At the outset it is made clear that Rita’s imprisonment is a mercy, Phantom Zone style, as Rita should have been killed for her crimes. Zordon arranged for Rita to be placed in a prison designed for a unique method of rehabilitation. Rita as well as her minions are placed into scenarios felt most likely to lead to their eventual rehabilitation. The majority of this issue focuses on the first rehabilitation cycle for Rita. Rita is forced to live out the life, love and eventual death of one of her victims, Neyosha. This is done with the hope that Rita will eventually absorb empathy. The issue ends with the horrifying revelation that Rita Repulsa will have to live out the lives of over Four Million of her victims.
Not only does this issue give us a unique view of one of the innocent victims of Rita’s callous destruction, it allows us to understand why she would be so angry and driven after she achieves her eventual freedom at the outset of the Angel Grove era. Reliving the lives of so many of her victims and losing her identity each time as she lives another victim’s life is revealed to be a fate far worse than the death Zordon prevented.
The issue itself might have become predictable if not for the emotional resonance and interludes with her minions each facing their own brands of punishment. Squatt, Finster, Baboo and Goldar are each given a much kinder fate during the time of their imprisonments. Each experiences a reality uniquely suited to guiding them towards contentment. While it is not made clear how these more benign fates are meant to lead to their rehabilitation, each interlude allows a unique look into the psychology and desires of these too often ignored characters.
Writer Ryan Parrott has a firm grasp on the voices and personalities of Rita and her team. Parrott understands Power Rangers and uses this story to expand on the mythos and characterizations of villains who were purposefully caricatures in the original television series. The story draws the reader in and allows us to experience the same empathy for Neyosha that Zordon is trying to impart to Rita. The larger question of why this Rehabilitation did not lead to empathy, but rather lead to greater Anger may be worth exploring in future issues, or might just be chalked up to Rita’s sheer stubbornness.
The artwork by Eduardo Francisco as well as colors by Raul Angulo is clean and imaginative. Artwork for Power Rangers comics often fall into the trap of either being bland and unimaginative or murky. Here Francisco and Angulo use the various interludes and realities to allow for different stylistic approaches, especially as regards changes to textures and colors for each reality.
With this issue, Go Go Power Rangers goes beyond a typical action adventure and allows us to explore the life of the random victims too often ignored in superhero comics. At the same time, it allows us to explore the characters of Rita and her team in greater depth as well as questionable decision-making on the part of Zordon.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
Overall – 5 Stars
Written By: Ryan Parrott
Art By: Eduardo Francisco
Colors By: Raul Angulo
Cover By; Eleonora Carlini
Published By: BOOM Studios
Author Profile
- M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.
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