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Preface
This is the closest to a Halloween special we will get for Power Rangers this year. Who would have thought?
The Cover
This issue is not focused on the Death Ranger at all, but this cover does highlight the main selling point for this story: the Rangers are trapped in a bad situation.
The Story
In the Dino Charge dimension, set after the events of that series, Kendall, the Dino Charge Purple Ranger, investigates a ‘pulse’ from the Morphin’ Grid. She advises her fellow Rangers to not morph until they learn more about it. However, when Mistress Vile and Dark Specter arrive at their dinosaur zoo, four of the Rangers try morphing to fight them off. However, they are infected by Dark Specter’s energy, turning them completely evil.
Back in Angel Grove, Billy tells Terona about Grace’s passing. When he hears about a monster attack, Billy morphs and fights to help, but runs into Kiya and Scorpina in their morphed forms. After defeating the monster, Billy goes to the Command Center, learning from Anti-Trini and Bulk about how the Master Arch sucked all of the Mighty Morphin’ team plus Trini and Zack into the Arch. The Drakkon Rangers managed to escape from Safehaven, going straight to Earth, along with the Omega Blue and Yellow Rangers.
Speaking of Drakkon, once Billy realizes he’s here, he morphs and a small fight breaks out until Zordon breaks it up, telling them that they have to settle their differences for now and work together. At Safehaven, we see Rita get disciplined for her attitude toward Dark Specter, telling her that he’s responsible for all of this and not her.
Later, Billy and Drakkon contact the Hyperforce Rangers, old ‘frenemies’ of the conqueror during Shattered Grid. The Hyperforce Rangers are the ones tasked with trying to find the MMPR team, but they haven’t been able to, only being able to save a few stray Rangers such as Kendall and Taylor, the Wild Force Yellow Ranger. Kendall explains the situation from her side of how Mistress Vile is spreading an infection within the Grid. The only reason why the Hyperforce Rangers haven’t been affected is because they travel in this place called the Hyperstream, not needing to travel through the Grid.
However, Billy gets an idea of what to do next.
Billy, Bulk, Scorpina, and Trini all head to the Master Arch on Earth. While Scorpina and Bulk guard the outside, Billy gives Trini the silent treatment, him not exactly thrilled with her working with three bad guys. However, she tells him that it’s about survival, which means making choices you never thought you’d have to make.
With that out of the way, Billy explains his plan. The Power Eggs from the last issue belonged to the Morphin’ Master, meaning that they’re connected to the Grid. If Billy and Trini morph, their energy might activate the eggs and cause the Master Arch to re-open to where the others are.
However, when they do this, an explosion happens, and someone shows himself in the aftermath.
“Oh, hey, Phantom Ranger. Did you finally come home with the milk?”
Ending Thoughts
It has taken its sweet time, but now, Darkest Hour is starting to feel like a big event.
Before now, Darkest Hour has presented as a good story for the MMPR Rangers. Although it’s been a slow build-up, it has been a look into the Rangers and how they deal with this new Mistress Vile. But, it never feels like a big thing to call an event for the franchise’s anniversary. Even when we got tie-ins before now with Drakkon’s team and the Hyperforce Rangers, it still didn’t feel like such a big deal because frankly, we were more focused on Mistress Vile and that she was doing what we really didn’t know too much of what exactly bringing Dark Specter would do. (Which is both a good and bad thing, depending on how it’s used.)
But, now, all of the threads are coming together. We got more interactions with other Ranger teams, in different dimensions, showing the full scope of the event. We know that Mistress Vile is now capable of turning any Ranger evil if they morph, which is a very interesting plot point to use. There have been times throughout the franchise when Rangers couldn’t morph for some reason or another. But, we never had this plot line of where a Ranger can’t rely on their Morphing abilities. It’s unique for this franchise because for Marvel or DC, heroes can lose their powers and fight without them, but for Power Rangers, they actually have to choose not to use their powers. And, for a widespread event, it’s something I don’t believe has been done before.
We have the issue focused solely on Billy as he’s now isolated from his team and in this situation alone, trying to save the Morphin’ Grid from being infected. And, he even feels more alone with the only Rangers he has to work with are villains basically. It’s an interesting thing when you think about it in terms of Drakkon’s world. In Drakkon’s dimension, Billy died right before everything went horrible for his world. Having this Billy here is kind of a surrogate for their Billy and trying to grasp the horrifying reality of the situation.
Art-wise, I can speak for any Ranger fan when I say that it’s just great seeing these Rangers and environments so accurate to how they look in the show like the Dino Charge Rangers and their base. Admittedly, the evil designs for both the Wild Force and the Dino Charge team leave more to be desired. While I like seeing them looking like demonic little gremlins, I kind of miss the Sentries from Shattered Grid and how they became more armored like knights. I would have loved to see more monstrous designs for the Rangers, but that’s just my personal opinion.
MMPR #113 is the first real step into making Darkest Hour a special event with a dangerous threat to the whole universe and many Ranger teams scrambling to save it all.
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- We all knew Keeper was evil. Let’s face it. #CreeperKeeper
- I wish we could have spent a little more time in the Dino Charge world. We know that Tyler, Chase, Koda, and Riley are infected with Dark Specter Syndrome, but what happened with Shelby and Ivan? Are they okay? I imagined they tried not to morph. And, again, like the TV show, why we don’t bring back James, Phillip, or Zenowing? Let me see Zenowing again!
- Plastique didn’t last long, but it was one of the better MOTWs we’ve gotten from the comics, to be honest.
- Okay, I’m going to ask it again. Where is Danny?! Taylor came along with the Hyperforce team with Princess Shayla of all people, but we can’t even acknowledge him once?!
- “Drakkon Ranger [Insert Color Here]” is straight up the worst morph call we’ve ever gotten. Ever. It’s so boring. So generic.
- So, it’s not super clear what happens at the end, but I’m going to guess that the eggs didn’t explode and it was Phantom Ranger coming to beat Trini and Billy up. Because, well, we know that Phantom Ranger is already in this dimension from previous comics. I don’t see how bringing the eggs here would summon him or whatever.
