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Preface
This series is talking all about the Zeo Crystal. So we might as well talk about it too. Why is the Zeo Crystal such a big deal?
Well, in terms of the show, it was a big deal to see the Zeo Crystal not be this powerful McGuffin to be thrown away permanently but to be this new change in the status quo going from MMPR suits to the Zeo suits. The Zeo Crystal has always been described to always be growing with power over time, which made almost no sense to disregard it when the show transitioned to Turbo. In MCU terms, it’d be like finding out about the Infinity Stones and never bothering to get them. It’s great that this series can dive into the lore of the Zeo Crystal more.
And, one more reason why I’m okay with this series exploring the Zeo Crystal. It’s Zeo’s 25th anniversary this year and this series is the only one that has any connection to that now. (Seriously, Hasbro. Where is my Lightning Collection Machine Empire Family Set?)
The Cover
Let me get this out of the way. Both are pretty awesome.
Both concepts are great. Matt carrying out a damaged Tommy after their Megazords are downed and the Omega Zords floating in space against the even bigger threat that is the Empyreals. And, when both covers are put together, you can tell the different lighting and coloring that goes into each one, but both still convey the same ominous mood of a disaster happening.
It’s close, but I’m giving the win to the Power Rangers comic because it uses an excellent amount of negative space with the Empyreal.
The Story
Back in Flashback Land, Zordon tells us the legend of the Zeo Crystal. Apparently, a demon dragon named Vitara was sucking the Morphin’ Grid dry. Zeon, the warrior god, battled against Vitara to a stalemate until Zeon tricked Vitara into thinking he was dead. Once Vitara tried to strike him down, Zeon grabbed a crystal shard and stabbed it, absorbing Vitara’s power and killing it.
The whole point of Zordon telling that story is that Zordon believes that Zophram could possibly be Zeon reborn and that he should be the one to use the Zeo Crystal. Zophram objects to this, both because the Council has forbidden anyone from using it and because they can’t put too much faith in “myths and legends.”
Back in the present, Tommy is getting his White Tiger butt handed to him. Aisha is giving him support with her Thunderzord, but it’s still not enough. As she watches from Promethea, Grace reveals to Zedd that she hasn’t switched sides at all, sending Matt in his Dragonzord to help defeat the monsters.
At the Command Center, Matt contacts Billy for tech advice on the Dragonzord, which Zordon overhears, revealing exactly what Billy has been up to. As Zordon asks Billy how in the world is he supposed to trust him again, Matt destroys the dome with his Dragonzord.
However, Zedd states to the group of Rangers at Promethea that this was his plan all along. To show the city what a life without Rangers in it looks like so that one day, the city will tear the Rangers apart. However, Zedd wants one more thing before he leaves. He captures Zelya in energy vines and takes her back to the Moon Palace with him.
Soon after, the Army thanks the Rangers for their service and agrees to let the Rangers handle other Putties that may have infiltrated the city. And, so we end the comic on the latest episode of Ranger Station with an interview from Matt about him swearing to defend the city of Angel Grove by any means necessary and with a plea from Skull asking everyone if they know where his girlfriend, Candice, is…
Ending Thoughts
So, it seems like we’re moving back to the status quo next issue but I gotta admit, this issue leaves me mixed.
This Monster Grove arc could’ve been longer, with more conflict between Promethea and the Rangers and more danger needed to open up the dome. However, this series as well as the previous MMPR series have established in the past a set amount of issues they want an arc to continue through so I’m accepting of this arc’s length. Although this finale does bring up the question of why this arc lasted so long in universe.
I mean, we see that Matt had the power to destroy the shield on his own (and can take on one of the giant-sized Putties). And, Grace’s soldiers handled the Putties surprisingly well on their own. The Rangers really didn’t provide that much other than a couple of extra hands. Because we don’t have Grace’s perspective on this event (and will presumably never know what her full plan of action was), all I can give is a shrug on what’s supposed to be a major plot point to a story. Maybe this was supposed to be intentional or maybe I’m just reading too much into this, but I think the Rangers should provide more to a story arc than Billy giving roadside service to Matt.
Speaking of that, after so much buildup, the moment where Zordon finds out about Billy’s involvement with Grace and Promethea, unfortunately, falls flat. How it’s discovered, with Billy needing a one-sentence suggestion that Matt desperately needed to seemingly just start up the Dragonzord, feels so weak. (There was not a more dire situation for Matt to contact Billy?) Also, I’m not that big of a fan of Zordon’s reaction to it. It felt like Zordon was just outright stating what Billy’s next arc is going to be about. Even the placement of the scene is off to me. Wouldn’t it have been better to place it after the dome was destroyed, giving this big moment of victory for the Rangers only for it to be undercut for Billy when Zordon finally realizes what’s been happening?
That all said, the artwork is still phenomenal, especially when you see Billy talking to Matt and you can see Zordon glaring at it all in the background. The fight sequences are fun as well with some creative movements, especially with the Thunderzord. And, the ending is good, with a visual montage of all of the elements we have to address and a solid dialogue from Skull showing vulnerability to the whole world and wanting to know where his girlfriend is.
For an arc with a lot of tension building and creative concepts, Mighty Morphin #8 ends on a pretty flat note with all of us relating to Skull and wondering what’s going on.
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- Dude… Of course, the Zeo Crystal looks like an icicle. It says Crystal in the name! What did you want it to look like, a swan?
- The moment when you realize the Zeo Crystal may literally be drenched in a demon’s blood for all eternity…
- I didn’t even get to address the new Zeo Crystal backstory, but the best part of it is that it’s a legend and it could technically not be true. Just a reason as to why the Zeo Crystal has its name for it. I know some people have been thinking this might contradict the backstory of it established in Beyond the Grid, but not too much.
- Also, Saba got some good dialogue here.
- Looking back at the last issue, I’m also a little confused about what Grace and Matt are doing in the beginning. Because in the last issue, they were clearly in the same room with Zedd and Goldar. Now, which only seems like a few seconds later, no one addresses the conversation on Matt wanting to help Tommy and Aisha.
- “Not much a girl can do with a one-legged Thunder Megazord.” Not with that attitude!
- Like I said, Matt talking to Billy seemed like he was having trouble starting up the Dragonzord. Which I mean, you guys had a month to figure that out! And, Matt’s dialogue was cut, but it seemed like he didn’t know some of the flute commands which absolutely drives me insane. It’s three buttons! You can’t remember what to do with three buttons!
- “What kind of a dragon doesn’t breathe fire?” The entire cast of Dragon Tales, I presume. Also, I think Shenron from Dragon Ball. You wanna mess with him?
- Rocky’s sister’s mosaic of bottle caps is cool, I will admit.
- So, now that I have the full arc, I have made a conclusion. Matt spilling the beans about his identity to Angel Grove was basically a PR stunt (no pun intended). It didn’t matter that much to this arc. All it did was promote his image, Promethea’s image, and maybe Zedd’s image a bit. I’m sure there are going to be more storylines down the road, but Matt could’ve revealed his identity later and it would barely change this story arc.