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Preface
Since this is a series called “Power Rangers Universe”, let’s take a second to think about the Power Rangers Universe.
With the comics and the main focus of them being MMPR, it is interesting seeing when the comics do have a focus on other seasons. Because of Shattered Grid, with the exception of Dino Fury, the comics got a chance to focus on so many seasons and teams. And, since that point, it’s been interesting seeing what seasons introduced in there has had an impact on the comics as a whole.
We’ve had one-off graphic novels for seasons like Time Force, short stories for seasons like Super Ninja Steel, and references here and there like Promethea designed like Terra Venture from Lost Galaxy. In the most recent arc, we had the introduction of the Zeo Crystal from Zeo (even though a lot of the plot points come from MMPR season 3). And, we’ve been focusing on the rise of Dark Specter, one of the main enemies from In Space.
What’s the most surprising to me is how Megaforce, a season not a lot of people remember fondly, has indirectly impacted the comics. With the Sentai-only teams introduced in that season being used as actual characters for stories like in this one…
The Cover
Same thoughts as Power Rangers Universe #1’s cover. Love the energy swirling around this new hero debuting in this series and the whole red aesthetic with various Blue Rangers from the franchise.
(So, we have MMPR Blue because he’s the big one, Ninja Storm Blue because first female Blue Ranger, and Hyperforce Blue because he’s the first American-exclusive Blue Ranger. Though, I don’t know why we have Dino Thunder Blue and Jungle Fury Blue. They’re cool characters but I don’t see any real franchise significance to them, unlike the last cover.)
The Story
Everyone is now bustling to get into the Arch, but their way is blocked by tons and tons of Morph-X: Kool-Aid edition. Phiro’s T-Rex, because of course that’s a thing, steps into the Morph-X lava and gets consumed by it, turning it evil. More and more evil creatures appear, attempting to get through the Arch. To stop them in their tracks, Ori has no choice but to blow up the Arch.
Now stuck in the real world, the five teens take the Morphinaut to their old school and regroup. They’re able to use the excess Grid energy from the Morphinaut to keep more creatures at bay, but one of the creatures begs for help. The Grid energy from the Morphinaut gets all of the evil lava off of the creature, revealing it to be Xev, their old friend.
As they reunite, we now have an idea of what’s going on. The evil lava comes from a creature known as Dark Specter. Dark Specter plans on using his soldiers to enter the Grid through the Arch in order to destroy the Morphin’ Grid entirely. The Morphin’ Grid’s energy is the only thing that is a threat to Dark Specter, which is why the Morphinaut’s energy is able to keep the creatures at bay. However, the Morphinaut has spent half a century in the Grid and the energy is causing him to become unstable.
As they head into the school’s lab, Ori tells the group that there’s still a working Arch Dark Specter can use: the prototype in their old hideout. The Morphinaut wants to take the group to the Proto-Arch and blow up the lab before Dark Specter can find it, but he’s still too weak to do anything. However, Ori comes up with a plan: have the Morphinaut share his excess Grid energy through the group’s Hearts and power them up into…
I think the Morphin’ Grid might be drunk or something…
But, as everyone is enjoying their morphinonmenal new threads, one of Dark Specter’s generals arrive…
Oh my goodness! I have no idea who this is!
Ending Thoughts
Unlike recent comics for PR, this issue can be easily divided into two parts: everything with the Arch and everything at the school. Now, this is just an observation into the issue’s pacing, taking it slow and delivering enough time for the action and the plot. So, I can easily sum up my thoughts and say two things.
The action sequence with the Arch was chaotic (and a bit random with the pet dinosaur showing up). The dialogue at the school gives the audience more room to breathe and lets the characters interact with each other a bit more. I’m still not sold on every character yet, but their chemistry with each other is still selling it. Little moments like them fawning over their new outfits or reuniting with Xev go a long way.
Art-wise, while I think the art style and the coloring are still strong, the action sequence with the Arch felt a bit jumbled. There were times when I needed to reread to know where the action was heading. It’s hard to figure out when there are so many cutaways to different parts of the action.
Power Rangers Universe #2 gives us a clearer idea of the story’s overall plot, morphing our cast of heroes into action.
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- I think we can all agree that the choices for each Ranger in the end is a bit random, right? I mean, MMPR Red of course and Dino Thunder Yellow kinda ties into Phiro because pet dinosaur and all of that. Zeo Blue is not too far off either because Rocky did use a Thunderzord before then. But everyone else doesn’t have that clear of a reasoning behind them. Would’ve been cool if the Rangers they turned into were based off their future suits. Like how Green’s based on a feline so the closest equivalent would be Dino Fury Green.
