Multiverse Of Darkness: Reviewing ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ #114

Throughout time and space, the Power Rangers bring hope and light. Unfortunately, the presence of Dark Spector has changed this. As the villains’ influence spreads further, the forces of good are dwindling, and may have to make some dire choices to save everything.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #114 continues the franchise, celebrating Darkest Hour event, kicking things into another gear. It’s another great issue from Melissa Flores, Simona Di Gianfelice, Raul Angulo, and Ed Dukeshire with assistance from Jose Enrique Fernández.

Nostalgia is not just a feeling but a way of life these days. Looking back at things and trying to recapture whatever feelings they used to elicit, usually in the simplest way. Often that means just trying to rehash those moments or things to capitalize on the feelings, even if that means doing things in a way that breaks or can’t match what came before. It’s a mission that often fails because we or the times have just changed too much.

I bring all this up because a series like this is how you tackle nostalgia in the correct way. An event like this thrives on paying respect as the franchise celebrates thirty years of existence, bringing in characters and concepts from every show possible. Yet, it’s done in a way that showcases those characters and concepts without being stuck in the past. Since its inception seven years ago, this series has been about modernizing the franchise while staying true to its roots.

Flores has been part of this modernization in various roles with the companies behind Power Rangers. Now she gets to do that as the comic series writer, showing off how well she knows and loves this franchise. So many smart uses of characters from different eras, while not losing focus on the present-day Mighty Morphin cast. In fact, it’s impressive how well she is able to juggle such a massive cast in a way that doesn’t feel like anyone is short-changed. Even if they only appear briefly or not at all in different issues of the story.

Having so many people and places to bring to life would seemingly present quite a challenge, but Di Gianfelice makes it seem easy. Each Ranger, villain, monster, and setting they inhabit feels completely unique. A truly detailed world unfolds upon the page, sitting right on the line between whimsical and serious. The art captures those big bold vibes that resonated from the TV show, and still do to this day, while giving it more of that modern kick.

A serious conversation bleeds into a big energetic fight that moves upon the page, right into a page with a campy construction crane turned monster moment. None of it feels jarring, seamlessly blending into one epic emotional journey.

Part of the balance is the color palette that Angulo provides, with Fernández’s assistance in this issue. Heavy shadows are mixed into the world, helping with the more serious darker elements of the story. This contrasts but also stands complimentary with the more vibrant and toned-down colors of this world. Helping with the aforementioned uniqueness of each space are the different colors that live within those settings. Power Rangers is a colorful franchise and that remains, all their powers and suits are bright and shiny (until they fall under Dark Specter’s control that is).

So many characters mean lots of voices that need to be found on the page. Dukeshire helps provide those voices, making sure they flow gracefully through the pages. Some characters have their voices boosted through manipulations of their bubbles or the fonts of their words. Others have more standard elements showing up for them. Either way, each character’s voice is filled with their given personality/energy, with the tone and volume perfectly clear. We hear this world just as easily as we see it with our eyes.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #114 is now available from BOOM! Studios.