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Preface
Finale of the Turtle crossover. We waited for three months already. Let’s discuss it!
The Cover
Pretty good cover shot. It’s got all of our heroes with the brand new Megazord combination in the background. It’s a good way to end the crossover.
The Story
Continuing right from the last issue, the Turtle Rangers fight Bebop and Rocksteady in the Megazord. They manage to fight them off well enough until Shredder summons the Dragonzord to attack the Megazord. Using a miniaturizing ray and Metalhead, the Turtles’ android, (because of course, they have those things), Billy and the other teenagers climb in and use it to help in the Zord fight. As soon as both “Zords” defeat Bebop and Rocksteady, the Technodrome starts to charge up its huge attack. To combat this, Zordon instructs them all to combine their “Zords” altogether to create the Turtle Megazord and defeat the Technodrome!
Back at the Command Center, both teams realize Shredder’s true plan: to use the battery that Tommy stole in the first issue with his power-stealing machine and Rita’s magic to create a beam that engulfs the entire planet that will disable everyone’s connection to the Morphin’ Grid except for himself. Zordon is hesitant to send the teams into Rita’s fortress as the Rangers’ powers are still on the fritz, but Billy and Donatello manage to fix the morphing malfunction and they head out. While the Rangers distract Shredder, Tommy takes back the Green Ranger powers from Shredder and morphs. With Shredder cornered and depowered, Rita captures Shredder and threatens him to take her and her gang to Dimension X where she plans on working with Shredder’s allies.
Back in the sewers, everyone hangs out with each other. Tyler says his goodbyes to Tommy, where he and the other ex-Foot Soldiers plan on helping out in NYC with Casey leading them. In the end, Raphael wants to break the tie with Tommy so…
Ending Thoughts
MMPR / TMNT #5 has a lot of dynamic action, a classic crossover ending, and unlike the Justice League team-up, a clever hook for a potential sequel. With these kinds of things, it’s up in the air whether or not anything will happen, but if there was one, I would be looking forward to it because this crossover was great.
Like the Go Go Power Rangers series, this team-up is pure fun. So many moments of meta-jokes and chemistry from both teams balanced with impressive action sequences of all of our heroes coming together. The combinations weren’t a necessary thing for the crossover to be a success, but it makes this story more memorable and allows the characters to be in different situations than the ones they would usually be in. As a Power Rangers fan, I’ve been enjoying seeing the TMNT versions of the Rangers and showing the Angel Grove teens as competent fighters even without their powers. Not to mention, having Rita ultimately upend Shredder’s plans and become the ultimate winner in this is such a devious move. As a casual TMNT fan, I enjoyed learning about all of this crazy lore that I never knew about like Metalhead and Dimension X.
Honestly, the only real weak point to this crossover is Tyler. He’s here to essentially be the link between both teams, but I couldn’t care enough about his motivations to join the Foot Clan or even to leave them in the end. He’s ok, just not enough here for me to care about him even though the story revolves around him.
Anyway, the artwork. The artwork is beautiful. Simone Di Meo did a phenomenal job of bringing this world and the imagination of your favorite teams from your childhood coming together. Walter Baiamonte also did a great job with a lot of bright colors, matching the cartoonish nature with the hilarious dialogue.
MMPR / TMNT #5, and MMPR / TMNT as a whole, is fanservice at its best. There’s no other better word to sum it all up than “COWABUNGA!”
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- Didn’t mention this above, but out of all of the other Megazord sequences I’ve seen, this one might be one of my top favorites. It’s because it takes advantage of the New York setting and uses more different angles to create the sense of a larger than normal fight.
- If Shredder actually forced Rita out and lived in that Moon Palace, what would he honestly do? He can’t teleport to Earth on his own, can he? He’d just be a lonely space hermit.
- The Michangelo. A pizza with grasshoppers, bananas, and coleslaw. That can’t be good. It can’t be.
- This crossover is now over, but let’s remember the most important part about this: This is all Tommy’s fault.