Review: Mighty Morphin #1
Growing up, I didn’t watch Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I was just a bit on the outside of its age range and the campy nature of it wasn’t something that really interested me. I’ve seen the enthusiasm for the show and property from numerous friends and have always wondered what the attraction was. At this point, Power Rangers feels almost too overwhelming to dive in to. But, from time to time I’ve checked in on the comics in an attempt to. And, each time I’ve been impressed with what I’ve read. Mighty Morphin #1 kicks off a new era for the series, an era of ultimited power! It also felt like a good opportunity to dive in and see what I’ve been missing.
Writer Ryan Parrott takes us into this new era focused on the mystery of the new Green Ranger. Also swirling is Zordon’s past which looks like it’ll come into play. Without knowing much about recent Power Rangers history the comic just feels like any other Power Rangers story to me. There’s the mystery of a Ranger as the main draw and it’s something that’s familiar to me. It’s one of the few episodes of the original television show I remember. And, in that way, it all feels like I’ve seen it before. But, it’s also done really well.
Parrott gives us more than Power Ranger action, there’s a focus on the team and their every day life. There’s a lot of characters to juggle around but the every day life of each is on display and we get to see them act like teenagers and be out of uniform. There is a lot juggled around at times though and I found myself getting mixed up by a couple of characters who look similar in design.
The art by Marco Renna is solid though. There’s a few issues I have with a couple of characters that look a bit too similar. But, overall the balance between action and the quieter moments is good. Renna is joined by Walter Baiamonte and Katia Ranalli on color and lettering by Ed Dukeshire. The look of the comic works and works well and there’s some really dynamic moments when it comes to the fight scenes. What also stands out is the body and facial language of the characters. You really get a sense of how they feel and their positioning and small details makes the non-action focused scenes jump out and be a bit more than a bunch of talking heads. There’s something dynamic about it.
Mighty Morphin #1 is a good start. It’s a debut that is familiar but still good. Even not being a Power Rangers fan or regular reader or viewer, the story and issue feels like something I’ve seen before. But, it’s still a really solid debut that’s done to a high quality. For new readers, it’s a solid introduction to the Power Rangers. For long-time fans, there’s a lot teased they should be excited for. Overall, it has something for everyone.
Story: Ryan Parrott Art: Marco Renna
Color: Walter Baiamonte, Katia Ranalli Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics
