They Might Have The Power — Reviewing ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ #2

Being a teenager often means feeling invincible, on top of the world, and the future is an endless sea of possibilities. Especially if one was a teenager “with attitude” chosen to be a color-coordinated alien energy powered superhero.

That doesn’t exactly translate once that future comes around and adulthood brings a whole host of other feelings. Picking up the mantle you once wore as a child is a lot more complicated as the former teens find out in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #2. The next chapter in the relaunched series comes from Marguerite Bennett, Andrew Lee Griffith, Joshua Jensen, and Ed Dukeshire.

Oh, where do I even begin?

This was rough, much like the first issue. Look, I get what Bennett is trying to do here. The overall concept of the Rangers growing up, drifting apart, and having to be thrust back together again is a solid one. What is lacking here is in the execution of this idea and how it’s playing out, especially through the dialogue. I’ve read stuff from Bennett before that works well but this is not that because so much of this is — and I hate using this word — cringy.

All the “Oh we’re old” ramblings could have been funny if they were timed better and didn’t just read as ramblings. Let’s not even talk about the Trini’s “mom arms” overall beat cause that was just beyond strange. All of the Rangers are just word vomiting awkwardly, which doesn’t feel right for all of them, no matter how much they have drifted apart. Their “awkward” just feels awkward in the story and how it’s all put together.

I mean we get a “Oh Sprinkles” exclamation only for one of them to drop a grawlix style curse later, which both feel too on the nose trying to be adult in different ways.

This Rita being from another universe seeking revenge for a lost child by taking a Ranger’s child isn’t a bad concept. It feels a bit off and a bit extra, but she is an often over-the-top style villain so I’ll give them that much at least.

Overall, the visuals are fine. There are still some areas where Griffith’s work leaves some faces looking squishy and a bit off. They are avoiding going for picture perfect and just picking up the energy of the actors visually, which is fine. It’s not as bold and kinetic as I would expect from a book like this, so some of the fight scenes are a bit static, but not at their worst. There is roughness to it all which does befit the story direction in some respects.

Most of the color palette that Jensen is using is muted and kind of washed out in quality. It just leaves a few of the Zords, suits and other elements to be the bigger pops of color. That does work fundamentally because the Rangers and their accouterments should stand out from the world around them. They are flashy color suits and giant prehistoric themed robots after all.

While the dialogue has a lot of cringe to it, Dukeshire does his best to make it flow and work visually. Utilizing the Ranger’s colors often gives it the right pop on the page. The world sounds and voices are tangible and some of the emotional weight, that which the story lets us have at least, comes from a solid space and can be heard in the words.

Being a massive Power Rangers fan, I’m hoping that this title can turn around. There is a kernel within that is worth exploring and I hope that the series finds its way to maximize that in the end.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #2 is now available from BOOM! Studios.