(Disclaimer: Please buy the comic before reading this review available at your local comic shop!) They can also be found by visiting findacomicshop.com or comicshoplocator.com
Preface
This comic came out the day before Thanksgiving! What am I thankful for?
I’m thankful for all of you reading this right now, thankful that we have our health, and thankful that I’m finally working on something that I hope to share with you all soon!
The Cover
This is a great cover. It shows our heroes in a eye-popping situation with all of them being corrupted away by these tendrils of darkness with the light cracking in the distance. It’s amazing to see. Plus, this cover starts to show the anniversary aspect of the storyline with Taylor and the Hyperforce Rangers appearing there. It instantly creates an exciting moment for readers to want to know more.
The Story
Safehaven has now been taken over completely with the planet being used as a prison for multiple Rangers. It’s not just the MMPR team with Rocky and Adam, but other Ranger teams as well. Maya from Lost Galaxy, Danny from Wild Force, Bridge from SPD, Xander from Mystic Force, Rose from Operation Overdrive, Shelby and Ivan from Dino Charge, and last but not least, Preston from Ninja Steel. Their warden is Angel, Chloe’s dad shown off in the Hyperforce one-shot. And, right then, he’s now about to introduce Rocky and Adam to Dark Specter.
Meanwhile, on Earth, the Phantom Ranger (Yeah, he doesn’t get a name here, but we know who he is!) scolds Billy for the use of the Power Eggs, claiming that they hold untold powers and could shatter the entire universe if used incorrectly. He tells them about his goal of attempting to locate the Emissaries in the hopes that they could contact the Morphin Masters and stop Dark Specter’s infection.
Soon after, Bulk tells Billy that the Hyperforce Rangers found the remaining Mighty Morphin’ and Omega Rangers. When they arrive on Earth, they all encounter one of Finster’s monsters as well as the Death Ranger wanting more Rangers and sensing the turmoil in Kimberly’s heart over losing Tommy.
Speaking of Tommy, he is dragged front and center to Dark Specter on Safehaven. The demonic overlord gives the teenager back his Morpher in an attempt to corrupt him, but as it turns out, the White Light is special and protects Tommy from the effects. Which makes Dark Specter very angry. Before Tommy can try and fight him for real, an infected Rocky and Adam protect their master and knock Tommy out.
Back on Earth, the Rangers attempt to rebuild the Master Arch so that they can find the Emissaries, but quickly realize that there’s no time to do it with how fast the infection is going. And, so, Kim decides that there’s only one course of action. To go to Safehaven and use their Master Arch. They just gotta get through an entire army of monsters, infected Rangers, Mistress Vile, and Dark Specter.
No pressure, right?
Ending Thoughts
Darkest Hour hasn’t stopped with its momentum yet.
This issue alone is doing a morphinonmenal job of handling the wide scope of the Darkest Hour event. With the cameos of various captured Rangers and the Hyperforce team’s Megazord debut, it’s fun to see so much of the Ranger universe and how they contribute to the story, for even a small section. It’s not only the show’s lore, but the introduction of characters such as Angel, the Phantom Ranger, and the Emissaries all stem from plot points from Power Rangers Universe and the Hyperforce one shot. For readers who didn’t get a chance to read those, this comic expertly explains it all so that new readers don’t have to be confused.
In addition, the characters themselves from multiple teams all bounce off each other well enough. With all of the various combinations of interactions there could be such as Zordon with Phantom Ranger, this issue gives us the time to have some meaningful dialogue with each other.
It also brings up an interesting situation with Tommy captured on Safehaven. For most of the comic run, since getting the White Ranger powers, Tommy has been helping the Rangers every step of the way. Like it or not, he’s the team’s most powerful Ranger. (Yeah, Matt, I said it!) Taking him away from the team not like this raises the stakes even more for our heroes. Plus, now Matt temporarily has to fill the role of the 6th Ranger slot for the MMPR team. With his short interaction with Kim, it’s clear that this is territory that they both aren’t prepared for.
MMPR #114 finally gives us a moment to rest and enjoy all of what this event has to offer as what remains of our heroes reunite with each other and plan for their next course of attack.
Random Thoughts from the Morphin’ Grid
- …I’m still going to ask ‘Where’s Danny?’ because that guy looks nothing like him! I legit thought it was Noah from Megaforce before he started talking! It was the blue shirt, man. It threw me off!
- …If we’re talking about Eric wanting to see Taylor with that reference to a transportal device, then that implies two things. 1.) Transportal devices are only for crossing dimensions. Why would Eric do that to just try a booty call? They are in the same world. 2.) That means Merrick should still be a Ranger at this time period! Where is Merrick?!
- Also, want to point out that two of those Rangers in those cells can, you know, use magic. Just gotta assume that Rita put a spell or whatever because yeah, why don’t they use magic to get out? Sure, most likely, the villains took their wands, but still, they’ve done spells before without them.
- The Crano-Phant is probably the most DIY monster we’ve ever gotten.
- Dark Specter (to Mistress Vile): “You promised me a White Ranger.” And? You have some already! You got Alyssa! You probably got Hayley from Ninja Steel since Preston’s here! I’m just saying! Don’t be greedy!
- I just realized how far Drakkon has fallen by him calling Billy a nerd like how a bully from high school would and then getting instant karma’d by Kim. At this point, we might as well put the Bulk and Skull music over his appearances.
