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Preface
Man, with Power Rangers, we just can’t escape spoilers.
With the TV show, we get international spoilers all the time and even the Twitter account is showing off all of the big twists of its show. Then, with other products like toys and video games, there are always people who find listings on obscure sites probably using Bing or something. (Don’t look at my Twitter account…)
For the comics, there’s not that much that gets spoiled ahead of time. Solicitations for any comic give off a vague idea for what’s coming next, but nothing too specific. However, for the February solicitations for Mighty Morphin #4 and Power Rangers #4, someone at the distributor level messed up and sent out images for variant covers that literally spoiled the new Green Ranger’s identity. Whoops.
The image is gone now from official solicitation articles, but there are still comic store websites that have those variant covers up for sale. A good Google search will probably be all that’s needed to find them. Now, I accidentally did see who it is. I won’t talk about it or even hint at it until the Ranger’s actually revealed in-story. But, just be wary of online discussion of the comics if you don’t know who it is and want to avoid spoilers.
The Cover
With Drakkon in that lightning bolt, it had a symbolic meaning of him dividing the teams. With Jason there, it kind of works now with Jason’s recent decision in Power Rangers #1. But, I know it’s gonna be someone else on there next and it will feel weird to me. (Also, the yellow color scheme doesn’t appeal to me. I say as the PR thunderbolt has been yellow the whole time during the franchise.)
Anyways, about the cover itself, this time around, the Mighty Morphin cover is better than the Power Rangers cover. It just has more of an epic feel. The Green Ranger fighting a dozen Putties on his own as they swarm him with a giant Lord Zedd looming overhead with the dark red atmosphere around him. It almost feels like a death metal cover. Meanwhile, the Power Rangers cover has a more dynamic action coming towards the reader, but the color scheme of it makes it feel basic overall.
The Story
FLASHBACK LAND IN SPACE!
Over ten thousand years ago, as new threats come to Eltar, the Elders of Eltar appoint Zophram, one of the Guardians of Eltar, to be the Supreme Guardian for Eltar. The first thing Zophram does with this new power? Ask the Elders to let the Guardians of Eltar fight for other worlds. The Elders accept but warn him about that path potentially turning them into monsters.
Back to the present, Billy has just repaired the damage to Alpha caused by Drakkon in Power Rangers #1. Zordon then tells Billy to send out a message to any of their allies in the universe that the Omega Rangers are now a threat to the entire universe and they need to be taken down by any means necessary.
As the Rangers realize what this means and how they’re not going to be contacted by the Omega Rangers for a long time, Skull is preparing for a fight in the Juice Bar. He tells Bulk that he suspects Candice of cheating on him, noting that she’s been acting weird and distant from him.
Later, the Rangers hang out at a local music festival to get their minds off the Omega Rangers. Bulk and Skull are there too, looking for Candice when she wanders away from them. She senses there’s something wrong and accidentally bumps into Rocky. Bulk and Skull see them together and think Rocky’s the one she’s been seeing. Before that kerfuffle happens, a single Putty arrives and disrupts the festival.
The Rangers morph into action but have a difficult time with it. Not only is this Putty upgraded with one of Finster’s newest designs, it has a portion of the Green Chaos energy in it provided by Zedd. The new Green Ranger arrives to help, but the Chaos Putty zaps him unconscious. Billy runs in to check on him as Zedd reveals the bystanders at the festival were actually part of a trap for the Rangers.
Ending Thoughts
The main focus for this issue is dealing with the repercussions from Power Rangers #1, basically an entirely different series, so I don’t know how people who only stick to the main Mighty Morphin series or people who will read the trades later are going to figure out what’s going on. (Especially without any reference marker.)
But, anyway, yeah, we see how the Mighty Morphin’ team is handling all of this news. Everyone’s reaction is perfectly understandable. Aisha and Adam following Tommy’s logic, Billy and Kim acting like this isn’t a black and white scenario. It fits all of their character and growth so far. Even with Tommy’s overreaction, I love that one panel of Kim making him realize they’re not coming back for a while and him missing them. It speaks so many volumes.
In terms of the story for what matters to Angel Grove, not much happens to advance the story for our main heroes. The Green Ranger’s identity is somewhat hinted at through Billy’s reaction, but there’s not much else. Really, this issue is for Bulk and Skull. It goes through the typical motions of this story where there’s a misunderstanding about a guy who thinks his girlfriend’s cheating. But, the story is strengthened by Bulk and Skull’s friendship, how Bulk is so willing to help Skull get his girlfriend back.
For artwork, we got some new designs for our upgraded Putties and all of them look pretty cool, utilizing more of the comic medium to make the Putties even more like monstrous beasts. Also, I have to give credit to the scenes at the music festival. There were a lot of vibrant colors, a lot of different things to look at in the background like an actual carnival. What especially should be commended is that after you read that final page with all of the spectators turning into the Chaos Putties, you realize that they were in the scene the entire time. Going back, you notice people’s eyes have darker shading, other people wearing the actual Z on their clothing. It’s not a thing you pick up until after you read the ending.
Mighty Morphin #2 deals with the fallout of Power Rangers #1 while upping the stakes for both our heroes and our comedic relief.
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- If this was an anime, “Supreme Guardian” status on Eltar is probably the equivalent to “Main Character” status.
- I still think Zordon is being a bit unreasonable as to what the Omega Rangers are doing, but seeing it in this issue, he’s a little justified in the sense that the Omega Rangers hurt his robotic baby.
- Of course, there’s more than one Green Ranger, Adam. There’s the Green Samurai Ranger, Green Lost Galaxy Ranger, etc.
- I know the Dark Rangers in the last arc basically looked like ripoff Venom symbiotes. Now, that Putty Chomper has the same mouth as one. Where does it stop?
- Favorite new Putty is the Putty Piercer. No doubt.
- Also, Finster, why are you ruining the furniture for this palace for your own demonstration?
- …What kind of band name is “Koalas Scare Me”?
- Also, Billy, how dare you not talk to Adam’s mom. I’m sure she’s a very lovely woman!
- Just realized this is where the Power Rangers Macy’s Thanksgiving float goes whenever it’s not Thanksgiving.