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Preface
After talking about it for so long, we’re finally here! Mighty Morphin #1: A brand new beginning for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers!
But before we delve into this, let us first ask: why is this even happening?
Well, typically, comic series do this whenever there’s a decline in sales and they want to boost up sales with a new series starring the same characters. (Although, as far as I know, the Power Rangers series’ sales seemed decent enough.)
This strategy typically works because it’s easier for new readers to get into it without worrying too much about what came before it. If you find this strategy confusing, let me ask you something. Which statement seems more intimidating: “Hey, you should totally watch episode 920 of the Power Rangers franchise” or “You better watch the first episode of Power Rangers Dino Fury or I will hurt you!”
You can see how the second statement is more inviting.
The Cover
This single image is actually composed of two comic covers: Mighty Morphin #1 and Power Rangers #1.
Now, of course, this is a method to get people to buy both series at once. So that people will buy both covers to create a complete image. If you’re someone who just wants the single image for a cover, especially if it bothers how you display your comic collection, you can buy it on a separate variant cover that’s more expensive.
You wanna know why this is a thing? BECAUSE SALES.
There are also Legacy variant covers for both this series and Power Rangers that continue the numbering and style for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Again, this is also another sales strategy, to keep long-term fans of the comic happy while being a way to pump out essentially two issues of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in one month. (Although, at this point in time, we don’t know how connected both series will be with each other.)
For me, what this means is essentially I can give my analysis for one cover a month and just copy and paste it for the other review.
So, anyway, about the cover itself. When it’s displayed like this, the layout of it is fine. Mighty Morphin’ team on the left, the Omega team on the right, and Drakkon right in the center of it all inside a PR thunderbolt. But, having these images side-by-side you can have a clear preference for one over the other. And, in this case, the Power Rangers cover looks so much better than the Mighty Morphin’ cover. The Power Rangers cover has a good artstyle, is comprised of interesting elements in the background like Xi, and has the Rangers doing some cool action poses with their weapons. The Mighty Morphin’ cover looks dull with all of the Rangers just standing in a rock quarry. It’s not helped by the artstyle either, giving some weird proportions on some of the helmets and Rangers.
The Story
FLASHBACK LAND IS BACK, WOO!
And it features a battle over ten thousand years ago on the planet Artavias. The winners of the fight, the Guardians of Eltar, revel in their victory, even though one of their members, Zordon, is worried about the potential threats heading their way.
Back in the present, it’s been two weeks after the events of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers #55 and still none of the Rangers know who the new Green Ranger really is. Tommy’s confident that they can get the Green Ranger to join them, but Aisha is suspecting that Billy had something to do with the Green Ranger’s creation.
Back on the moon, Goldar and the gang are having trouble reviving Lord Zedd after his last fight. Since they all failed the whole Dark Ranger gig, Baboo suggests that before they wake Zedd up, they should capture the new Green Ranger first as a surprise present. And so, they bring some pandemonium to Angel Grove with their new panda monster, Pandamonium.
The Rangers morph into action and find the new Green Ranger already in battle with Pandamonium. They help him defeat the Putties and offer for him to join them after the fight is over, but the Green Ranger silently teleports away. On the moon, Lord Zedd finally awakens. As it turns out, the explosion of the Green Chaos Crystal didn’t kill Zedd, but instead energized him with power.
Later that night, Skull takes his girlfriend Candice out on an expensive date to apologize for Bulk’s earlier behavior towards her. Suddenly, Candice sees a figure down a dark alley and sends Skull away to talk to the unknown figure. The figure tells her that “the message has been received” and it’s time. Candice sadly understands, revealing her true form…
Ending Thoughts
Mighty Morphin #1 is a great start for this series.
Similar to the Go Go Power Rangers series, this issue took time to give at least some focus on this large cast of characters. All of the Mighty Morphin’ Rangers, including our newest one, Zedd’s crew, Bulk, Skull, Candice, and Zordon. Every single one of them gets a moment to shine and show their relationships with other characters. For example, from their initial rivalry, Aisha and Kim seem like good friends now, even though Aisha likes to speak her mind on issues Kim doesn’t agree with. For new readers, it’s a way to get to know everyone’s personalities.
In addition, as a new issue for a series, it sets up a lot of threads to be followed up on like the Green Ranger’s identity and Zordon’s past. I’m personally excited to see Zordon in this new light, not just as a mentor figure. It’s refreshing to see these other aspects of his personality, how he has fun with Billy, how he acted as a warrior for Eltar. It makes him more of a complex character and I can’t wait to see how this all plays out. Not to mention, that final page is absolutely shocking for long-term readers for the comics.
Marco Renna’s artwork here is strong. It captures the same feel for the previous Mighty Morphin’ series, bright and colorful thanks to Walter Baiamonte’s coloring. The facial expressions hit the right balance between animated and realistic. The action sequences are also dynamic, with so much motion happening during the fight. There are also some great new designs seen here with the Guardians of Eltar looking like shiny space knights or Pandamonium having this adorable but killer feel to him.
Mighty Morphin #1 feels like a classic issue for Power Rangers, working for long time fans and acting as a perfect point for new readers to get started on learning all about these teenagers with attitude.
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- I can’t believe out all of the people I thought could be the Green Ranger, I didn’t even think about Ernie. I’m ashamed. (Not Candice, either. But, I think the twist here works so much better for her)
- I was about to say I like Adam’s thinking about how the Green Ranger could be Drakkon until I realized that if it was Drakkon, where the heck would he hide the Power Coin in his cell? I’m assuming they would’ve searched him for it already. And those Power Coins don’t just pop out of thin air.
- I know there was a joke about how Tommy still has a bunch of green clothes still left over, but right now, I’d be impressed if he was also this Green Ranger. It’s like a Red X situation from Teen Titans.
- The encounter between Matt and Tommy is good. It’s the one moment in this story that actually had some tension in it.
- …What’s the song about musical fruit, Bulk? I don’t know it.
- …I want to see Penguinocide.
- Having the green energy go through Zedd’s tubes is freaking brilliant.
- Skull, there’s nothing wrong with calamari!
- Like I said before, that final page shocked me so hard. I know new readers won’t get that same effect, but it’s a background character that has been here since last year. Was it planned this far in advance? It’s a good reveal because it’s also a character the readers have liked over this past year.
- As a personal thing, I love hearing and reading about alien cultures and planets. I believe we’re going to see more of it in the Power Rangers series, but I’m also excited to see what Eltar is since we’ve never known that much about it before.