Review: Go Go Power Rangers #30

Go Go Power Rangers #30 reads like two entirely separate comics. This book always is infinitely more interesting when it diverges from the normal archetype of the Power Rangers template. This issues splits things between an interesting and well written adventure that gives us backstory on the Omega Rangers and a much less interesting adventure in Angel Grove. Thankfully even the second adventure ends with enough twists and turns to make this issue a solid read.

The action begins with Jason, Zack and Trini on Khoodjah for their first mission for the Blue Emissary. They come looking for Kiya who is being attacked by a mob who fear her powers. In a sequence calling back to the Salem Witch trials Kiya is being singled out as a magical threat by her own people. Kiya is clearly much more powerful than the Rangers anticipated and this complicates their hopes of rescuing her.

Back in Angel Grove Kimberly, Tommy and Billy are shopping. It is clearly part of the template of Power Rangers to showcase the Rangers doing everyday things before and after the action, but the shift between the vital, interesting back-story on Khoodjah and the dull banter on earth is jarring. Kimberly has realized the missing rangers are up to something and doesn’t believe the excuses they’ve given for their absences during their missions for the Emissary. Tommy and Billy remain blissfully clueless.

Zedd sends Finster’s Hedgehog monster to Angel Grove to attack Promethea labs as a distraction. In spite of powerful countermeasures at the lab, including missiles, military and a Mechazord, the Hedgehog can’t be stopped. Kimberly, Tommy and Billy morph and jump into action. Meanwhile on Khoodjah, Trini is able to connect with Kiya as Zack and Jason battle an avalanche. Trini convinces Kiya to return to The Spectrum. The Blue Emissary praises Trini for using her heart to bridge the gap with Kiya before quickly revealing to the rangers their next mission, Mercy.

Back on Earth the Mechazords are destroyed and the Rangers’ Zords are faring badly. Goldar, Baboo and Squatt use the opportunity to search the labs. The issue ends with them finding a Green Power Dagger for Zedd setting up the conflict to come.

The art by Francesco Mortarino is epic Power Ranger action in it’s best form. His panels brim with action and he knows exactly the right moments to let a Ranger’s eye show through the visor to allow us to capture their emotions. His character work and expressiveness are incredibly well rendered. The only exception to this is the shopping scene where the characters look duller and less defined. It’s a shame that so many of the characters have their faces covered through the action as he is so great at differentiating characters facial expressions that it would be nice to have some more pages with the Rangers in costume without their masks. Similarly the color work by Raul Angulo is amazing. The scenes in outer space and on Khoodjah jump off the page and the Rangers transformation is rendered perfectly.

Go Go Power Rangers is a book which works best when it is setting up the larger mythos and placing the Rangers in unusual situations. Ryan Parrott and Sina Grace share the writing duties for this issue and overall execute the dialogue, action and story-telling incredibly well. While this remains the more traditional book and includes elements of everyday high schoolers and Finster’s monsters attacking Angel Grove, it’s always tough to keep these elements interesting. This is contrasted against the vastly more exciting adventures on Khoodjah and the growing back story of the mysteries surrounding the Blue Emissary. The scene between Trini and Kiya and the intrigue on The Spectrum raises the book up a level and this book might be better served focusing more on the Omega Rangers story and less on the events in Angel Grove. The hope is that the revelation at the end of this issue makes even the Earth-based events more vital and interesting moving forward.

Writing Score: 4 stars of 5
Art Score: 4 stars of 5
Colors Score: 5 stars of 5

Overall Score: 4.3 stars of 5

Writers: Ryan Parrott and Sina Grace
Art: Francesco Mortarino (with ink assist by Simona Di Gianfelice)
Colors: Raul Angulo
Cover: Eleonora Carlini
Variant Covers: Miguel Mercado, Amelia Vidal
Publisher: BOOM Studios

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

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.