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Preface
Giant monsters attacking cities across the globe, evil space aliens working together, people traveling across different dimensions in the multiverse…
Just another Wednesday in the DC universe.
The Cover
Wow, I didn’t know Wonder Woman was so… tan.
But, besides that, this cover is a lot better than the last two covers. It’s a lot more interesting and visually appealing than just having the characters do EPIC POSES! Even though that it makes it look like they’re fighting again and we all know how much we like those fights…
And I might be looking too deep into it, but it again highlights the difference between the two teams. Mainly that the Rangers’ use teamwork for their full powers to work while the League does work together, but each member is powerful enough on their own so that they don’t have to rely on each other that much. (I also do appreciate the sky background and how that “light ups” the Megazord)
The Story
In the last issue, giant tentacle monsters appear at different cities across the globe. The Justice League decide they have to split up, but the Power Rangers decide to help each member out. Batman, antagonistic as ever, refuses their offer to help, but Tommy points out that he’s being stupid and lives on on the line. Trini also points out that they know how to fight Zedd’s monsters.
Cyborg contacts the JL reserves like the Teen Titans, Aquaman, and Shazam and teleports each to the site of the attacks. Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Superman all head to their locations in their usual way while Batman and Cyborg transport via the Rangers’ zords since Brainiac attacked the Watchtower, disabling the teleporters.
Both the Rangers and all of the DC heroes manage to deal with all of the monsters, but Brainiac Drones land on each of the Ranger’s zords.
They not only take control of them, but they manage to steal the Rangers’ Power Coins and communicators. As each Ranger is removed from the cockpits by the DC heroes, the zords, along with the Brainiac drones, teleport out of there.
At the Watchtower, both teams decide on what to do. Flash says he does have the power to cross through dimensions, but odds are, he can’t get all of them through. Then, Billy, out of nowhere, asks for a hadron collider. All of them head to the CERN facility in Switzerland (which if you didn’t know is an actual place) and ask the scientists there if they can use their hadron collider to open a portal through dimensions. They agree, since no one says no to Superman, and plan on getting to work.
Ending Thoughts
Action-wise, it’s short but serviceable. Even though I really do wish we could see more of the battles (since it was really short), it is cool to see so many amazing visuals with all of the heroes teaming up. Art-wise, it is beautiful for some exceptions. Some of the backgrounds clash with the action scenes and some of the human expressions are really… off. It’s hard to describe but if you look closely at the art, it looks like the wrong expression to have in context.
Now, about the story… let me talk about the good parts first. For starters, there is an actual good reason for the Rangers to help out. Since this DC universe seems to be the Rebirth one, it doesn’t have that many heroes that it had in the past so the Rangers are the ones with extra firepower helping out. And, this is a decent halfway point to meet (with the first half of this series focusing on the DC universe and now the second half probably focusing on the PR universe). And there is some good humor here from Flash. (“You ‘Great Hera’d?”)
Now, for the bad stuff. You remember back in the first issue, how Zack transported to Gotham because the teleporter was damaged? Yeah, apparently, “damaged” means “totally functional”. And, yes you could argue that Billy probably fixed it before teleporting to him. But, based on the first issue, it seemed like they teleported to Zack after a few minutes later (not enough time to fix it). And most importantly, even if it was what happened, they never mention it. And it’s a pretty big detail to leave out, especially since it’s the main driving force behind the crossover.
Not only that, but a lot of the writing in this issue seems all over the place. For example, using CERN as to how the Rangers will get back to Angel Grove. It’s weird to use a realistic device to use in a superhero comic. It’s just jarring in a world filled with magic and aliens to use a method that scientists believe is plausible. And even then, it feel so weird that the DC universe is filled with so many iconic fictional locations like STAR Labs and Kord Enterprises that you only focus on real-life locations.
Overall, this is the first major mis-step that this crossover has taken and I hope that it can find a way to recover itself.
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- I’ll expand on this more in the final issue, but have you noticed how so far we’ve had so much humor / dialogue come from how “weird” or “goofy” the Power Rangers are, but practically no commentary on any of the DC universe?
- It might be just me, but I don’t think Batman is this antagonistic / stupid.
- Cyborg: “Batman and I will coordinate the forces in Austrailia and Egypt.” Doesn’t coordinate mean you lead from a distance?
- Why would Brainiac attack the JL’s teleportation system after a majority of heroes have already made it to their destination? And why wouldn’t he attack any other part of the Watchtower?
- Hawkgirl is in this comic. Yeah, she’s supposed to be dead so I have no idea how she got here.
- The Rangers’ advice for beating the monsters is to beat them up. Amazing.
- I thought they were called Brainiac Probes, not Drones.
- Brainiac stealing the Power Coins and communicators seems too easy. In the way, that the comic was presented. Also, Tommy. The one time you actually bothered to be in your cockpit…
- Green Lantern: “I can’t believe how young they are.” I’m pretty sure the Teen Titans are younger…
- Random Scientist: “But that’s just a theory.” You live in a world with men who can run faster than the speed of light and men who have devices that construct green objects made out of energy based on willpower. You can’t say “It’s just a theory” when the impossible is right in front of you.
- Superman: “Green Lantern is an architect with a power ring.” If that’s the only justified reason that John’s here instead of any other Green Lanter, I swear to God…
- Superman: “Wonder Woman has the wisdom of Athena.” That has absolutely no importance whatsoever.
- Random Scientist #2: “[in reference to Billy] He looks about twelve.” He’s like 16! Maybe 17. I know that you were just referencing that he’s young, but… no! You honestly made yourself look like the child. Leave. You’re fired. We don’t need you here.