A Colorful Momentary Reprieve: Reviewing ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ #118

As darkness continues to fall, encroaching on the last safe haven in the multiverse, a sliver of happiness still remains. With Dark Specter’s endgame on the horizon, the Rangers must embrace what victories they can.

That’s just what they do in the very emotionally charged Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #118 from Melissa Flores, Marco Renna, Simona Di Gianfelice, Raul Angulo, Jose Enrique Fernandez, and Ed Dukeshire.

So many moving parts are in this event, some of them always visible while others flitter in and out of perception. I’ve stated it before and it remains, there isn’t an ounce of fat or wasted space in this event. Every single moment, and issue, matters to the overarching story. It’s easy to have events where an issue or moment will have that feeling of ‘filler” to the audience, even if it’s not.

Definitely not the case with this series and event.

Flores knows these characters back to front, and front to back. Playing on their rich histories both on the screen and in the comic realm, while doing her own thing. It all stitches together seamlessly to create a bigger picture that embraces what the Power Rangers have been, can be, and will be. Truly, it’s the exact sort of thing myself and many other long-time fans likely dreamt of at times. What Power Rangers could be as a franchise outside of the original half-hour more cheesy children’s television mold that brought it to life.

From reluctant allies Zedd and the Rangers to the betrayal of Mistress Vile. To the reunion of Kimberly and Tommy to Jason giving Bulk and Skull pep talks and support. Hell, even the moment between Zedd and Vile/Rita. All of it requires the emotional impact that has been seeded for decades of these characters creation. Yet, it’s so powerful and clear that even someone who just started liking the Rangers with this run should be sold.

Speaking of inspired duos, Di Gianfelice and Renna continue to deliver.

Complimentary styles that are so bold, large, and bold without losing space for the more intimate smaller moments. Emotions are more than clear through every single panel, whether on faces or through the energy that crackles off every character. A smoothness that works alongside the heavier darker nature of things is clear on every page.

This type of Ranger story relies on the whimsical superhero sort of energy of the franchise, as well as a darker heavier energy. While those on paper are very opposing ideas, a deft hand (or hands) can make them feel like the most natural combination around. Allowing both tones to do what they need to do.

Adding to that are the thick, vibrant, and powerful colors that Angulo and Fernandez are providing.

Bringing that over-the-top bright color that one should expect from the franchise, as well as the very natural “it could be the world outside my window” tone as well. Comics and television are very different mediums, naturally. On the screen the filming would capture the very natural colors of the world and allow the Ranger costumes (and the monsters, zords, aliens, etc.) to truly pop beyond all things. On the comic page there is more room to do even bigger things, while capturing that same aesthetic so naturally.

So many of the things said about the pencils and the colors can be said about the lettering. Dukeshire is quite adept at pulling out the right tools to fully unleash the power that comes with this franchise. Plenty of modifiers that let the dialogue pop with colors, shifted bubbles, changing fonts, among other things. It deftly plays into the camp of the Power Rangers as well as the really authentic feelings and character beats that we get from the story. Every single piece of lettering on the page feels fully natural as well as inherently powerful.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #118 is now available from BOOM! Studios.