Review: Disobeying Dad With A Prison Break In ‘Power Rangers’ #1

Did you think the mysteries of Zordon’s past and the new Green Ranger would be it? With those stories unfolding in Mighty Morphin, the attention turns to the Omega Rangers in Power Rangers, the sister-series. The team was rocked by a powerful cosmic threat and they need answers and help. They get both from an unlikely source.

I feel comfortable talking about the big reveal in this issue because it was in the promotional material for this book leading up to it. Lord Drakkon joins up with the Omega Rangers as he has some knowledge of this new villain. He’s an arrogant, reluctant helper, but being imprisoned in a spaceship is much cooler than being stuck in the basement of Zordon’s fortress.

Quick sidebar, this all but proves that the new Green Ranger is not Drakkon as he’s literally going off planet. I’m telling you, it’s Matt.

Anyway, a big part of Ryan Parrott’s work on the franchise has dealt with how the Rangers have become independent. They’re growing up. Zordon is certainly still a guide and they wouldn’t be Power Rangers without him, but they don’t necessarily need him. This makes for an interesting dynamic between them and that definitely comes into play when the Omega Rangers come knocking. They’re the perfect example of the new grown ups. No longer teenagers with attitude.

Since everyone is in one place, which is a rarity lately, we get some great character interactions. My favorite comes between Jason, the original Red Ranger, and Rocky, the second. They bring up something I’ve seen discussed during panels, where Rocky is the Red Ranger, but unlike any others, he’s not the leader. Tommy is the leader as the White Ranger. What does that mean for him and his place on the team?

These dynamics really shine in artist Francesco Mortarino’s work too. The characters are warm and welcoming, like the cool group of kids they are. You can see the doubts and insecurities on their faces just as any normal teenager would show, although they’re anything but normal.

Mortarino’s sharp pencils pop when the Rangers suit up as well. I love how the tradition of seeing the characters’ eyes through their visors has continued here. It adds so much depth to the action sequences, reminding us that these folks are human. The Rangers spend most of this issue out of costume or at least without their helmets which helps further the development too.

The action heats up towards the end of Power Rangers #1 where the prison breakout takes place. Raul Angulo’s colors pop on the page as Trini, Jason, and Zack pull out all the stops to get to their target. There are bright energy blasts mixed with the moody shadows of this covert operation. It’s a nice blend.

As things come to a head, letterer Ed Dukeshire is there to drive home the dire nature of this move. The Omega Rangers breaking Drakkon out of prison and disobeying Zordon in such a direct fashion is going to have lasting ramifications. It shows in Zordon’s words here, making it clear that this floating head is pissed.

As with how Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Go Go Power Rangers worked together and independently, the same can be said for Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers. You’ll get more out of both series if you read them together as they’re released instead of separately, although you can enjoy each one on its own without worrying about reading extra stuff.

Although they started together, both series head off in new and exciting directions. Power Rangers looks like it will be the cosmic book, dealing with threats to the universe as a whole. Adding Drakkon to the mix is an interesting move and complicates matters, although this is a character you love to hate. He’s so cocky that you want him to get his comeuppance, but there’s a small sliver of hope for redemption for the tyrannical villain.

Power Rangers #1 from BOOM! Studios is currently available at your local comic shop and digitally through ComiXology and Amazon Kindle.