any series. The art flows sequentially to where you can follow the story even without the text box. Speaking of text boxes, it is a bit uneven in how it is placed as the first half of the comics use thought boxes and are placed evenly in each panel per page while the second half has a multitude of text boxes crammed in for a few pages. The one gripe I can say is that in some panels there is an arbitrary green wall despite there not being anything green in the previous panels, it’s very odd.
Despite the nitpicks I stated in this review, this book is one that you should pick up and read. I wonder if this does well if we’ll get mini-series for the other OG cast. It would be a nice thing to have in shops but I digress. I can’t wait to see how the next five issues will play out in this mini, and you should be there next month to pick up the next issue.
Dear Zordon in the Great Beyond
Do we really have to call it “Morphin Power”?
When in continuity, and for that matter which, contiuinity is this in? That would be nice to know.
Hi Alpha.