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Preface
I had a thought about this series, mainly how the length of arcs differs between this series and the regular MMPR series.
GGPR’s first arc (from #1 to #5) was all about not only the Rangers’ first reactions to being Rangers but the city’s reactions. The current arc (#6 to #8, with #5 setting it up) was all about the homecoming dance and all of the fun drama that came from it. Then, the next arc (#9 to #12) is the Shattered Grid tie-in. It’s maybe too soon to judge, but the GGPR comic seems to deal with about 4-issue arcs.
Compare that to the regular MMPR series, where the first “full” arc lasted 15 issues (excluding #10), the latest one (from #17 to #24) lasted 7 issues, and the Shattered Grid arc will be about 9 issues (including some of the other tie-ins).
It’s just something to think about when you’re looking at these series respectively.
The Cover
This. Looks. Awesome.
The Megazord copy looks so sinister from how it’s drawn. I’m loving that evil smile and how it’s not perfect, having the left side looking more like the Super-Putty. That, with the actual Megazord in the sword’s reflection, and the background having fire in the background, makes this cover, and as a result, makes this comic look epic.
The Story
In Flashback Land, after another stop on her planet-conquering tour, Rita reveals to Goldar that she knows Lord Zedd sent Goldar to spy on her (this was established from the 2016 annual). She tells him that she values loyalty above everything else and that’s why she killed Montaur (generic general from GGPR Issue #5’s flashback). She offers him to solely work for her and that they can get vengeance for Goldar’s brother’s death. After hearing that great deal, Goldar pledges his loyalty to her.
In the present, everyone’s running for their lives while the Rangers are attacking the Super-Putty. During the battle, the Super-Putty turns into each of the Rangers themselves and starts mocking them and calls out their personal flaws and all of that jazz, but doesn’t plan on actually killing them and instead tries to reason with them.
Sensing this, Rita uses one of Baboo’s potions to remotely control the Super-Putty and forces it to copy the Megazord. The Rangers form their own Megazord but are severely outmatched by the Super-Putty copying its every move. Billy comes up with the idea to split up the Megazord back into the Dinozords since the Super-Putty won’t be able to copy all of their moves. The plan works, with Kim coming from the sky in her Pterazord to finish him off.
The next day, Bulk and Skull get ditched from their homecoming dates even when Bulk admits why he gave up the homecoming crown. Jason finally confronts Trini about what the Super-Putty told him about her crush on him, but she simply says the Super-Putty was lying and that they’re still friends. Billy tells his dad about his decision to not go to Promethea and his dad accepts his decision. Kim and Zack try to see Matt at his house, but he’s still pretty shaken up by the whole experience and is barely talking to anybody.
However, just as it seems life is getting back to normal, in the distant future, a Ranger is handed a mysterious crystal…
…leading us into the event “Shattered Grid.”
Ending Thoughts
Go Go Power Rangers #8 wraps up the current storyline beautifully while preparing the series to dive into the “Shattered Grid.”
The writing is exceptional as always with fun dialogue and defining character moments. The action, especially during the Megazord fight, felt energized and cinematic. The art style and the visuals in this series are exceptional, but in this issue, they really stood out for me.
The Super-Putty’s ability to shapeshift made for some horror-filled panels with mismatching Putty goo, multiple heads on one body, and literally the Red Ranger split right down the middle. The helmet reflections (something that isn’t done much in superhero comics from Marvel or DC because there aren’t that many heroes with reflectible masks or helmets) are done to great effect here, showcasing the situation and what they are feeling. There’s also a minor touch of giving Jason / Trini’s and Billy / Billy’s dad’s pages identical panel sizes and character framing, mirroring the situations of each other’s and highlighting the relationships the Rangers have in their lives.
As a prelude to Shattered Grid, the Ranger reveal at the end is more than serviceable, but I’d easily recommend this issue for newcomers just for its exceptional storytelling.
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- Even though the flashback at #5 makes more sense now, I looked back at it and there still wasn’t that much indication that Montaur was planning on betraying Rita. Just that he was just mildly annoying her. So, my point on that still stands.
- I love that tiny scene at the Juice Bar, not only in terms of how it framed the motion of Kim doing the backflip but how she’s also wearing the same color scheme as the Ranger in the ending. Just tiny details like that can go a long way.
- Speaking of which, when Jason was talking to Trini at the end, anyone else notices he’s wearing one of the outfits from the 2017 movie?