Review: Green Ranger Shredder Rises In ‘MMPR / TMNT #3’

Shredder has stolen the Green Power coin, twisting its strength to become an evil version of the Green Power Ranger. Since this is Shredder, there are a lot more pointy parts. Him and Rita Repulsa realize they share mutual enemies and team up, creating a deadly force with the intention of taking down the Power Rangers once and for all. Fortunately, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can lend a hand.

Let’s be clear about one thing regarding Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Yes, this is a fun crossover of two major pop culture franchises near and dear to my heart. Yes, it’s brilliantly illustrated and well-written. The one thing I want (and I’m sure I’m not alone in this) is to see the Ninja Turtles as Power Rangers. (Insert Batista “Give me what I want” meme here.) Everything else is gravy so long as I get that moment. This issue builds right up to that logical space and stops just short, but it’s definitely on the horizon.
With that out of the way, I literally got goosebumps reading this comic. MMPR / TMNT takes me back to my childhood as it captures everything I’ve ever loved about both franchises. I was reading this with a big grin on my face out of sheer joy. There’s a moment here where someone pops up in the coolest possible way and I lost my mind. You’ll know it when you see it.

The interactions between team members continues to delight. Writer Ryan Parrott is making the most of this team-up with some surprisingly fun combinations that are bringing out some great character moments. There are obvious ones like Billy and Donatello and they’re great. What stands out are the ones that you wouldn’t expect, like Trini and Raphael or Billy and Splinter that produce absolute gold.
Letterer Ed Dukeshire keeps the conversations moving at a brisk pace. Some characters have a font all to their own, like Zordon and Alpha-5 that further differentiates them. Dukeshire really shines in the action scenes, increasing the font size and bolding during the more intense shots.

I will never get tired of artist Simone di Meo’s morphing sequences. They’re always unique, bringing something new to the process every single time. This one is no different. It’s the kind of shot that makes you want to pump your fist in the air out of excitement.
The action scenes feature a varied panel layout which adds to the intensity. Aided by Alessio Zonno, di Meo fills these pages with a frenetic energy. Anything can happen and an attack can come from any angle. When things get calmer, the layout returns to a more traditional format, letting those moments breathe a little more.

Colorist Walter Baiamonte, aided by Igor Monti, fills MMPR / TMNT #3 with a vibrant palette that matches up to the energy we’re used to from the TV shows. The Rangers’ uniforms shine brightly even in the darkest shadows. It’s like they’re a beacon of hope, even when things are at their worst. There are times when you can practically feel the crackling power at play as these forces collide.
As we build to the inevitable Mighty Morphin Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Power Rangers, I am having an absolute blast with this crossover. It hits on all marks, delivering dynamite artwork, great dialogue, solid character development, and pure, unbridled fun. Any fan of either franchise should be eating this up.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 from BOOM! Studios and IDW Publishing is currently available at your local comic shop and digitally through ComiXology and Amazon Kindle.